Do you believe; and why?

[Benton]

(05-08-2019, 10:47 PM)Lucidus Wrote: There is a substantial difference between such massive, life-changing questions as, "Is there a God and an afterlife?" and whether your daughter (best of luck to her by the way) will a goalie on the national team. Your daughter's goal is rather different than the ultimate question of our species' existence. 

What I mean to say is that your daughter's belief is an aspiration, a "dream" that we have proof is at least attainable / possible, therefore making it warranted purely from an objective point of view. It would be up to you as to whether or not you find it subjectively warranted.

In the case of God and the afterlife, I have yet to see any evidence other than that of an anecdotal or interpretive nature. Is that sufficient to warrant belief in such things? The answer is yes if the only standard you are utilizing is what you find comforting. The answer would seem to be no if you choose to use standards that may be not provide conclusions that fit neatly within a personal comfort zone.

Massive is context.

To her, life revolves around 4-5 kids, being a goalie and her pets. To me, it's my family, my business and my local community. To the POTUS, it's typically his family, a few million people, the free world.

The point is, it's all relative. So is God.

I grew up in church, but didn't always believe. I do now. I don't fault anyone who doesn't because it's a personal relationship.