Why do people believe in God?

[mahina]

19. Looking from outside in to another culture

Last edited Tue Jul 11, 2023, 04:34 AM - Edit history (2)

I’m guessing you’re talking about American Christianity? My Grandad said of the revivalists “ those people are a bunch of frauds baby”. Some of it baffles me too but I see and have experienced the beauty of Christianity and other faiths , a deep resonant joy, even love.

Its an unforgettable grace

I was raised Catholic and got expelled from catechism in the second grade for asking questions. (But WHY wont God love and welcome the pagan babies? He put them in those families. Nuns were- distressed with me. ) Became atheist in 5th grade. Started to really need some light for numerous reasons a number of decades later.

When I read about Christians who definitely do not follow Jesus‘s teachings, I can only guess that a good chunk is tribalism. Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs explains some of it in the need for belonging, and maybe self actualization, top of the pyramid, if very lucky

Certainly interesting that Gods and faith in them/it around the world and across eons seems so common. Nearly but not universal.
Native Americans. Hindus, Tibetans, ancient and contemporary Hawaiians. You may appreciate Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth, for a peek https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiYnNom7SVRMjsi2WSpIGBlo1UDhlXyvz. I haven’t revisited it in a while, now looking forward to it, thank you.
If you like him, check out The Hero With 1000 Faces.

In our society here in the middle of the Pacific, the Gods were overthrown prior to adoption of Christianity. from Aotearoa (New Zealand, Tuamotus, all across Polynesia a God existed that is some variation of Laka. Its a staggeringly vast area with many different languages.

So many important Gods, Kū , Kanaloa, Kāne, and Lono, but some (Laka) were everywhere.
Captain Cook wrote with astonishment at how this occurred. He didn’t understand that there’s great commonality in manylanguages, and deep cultural connection, all across the immense Pacific.

As the Grandma said in the wonderful movie The Great Match (La Grand Final) “ just another Day, pondering existence in bewilderment”

May we be kind

/that’s the best I can do with two thumbs typing
🤙🏼🤙🏼