Why do people believe in God/Gods/higher divinity

[AniThyng]

I don't think this thread is answering the question. How can we ask the question of why people believe in God if only athiests answer the question?

Because we cannot trust any religious individual to be truely objective?

Find a religious individual who understands how he/she was brainwashed and indoctrinated by a belief system that is based upon ignorance and fear, yet still subscribes to that belief system, would be a peculiar person indeed...

I'm curious to know what the esteemed and respected members of this board who are not atheists have to say about that...I'm sure there are quite a few, since there is a Christian usergroup and all...

[Gil Hamilton]

Because we cannot trust any religious individual to be truely objective?

Find a religious individual who understands how he/she was brainwashed and indoctrinated by a belief system that is based upon ignorance and fear, yet still subscribes to that belief system, would be a peculiar person indeed...

You aren't really listening. It doesn't make much sense to assign motivations to an entire group of people with potentially greatly varied reasons without actually listening to them. We can go with our experiences with religious folk, but it doesn't seem to be a very complete thread on "Why people believe?" without testimonies from individuals actually talking about their own personal motivations, objective or not.

For instance, I know at least one person who's belief in God is not about being brainwashed, but after a great deal of personal thought one the matter proceded by a rejection of her parents religious values, specifically Southern Baptism.

It's a bit more complicated as to why people believe in God or Gods than "ZOMG! T3h must be t3h stoopid and brainwashed!" Like it or not, some might have legitimate reasons that extend beyond brainwashing that was arrived at after considerable thought on the matter. Perhaps it would be best to hear about it, eh?

[Lord Insanity]

For what it is worth here is my wife's answer to the OP.
My wife wrote:

For as little as it may or may not mean, I will offer my response to "why". My answer is simple...because it gives hope to have something to believe in, and can act as a guide to those who will allow it. Faith is not a theatre production to be composed each Sunday, and forgotten until the next. That sort of hipocrisy is what makes people denounce any type of religion.. I have faith in a higher power...and I call that power God. Many religions call their guide by many different names, but most are essentially the same. I am not one to try to force my beliefs on others, and unlike most "fundies", I have read the bible cover to cover. It includes contradictions and immorality, this is true. But is this not a reflection of our entire world even today? Just because you are not exactly a saint, doesn't mean you are doomed to hell, so long as you atone for or admit to your transgressions. Everyone has differing ideas of what is "right", but even the laws of Wicca have some common ties to the Ten Commandments. That being said, my belief is centered around peace and love...and not in the hippie "free love" kind of way. The verses that best describes my beliefs and is the anchor of my hope are 1st Corinthians 14:4-13... "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. Iit always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect dissappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Now, while I cannot alter the wording of a quoted source, I can add that some "religious people" would do well to keep the first parts of this scripture in mind when they are trying to judge those around them or act "holier than thou", because to do so completely undermines the idea of faith in action, regardless of the origin of that faith.

I will admit I mostly agree with her in principle. Though I did warn my wife to don a flame retardant suit just in case Personally I think that organized religion is the bane of society, but that the universe is still someone elses ant farm. I have seen too many things that have no other logical explanation. For example, my great uncle had a stroke which damaged a portion of his brain that contols motor functions for his legs. (He was lucky to have surived at all.) When he woke up the doctors told him despite their best efforts he would never walk again. He said "Like Hell" and got up and walked out. To this day the doctors have no idea how he can control his legs when every test they have done shows he should not be able to. Of course it would be bad science on my part not to admit that there is a possible logical explanation we as of yet do not have the necessary knowledge to form. In the meantime I feel I have nothing to lose be saying a higher power did it. That is most certainly what my great uncle believes.

[R. U. Serious]

For as little as it may or may not mean, I will offer my response to "why". My answer is simple...because it gives hope to have something to believe in, and can act as a guide to those who will allow it.

I think the following quote puts it best:
http://richarddawkins.net/article,466,G ... --On-Faith

The fact that certain religious beliefs might be useful in no way suggests their legitimacy. I can guarantee, for instance, that the following religion, invented by me in the last ten seconds, would be extraordinarily useful. It is called "Scientismo." Here is its creed: Be kind to others; do not lie, steal, or murder; and oblige your children to master mathematics and science to the best of their abilities or 17 demons will torture you with hot tongs for eternity after death. If I could spread this faith to billions, I have little doubt that we would live in a better world than we do at present. Would this suggest that the 17 demons of Scientismo exist? Useful delusions are not the same thing as true beliefs.