The devil

I'm always surprised that quite so many adults believe in god and the devil. To me, it's just the same as believing in the tooth fairy or father christmas - so childlike. What is the difference, do tell?

Don't refer to the popular, worldwide belief in these entities, though, as some explanation. It's easily accounted for, by psychologists, as simply the way we humans think, that's all.

I’m sure a psychologist would have a smarter way of describing this, but I’ve come to believe that if you try and do no harm, whether by word, deed or by accident, then you stay on the lighter side of life. If you do harm, in whatever way, then you enter the dark side.
What is the light side? It’s largely free of questioning your conscience, of a feeling of freedom from guilt, it’s being able to sleep soundly. The dark side? A sense of turmoil, of haunting feelings, of constant justification for your actions.
Life isn’t as simple, I do know that, but I find life easier living in the light as best I can.
There’s no science in this answer, it being only a relation of my experience.

Whether we have a god or a sense of the spiritual or not it is a human choice to choose good or evil.

Is hard to discern what's right in many personal decisions however.

The older generation is on the whole not as well educated as younger people, although there are exceptions. For one thing, the younger people spend longer in full time education.

Intelligence has no bearing on this. Where there's a belief in God there is also the acceptance of the existence of the devil, belief comes from faith and not a lack of one's intellectual ability.

Smileless I totally agree.

What about people who read and believe their horoscopes every day?

You see, if children are taught to question what they are told they can ask "What do you mean by 'God'?"

Or they may ask "Do you mean 'devil' like some big dangerous supernatural person, or do you mean a fanciful name for wickedness and cruelty?

Smileless2012

Intelligence has no bearing on this. Where there's a belief in God there is also the acceptance of the existence of the devil, belief comes from faith and not a lack of one's intellectual ability.

That is not actually true, Smileless2012. Ie plenty who believe in some kind of god or a spiritual life but not the devil. In this context, we are given choices as it were towards reaching for compassion or reaching for its opposite, but God has no direct effect on what individuals choose.

So us older folk are incapable of reasoning. Okay.

Sadly, quite a few people of all ages are not trained in critical thinking. Let's hope the younger generations are trained in sceptical methods and post-enlightenment thought.

I think there’s inherently good in most people, some are angels in disguise but also great evil and no conscience in others.

It's true for Christianity, Judaism and Islam Wyllow which I probably should have said in my post.

Time for religion to become a private matter- and all the above institutions to be freed, and become secular.

I do wonder what such a world would look like, Fleurpepper.

I imagine it as a world without hope. A dull, colourless endless struggle against life's miseries. Rather like East Germany before the wall came down. Or maybe some of Russell Davies's dramas.

How do you imagine a world without religion? Or maybe, more to the point, how do you imagine a world without faith?

Caleo

The older generation is on the whole not as well educated as younger people, although there are exceptions. For one thing, the younger people spend longer in full time education.

Interesting that you think there is a correlation between time spent in full-time education and overall education level. I'm afraid from what I have seen of young university graduates the connection is tenuous at best.

GrannyRose15 the world would not be very meaningful to me without my faith.

However I do understand those who think it shouldn't influence politics etc.

Smileless2012

It's true for Christianity, Judaism and Islam Wyllow which I probably should have said in my post.

I know many Christians who do not believe in the devil nor that God has Agency over us as individuals.

nadateturbe

GrannyRose15 the world would not be very meaningful to me without my faith.

So you think the world isn't meaningful now to those of us who have no faith?

nadateturbe

GrannyRose15 the world would not be very meaningful to me without my faith.

I do find this very sad. But that is OK. It is your life, private, and I am glad your faith gives you meaning.

As long as you agree that it should be totally separate from the running of the country, its Laws, education, etc.

GrannyRose15

^Time for religion to become a private matter- and all the above institutions to be freed, and become secular.^

I do wonder what such a world would look like, Fleurpepper.

I imagine it as a world without hope. A dull, colourless endless struggle against life's miseries. Rather like East Germany before the wall came down. Or maybe some of Russell Davies's dramas.

How do you imagine a world without religion? Or maybe, more to the point, how do you imagine a world without faith?

Sorry, had not seen that earlier post.

And no, not at all like East Germany (and I lived in the concrete jungles of East Berlin just after the wall came down- wow it was BLEAK).

Why would it be? For me, full of joy and colour, and tolerance, and people of all faiths and none, respecting each other, supporting each other.

I've never ever said I wanted a world without religion btw? Where. I said it should be a private matter, and that Governement and all linked institutions should be freed from religious influence.

No God doesn't have Agency over us as individuals Wyllow, neither does the devil.

Granny Rose wrote:

"Interesting that you think there is a correlation between time spent in full-time education and overall education level. I'm afraid from what I have seen of young university graduates the connection is tenuous at best."

Educational activity to tertiary level is one of the main variables that contribute to the education of individuals and demographics. Tertiary education is not the only variable; others include parenting (family culture) housing, and health.

PS Granny Rose, university admissions are far more liberal than they were when I was younger. You don't have to be bright to be a student now. The overall educational level of graduates reflects the intake of undergraduates, not the principle of tertiary education which does not change.

Great post absent

Blondiescot

nadateturbe

GrannyRose15 the world would not be very meaningful to me without my faith.

So you think the world isn't meaningful now to those of us who have no faith?

That's not what I said!

And it's not sad at all. Looking at a beautiful sunset means so much more to me when I believe in a creator. "Then sings my soul...." Thinking it happened by accident doesn't mean much.
I would not tell you I feel sad for you.