why don't those who believe in god/afterlife seemso harsh & critical of those who do believe?
439893
Being harsh or critical have nothing to do with wether you're relgious or not. i've met religious people who are so gentle and considerate, and i've met athiests who are so polite and open minded. It depends on the person, not the faith.
467278
People have always used 'God' as a reason to be cruel.  It's just a way of making others small so you can feel big.  You have to make someone else so wrong in order to feel that you actually exist, or at least so you don't feel totally insignificant.  I don't know if you can give an answer to why.  It just is that way, people are hurt and angry and who knows what experiences they have had with so called 'religion'.  Why take it personally?  It's not about you.
863854
That is the misconception. Since the beginning of time people have always believed in the after life. Now, we are just more free to express. In ancient times some countrys considered it to be forbidden to speak of any such thing. Some felt if u spoke of the after life u were possessed or a witch or just 2 fries short of a happy meal. Some believe it just gives others something to believe in and makes losing someone easier to deal with. I personally believe that we all have a place to go to whether it be heaven or hell.
87135
Because many many people see the horrors of religion in general, the absolute lack of reason in involved with "faith" and are not afraid of death.  \n\nThe world is a teeny tiny place in the realm of the universe and whatever is beyond what we can see.  Many people need to be comforted by believeing that there is something "out there" taking care of the human race.  \n\nMany feel the need to have something to guide them (could it be that their moral principles are not strong enough, or that they just need SOME kind of purpose to not feel like a waste of flesh?).  \n\nFor some, it is just easier to be blind to reality and accept a made up god than to actually use their brain to ask the questions which might be able to actually provide any comprehensible answers.
732087
I agree with some of the others who've answered you. I could add that they may be afraid of looking into other points of view because if they do they just might have to change their minds.  That could totally mess up their whole life view of themselves, their God and everything else.
1057778
The way i look at it there are people out there that say why believe in something that couldn't be true? i say why shouldn't you? some people will go thier whole life not believing to find out GOD IS REAL and then spend eternal life in hell. or they could simply have the belief in Him and when they die IF He wasn't real what did they lose? nothing. but he is there and there is an eternal wonderful life that is so perfect. so the people who don't beleive come out as a loss
1028845
The reason why they don't believe is because they have never experienced his greatness, and its ok, i mean as long we let them know thats the only way to salvation, then its up to them. I believe in God, because He has never let me down, I don't need to see him, but I have seen his greatness in my life. For the people that don't believe many times family members were taken away from them(death) or they had such a terrible up bringing, or they have different beliefs... only if u experience God in a personal level, will u actually believe he exist.. everyone can breath the bible on you, and preach u to death, but until u ask God to show you his existance u need to be ready and pay attention.
987313
People get comfort from believing there is a reason for existence, that it's not all accidental or the product of a statistical probability. \n\nLook at it this way: if you are a believer and you die and there is no God, what difference does it make.  If you are not a believer and you die and there is a God, BIG SURPRISE!
1143895
I just had a thought as I read your question.  I think it's possible that there are many religious people, people who really believe in God, but who do not parade that belief around and impose their beliefs on other people.\n\nYou wouldn't really think of them as "religious", but they would be so.\n\nI understand your question though.  There do seem to be a lot of people who say they are religious--"I'm a Christian"--who are very un-Christ-like in their dealings with people that believe differently than they do or who make different choices than they do.\n\nMaybe it makes them feel safe to be so clearly superior and saved, at least as far as they understand it.  As for me, I have pretty much given up on religion and I try instead to think in terms of what God wants of me.  I still do believe in God, as I always have believed in God.  I just don't believe much in religions.
714101
The way i see it is we cannot prove or deny that these people may have met God. They truly believe they have. So is it so wrong to let them have these beliefs when it makes them content and peaceful within themselves. People want to hope that after they die then they are moving on to another stage of their existence, they don't want to hear that when they die there is nothing. So let them believe what makes them happy as it is not hurting anyone else but bringing them peace.xx
52016
They believe that anybody who doesn't believe the way they do is going to hell. They tend to be self-righteous and small minded.
467069
That is an extremely subjective ansewr.  There are some out there that can turn that question around and ask thusly:\n\nWhy do people believe in heaven and hell, but do not believe in science?\n\nThe answer is quite complex and really has to do with how the person percieves the world around them.  For some, being immersed within the religion is what they seek.  And anything that would 'threaten' or try and 'disprove' aspects of their religion is a threat, therefore they are inclinded 'not' to agree with such aspects.  \n\nConversly, the same is true for science.  For many that are hard core into science, physics and such, they know what exists, they have tried, through experimentation, through understanding and reasoning, and through logic to understand how this world works.  And, anything, as disjointed as religion can be, that says otherwise becomes a threat, and therefore, is not deemed 'plausable' or 'acceptable' within the scientific realms.\n\nBut, still for some, they are able to accept both the scientific and religious realms as truth.  I, personally, do not know how anyone can do that.  I mean, given the scientific fact of life and how it came to be, and how the disperate examples of given species exist within this world, i find it hard to believe that there was ONE creator who simply said BAM let it be, and it was.  I know that life simply had to grow, had to change, and adapt, as we all do, to a varying level of severities and situations.  So to me, at least, that level of understanding and reasoning is truth.  Whereas conversly, the level of spritualism for the christian religion to me, is mote, and disjointed at best.\n\nReligion, at least on the social front, has always been a problem.  WITHIN the society, religion has always played a pivotal role,  being from the moral guidance of the people to the salvation of the soul.  But on the JUDICIARY or GOVERNMENTAL role, we have wanted religion out.  We do not need this type of disjointed hatred and illogical fallacies dictating what people DO ACT AND SAY within a society.  What we do need from such situations is control, protection and peace.  All of which religion CAN NOT provide.  Only power can provide such things.\n\nWHy do people belive as you have described?  Perhaps they are confused? Stuck in their own illogical fallacy? Or perhaps they are too pressured to believe in one aspect, that seeing another is an impossiblity for them.
967165
Because people cannot think for themselves. They need to have a set of "guidelines" made to follow. Other people can't believe in themselves because they see believing in gods as a bigger cause, so to speak.
952089
I think its harder to believe.\n\nI mean..isn't it always more difficult to believe things that aren't tangible and easily explained? \n\nIt would be much easier for me to say...nah..I don't get it, there aren't enoughh answers....i'm not going to believe in God...\n\nBut I prefer to believe, even though sometimes its harder.
1105750
I don't think you have to believe in God to believe in some kind of afterlife, there are many relgions in the world each one with it's own beliefs and viewpoints.  I personally believe in a soul, but that does not automatically mean I believe in Heaven.  I do believe something wonderful will happen when I die, I am just not sure what that is yet, and I hope it is along time before I find out.  Maybe he was there, because evryone was thinking about him.  It's hard to say.
1150922
I have no problem with non-believers here.  I am not insulted by your presence; in fact, this may be the perfect setting for you.  I pray that God would speak to you in some way that you would believe in Him.  True Christians do not condemn others, however, love them and avoid saying hurtful things. However, I will not refrain from expressing how I feel about my personal relationship with God and how He has carried me through many difficult times.
196372
Imagine how scary it must be to not believe in God, or in an afterlife.  Imagine how scary it is...if you are wrong.  I would imagine that many people that claim not to believe in God must have a nagging doubt, some underlying suspicion that they may not even be aware of.  If you live your life in whatever way you choose, claiming not to believe in an afterlife, in heaven or in hell, then what happens if you are wrong?  I would think that must be terrifying...and what do many people do when they are afraid of something..they attack.  They attempt to fight, to disprove, to make themselves feel better, to feel safer, in any way that they can.  That is just my opinion.