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You believe that putting a hand in fire will burn the hand. You believe that falling from a great hight will kill you.
You refuse to put hands in fire and you avoid edges of deep holes.
-> Your behaviour is consistent with what you say you believe.
These and other beliefs are so strong in fact, that one will never in his life voluntarily jump from a building, although it would save considerable time and possibly provide entertainment too.
On the other hand, breaking religious rules is supposed to also hurt you very badly, in fact, if you sin you are supposed to endure unimaginable pain and suffering forever.
Here is a list of seven deadly sins in Catholicism, I bet other religions have similar lists:
Now, this stuff is so commonplace - take for example laziness or consumerism - that even people who claim they honestly believe in God do them.
The only logical explanation is - we don't really believe in what we say they do.
Nobody really believes that buying something he doesn't really need (>50% of the stuff we buy) will bring him unimaginable pain and suffering, (forever to boot). Otherwise we wouldn't buy it, just like we wouldn't buy an activated handgranade.
I myself am a Catholic. But I must say that in my life I haven't met a person whose behavior is consistent with his professed religion, except perhaps priests. Importantly, note that I am not talking about full compliance with religious code, I am talking about sincerity of professed belief. As I have explained, it can be easily observed that people don't really believe in religious teaching. At all.
For example, not a single person will post in this thread and say they sincerely believe - because consuming internet forums is hardly a necessity - and doing so would burn your hand.
You refuse to put hands in fire and you avoid edges of deep holes.
-> Your behaviour is consistent with what you say you believe.
These and other beliefs are so strong in fact, that one will never in his life voluntarily jump from a building, although it would save considerable time and possibly provide entertainment too.
On the other hand, breaking religious rules is supposed to also hurt you very badly, in fact, if you sin you are supposed to endure unimaginable pain and suffering forever.
Here is a list of seven deadly sins in Catholicism, I bet other religions have similar lists:
Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.
Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.
Now, this stuff is so commonplace - take for example laziness or consumerism - that even people who claim they honestly believe in God do them.
The only logical explanation is - we don't really believe in what we say they do.
Nobody really believes that buying something he doesn't really need (>50% of the stuff we buy) will bring him unimaginable pain and suffering, (forever to boot). Otherwise we wouldn't buy it, just like we wouldn't buy an activated handgranade.
I myself am a Catholic. But I must say that in my life I haven't met a person whose behavior is consistent with his professed religion, except perhaps priests. Importantly, note that I am not talking about full compliance with religious code, I am talking about sincerity of professed belief. As I have explained, it can be easily observed that people don't really believe in religious teaching. At all.
For example, not a single person will post in this thread and say they sincerely believe - because consuming internet forums is hardly a necessity - and doing so would burn your hand.
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