When someone says they believe in god or a higher power, what does that translate into? (Christians, preach)
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People who believe in God give more money to charity, perform more volunteer work, give more money to secular causes, are more active in adopting children, and visit extended family more often.
People who believe in God are more likely to be happy, are less likely to smoke or drink, and are more likely to engage in secular group activities. In other words, they are more likely to play nice with people.
Although I am somewhat dubious about the nature of the OP, which seems to me to mainly be focused on what they see as other people's hypocrisy, not a very interesting subject frankly, I will answer using my experience as a practicing Catholic, practicing Buddhist, and practicing nothing in particular but being very aware of what Jung called the 'numinous' in my life -- these states being overlapping, not consecutive.
Most often, when people say they believe in a higher power, what they mean is mainly that, although they do not follow the tenets of any particular organized religion, they do sense the presence of divinity at work in their lives. That's all. They may not even be very familiar with Christianity, by the way. A surprising percentage of the US population, the most professedly Christian of the wealthy countries, do not have a Christian background at all, and have no interest in it, and I'm not even including the many who were raised in an entirely different faith tradition such as Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism etc.
I believe the OP is operating under a set of misguided ideas.
Although I am somewhat dubious about the nature of the OP, which seems to me to mainly be focused on what they see as other people's hypocrisy, not a very interesting subject frankly, I will answer using my experience as a practicing Catholic, practicing Buddhist, and practicing nothing in particular but being very aware of what Jung called the 'numinous' in my life -- these states being overlapping, not consecutive.
Most often, when people say they believe in a higher power, what they mean is mainly that, although they do not follow the tenets of any particular organized religion, they do sense the presence of divinity at work in their lives. That's all. They may not even be very familiar with Christianity, by the way. A surprising percentage of the US population, the most professedly Christian of the wealthy countries, do not have a Christian background at all, and have no interest in it, and I'm not even including the many who were raised in an entirely different faith tradition such as Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism etc.
I believe the OP is operating under a set of misguided ideas.
I resent that statement that I bolded in the first paragraph, and I'll tell you why. I'm Buddhist, and I included Buddhists in the same mindset.
Although I am somewhat dubious about the nature of the OP, which seems to me to mainly be focused on what they see as other people's hypocrisy, not a very interesting subject frankly, I will answer using my experience as a practicing Catholic, practicing Buddhist, and practicing nothing in particular but being very aware of what Jung called the 'numinous' in my life -- these states being overlapping, not consecutive.
Most often, when people say they believe in a higher power, what they mean is mainly that, although they do not follow the tenets of any particular organized religion, they do sense the presence of divinity at work in their lives. That's all. They may not even be very familiar with Christianity, by the way. A surprising percentage of the US population, the most professedly Christian of the wealthy countries, do not have a Christian background at all, and have no interest in it, and I'm not even including the many who were raised in an entirely different faith tradition such as Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism etc.
I believe the OP is operating under a set of misguided ideas.
I think you guys are missing the point...one of you intentionally.
When someone says they believe in god...so what? What does that mean?
When someone says they believe in a higher power...so what? What does that mean?
Let me give you a non-religious example of what I'm getting at. We had a teacher in our school who would often say, "I believe that all children can learn". However, he only wanted to teach gifted classes.
It's easy to say, "I believe in ______________", but the question is: does that translate into you doing anything about it.
I think you guys are missing the point...one of you intentionally.
When someone says they believe in god...so what? What does that mean?
When someone says they believe in a higher power...so what? What does that mean?
Let me give you a non-religious example of what I'm getting at. We had a teacher in our school who would often say, "I believe that all children can learn". However, he only wanted to teach gifted classes.
It's easy to say, "I believe in ______________", but the question is: does that translate into you doing anything about it.
Why should anyone believe your fictional stories? Is your life story like Buddha’s, every incident holding some irrefutable truth?
That would depend on the person. If you've ever checked out polls they can be very vague to start with and open to interpretation. I wouldn't say I believe in a higher power if that means some divine sentient being. I do believe in things such as the greater good as being a higher power than myself.
That would depend on the person. If you've ever checked out polls they can be very vague to start with and open to interpretation. I wouldn't say I believe in a higher power if that means some divine sentient being. I do believe in things such as the greater good as being a higher power than myself.
Interesting post.
When I started going to a program similar to AA, but not one about alcohol or drugs, I actually asked this question because their program was based directly on the AA program. The answer I was given was that you really don't have to believe in god or even a 'higher power' in the normal sense of the phrase. Maybe, as a Buddhist, you meditate. Perhaps you have some role model who is an inspiration to you. In fact, the gentleman said something along the lines of 'Instead of thinking about a higher power, think about a positive influencer in your life that inspires you to do better'.
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