popeye1945,
I suspect that religious people function in their decision making by relying upon their emotions. With religious friends, they tend to state what they feel to be the case, rather what they think to be the case. If questioned about a certain decision, they again relie upon an emotional response. I've also been struck with the awareness that through their belief system they acquire a community, or an extended family if you will. Friends who turn born again often drop their old friends for believer friends and after some time, live in this social bubble of believers. Some at least, actively protect their beliefs, by avoiding reading anything that might challenge their belief system, even indirectly.
I think that in general, you are quite correct. And the things you say about community, friends and family are right. Religions offer a shared ideal, where large groups of people work towards the same goal. Salvation and “right-living” in whatever forms their religion offers them. I agree that religious people feel more than they think, but I think that is because the doctrines work upon the heart rather than the head. Religions are all about examining the heart. The mind is just expected to blindly follow along. If given the choice between faith and critical thinking, they will choose faith all of the time.
Philosophically belief is less energy consuming, it takes less energy to accept, take visually acquired perceptual knowledge it is automatic, it takes extra effort to question what seems apparent at a first impression. Independent thinking is also less rewarding I think when your part of a group. I think the dopamine/ the feel-good drug/chemical is in greater abundance. This is all in addition to, what the given mythology/religion promises its believer. The widespread emotional contagion is very up lifing surely increasing the desire for more. What else offers such a package, atheist/ critical thinkers, do not tend to groupthink or gather for support. No god isn't going anywhere real soon, it lives in the intellectual doldrums of any great majority within society.
Well said. Although I think there are some religious people that do seek to bring God into the realms of logic. Attempting to create logical arguments for its existence. But yes, believing is less taxing than critical thinking. Critical thinking will highlight the inconsistencies and impossibilities in the texts. But I wouldn't knock vertical thinking too much, because belief in a higher power (not necessarily the God of any organised religion) can be beneficial to us, and allow us to see things in a larger context than pure, rational, critical thinking. There is beauty and hope in the notion of a higher power that nothing else can offer. I find that vertical thinking "opens doors", whereas lateral thinking "closes them". I agree that God isn't going anywhere real soon, but if science continues to make ground-breaking discoveries and advances, the room for religious beliefs to manoeuvre will become smaller and smaller. Until God is a completely non-viable idea.
Theists believe, agnostics ponder and atheists analyse. A little bit of each should get us the right answer.