Ask HN: Why do you believe that your religion/faith/worldview is correct?

This is another popular proof of God I have heard from many people, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, almost everyone. It sounds very selfish and ignorant of the world proof.

There is some sort of selection bias because these people survived and some of their prayers were answered.

It makes me wonder what about other people whose prayers were not answered? What about children whose prayers were not answered. History is full of really evil things happening to people of all religions. It seems at least on group of people should be praying to right God, why didn't God help them?

Be like the inmates in the US who had nothing to do in their lives but lifelong learning, then studied every religion, ideology, -ism they can find and then ultimately reverted to Islam.

Understanding Islam push your logic to its limits while appreciating its limits (i.e. you cannot understand the unseen/ghaib with mind alone, you need to accept the revealed knowledge). In Islamic theology, both acceptance and understanding of the revealed knowledge (Quran and Sunnah), AND using logic to understand the theology itself, are important. Islamic theology at the basic level is easy, however once you go deeper, things get real tough to comprehend -- you need logic at its best to be able to understand.

Unlike other religious groups that define faith as something you engage in despite facts (a "leap of faith"), I see it as a return to objectivity and reason that is, first and foremost, based on facts.

The first fact I am referring to is the utter helplessness and dependency of mankind on forces outside our control, and the seemingly perfect ordering of everything in the natural world to our advantage even though cosmically we are only a speck of dust and a blip in time.

The second is the existence of individuals throughout history who succeed against all odds in calling their people to worship a wise Creator whom they claim to be sent by, and whose teachings become guiding principles in the minds of billions of people of different races, cultures, and languages.

There are many, many more signposts but these are the most obvious.

Specifically about Islam, I researched the religion before I embraced it and found the exact opposite of what its detractors say. I found a moral teaching superior to all others containing no contradictions with science or reason. Every theological or moral problem that used to trouble me had an answer in Islam, and not only that, but usually in the most ancient sources.

The clarity and "take it on face value" character of Islam was very satisfying to me in a time of my life I was experiencing a lot of confusion. There are no baffling paradoxes in Islam, or ranks of mystic knowledge to climb. It's about accepting simple truths, like the Oneness of God, reality of death, etc. into your heart in deeper and deeper ways, and a sense of communion based on that that transcends millenia and unites continents.

Also, as a side note, there's a very important fact that atheists / agnostics dismiss too easily, which is the answering of prayers. Until you yourself have been in dire need, prayed for something improbable, then received it from a direction you didn't expect, you can't understand the effect that experience has. It's easy just to say, "you're imagining it," or, "confirmation bias."

I am not the type of person to enjoy religious flame wars, just posting for those who are curious.

How old are you? ;) I completely agree with you. I love thinking and imagining reasons for things that we do not yet have answers to. But at the same time I recognize the probabilities of my explanations being correct. While, many followers in organized religions blindly and devoutly believe that their religion is the one true explanation, which is illogical to me.

>Be aware (just in case!) your perception of religion as merely a means of control may be a projection of your own desire to control others, out of your own fear of the unknown beyond what is “scientifically known”, and in doing so have made the religious ones who are “others” who believe in something “shady”, “others” who are less than you.

That's an interesting point. I've accepted that our lives are a temporary spec of existence on an insignificant rock, and I'm oaky with that. I also believe that we should fulfill our evolutionary purpose by propagating, improving technology, and recording information for future generations. If I made it seem that I think religious people are "less than" that is not how I feel. I'm okay with anyone believing anything they want to help them get through their day as long as they aren't harming others. My only point in that sense was the confusion I face with people seeking evidence and facts while engineering things and solving problems, but not applying the same scientific method to everyday life.

A modern example I can think of when it comes to religions being a form of control is how the republican party has a very profound base of religious conservatives. Many of whom are working class people, but the republican party is run mainly by wealthy elite. Most of the fiscal reforms that the republican party espouses do not have a direct impact on the wealth of the working class, but they republican party is able to capture all of these votes. (I have religious family who seem to get most of their political influence from their church). So many other historical examples of religion being a major contributor to the success of empires and countries . The Roman empire and Islamic empires being some examples. Helps you unify people, they are devout because they are promised eternal salvation, etc.