developing belief systems. I was merely describing some thst I'm familiar with regarding the predestination that was mentioned in the OP.
As to your question, I think we see in the US today that people's beliefs can make a great difference in our lives as they influence people's politics and social activism. Churches were and still are a community center for activism in civil rights, especially among African Americans. Religious beliefs are associated with Native American ecological preservation. Libersl Christian and Jewish groups are taking active roles in the humanitarian issues of migrants and refugees.
Many agnostics or atheists have well grounded ethics and values that they follow - integrity, compassion and kindness, a sense of right and wrong, of justice and personal and social responsibility. I admire their honesty about what they do not or can not believe and respect their rights on that.
Some people OTOH need or prefer religious beliefs in their lives. In religion they find paths of spiritual growth and a grounding for their moral values as well as hope, comfort, and strength in hard times. Who am I - or any of us - to tell them what to believe or not believe so long as they accept the rights of others who do not share their beliefs? Yeah, there are people whose beliefs are harmful or intolersnt and they need pushback IMO.
But I find it petty and childish that some people need to ridicule all religions or religious people across the board simply because they have a religious faith.
I grew up in a church-going family and was taught the Christian beliefs in our denomination. I attended church as an adult off and on, sometimes regularly and sometimes not so much. I went through a long period of agnosticism.
But I attend church now for a variety of reasons. One is probably my early life exposure to religion influencing me in that direction for spirituality. But my perspective also changed and grew. I look beyond literalism to spiritual meanings in sacred stories, doctrines, and symbols. I find guidance and self reflection for personal growth through meditation and discussions. I've found a liberal church that I feel compatible with. It gives me opportunities to give back to society through community service programs. It also gives me a place to meet regularly with positive minded people in a less than positive minded world.
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