Do you believe that God exist?

[Beenthere123]

Damn that is a classic good one Oddball

Lauren does outline a very good way to look at life and how to treat others. I believe that you do feel at piece with yourself when respecting others.

On the other hand do I believe, sure there is some doubt but basically no I don't believe in a higher power. My decision comes from much research into the different religions. What crossed my mind is, since everyone has a different point of view hence the multiple religions then what is to say that anyone is right. There is no evidence so its up to your feelings on interpretation.

Did anyone know that GOD actually stands for Generator Operator Destroyer.

Since there is huge differences between the Old and New Testament Bibles it does raise some questions. In actual fact, the bible is a history book. This book has been changed to suit the current world powers at the time to suit their needs/empower their leaders. What is to say that so much has changed that very little original fact is left. Very much similar to the experiment where you have a circle of 20 people and the 1st person starts a thought and passes to the right and it keeps going person to person until at the end an entirely different meaning comes out. Thats only 20 people, what about 2000 years with some really self serving factions.

These are my issues with religion, however everyone must decide for themself to whats important to them in life.

GDL we think alike bud, well said.

 

[JohnFK]

I consider myself an agnostic. I tried being an atheist, but I gave it up when I realized I couldn't disprove God's existence.

There's three things I'm pretty sure of:

1) If a higher power were responsible for creating the universe, I don't think our limited brains are anywhere near capable of understanding such a power, let alone communicating with it.

2) If a higher power does exist, She sure as hell isn't impressed at the ridiculous things we do in Her name.

3) People can believe whatever they want, as long as they don't use those beliefs as an excuse to tell me how to live.

(Wishful thinking, I know...) :roll:

I believe in God but I don't understand 'him' fully, and perhaps don't agree with him on everything, or all that's in that Good Book.

1) I believe he has communicated with some of us, maybe all of us in some secret way.

2) No, he's not impressed with a lot of stuff we've done, but he knows we're human - to err is to be human. Some stuff we do right, but we've got a long road ahead of us to impress all the time.

3) I agree with your 3rd point.

How can there not be a God when there are sexy girls like you and your June Playmate Adelle around?

Then again, I don't have an answer for Amber-Jade. Or one for a relative (who has Alzheimer's). They say he works in mysterious ways. What can I say?

P.S. I think part of his plan is for us to figure things out for ourselves. He gave us free will, so it's up to us. It's the only way we will evolve as a species.

 

[JohnFK]

An interesting thread. I take great interest in religion, faith-based life and spiritual culture.

I decided in the end, it is totally irrelevant whether or not God exists, becaus the answer does not change the way I live my life. I need to look no father then the eyes of the stranger next to me on the subway to see why I must be good to my fellow human beings. I see the value of culture and civilization, which provide us the chance to live a dignified life.

Ultimatly I do believe in a great connector between all creation and sentiant life. However, I believe it is foolish to assume we can believe what it desires. I do not believe it's God's job to give our life meaning, like a pretty little gift meant to be unraveled. That is too easy, too much like a spoiled child. Part of life's purpose is for us
to find and build our own meaning.

I also believe that with God giving us free will, that means Divintiy cannot get involved even to help us. We are always free, for better or worse. When horrible things happen to us, I feel God's heart is the first to break with sadness.

I believe the value of faith-based living is only to teach how to live an examined life, as a life unexamined is a life that has been wasted.

Is this another way of saying, live one's life according to Christ's teachings?

 

[JohnFK]

He'd forgive you Ray, and give you a big glass of red wine.

 

[Beenthere123]

He'd forgive you Ray, and give you a big glass of red wine.

 

[Lauren Summerhill]

Is this another way of saying, live one's life according to Christ's teachings?

It can be found in all the faiths.

I believe in God for one main reason:

When people like Einstein and Hawkings refer to God with confidence, men who have the ability to understand and compute information in ways that are usually limited to computers, and have the vision of artists, which allow them to understand that information, and create ground breaking work.... I have to give long pause for consideration. Who am I to disagree with them?

Many of the world's greatest minds firmly believed in God, in and out of the scientific field, and I think there's something to be said for that.

 

[Lou Siffer]

I believe I started this same thread, a year or two ago, on another board. It always generates some interesting discussion.

I don't believe in "God". I do believe in karma, spirituality and an afterlife.

God, Buddha, Alla, Ram all has to do with believing in something. You have to have faith and to do that you must believe in one higher up being.

One higher up being? Really? There's no other way to have faith?

 

[Darfus]

I do not believe in God, but even if there is a God, I highly doubt God is like the way religions are trying to teach us.

 

[Friend of Greekster]

You know if that was Mohammed someone would declare Jihad on you.

 

[BFF]

One thing is for sure. We are all going to find out one day whether there is a "higher powe"r or a "god". That my dear friends is inevitable.

 

[mistermello]

So we're debating the Judeo-Christian conception of God? There are a variety of world views that disagree with having a single masculine Godhead, yet we disregard them. Why?

In my opinion, God as male (or even as a single figure) is a very androcentric perspective that fits so nicely with the capitalist model.

Since the archaic period humans have been telling variations on creation stories, and as a species we're trying to explain our existence and our moral code though a figure we've constructed... story telling and morality are fun, but we're all stardust* in the end

[*reference to astronomy 101 wherein you learn that the galaxy is composed of minerals and elements from dead asteroids, comets, and planets]

I notice that, dispite your skeptisim, you still accord God a capital G. Since the archaic period God (so do I, a habit I cannot break) has been used to explain the unknown and the unexpalinable. The concept and stories have been used to help keep order in societies but have, of course, caused great disorder and strife in the world as a whole. Major religions have invested heavily in the institutions that are based on their folk law. So, as mankind has discovered more and more about the origins of earth and man, these heavily invested institutions have had to either adapt or dig in their heels and deny theories such as eveolution. It's a bit like the oil companies conspiring to supress discoveries which will lessen the demand for oil.
Having said all that, I do not underestimate the fact that faith and believe in a God of some form can help many people deal with personal tragedies and disasters. While I understand and agree with many Judeo-Christian principles, for me the rituals and stories that surround them are just too simplistic and fantasy laden to be te interpreted as more than great works of fiction.
Is there a God? I really don't know but I doubt that he looks like me or she looks like you Adelle.

 

[a 1 player]

I do not believe in God. For the short version as to why, I refer you to George Carlin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

 

[ralp]

I believe in a guiding force.

To me there are too much evidence in the world that it’s neither entirely random nor is there a traditional god who is involved in every event in everyone's life. There are too many holes in both the typical religion and natural selection based explanations of life the world and the universe for me. The guiding force plays somewhere in the middle; sort of a plan, a set of broad rules, but not definitive to the point of certainty.

A fascinating look at the concept of god is in Justin Barrett’s book “Why would anyone believe in God?”. In it, he examines the way the human mind works (regardless of culture) to explain why humans are predisposed to believe in some form of god. An interesting aspect of Barrett is that while his work focuses on the processes of the human mind, and (in this book) why it is natural for humans to believe in unseen beings with extraordinary powers, he himself is a practicing religious person. Another bridge between science and religion.

 

[Looney]

I notice that, dispite your skeptisim, you still accord God a capital G. Since the archaic period God (so do I, a habit I cannot break) has been used to explain the unknown and the unexpalinable. The concept and stories have been used to help keep order in societies but have, of course, caused great disorder and strife in the world as a whole. Major religions have invested heavily in the institutions that are based on their folk law. So, as mankind has discovered more and more about the origins of earth and man, these heavily invested institutions have had to either adapt or dig in their heels and deny theories such as eveolution. It's a bit like the oil companies conspiring to supress discoveries which will lessen the demand for oil.
Having said all that, I do not underestimate the fact that faith and believe in a God of some form can help many people deal with personal tragedies and disasters. While I understand and agree with many Judeo-Christian principles, for me the rituals and stories that surround them are just too simplistic and fantasy laden to be te interpreted as more than great works of fiction.
Is there a God? I really don't know but I doubt that he looks like me or she looks like you Adelle.

You write like T-girl :shock:

 

[Lou Siffer]

Some interesting reading... I think...



Disclaimer: I haven't actually read these books. I've seen Richard Dawkins in a couple of interviews. He basically says that anyone who still believes in God today is a complete idiot.

 

[rodman11]

Some interesting reading... I think...



Disclaimer: I haven't actually read these books. I've seen Richard Dawkins in a couple of interviews. He basically says that anyone who still believes in God today is a complete idiot.

Is that why all his books are 50% off.

 

[iceman_dci]

All good points by the ladies and gentlemen. Myself? Total agnostic. I cannot disprove of a tangible (or once was tangible god in the roman catholic sense). I do believe in sprituality and how people can derive power from those beliefs whether its from a widely practiced sect or one that is unique to a small group or just ones self.

My beliefs are unique and unlike anyones elses, but as Lauren pointed out, who's to say that why we can't be kind to a perfect stranger? Compassion can be stronger than religion, although every religion preaches it, yet some religions go to war over for their "passion" of their religion. It seems a lot of wars begin with a breakdown in compassion....different subject but you get my drift.

I don't shun anyone for their beliefs or religious factions...if we were all the same, life would be boring and we'd have nothing to discuss but complacancy about everything.

 

[mistermello]

I like it.

However

While complacency is boring (vive la revolution!), the level of chaos and disorder that the world religions cause is ridiculous.

Agree wholeheatedly, but it isn't just religions that cause the chaos. Tribalism, political ideology and good old money have contributed plenty to human suffering.

 

[GDLLover]

One thing is for sure. We are all going to find out one day whether there is a "higher powe"r or a "god". That my dear friends is inevitable.

Maybe not, some may be intercepted by the fellow in red carrying a trident.

 

[jiggyjiggy]

I do not believe in God. For the short version as to why, I refer you to George Carlin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

Hilarious, I have never seen that clip before. Funny and very true.