Do you belive in God?

[min0 lee]

Thank you, religion is used as a tool. Thats my point...people screw everything up.
If that's the purpose of religion I'll keep on believeing in god but not the people running organized religion.

 

[busyLivin]

Thank you, religion is used as a tool. Thats my point...people screw everything up.
If that's the purpose of religion I'll keep on believeing in god but not the people running organized religion.

I agree. I don't think that's the *intended* purpose of it, but it is always used that way. I go to church for my own reasons, not because a priest told me to. Religions are still organizations formed by fallible men. I take what I can from the Catholic Church & form my own relationship with God.

 

[min0 lee]

Well said.

I do send my kids to the Catholic Church, I want them to learn the religion. When they get older they can choose to do whatever they please.
As for me I just don't believe in people.

 

[nsimmons]

I cant say i believe in any god in the traditional sense of an omnipotent being. The more science and philosophy i study the more I'm drawn away from the classic views. First off, define God, define reality, define existence. You could define God as simply everything that ever was, is, or could be. You could define god as our creator. In that case we are becoming gods in genetic research.

And to say there must be a god because we cant explain something is just ignorant. Ask a child to explain how a airplane flies. They cant, so god must be doing it. From that perspective we are our own gods.

I don't think there is any fact or phenomenon that cant be explained in a logical rational manner. We may not have the ability to reason it due to inferior mental capacity, but that doesn't mean somewhere something cant understand it. Ask a dog why its warm in the house and explain basic electrical and thermodynamic theory, it cant. It never will be able to, yet its obvious to humans how the central heating in the home keeps the dog warm. As for as the dog is concerned god did it. Its will always be beyond its capacity.

Maybe theres aliens 1/2 billion years more advanced than us that have a total grasp of space and time, maybe they engineered us, maybe they're "god".

Its sound mathematical theory that given enough energy one could create a mini universe in a laboratory, and use that creation as an energy source. (Im getting very simplistic here). So how do we know our universe is not just the engine in some pizza boys delivery car. Is he our god? Or is it his mechanic.

If you really want to explore these concepts in detail, you have to place huge importance on linguistics and strict definitions. I think its safe to define god as the "unknown" and leave it at that. Its foolish and futile to try and understand god. Given this definition it would be impossible.

As such i belive in god as defined above.

 

[busyLivin]

Interesting... i find the opposite.. the more science I learn, the more I believe in God. The element of chance is far too great, in my opinion.

Aliens creating us only moves the creation problem elsewhere. I've always seen this proposal as simply an admission of the impossiblity of our existence by chance.

 

[nsimmons]

I fully agree with the alien theory as passing the buck, and having studied some microbiology I can see the aspect of "design" in it, particularly the bacterial flagellin. Christ its an outboard motor, with a prop, driveshaft, stator, etc. But that doesnt convince me that some christian god made it.

Remember the world is nothing but a flat plate on the back of a giant tortoise. Whats that tortoise standing on? To quote someone much smarter than me "Its turtles all the way down."

I truely feel that is the best explaination we'll ever come to. At least at our present evolutionary state.

 

[joesmooth20]

me and my daughter just got baptized. Native American rez where i'm from is real big
on the Episcopal religion. I kinda just did it so they would leave me alone about it.

 

[Dale Mabry]

I believe in a God when something bad happens, so that I have something to blame it on. When something goes right it is typically a product of my skill and intuition.

Actually, I am still searching for answers, but not in the lovely confines of a chrch or anything like that. I figure I will stumble into it at a bar prolly.

 

[busyLivin]

I believe in a God when something bad happens, so that I have something to blame it on. When something goes right it is typically a product of my skill and intuition.

 

[crazy_enough]

I believe in a God when something bad happens, so that I have something to blame it on. When something goes right it is typically a product of my skill and intuition.

Actually, I am still searching for answers, but not in the lovely confines of a chrch or anything like that. I figure I will stumble into it at a bar prolly.

And as far as Im concerned, no, I do not beleive in any shape or form of god or religion.

 

[Witmaster]

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
~Martin Luther, 1530AD

 

[rantheman]

Ditto to Witmaster

 

[Vieope]

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
~Martin Luther, 1530AD

Haha.. good one.

 

[overthepond]

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary...

Does that make Mary some form of Necrophiliac?

Having just read Gazer's interesting facts I have decided that there must be a God. A duck's quack does not echo, no one knows why.....that is God....just to fuck with us.

That is some cool shit.

 

[Decker]

as i study chemistry more, the more and more i believe there has to be a God. things are to perfect for this to happen because of some random elements coming together by chance in exactly the right secuence for life to happen.

Physicist Paul Davies, author of The Mind of God, arrives at a similar conclusion...that there is something fishy about the composition of the universe which lends itself to some sort of supernatural tampering. Due to the limits of rational thought though, suspicion is as good as it gets.

As for dogmatic assertions re the absolute authority of any religious doctrine, well, that seems to do injustice to human potential and responsibility. Personally, I find that kind of mythology to be a rationalization of true faith (always a mystery).

Rationalizing faith makes any religion simply a set of doctrines which anyone can easily believe in, but there's no meat on that bone. This can lead to extremists who believe only they know the true word of God as reflected in their religion's doctrine.

 

[LW83]

Having just read Gazer's interesting facts I have decided that there must be a God. A duck's quack does not echo, no one knows why.....that is God....just to fuck with us.

That is some cool shit.

There is no god

 

[Purdue Power]

As to the point on the first page about there having to be a beginning to time...not necessarily. Time can be infinite, having no beginning or ending. It is hard for us to conceptualize this, because we only have sensate knowledge of finite things. The universe, too, can be infinite. Again, it is hard to conceptualize, because we have no way of sensing something infinite. This can also be applied to the idea of God. It is hard for people to conceptualize "God" as being an infinite being, because we only have experience and knowledge of outselves as being finite.

Science and religion don't necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. Saint Thomas Aquinas's writing talk about how God may have started all processes, even the Big Bang. He says that everything was put in motion by something else in motion...thus saying that things that science says are true to the formation of planets, stars and such, but traced far enough back, God started it all. He basically says that God doesn't have a direct hand in everything, but he was the orignator of all processes.

I personally am an athiest, but I respect the fact that people have a concept of God and have something to hold onto. To me, it is about living our lives the best that we can. I don't believe in God, I believe in people and our capacity to be together and live our lives for each other.

 

[buff_tat2d_chic]

There is no god

 

[overthepond]

damn...there goes my theory.

 

[Decker]

There is no god

"You're not a man! You're a Bishop! For God's sake!"

 

[John H.]

Science would say no but science knows nothing when it comes to the universe and the grand sheme of things i always think these questions put perspective on things.

What started the universe?
What was before the start of the universe? and when did the universe start?

There had to be a point when the things happen i.e. big bang or whatever theory, but before that happened what was there? it must of been there for infinite time in which case how can the big bang happen? if there is no start point to something there can be no future dates.

If the ball of mass was there for 100000000 years then exploded (big bang)it still wouldnt make sence because 100000000 years from when? what point did day 1 start? to say 100000000 years.

If the universe if infinite then how can we be in point A (earth) when there Is no end or begining how can you pick a part of infinite to be in?

I dont belive things are just as worked out and simple as every one thinks, just living in your pocket of a life which you have worked out dosent mean your ignorance of what isnt explained and which can never be explained by humans should be taken with a pinch of salt.

I am not sure what I belive but I doubt that all that is in the universe wasn`t created all by itself somehow.

Hi Uzi9,

There is probably a higher power (Whoever you would perceive Him to be or call Him). Certainly something made "all this". As for "all loving, all knowing, all powerful, etc." - I highly doubt it because of all the misery that seems to pervade the world and always has at least according to recorded history - not much has really changed when taking about the basics and how each person treats others - there has not been any progress...

I think evil pervails in the world - look at religion. Before you slam me look at its history and see for yourself honestly and you will know what I am talking about.

If I had it in my power there are three things I would eliminate immediately from the face of the earth:

1) Child abuse - in any form by any one for any reason.

2) Religion - look at all of them closely, they are nothing more than gloried politics.

3) Politics. For obvious reasons.

Without these three this world would be so much better off. Truthfully.

Take Care, John H.

 

[busyLivin]

Hi Uzi9,

There is probably a higher power (Whoever you would perceive Him to be or call Him). Certainly something made "all this". As for "all loving, all knowing, all powerful, etc." - I highly doubt it because of all the misery that seems to pervade the world and always has at least according to recorded history - not much has really changed when taking about the basics and how each person treats others - there has not been any progress...

I think evil pervails in the world - look at religion. Before you slam me look at its history and see for yourself honestly and you will know what I am talking about.

If I had it in my power there are three things I would eliminate immediately from the face of the earth:

1) Child abuse - in any form by any one for any reason.

2) Religion - look at all of them closely, they are nothing more than gloried politics.

3) Politics. For obvious reasons.

Without these three this world would be so much better off. Truthfully.

Take Care, John H.

I see what you're saying, but you are excluding all of the GOOD that is in the world. We always seem to focus on the bad, but life can be (and is meant to be) beautiful.. which to points to a loving creator.

The three examples you gave, we created.

 

[bio-chem]

Hi Uzi9,



1) Child abuse - in any form by any one for any reason.



Take Care, John H.

like dr kinsey?

 

[John H.]

like dr kinsey?

Bio boy,

Dr. Kinsey abused no one - ever.

But "religious" people DO.

John H.

 

[bio-chem]

maybe your definition of abuse is different then mine, i went out and read his book, and from what i read it looks like he condoned practices that are by standards accepted in todays courts abuse. so swallow that pill

 

[John H.]

maybe your definition of abuse is different then mine, i went out and read his book, and from what i read it looks like he condoned practices that are by standards accepted in todays courts abuse. so swallow that pill

Bio boy,

YOU "read" the WHOLE BOOK? Completely. Did you UNDERSTAND what it stated accurately?

Did you did you do your own research into the research of Dr. Kinsey and his Associates and the work they are responsible for? Did you look at all aspect of it? With an open mind? Objectively?

"Today's courts"?!!! Hell if you remember it was the courts that let the catholic church off as an institution which perpetuated the abuse capabilities headed by a pope some would like to call a saint already that was involved in child abuse. This is nothing new and has been going on probably for centuries.

A friend of mind, his mother, who is about 80 years old and from Austria stated to me one time a few years ago when the abuse scandals first broke out - "I do not know why people here in this country are getting so upset" - and I asked her what she meant - she said in the old country (Europe) Sex with youg people , male and female, goes on all the time in the catholic church and always has. It is considered by the majority of the people as "their duty to the church". Now not much surprises me but that DID. And still does. Ever wonder why we never hear much about abuse EXCEPT in this country (USA). Anyone that thinks abuse is a "new thing" doesn't know much or has had their heads buried somewhere...

And most people who abuse children are "religious" types. Probably because of taught repression by "religion".

John H.

 

[busyLivin]

 

[busyLivin]

you really do hammer the church, John H. Obviously some of it's members are disturbed, but I would also call a person disturbed if they ask other males if they "hide their boners" as you frequently do.

 

[John H.]

you really do hammer the church, John H. Obviously some of it's members are disturbed, but I would also call a person disturbed if they ask other males if they "hide their boners" as you frequently do.

Hi Busy,

ME? "Hammer the church"? I think the church does that to itself. I am merely stating what I have noticed or heard or learned of. And if I were to "head" the church I certainly would NEVER make "rules" or allow them to continue that would cause an ordinary human being to be deprived of what is basic in any human being especially if it were found to contribute to the abuse of others.

As for hard-ons, they ARE natural and should naturally show if that is what is "going on at the time" - there is no real reason to "hide them", Nature INTENDS them to BE. That is not being "disturbed" but stating facts as they are. "Hiding them" is what is UNnatural. And "disturbed".

Take Care, John H.

 

[bio-chem]

so are you defending child abuse then, by not calling it child abuse. what was the point of your story, that abuse is relative? thats fine if thats your arguement, i still say that by the accepted standards in american culture what dr kinsey supported is considered child abuse in todays america.

i mean it all comes down to definitions and if your saying your definition of abuse allows for what dr kinsey did, then you are also arguing what the unfortunate children had to suffer through at the hands of a few priests (not the majority) is also not considered child abuse.