Do you believe in God?

[arora]

The Bible was written by people, not God himself. Like I said, I don't always take everything in the Bible word for word.

Regardless of whether you take it word for word or not, you should at least understand what it says and what it pertains to.(especially if you are using it to make a point) Going back to 12:22 and reading through it, it should be clear to see the blaspheme is specific to the pharisees claim of God's work being that of Satan's. Also worth noting, the word 'hell' is not used anywhere in that verse, only 'not forgiven'.

As long as you don't see the Bible as absolute fact, it doesn't really matter to me what you believe. It's the ones who think they have to stone everyone for sins and hate people for not believing that are dangerous.

And if someone does see it as absolute fact? I have never thought once of stoning anyone and I don't hate people for not believing either. There are dangerous people in all groups of; religion, atheism, race, politics, sexual orientation, etc.

I would like to think though, that if there is a god (which is possible, I just don't think it's true) that it would be kind enough to favor morality and reason, rather than worship

An argument against organized religion though, not an argument against the existence of God. Maybe there is a reasoning that by systematically debunking all religions the only conclusion left is there is no God. Even if that where true, I contend it will do little or nothing to better the human race. I think it's the point of all Theoretical Atheists though, or Positive Atheists.(I get them confused)

I can hope that this long sad story, this progression of priests and ministers and rabbis and ulamas and imams and bonzes and bodhisattvas, will come to an end. I hope this is something to which science can contribute ... it may be the most important contribution that we can make.

 

[Bobalob]

From my limited understanding it seems Christians have always warped their understanding of the bible to fit the current age?

And the church held back medicine for a long, long time.

 

[W3H5]

I'm an atheist because I don't think there's a god, not because I feel there may be some benefit to it if the right god happens to exist.

I do think being an atheist means you don't believe in anything. If you believe there is no God then you believe in something. Right?

I haven't posted here for a long time because this thread is mainly about religion and not divinity. Most posters seem to think the notion of God is to do with religion. It isn't. People can believe in a Meta Schema without conforming to a religious order.

 

[TheCracker]

I do think being an atheist means you don't believe in anything. If you believe there is no God then you believe in something. Right?

I haven't posted here for a long time because this thread is mainly about religion and not divinity. Most posters seem to think the notion of God is to do with religion. It isn't. People can believe in a Meta Schema without conforming to a religious order.

An atheist 'rejects belief in the existence of deities'


An agnostic closer fits your description as in they are open to the possibility of there being a god or gods, but don't see themselves as being religious.

 

[W3H5]

An agnostic closer fits your description as in they are open to the possibility of there being a god or gods, but don't see themselves as being religious.

Ah, that's what I was thinking of. 👍

 

[Encyclopedia]

There seems to be quite a few definitions of the isms. I call myself an atheist simply because I have no belief in god/gods, but that isn't the same as knowing. Just as theism is a belief in god/gods, not knowing.
I've heard terms like agnostic atheism etc. but I don't think they're strictly necessary

The way I interpret agnosticism is simply having no opinion about the existence or non-existence of god/gods. Like saying there is no way to be sure (which is of course true) and therefore chose not to "take a stance".

Am I right or wrong?

 

[arora]

Am I right or wrong?

I agree with you.

There are many classifications people like to use or be put into, we like labels I think most would put agnostic into a form of atheism but not all, here is an English philosophers' take.

Many different definitions may be offered of the word 'God'. Given this fact, atheism makes a much stronger claim than theism does. The atheist says that no matter what definition you choose, 'God exists' is always false. The theist only claims that there is some definition which will make 'God exists' true. In my view, neither the stronger nor the weaker claim has been convincingly established.

The true default position is neither theism nor atheism, but agnosticism ... a claim to knowledge needs to be substantiated; ignorance need only be confessed.

 

[TJC_69]

The bible states that God created man in his own image .

Evolution proves that we have ancestors / common ancestors that don't resemble man at all .

( The reason why this issue causes a huge uproar in US schools can logically be deduced as anything that goes against the Bible cannot be fact , as God himself said it is not true .... And all that dark ages rubbish . )

So therefore I deduce that God does not exist , the Bible is the most successful fictional hardback in history & God is just a coping mechanism of ancient man to try & understand his surroundings .

I respect peoples rights to believe in whatever they like . If you believe , for example , that your grandma's teapot is your ultimate saviour then that's just fine by me .


I believe in facts & proof , & since nobody has proved there is a God in 4.5 billion years then i'll just have to use my own logic instead.

 

[hampus_dh]

No i dont believe in fairytales.

if anyone do believe it then show me the mathematics that support it.

From my limited understanding it seems Christians have always warped their understanding of the bible to fit the current age?

Yes, a giod example is the Earth.
Accirding to the bible the earth is flat and rests on four pillars. Science has proven that weong so now the christians pick and choose the things that can co-exist with science an the stuff that's just off the wall, they just inteprate so again, it can work alongside the bible.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Why spoil it for him, eh? Wouldn't it be funny if he turned out to be right after all?

I look at it like this. If I'm wrong and there is no God, I've got nothing to lose by going to church anyway (Well, other than about an hour of my weekend which doesn't mean a whole lot). And if I'm right, well then good for me. And if another religion happens to actually be correct, then I might be screwed. But if you're like LMS and simply believe someone's up there, you've basically given yourself the best chance possible.

...I've given myself the best chance possible? Were you trying to knock me down a peg? Seriously though I would say Deist do this then, believing the idea of god is quite possible, just not with all the human romantics that come along with it that organized churches use. I don't see what is so hard to understand that people like me believe in god but don't see the reason for a personal god, if I did see a reason for a personal god I would understand that the god would listen to proper pleas and not Jack asking for a new supercharger to put in his BMW M3.

I simply see god as a being that has coded the universe and created life on varies worlds, but also parallel universes as well. If I'm wrong though and when we all die it's no more, then what did I lose or gain for my beliefs? To me when I see some of the responses that lead to atheism here, I see it due to organized religion...and that tells me that all you've done is denounce organized religion and their concept of god which at times is contradicting and simple to do. Believing something more powerful (obviously) created this universe and others like it and is a being beyond our comprehension (at this time) is all I believe.

Then again from time to time I consider Jesus Christ a possible alien

 

[boomee]

Yes, a giod example is the Earth.
Accirding to the bible the earth is flat and rests on four pillars. Science has proven that weong so now the christians pick and choose the things that can co-exist with science an the stuff that's just off the wall, they just inteprate so again, it can work alongside the bible.

I dont know where getting your info from but the bible does not say the earth is flat Christians do not pick and choose things out for interpratation

 

[boomee]

WHy do so many people think that by being ''good you go to heaven or if you go to Church you go to heaven its just not true you can not get to Heaven through works of whatsover.

 

[hampus_dh]

...I've given myself the best chance possible? Were you trying to knock me down a peg? Seriously though I would say Deist do this then, believing the idea of god is quite possible, just not with all the human romantics that come along with it that organized churches use. I don't see what is so hard to understand that people like me believe in god but don't see the reason for a personal god, if I did see a reason for a personal god I would understand that the god would listen to proper pleas and not Jack asking for a new supercharger to put in his BMW M3.

I simply see god as a being that has coded the universe and created life on varies worlds, but also parallel universes as well. If I'm wrong though and when we all die it's no more, then what did I lose or gain for my beliefs? To me when I see some of the responses that lead to atheism here, I see it due to organized religion...and that tells me that all you've done is denounce organized religion and their concept of god which at times is contradicting and simple to do. Believing something more powerful (obviously) created this universe and others like it and is a being beyond our comprehension (at this time) is all I believe.

Then again from time to time I consider Jesus Christ a possible alien

Then who created him? God 2?
And who created him? God3?

Or was he just around all the time playing The Sims on a massive scale for all eternity?

Why havent the word "Nature" popped up instead of a being with intentions to judge your life after you have died?
It makes absolutely no sense.

IMO the universe is just one big nature. And it lives and dies just like we do.

I dont know where getting your info from but the bible does not say the earth is flat Christians do not pick and choose things out for interpratation

actually it does.

Do you also believe the world rests on four pillars? Also said in the bible.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Then who created him? God 2?
And who created him? God3?

Or was he just around all the time playing The Sims on a massive scale for all eternity?

Why havent the word "Nature" popped up instead of a being with intentions to judge your life after you have died?
It makes absolutely no sense.

IMO the universe is just one big nature. And it lives and dies just like we do.

It's my belief I don't know if a god exist anymore than you do, so those rhetorical questions really don't lead to great discussion. Also I disagree with that idea of the universe since I believe in the idea of multiple universes that exist all at once. To me the idea of multiple ever going universe popping up all the time in a space of infinity.

 

[hampus_dh]

It's my belief I don't know if a god exist anymore than you do, so those rhetorical questions really don't lead to great discussion. Also I disagree with that idea of the universe since I believe in the idea of multiple universes that exist all at once. To me the idea of multiple ever going universe popping up all the time in a space of infinity.

Ok but you choose to believe it anyway based on fear for being weong after you die?

i agree with the multiverse theory but i cant see how a being would create it.

Hole crap, just looked at the poll...
Its worse then i thought

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Ok but you choose to believe it anyway based on fear for being weong after you die?

i agree with the multiverse theory but i cant see how a being would create it.

No, where do I say that? We all have to accept death, but my belief in god for the reason you ask would mean I support a religion and I don't as I clearly have said.

I see god in the same way as I see a computer or software programmer. I believe cause it's easy for me to do so and it helps me try to make sense of what the universe is or why it is. My belief isn't because of what happens after death, I just want to know the answers of the universe and at times I think a being or whatever helps explain somethings until they are explained otherwise. As well as knowing that science is not always set in stone and what we know today may be wrong the next day.

 

[boomee]

actually it does.

Do you also believe the world rests on four pillars? Also said in the bible.

if it does please show me where ? I believe that the world rests in Gods hands

The Shape of the Earth
"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in," (Isaiah 40:22, NIV). This may or may not be construed to support the spherical shape of the earth. The horizon is a circle and a circle is flat.

The Earth is suspended in nothing
"He spreads out the northern [skies] over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing," (Job. 26:7, NIV). This is particularly interesting, considering that the cosmology of other cultures at that time did not have the earth suspended in nothing, but rather upon pillars, or people, or animals.

 

[hampus_dh]

Isaiah 11:12
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH. (KJV)

Revelation 7:1
1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. (KJV)

Job 38:13
13 That it might take hold of the ENDS OF THE EARTH, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? (KJV)

Jeremiah 16:19
19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ENDS OF THE EARTH, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. (KJV)

----

Name one sphere that has four corners.

"He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. (From the NIV Bible, Job 9:6)"

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. (From the NIV Bible, Job 38:4)"


Now since you believe everything written in it. Where are the pillars they speak of?


Could it nor be that 2.000 years afo nobody knew ANYTHING!
so they decided to write a book about what think happened.

Who wrote the bible and for how long was it written?

No, where do I say that? We all have to accept death, but my belief in god for the reason you ask would mean I support a religion and I don't as I clearly have said.

I see god in the same way as I see a computer or software programmer. I believe cause it's easy for me to do so and it helps me try to make sense of what the universe is or why it is. My belief isn't because of what happens after death, I just want to know the answers of the universe and at times I think a being or whatever helps explain somethings until they are explained otherwise. As well as knowing that science is not always set in stone and what we know today may be wrong the next day.

it was a question mate. seeing as you said "well if im right im right and if im not then ok"

Could you explin how you got to that god-theory?
And also your theory about God himself or herself?

What is your theory on who created GOD?
I assume you have one since you have a theory that he exists.

 

[Touring Mars]

@ hampus_dh, can you please refrain from double-posting... if you need to add something to your post, please use the Edit button 👍

 

[hampus_dh]

@ hampus_dh, can you please refrain from double-posting... if you need to add something to your post, please use the Edit button 👍

Sorry i forget, will try and remember it.

 

[TankAss95]

What is your theory on who created GOD?
I assume you have one since you have a theory that he exists.

God created time. Before he did so he was always there in all eternity, therefore no one could have created God since he has never had a beginning, or an end.
Think of it as if our "time" is linear. Gods "time" is more like circular.

I believe god made time to let us comprehend his works.

 

[hampus_dh]

God created time. Before he did so he was always there in all eternity, therefore no one could have created God since he has never had a beginning, or an end.
Think of it as if our "time" is linear. Gods "time" is more like circular.

I believe god made time to let us comprehend his works.

Ok and this theory arise from where?

And what is time? Is it just something we use to keep track of our own time here on earth?
And what about the fact that time is not constant? if you are in space time slows down etc.

 

[homeforsummer]

I just want to know the answers of the universe and at times I think a being or whatever helps explain somethings until they are explained otherwise.

I think this is my issue with the concept. I'm absolutely fine with people believing in God, but I don't think doing so actually explains anything. Nor even gives reason for many things. The most explanation that can be given for a great many things happening is "God works in mysterious ways", which is a bit like someone explaining why they like cheese by saying "because I do". There's no information or explanation in the statement, it's simply a generic answer.

Too much of what you might like to call "God's word" is based entirely on interpretation rather than evidence, and in that respect I don't see how God or religion can give you the answers of the universe.

If you'll pardon the slightly dodgy analogy, turning to religion for the answers of the universe is like going car shopping and buying the first one you come to because it's the easiest thing to do, rather than searching hard for the one that's really best for you.

And what is time?

If you'll indulge me: Time is an arbitrary concept used to describe a sequence of events. And the second law of thermodynamics implies that at some point time will end, since at some point in the future matter can no longer break down any further. When there is no difference between one state of events and another state of events, then time cannot pass.

 

[TankAss95]

Ok and this theory arise from where?

And what is time? Is it just something we use to keep track of our own time here on earth?
And what about the fact that time is not constant? if you are in space time slows down etc.

I believe in God because of experiences that have happened in my life. This theory arose from the people whom I grew up upon. I know God is real through faith, yet because I have no substantial evidence of God for proof to show non believers, my belief is considered invaluable in an argument. This said though, most agree that you cannot simply disprove God, because there is no evidence that he is not real. If you cannot disprove something then does that mean it may be true?
So we cannot properly prove the existence of God, and we cannot disprove the existence of God either. What do know is that there have been millions of lives transformed through belief in this God. Some people say that this is due to self comfort, I know this is false through my own experiences in life, yet I cannot prove anything as I have said previously.
In my opinion life is pointless without faith, I couldn't go through life day to day without it. It encourages me and gives my hope and a set of morals to live by. It gives my life meaning.
It is a belief. Any arguments against it would be pointless in my opinion.

And what is time? I always thought that time is a measurement of the longevity of reactions or events. I believe God created time through creating points of reference from which we can measure from. I cannot respond about the point of time slowing down purely because I have little knowledge of such topic.

 

[hampus_dh]

Faith in what? The presumed "afterlife"?
Hoping that you get to "heaven"?

And what are these experiences you have had and have you compared them with little Ali that was brought up in a war, fed with heroine and then given an AK47 which he then went out and started shooting with which eventually led to his death at 5 years old?

Could any of you experiences have a rational, logical explanation to them or better yet, a scientific explanation to it?

 

[Michael88]

Totally depends on the definition of ''God' - What exactly is God?

I'm kind of a semi-agnostic, I believe in a higher creative entity that created the Universe and our physics, an intelligence far different than our biblical god with his human character traits, an entity beyond our understanding. Could it be called god?

Do I believe in a biblical god who lives in heaven, cares about humanity and sacrificed his own son for us etc.? No, and thats why I voted ''No''.

 

[TankAss95]

Faith in what? The presumed "afterlife"?
Hoping that you get to "heaven"?

And what are these experiences you have had and have you compared them with little Ali that was brought up in a war, fed with heroine and then given an AK47 which he then went out and started shooting with which eventually led to his death at 5 years old?

Could any of you experiences have a rational, logical explanation to them or better yet, a scientific explanation to it?

Please re-read my previous post. I think you'll find the answers there.

I have faith in God and what the Bible teaches. Part of that includes faith that I will get to heaven. Maybe it is wrong of me to presume you think these beliefs as being stupid. It's my religion. I keep it to myself. I believe such things are the only real logical explanation to everything. I feel that science explanations are very often stupid, yet I keep that opinion to myself. I do not take these theories and laugh at their "stupidity" like many people do so about Christianity.
No, I do not compare myself to such characters. If you find no difference between brainwashed "cults" or extremist organisations to a humble child discussing his own opinion of God then it fills my heart with much pain. If these are the kind of people who represent Christianity, or any religion to you, then no wonder you have such views.
And how exactly can I prove an experience? How can I provide a logical explanation of my experiences? I walk with God day to day. He helps me through life. If you want any proof of that then unfortunately your wish cannot be granted. That goes with your wish to prove God. It is a futile task, especially when you are so single minded and (excuse me if I'm wrong) so negative to the whole concept of religion all together.

 

[boomee]

look Im not claiming to have all the answers about the Lord but if you are stiaght thinking of it through just Logic there are enough people that can convince you either way its not a intellectual thing a person lacks its could be more spiritual. The other thing is just because people don't believe in God doesn't mean there isnt one. I dont believe that I cam from amoeba or some ape just bang we just appeared I believe God made every single one of us and cares for every single one of us he made us all in his image, He sent his Son Jesus to die on the Cross for our sins. and rose again on the third day to show that sin did not bind him to give us all a chance at going to heaven and being with him because God loves us. A lot of people believe Jesus was a real person in history and they say he was a '' good man'' well either Jesus is what he claimed to be or mad man there is no in between. I challenge anyone to really take the time to study the bible and refute its claims
Its not my religion that keeps me going its my growing relationship with my Lord.I do not claim to have all the answers. I am growing and learning everyday. God has a plan for everything and everyone weather we follow it or not is our choice God gives us all free will. Also just because your saved doesn't mean the road is a bed of roses it will probably make Life harder if anything. but I believe its well worth it.
Its all about faith

 

[Famine]

I challenge anyone to really take the time to study the bible and refute its claims

Please familiarise yourself with the concept of "non-falsifiability".

You cannot refute a non-falsifiable claim. I claim that there is an invisible, intangible pink teapot orbiting your head at five times the speed of light. This is non-falsifiable.

 

[Tic Tach]

Christians do not pick and choose things out for interpratation

Yes they do. ALL of them, all the time. That's why there so many denominations. Put any two christians together, and you'll likely find a generous list of things they don't agree upon about their beliefs. Yet they all subscribe to the same book.


Imagine a world in which generations of human beings come to believe that certain films were made by God or that specific software was coded by him. Imagine a future in which millions of our descendants murder each other over rival interpretations of Star Wars or Windows 98. Could anything, anything be more ridiculous? And yet, this would be no more ridiculous than the world we are living in. (Sam Harris)



The Bible is a non-standardized Rorschach test. Interpretations say far more about the believer than they do about the text.