Do you believe in God?

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

You do a good job with snippets
Of course you joined for the sole reason of GT...since you did join for GT purposes can I race you?

You should look into CNN or MSNBC or FOX or any other cable media that likes to put spin on things...and thanks for the picture I love your idea of taking the normal and making extremism the normal. Just to let you know I'm applauding for you right now and I see a bright future if you were to run in the 2012 elections.

 

[Akira AC]

Well I stand my point, religion is just the most horrible thing that the mankind is experiencing, specially considering the motivations and background of the guy that executed the shooting on Norway (Christian extremist, something that wont show up in US media, regardless of its severity).

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Well I stand my point, religion is just the most horrible thing that the mankind is experiencing, specially considering the motivations and background of the guy that executed the shooting on Norway (Christian extremist, something that wont show up in US media, regardless of its severity).

Actually it did show up in the U.S. media that he was an extremist...CNN had a big thing about it. Maybe you shouldn't go out on limbs...you might fall!

 

[Ibonibo]

I believe in something bigger than the human condition, without following the dogmas of a religion.
So I'm not an atheist, and not a practical religious, but as i was raised as catholic, I believe in something in those lines, but just not the crap that a pedophile association wants me to believe.
I try to be a good human beeing, be tolorant, understanding and respectful.

 

[Moot]

However, trolls gonna troll.

This is such an annoying phrase. I think all it means is that you are out of your depth in the discussion and don't know what else to do but claim it's all a joke which you disapprove of.

 

[Sam48]

I'm still not following you friend. Perhaps if I change one word I'll make my point clearer:

When one places their belief that unicorns exist under critical inquiry, one cannot come out the other end believing that they do.

No, that does not change anything.

What I'm getting at is, do you doubt yourself in regards to your statements? I know I asked, but you didn't really say. (I guess I'd rather have a yes or no)
The reason I ask is because of this statement.

For when one does that, one cannot come out the other end believing the patently rediculous claims of christianity

 

[Tic Tach]

What I'm getting at is, do you doubt yourself in regards to your statements? I know I asked, but you didn't really say. (I guess I'd rather have a yes or no)

The reason I ask is because of this statement:

"For when one does that, one cannot come out the other end believing the patently rediculous claims of christianity."


There's something going on here where I just don't understand what you're saying/asking, but I'll take a stab at it.

I made the statement that if and when a person has the courage to bring their supernatural/religious beliefs under the light of rational, skeptical and intellectually honest inquiry and scrutiny, it is not possible to come out the other end with the stance that the beliefs are tenable. Same goes for astrology, tarot cards, healing crystals, etc.

Now you seem to be asking me if I doubt my statement. I don't get that. Yes, for everything I say, think, feel, hold to be true.......doubt is always ready & waiting, idling in the background, ready to be employed. It's one of the tools of reason that doesn't get put away.

Does that address what you're getting at?

 

[yellowclone]

I checked yes, and I AM A PROUD CHRISTIAN!

You have the right to believe what you want, but remember, for believers and non believers, one of us is right and the other is wrong. I am not saying which is right and which is wrong, but I know what I believe.

 

[Encyclopedia]

What if both are wrong? The truth might be something we can't even think of.

 

[Tic Tach]

I checked yes, and I AM A PROUD CHRISTIAN!

You have the right to believe what you want, but remember, for believers and non believers, one of us is right and the other is wrong. I am not saying which is right and which is wrong, but I know what I believe.

It sounds like "belief" is paramount to you. You might find this recently released book interesting.

(Check out some of the reviews lower down).

 

[yellowclone]

What if both are wrong? The truth might be something we can't even think of.

How can both be wrong? God either exists or doesn't. One has to be right.

 

[Joey D]

What if both are wrong? The truth might be something we can't even think of.

You know I've often thought about this too and it baffles my mind even more then the existence/non-existence of what we perceive as "God". One thing that has often come to my mind is, what if we are a part of something bigger? Like an atom in a bigger world. I try not to think to much about it because it just ends up with me thinking endlessly about a bunch of unknowable questions.

How can both be wrong? God either exists or doesn't. One has to be right.

Something could exist that we have no concept of. There is always the possibility something will be uncovered that upsets the balance of everything we know.

 

[Encyclopedia]

How can both be wrong? God either exists or doesn't. One has to be right.

Joey D says it well.

 

[Tic Tach]

Something could exist that we have no concept of. There is always the possibility something will be uncovered that upsets the balance of everything we know.

Yup. But also maybe not, and our knowledge will simply continue on it's trajectory. All we can do follow the evidence.


Question: Is the existance of what we can observe made easier or harder to explain by suggesting the existance of things we cannot observe?

 

[yellowclone]

Something could exist that we have no concept of. There is always the possibility something will be uncovered that upsets the balance of everything we know.

Joey D says it well.

I am not arguing either point. I simply stated that God exist or doesn't. If another concept that we do not even know about exist, in which you have stated, that would mean God does not exist.

I am not pushing my beliefs onto anyone. I am simply stating that God exists or doesn't, the same way I would say I exists or I don't.

I am not arguing anymore on my beliefs. I have the right to belief in whatever I want in the same way I stated in my original post, that any one can believe in what they want. If you want to believe you created all the worlds and earth, you can believe that. It is your right.

 

[Joey D]

I am not arguing either point. I simply stated that God exist or doesn't. If another concept that we do not even know about exist, in which you have stated, that would mean God does not exist.

I am not pushing my beliefs onto anyone. I am simply stating that God exists or doesn't, the same way I would say I exists or I don't.

I am not arguing anymore on my beliefs. I have the right to belief in whatever I want in the same way I stated in my original post, that any one can believe in what they want. If you want to believe you created all the worlds and earth, you can believe that. It is your right.

I understand what you are saying, however the point I'm trying to make is that "God" may exist in some form that we can't comprehend. So he might not exist as a supernatural being with a white, flowing beard, but he might be something else completely.

Something within our world can either exist or not (well at least until you get down to the quantum level, or you're Schrödinger's cat) but outside our realm thing could very well be different which is why the question of existence being a yes or no question might not be so easy to explain.

And I don't think you're pushing your beliefs on to anyone, you are simply giving an opinion and adding to the discussion based on your thoughts.

I agree too that you do have the right to believe how you want. You're a Christian, I would never fault you for that as I'm sure you've come to that realisation due to some event in your life, whatever that may be.

 

[Sam48]

Now you seem to be asking me if I doubt my statement. I don't get that. Yes, for everything I say, think, feel, hold to be true.......doubt is always ready & waiting, idling in the background, ready to be employed. It's one of the tools of reason that doesn't get put away.

Does that address what you're getting at?

I think it's as good an answer as I will get, so yes.

 

[Sam48]

...the point I'm trying to make is that "God" may exist in some form that we can't comprehend. So he might not exist as a supernatural being with a white, flowing beard, but he might be something else completely....

So you basically believe there is an intelligent designer of some sort. I think that would be my view at the very lowest point. This is simply because I just could not come to grips with believing that every single part of our universe, be it the galaxies, the stars, the planets, and life itself, just happened to come about by chance.

EDIT: Sorry for the double post there.

 

[yellowclone]

I understand what you are saying, however the point I'm trying to make is that "God" may exist in some form that we can't comprehend. So he might not exist as a supernatural being with a white, flowing beard, but he might be something else completely.

Something within our world can either exist or not (well at least until you get down to the quantum level, or you're Schrödinger's cat) but outside our realm thing could very well be different which is why the question of existence being a yes or no question might not be so easy to explain.

And I don't think you're pushing your beliefs on to anyone, you are simply giving an opinion and adding to the discussion based on your thoughts.

I agree too that you do have the right to believe how you want. You're a Christian, I would never fault you for that as I'm sure you've come to that realisation due to some event in your life, whatever that may be.

I respect you for your honesty and common sense, which is lacking a lot on many forums, not just GTP.

You did bring up a point though. You said that God could exist in some forms, just not the way that He/She is always referred to or depicted, or not in the all mighty position. Therefore, it comes back to either exists or doesn't. He/she does or doesn't exists, just maybe not in the sense most people depict.

 

[homeforsummer]

Therefore, it comes back to either exists or doesn't. He/she does or doesn't exists, just maybe not in the sense most people depict.

So you like sitting on the fence then?

If you're a Christian, then you must believe God exists (you'd be a pretty poor Christian if not...). If you thought he didn't exist, then you wouldn't be a Christian.

And saying "God either exists or he doesn't" is fairly pointless because the whole nature of this thread is to discuss the yes or no answers, not simply to state yes and no, which gets nobody anywhere.

It's like saying "I love a bit of cheese. Cheese is either tasty or it's not". The first comment already implies that you think that cheese is tasty, which makes the second comment redundant as you're obviously not going to say "I love a bit of cheese, but cheese isn't tasty" (i.e, "I'm a Christian... but God doesn't exist").

The whole point behind a discussion on the subject would be for some people argue that cheese is tasty and others to counter that it isn't. Saying it both is and isn't defeats the purpose of discussion.

 

[Tic Tach]

I just could not come to grips with believing that every single part of our universe, be it the galaxies, the stars, the planets, and life itself, just happened to come about by chance.

No astrophysisist has ever suggested that the universe same to be "by chance". That is the common line that preachers rugurgitate.

I've read how there can't be "nothing" because nothing is inherently unstable. That book I've suggested addresses all this stuff.

 

[Grand Prix]

There's that aspect of human observation yet again... Polarity. Black and white. Something and nothingness. Existing and not existing. Light and absence of light. Good and evil. Truth and falsehood.

Nothingness is just that, nothingness. The nothingness doesn't care what "it" is called. We give it "existence" through labeling it as such. We have to give it a label so we can comprehend what the opposite of nothing is. Or perhaps more accurately, absence of something. It's a concept that exists in our minds.

Remember, we are inside our universe, we cannot comprehend the question of what is outside of it. That's like asking what purple tastes of. The universe is everything and anything to us, including nothing. What could we possibly know about anything when we even give existence to nothingness inadvertently?

We like the question of God existing or not existing. It makes it easier for us. But since we haven't seen sufficient evidence to prove He exists, well that's as good as Him not existing. For the moment.

 

[Sam48]

No astrophysisist has ever suggested that the universe same to be "by chance". That is the common line that preachers rugurgitate.

Well I'm pretty sure you think it did not come from some intelligent source that created it, correct? And if that's the case, then would it not be by chance instead? Generally speaking, when one does not plan on something to occur via human/intelligent actions, it is considered coincidence, or by chance.

 

[yellowclone]

So you like sitting on the fence then?

If you're a Christian, then you must believe God exists (you'd be a pretty poor Christian if not...). If you thought he didn't exist, then you wouldn't be a Christian.

And saying "God either exists or he doesn't" is fairly pointless because the whole nature of this thread is to discuss the yes or no answers, not simply to state yes and no, which gets nobody anywhere.

It's like saying "I love a bit of cheese. Cheese is either tasty or it's not". The first comment already implies that you think that cheese is tasty, which makes the second comment redundant as you're obviously not going to say "I love a bit of cheese, but cheese isn't tasty" (i.e, "I'm a Christian... but God doesn't exist").

The whole point behind a discussion on the subject would be for some people argue that cheese is tasty and others to counter that it isn't. Saying it both is and isn't defeats the purpose of discussion.

I am not on the fence at all. I very much believe and trust in God. If have read all my post on this you should know that I was making a point that I believe in God, and others don't. I then said that one of us is wrong. I believe that I am right, but that is my belief and I wasn't trying to push anyone to believe what I believe. The ones that believe there is no God, think they are right. Simple as that. Do not try to put words into my mouth about what I believe in what I don't.

The title to the thread says do you believe in God? Therefore, a simple yes or no could answer the question. You either do believe or you don't. God is not like cheese, you can't kinda believe in him/her. I WILL SAY IT SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, I DO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN GOD!

 

[Moot]

There might be A god in the future that does not exist now, as we might be able to make one if it's possible within the laws of physics. Depends what functions a god must have. It probably wouldn't be able to do 1080p and 60fps.

 

[Mr. CoolFiat]

There's that aspect of human observation yet again... Polarity. Black and white. Something and nothingness. Existing and not existing. Light and absence of light. Good and evil. Truth and falsehood.

Nothingness is just that, nothingness. The nothingness doesn't care what "it" is called. We give it "existence" through labeling it as such. We have to give it a label so we can comprehend what the opposite of nothing is. Or perhaps more accurately, absence of something. It's a concept that exists in our minds.

Remember, we are inside our universe, we cannot comprehend the question of what is outside of it. That's like asking what purple tastes of. The universe is everything and anything to us, including nothing. What could we possibly know about anything when we even give existence to nothingness inadvertently?

We like the question of God existing or not existing. It makes it easier for us. But since we haven't seen sufficient evidence to prove He exists, well that's as good as Him not existing. For the moment.

I very much like how you think, good sir.

There might be A god in the future that does not exist now, as we might be able to make one if it's possible within the laws of physics. Depends what functions a god must have. It probably wouldn't be able to do 1080p and 60fps.

You gave me a good laugh, little boy.

 

[Daniel]

One thing I don't completely understand about the thread title is whether it's about a God (a 'superbeing' who created the universe) or the Christian God, who has 'unconditional love' and 'power over all things'.

Oh, and an anecdote. Last year, a guy in my class who says he's atheist was 'touched by God' during the school prize-giving (and it's a Catholic school). In a Philosophy class this year, the teacher asked the class who was Theist or Atheist.. he still put his hand up for Atheist. Other people think he's weird as well...

 

[Villain]

One thing I don't completely understand about the thread title is whether it's about a God (a 'superbeing' who created the universe) or the Christian God, who has 'unconditional love' and 'power over all things'.

It's whichever God you choose to believe in or discuss.

 

[Daniel]

So, that would mean that the Christian God is a human perception of a supernatural 'force' that created the universe. Another human perception could be Allah, and the Hindu perception could be many gods that take place of just one God.

If I sound like a dumbass who hardly has an idea on what he's talking about, it's probably because it's true

 

[Danoff]

I believe this thread is open to discussion about any and all religious beliefs.