Do you believe in God?

[QBall1970]

I would just like to say that this thread turned out to be quite interesting instead of just a flame thread. I would like to applaude everyone here for stating their opinions without attacking someone else about their beliefs. We CAN get along!

Very true.
Very commendable.

Though I sense a definite difference of opinion amongst everyone, I see no reason why we should ****** each other just because of a difference in philosophy. Way too many wars and battlee have already been fought over the concept of religion (i.e., who's deity is more omniscient, etc.) Unfortunately, this is the way it's always been... and most likely always shall be. It's time to just accept each other for who we are and play out this game called life as best we can. Life is too short and we all need to get through every day with a smile and a kind word to each other. Know what I mean?

And to clarify on a personal level, I'm not 'afraid' of anything. I just feel that there is something greater out there that is beyond our mere mortal comprehension and understanding. Are we that arrogant to believe otherwise?

 

[foxycougar]

Yes, we all have very different ideas but I was expecting this thread to turn into one of the political threads where everyone just attacks one another. Others have started religion threads in the past only to have them promptly closed out of fear of a huge flame war developing.

 

[dirtydawg]

Ok, following all these comments of how well behaved we've been im goign to step closer to the line but try not to cross, just ask a simple question (re-ask it, actually). qball1970, mcrocket, leto the 2nd and other doubters, First of all I think it;s not only good but extremely bright to question everything that is put in front of you. But I must ask, all of you seem to have more faith in science than an omnipresent power or a god because there is no proof of god. But a complaint and annoyance of many scientists today is that no matter how far back the universe is traced, and no matter how far we dig looking for a start to everything around us, it always goes back to something "just there", something science can't explain, a "breakdown of all elements combined into one heated blast wherein all the laws of science we non-existant" - to paraphrase stephen hawking. I consider my faith in god to not be based on the rantings and ravings of an old prophet, but based in logic. because the most logicaly explanation for the universe always goes back to a god, a something.

now i wll grant u, that some god could have created this universe for whatever reason, and after that point humanity could have taken it upon itself to falsely create all the religions we have today, but something started it all.

 

[QBall1970]

First... I would like to clarify that I am not a "doubter". I do believe in God and I believe that Christ was crucified on the cross to redeem us for our sins. I am a Christian... and am not ashamed of this fact.
However... given that I have some very intense issues in my life that I have been confronted with - issues that I would prefer not to discuss openly - I have had cause to question the strength and validity of my faith. Though in the eyes of the Church this very statement of admission is heretical. It is also the epitome of hypocrisy as well (i.e., a declaration of faith, yet still doubting).

Some relative personal background:
I am a 34 year old former theological (seminary) student. I studied to enter the priesthood because I felt a calling to do so. However, events have since transpired in my life to cause the once strong faith I had in my Saviour to grow weak and wither away. While this saddens me, I have chose to become more objective and analytical in the way that I approach "creationism" versus "Darwinism".
Is there a higher power? Undoubtedly so. Are we so arrogant to believe that we ACTUALLY evolved from simple single cell microorganisms? I would hope not. I would hope that in whatever form or fashion each of us would confront our most inner self and examine the purpose of our existence and the existence of a higher power.
Some of you who are believers will undoubtedly call me a coward for denying my faith. Judge me not. I struggle with this battle in my soul daily.
Scientifically speaking, though, credence must be given to various aspects of the above posts. Have we any actual proof? No. All we have are words that have been translated many, many times throught the epoch. Words that have been omitted, mistranslated, and outright falsified. The things that Christians hold dear to are those very things that require FAITH... a trait that I am severely lacking at this moment.
The Shroud Of Turin. The Wailing Wall. Golgotha. The Garden Of Gethsemane. Jerusalem. The Ark Of The Covenant. The Apochrypha (the first four books of the New Testament). These are all ideals that are clung to in the hopes (articles of faith) that what we have been taught (spoon-fed, for the most part) for generations.
How do we know for sure that Jesus Christ existed? All we have is faith... and a thousand years of documented writings in the form of The Bible.
This isn't something that will ever be solved on something so obscure as a thread on a web-site forum. This conflict in belief and philosophy is something that has been occuring for many hundreds of years.
People will fall from grace. People will choose not to believe... sacrificing faith for scientific reasoning and analysis. People will choose to deny God in favor of foregoing gut-wrenching pain and heartache. People will always favor the easier path than endure the straight and narrow.
It is human nature.
Make sense?

 

[Brino]

Ok, following all these comments of how well behaved we've been im goign to step closer to the line but try not to cross, just ask a simple question (re-ask it, actually). qball1970, mcrocket, leto the 2nd and other doubters, First of all I think it;s not only good but extremely bright to question everything that is put in front of you. But I must ask, all of you seem to have more faith in science than an omnipresent power or a god because there is no proof of god. But a complaint and annoyance of many scientists today is that no matter how far back the universe is traced, and no matter how far we dig looking for a start to everything around us, it always goes back to something "just there", something science can't explain, a "breakdown of all elements combined into one heated blast wherein all the laws of science we non-existant" - to paraphrase stephen hawking. I consider my faith in god to not be based on the rantings and ravings of an old prophet, but based in logic. because the most logicaly explanation for the universe always goes back to a god, a something.

now i wll grant u, that some god could have created this universe for whatever reason, and after that point humanity could have taken it upon itself to falsely create all the religions we have today, but something started it all.

Admittedly, right now, science doesn't have all the answers however that doesn't mean that science is incapable of finding the answers. I mean the science of the dark ages couldn't prove that the world was round and indeed they believed the world was flat. Eventually, however, we learned threw exploration and science that the world was round. The same applies today, we don't have all the answers now but as each generation passes we will learn more and more and eventually we may discover, threw science, whether there is a higher power or not. Today we look upon the people of the dark ages as being primitive and 500 years from now people will look upon us as being primitive.

 

[ooahouch]

Nicely said Brino.500 years from now or earlier people will look at us and say primitives.I certainly am not going to say that God created us.I still believe it had more to do with evolution rather than someone creating us.Yes some of things in this universe cant be explained,who know we might find an explination in the future.Most replies here said about the Bible,The same things r applicable to us hindus too.U go through Bagavat gita or any other mythological books as long as u want to believe it,its fine.But once u start quentioning them then I think U start not believeing.At least that is what happened in my case.

 

[McRocket]

Ok, following all these comments of how well behaved we've been im goign to step closer to the line but try not to cross, just ask a simple question (re-ask it, actually). qball1970, mcrocket, leto the 2nd and other doubters, First of all I think it;s not only good but extremely bright to question everything that is put in front of you. But I must ask, all of you seem to have more faith in science than an omnipresent power or a god because there is no proof of god. But a complaint and annoyance of many scientists today is that no matter how far back the universe is traced, and no matter how far we dig looking for a start to everything around us, it always goes back to something "just there", something science can't explain, a "breakdown of all elements combined into one heated blast wherein all the laws of science we non-existant" - to paraphrase stephen hawking. I consider my faith in god to not be based on the rantings and ravings of an old prophet, but based in logic. because the most logicaly explanation for the universe always goes back to a god, a something.

now i wll grant u, that some god could have created this universe for whatever reason, and after that point humanity could have taken it upon itself to falsely create all the religions we have today, but something started it all.

Oh, I do believe in a higher power. And I believe in karma. But I do not believe in any of the major religions. Most (if not all) of them seem to state that their 'god' is the only 'god'. They cannot all be right. And they all seem to be based on that old 'leap of faith'.
Naaa. Those people that die and are revived all seem to have similar experiences. Some scientists say they can explain it. None of the evidence explains it to my satisfaction yet. No, to me, there is an afterlife. And if there is, then I would expect there is a higher power(s).
Plus, things have happened in my life that have led me to believe in karma (or, what goes around, comes around).
So based on the facts available to me, I believe in an afterlife, a higher power(s) and karma. Some 'leap-of-faith'ing? Maybe. But a whole lot less then the major religions require.
Besides. I guarantee you that FAR more people have been ****** in the name of religion then 'saved' by it. But since the 'saving' part only happens (supposedly) after one dies, the religious 'persons' claim all these people who died were saved - with absolutely no proof. How convenient. A theory that you never have to back up.
Finally, I would like to change what I said earlier ('anyone who is religious is either ignorant or desperate'). Now, I would say; almost everyone who strongly believes in a major religion is either ignorant or desperate.

 

[QBall1970]

Very well said.

 

[McRocket]

Very well said.

If you are referring to me, thank you. And, if you are not, nevermind...lol.

 

[foxycougar]

But I must ask, all of you seem to have more faith in science than an omnipresent power or a god because there is no proof of god. But a complaint and annoyance of many scientists today is that no matter how far back the universe is traced, and no matter how far we dig looking for a start to everything around us, it always goes back to something "just there", something science can't explain, a "breakdown of all elements combined into one heated blast wherein all the laws of science we non-existant" - to paraphrase stephen hawking. I consider wtf?wtf? faith in god to not be based on the rantings and ravings of an old prophet, but based in logic. because the most logicaly explanation for the universe always goes back to a god, a something.

now i wll grant u, that some god could have created this universe for whatever reason, and after that point humanity could have taken it upon itself to falsely create all the religions we have today, but something started it all.

I know that this question wasn't directed at me but certain physicists such as Einstein actually did have an answer to the beginning of the universe. Granted, the physics of it are quite complicated and only someone who has a post-undergraduate education of physics would be able to understand it (I had a phliosophy professor who has a PhD in physics but who also used to be a Buddhist monk, go figure) but there is one out there. I'm not saying that there isn't a God I'm just saying that someone had indeed offered a plausible theory as to how the universe began. I could try to explain it to you but it's been a while and would probably come out badly, lol.

 

[QBall1970]

... If you are referring to me, thank you. And, if you are not, never mind... lol.

[QUOTE = foxycougar]... I know that this question wasn't directed at me, but certain physicists such as Einstein actually did have an answer to the beginning of the universe. Granted, the physics of it are quite complicated and only someone who has a post-undergraduate education of physics would be able to understand it (I had a phliosophy professor who has a PhD in physics but who also used to be a Buddhist monk, go figure) but there is one out there. I'm not saying that there isn't a God, I'm just saying that someone had indeed offered a plausible theory as to how the universe began. I could try to explain it to you but it's been a while and would probably come out badly, lol.[/QUOTE]

Very well said to BOTH of you.

 

[LetoII]

Ok, following all these comments of how well behaved we've been im goign to step closer to the line but try not to cross, just ask a simple question (re-ask it, actually). qball1970, mcrocket, leto the 2nd and other doubters, First of all I think it;s not only good but extremely bright to question everything that is put in front of you. But I must ask, all of you seem to have more faith in science than an omnipresent power or a god because there is no proof of god. But a complaint and annoyance of many scientists today is that no matter how far back the universe is traced, and no matter how far we dig looking for a start to everything around us, it always goes back to something "just there", something science can't explain, a "breakdown of all elements combined into one heated blast wherein all the laws of science we non-existant" - to paraphrase stephen hawking. I consider my faith in god to not be based on the rantings and ravings of an old prophet, but based in logic. because the most logicaly explanation for the universe always goes back to a god, a something.

now i wll grant u, that some god could have created this universe for whatever reason, and after that point humanity could have taken it upon itself to falsely create all the religions we have today, but something started it all.

i don't have that much faith in science. i was merely referring to a scientific principle to show that philosophy or even faith is not necessarily the opposite of science. knowledge and faith can be combined for a better understanding of the universe. that was my point.
and i do not dislike the idea of a god or an omnipresent power, i just disagree with 2000 years old faith patterns, that haven't evolved with mankind since then. and i also don't like small-minded religious institutions that are trying to MAKE people believe in something, instead of letting them find their own faith.

concerning the question "what was before the universe?": there's another theory which says that big bang-expansion-collapse of the universe is a repetitive process with no beginning and no end. so the real problem about that question might be that we're not able to imagine (let alone accept) infinity, because i might also ask "what was before god?". if we assume that god has always been there, then why can't the universe itself be of the same nature ?! time is something we haven't completely figured yet, and i'm pretty sure we never will.

regards
LetoII

 

[georges]

Yes I believe in god as a form of spirit who looks at us and judges us if we have done something wrong or good.

 

[member5726]

Yes I believe in god as a form of spirit who looks at us and judges us if we have done something wrong or good.

How do we know that ? Sorry but i need a proof, maybe you should post a link proving your point Georges...

 

[Durty_Dog]

I dont, as i feel that the human mind cant really comprehend the truth, i mean how much do we actually know about the planet we live on or the universe? (not alot). Alot of people seem to believe in god because it gives them security in knowing that their is this omnipotent power that controls everything for them, i used to believe in god but the more i thought of it the less optimistic i got, this is just my opinion i'm probably still a antagonist. :glugglug:

 

[The Boss]

YES !

The Boss

 

[Jizm]

Durty,
"Lean not on your own understanding..."

 

[foxfilm]

Beautiful to see people discussing religion without attacking others. That's the key!

Re: My beliefs... I was married by an ordained Methodist minister who is also a recognized story teller for the Shawnee (American Indian) Nation. He asked me a single question before agreeing to certify my marriage: "Do you believe in a power bigger than yourself?"

I thought that was genius.

I believe in a ***** that connects every living being. It has no face, but if you need it to, it has every face. The magic is in life's ability to animate a bunch of inanimate elements to make a fur tree, a blowfish, or you. But every living thing shares the same magic of life.

He smiled and said he'd be happy to certify my marriage.

 

[QBall1970]

foxfilm...

that was very well said. very eloquent and poignant.

and, truthfully, encapsulates the very truth of what we all need to be aware of.

My hat's off to you. :hatsoff:

 

[anobody]

england is a godless country

more people worship richard&judy now