Do you believe in God?

N0D

N0D

Banned
Shant said:
I think I'm about to more or less take a Deist stance on this - that there is a higher power, a creator, but has no influence in this world at this moment. Maybe a "Christian Deist", maybe.

I can't shake off the feeling that there is a higher power, and that this higher power by definition could be the only thing to create the universe. However, the fact that bad things continue to go on and how none of my prayers ever help anything, would leave me considering that [this hypothetical] God doesn't do anything.

They do call it "free will" for a reason, anyways.
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i've never really understood that term "higher power" i always assume it's just a sly way of saying god without saying god. is that what it means? :confused:
 
Shant

Shant

Well-known member
N0D said:
i've never really understood that term "higher power" i always assume it's just a sly way of saying god without saying god. is that what it means? :confused:
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It's a bit more encompassing in that it wouldn't have to be a "God" - you could probably just substitute "God" for "Higher Power" anywhere and the meaning wouldn't be much different, though. It's not "sly" or anything.

I can't my thoughts into words here - It's like the word "deity" - similar to both "god" and "higher power", but just *slightly* different. Similar enough to all be generally interchangeable.

Just semantics.
 
Carol

Carol

Well-known member
Yes, I do.

When it comes to religion, I go back to when and how it started. I can't get past the fact that Christianity was begun by people who (a) knew for absolute fact whether or not whether Jesus had risen from the dead - there was no guesswork involved... either they had witnessed it for themselves or they hadn't - either way, they KNEW, they weren't just believing or hoping. And (b) they had absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose by spreading that message, if it was false. It was unpopular, there was no financial or political gain, and they were tortured and ridiculed and rejected and brutally killed for their faith, but yet they wouldn't back off or give up. How could they have been so persistent to the death if they knew their message was false?

Why else do I believe... because I have personally experienced answered prayer, many times.
 
Thelema

Thelema

Well-known member
Carol said:
Yes, I do.

When it comes to religion, I go back to when and how it started. I can't get past the fact that Christianity was begun by people who (a) knew for absolute fact whether or not whether Jesus had risen from the dead - there was no guesswork involved... either they had witnessed it for themselves or they hadn't - either way, they KNEW, they weren't just believing or hoping. And (b) they had absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose by spreading that message, if it was false. It was unpopular, there was no financial or political gain, and they were tortured and ridiculed and rejected and brutally killed for their faith, but yet they wouldn't back off or give up. How could they have been so persistent to the death if they knew their message was false?

Why else do I believe... because I have personally experienced answered prayer, many times.
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That's actually interesting. I was listening to the radio and there was a guy on making the case that early christians most likely believed in a spiritual ressurrection and not necessarily a physical one.

I wonder if you'd believe followers of yogis that claim they have seen them fly, swear that their guru hasn't eaten food in years, walks on water, heals people and a bunch of other miracles? Because if you'd trust 2000 year old accounts, why not believe people that are actually alive right now?

I think believing in God can be helpful for people with anxiety, but definetly not for me. I think religion ultimately gives you false hope and there are more useful things to believe in.
 
coyote

coyote

Well-known member
"Das war ein Vorspiel nur, dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen."
 
SXT

SXT

Member
I don't. I would explain my reasoning for it but, usually, it ends up causing arguments. Deep down inside, however, I do hope that the idea of Heaven is true or at least something similar to that after life. I don't see the point in just living and dying and there being nothing else after that.

Edit: I didn't even realize this was the UK region until after I posted. Hope nobody minds lol.
 
A

AGR

Well-known member
Thelema said:
That's actually interesting. I was listening to the radio and there was a guy on making the case that early christians most likely believed in a spiritual ressurrection and not necessarily a physical one.

I wonder if you'd believe followers of yogis that claim they have seen them fly, swear that their guru hasn't eaten food in years, walks on water, heals people and a bunch of other miracles? Because if you'd trust 2000 year old accounts, why not believe people that are actually alive right now?

I think believing in God can be helpful for people with anxiety, but definetly not for me. I think religion ultimately gives you false hope and there are more useful things to believe in.
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YouTube - ‪Sam Harris - Eyewitness Accounts of Miracles‬‏
 
Arthur_Dent

Arthur_Dent

1
I somewhat do. But I don't think that I'll never believe in anything that anyone claims to "know" about God, specially if they are claiming to represent God or defend God's side.

I think that we just should behave properly, looking for happiness trying to not harm each other, and do it for oursleves and not because God told us to.
 
hoddesdon

hoddesdon

Well-known member
Man verbrennt am Ende auch Menschen nur wenn das, was verbrennt wird, gilt als etwas Wertvolles oder Sinnvolles.
 
Lost Girl

Lost Girl

Well-known member
thelema said:
that's actually interesting. I was listening to the radio and there was a guy on making the case that early christians most likely believed in a spiritual ressurrection and not necessarily a physical one.

I wonder if you'd believe followers of yogis that claim they have seen them fly, swear that their guru hasn't eaten food in years, walks on water, heals people and a bunch of other miracles? Because if you'd trust 2000 year old accounts, why not believe people that are actually alive right now?

I think believing in god can be helpful for people with anxiety, but definetly not for me. I think religion ultimately gives you false hope and there are more useful things to believe in.
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Here, here, sista! :)
 
NathanielWingatePeaslee

NathanielWingatePeaslee

Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!
Staff member
The rapture has been predicted. Again. This time for Saturday, 2 days from now. People have already been euthanizing their pets (all dogs don't really go to Heaven? ::(:). I was trying to find out how many followers this guy has, but I couldn't see any numbers on it.

May 21, 2011, Judgment Day, Rapture, End World

Apparently it will start with a fierce earthquake in New Zealand at 6 pm. Good luck guys!
 
Shant

Shant

Well-known member
Euthanize pets?

God, here I was thinking these people were just innocent. Misguided, but innocent; no intent to really harm anyone.

Now that I hear they're killing off pets, I am the slightest bit ticked. That's awful. And for something that is, based on biblical evidence nonetheless, not going to happen? Yikes.
 
ilovenoodles

ilovenoodles

1
I do believe there is something like a god or force etc.
I just refuse to believe that there is nothing, it's like a 200% feeling.
I actually was raised as a Christian but i'm on a journey right now through religions:D
 
A

AGR

Well-known member
The talk around the internet now is that Macho Man Randy Savage died for our sins and prevented the rapture may 21. :eek:
 
Error

Error

Well-known member
I don't believe in God.
Even if there is a creator (which I don't deny, but then who created the creator?), this creator is not a super-good being. Or maybe he is good, but he is incompetent. But is not both.
 
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