God

[Eddie Haskell]

I have a little time off and felt like posting some. I know that you are not suppose to talk about religion, politics, and sex but wtf this is Madjacks.

I'd like to pose a question to my internet friends during this holiest of holiday seasons in the Christian world. I hope no one bashes another for their respective belief or non-belief. I mean both sides have points. So at the risk of heading to the trash bin, here ya go.

Do you believe in God? If so, why?

I'll state that I am a confirmed atheist. Was raised Catholic by strict Catholic parents but have come to understand that science does explain the creation of the universe whereas 500 years ago, belief in a deity made sense. Now, to me, it doesn't other than a psychological crutch.

What say you?

Eddie

 

[fatdaddycool]

I believe in God. I'm a Catholic by faith and practice, but 2 per animal, water to wine, etc... I tend to think of more metaphorically.
I don't believe in God because I'm a Catholic. I believe in God because I believe that we as an organism have evolved into the most abundant animal on earth because of our ability to learn, create, solve, etc..., but I also believe much if our intellect as a society is driven by faith. We are the only organism that rely on faith. You may believe in Christ you may believe in kharma, but you still believe in something. We set goals, have the ability to consider the past, present, and future. You have faith that if you take proper care of yourself you'll be able to keep that dinner date with the cute boy from the mail room. Sorry. ... sorry. .. couldn't resist.
Anyway, in the midst of all that, the advances in technology, science, there are still instances of, and I don't know what you want to call it but I'll go with, divinity, caring, grace, and wonder that can't be explained by science.
I guess it's like hope maybe. I hope I'm right about it or at least in the ballpark. I would be lying if I said I didn't have some questions for Him if I ever do get there. Definitely want to find out who killed Nicole Simpson.

Hope that helps,
FDC

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

I'm an atheist. I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic HS and Jesuit University. Science has a lot of answers that God used to fill in for. Once you get through the science/education part, the only real reason to believe is fear of death. I get that part, but I am okay with knowing that my time on Earth is it for me. When I die, I'm not going to heaven, hell, or anywhere else but a furnace.

 

[Mr. Poon]

I'd like to pose a question to my internet friends ...

Can you provide the short list that clearly states the guys that are in this grouping? Will make this thread disappear on to the second page and beyond of the General Forum that much quicker when people realize you weren't really looking for their opinion.


Happy Holidays!

 

[Eddie Haskell]

FDC: I appreciate your viewpoint but how do you explain sciences discovery's of late which indicate that the universe evolved. Now don't ask me to identify Hawking's et al. theories as I state for the record I do not know them. But I am aware that they (scientists) have ascertained a factual basis for the creation of the universe.

As far as Nicole's killer goes, don't worry OJ is still looking for him.

Mr. Poon: All I can say to your post is how did the Royals do in the series?

Eddie

 

[Mr. Poon]

Similar to most of my approach shots in golf, they came up 90 feet short.

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Similar to most of my approach shots in golf, they came up 90 feet short.

lol.

Eddie

 

[Terryray]

I grew up with a solid and full scientific background - field work, lab, history and theory. Never any God talk around at all.

Religious folks, of any ilk, always struck me as no different than a gambler fingering his lucky rabbit foot. Still do.

But along with scientific theory one eventually comes to learn skepticism. I've realized I can't be too confident that I am smarter than my biases.

And, of course, as I've mentioned before on this forum, skepticism is a double edged sword which ends up providing no greater reasoned credence to science than to knuckle-dragging religious fundamentalists. Both are founded on unprovable tenets, or must accept certain axioms as a given, to build what they build - both require faith, in other words...So I am left with believing a kind of Rortian pragmatism in things "that work".

?People are even more reluctant to admit that man explains nothing, than they were to admit that God explains nothing.?

―Ernest Gellner

 

[fatdaddycool]

There is a certain amount of faith that every human being learns and accepts. Faith in humankind's ability to adapt and overcome for instance. Faith in education and hard work provide benefit in life etc... Every time you hope it doesn't rain on your parade, aren't you basically asking for some type of faith based intervention?

 

[PaSprint]

:00x33

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/i1UbSw9Wcjs?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[PaSprint]

George's version is pretty good too. :lol:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8r-e2NDSTuE?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[PocketAces]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

I know in my head and in my heart that Earth and the life on it is more than some cosmic accident.

Agreeing (or disagreeing) with current scientific theories does not change my belief in God.

Without thumping my bible too loudly just let me say that God will be there when you are ready for Him.


Merry Christmas.

 

[buddy]

"Without thumping my bible too loudly..."

Thump on, brother!

This morning, I read Isaiah 40.

Blessed be His holy name.

 

[layinwood]

I grew up going to church. At 18 my father left my mother and since he was the person I looked up to most it changed a lot of things in me because I couldn't understand how a man of God could do that to his wife and family. I spent 20 or so years being angry and although saying I believed in God probably really didn't. But for the last 4 or so years I've come to believe stronger than ever. 2 of my best friends are agnostic. We spend more time talking about God, religion and such than anything else. I love the conversations. I know what science can prove and have debated enough I've been presented with all of the info. I also know that this universe, everything about the Earth and humans are too perfect.

If you took a watch completely apart, held in your hand and dropped it on a table how many times would it take for it to fall and land completely back together? IMO that's what we have with our world. You can tell me about every theory and how we've evolved but there is just too much perfection for me to believe it just happened and like a watch falling to the table just came together.

I have a lot more in my reasons why I believe but I can tell you like I tell all of my friends when we talk. Faith is as big as it gets. It's much like love. Some people are good with their husband or wife telling them they love them and showing it. Others aren't because it's not tangible. Different people need different things in life in order to believe.

 

[freelancc]

If you took a watch completely apart, held in your hand and dropped it on a table how many time would it take for it to fall and land completely back together? IMO that's what we have with our world.

interesting analogy.. :0008

 

[JT]

Personally I believe there is something after this. I've read quite a few NDEs to believe otherwise. However, I DO NOT believe in any specific religion. I mean really, I don't accept a certain someone and i'm going to rot in hell forever? Please, save the extortion for criminal gangs.

 

[layinwood]

Eddie states it's a physiological crutch. WhatsHisNuts says a reason to believe is death.

IMO it's easier to not believe. It's easy to believe we're just on this earth for a short amount of time, live our lives and then are done. Not having to answer to anyone you don't want to and getting to do what you want without any worries is a nice way to go. To me, being a Christian is difficult. My agnostic friends tell me people like to believe because it makes it easier when someone they love dies. They believe in their minds that their loved ones will be living a great after life. I say BS to that one. My father doesn't believe anymore. It rips me apart thinking I won't see him in Heaven some day when we both die. My sister just tried to commit suicide. Would she go to Heaven or Hell. Doesn't make it easy to me since I'm a Christian because I think there's a good chance she would go to Hell. How the hell does that make death easy for me? It sucks ass. What would be easy is once everyone is dead, they're just dead and nothing else. That's easy.

It's no crutch for me to believe. I don't need it to get thru life. I could get thru life a lot easier without having to believe in something that others kill you for or call you a dumb ass for believing. Faith isn't a crutch. True faith takes strength. When a kid gets molested I don't sit there and think "God will help him, God is good." I get pissed and yeah I often think why would God allow that to happen. Where's my freaking crutch. I can't lean on my faith there and feel good about it.

 

[JT]

Eddie states it's a physiological crutch. WhatsHisNuts says a reason to believe is death.

IMO it's easier to not believe. It's easy to believe we're just on this earth for a short amount of time, live our lives and then are done. Not having to answer to anyone you don't want to and getting to do what you want without any worries is a nice way to go. To me, being a Christian is difficult. My agnostic friends tell me people like to believe because it makes it easier when someone they love dies. They believe in their minds that their loved ones will be living a great after life. I say BS to that one. My father doesn't believe anymore. It rips me apart thinking I won't see him in Heaven some day when we both die. My sister just tried to commit suicide. Would she go to Heaven or Hell. Doesn't make it easy to me since I'm a Christian because I think there's a good chance she would go to Hell. How the hell does that make death easy for me? It sucks ass. What would be easy is once everyone is dead, they're just dead and nothing else. That's easy.

It's no crutch for me to believe. I don't need it to get thru life. I could get thru life a lot easier without having to believe in something that others kill you for or call you a dumb ass for believing. Faith isn't a crutch. True faith takes strength. When a kid gets molested I don't sit there and think "God will help him, God is good." I get pissed and yeah I often think why would God allow that to happen. Where's my freaking crutch. I can't lean on my faith there and feel good about it.

Good points and I don't believe it being a crutch like some. I just think from a historical point of view the harsher the climate the harsher the religion. My faith is God isn't that much of a asshole. If someone would send someone to a shitty place just because they don't believe their son died for them then that person is a asshole. Sorry if this offends people but it's a pretty logical step.

 

[JT]

There are good things to it don't get me wrong. The very essence of dying for someone you love is a great thing and I would die this minute if it gave someone I cared about more time or less pain.

 

[bleedingpurple]

Was raised and confirmed Lutheran. I don't believe in God but I do hope I am wrong. Without getting into too much, I don't believe in it for reasons Penn and Teller had. The bible and story telling is so over the top and I do find it embarrassing that most people believe in it. I am a show me type of guy, when I see someone die and rise again 3 days later, might believe in it, if I see someone walking on water or magically turning water into wine then you might get me to start changing my mind. I do believe church is good for the community offers an outlet for people who need help and offers some people hope.

I have a question to people who believe that things were not created by accident or by a big bang, let's for example say God is the almighty who created everything, who created God? Did he just magically appear? Wouldn't he have to have been created spontaneously? Or if God was created wouldn't that creator have to be spontaneous? Isn't it a vicious cycle until finally something was formed spontaneously? Some of my religious friends have asked me, Can't God just have existed? My answer is NO!

Another part about religion I do not like is I believe it to be a form of brain washing to some degree. Adults have been lying to us since we are born with fairly tales, Santa Claus giving gifts, Easter Bunny hiding candy etc. Why would we should we believe this? Is it fear? I have two nephews who have been going to church since birth. Now anyone who raised them could have told them anything about a higher power, found some followers and they would have believed it. Religion is too inconsistent for me