Do you beleive in God?

[Thorin]

Yes:) the Kodama (tree spirits)

 

They rock

[Thorin]

That reminds me actually, Tales from Earthsea released soon, that looks good

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_earthsea

[AJI]

Not really, as I've said before it's an adaptable view by it's very nature, and since it's all just theory rather than proof; if the evidence came up that proved the existence of something, then it would become the scientists view that it was the new truth.

 

 

agreed, but that's not quite what I was getting at.

I was sort of saying that if you held the scientific view (and all that goes with it)... then it should be common place to then think that all religious people are silly for thinking there is a god type being.

(In the reverse sense of what a fully religious person would be thinking).

 

I just think that a lot of the 'I respect the beliefs of others' is just politically correct way of putting things, when in a logical way of thinking then what ever you believe should be thought of as fact... and therefore other's views should be seen as complete fiction and non-rational.

 

 

 

(I'm not religious by the way)

[Matt H]

Jeez, so i guess no one believes in wrapping a thread up then? Amazing how religion threads never seem to end

[tbourner]

Aji, maybe it's just courtesy not to say "you're an idiot and you're obviously wrong!". I do think that religious people are a bit naive because of my own views, but I honestly do respect them for sticking to their views and arguing their case, regardless of whether I agree or if I think they're wrong or not, I still think it's fine that they believe what they do.

[imi]

Aji, maybe it's just courtesy not to say "you're an idiot and you're obviously wrong!". I do think that religious people are a bit naive because of my own views, but I honestly do respect them for sticking to their views and arguing their case, regardless of whether I agree or if I think they're wrong or not, I still think it's fine that they believe what they do.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

If people were genuinely interested in finding out the answer then rather than dishing out condescending and patronising comments (like some have) they would instead spend their valuable time and energy looking into the information provided and come up with a better more intelligent discussion to iron out the finer details.

 

Which is why I say, the info is out there, it is your choice to do look into it and then make your own decision. If one has already made up their mind from the outset and chooses to ignore all the information / evidence then so be it.

 

As I havent seen this discussion progressing, I take it that people arent that interested in the information provided and I say that based on some of the latest posts on the thread. Like someone said, probably best to end the thread as it wont lead anywhere.

[Al Massey]

My thoughts exactly.

 

If people were genuinely interested in finding out the answer then rather than dishing out condescending and patronising comments (like some have) they would instead spend their valuable time and energy looking into the information provided and come up with a better more intelligent discussion to iron out the finer details.

 

As I havent seen this discussion progressing, I take it that people arent that interested in the information provided.

 

Which is why I say, the info is out there, it is your choice to do look into it and then make your own decision. If one has already made up their mind from the outset and chooses to ignore all the information / evidence then so be it.

 

that is what i did

i was agnostic for a long time but i was looking into all religion and reading up on as much of the subject i can, thats when i decided to change to athiest

i never ignored any info or evidence

and what evidence is there?

[dangerous brain]

Funny isn't it. As a species becomes self aware it needs a controlling influence. That influence has proven through the ages to be some unexplainable and non-answerable entity or other. Gods of any description are completely man made in their origin. They have been used to cow the masses and exert authority over others since their very conception. They have been used to facilitate some of the worst acts of inhumanity the planet has ever seen.

Funniest even more is as the species becomes even more self aware that it starts to question the unexplainable. Becomes more cynical. Let common sense reign for a moment. Why would there be an all mighty deity? What would be the purpose of it? Why would it be a HE? How did it actually manage to make stuff? If we subscribe to the whole the world has to have been made by something then what made it then? Does God have a God as well? Why somehow is this latest God we have created the right one when across the ages a great many of Gods have been and gone?

IMO humble O gods are created because of humanities inability to cope with death. We hope for some other life as a way of escaping the scary fact of mortality. If we go to some other place then why don't animals and amoebas etc etc? Lets be real here we are just another bunch of animals living on a planet. Thats it, the entirity of it and thats that. Enjoy the fact that your ancestors crawled out the mud and put you in a supra. Creatures squirmed, fought and wormed. They battled through the ages for you to be here so make the damn most of it. For you to be here millions of years of evolution and struggle went on without flushing toilets. Stop questioning wether there is a god or not or when you will die where you go and start worrying wether or not you made enough of your life to satisfy the struggles of your predecessors.

[Carl_S]

Funny isn't it. As a species becomes self aware it needs a controlling influence. That influence has proven through the ages to be some unexplainable and non-answerable entity or other. Gods of any description are completely man made in their origin. They have been used to cow the masses and exert authority over others since their very conception. They have been used to facilitate some of the worst acts of inhumanity the planet has ever seen.

Funniest even more is as the species becomes even more self aware that it starts to question the unexplainable. Becomes more cynical. Let common sense reign for a moment. Why would there be an all mighty deity? What would be the purpose of it? Why would it be a HE? How did it actually manage to make stuff? If we subscribe to the whole the world has to have been made by something then what made it then? Does God have a God as well? Why somehow is this latest God we have created the right one when across the ages a great many of Gods have been and gone?

IMO humble O gods are created because of humanities inability to cope with death. We hope for some other life as a way of escaping the scary fact of mortality. If we go to some other place then why don't animals and amoebas etc etc? Lets be real here we are just another bunch of animals living on a planet. Thats it, the entirity of it and thats that. Enjoy the fact that your ancestors crawled out the mud and put you in a supra. Creatures squirmed, fought and wormed. They battled through the ages for you to be here so make the damn most of it. For you to be here millions of years of evolution and struggle went on without flushing toilets. Stop questioning wether there is a god or not or when you will die where you go and start worrying wether or not you made enough of your life to satisfy the struggles of your predecessors.

 

amen!

 

love to have a go at answering those rhetorical questions though.

[Carl_S]

I've said it before but... after seeing how they drive in Sri Lanka (surprisingly for the vast majority of the time without accidents), there must be something to this Buddhist lark. Although it's technically not a religion.

 

Tricky Ricky, Princess Mononoke?

 

You ever been there? Sri Lanka that is.

 

Yes it's astounding. But I bet the road traffic accident % per population is high compared to the UK.

[Carl_S]

Jeez, so i guess no one believes in wrapping a thread up then? Amazing how religion threads never seem to end

 

Just like God never ends. Infinity is supposedly a big part of God's character.

 

I used to think Jesus was my God, and now I just think he was my conscience.

[tooquicktostop]

Just like God never ends. Infinity is supposedly a big part of God's character.

 

I used to think Jesus was my God, and now I just think he was my conscience.

 

Were you one of those who got out of Waco before the SWAT went in

[Carl_S]

Were you one of those who got out of Waco before the SWAT went in

 

Hehehehehe.

 

I wished I was Him. Sounds like he had a lot of fun with his female devotees.

[imi]

Funny isn't it. As a species becomes self aware it needs a controlling influence. That influence has proven through the ages to be some unexplainable and non-answerable entity or other. Gods of any description are completely man made in their origin. They have been used to cow the masses and exert authority over others since their very conception. They have been used to facilitate some of the worst acts of inhumanity the planet has ever seen.

Funniest even more is as the species becomes even more self aware that it starts to question the unexplainable. Becomes more cynical. Let common sense reign for a moment. Why would there be an all mighty deity? What would be the purpose of it? Why would it be a HE? How did it actually manage to make stuff? If we subscribe to the whole the world has to have been made by something then what made it then? Does God have a God as well? Why somehow is this latest God we have created the right one when across the ages a great many of Gods have been and gone?

IMO humble O gods are created because of humanities inability to cope with death. We hope for some other life as a way of escaping the scary fact of mortality. If we go to some other place then why don't animals and amoebas etc etc? Lets be real here we are just another bunch of animals living on a planet. Thats it, the entirity of it and thats that. Enjoy the fact that your ancestors crawled out the mud and put you in a supra. Creatures squirmed, fought and wormed. They battled through the ages for you to be here so make the damn most of it. For you to be here millions of years of evolution and struggle went on without flushing toilets. Stop questioning wether there is a god or not or when you will die where you go and start worrying wether or not you made enough of your life to satisfy the struggles of your predecessors.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyboXCIVJY0

[Carl_S]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyboXCIVJY0

 

Could stand about 1 min thirty of that.

 

And I thought I was a hard man. Obviously not.

 

Don't like the way he was emotionalising Law and Order.

 

In his calm, doctor-like way of speaking he gets away with it. Wonder who the audience predominantly was, home croud?

[imi]

And I thought I was a hard man. Obviously not.

 

Obviously not hard enough

[tbourner]

 

Brian, maybe the change in people you speak about is caused by the existence of god! Maybe the only way the creator could explain to our ancestors of his existence was by the religions that were created, with so many voices across the globe several religions were created, then they changed and 'evolved' as more people got involved and added their points of view.

Now the onset of science and modern technology helping us to explain our universe around us, has in fact led to a new explanation of god being created, and although it hasn't yet been 'proven', maybe in the future (next 10 years or next 500 years) the technology we have will show us a new explanation for how this whole thing was created, it'll likely be different from the 'built everything in 6 days' nonsense, because we can understand far beyond that now, but it may still revolve around the idea of a creator of some sort.

[SUPRASUZUKI]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyboXCIVJY0

 

Thanks, I actually found that very interesting (I did watch it all the way through).

 

I still don't buy the 'big guy made it all' theory, but interesting all the same.

[fastisnice]

So you 've been to all the US jails and did a statistic analysis? where is your evidence?

 

PS See you can just question and ignore just about everything if you dont want to believe in something;)

 

and even if you come up with evidence i will find something more to ask you and i will ignore your opinion just like most in this thread have done so

Who's being black and white now?

Where's your evidence for this?

 

Statistically the majority of inmates in US jails are Christian

[Al Massey]

whers your evidence then?

[dangerous brain]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyboXCIVJY0

 

OK I just got started listening to that and its the fundamental crap I am used to hearing in a catholic church. Its full of pompous self righteous shite. Will a woman get raped if she isn't asking for it?? Thats a pile of crap. They forget to mention the day in day out rape of women that is allowed under muslim law where a woman is owned by her husband regardless of her will. Please do not even attempt to push this sh*t my way or I will sit and tear it apart piece by piece. I've had plenty of experience in this. I actually have an A in religious studies from school and am more than aware of various teachings as I explored them all. With each and every one of them I found nothing but BS. The only one I find even entertainable is buddhism with the preservation of the earth at its core. Without fail religion is the same old story hashed up one way or the other. The message is the same and the deliverants identical in manner if not dress.

[Scooter]

Without fail religion is the same old story hashed up one way or the other. The message is the same and the deliverants identical in manner if not dress.

 

amem

 

i too listened through it all...........i'm not so keen on the part around the 3.30 mark............that bits a bit our way or no way......

 

I'm sorry but i see these convention guys as salesmen, just that they're trying to sell you an ideal rather than a George Foreman grill.........

[Thorin]

http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2007/12/funny-pictures-cat-headphones-god.jpg

[imi]

They forget to mention the day in day out rape of women that is allowed under muslim law where a woman is owned by her husband regardless of her will.

 

For a start...I think you will find that there is no such thing as MUSLIM LAW, its called Islamic LAW (Shariah)

 

As you are a A grade student of religious studies, any references that can back up this statement of yours?

 

 

Like I said in my earlier post.

 

Two groups of people; those that are genuinely interested in the subject, will research the information with a cool head, come up with an opinion - perhaps open to change depending on further info provided and will be keen on having a civil discussion in a calm manner.

 

2nd group - possess very little knowledge about the subject, have very little interest in the subject, dont really give a damn one way or the other, have already formed an opinion one way or the other and regardless of what information / proof is available they will stick to their guns. Oh and to have a discussion in a civil manner is really not high on their agenda.

 

[Lbm]

So you 've been to all the US jails and did a statistic analysis? where is your evidence?

 

Dear oh dear!!

 

No I haven't personally been to USA and conducted a personal analysis. In the same way you probably haven't been to various Middle Eastern countries to personally check the authenticity of the bible..in all it's forms!

 

The USA is one of the MOST religious countries in the world...FACT.

 

People who go to prison (anywhere) are a cross section of the society they live in...FACT

 

 

 

PS See you can just question and ignore just about everything if you dont want to believe in something;)

 

 

Firstly it's good to question stuff. And yes..of course I don't believe..it's not COMPULSARY

 

Also ignoring my opinion if fine, this is just about a discussion, but I don't think you like discussions. I think you are also absolute in your beliefs. That's OK.

 

and even if you come up with evidence i will find something more to ask you and i will ignore your opinion just like most in this thread have done so

 

 

erm..likewise...I mean...

 

If you mean that most people have ignored my contribution, that's ok, but I'm not so sure- Not everyone wants to go there in public and talk about this stuff...however look at the results of the POLL, I think you'll find that tells a different story.

 

It's also ironic/a bit rich that you ask for evidence from me, where's yours?

 

In the end I'm putting my views across, they are as valid as any religious person's such as your self.

 

When we die, no doubt you will be happier about it than me...

See you on the other side, or not, as the case may be