GOD: How much do you believe in him?

[BlueSeagull]

for me, he sits in the dug out at the amex every home game, except sometime in the seat just behind

This!

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Relying on your inner senses to tell you any kind of 'truth' is, frankly, bollocks.

Many an identical twin would beg to differ.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Simple?


Adventist, Anabaptist, Anglican, Baptist, Calvinism, Evangelicalism, Holiness, Independent Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Old Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite), Assyrian, Jehovah's Witness, Latter Day Saint, Unitarian, Christadelphian, Oneness Pentecostal

It's not that simple, is it? There are different denominations of the Christian Religion who have different interpretations of those teachings, or different opinions of how literal those teachings are intended to be. It's the mosaic of of Christian Belief, as Roger Olson calls it. All of them, though, are 'based on the teachings of Jesus'.

It's quite simple.

You follow Christ's teaching you're a Christian. You can apply any other label you want but the bottom line is if you don't follow Christs teachings you arent a Christian no matter what you label yourself.

 

[k2bluesky]

Even the best scientists cannot answer what is The Universe or how it began, the big bang thing is bullshit and they know it, so until we find an answer to what it is and how it began I don't think any person could totally rule out, that there may be something beyond anyone's imagination responsible for creation. Modern religions, of all faiths was created by men who wanted power over others so using the words from 'Irish Son' - Break with the past and feed your own mind.

 

[beorhthelm]

Have you looked deeper into it? ...

I'm not getting into an argument about this specific subject as I am no expert on it, and I'm sure the majority of NSC posters aren't either. I have read a couple of books on the matter and choose to believe one side of the argument on the topic of historical evidence

have you looked more broadly? its a matter of record even amongst biblical scholars that the new testement gopsels were not contempory accounts, and large chunks of them and the later books were edited in or out by the early churches (the multiplicity of these tells its own tale). the old testement is known to contain many tales that are fables and allegory shared in other religions and mythologies around the region. if you have read books that suggest the gospels were first hand accounts of real events, then you are reading severely biased books, selected to match and reinforce your believes.

why does a non-judgemental, supreme creator allow a child to suffer or die? why does it allow entire peoples to be killed by famine, disease or war, including those devoted to him?

why is he supreme over all the other gods?

anyone from the god fearing side care to anwser?

 

[k2bluesky]

have you looked more broadly? its a matter of record even amongst biblical scholars that the new testement gopsels were not contempory accounts, and large chunks of later books were edited in or out by the early churches (the multiplicity of these tells its own tale). the old testement is known to contain many tales that are fables and allegory shared in other religions and mythologies around the region. if you have read books that suggest the gospels were first hand accounts of real events, then you are reading severely biased books, selected to match and reinforce your believes.



anyone from the god fearing side care to anwser?

'God' would be 'The one and only' and not affiliated to ANY man made religions surely - Earth created religions?, there should be only ONE.

 

[BeardyChops]

Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This is, of course, a mistake. If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time. It is customary to suppose that, if a belief is widespread, there must be something reasonable about it. I do not think this view can be held by anyone who has studied history. Practically all the beliefs of savages are absurd. In early civilizations there may be as much as one percent for which there is something to be said. In our own day.... But at this point I must be careful. We all know that there are absurd beliefs in Soviet Russia. If we are Protestants, we know that there are absurd beliefs among Catholics. If we are Catholics, we know that there are absurd beliefs among Protestants. If we are Conservatives, we are amazed by the superstitions to be found in the Labour Party. If we are Socialists, we are aghast at the credulity of Conservatives. I do not know, dear reader, what your beliefs may be, but whatever they may be, you must concede that nine-tenths of the beliefs of nine-tenths of mankind are totally irrational. The beliefs in question are, of course, those which you do not hold.

-- B. Russell

 

[Biscuit]

I think his existence is highly improbable, in much the same way Doctor Who MIGHT actually be real.

 

[rocker959]

Brilliant - the truth at last !!! Love it

 

[seagullmouse]

Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This is, of course, a mistake. If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time. It is customary to suppose that, if a belief is widespread, there must be something reasonable about it. I do not think this view can be held by anyone who has studied history. Practically all the beliefs of savages are absurd. In early civilizations there may be as much as one percent for which there is something to be said. In our own day.... But at this point I must be careful. We all know that there are absurd beliefs in Soviet Russia. If we are Protestants, we know that there are absurd beliefs among Catholics. If we are Catholics, we know that there are absurd beliefs among Protestants. If we are Conservatives, we are amazed by the superstitions to be found in the Labour Party. If we are Socialists, we are aghast at the credulity of Conservatives. I do not know, dear reader, what your beliefs may be, but whatever they may be, you must concede that nine-tenths of the beliefs of nine-tenths of mankind are totally irrational. The beliefs in question are, of course, those which you do not hold.

-- B. Russell

Well he's put it better than any of us have!

Any thoughts from the god facepalmers?

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

anyone from the god fearing side care to anwser?

You're basing all of that on a biblical god.

Who says if a god like entity exists it gives a shit about what happens down here?

How much of human suffering comes down to other humans? You also overlook that while we have the ability to harm, we also have the ability to heal and cure.

It's not like we've not been created without an ability to counter suffering.

The OP asks does a god exist, you can either waffle on about a biblical god or actually contemplate something that has no ties to the bible or relegion.

 

[seagullmouse]

You're basing all of that on a biblical god.

Who says if a god like entity exists it gives a shit about what happens down here?

How much of human suffering comes down to other humans? You also overlook that while we have the ability to harm, we also have the ability to heal and cure.

It's not like we've not been created without an ability to counter suffering.

The OP asks does a god exist, you can either waffle on about a biblical god or actually contemplate something that has no ties to the bible or relegion.

Which god do you believe in then? not the biblical one? does he listen to your prayers? did he invent you?

 

[Acker79]

It's quite simple.

You follow Christ's teaching you're a Christian. You can apply any other label you want but the bottom line is if you don't follow Christs teachings you arent a Christian no matter what you label yourself.

If Jesus existed, it was 2000 years ago. The bible contains accounts of his existence written at the earliest I believe 30 years after he supposedly died. It was written in a language that is no longer in common use (as far as I know), it has been converted to latin, via greek, and into English by people who wanted to use religion to control the masses.

This has led to various denominations who disagree on what his teachings were, what was intended, how literal it was intended to be taken.

Each of these claim their religion is based on Jesus's teachings, making them christian. How do you know your interpretation of his teachings is right and anyone who interprets his teachings differently to you aren't really christians as they claim?

That's why it isn't so simple. What Jesus's teachings actually are are not so clear cut that any one denomination has a right to define who is and isn't christian.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Well he's put it better than any of us have!

Any thoughts from the god facepalmers?

Yeah, you fall into the groups of people he's calling absurd by his reasoning.

Bet ya didn't see that coming.

 

[Falkor]

Sometimes i wish i did, esp when i get down and depressed and my mental state goes out of control, one of my best friends that i meet whiles i was very ill, he has turned to god and its helped him find his way, he goes over the top at times, but just the way he is.

Personally if it makes people happy let them believe in it, i have spoke to a priests why i have been ill, just doing some soul searching really, but i am very sceptical. So i am not sure.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

If Jesus existed, it was 2000 years ago. The bible contains accounts of his existence written at the earliest I believe 30 years after he supposedly died. It was written in a language that is no longer in common use (as far as I know), it has been converted to latin, via greek, and into English by people who wanted to use religion to control the masses.

This has led to various denominations who disagree on what his teachings were, what was intended, how literal it was intended to be taken.

Each of these claim their religion is based on Jesus's teachings, making them christian. How do you know your interpretation of his teachings is right and anyone who interprets his teachings differently to you aren't really christians as they claim?

That's why it isn't so simple. What Jesus's teachings actually are are not so clear cut that any one denomination has a right to define who is and isn't christian.

Time is in some ways irrelevant as is did an actual jesus Christ exists.

It's the teachings that are the pivotal aspect in Christianity. Those teachings all occur within the New Testament.

What complicates it is when various denominations introduce laws of their own into the teaching and claim it as a law of Christ.

That is why I say christianity is simple, religion is what clouds its teachings.

 

[magoo]

You're basing all of that on a biblical god.

Who says if a god like entity exists it gives a shit about what happens down here?

How much of human suffering comes down to other humans? You also overlook that while we have the ability to harm, we also have the ability to heal and cure.

It's not like we've not been created without an ability to counter suffering.

The OP asks does a god exist, you can either waffle on about a biblical god or actually contemplate something that has no ties to the bible or relegion.

But that all sounds like a typical religious slant on things. When something beautiful or wonderful happens it's Gods work, not mans. If something attrocious happens it's mans work not Gods!

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Which god do you believe in then? not the biblical one? does he listen to your prayers? did he invent you?

I believe in exploring the mind and all around us to formulate an answer.

That might take a lifetime.

I have my truths, but I dont have THE truth.

 

[seagullmouse]

Yeah, you fall into the groups of people he's calling absurd by his reasoning.

Bet ya didn't see that coming.

Ahhh, not quite my friend. I believe in the process of reason and evidence. If you put some logic and evidence in front of me and it is objectively and testably true then I will believe that. You believe something that was written 2000 years ago (etc etc) and that the whole universe was created for humans (etc etc). You will not change your views based on evidence (or lack of) and are stuck in your dogma - that is absurd.

Its like believing that the world is flat because thats what everyone said at the beginning, even though its now evidently not true, you then choose to bury your head rather than admit you have chosen the wrong path.

 

[seagullmouse]

I believe in exploring the mind and all around us to formulate an answer.

That might take a lifetime.

I have my truths, but I dont have THE truth.

This mind you explore is something that has evolved from a monkey's brain, then back down to smaller mammal's brain, and eventually from single celled organism 'brain'. Did those single celled beings have minds worth exploring or did god add a little bit of magic at the human stage? what about Neanderthal's did they have the magic?