Do you believe in God?

[kris31280]

I used to privately consider myself athiest. I say privately because I almost thought that I SHOULD believe. I know many very intelligent people - far smarter than me - who do believe. So I always thought I must be missing something. Now that I'm older I consider myself agnostic, because I really have no idea either way. But I do think that if having religion in your life makes you a happier, more balanced person, then it's all good.

I also NEVER get angry or threatened when someone speaks religion to me. It always surprises me that people get SO offended by a person speaking their beliefs. I'm always interested to hear what others think on the subject, and chances are, if they are preaching to you, they are most likely trying to do a good thing for you, and maybe they care enough about you to try to "save you". To me, that's not something to get huffy about.

Maybe they "care enough to save me"?!?!?! Save me from WHAT? Giving 10% of my earnings to a place which will misuse the funds? Having a weekly obligation to go hear someone else tell me how to interpret words which have been rewritten so many times that it's become a big game of "telephone"? If that's what they're saving me from, by all means, I'll stay "damned".

I don't mind people DISCUSSING religion with me... I've entertained Jehovah's Witnesses when they've come to my door and had deep conversations with them (just one example). My best friend back in Minnesota is a born again Christian and we've had many DISCUSSIONS about religion, but not once have I tried to enforce my beliefs on her nor has she tried to enforce her beliefs on me... we simply agree to disagree.

 

[vraiblonde]

If every single person who called themselves a Christian decided to go after all of us who do not call ourselves non-Christian... it would get real ugly real quick and we'd not stand a chance.

I feel that way about brunettes, since they make up approximately 90% of the world population. If they decided to go after the blondes and redheads - woof! Scary!

 

[Vince]

See also the 100 Years War, for starters.

So you sit and blame Christianity for the wars. There is nothing bad in the Bible or the 10 Commandments. Neither tells someone to go out and do wrong. It's how some people interpret the words that has them doing things they shouldn't. And there will always be people like that in the world. But if you wish to fear Christianity even more than Islam.....oh well. Someday you'll be in for a real rude awakening. :shrug:

 

[Radiant1]

I feel that way about brunettes, since they make up approximately 90% of the world population. If they decided to go after the blondes and redheads - woof! Scary!

 

[MMDad]

See also the 100 Years War, for starters.

Wiki:

The Hundred Years' War was a conflict between France and England, lasting 116 years from 1337 to 1453. It was fought primarily over claims by the English kings to the French throne and was punctuated by several brief and two lengthy periods of peace before it finally ended in the expulsion of the English from France, with the exception of the Calais Pale. Thus, the war was in fact a series of conflicts and is commonly divided into three or four phases: the Edwardian War (1337-1360), the Caroline War (1369-1389), the Lancastrian War (1415-1429), and the slow decline of English fortunes after the appearance of Joan of Arc, (1412-1431). The term "Hundred Years' War" was a later historical term invented by historians to describe the series of events.

The war owes its historical significance to a number of factors. Though primarily a dynastic conflict, the war gave impetus to ideas of both French and English nationality. Militarily, it saw the introduction of new weapons and tactics, which eroded the older system of feudal armies dominated by heavy cavalry. The first standing armies in Western Europe since the time of the Western Roman Empire were introduced for the war, thus changing the role of the peasantry. For all this, as well as for its long duration, it is often viewed as one of the most significant conflicts in the history of medieval warfare.

I don't understand how the 100 years war proves your point.

 

[Vince]

I feel that way about brunettes, since they make up approximately 90% of the world population. If they decided to go after the blondes and redheads - woof! Scary!

If there are so many brunettes, why can't I find me a good lookin one? Dayum.

 

[virgovictoria]

I feel that way about brunettes, since they make up approximately 90% of the world population. If they decided to go after the blondes and redheads - woof! Scary!

 

[MMDad]

If there are so many brunettes, why can't I find me a good lookin one? Dayum.

They must "overlook" you.

 

[Chain729]

See also the 100 Years War, for starters.

Has the idea occured to you that those schmucks would kill each other, regardless of religious preference? That religion was just an easy marketing scheme to convince the masses to support the war? Religion isn't the reason for killing, it's an excuse. People kill people regardless.

 

[Vince]

They must "overlook" you.

You're a real comedian.

 

[keekee]

Maybe they "care enough to save me"?!?!?! Save me from WHAT? Giving 10% of my earnings to a place which will misuse the funds? Having a weekly obligation to go hear someone else tell me how to interpret words which have been rewritten so many times that it's become a big game of "telephone"? If that's what they're saving me from, by all means, I'll stay "damned".

I don't mind people DISCUSSING religion with me... I've entertained Jehovah's Witnesses when they've come to my door and had deep conversations with them (just one example). My best friend back in Minnesota is a born again Christian and we've had many DISCUSSIONS about religion, but not once have I tried to enforce my beliefs on her nor has she tried to enforce her beliefs on me... we simply agree to disagree.

Wow - didn't mean to fire you up. I never mentioned Catholicism...? Also, definitely not trying to force any beliefs on you. Just stating my own.

 

[Radiant1]

Wow - didn't mean to fire you up. I never mentioned Catholicism...? Also, definitely not trying to force any beliefs on you. Just stating my own.

You're not allowed to state your own beliefs, only Kris about what she doesn't believe.

 

[kris31280]

You're not allowed to state your own beliefs, only Kris about what she doesn't believe.

Two words... bite me. That's the nicest way I can think of to tell you what I'd really like you to go do.

 

[PsyOps]

This whole "Do you believe in God?" debate can go on forever. I remember a co-worker a few years back making the statement "People who believe in God are weak-minded." I guess that made him feel superior in the fact that he was educated, didn't believe in God and could justify why there wasn't one (in his mind). This statement really made me think.....

There are people out there who are very intelligent, have years of education and don't believe in God. There are people out there who are very intelligent, have years of education, and do believe in God. There are people who never made it out of high school that believe as well as people who never made it out that don't believe.

So, does believing in God make you "not very smart?" To some, the easy answer, without putting much thought into it, is yes. The logical reasonable answer is NO.

One example would be the Jews. Many Jews become doctors, lawyers, business owners, etc. I guess that would make them smart. Almost all of these Jews believe in God. The ones that don't believe end up becoming defense lawyers.

I think we are fortunate that we live in a country where we have the freedom of religion. If you wanna believe, fine. If you don't fine. I don't think we should let that seperate us and I think we need to respect each others beliefs without insults such as "I think only weak minded people believe in God." That's just a stupid thing to say.

As long as you are not following the warped radical Muslim belief that you need to kill all infidels and you'll go to paridise if you blow up Americans, your beliefs are fine with me. Most Muslims are fine but I think there is always that line to draw. If you wanna kill me in the name of Allah or whatever you call him, that's not the type of religion I will respect.

People that are trying to prove or disprove the existence of God are looking for something concrete; something they can touch, smell and feel. God is like joy. How do you prove joy exists except you feel it in your heart?

Those that spend all their time trying to prove that God can only exist in their own physical definition – through science or archeological research - are wasting their time. You are looking in the wrong place. And this is where believers have a hard time in trying to explain their faith to non-believers. They are trying to use physical explanations to a spiritual thing. Jesus did this and people still didn’t get it. That’s why Jesus performed so many miracles. The people didn’t understand his parables and knew they needed something more physical as proof. Perhaps this is why the Catholic Church relies so heavily on miracles and symbols to sustain them.

The bottom line is faith. You can’t define or explain this in any physical way. It’s just like joy; you know it when you feel it. How do you explain this to a non-believer?

 

[PsyOps]

I believe in a God, but not necessiarily the Christian God, and I'll tell you why...

This hypothetical may not be all that far off. The progressive movement in this country to remove the mention of God and Jesus from the public voice would cause a rebellion of historical proportions. Don’t give us freedom and then tell us “oh, that doesn’t apply to YOUR free practice”.

Christianity also is at the root of more wars and more deaths than any other cause.

Try reading Matthew 10:34-36

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household.”​

And Luke 12:49-53

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."​

Jesus predicted this. It is not because of some innate evil of Christianity, but rather the rebelliousness of this world rejecting God and clinging to the earth. This exists just as prevalently within the Christian community as it does within non-Christian.

That being said, I believe in a higher power. Who am I to tell someone that what they believe in cannot possibly be true? I've read the bible from cover to cover, I found it to be a good story... but I don't believe in it. If you do, that's great... just don't shove it down my throat and we'll get along fine. I cannot tell anyone else what they should believe, and all I ask is for the same in return.

This was the great thing about Jesus; he didn’t shove it down their throats. He merely spoke the truth and you can either accept it or not. He was quite adamant about your personal choice. But believers are charged with spreading this Word and can have the feeling of being shoved down one’s throat; but you are still left the choice of turning away.

 

[Dede]

I believe in God, but not the rituals associated with the Religion of their being a god.

 

[Radiant1]

Two words... bite me. That's the nicest way I can think of to tell you what I'd really like you to go do.

You're irrational, but I like you anyway!

 

[This_person]

Ronald Knox (1888-1957), the noted British Roman Catholic priest, author, and scholar, was engaged in a theological debate with scientist John Scott Haldane:

"In a universe undoubtedly containing millions of planets," reasoned Haldane, "is is not inevitable that life should appear on at least one of them?"

"Sir," replied Knox, "if Scotland Yard found a body in your cabin trunk would you tell them,

'There are millions of trunks in the world; surely one of them must contain a body?'

"I think they would still want to know who put it there ..."








Or, in other words, yes.

 

[kris31280]

So apparently by expressing my thoughts/ideas I've gotten some interesting karma...

First, someone called me a freak but they were nice enough to make it neutral karma.

Second, someone told me my reply wasn't very witty or sarcastic. This apparently offended them so that they felt the need to leave negative karma.

Lastly, someone thought that I was interesting, and left me some positive feedback for my trouble.

I can agree with freak, cause I am in many ways.

Not every reply must be witty nor sarcastic so I feel punishing me for such is uncalled for.

And thank you, I try to be interesting.

Carry on.

 

[CAPPY2609]

I DONT CARE IF IT RAINS OR FREEZES, 'LONG AS I GOTS MY PLASTIC JEEZUS!!!





i've always like the word monkey, so much fun to say.