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God

Who here believes in God?

Ah, it was dart.

Personally,

I don't believe in God, with a capital G. That is, I don't believe in the all-seeing, all-powerful, all-good JudeoChristian God.

I believe in a creative force that helped life along, something that resides within us and within all we see. But not God with a capital G. :)

My thanks to everyone, by the way, for keeping this thread relatively civil. As the lounge's moderator, I truly appreciate it. I enjoy good discussion, even when people clearly don't agree, that doesn't devolve into name-calling or inflammatory comments. :) Thank you, all of you :)

And Happy Easter to those of you who do believe in the Christian God! :)

How can you not believe in God?

Thats strange(to me) because all you have to do is look at the world and its vastness,and its beauty and even things like your body which is a marvel in itself if you learnt how it works and how it adapts and you realise there must be a God there's proof too,I  tottaly disagree with frothbeast,no human could have created the Bible or the Quraan.

Are you talking to me, feamten?

Or to Frothbeast?

both

I believe in a creative spirit that created this world, it's animals and people, etc. Something that helped connect us from inorganic carbon to organic carbon when life was first being created.

But as far as the Christian view of God, I don't see any proof of such an entity, so I don't believe in him. :)

I disagree with melody. I think you need FAITH to find God. Some people have it. Some people don't. I had my faith in the JudeoChristian god taken from me a loooong time ago.

I believe in God. :)

I personally believe that we all have a purpose in life and that God didn't put us all on Earth to just rot and die.

You sorta do have that faith in a way,..you believe that something had to create this world but you dont believe in God when it comes to other aspects,thats what I meant by proof ,like what do u mean no proof,like think of it the world ur living in is proof enough right?

I don't. That doesn't mean I discount wisdom found in any of the teachings of the various world religions, but I don't see a need to believe in an imaginary diety to validate the ideas in those religions.

E=MC^2, right? Basic physical law of the world, right? Matter is not created or destroyed, right? We live in a closed system. Ghosts, angels, demons...they can't exist because they would bring in energy into our closed system. (They have no mass...which would make that equation 0=0)

When we die, we become part of the earth, and, in turn, live on. When our friends remember us, we live on. I believe we leave a legacy. I don't believe we wear white robes and walk around in the clouds (or burn in a pool of fire). Which brings me to my next point...

It's more of a Christian thing....but.... why would a god create imperfect people, then punish them in a lake of fire for all eternity for...well....being the way he created them?

And Melody, I wanted to bring up the point that the Bible (in what Christians call the "Old Testament" -- I say that, because, to Jews, there is no "New Testament"), it explains the same things you mentioned. The Quraan and the Bible share various books. I read a (translation) of the Quraan (any book not in Arabic isn't really the Quraan, merely a translation, right?). I respect your faith. But, like all religions there were things I didn't agree with. The Quraan is very violent.

In the end, I feel like religion takes away from the human experience, because then people have excuses, scapegoats, or a lack of responsibility.... Oh, I was bad because "The devil made me do it" or Oh, Praise God! These good things happened to me. What ever happened to self-control, personal responsibility, and faith in ones own self?

frothy, don't try to change others way of thinking. don't contradict. just accept that others have their own way of what they want to believe in. i believe that as we are said to be made in gods image, and that our spirits live on, and that we ahve gods sould in us, we may infact all be some part of god. and the devil as some religious folks say that the devil may take you over. and with all the chaos and fighting going on and then the story of the devil trying to kill god over jealousy, it is possible that we may all be god and/or the devil. we just go by the instinct inside of us on which soul to play by. god or the devil? i dont' believe taht we should worsihp him as many do. by chastising ourselves or beleiving to kill over whose god is real, etc. it's all really manner of point of view though. no one is truly certain. even those who devote their lives to their religion as they progress with it, they began to doubt what they are being taught. and then they either become agnostic, aetheist(sp?) or convert to a religion more suited to their personality. it all depends on perspective and point of view. and it's our way of hoping to believe that their truly is purpose to us being here on this planet, in this world. that is all i can come up with on my thoughts of this subject. 

feamten...

"no human could have created the Bible or the Quraan."

You're joking, right?

I feel like those who are devout in some kind of religion say "don't try to change me" a lot whenever someone is teaching them about another way of thinking.

Honestly, why wouldn't you want to make the best informed decision you can possibly make? Just look at Melody... she was a Christian, learned something new, and became Muslim. There are many people out there who learn something new, and stay whatever faith they are. Learning about something new doesn't require a change of faith.

Personally, I read the Bible (4 times), the Quraan, Buddhist texts, and studied Hinduism. That doesn't mean I believe....well, in any of them. What it does mean is that I'm well informed, and that, in my mind, is the best I can do.

Is there a fear that what you hear will conflict with what you believe?

people who do make mistakes aren't like o the devil made me do it :s, uv got that wrong thats why its a sin when we make mistakes because God gaves us a brain to use and we either use it to make the good choices or bad choices,and as for punishing u in hell,u should know that of course like u said humans are not perfect which is why wen me make mistakes they are forgiven because no one is perfect but when you repeatedly commit crimes and do horrible things/bad things repeatedy that is when you are punished severely,and as for self control and personal responsibility religion is a big part of that! Sometimes Im tempted to make the wrong decision but mi religion helps me maitain my self control because you respect and fear God you try to do the right thing as for personal responsibility? Could u clarify what u mean by that, and as for faith in my self I have faith in my self why? Because I follow this religion its led to me the right path in my life where I dont fear problems happening,or anything because of my faith in God i have belief in myself that I can handle anything and i know u think thats relying too much on religion but to me religion is essential ,its stopped me from doing a lot of things i would have regretted it later, pushed me to do more for my life,sorry this is long but I really feel strongly about this

No im not joking hybird and hgielrehtaeh, I know about other religions ,I dont fear that what i hear will conflict what i believe , I welcome ur ideas, I just dont like it when people criticise God or my religion because i feel really strongly about it like other people feel strongly about their beliefs

To me, when  you say that you are making the right decision because you fear punishment or because God said so... it isn't really coming from within. It's coming from fear or "God" and, to me, that's all the wrong reasons to do something.  We should do good because we are here on earth for one trip, one time, we get one chance, so we better make the most of it.

I choose to be good or make the right decision because it's good or the right decision, not because I'm afraid what will happen to me after I die.

When people start using God as their compass, instead of logic, then things get scary... like your circular argument that God exists, because there is creation, therefore there must be a creator. Your argument assumes there is a creator for there to be god. In philosopy or logic (or rational thinking) circular arguments are invalid. Sorry.

So what if God told you to kill your son (Abraham was assigned this task by God).... does that make it right?

God said it's not okay to lie. If a serial killer shows up at my door and asks if my boyfriend is home, I say no to save his life... does that mean I have sinned?

God is all powerful... can he make two baseball teams playing each other both win? Not tie.... but both win?

I think that people use God as an excuse not to use their brains.

Did you know that in Leviticus, where it says that homosexuality is a sin, it also says the following:
You can sell your daughter into slavery
You should smite your neighbor for wearing mixed threads (Who's wearing a cotton/polyester blend? Time for your smiting!)
You should stone your daughter if there is no blood on the sheets from her wedding night
Eating shellfish is an abomination
Do you want me to go on????? These are all the laws of God.

"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" Albert Einstein.

I do not believe in God. Growing up I went to Sunday school and I made my confirmation at 15 years old. As did my brother. After confirmation I started to come up with questions about my faith. At this point my parents told me that I have the right to choose what I believe and so my spiritual journey began. And it continues 10 years later.

My beliefs are mainly Buddhist. I used to go to temple regularly. Christianity. I do not even know where to begin. I do not judge you for your beliefs, it is your own free will. I am bothered though that Christianity encourages the judgement of others. I am also bothered at Christianity's seemingly blatant ignorance of scientific fact and natural laws.

My grandfather is Seventh Day Adventist. We continually discuss our opinions. I believe creation and evolution can co-exist. He refuses to believe his ancestors were monkeys!! We have had many good laughs about this and some great discussions. He finds my disbelief in Jesus saddening and I find his ignorance of science maddening, but we respect one another greatly.

I do agree that for some people, God is just the easiest answer to some of life's tough questions. Some believe that God makes everything happen for a reason and this is an easy explanation for the misfortunes of life.

I believe in the power of prayer, because I believe in the Law of Attraction. But I do not pray to God.

I feel that a belief in God stops some people from being truly good. Some Christians believe that if they go to church every Sunday and regularly confess their sins, God will forgive their sins and heaven is their reward. I have found that many of the racist, homophobic and ignorant people who I have met in my life have been Christian extremists. And God is their excuse when confronted with moral questions. "God said..." "The bible says..." I say..."No thanks".

whats leviticus? its 2am here i g2g now but if anyone wants to reply send me a message

i'm a practicing buddhist.  this buddhist doesn't believe in god. 

I think it's awesome that everyone seems to be taking all of this religious talk very well. others i have met and even my own cousin who calls herself a true christian get very uptight and a little snobby with criticism in the religion debates. This makes me feel good that when you all( and even myself) can get through with disagreements very nicely without thoroughly hurting the others with our thoughts. ^_^ plus, someone can believe that something was written by someone real or not. it's all on who you are and your way of thinking. And it doesn't matter if someone is willing or not to read on other religions. it is all about the choosing to. there truly is no right and wrong when it comes to perspective. i was just talking about this stuff with my mom earlier and she and i have come to the conclusion that no matter what it is, the truth of the matter is that we all think our own way. and we must all try our best to get a long so that we may all survive and not die out. it is in our races way of thinking to preserve it and the idea of their being an entity that is around us and that can communicate through our prayers to us is a comforting thought. to some anyway. to others, they want something tangible, so they either don't beleive, or they just ahve faith that something good will become of their lives be there a god or not. you must first analyze all different views, or the most that you can with your way of thinking, and then come up with a judgement that makes the most sense to you. (i was also just thinking, that i must be an old soul about this stuff, because ia m only 17 and i have this much insight. weird.)

That's because Buddhists don't believe in god.

Leviticus is a book of the Bible. The "Old Testament". It's "God"s holy law.... You know.... Jews and Christians alike base their belief on this book. And Islam views itself kind of as an "upgrade" to the Bible, and accepts the Bible as it's predecessor.