How many of you guys believe in god ?

[Rikbe]

Well said Iluminado.

My dear Rikbe, I know you don't believe in God, or at least you say you don't, but you know I do, and yes in the Bible it mentions that God spoke on 3 occasions. A big hug, Panchita

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by Panchita
My dear Rikbe, I know you don't believe in God, or at least you say you don't, but you know I do, and yes in the Bible it mentions that God spoke on 3 occasions. A big hug, Panchita

Hey Panchita, you are back.
I am too glad to start a discussion that could be painfull for you. Religion .
Only, I don't believe the Bible.

Hey Rikbe, It only goes without saying that if you don't believe in God, you don't believe in the book which He inspired, which is the Bible. Yes, it would be hard to have a discussion with you about "regigion", even though I have told you before that God and religion do not mix, and it is not the same thing. God never intended men to have different religions, or even one. Religion is man-made.
What can you expect from men but imperfection, all religions have different ideas and philosophies, whereas God says in the Bible that he wishes everybody would be united in the same line of thought. Don't you think the world would be a better place to live in if people were united in kindness? Believe it or not, I hurt when I see Iraqui people dying, just as I hurt when I see American people dying, or any other people. This all comes about because of the badness of the heart and the unwillingness for people to be humble and be loving.
If I don't want to discuss religion with you, I would love to sit with you with a Bible and prove to you it is inspired of God, the God you say you don't believe in.
Big hugs, Panchita

[Nousch]

Originally posted by iluminado
I personally believe that God, or something higher than us exists, in some form or another.

Although I respect everyone's right to practice whatever religion they choose, I don't believe in organized religion of any kind, as it clearly does more harm than good for the feeble masses it claims to serve.

Having said that, although I tend to agree with atheists and scientists more than I do with people who base their beliefs on faith, I have the following to add:

Science is based on the observation of nature. The fact that the existence of "God" has not yet been proven scientifically, does not necessarily disprove such existence.

In the amazon jungle, for example, new species of plants, animals, and insects are found very frequently. Science has only been able to prove that which has been observed...many aspects of our universe are yet to be discovered, but that does not mean they don't exist.

So, to each their own...believe in all, or believe in nothing...it shouldn't really matter, as long as you are a good person. But the line is crossed when religion is used to justify wars, violence, hatred, and the exclusion of others. God, if he does indeed exist, does not want mere mortals as his blood-thirsty foot soldiers, no matter what your Bible/Koran/Torah or spiritual leaders say.

Hi,

I agree with a great part which is Iluminado telling. If I do believe in God or not. I really do not know.I just believe that there is "something".

I do not use the Bible as a guideline which is telling me if I do have to believe in a God or not.

I think you can use the Bible just as a guideline to see how do you have to behave yourself (cfr 10 Commandments) in society and also to learn what is wrong and what is right. (cfr.parables).

I must be honest that I only read the Bible in school and that we analysed it, but from that point on, you learn what is good and what is bad, it can be used as a phylosphical base (also in the last year of religion lessons, we had phylosphy from Marx to Aristoteles).

Now, about the "something" in what or who I believe. I think you can see it everywhere around you (in flowers, nature, when life is beautiful (and also when things go wrong, because it is a part of it). And also the "something" is in part of everybody. Do you remember how you feel when you helped someone, when you did something good. It is a special feeling and maybe that is God?

[imported_iluminado]

Originally posted by Nousch



Hi,

I agree with a great part which is Iluminado telling. If I do believe in God or not. I really do not know.I just believe that there is "something".

I do not use the Bible as a guideline which is telling me if I do have to believe in a God or not.

I think you can use the Bible just as a guideline to see how do you have to behave yourself (cfr 10 Commandments) in society and also to learn what is wrong and what is right. (cfr.parables).

I must be honest that I only read the Bible in school and that we analysed it, but from that point on, you learn what is good and what is bad, it can be used as a phylosphical base (also in the last year of religion lessons, we had phylosphy from Marx to Aristoteles).

Now, about the "something" in what or who I believe. I think you can see it everywhere around you (in flowers, nature, when life is beautiful (and also when things go wrong, because it is a part of it). And also the "something" is in part of everybody. Do you remember how you feel when you helped someone, when you did something good. It is a special feeling and maybe that is God?

Nousch:

I agree with you. I feel that God, if he does exist, lives in the beauty and the good deeds of all of his/her creations. I do agree that the special feeling, the special connection you describe after witnessing an act of kindness is God, or our connection to him/her.

I also somewhat agree that the bible, when not taken literally, can be a good moral guideline, but unfortunately, in my opinion, it causes more harm than good in the world...precisely thanks to those who take these scriptures at face value, and twist them in order to manipulate their own interests.

Perhaps, a better guideline of moral values would be Aesop's fables...have you ever heard of these? They are stories I read as a kid, with simple, cristal-clear moral lessons and not much room for misinterpretation.

[Shenlong]

God(s) exist in your head
However you want them/him/her/it to

[Melhaley01]

For a life without the Lord is a life filled with endless deadends. A life with Him is a life promised me for eternity!

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by Melhaley01
For a life without the Lord is a life filled with endless deadends. A life with Him is a life promised me for eternity!

As you obviously are a hard heading believer, I doubt that you can ever know what a life with or without your Lord is.

[fullstop]

"The human race will reach maturity when we outgrow the need for religion."

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by fullstop
"The human race will reach maturity when we outgrow the need for religion."

Or opposite, the need for religion will disappear when humanity reaches maturity.

[Fear_nam_Beanntan]

Originally posted by fullstop
"The human race will reach maturity when we outgrow the need for religion."

Oh, exactly. That's why western society has been characterized by maturity, self-control, and responsibility for the past several decades.

[Rikbe]

Originally posted by Fear_nam_Beanntan

Oh, exactly. That's why western society has been characterized by maturity, self-control, and responsibility for the past several decades.

Who says Western Society is mature?