Do you believe in God?

leeburgess wrote:
and finally, we are one planet among millions or so in this ridiculously vast universe. there's gotta be life on another planet somewhere, do they also have gods, or do we share with this other lifeform, or are they more intelligent than us and don't worship anything and have a better means of society?

Finding it hard to believe that we are alone?



Couldn't resist.

kappa99 wrote:TBH, I think a God wouldnt want to readily intervene ALL the time. It would be impossible to answer every prayer, stop every murder etc etc.

I think he created the earth and has sat back and let it flow as we choose to have it.

But he can create the world and humans?

oh for fuck's sake.

Do I believe in God?
That's a really difficult question, even for someone, like me, who reads the Bible - not as often as I would like, and goes to church (about once or twice a month.)

How do we define "God"? Is "God" a supreme being somewhere in space, or is "God" within our hearts?
Is the "afterlife" after our bodies physically die, of after we each believe and live our lives according to Christian principles, (i.e. the life after which we become Christians)?

I do believe there was a bloke called Jesus Christ, and what he said is most important to me, and I try to lead my life according to what he said, the most important being:" Love your neighbour as yourself", which is not the same as "Do unto others as they do unto you.", but is about showing Love to all people.

The way I see it, the majority of the teachings in Christianity are simple morals every decent human being should uphold, I think the stories should be told to kids in school still because they are stories about compassion and respect for others as well as not to murder people (and I suppose in a way if they are scared shitless of doing those things because an almighty sky god shall smite them then maybe that's good too).

But, personally, as with father christmas and the easter bunny, I grew out of believing. Thanks a lot scientific reasoning!

The interesting thing is that there have been and still are scientists who believe in God. Sir Bernard Lovell, the founder of the Jodrell Bank observatory, being one of them.

Both Sir Isaac Newton and Leonhard Euler were both very religious as well, and they were some of the best mathematicians/scientists in history. Some scientists believe that there's no evidence that voids the possibility of a higher being, and that all the current knowledge of the workings of the universe fit nicely into a reality in which a deity rules. Quite interesting their take on things really.

JoshXCI wrote:

Post something useful or stop being a dick.

Another reason to make me annoyed with atheists, congratulations.

I seriously dislike preachers too who stand in the street saying we are all going to hell. Wish christians could decide if god is a nice guy or not, one minute he's vengeful the next caring but if you don't believe in him, despite him making little effort to show his presence other than a book written by people so long a go that their education couldn't possibly be of an adequate level, then he will cast you to hell to be totured in fire for all eternity. Seems a tad bit unfair, he gave all those people in the bible messages, jobs and spoke to them directly though to us nothing but expectance of blind obedience.

Also what is the cutoff point between religion and mythology. What makes the stories of christianity any more plausable than those of the greeks or egyptians?

Scott wrote:

kappa99 wrote:TBH, I think a God wouldnt want to readily intervene ALL the time. It would be impossible to answer every prayer, stop every murder etc etc.

I think he created the earth and has sat back and let it flow as we choose to have it.

But he can create the world and humans?

|Thats a stupid anology, not something Id expect from you. Answering every prayer at once would require thousands if not millions of actions at once, whereas creating the earth can be done over an open ended period.

Put into a way that works for you- an ipod can hold thousands of songs, but it can only play them one at a time.

I think reference in the Bible about being cast into Hell, are allegorical. They're basically saying that if you don't love and respect people, and if instead you commit crime then your life will feel as if you're in Hell. If you want a content life love your neighbour.

And I agree about street preachers; they annoy me too, but they are harmless.

Elemental wrote:I seriously dislike preachers too who stand in the street saying we are all going to hell. .

I remember standing outside waiting to go see Architects and the one who's always around Colchester, said we were all going to hell for worshipping the devils music.

Grandpa Clivey wrote:I think reference in the Bible about being cast into Hell, are allegorical. They're basically saying that if you don't love and respect people, and if instead you commit crime then your life will feel as if you're in Hell. If you want a content life love your neighbour.

That's actually a really interesting view, one I've never heard of actually. But it does make sense.


And there aren't any street preachers in my town ha, as about 99.8% of the population of Yukon is Christian (in one form or another), so there's no need. But there's no need in general really to spew your beliefs at others like some of them do, regardless of the nature of the belief. Why can't people share ideas with civililty?

They're not all like that. You're living in the wrong part of the USA. Go to Northern California, near where I used to live, you'd probably love it there. (No, really. It's full of liberals and skeptical people.)

Interesting question: What makes the God Hates Fags people less of a reliable source than general non homophobic Christians?


(Note, I think those people are scum)

He's referring to the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas if you want more info.

Those at Westboro Baptist Church profess to be Christians but are not Christians. They don't understand the Christian message of love.

They are not in any way affiliated to the Baprist or Primative Baptist Movement. They are as far removed from the ethos of Christianity as Osama bin Laden is from the ethose of Islam.

To add a little heat to the "sciene is correct. Always" idea...

Now that they have actually researched the benefits of taking 5 fruit and veg per day, scientists at a university have discovered that it only reduces your chances of cancer by 3%. They actually found that drinking more than the the agreed safe limit of alcohol had the same effect!

They studied half a million people over a prelonged period, and those who did eat 5 a day had a slightly lower chance of contracting cancer, as did those who drank more than the recommended limit.

My opinion?


Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps mate. Better make it spring onion crisps to be on the safe side.

"[Food Science]....Well that's not science really" - Prof. Brian Cox

And my question is what were the lifestyles of these people studied? Besides the 5 veggies/fruits a day.

Europe.

kappa99 wrote:To add a little heat to the "sciene is correct. Always" idea...

Now that they have actually researched the benefits of taking 5 fruit and veg per day, scientists at a university have discovered that it only reduces your chances of cancer by 3%. They actually found that drinking more than the the agreed safe limit of alcohol had the same effect!

They studied half a million people over a prelonged period, and those who did eat 5 a day had a slightly lower chance of contracting cancer, as did those who drank more than the recommended limit.

My opinion?


Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps mate. Better make it spring onion crisps to be on the safe side.

Daniel P Carter and Bill Ransom have always sworn by this diet.

Nobody ever said that eating 5-a-day reduces your chances of contracting cancer, just that it makes you healthier in general, due to the variety of nutrients in your diet.