... the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. .
And what is this purpose?
I'm pretty sure even the righteous will admit they don't know this one. I think you are supposed to find out when you sit down with the big man for your eternal happy hour.
Hmmm... wait and see what responses are. I'm thinking it's easier to believe that you are here because something put you there for a purpose. A non believer has to figure out life for himself/herself. No 'god' safety cushion. Much harder (and I would say valuable), maybe with a better understanding of the value of life.
... the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. .
And what is this purpose?
Biblically mans purpose is to honor your creator by living, thinking and carrying out life while adhering to Gods commandments. To live fully creating as he created, working hard at anything and everything justly. Meaning your relationships, career and so on. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Live everyday with thankfulness for existence.
I'm thinking it's easier to believe that you are here because something put you there for a purpose. A non believer has to figure out life for himself/herself. No 'god' safety cushion. Much harder (and I would say valuable), maybe with a better understanding of the value of life.
I'm thinking I agree with you 100% on this. I have said this several times, but ELB says the opposite, that for some reason believing in god and an afterlife makes life on earth more difficult. Explain that one to me.
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Only going on feelings or emotion is why man is so corrupt. The heart isnt the center of human being the mind is, or coinscience. We get into trouble when we allow our emotions to overtake our coinscience.
... the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. .
And what is this purpose?
Biblically mans purpose is to honor your creator by living, thinking and carrying out life while adhering to Gods commandments. To live fully creating as he created, working hard at anything and everything justly. Meaning your relationships, career and so on. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Live everyday with thankfulness for existence.
So one lives his life in 'fear of god', just in the hope that you will be in his good books on judgement day. Brings back the fact that one then must believe in punishment and reward (ie heaven and hell).
I would rather live my life 'working hard at anything', etc. because I WANT to. Because it brings me satisfaction, not because I fear god's judgement.
... the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. .
And what is this purpose?
Biblically mans purpose is to honor your creator by living, thinking and carrying out life while adhering to Gods commandments. To live fully creating as he created, working hard at anything and everything justly. Meaning your relationships, career and so on. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Live everyday with thankfulness for existence.
so the billions of people on the world that don't believe this are just out of luck? Their lives have no purpose?
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I'm thinking it's easier to believe that you are here because something put you there for a purpose. A non believer has to figure out life for himself/herself. No 'god' safety cushion. Much harder (and I would say valuable), maybe with a better understanding of the value of life.
I'm thinking I agree with you 100% on this. I have said this several times, but ELB says the opposite, that for some reason believing in god and an afterlife makes life on earth more difficult. Explain that one to me.
One reason its easier for you is you have no eternal consequences for living your way. You live and die and never having to reap what you sow on earth. Its much harder for me to not give into the temptation of emotions I have; say at work when someone else gets a promotion over me (envy), or at home by myself on the internet (lust), or out away from my wife surrounded by temptation (adultry/lust).
Another is by having faith in a good deity (God) means that one knows an opposing deity exists (satan). Bad things naturally happen to people, that is a given. When I am on the right path in my faith I can tell that certain things are happening to me because of that opposing deity which tries to tempt me into stumbling in my faith by bringing to the front of my thoughts worldly materialistic things like bills, car crashes, house burning down. Its a stream that satan wants me to tap into so I constantly think this is all I have. You dont believe these things exist so you arent tormented by them regularly for one. In a way you're soul is already won so whats the use in wasting time beating a dead horse when we have tons of kids entering college from the church whos minds are fresh and able to sway from the truth by worldly explainations of evolution and tolerance especially.
the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. .
And what is this purpose?
Biblically mans purpose is to honor your creator by living, thinking and carrying out life while adhering to Gods commandments. To live fully creating as he created, working hard at anything and everything justly. Meaning your relationships, career and so on. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Live everyday with thankfulness for existence.[/quote]
so the billions of people on the world that don't believe this are just out of luck? Their lives have no purpose?[/quote]
You have purpose in a worldly sense but your view ends at that. It fades even though your soul will live on and the problem is everyone has been tricked into thinking that this part of us doesnt exist. I can tell you we are more than random chance and more than chemical reactions. My son was born for a reason, changed my life. My thoughts of dying for him overweigh what science says the chemicals in our brains tell me to instinctually do which is survive. That is soul, coinscience is soul. Everyone is given the same opportunity as I have been given. The evidence is out there one just has to open their minds to it.
I'm thinking it's easier to believe that you are here because something put you there for a purpose. A non believer has to figure out life for himself/herself. No 'god' safety cushion. Much harder (and I would say valuable), maybe with a better understanding of the value of life.
I'm thinking I agree with you 100% on this. I have said this several times, but ELB says the opposite, that for some reason believing in god and an afterlife makes life on earth more difficult. Explain that one to me.
One reason its easier for you is you have no eternal consequences for living your way. You live and die and never having to reap what you sow on earth. Its much harder for me to not give into the temptation of emotions I have; say at work when someone else gets a promotion over me (envy), or at home by myself on the internet (lust), or out away from my wife surrounded by temptation (adultry/lust).
Another is by having faith in a good deity (God) means that one knows an opposing deity exists (satan). Bad things naturally happen to people, that is a given. When I am on the right path in my faith I can tell that certain things are happening to me because of that opposing deity which tries to tempt me into stumbling in my faith by bringing to the front of my thoughts worldly materialistic things like bills, car crashes, house burning down. Its a stream that satan wants me to tap into so I constantly think this is all I have. You dont believe these things exist so you arent tormented by them regularly for one. In a way you're soul is already won so whats the use in wasting time beating a dead horse when we have tons of kids entering college from the church whos minds are fresh and able to sway from the truth by worldly explainations of evolution and tolerance especially.
...
What you are saying here is... you are not a descent person without your belief in Christ. Without it, you are a porn loving adulterer.
The thing that SHOULD keep you from the pettiness of envy or jealousy is the character of your being. What you are saying is that you have none of these positive character traits without your religion.
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I'm thinking it's easier to believe that you are here because something put you there for a purpose. A non believer has to figure out life for himself/herself. No 'god' safety cushion. Much harder (and I would say valuable), maybe with a better understanding of the value of life.
I'm thinking I agree with you 100% on this. I have said this several times, but ELB says the opposite, that for some reason believing in god and an afterlife makes life on earth more difficult. Explain that one to me.
One reason its easier for you is you have no eternal consequences for living your way. You live and die and never having to reap what you sow on earth. Its much harder for me to not give into the temptation of emotions I have; say at work when someone else gets a promotion over me (envy), or at home by myself on the internet (lust), or out away from my wife surrounded by temptation (adultry/lust).
Another is by having faith in a good deity (God) means that one knows an opposing deity exists (satan). Bad things naturally happen to people, that is a given. When I am on the right path in my faith I can tell that certain things are happening to me because of that opposing deity which tries to tempt me into stumbling in my faith by bringing to the front of my thoughts worldly materialistic things like bills, car crashes, house burning down. Its a stream that satan wants me to tap into so I constantly think this is all I have. You dont believe these things exist so you arent tormented by them regularly for one. In a way you're soul is already won so whats the use in wasting time beating a dead horse when we have tons of kids entering college from the church whos minds are fresh and able to sway from the truth by worldly explainations of evolution and tolerance especially.
It is fear guiding your life then. I reap what I sow during my lifetime. It's just as hard not to 'give into temptation' as I pay the consequences there and then. It's easier to day 'the devil made me do it' as opposed to taking control of your flaws - no satan tempting me. Just me being weak. No one to blame but me. Just like the good bits... not because god put them in my way but because I made things happen. And consequences of my actions? They will live on, through those I touched (one way or the other).
Also, I know some very religious people... they are not 'tormented' by their bills, etc.!
I'm surprised at the mention of the devil and heaven and hell as it has been mentioned that a lot of christians do not believe in these (this thread or another one).
I will not let my life be dictated by the fear of what some almighty & judgemental god may do to me once I'm dead and gone.
So one lives his life in 'fear of god', just in the hope that you will be in his good books on judgement day. Brings back the fact that one then must believe in punishment and reward (ie heaven and hell).
I would rather live my life 'working hard at anything', etc. because I WANT to. Because it brings me satisfaction, not because I fear god's judgement.
Not at all I dont live for fear of hell. I live greatful because I have the chance to live. Greatful that I dont infact live in a starving country. Greatful that I have a wife who was able to become pregnant and have a son. Greatful that I was considered worthy enough for God to send a piece of him down in human form to be sacrificed for my unworthy ass. The fear is spoken of in a sense of offering respect to your creator for life and His sacrifice. I'm not worried about the afterlife because I see how, when I let God control my life, how much better it is.
Im not copping out and saying satan makes me sin, I do that by my own accord. He is deffinitely there lighting the end of the gunpowder trail its our coinsciences responsibility to snuff it out
It is fear guiding your life then. I reap what I sow during my lifetime. It's just as hard not to 'give into temptation' as I pay the consequences there and then. It's easier to day 'the devil made me do it' as opposed to taking control of your flaws - no satan tempting me. Just me being weak. No one to blame but me. Just like the good bits... not because god put them in my way but because I made things happen. And consequences of my actions? They will live on, through those I touched (one way or the other).
I'm surprised at the mention of the devil and heaven and hell as it has been mentioned that a lot of christians do not believe in these (this thread or another one).
I will not let my life be dictated by the fear of what some almighty & judgemental god may do to me once I'm dead and gone.
+1
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So one lives his life in 'fear of god', just in the hope that you will be in his good books on judgement day. Brings back the fact that one then must believe in punishment and reward (ie heaven and hell).
I would rather live my life 'working hard at anything', etc. because I WANT to. Because it brings me satisfaction, not because I fear god's judgement.
Not at all I dont live for fear of hell. I live greatful because I have the chance to live. Greatful that I dont infact live in a starving country. Greatful that I have a wife who was able to become pregnant and have a son. Greatful that I was considered worthy enough for God to send a piece of him down in human form to be sacrificed for my unworthy ass. The fear is spoken of in a sense of offering respect to your creator for life and His sacrifice. I'm not worried about the afterlife because I see how, when I let God control my life, how much better it is.
You just so contradicted yourself... check your previous post. You live your life the way you do because of "the eternal consequences" - ie fear of judgement day and what will follow. Also... god IS controlling your life then....
What happens if you 'fall'? Will you fear hell then?
Cosmo where does the character of ones being come from? Is that a trait that was handed down by our single celled ancestors? That being able to decide from right or wrong.
I'm saying I can be good on my own but I'm still a sinner, its human nature. I just realize now how and why we are made up the way we are because of my religious background. So are you saying that you are only good natured because you are upholding to the standard of men, for fear of not wanting to go to jail or get divorced? Cops are all good people, congressmen always tell the truth and your wife doesnt think Brad Pitt is hot.
and he's also saying that he knows who I am based on what my fundamental beliefs are. he thinks he is better than those who don't believe the same thing he believes. sounds pretty familiar to me, and I can't say I'm all that surprised.
"living your way". Give me a BREAK, dude. I can't say for sure, but I know that I live my life by the letter of morality; and I'm pretty sure that means that I'm on par or even higher than you on the morality scale. See, I don't judge others.
You do. What's that commandment that 90% of people like you break on a daily basis?
Judge not lest ye be judged.
And one more thing: I don't need a god to tell me that it's not ok to cheat on my wife. I know this because I love her and made a lifelong commitment to her. We said vows. That's not enough for you? You need help?
That's called a crutch, no matter how you spin it.
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and he's also saying that he knows who I am based on what my fundamental beliefs are. he thinks he is better than those who don't believe the same thing he believes. sounds pretty familiar to me, and I can't say I'm all that surprised.
"living your way". Give me a BREAK, dude. I can't say for sure, but I know that I live my life by the letter of morality; and I'm pretty sure that means that I'm on par or even higher than you on the morality scale. See, I don't judge others.
You do. What's that commandment that 90% of people like you break on a daily basis?
Judge not lest ye be judged.
And one more thing: I don't need a god to tell me that it's not ok to cheat on my wife. I know this because I love her and made a lifelong commitment to her. We said vows. That's not enough for you? You need help?
That's called a crutch, no matter how you spin it.
that's pretty much it
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"I don't want to think I want to feel" a great man said that once
And another great one said "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am).
oh I like Eddie's better hopefully someday when we are all truly enlightened it will be "I feel therefore I am"
and I will feel you and you will feel me and then there will be peace and harmony and love
"and flowers everywhere"
You just so contradicted yourself... check your previous post. You live your life the way you do because of "the eternal consequences" - ie fear of judgement day and what will follow. Also... god IS controlling your life then....
What happens if you 'fall'? Will you fear hell then?
he won't fail in his eyes, because he believes as long as you believe in god, you go to heaven. that's how simple it is, and why it is easier to live your life as a believer. the "I can do what I want because Jesus forgives all" BS.
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I know a lot of women who don't think Brad Pitt is hot. Now if you would have said Johnny Depp......
Joke apart, I know your post is directed at Cosmo but....
I can live my life and 'control' what I do because of moral values that I have - not because god told me it was wrong. I've never 'strayed' in my marriage (22 years), not because of fear of divorce, but because I love my husband, my life with him and my daughter. I don't commit murder, larcency, etc., not because I fear jail, but because of my personal values.
I would disagree....kind of what was presented in the video...in order to believe in god you would have to make up some uncomfortable excuses or rationalizations....to me that is evidence of no god because it just logically doesn't make sense
I'm not sure if you want to present something as an example because I think we'll end up back at the beginning of the universe again.
OK, i will give it a try. and this is something i mentioned above in a previous post. in the context of the video, the guy asks a lot of questions (why won't god heal amputees, why are so many people starving, why do bad things happen to good people) that seems to wonder why god allows suffering. this question implies that human suffering is real, not imagined, and that it is bad. this point of view implies that humans do in fact have some kind of inherent value.
now, i ask, as i did above, where does this value come from? i do not imply that in the absence of god, human life can have no value. i just mention this: the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. the non-god-believer, as far as i can tell, must accept that human life has intrinsic value in and of itself, for no reason beyond the fact itself. while this is cetainly a defensable position, and one i certainly respect, i think it actually requires a leap of faith that is somewhat greater than believing humans have value for the reason of being god-created.
but i dunno, like i said, i want to learn about other's point of view...
of course it is real....we are animals....animals suffer
If I beat the neighbor's dog with a bat he will suffer....why does he have to have value to suffer?
wait a sec - you believe you could beat a dog, the dog would suffer, and that would not mean the dog has value? i think a dog does have value, and that's why it suffers. if a dog is a valueless, how can the dog suffer? if it has no value, who cares what happens to it? in that case, is it really suffering or just an illusion of suffering created by the dog's brain chemistry?
I would disagree....kind of what was presented in the video...in order to believe in god you would have to make up some uncomfortable excuses or rationalizations....to me that is evidence of no god because it just logically doesn't make sense
I'm not sure if you want to present something as an example because I think we'll end up back at the beginning of the universe again.
OK, i will give it a try. and this is something i mentioned above in a previous post. in the context of the video, the guy asks a lot of questions (why won't god heal amputees, why are so many people starving, why do bad things happen to good people) that seems to wonder why god allows suffering. this question implies that human suffering is real, not imagined, and that it is bad. this point of view implies that humans do in fact have some kind of inherent value.
now, i ask, as i did above, where does this value come from? i do not imply that in the absence of god, human life can have no value. i just mention this: the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. the non-god-believer, as far as i can tell, must accept that human life has intrinsic value in and of itself, for no reason beyond the fact itself. while this is cetainly a defensable position, and one i certainly respect, i think it actually requires a leap of faith that is somewhat greater than believing humans have value for the reason of being god-created.
but i dunno, like i said, i want to learn about other's point of view...
I don't believe that I was created for a purpose; I believe my life has purpose because I was created.
and that is EXACTLY what i believe. i believe my life has purpose because i was created. i guess our disagreement is on who/what created us...
... the god-believer believes that human life has value because there was some kind of purpose behind it's existence. .
And what is this purpose?
I'm pretty sure even the righteous will admit they don't know this one. I think you are supposed to find out when you sit down with the big man for your eternal happy hour.
you are right, i do not know what the purpose was behind my creation. i was trying to make a distinction here - purpose behind the fact that i was created (which you, johnny, admit to as well) is different than saying i personally have a specific purpose. however, i find some nice motivating principles in my faith which many consider to be a purpose.
Cosmo where does the character of ones being come from? Is that a trait that was handed down by our single celled ancestors? That being able to decide from right or wrong.
I'm gonna jump in on this for the moment. Hope no one minds.
BTW - thank you ELB for posting your answers to the 10 questions. While I disagree a bit, you certainly did post your thoughts, and spent good time doing so. Again, it's appreciated.
"Character of one's being" is another way of saying "pattern of behavior" in the context of ethics.
Ethics are different from community to community.
What is right and wrong? Who's to say? God? ...or the community a person lives in?
Is it right or wrong to marry a second wife? How about four wives?
Some communities say it's ok to marry four wives, so the character of a person who marries four wives in that community would not be negatively affected, whereas the character of someone in the US who marries four women would be called into question. So, right off the bat, character is defined by people alone.
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I am probably going to get destroyed for making this comparison, but this, Simpson's episode, called The Genesis Tub, believe it or not, actually made me think about this subject and gave me a new perspective on what god is/could be. Humour me, and just read on:
"Lisa performs a science experiment to see if cola will dissolve a tooth and Bart shocks Lisa as part of his project to prove that nerds conduct electricity. The tooth was also shocked and it undergoes an unusual reaction and creates a race of miniature beings. Lisa discovers this the next day and marvels at how the people in her universe evolve at a rapid rate, going through the various ages humans have gone through into modern times and eventually, a society more advanced than current humanity. Bart destroys some of the ecosystem in Lisa's tub universe and the people respond, sending a squadron of space ships to attack Bart. Bart vows revenge on the small universe and Lisa wonders what to do. Suddenly, she is beamed down into the tub where the citizens explain that they regard her as God and they want her to do something about Bart. However, Bart grabs the tub and submits it in the science fair and Lisa is forced to watch from within as Bart wins first prize. She asks to be returned to her normal size, which the citizens explain is impossible, and she realizes that she is stuck in the tub for the rest of her life."
Now, I understand the irony, if not outright ridiculousness, of a cartoon giving me insight into religion, but it seriously made me think; what if there is a god, but he's not the god we think he is. Maybe he accidentally created life, but has no real power beyond that.
Is it possible there is a "god" that is powerless with no real heaven as we've come to imagine, and also that evolution is real?
Back to the bong we go.
haha i remember this episode, a good one. in my very first post of this tread i mentioned that some christians are actually comforted by this kind of deist god - although certainly not all.
another comment: faith motivated by fear of damnation or fear of the horrible person you'd be without it isn't, in my opinion, a very strong position to stand on.
and in any case, i think pretty much everyone lives their lives based in part on faith in something or another.
"Lisa performs a science experiment to see if cola will dissolve a tooth and Bart shocks Lisa as part of his project to prove that nerds conduct electricity. The tooth was also shocked and it undergoes an unusual reaction and creates a race of miniature beings. Lisa discovers this the next day and marvels at how the people in her universe evolve at a rapid rate, going through the various ages humans have gone through into modern times and eventually, a society more advanced than current humanity. Bart destroys some of the ecosystem in Lisa's tub universe and the people respond, sending a squadron of space ships to attack Bart. Bart vows revenge on the small universe and Lisa wonders what to do. Suddenly, she is beamed down into the tub where the citizens explain that they regard her as God and they want her to do something about Bart. However, Bart grabs the tub and submits it in the science fair and Lisa is forced to watch from within as Bart wins first prize. She asks to be returned to her normal size, which the citizens explain is impossible, and she realizes that she is stuck in the tub for the rest of her life."
Now, I understand the irony, if not outright ridiculousness, of a cartoon giving me insight into religion, but it seriously made me think; what if there is a god, but he's not the god we think he is. Maybe he accidentally created life, but has no real power beyond that.
Is it possible there is a "god" that is powerless with no real heaven as we've come to imagine, and also that evolution is real?
Back to the bong we go.
haha i remember this episode, a good one. in my very first post of this tread i mentioned that some christians are actually comforted by this kind of deist god - although certainly not all.
I'm not judging anyone I'm telling what I believe. I'm talking on scripture it's not me judging. It's the author of scripture judging. I don't think you are a bad person for not believing what I believe. Your actions in no way effect me.
Comments
Hmmm... wait and see what responses are. I'm thinking it's easier to believe that you are here because something put you there for a purpose. A non believer has to figure out life for himself/herself. No 'god' safety cushion. Much harder (and I would say valuable), maybe with a better understanding of the value of life.
And another great one said "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am).
Biblically mans purpose is to honor your creator by living, thinking and carrying out life while adhering to Gods commandments. To live fully creating as he created, working hard at anything and everything justly. Meaning your relationships, career and so on. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Live everyday with thankfulness for existence.
I'm thinking I agree with you 100% on this. I have said this several times, but ELB says the opposite, that for some reason believing in god and an afterlife makes life on earth more difficult. Explain that one to me.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
So one lives his life in 'fear of god', just in the hope that you will be in his good books on judgement day. Brings back the fact that one then must believe in punishment and reward (ie heaven and hell).
I would rather live my life 'working hard at anything', etc. because I WANT to. Because it brings me satisfaction, not because I fear god's judgement.
so the billions of people on the world that don't believe this are just out of luck? Their lives have no purpose?
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1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
One reason its easier for you is you have no eternal consequences for living your way. You live and die and never having to reap what you sow on earth. Its much harder for me to not give into the temptation of emotions I have; say at work when someone else gets a promotion over me (envy), or at home by myself on the internet (lust), or out away from my wife surrounded by temptation (adultry/lust).
Another is by having faith in a good deity (God) means that one knows an opposing deity exists (satan). Bad things naturally happen to people, that is a given. When I am on the right path in my faith I can tell that certain things are happening to me because of that opposing deity which tries to tempt me into stumbling in my faith by bringing to the front of my thoughts worldly materialistic things like bills, car crashes, house burning down. Its a stream that satan wants me to tap into so I constantly think this is all I have. You dont believe these things exist so you arent tormented by them regularly for one. In a way you're soul is already won so whats the use in wasting time beating a dead horse when we have tons of kids entering college from the church whos minds are fresh and able to sway from the truth by worldly explainations of evolution and tolerance especially.
Biblically mans purpose is to honor your creator by living, thinking and carrying out life while adhering to Gods commandments. To live fully creating as he created, working hard at anything and everything justly. Meaning your relationships, career and so on. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Live everyday with thankfulness for existence.[/quote]
so the billions of people on the world that don't believe this are just out of luck? Their lives have no purpose?[/quote]
You have purpose in a worldly sense but your view ends at that. It fades even though your soul will live on and the problem is everyone has been tricked into thinking that this part of us doesnt exist. I can tell you we are more than random chance and more than chemical reactions. My son was born for a reason, changed my life. My thoughts of dying for him overweigh what science says the chemicals in our brains tell me to instinctually do which is survive. That is soul, coinscience is soul. Everyone is given the same opportunity as I have been given. The evidence is out there one just has to open their minds to it.
What you are saying here is... you are not a descent person without your belief in Christ. Without it, you are a porn loving adulterer.
The thing that SHOULD keep you from the pettiness of envy or jealousy is the character of your being. What you are saying is that you have none of these positive character traits without your religion.
Hail, Hail!!!
It is fear guiding your life then. I reap what I sow during my lifetime. It's just as hard not to 'give into temptation' as I pay the consequences there and then. It's easier to day 'the devil made me do it' as opposed to taking control of your flaws - no satan tempting me. Just me being weak. No one to blame but me. Just like the good bits... not because god put them in my way but because I made things happen. And consequences of my actions? They will live on, through those I touched (one way or the other).
Also, I know some very religious people... they are not 'tormented' by their bills, etc.!
I'm surprised at the mention of the devil and heaven and hell as it has been mentioned that a lot of christians do not believe in these (this thread or another one).
I will not let my life be dictated by the fear of what some almighty & judgemental god may do to me once I'm dead and gone.
Not at all I dont live for fear of hell. I live greatful because I have the chance to live. Greatful that I dont infact live in a starving country. Greatful that I have a wife who was able to become pregnant and have a son. Greatful that I was considered worthy enough for God to send a piece of him down in human form to be sacrificed for my unworthy ass. The fear is spoken of in a sense of offering respect to your creator for life and His sacrifice. I'm not worried about the afterlife because I see how, when I let God control my life, how much better it is.
Im not copping out and saying satan makes me sin, I do that by my own accord. He is deffinitely there lighting the end of the gunpowder trail its our coinsciences responsibility to snuff it out
+1
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
What happens if you 'fall'? Will you fear hell then?
I'm saying I can be good on my own but I'm still a sinner, its human nature. I just realize now how and why we are made up the way we are because of my religious background. So are you saying that you are only good natured because you are upholding to the standard of men, for fear of not wanting to go to jail or get divorced? Cops are all good people, congressmen always tell the truth and your wife doesnt think Brad Pitt is hot.
"living your way". Give me a BREAK, dude. I can't say for sure, but I know that I live my life by the letter of morality; and I'm pretty sure that means that I'm on par or even higher than you on the morality scale. See, I don't judge others.
You do. What's that commandment that 90% of people like you break on a daily basis?
Judge not lest ye be judged.
And one more thing: I don't need a god to tell me that it's not ok to cheat on my wife. I know this because I love her and made a lifelong commitment to her. We said vows. That's not enough for you? You need help?
That's called a crutch, no matter how you spin it.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
that's pretty much it
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
and I will feel you and you will feel me and then there will be peace and harmony and love
"and flowers everywhere"
he won't fail in his eyes, because he believes as long as you believe in god, you go to heaven. that's how simple it is, and why it is easier to live your life as a believer. the "I can do what I want because Jesus forgives all" BS.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
I know a lot of women who don't think Brad Pitt is hot. Now if you would have said Johnny Depp......
Joke apart, I know your post is directed at Cosmo but....
I can live my life and 'control' what I do because of moral values that I have - not because god told me it was wrong. I've never 'strayed' in my marriage (22 years), not because of fear of divorce, but because I love my husband, my life with him and my daughter. I don't commit murder, larcency, etc., not because I fear jail, but because of my personal values.
wait a sec - you believe you could beat a dog, the dog would suffer, and that would not mean the dog has value? i think a dog does have value, and that's why it suffers. if a dog is a valueless, how can the dog suffer? if it has no value, who cares what happens to it? in that case, is it really suffering or just an illusion of suffering created by the dog's brain chemistry?
and that is EXACTLY what i believe. i believe my life has purpose because i was created. i guess our disagreement is on who/what created us...
you are right, i do not know what the purpose was behind my creation. i was trying to make a distinction here - purpose behind the fact that i was created (which you, johnny, admit to as well) is different than saying i personally have a specific purpose. however, i find some nice motivating principles in my faith which many consider to be a purpose.
I'm gonna jump in on this for the moment. Hope no one minds.
BTW - thank you ELB for posting your answers to the 10 questions. While I disagree a bit, you certainly did post your thoughts, and spent good time doing so. Again, it's appreciated.
"Character of one's being" is another way of saying "pattern of behavior" in the context of ethics.
Ethics are different from community to community.
What is right and wrong? Who's to say? God? ...or the community a person lives in?
Is it right or wrong to marry a second wife? How about four wives?
Some communities say it's ok to marry four wives, so the character of a person who marries four wives in that community would not be negatively affected, whereas the character of someone in the US who marries four women would be called into question. So, right off the bat, character is defined by people alone.
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
haha i remember this episode, a good one. in my very first post of this tread i mentioned that some christians are actually comforted by this kind of deist god - although certainly not all.
and in any case, i think pretty much everyone lives their lives based in part on faith in something or another.
Or.... Cartman can be your god!
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103967
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
Faith in yourself as a human being.
yup, that's what i am saying. is this faith any more or less reasonable than a faith in god?