Why do we need to "believe" in God?

Jeanwah

pandora wrote:

What indivduals? :?

Each person in life makes observations... as I can see you have made many.

Each one of us interacts,
some may know someone who has no need for God in their lives,
this that person has stated.
Some people here in fact have stated this, so I know some who do not need God in their lives.

I know for a fact some can not separate God from religion from previous threads
I have interacted in with some non believers.

I know people from previous threads who have put down religions
of the world with many derogatory statements,
rude and disrespectful here on the board and I have met some in life situations.

I could go on through the list but as I said these are true statements and not just to me,
that is kind of ridiculous really. :?

Understanding is empathy, trying to feel what another feels.
Understanding also comes from interaction and life lessons.
It is where you draw conclusions about some but not all and often learn from that.

Something you do quite well too ... draw conclusions about others.

It is when you assume all people are such because of some
that it lacks any understanding of the individual.

Something I try not to do.

I'll ask again Pandora...

If you know God, wouldn't you be taking the high road rather than focusing on saying negative things about others? Talk about understanding, yet.... NOT. If God knows you so well and vice versa, wouldn't God tell you to stop putting down other people??!! Seems to me that God would tell people it "speaks to" to be nicer and more accepting of others...

Cosmo

Somebody... anybody. Am i not making sense, here? Is there some sort of language trick i can use to get my point across? Do my messages appear in morse code on everyone else's screen?
If so, then:
.-- - ..-. ..--.. ..--.. ..--..

Chief Broom

bleep blop bloop!

Cosmo

Chief Broom wrote:

bleep blop bloop!

...
klaatu barada nikto?

Chief Broom

klaatu barada nik*cough*

mickeyrat

Cosmo wrote:

pandora wrote:

Oh I didn't think you meant me I just mentioned I agreed with the poster.
I think they don't understand because they don't know God.
Then make comments like no one can know God... is this because they don't?
Seems to me yes.
I know God as well as I know anyone. If people who don't believe, don't get that, sorry, it is not up to me to make them get it. I am stating I know God.
As far as being shown this is how many people find God... it is how I found God.
I believe those who want to find God will be shown the way. I can't help but believe this.
Ask and you shall receive but this must be in your heart.
Don't ask if you don't want to be shown, or won't ask might be more like it.

...
Your religion is based on the doctrine that you personally know God. Great... peace be with you.
...
My religion is you can't know God... you may believe in God (just as all of those people belonging to all of those religions), but, you do not know God (neither do all of those people belonging to all of those religions). The basic premise of my religion is that God is beyond our comprehension, both intellectually and spiritually in our current capacity as beings on this level of consciousness, within this physical existence. God cannot be explained, simply because God cannot be known.
Ours is a journey beyond that of mere existence, rather to seek God, truth, knowledge... knowing the task is not an easy one and will, more than likely, lead to failure. It is the journey that matters, not the destination.
...
Simple as that.

Ding ding. You and I share a similar belief.

Byrnzie

Smellyman wrote:

this just keeps getting more crazy..........

And repetitive, and boring, and pointless.

Pandora clearly isn't capable of explaining what 'God' is so she she just responds by telling people to 'ask God who God is'.

Kind of pathetic.

Cosmo

Byrnzie wrote:

Smellyman wrote:

this just keeps getting more crazy..........

And repetitive, and boring, and pointless.
Pandora clearly isn't capable of explaining what 'God' is so she she just responds by telling people to 'ask God who God is'.
Kind of pathetic.

...
Okay, in Pandora's defense... it is her religion she is defending. We should give her that... just as we would give a Muslim, his belief... a Jew, his... or a Christian, hers. It is her personal belief... her faith and it belongs to her.
Also, God defies explaination... God is a concept, which is why He cannot be explained. If one were to truely know God, he or she would be able to convey Him to us. And if words escape us, all we'd have to do is ask Him to describe Himself to us, in terms we could understand.
So, Pandora believes in God... she believes she knows God. Her concept of God. Which I do not expect her to prove. Instead, I simply respect... the same way I respect the disbelief of Atheists.

Chief Broom

In the words of some really wise dude..."Be excellent to each other."

Byrnzie

Cosmo wrote:

Also, God defies explaination... God is a concept, which is why He cannot be explained. If one were to truely know God, he or she would be able to convey Him to us.

I'm not asking for a complete and accurate description or definition. Just a general explanation will do. But even that appears to be asking too much. If someone can't explain what they mean in any degree whatsoever, but can only reply with 'Ask God who God is', then I have no respect for that person.

Cosmo wrote:

And if words escape us, all we'd have to do is ask Him to describe Himself to us, in terms we could understand.

Him?

Cosmo wrote:

So, Pandora believes in God... she believes she knows God. Her concept of God. Which I do not expect her to prove. Instead, I simply respect... the same way I respect the disbelief of Atheists.

I've not asked her to prove anything. I've just asked her to explain what she means by the word 'God' that she uses again and again.

Cosmo

Byrnzie wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

Also, God defies explaination... God is a concept, which is why He cannot be explained. If one were to truely know God, he or she would be able to convey Him to us.

I'm not asking for a complete and accurate description or definition. Just a general explanation will do. But even that appears to be asking too much. If someone can't explain what they mean in any degree whatsoever, but can only reply with 'Ask God who God is', then I have no respect for that person.

Cosmo wrote:

And if words escape us, all we'd have to do is ask Him to describe Himself to us, in terms we could understand.

Him?

Cosmo wrote:

So, Pandora believes in God... she believes she knows God. Her concept of God. Which I do not expect her to prove. Instead, I simply respect... the same way I respect the disbelief of Atheists.

I've not asked her to prove anything. I've just asked her to explain what she means by the word 'God' that she uses again and again.

...
Dude... I hear ya. I have a giant welt on my forehead from slamming it down on this desk whenever I read her replies to my inquiries. But, it may just mean that she has no answers because there are no answers. God is probably as big a mystery to her, as He is to the rest of us.

ShimmyMommy

Sorry, but this thread made me think of this:




:P

EDIT: Not that any one is ignorant....just hearing Cosmo say he was getting a welt on his forehead...

catefrances

inlet13 wrote:

The insecurity of some atheists is very, very apparent in this thread.... just read some of these posts.

catefrances

pandora wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

The insecurity of some atheists is very, very apparent in this thread.... just read some of these posts.

I too have seen what appears to be insecurity.

Some here seem to need to be reassured
It also seems along with insecurity some have the need to dismiss others beliefs.
A sure sign of insecurity


I don't see this of believers, it appears they are secure in what they feel and know.

I am finding the believers to be respectful of those
who do not share their belief of God.

I haven't heard a believer ask others to prove there is no God,

nor dismiss the atheists beliefs when different than the believers.

It is unimportant to the believer. We have our truth.

Perhaps this is why some non believers are appearing insecure.

are you kidding me pandora??? ive seen the look of pity on the face of believers when ive told them i am an atheist and then they tell me theyll pray for me.. how fucking arrogant is that??

belief in a God is absurd to me and that is why i dismiss it. it lacks rational thought... but i understand belief doesnt require rational thought.. all it requires is faith. i have zero respect for religion. and i can assure you despite my dismissal of any belief in God i am the furthest thing from insecure you could possibly be exposed to.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

pandora wrote:

I have been pretty clear people must find God themselves and will perhaps one day.

I can see from all your words you are closed to that thought of finding God
because you will not believe there is a possibility ...

you already have concluded just what you said here

You say....God comes from delusion and not of rational thought...
very much like I thought 20 years ago.

A person has new thought when they know God, when they know without a doubt
there is God and afterlife.

I said I know God in response to the ridiculous statement no one can know God,
pages back. And will always respond as such, because the statement is untrue
and based in some people's opinions not one I share.
This just as people believe God is based in my opinion ... not in truth.
It is a simple case of different core beliefs and should be left as such

To each their own.

I am not trying to explain nor make anyone believe.
But what are others doing?
Attempting to dismiss others beliefs? Why? Why? Why?

You may find God one day as I have and maybe not,
why does it matter to atheists that others believe?

To stop speaking of God is something I will never do,
it would be like turning my back on my very best friend,
to put that in a way you may or may not understand.

you keep asking why people challenge the belief that you have spoken to god, that he is your friend, etc. it's because you go on and on about how others "might find god one day" and that you have "new thoughts" after finding god, as if you are somehow more enlightened than the rest.I have no issue with those that believe, but I have, and many have, an issue with people like you looking down on the rest because we haven't "found god yet", or because we dont' believe there is a god that somehow we are close minded.

it's ludicrous and condescending. so many people have said it, yet we are the ones saying "the nasties".

blueandwhite

catefrances wrote:

pandora wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

The insecurity of some atheists is very, very apparent in this thread.... just read some of these posts.

I too have seen what appears to be insecurity.

Some here seem to need to be reassured
It also seems along with insecurity some have the need to dismiss others beliefs.
A sure sign of insecurity


I don't see this of believers, it appears they are secure in what they feel and know.

I am finding the believers to be respectful of those
who do not share their belief of God.

I haven't heard a believer ask others to prove there is no God,

nor dismiss the atheists beliefs when different than the believers.

It is unimportant to the believer. We have our truth.

Perhaps this is why some non believers are appearing insecure.

are you kidding me pandora??? ive seen the look of pity on the face of believers when ive told them i am an atheist and then they tell me theyll pray for me.. how fucking arrogant is that??

belief in a God is absurd to me and that is why i dismiss it. it lacks rational thought... but i understand belief doesnt require rational thought.. all it requires is faith. i have zero respect for religion. and i can assure you despite my dismissal of any belief in God i am the furthest thing from insecure you could possibly be exposed to.

As far as I'm concerned, the entire discussion is absurd. Honestly, I enjoy debating with both theists and atheists because I find that neither side has anything interesting to say. The same points are rehashed again and again, which makes sense when you consider there's really no substance to the debate to begin with. It makes it an easy topic to discuss as you don't really need to know anything to debate the finer points of this topic. For somebody as lazy as I am, that's perfect.

You either believe in an invisible purple dinosaur or you don't. Proof (or the absence thereof) is irrelevant.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

pandora wrote:

Something you do quite well too ... draw conclusions about others.

doesn't seem like you are a very understanding individual, pandora. you are constantly throwing out these little digs in between your philosophical meanderings thinking no one will notice. you have insulted more people in this thread than anyone.

you are easily the most hypocritical person here.

catefrances

blueandwhite wrote:

As far as I'm concerned, the entire discussion is absurd. Honestly, I enjoy debating with both theists and atheists because I find that neither side has anything interesting to say. The same points are rehashed again and again, which makes sense when you consider there's really no substance to the debate to begin with. It makes it an easy topic to discuss as you don't really need to know anything to debate the finer points of this topic. For somebody as lazy as I am, that's perfect.

You either believe in an invisible purple dinosaur or you don't. Proof (or the absence thereof) is irrelevant.

i have to agree b&w... i dont have anything interesting to say about the topic. i cant elaborate on my stance cause theres nothing to elaborate on. i have no faith in a God.. any God. but.. im very interested in people who do.... the human mind fascinates me and at times i struggle to understand their mindset.. and so i ask questions... just like i did when i was 11 and my catholic priest dismissed.. kicking me out of class cause i dared question what he was saying... how is that bringing understanding to God?? since then ive had to go my own path and ive not deviated from it... no one has managed to show me an alternative to what i was thinking or feeling and so here i am...

Hugh Freaking Dillon

pandora wrote:

inlet13 wrote:

The insecurity of some atheists is very, very apparent in this thread.... just read some of these posts.

I too have seen what appears to be insecurity.

Some here seem to need to be reassured
It also seems along with insecurity some have the need to dismiss others beliefs.
A sure sign of insecurity


I don't see this of believers, it appears they are secure in what they feel and know.

I am finding the believers to be respectful of those
who do not share their belief of God.

I haven't heard a believer ask others to prove there is no God,

nor dismiss the atheists beliefs when different than the believers.

It is unimportant to the believer. We have our truth.

Perhaps this is why some non believers are appearing insecure.

this is awesome. i cannot believe the arrogance that is showing through here. all we have heard throughout this whole discussion is how atheists mock theists because we don't know god, and here you two are, calling down atheists for being insecure because they don't "know" what you "know".

you dismiss the beliefs of every atheist here by saying you KNOW there is a god. there is no discussion with you. god exists. that's it. I'm agnostic, which doesn't mean i'm "on the fence", it means I know that I can't prove it either way. I'm not looking for him to show himself, he doesn't exist until he shows himself to me.

JUST BECAUSE WE ASK ABOUT THIS TOPIC DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE LOOKING FOR LIFE'S ANSWERS FROM ABOVE. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD.

I'm also interested in dinosaurs, but talking about them doesn't make me envy paleantologists.

you can believe what you want to believe, people are just asking for the basis of this belief. it is not something to take offense to, but you do for whatever reason, and explain it away with predictable papal-ish jibberish, and explain nothing to anyone. I'm not looking to FIND god, I'm simply asking how you KNOW that he exists. I'm interested in hearing people's experiences and thoughts on certain subjects. you are only interested in telling people how awesome it is that god chose you to be his BFF.

redrock

Cosmo wrote:

Somebody... anybody. Am i not making sense, here?

Are you feeling a bit insecure here, seeking approval?

And you do make perfect sense, Cosmo.