Why do we need to "believe" in God?

Hugh Freaking Dillon

mickeyrat wrote:

I think the majority the most profoundly powerful acts of love are not preformed for public consumption or known in that way. To me those are the ones that count.

I couldn't agree with this more.

catefrances

pandora wrote:

JonnyPistachio wrote:

pandora wrote:

Its a deal... I am just me and I am proud to know God

it JUST came to me! all of this confusion...You've been talking about PJ all along!
Soooo, how exactly did you get to meet Eddie?!

I kid, of course...just breaking the tension a bit...

thank you!

how I wish Jonny ... he is one god I so want to meet but I am not worthy

maybe in the afterlife if I am so privileged...

this post had me wondering a few days ago and now im home id like to discuss it with you pandora...

you say God is love.. in fact youve said it many many times. youve also said for you, God is separate from religion.. that they are 2 different things. youve even stated that youre unfamiliar with the bible. so can i ask you where you got this idea of an afterlife from???

pandora

I am surprised people don't understand the idea of being loved, that this shows the
life we have lived... how much we are loved by others.

That seems very clear to me but I respect those who disagree of course

pandora

catefrances wrote:

this post had me wondering a few days ago and now im home id like to discuss it with you pandora...

you say God is love.. in fact youve said it many many times. youve also said for you, God is separate from religion.. that they are 2 different things. youve even stated that youre unfamiliar with the bible. so can i ask you where you got this idea of an afterlife from???

That was a bit of a joke ... sense of humor seems to be lacking sometimes
it's nice to lighten things up, laugh a bit...

redrock

pandora wrote:

catefrances wrote:

..... youve even stated that youre unfamiliar with the bible. so can i ask you where you got this idea of an afterlife from???

That was a bit of a joke ... ...

So in all the posts you mention the afterlife, this was a joke? Do you therefore not believe in an afterlife?

eg

"Once I knew there is an afterlife new meaning to this life became clear."
"....when they know without a doubt there is God and afterlife"
"I know there is an afterlife... I would now bet my life on it, and for the right reasons."

etc..

g under p

Cosmo wrote:

pandora wrote:

You guys, oh my gosh, funny, I always thought the PJ community rules... very entertaining. I bet people are enjoying this one That is a good thing.
I laughed my arse off here but I mean that in a good way just so no one thinks I am being condescending or arrogant.
Who would have thought something I said like I know God would cause all this attention.
This must have been quite the challenge. I am honestly surprised, my experience with God and what I am left with, causes such a stir.
Should we recap ... I guess I am now perhaps insane, paired in a group of a few who have taken horrible advantage of others in their lifetimes among other things....and I guess I hear voices, though I have never claimed to speak with God and I am a prophet or in the same class as blessed religious figures :? alrighty then. Is this how rumors start?
I am just me, Pandora
Actually if I didn't know better I would think those saying these things are biased .... wait.... is that subjective or objective...better check my notes.
My father was a renowned inventor who dreamed his inventions, my mother had an activesixth sense, uncanny. I am the last lovely product of them, guess this is what you get. reaching my early adulthood in the 70's well, I got some vibe pick up going on.If you think I would share my deepest most intimate honest being with the vibes I have here ... well, I'm blonde but not that blonde.
I have explained and repeatedly said what I feel and why I am not sharing.I am sorry that is not enough for some but it is all I will give.
When I say in the future, I know God, which you know I will, cause I do, you all can say ....been there done that...got the t-shirt.
Bless the wise here you are a joy, the feeling, I felt it in your words,went straight away to fill my heart.
A full heart...now that is living!And a good night to all
oh and I know Santa too just kidding couldn't resist
A sense of humor will get you through the most trying stressful times in life

..
If you need an example of what condescending or arrogant is... read the above message.
...
The true character of a person is not in what they tell you about themselves... it is found in the words of what others tell you about them.

Say is that your quote Cosmo? I tend to believe that is true.....I wonder if that's the case with me.

Peace

pandora

and the love we receive

pandora

The joke was speaking of meeting Eddie in the afterlife...
that was the joke of course

redrock

I'm sorry, I didn't see Eddie mentioned in Cate's question that you quoted (and thus not really answered, unless it's all a joke for you and you're just 'deflecting').

I thought it was an interesting question and I wondered this myself - naturally not just regarding Pandora as I don't think we'll get a straight answer. I did mention something in this thread wondering how theists who believe in a god but not in religion and it's various 'books' (which is how the word of god is passed on) reconcile a god as some kind of 'concept' and the 'word of god' which is religion. Take what one likes (ie afterlife) and leave what one doesn't like? Then can one honestly disassociate god and religion?

Cosmo

pandora wrote:

I am blessed with lovely words and love from many people here and in my life.

If a life was to be judged .....
'It is not how much one loves but how much they are loved by others'

I totally agree

...
Again... I understand the sentiment... but (again, sorry... but, it's a flaw in me... I have to ask...)...
Isn't Kim Jong Il loved by an entire country? And (again... hate to bring him up... but, it is factual) wasn't Hitler loved by almost an entire nation?
Does that mean Hitler is in Heaven?

Cosmo

g under p wrote:

Say is that your quote Cosmo? I tend to believe that is true.....I wonder if that's the case with me.

Peace

...
I do not possess the insight and wisdom to come up with something like that... I probably heard it or read it somewhere. I wish I did.
For the most part... I believe it hold true. I tend to discount accollades showered upon themselves and take to be true, the heartfelt testaments of others who know them.
...
But... there are those cases... like, "Jeffrey seemed like such a nice and quiet young man" uttered by Jeffrey Dahmer's across the hall neighbor where you think... okay, not always.

Cosmo

mickeyrat wrote:

Yeah, you could be loved by the rest of the planet and have been a miserable fuck. I thnk the reverse of Pandora's statement is true.
I think the majority the most profoundly powerful acts of love are not preformed for public consumption or known in that way. To me those are the ones that count.
To me the point of love and loving isnt in the return of it , nice as that feels, its in the giving.

...
Mick... I tend to feel this way, too.
Like... I like to think that my cats love me... but, i know it's only because my opposable thumbs can open the cans of Friskies. If Hitler was my roommate and fed them all the time... they'd follow him all around.
I like to believe that people love... well, just because. Not because they want love returned. If that is the case, then there is a condition tied to our giving... tied to our loving. It makes our love conditional.
The same basics can be applied to belief. As someone mentioned about Atheists being stupid because if God DOES exist, He will smite them... therefore, it is smart to believe in God... just in case He does exist. Wouldn't God know you are just hedging your bets and your belief is not sincere?
I love because I can't help it. I never expect anything in return. If love is not reciprocated, that's okay. And I'm not an idiot...I don't love everyone... and there are some that I can say, I truely hate (like fucking bin Laden). Just me being a human being, I guess.
Anyway, I love my cats... i expect them to be cats and be ruled by their stomachs and only show affection when they hear the can opener. They are cats that do not understand the nature of being me.

Cosmo

catefrances wrote:

pandora wrote:

JonnyPistachio wrote:

it JUST came to me! all of this confusion...You've been talking about PJ all along!
Soooo, how exactly did you get to meet Eddie?!

I kid, of course...just breaking the tension a bit...

thank you!

how I wish Jonny ... he is one god I so want to meet but I am not worthy

maybe in the afterlife if I am so privileged...

this post had me wondering a few days ago and now im home id like to discuss it with you pandora...

you say God is love.. in fact youve said it many many times. youve also said for you, God is separate from religion.. that they are 2 different things. youve even stated that youre unfamiliar with the bible. so can i ask you where you got this idea of an afterlife from???

...
I've met Eddie Vedder... in this life... on four different occasions. I'm kinda glad we met and talked in this life... because, in afterlife... i don't know... it'll probably mean we're both in Hell... depending on which version of Heaven and Hell really exists. And we will both definately be dead... and we will probably be naked... which would be quite uncomfortable... for me... and probably for him. We'd probably shake hands instead of hugging... because... well, you know.

pandora

redrock wrote:

I'm sorry, I didn't see Eddie mentioned in Cate's question that you quoted (and thus not really answered, unless it's all a joke for you and you're just 'deflecting').

I thought it was an interesting question and I wondered this myself - naturally not just regarding Pandora as I don't think we'll get a straight answer. I did mention something in this thread wondering how theists who believe in a god but not in religion and it's various 'books' (which is how the word of god is passed on) reconcile a god as some kind of 'concept' and the 'word of god' which is religion. Take what one likes (ie afterlife) and leave what one doesn't like? Then can one honestly disassociate god and religion?

but you answer your own questions with my quotes :?

redrock wrote:

pandora wrote:

So in all the posts you mention the afterlife, this was a joke? Do you therefore not believe in an afterlife?

eg

"Once I knew there is an afterlife new meaning to this life became clear."
"....when they know without a doubt there is God and afterlife"
"I know there is an afterlife... I would now bet my life on it, and for the right reasons."

etc..

what's not to understand unless some people can not :?

catefrances

pandora wrote:

catefrances wrote:

this post had me wondering a few days ago and now im home id like to discuss it with you pandora...

you say God is love.. in fact youve said it many many times. youve also said for you, God is separate from religion.. that they are 2 different things. youve even stated that youre unfamiliar with the bible. so can i ask you where you got this idea of an afterlife from???

That was a bit of a joke ... sense of humor seems to be lacking sometimes
it's nice to lighten things up, laugh a bit...

nice deflection. so you dont believe in an afterlife then?

Cosmo

catefrances wrote:

nice deflection. so you dont believe in an afterlife then?

...
I'm getting a psychic vision, here... yes... it is coming in clearer...
I see... Cate... a brick wall ahead... does not bode well for Cate.

catefrances

Cosmo wrote:

catefrances wrote:

nice deflection. so you dont believe in an afterlife then?

...
I'm getting a psychic vision, here... yes... it is coming in clearer...
I see... Cate... a brick wall ahead... does not bode well for Cate.

no pre empting cosmo.

Cosmo

catefrances wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

catefrances wrote:

nice deflection. so you dont believe in an afterlife then?

...
I'm getting a psychic vision, here... yes... it is coming in clearer...
I see... Cate... a brick wall ahead... does not bode well for Cate.

no pre empting cosmo.

...
Sorry... it was probably a flashback from my former days as a 'Psychic Hotline' operator kicking in.
Still... good luck with your question.

pandora

catefrances wrote:

pandora wrote:

catefrances wrote:

this post had me wondering a few days ago and now im home id like to discuss it with you pandora...

you say God is love.. in fact youve said it many many times. youve also said for you, God is separate from religion.. that they are 2 different things. youve even stated that youre unfamiliar with the bible. so can i ask you where you got this idea of an afterlife from???

That was a bit of a joke ... sense of humor seems to be lacking sometimes
it's nice to lighten things up, laugh a bit...

nice deflection. so you dont believe in an afterlife then?

come on cate you know what I believe ...
if not reread please I have been more than clear

I thought you were above stuff like this ... guess not

Cosmo

pandora wrote:

come on cate you know what I believe ... if not reread please I have been more than clear
I thought you were above stuff like this ... guess not

...
Cate? CATE??? You okay? I hope you were wearing a helmet.
Don't say I didn't warn ya.