What does God look like ?

pandora

Cosmo wrote:

JonnyPistachio wrote:

This is what I've been thinking all along Cosmo. And it was ignored when I suggested that if I disagree with two Bible quotes that Ifind ludicrous, why should I not ask question, which could be taken as criticism. Furthermore, I'd call it constructive criticism. Even if someone suggests God is a crutch, why get upset about what that person believes enough to call them a person who acts out of fear? If someone told me PJ was a crutch for me, it wouldnt bother me if it were true or not -- just someone pointing out how they perceive my obsession.

...
Exactly. We question those things we find questionable.
And maybe some people need God as a crutch... their reliance on God to get them through tough times works for them. Nothing wrong with that. If it gets them to better days, it's good.

catefrances wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

A Crutch:

Problem was it was used in a derogatory way showing believers as being weak for the need.

This a good example of the need to put down others.
Hmmm I wonder if that is a crutch?

I mostly wonder why that need exists at all :?

Cosmo

pandora wrote:

Problem was it was used in a derogatory way showing believers as being weak for the need.

This a good example of the need to put down others. Hmmm I wonder if that is a crutch?

I mostly wonder why that need exists at all :?

...
If that is how Byrnize sees God... who's to say otherwise?
Were you offended by his response?

wolfamongwolves

pandora wrote:

satirical - exposing human folly to ridicule; "a persistent campaign of mockery nice word for being insulting ... pretty much what I have said yes... ridicule

I'll accept that the word "ridicule" in that particular definition undermines my point a bit, if you accept that "human folly" undermines yours. But I don't think that it stands to reason that satire is therefore inherently bad or without social value.

pandora wrote:

And again why come to ridicule others beliefs? :?
Why mockery when this thread was created with
a positive intention for those who wanted to share their ideas about God.

And again, I didn't, nor did others. As I said, and many others said, ridicule was not the intention. Accept it, get over it, and stop labouring the point.
Also, if that is how people view God, then their opinion and perception of God is just as valid as yours, even if it doesn't jive with yours.

pandora wrote:

wolfamongwolves wrote:

I chose to accept that the information my senses and my reason provided me with was not compatible with the belief in the existence of God.

and when your senses tell you otherwise you will then believe?

and if , then yes, I would be foolish to delude myself otherwise. If God were to show up on my doorstep, I'd hardly manage to maintain unbelief, now, would I? I think it's fairly unlikely, however.

You see, the fact of the matter is that I didn't choose not to believe. I wanted to believe, desperately - and I did believe, for 20 years. But I learned things that weren't comfortable for me to know and I thought things that maybe I'd rather not have thought, and at the end of it all, as uncomfortable as it made me, as much as I would have chosen otherwise if I could have, I couldn't honestly deny that my beliefs had changed, not by choice, and that I couldn't truthfully say I believed that there was a god. So, believe me, I know that belief is not a matter of choice. in the same way that I can't just choose to believe one day to believe that the sea is made of jelly and expect it to be true, I can't just choose to believe in god again.

To truly believe something, you have to have a reason to believe it. Any reason I had to believe in God has long ago been argued away, and there's no way to unlearn the things that argued it away. At this point, I would no longer want to because it would be dishonest to my beliefs.

mickeyrat

Cosmo wrote:

pandora wrote:

Problem was it was used in a derogatory way showing believers as being weak for the need.

This a good example of the need to put down others. Hmmm I wonder if that is a crutch?

I mostly wonder why that need exists at all :?

...
If that is how Byrnize sees God... who's to say otherwise?
Were you offended by his response?

The fact is Pandora , that YOUR perception is one that believes it is derogatory. Perception is not truth, although I saw it the same as you did.

excellent example provided immediately after the italicized statement Pandora.

Why, time after time after time, you persist in persueing these things from people expressing themselves freely , I'll never know. Food for thought.


I recall a lyric somewhere that went something like this , " if you hate something , dont you do it too"

Lizard

pandora

Cosmo wrote:

pandora wrote:

Problem was it was used in a derogatory way showing believers as being weak for the need.

This a good example of the need to put down others. Hmmm I wonder if that is a crutch?

I mostly wonder why that need exists at all :?

...
If that is how Byrnize sees God... who's to say otherwise?
Were you offended by his response?

And I see bullies ... who is to say otherwise?

We all have our opinions.

I am stating mine.

Yes I believe to some they think God is a crutch to those who believe.
To others who also do not believe they can see that is not the case.
Pretty much the amount of compassion and understanding one has dictates that.

Like the PJ crutch analogy ...
I think many would not liken the love the fans
have for PJ as a crutch but more a fulfilling meaningful part of their lives.

This is what many nonbelievers know to be true for believers.
It comes down to acceptance and love for others and being at peace
with ones own beliefs and that of others, imo

mickeyrat

Lizard wrote:

Hey Lizard? Theres no reflection. Does that mean I'm a vampire?

pandora

mickeyrat wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

pandora wrote:

Problem was it was used in a derogatory way showing believers as being weak for the need.

This a good example of the need to put down others. Hmmm I wonder if that is a crutch?

I mostly wonder why that need exists at all :?

...
If that is how Byrnize sees God... who's to say otherwise?
Were you offended by his response?

The fact is Pandora , that YOUR perception is one that believes it is derogatory. Perception is not truth, although I saw it the same as you did.

excellent example provided immediately after the italicized statement Pandora.

Why, time after time after time, you persist in persueing these things from people expressing themselves freely , I'll never know. Food for thought.


I recall a lyric somewhere that went something like this , " if you hate something , dont you do it too"

you guys so funny it was derogatory no perception about it




expressing freely is wonderful ...

gee I would love that! Of course it would have to be nice

Can everyone play nice? If so great

Lizard

mickeyrat wrote:

Lizard wrote:

Hey Lizard? Theres no reflection. Does that mean I'm a vampire?

Yes. Yes it does.
wanna bite my neck?

mickeyrat

pandora wrote:

mickeyrat wrote:

Cosmo wrote:

If that is how Byrnize sees God... who's to say otherwise?
Were you offended by his response?

The fact is Pandora , that YOUR perception is one that believes it is derogatory. Perception is not truth, although I saw it the same as you did.

excellent example provided immediately after the italicized statement Pandora.

Why, time after time after time, you persist in persueing these things from people expressing themselves freely , I'll never know. Food for thought.


I recall a lyric somewhere that went something like this , " if you hate something , dont you do it too"

you guys so funny it was derogatory no perception about it




expressing freely is wonderful ...

gee I would love that! Of course it would have to be nice

Can everyone play nice? If so great

feel that strongly about it then report. I would tend think you might be tired of this. I'm quite sure that horse is dead.

Can everyone play nice? Its possible. The real question is will they? The answer is no , they wont. we are human.

pandora

wolfamongwolves wrote:

If God were to show up on my doorstep, I'd hardly manage to maintain unbelief, now, would I? I think it's fairly unlikely, however.

You are have said you are basing your belief on your senses
is that then your 5 senses?
Don't discount the existence of God based on that.

We have a long long way to go



imo

pandora

mickeyrat wrote:

pandora wrote:

you guys so funny it was derogatory no perception about it




expressing freely is wonderful ...

gee I would love that! Of course it would have to be nice

Can everyone play nice? If so great

feel that strongly about it then report. I would tend think you might be tired of this. I'm quite sure that horse is dead.

Can everyone play nice? Its possible. The real question is qill they? The answer is no , they wont. we are human.

I don't report but I will point out
when I think there are meanies about

that rhymes

yes yes the dead horse ... so why do people keep asking more from each other?
That is the best question of all.

catefrances

pandora wrote:

catefrances wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

A Crutch:

Problem was it was used in a derogatory way showing believers as being weak for the need.

This a good example of the need to put down others.
Hmmm I wonder if that is a crutch?

I mostly wonder why that need exists at all :?

guess i missed the memo that said God = no humour.

pandora

catefrances wrote:

guess i missed the memo that said God = no humour.

I know you like sarcasm and maybe being satirical too
I don't know

for me ... that's not humor ...

not if there is even a chance of someone being offended

redrock

Cosmo wrote:

pandora wrote:

Problem was it was used in a derogatory way showing believers as being weak for the need.

This a good example of the need to put down others. Hmmm I wonder if that is a crutch?

I mostly wonder why that need exists at all :?

...
If that is how Byrnize sees God... who's to say otherwise?
Were you offended by his response?

I know a good number of people having god as a crutch, my mother having been one of them. And yes, it was a weakness insofar as it was a way of not having to deal with 'reality'. Much easier - god's will rather than my lack of will. And before one comments on what I say of my mother - there is no bitterness or anything. Just an observation made about her and a number of theists regarding their 'use' of god. But as it has been said before, if this is the way one can deal with things, then so be it - gets them through life.

pandora wrote:

wolfamongwolves wrote:

If God were to show up on my doorstep, I'd hardly manage to maintain unbelief, now, would I? I think it's fairly unlikely, however.

You are have said you are basing your belief on your senses
is that then your 5 senses?
Don't discount the existence of God based on that.

We have a long long way to go



imo

I think Wolfy said 'Belief is a passive response to the information your senses and your reason and intelligence provide you with'

I really don't think he was talking about the 5 senses, ie hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste. I think you know that too.

catefrances

pandora wrote:

catefrances wrote:

guess i missed the memo that said God = no humour.

I know you like sarcasm and maybe being satirical too
I don't know

for me ... that's not humor ...

not if there is even a chance of someone being offended

see for me adam sandler=no humour.

and tbh i think we all wouldve been a little disappointed if byrnzie hadnt posted something controversial. and i think i was more laughing at the fact that he posted the crutch rather than the crutch itself. i know christians are under attack but you gotta lighten up a bit... or not i guess, cause clearly you were offended.

puremagic

catefrances wrote:

puremagic wrote:

Isn’t God meant to instill fear Man? Isn’t this the backbone of the meaning to the reference ‘I’ll put the fear of God in you’ when God, Man and Church dictates punishment? Isn’t this the crutch of our modern crusade around the world? We play God everyday because we’ve created God in our image. People aren’t afraid of the concept of God; people have become woeful of MAN’s manipulation of the God factor to justify their means to an end.

Religion has replaced God, if not, then why are there so many religions and supposedly only one God? Is it because we have a need to personalize things, we’ve created our own concept of the God factor, its meaning and its interpretation to the point that it has become a ‘my God is better than your God’ mentality? If not, what’s the point in having Catholics, Christians, Baptists, Protestants or Evangelists - Why aren’t we all Jewish?

cause 'we' all worship CHRIST. which makes us christians.

catholics, baptists, protestants and evangelists are all christian. why we arent all jewish is cause of the worship of jesus christ. jesus was a jew.. those who worship/ped him are CHRISTian. in the beginning they were all small 'c' catholic. this was derived from the greek word katholikos, which means universal. time passed and schisms appeared within the christian/catholic church. those small 'c' catholics who remained true to the original church became big 'C' catholics, as other denominations appeared and identified themselves as lutheran, protestant, baptists, whatever.

So is your response the essence of the personalization of religion; look at your statement, if all these named Christian religions believe in God and Jesus, why the need for different denominations? What separates them from all being called Catholics if they’re all Christians?

Cosmo

pandora wrote:

And I see bullies ... who is to say otherwise?
We all have our opinions.

I am stating mine.
Yes I believe to some they think God is a crutch to those who believe.
To others who also do not believe they can see that is not the case.
Pretty much the amount of compassion and understanding one has dictates that.

Like the PJ crutch analogy ...
I think many would not liken the love the fans
have for PJ as a crutch but more a fulfilling meaningful part of their lives.

This is what many nonbelievers know to be true for believers.
It comes down to acceptance and love for others and being at peace
with ones own beliefs and that of others, imo

...
This pretty much sums it all up.
You see the crutch thing as bullying... is this because you are taking this reference personally? It's not because you have an issue with Brynzie, right?

catefrances

puremagic wrote:

catefrances wrote:

puremagic wrote:

Isn’t God meant to instill fear Man? Isn’t this the backbone of the meaning to the reference ‘I’ll put the fear of God in you’ when God, Man and Church dictates punishment? Isn’t this the crutch of our modern crusade around the world? We play God everyday because we’ve created God in our image. People aren’t afraid of the concept of God; people have become woeful of MAN’s manipulation of the God factor to justify their means to an end.

Religion has replaced God, if not, then why are there so many religions and supposedly only one God? Is it because we have a need to personalize things, we’ve created our own concept of the God factor, its meaning and its interpretation to the point that it has become a ‘my God is better than your God’ mentality? If not, what’s the point in having Catholics, Christians, Baptists, Protestants or Evangelists - Why aren’t we all Jewish?

cause 'we' all worship CHRIST. which makes us christians.

catholics, baptists, protestants and evangelists are all christian. why we arent all jewish is cause of the worship of jesus christ. jesus was a jew.. those who worship/ped him are CHRISTian. in the beginning they were all small 'c' catholic. this was derived from the greek word katholikos, which means universal. time passed and schisms appeared within the christian/catholic church. those small 'c' catholics who remained true to the original church became big 'C' catholics, as other denominations appeared and identified themselves as lutheran, protestant, baptists, whatever.

So is your response the essence of the personalization of religion; look at your statement, if all these named Christian religions believe in God and Jesus, why the need for different denominations? What separates them from all being called Catholics if they’re all Christians?

are you familiar with martin luther and the reformation?? how due to his great dissatisfaction with the Church's abuse of granting indulgences he felt it necessary to voluntarily leave the Church and seek what he considered the 'true' path. he rejected amongst other things, the sacraments and the hierachy of the priesthood including the papacy and sought God only through the bible which he saw as the sole rule of faith. even before this though was the east-west schism which resulted in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. and it was the Roman Catholic Church luther had the problem with. so in answer to your question, in a way yes it is about the personalisation of religion. for if people did not become disillusioned with their Church for whatever reason, new denominations would not be formed. and if one felt the need to seek God only through the bible then the need for the different denominations would disappear. however because we are a social animal, Churches offer us that need and to do so with like minded people.
christianity isnt the only religion where these types of divisions occur though.

pandora

no I just see bullying

no to me taking anything personally, not much offends me
I feel it was directed at those of religion
which belittles their faith... I take offense at others
being belittled or mocked.

love is not a crutch
that is offensive and describes love as something much less than
the absolute power it is

I felt 'wolves' was speaking of his 5 senses because he has expressed the
need for proof ... doorstep analogy

intelligence and reasoning can hinder one from feeling
as do the five senses
as the reply to 'feeling' God was made ...
not understanding the concept or what that is.

in my opinion