A Year In Jail For Not Believing in God? Oh, Kentucky.

1234568

Comments

  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    keeponrockin wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    But what is keeping some minds from seeing and feeling God?
    Because there's no evidence.
    Ah will you accept a miracle/ phenomenon when it comes
    or leave the walls up? and denounce.
    Will you allow yourself to experience what is available to you?

    It depends on how much you want to learn in this life...
    not talking facts, figures, or even emotions.

    It is up to you how much you take with you on your journey...
    why not start now? why wait til you leave this world?

    That is common sense to me.
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    PJ_Soul wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    But what is keeping some minds from seeing and feeling God?
    Because there's no evidence.
    Also it makes no sense.
    What exactly makes no sense? Why does it make no sense?


    edit
    I need to research better what a very smart person said awhile back
    about the law though not being against the law to not believe...

    I read it I guess I'm not alone though
  • keeponrockin
    keeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    pandora wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    But what is keeping some minds from seeing and feeling God?
    Because there's no evidence.
    Ah will you accept a miracle/ phenomenon when it comes
    or leave the walls up? and denounce.
    Will you allow yourself to experience what is available to you?

    It depends on how much you want to learn in this life...
    not talking facts, figures, or even emotions.

    It is up to you how much you take with you on your journey...
    why not start now? why wait til you leave this world?

    That is common sense to me.
    If I see a miracle in front of me, I will accept it. But I need evidence as to why/how it occurred. Without evidence, I don't believe it.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    keeponrockin wrote:
    pandora wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    Because there's no evidence.
    Ah will you accept a miracle/ phenomenon when it comes
    or leave the walls up? and denounce.
    Will you allow yourself to experience what is available to you?

    It depends on how much you want to learn in this life...
    not talking facts, figures, or even emotions.

    It is up to you how much you take with you on your journey...
    why not start now? why wait til you leave this world?

    That is common sense to me.
    If I see a miracle in front of me, I will accept it. But I need evidence as to why/how it occurred. Without evidence, I don't believe it.
    You will accept it happened but not believe it?
    I have to ponder this and try to relate it to my own experiences.
    You won't deny it but will find no truth in it?

    I will say sometimes the evidence is in the fact it can not be explained.
  • redrock
    redrock Posts: 18,341
    keeponrockin wrote:
    If I see a miracle in front of me, I will accept it. But I need evidence as to why/how it occurred. Without evidence, I don't believe it.

    Need to think of what you would consider a 'miracle' that would warrant such awe that one would think it is 'divine'. Maybe once 'looked into', just an unusual/improbable/extraordinary phenomena.

    Critical thinking is essential when it comes to 'phenomena' - not blindly accepting/believing.
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    edited November 2012
    brianlux wrote:
    .... I wanted to start over and only know life as lived in the cycles of nature-- simple, easy, natural. How do we go back to that?


    i believe the zombie apocalypse will take care of that. ;)
    Post edited by catefrances on
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    redrock wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    If I see a miracle in front of me, I will accept it. But I need evidence as to why/how it occurred. Without evidence, I don't believe it.

    Need to think of what you would consider a 'miracle' that would warrant such awe that one would think it is 'divine'. Maybe once 'looked into', just an unusual/improbable/extraordinary phenomena.

    Critical thinking is essential when it comes to 'phenomena' - not blindly accepting/believing.

    yes this is my thinkng too.. what do we class as a miracle? i wonder what has one person dying from a head injury after a blow where another person may just shake it off. this happened to me a few years back. i struck my head at the temple with force sustaining only a beautiful black eye. yet i hear of people who hit their heads with varying degrees of force and die as a result, even when that force seems negligible.. i ended up surmising that not only may my skull be thicker, but that the mechanics involved as well as the site of the blow came into play.. i certainly never thought it was, to speak in my vernacular, a bloody miracle i wasnt knocked out or worse.

    some say birth is a miracle but to me thats just humans being arrogant. birth happens with too much frequency to be considered a miracle(for want of a better word). not to mention it is simply the possible result of a biological cycle that starts with sexual intercourse.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • Horos
    Horos Posts: 4,518
    Don't come to AMT and post much. I do like to read it though.

    Reading this topic my first question is why those who don't believe in a god continue to use the honorific capital G?

    I do see this is a discussion about a god and not religions.

    My life experiences seem the reverse of Ps. I was indoctrinated as a youth. Now as an adult with 3 grown children I have seen the effects of allowing freedom of beliefs in my children. They have always been free to attend any type of service. 2 of them I would call Agnostic and the other is firmly Atheist.

    I understand the concept of god you are presenting Pandora but think it follows more of a Buddhist philosophy. I am curious about how you celebrate this god. Did/do you attend services? Did/do you take your children to these services?

    I have no problem seeing outside the box and I can see the connectivity that exists in nature. Since the beginning of man unexplained phenomena have been attributed to gods. Eventually these things were explained but the indoctrination of a higher power had already been achieved.

    I have first hand seen the good and evil the human animal has done and I am not impressed. The oneness of the planet would be better served with fewer of us.

    Concerning the original topic.....that's just ridiculous in a modern society.
    #FHP
  • SPEEDY MCCREADY
    SPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 26,942
    Horos wrote:
    Don't come to AMT and post much. I do like to read it though.

    Reading this topic my first question is why those who don't believe in a god continue to use the honorific capital G?

    I do see this is a discussion about a god and not religions.

    My life experiences seem the reverse of Ps. I was indoctrinated as a youth. Now as an adult with 3 grown children I have seen the effects of allowing freedom of beliefs in my children. They have always been free to attend any type of service. 2 of them I would call Agnostic and the other is firmly Atheist.

    I understand the concept of god you are presenting Pandora but think it follows more of a Buddhist philosophy. I am curious about how you celebrate this god. Did/do you attend services? Did/do you take your children to these services?

    I have no problem seeing outside the box and I can see the connectivity that exists in nature. Since the beginning of man unexplained phenomena have been attributed to gods. Eventually these things were explained but the indoctrination of a higher power had already been achieved.

    I have first hand seen the good and evil the human animal has done and I am not impressed. The oneness of the planet would be better served with fewer of us.

    Concerning the original topic.....that's just ridiculous in a modern society.
    Damn!
    My boy Horos was smoking the good shit today!
    :P
    Take me piece by piece.....
    Till there aint nothing left worth taking away from me.....
  • keeponrockin
    keeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    redrock wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    If I see a miracle in front of me, I will accept it. But I need evidence as to why/how it occurred. Without evidence, I don't believe it.

    Need to think of what you would consider a 'miracle' that would warrant such awe that one would think it is 'divine'. Maybe once 'looked into', just an unusual/improbable/extraordinary phenomena.

    Critical thinking is essential when it comes to 'phenomena' - not blindly accepting/believing.
    Exactly. A 'miracle' would probably easily be explained by science.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    Horos wrote:
    Don't come to AMT and post much. I do like to read it though.

    Reading this topic my first question is why those who don't believe in a god continue to use the honorific capital G?
    ...

    i use God cause im talking specifically about 'the' christian God not just generic god/s who may well have their own name like zues.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,759
    edited December 2012
    catefrances wrote:
    Horos wrote:
    Don't come to AMT and post much. I do like to read it though.

    Reading this topic my first question is why those who don't believe in a god continue to use the honorific capital G?
    ...

    i use God cause im talking specifically about 'the' christian God not just generic god/s who may well have their own name like zues.
    Predictive text demands it. :lol: After enough university professors said that my lack of capitalization on "god" (which was completely intentional as I was trying to make an Atheistic point) was grammatically incorrect, I started using the caps ... and they're right, of course. "God" is a proper noun when you're talking about God, the big (ficticious) man in the sky. He's not John. He's God. :) It should only be small case when you're talking about non-specific gods or using the word as an adjective (i.e. YumYum, the god of candy).
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    PJ_Soul wrote:
    catefrances wrote:
    Horos wrote:
    Don't come to AMT and post much. I do like to read it though.

    Reading this topic my first question is why those who don't believe in a god continue to use the honorific capital G?
    ...

    i use God cause im talking specifically about 'the' christian God not just generic god/s who may well have their own name like zues.
    Predictive text demands it. :lol: After enough university professors said that my lack of capitalization on "god" (which was completely intentional as I was trying to make an Atheistic point) was grammatically incorrect, I started using the caps ... and they're right, of course. "God" is a proper noun when you're talking about God, the big (ficticious) man in the sky. He's not John. He's God. :) It should only be small case when you're talking about non-specific gods or using the word as an adjective (i.e. YumYum, the god of candy).

    theres a god of candy!!???? and her name is yum yum??? brilliant. :lol:
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    keeponrockin wrote:
    redrock wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    If I see a miracle in front of me, I will accept it. But I need evidence as to why/how it occurred. Without evidence, I don't believe it.

    Need to think of what you would consider a 'miracle' that would warrant such awe that one would think it is 'divine'. Maybe once 'looked into', just an unusual/improbable/extraordinary phenomena.

    Critical thinking is essential when it comes to 'phenomena' - not blindly accepting/believing.
    Exactly. A 'miracle' would probably easily be explained by science.
    Actually there are phenomenon that remain unexplained by science. Perhaps research would do
    some well here and broaden the mind.

    I see a real lack of empathy, an inability to imagine experiencing unexplained phenomenon.
    But then this is a personality trait. Unable to really wear another pair of shoes.
    A logical mind will explain anything away but will it be the right explanation?
    No, just the logical explanation.

    I see cynical skepticism and bias based in religion instead of open minds
    and hearts willing to say, yes maybe. Too bad for those left behind ...
    this has nothing to do with religion.
    It has everything to do with understanding and freeing your mind from the logical.
    Very tall order or some.

    Does the totem pole needs support at the bottom while others reach the sky?
    Why yes it does ...
    anyone can reach new heights.
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    catefrances wrote:
    redrock wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    If I see a miracle in front of me, I will accept it. But I need evidence as to why/how it occurred. Without evidence, I don't believe it.

    Need to think of what you would consider a 'miracle' that would warrant such awe that one would think it is 'divine'. Maybe once 'looked into', just an unusual/improbable/extraordinary phenomena.

    Critical thinking is essential when it comes to 'phenomena' - not blindly accepting/believing.

    yes this is my thinkng too.. what do we class as a miracle? i wonder what has one person dying from a head injury after a blow where another person may just shake it off. this happened to me a few years back. i struck my head at the temple with force sustaining only a beautiful black eye. yet i hear of people who hit their heads with varying degrees of force and die as a result, even when that force seems negligible.. i ended up surmising that not only may my skull be thicker, but that the mechanics involved as well as the site of the blow came into play.. i certainly never thought it was, to speak in my vernacular, a bloody miracle i wasnt knocked out or worse.

    some say birth is a miracle but to me thats just humans being arrogant. birth happens with too much frequency to be considered a miracle(for want of a better word). not to mention it is simply the possible result of a biological cycle that starts with sexual intercourse.
    We are not talking nature, we are not talking luck, we are not talking circumstance
    your post is an example of the walls of a logical mind
    you can not fathom what others are experiencing.

    The term miracle is used often for what you have described, I too have used the word
    based in an emotional event.

    But a miracle that takes an atheist to a believer, as in my case 16 years ago,
    is connection, communication and unexplained continuing phenomenon.

    Perhaps you can imagine? Perhaps not, have you given up long ago?
    placed walls that do not allow the glimpse of light from beyond?
    Asking, questioning removes walls. Would you want this if given an opportunity?
  • pandora
    pandora Posts: 21,855
    Horos wrote:
    Don't come to AMT and post much. I do like to read it though.

    Reading this topic my first question is why those who don't believe in a god continue to use the honorific capital G?

    I do see this is a discussion about a god and not religions.

    My life experiences seem the reverse of Ps. I was indoctrinated as a youth. Now as an adult with 3 grown children I have seen the effects of allowing freedom of beliefs in my children. They have always been free to attend any type of service. 2 of them I would call Agnostic and the other is firmly Atheist.

    I understand the concept of god you are presenting Pandora but think it follows more of a Buddhist philosophy. I am curious about how you celebrate this god. Did/do you attend services? Did/do you take your children to these services?

    I have no problem seeing outside the box and I can see the connectivity that exists in nature. Since the beginning of man unexplained phenomena have been attributed to gods. Eventually these things were explained but the indoctrination of a higher power had already been achieved.

    I have first hand seen the good and evil the human animal has done and I am not impressed. The oneness of the planet would be better served with fewer of us.

    Concerning the original topic.....that's just ridiculous in a modern society.

    I do not attend services nor did I offer my children indoctrination.
    I was an atheist until age 40,
    did not attend church but living in the deep South my children have attended with friends
    and have been put off by what they experienced. My daughter especially.

    This is not to offend anyone but it was in respect to gay rights, the freedom to be gay.
    My daughter, as myself feel no one should be discriminated against
    nor be made to feel God will not love them or accept them due to who they are.
    Some of the church youth groups do not have this mindset.

    My belief in our individual paths means I do not make any requirements of them.
    As a Mom, all I want is personal happiness and peace for them,
    realizing this is often grown into whatever one's choice are.

    I do not celebrate God, I feel it is more of cherish God ...
    everyday.
    It is a presence, an energy, a force now within me, as much apart of me
    as my lifetime experiences and those I love. It was a profound experience
    I had that gave me God, there is a reason for this and I am grateful.

    I have researched Buddism, found it intriguing but it put no spell on me ;)
    I have found no religion to fit what I am experiencing in my life
    nor what my beliefs are, perhaps this is all telling but I believe there are many who feel this way.
    I only know God and knowing God has changed my life, very much for the better.

    As always, thanks for sharing Horos :D
  • Horos
    Horos Posts: 4,518
    pandora wrote:
    Horos wrote:
    Don't come to AMT and post much. I do like to read it though.

    Reading this topic my first question is why those who don't believe in a god continue to use the honorific capital G?

    I do see this is a discussion about a god and not religions.

    My life experiences seem the reverse of Ps. I was indoctrinated as a youth. Now as an adult with 3 grown children I have seen the effects of allowing freedom of beliefs in my children. They have always been free to attend any type of service. 2 of them I would call Agnostic and the other is firmly Atheist.

    I understand the concept of god you are presenting Pandora but think it follows more of a Buddhist philosophy. I am curious about how you celebrate this god. Did/do you attend services? Did/do you take your children to these services?

    I have no problem seeing outside the box and I can see the connectivity that exists in nature. Since the beginning of man unexplained phenomena have been attributed to gods. Eventually these things were explained but the indoctrination of a higher power had already been achieved.

    I have first hand seen the good and evil the human animal has done and I am not impressed. The oneness of the planet would be better served with fewer of us.

    Concerning the original topic.....that's just ridiculous in a modern society.

    I do not attend services nor did I offer my children indoctrination.
    I was an atheist until age 40,
    did not attend church but living in the deep South my children have attended with friends
    and have been put off by what they experienced. My daughter especially.

    This is not to offend anyone but it was in respect to gay rights, the freedom to be gay.
    My daughter, as myself feel no one should be discriminated against
    nor be made to feel God will not love them or accept them due to who they are.
    Some of the church youth groups do not have this mindset.

    My belief in our individual paths means I do not make any requirements of them.
    As a Mom, all I want is personal happiness and peace for them,
    realizing this is often grown into whatever one's choice are.

    I do not celebrate God, I feel it is more of cherish God ...
    everyday.
    It is a presence, an energy, a force now within me, as much apart of me
    as my lifetime experiences and those I love. It was a profound experience
    I had that gave me God, there is a reason for this and I am grateful.

    I have researched Buddism, found it intriguing but it put no spell on me ;)
    I have found no religion to fit what I am experiencing in my life
    nor what my beliefs are, perhaps this is all telling but I believe there are many who feel this way.
    I only know God and knowing God has changed my life, very much for the better.

    As always, thanks for sharing Horos :D
    And as always I respect your opinion. :D

    And you've certainly provided some food for thought.
    #FHP
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,759
    pandora wrote:
    keeponrockin wrote:
    redrock wrote:

    Need to think of what you would consider a 'miracle' that would warrant such awe that one would think it is 'divine'. Maybe once 'looked into', just an unusual/improbable/extraordinary phenomena.

    Critical thinking is essential when it comes to 'phenomena' - not blindly accepting/believing.
    Exactly. A 'miracle' would probably easily be explained by science.
    Actually there are phenomenon that remain unexplained by science. Perhaps research would do
    some well here and broaden the mind.

    I see a real lack of empathy, an inability to imagine experiencing unexplained phenomenon.
    But then this is a personality trait. Unable to really wear another pair of shoes.
    A logical mind will explain anything away but will it be the right explanation?
    No, just the logical explanation.

    I see cynical skepticism and bias based in religion instead of open minds
    and hearts willing to say, yes maybe. Too bad for those left behind ...
    this has nothing to do with religion.
    It has everything to do with understanding and freeing your mind from the logical.
    Very tall order or some.

    Does the totem pole needs support at the bottom while others reach the sky?
    Why yes it does ...
    anyone can reach new heights.
    "Explained by science" doesn't mean it's actually been explained, just that science is the explanation - is behind whatever is happening - whether we know that science or not.
    I feel that you are actually extremely close-minded to the beliefs and mindset surrounding Atheism, actually. More so than anyone seems to be about others beliefs about God.
    PS - I say this not as an argument starter, but a true observation: you seem to manage to tell people that they lack empathy inn pretty much every thread you post in - it's occurred to me that you might be translating your personal feelings of not always being understood or agreed with into the perception that everyone lacks empathy, but who knows. But here it's coming off that you actually are lacking empathy for atheists and their points of view and their feelings within this world. You really tend to assume that somehow we are at a lower level of understanding or something. So that's why I found this post of yours strange.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • Wilds
    Wilds Posts: 4,329
    Is it possible that personal visions or miracles are simply some type of mental illness where the person can't distinguish between having a mental episode and "talking" to god?

    Also I know Pandora (or at least I think I remember) that her "miracle" is not one she is willing to share on here.

    Perhaps if she would share it would help us understand her mindset?

    Heck, it might even convince someone that Miracles do happen?


    And to be clear, I'm not accusing anyone of having a mental episode. Just my general belief in what might constitute a vision etc.

    If someone wants to believe in their personal idea of what god is, that is cool with me. Have at it.
  • Horos
    Horos Posts: 4,518
    PJ_Soul wrote:
    "Explained by science" doesn't mean it's actually been explained, just that science is the explanation - is behind whatever is happening - whether we know that science or not.
    So you mean you have FAITH in science?
    #FHP

Categories