The Concept of God

Attaway77

Attaway77

Attaway77 said:

amethgr8 said:

I think there are people that use the concept of God to do a lot of good and others that use it to do harm.

"...a scapegoat for most?"  I hope you are using "most" loosely .  I don't necessarily believe that "most" people that don't believe in a God blame him for all the terrible stuff.  I don't really blame anyone for anything in my life.  It's my life, better than some, maybe not as good as others but it's mine.  I play the hand that  was dealt to me and move on, learn from each day, grow and try to be/do better tomorrow.

I believe if there is a God it is more like "Could it be like this that maybe God exists within everything that's living", some people are taught to love, some to hate, some choose to be a certain way.  Whether or not you choose to live your life for the Greater Good of God or not, it is still ones own free will that is living that way.

amy

I hear ya, and I'm with ya.. That's a great response cause I agree. BUT...  That's life in general for most with what you said, and I'm with it. This boils back down to God him/her self and what people believe in or not. Is it him/her hurting us or is it us doing it to ourselves? It's a question that will never be answered till death cause we all have our own beliefs. 

PJfanwillneverleave1

Does anyone who believes ever ask themselves why they do?  And if so, explain. 

Nami

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Does anyone who believes ever ask themselves why they do?  And if so, explain. 

why whats the point? to be picked apart and mocked?  

PJfanwillneverleave1

^^^

Honest question.

Attaway77

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Does anyone who believes ever ask themselves why they do?  And if so, explain. 

I think I might be the last of the flock... All good to me, just like some don't believe, I do. Really no reason to spend the rest of our lives going back and forth on why. Crazy how it all works out right? Non believers and believers happy in life no matter what they think. 

PJfanwillneverleave1

^^^

No kidding. Although the ones who do believe can never quite articulate as to why?  The ones who don't w/ out a doubt can.

amethgr8

I was addressing attaway questions as one of "most" who don't believe.

when I believed in a God as a being it was because that's how I was raised.

Now I believe in a greater energy, or common energy, that connects everything and works in mysterious ways.

goldrush

My mother is very religious. She's the secretary and treasurer for the chapel that is only a few hundred yards or so from their house. Generations of our family have gone there each week so of course we did as kids too. We also had to study Religious Education in school, even if we didn't believe any of it.

My father, on the other hand, will only go to church for funerals or weddings. It's an interesting dynamic - she's a very proud believer, he's got no interest in it all. I never questioned either of their opinions growing up, it's just the way it was.

I don't believe in God, but I kinda get why people do - the good and the bad. When people need comfort in hard times, some look to song lyrics or poetry, or religious texts. It's the power of the written word and the willingness of people to get what they need out of it. In a sense the age of that written text adds to its mystique and revenance. Conversely, when people need to justify their actions - be it bigotry or prejudice or even terrorism - it's easier if they have a 'higher power' to blame it on, so they don't have to accept that responsibility for their actions. "If it's written then it must be His will".

I do believe that, 2000+ years ago, there was a man named Jesus Christ. I don't believe he was the son of God, I always felt he was a very good motivational speaker who knew what people needed to hear. History is littered with people that tapped into the current zeitgeist in such a way that people wanted to believe everything they said. These days Jesus would be a politician or a celebrity, a YouTube or Facebook sensation that had millions of 'likes' on every word of wisdom or motivational meme he posted. If someone was to claim today that they were the son of God chances are they'd be laughed at and mocked because we assume we know better than the people in the same position 2000 years ago.

Nami

i've been reading this thread since the start, threw a couple comments in here and there, and watched it get derailed at times from what the OP questioned.  

Ok,
No.
 I, like many, have been part of the family cycle and over time have come to my own conclusions about religion.   Since childhood I have had a connection with something greater than myself.  When I communicate through either prayer or mediation, I feel and know i am not alone. It is a peaceful state where all you hear is your heartbeat, your thoughts/questions/answers, an overwhelming sense of euphoria.  The connection is strong and will never be broken. 

Annafalk

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Does anyone who believes ever ask themselves why they do?  And if so, explain. 

God is like a friend, a very strong comfort in life. He can answer prayers and give strength. Have you ever even tried ?

Smellyman

amethgr8 said:

I was addressing attaway questions as one of "most" who don't believe.

when I believed in a God as a being it was because that's how I was raised.

Now I believe in a greater energy, or common energy, that connects everything and works in mysterious ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YQJsbbWNA

Annafalk

Smellyman said:

amethgr8 said:

I was addressing attaway questions as one of "most" who don't believe.

when I believed in a God as a being it was because that's how I was raised.

Now I believe in a greater energy, or common energy, that connects everything and works in mysterious ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YQJsbbWNA

Maybe "The Force" is a metaphor in this movie ? Just like Aslan (the lion) is a metaphor for Jesus in the Narnia books. 

Nami

Smellyman said:

amethgr8 said:

I was addressing attaway questions as one of "most" who don't believe.

when I believed in a God as a being it was because that's how I was raised.

Now I believe in a greater energy, or common energy, that connects everything and works in mysterious ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YQJsbbWNA

see, lets continue the mock.  Not once in this thread have i seen the "believers" say something ridicule in return.  this is clearly turning into a bashing thread.   

RYME

FoxyRedLa said:

The average Joe has wounds in the center of their hands?

If this were a perfect world. Think perfect. Would anyone question why it's His right to rule? No one would question anything? No one? The world would just be perfect? I think He already tried that. 

I say average Joe about this mock picture with the guy drinking PBR beer in one hand while smoking an American Spirit in the other.  This was a joke picture to start with.  And that's what I do pritty much daily, drink beer and smoke American Spirits.
If you want to get serious about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I can do that.  This is a difficult forum to get serious in though.   I would like to make some good points without pissing people off that's the tricky part.
 You have all these atheists and agnostics, and God skeptics here.  It's hard to decide where to begin to try to make a dent in this skepticism here.
Here is something for the skeptics to ponder,,. I've seen it asked a few times now.
"If there is a God, he is bad & terrible to allow all the murder, rape & mayhem that goes on."
Well, the answers to these (very good questions by the way) are layed out really well in the bible itself.  I like The Standard King James Bible for a number of reasons I d be glad to answer if anyone asks.  
If you take the time to study, all the answers to your deepest questions are in the bible usually multiple times . But you have to familiarize yourself with the bible to know where to look.  
Ok here it is.
Murder ( criminal homicide)(to lie in wait)
Your answer to how God feels about this is in Deuteronomy Chapter 19 Verse 11.
I don't have time to quote the whole bible here.  Read it for you self.  He demands that if convicted in a court of law, beond any doubt,  Capital Punishment is required.
He says, basically send them to Me and murderers will cease to live among you. But some bleeding heart will say we can't have capital punishment that won't solve anything.  Well the guy who murdered and was disposed of  damn sure won't do it again that's for sure.
Rape (Forced to lie with). 
Deuteronomy chapter 22 verse 25
I'll quote this one.
Duteronomy Chapter 22 vs 25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man FORCE  her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
So you see it's not God who allows this mayhem to continue but rather the courts politics and mankind who let murderers and rapists go on with little or no prison time. So is that God who allows it?  No He demands capital punishment it is our week court system and weak kneed citizens who allow rapist and murders back on the streets. I cannot go on and on about every claim here but you see if you look around you can find the answers that skeptical people have and rightfully so with so many denominations and so many different backgrounds and viewpoints it is difficult to find the truth but there is a truth out there. You just have to know where to find it.

oftenreading

Nami said:

Smellyman said:

amethgr8 said:

I was addressing attaway questions as one of "most" who don't believe.

when I believed in a God as a being it was because that's how I was raised.

Now I believe in a greater energy, or common energy, that connects everything and works in mysterious ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YQJsbbWNA

see, lets continue the mock.  Not once in this thread have i seen the "believers" say something ridicule in return.  this is clearly turning into a bashing thread.   

What was mocking about that?

brianlux

Nami said:

Smellyman said:

amethgr8 said:

I was addressing attaway questions as one of "most" who don't believe.

when I believed in a God as a being it was because that's how I was raised.

Now I believe in a greater energy, or common energy, that connects everything and works in mysterious ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2YQJsbbWNA

see, lets continue the mock.  Not once in this thread have i seen the "believers" say something ridicule in return.  this is clearly turning into a bashing thread.   

Nami, I don't know whether or not you thought my smoking Jesus and Johnny was mocking God or not.  In any case, it really wasn't.  Not at all!  I believe if there is some god or force out there, it certainly must have a good sense of humor.  Examples abound in nature and, obviously, in humans.

And by the way, you said: "Now I believe in a greater energy, or common energy, that connects everything and works in mysterious ways."
I like that.  A lot.

oftenreading

RYME said:

FoxyRedLa said:

The average Joe has wounds in the center of their hands?

If this were a perfect world. Think perfect. Would anyone question why it's His right to rule? No one would question anything? No one? The world would just be perfect? I think He already tried that. 

I say average Joe about this mock picture with the guy drinking PBR beer in one hand while smoking an American Spirit in the other.  This was a joke picture to start with.  And that's what I do pritty much daily, drink beer and smoke American Spirits.
If you want to get serious about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I can do that.  This is a difficult forum to get serious in though.   I would like to make some good points without pissing people off that's the tricky part.
 You have all these atheists and agnostics, and God skeptics here.  It's hard to decide where to begin to try to make a dent in this skepticism here.
Here is something for the skeptics to ponder,,. I've seen it asked a few times now.
"If there is a God, he is bad & terrible to allow all the murder, rape & mayhem that goes on."
Well, the answers to these (very good questions by the way) are layed out really well in the bible itself.  I like The Standard King James Bible for a number of reasons I d be glad to answer if anyone asks.  
If you take the time to study, all the answers to your deepest questions are in the bible usually multiple times . But you have to familiarize yourself with the bible to know where to look.  
Ok here it is.
Murder ( criminal homicide)(to lie in wait)
Your answer to how God feels about this is in Deuteronomy Chapter 19 Verse 11.
I don't have time to quote the whole bible here.  Read it for you self.  He demands that if convicted in a court of law, beond any doubt,  Capital Punishment is required.
He says, basically send them to Me and murderers will cease to live among you. But some bleeding heart will say we can't have capital punishment that won't solve anything.  Well the guy who murdered and was disposed of  damn sure won't do it again that's for sure.
Rape (Forced to lie with). 
Deuteronomy chapter 22 verse 25
I'll quote this one.
Duteronomy Chapter 22 vs 25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man FORCE  her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
So you see it's not God who allows this mayhem to continue but rather the courts politics and mankind who let murderers and rapists go on with little or no prison time. So is that God who allows it?  No He demands capital punishment it is our week court system and weak kneed citizens who allow rapist and murders back on the streets. I cannot go on and on about every claim here but you see if you look around you can find the answers that skeptical people have and rightfully so with so many denominations and so many different backgrounds and viewpoints it is difficult to find the truth but there is a truth out there. You just have to know where to find it.

The bible - written by people of that time, with the knowledge and understanding of people of that time.

And then translated and retranslated and retranslated, until it bears little relationship to whatever the original was.

RYME

oftenreading said:

RYME said:

FoxyRedLa said:

The average Joe has wounds in the center of their hands?

If this were a perfect world. Think perfect. Would anyone question why it's His right to rule? No one would question anything? No one? The world would just be perfect? I think He already tried that. 

I say average Joe about this mock picture with the guy drinking PBR beer in one hand while smoking an American Spirit in the other.  This was a joke picture to start with.  And that's what I do pritty much daily, drink beer and smoke American Spirits.
If you want to get serious about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I can do that.  This is a difficult forum to get serious in though.   I would like to make some good points without pissing people off that's the tricky part.
 You have all these atheists and agnostics, and God skeptics here.  It's hard to decide where to begin to try to make a dent in this skepticism here.
Here is something for the skeptics to ponder,,. I've seen it asked a few times now.
"If there is a God, he is bad & terrible to allow all the murder, rape & mayhem that goes on."
Well, the answers to these (very good questions by the way) are layed out really well in the bible itself.  I like The Standard King James Bible for a number of reasons I d be glad to answer if anyone asks.  
If you take the time to study, all the answers to your deepest questions are in the bible usually multiple times . But you have to familiarize yourself with the bible to know where to look.  
Ok here it is.
Murder ( criminal homicide)(to lie in wait)
Your answer to how God feels about this is in Deuteronomy Chapter 19 Verse 11.
I don't have time to quote the whole bible here.  Read it for you self.  He demands that if convicted in a court of law, beond any doubt,  Capital Punishment is required.
He says, basically send them to Me and murderers will cease to live among you. But some bleeding heart will say we can't have capital punishment that won't solve anything.  Well the guy who murdered and was disposed of  damn sure won't do it again that's for sure.
Rape (Forced to lie with). 
Deuteronomy chapter 22 verse 25
I'll quote this one.
Duteronomy Chapter 22 vs 25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man FORCE  her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
So you see it's not God who allows this mayhem to continue but rather the courts politics and mankind who let murderers and rapists go on with little or no prison time. So is that God who allows it?  No He demands capital punishment it is our week court system and weak kneed citizens who allow rapist and murders back on the streets. I cannot go on and on about every claim here but you see if you look around you can find the answers that skeptical people have and rightfully so with so many denominations and so many different backgrounds and viewpoints it is difficult to find the truth but there is a truth out there. You just have to know where to find it.

The bible - written by people of that time, with the knowledge and understanding of people of that time.

And then translated and retranslated and retranslated, until it bears little relationship to whatever the original was.

amethgr8

I believe I made the comment about the "energy of everything" and I thought the posting of the Star Wars video was funny, ironic and lighthearted so I am not offended.  Maybe Star Wars was Spielberg was of "figuring it out for himself", his process.

I wonder sometimes had I not been predisposed to religion during the formative years of my life if I would "feel" any "connection to something greater" as and adult. Pretty hard to "unprogram" yourself, as much as we try.

Up until recently I didn't see a lot of realism in the Bible, figured it was all here say since it wasn't actually written by God.  Even though it was not, it still shows a fair amount of insight to the beliefs and reasonings of the times and shows progression of thinking and civilization in general.  I do believe to a certain extent that we cannot see it in the same light as in the days it was written, maybe the human mind was more free In some functions and yet primitive in others.  I believe it has value but I don't agree with all that it says.

Religion is a hard thing to agree on and even agree to disagree.  I don't get offended, try not to, by just reading another persons take on it.  Some people use humor as part of their process, others not so much.  If any of us have at least one different thought or action because of this discussion, one more way to look at either what you believe or helps you understand someone else, then all is not lost for any viewpoint.

cheers!

amy