The Concept of God

Annafalk

rgambs said:

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still.

It's a phenomenon, a side effect of physical properties that govern the universe.
Light is a specific form of energy with specific properties that exist for definite reasons.  
The sky is not blue either, but blue light scatter makes it appear that way.  
There must be millions of phenomena like that occuring throughout the universe (and here on Earth) that we can't even perceive, or are located beyond the reach of intelligent life, but are just as beautiful and fleeting.  Are those intelligent design too?

It's much easier for me to believe that blue sky and rainbows are just happy circumstances​ than to believe that a God intelligently designed the very laws of the universe to tickle the fancy of some critters that exist for a short time in a tiny little piece of His cosmos.

What you are saying seems very good and intelligent but I still think it's a very cool phenomenon.
Another thing, why are we not just like animals in the way we think? Why do we have a conscious? Why do we reflect upon things. We can choose how we want to act, animals follow their instinct. Is there a higher reason for this?

oftenreading

Many animals act far beyond instinct. Many are capable of complex tool use and clearly make distinctions between different choices available. 

Now, consciousness; that's too big a topic for my to tap out an answer on my phone. Maybe later . 

brianlux

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still. 
Another thing that exists without any real reason for it is unselfish kindness.

Sorry Anna, I beg to differ: 

Annafalk

brianlux said:

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still. 
Another thing that exists without any real reason for it is unselfish kindness.

Sorry Anna, I beg to differ: 

I must apologize since it feels like I've taken too much space in this thread. Yeah ticks you have them too? Congratulations why did God create this horrible little bug? I haven't got a clue, they don't fill any purpose as I see it, just a nasty disease spreader.

Annafalk

oftenreading said:

Many animals act far beyond instinct. Many are capable of complex tool use and clearly make distinctions between different choices available. 

Now, consciousness; that's too big a topic for my to tap out an answer on my phone. Maybe later . 

I see it as only humans can be responsible for their actions. I can't help thinking there must be some kind of purpose with our life's. Come back later and talk about consciousness

brianlux

Annafalk said:

brianlux said:

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still. 
Another thing that exists without any real reason for it is unselfish kindness.

Sorry Anna, I beg to differ: 

I must apologize since it feels like I've taken too much space in this thread. Yeah ticks you have them too? Congratulations why did God create this horrible little bug? I haven't got a clue, they don't fill any purpose as I see it, just a nasty disease spreader.

No need to apologize!   Your thoughts are sincere, your beliefs are yours.  Maybe I'm the one overstepping my bounds.  Like I've said before, I know people of faith whom I respect very highly.  But I also know that too often people subscribe to a religion or faith out of guilt or fear.  I tried being a Christian forty plus years ago because I was young and gullible and under peer pressure.  After a few years I stopped the pretense.  I'm not saying belief in God or what ever is wrong, but I do encourage people to be skeptical, think critically and decide for themselves.  And my biggest objection is having people proselytize to the point of being self righteous, pushy or judgemental, and I don't see you as doing that.

Annafalk

brianlux said:

Annafalk said:

brianlux said:

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still. 
Another thing that exists without any real reason for it is unselfish kindness.

Sorry Anna, I beg to differ: 

I must apologize since it feels like I've taken too much space in this thread. Yeah ticks you have them too? Congratulations why did God create this horrible little bug? I haven't got a clue, they don't fill any purpose as I see it, just a nasty disease spreader.

No need to apologize!   Your thoughts are sincere, your beliefs are yours.  Maybe I'm the one overstepping my bounds.  Like I've said before, I know people of faith whom I respect very highly.  But I also know that too often people subscribe to a religion or faith out of guilt or fear.  I tried being a Christian forty plus years ago because I was young and gullible and under peer pressure.  After a few years I stopped the pretense.  I'm not saying belief in God or what ever is wrong, but I do encourage people to be skeptical, think critically and decide for themselves.  And my biggest objection is having people proselytize to the point of being self righteous, pushy or judgemental, and I don't see you as doing that.

Thank you and I agree

erocshifty

Annafalk said:

brianlux said:

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still. 
Another thing that exists without any real reason for it is unselfish kindness.

Sorry Anna, I beg to differ: 

I must apologize since it feels like I've taken too much space in this thread. Yeah ticks you have them too? Congratulations why did God create this horrible little bug? I haven't got a clue, they don't fill any purpose as I see it, just a nasty disease spreader.

Those Nymph deer ticks are BRUTAL. Every year I get bit multiple times by at least 2 of those teeny little jerks. I had 6 bites that I had to monitor closely about a week and a half ago. A few years ago I had to go to Urgent Care and get medicine for multiple bites. 

I watched a doomsday BBC special that included a shout out to Groundhog Day on Netflix the other day that was pretty interesting. It had scientific explanations for what could potentially cause "The End of the World". These happen all the time: tsunamis, earthquakes, etc. I've always connected the concept of GOD to nature. The "Holy Trinity" to me is the Sun, Moon and Earth. We're bringing about our own devastation with oil and pollution. Oil is like the Earth's blood. Imagine drilling and taking blood from a human. Eventually, everything would eventually go awry and we'd shut down. We're creating our own problems as far as the environment goes. 

Another thing I've always believed as far as GOD is concerned, is by looking at it as travelling to a destination. There are several routes to take to any specific place. You pick the road that takes you there. Whatever you call it, it's all relative. Connecting to others' is the mystery. I just can't get down with fear mongering or hating someone because they're different than I am that comes along with some religions, so I cut ties with them and found my own way to believe. I do believe in some form of divine intervention, because of far too many crazy coincidences throughout life with dates, places, etc. That's the only way I can rationalize some of them. I just can't put a name or a face on it, other than Nature. 

Smellyman

Annafalk said:

rgambs said:

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still.

It's a phenomenon, a side effect of physical properties that govern the universe.
Light is a specific form of energy with specific properties that exist for definite reasons.  
The sky is not blue either, but blue light scatter makes it appear that way.  
There must be millions of phenomena like that occuring throughout the universe (and here on Earth) that we can't even perceive, or are located beyond the reach of intelligent life, but are just as beautiful and fleeting.  Are those intelligent design too?

It's much easier for me to believe that blue sky and rainbows are just happy circumstances​ than to believe that a God intelligently designed the very laws of the universe to tickle the fancy of some critters that exist for a short time in a tiny little piece of His cosmos.

What you are saying seems very good and intelligent but I still think it's a very cool phenomenon.
Another thing, why are we not just like animals in the way we think? Why do we have a conscious? Why do we reflect upon things. We can choose how we want to act, animals follow their instinct. Is there a higher reason for this?

Tons of animals think and choose and reason.   You really think it is all instinct?  c'mon..

Annafalk

Smellyman said:

Annafalk said:

rgambs said:

Annafalk said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Annafalk said:

Thank you everyone for your answers regarding thoughts about life after death or not. It's very interesting to read how everyone is thinking.
Did God make rainbows or is it just there because it is? There is a lot of beautiful things in nature, in animals and also in people.

This is like a backhanded insult.  Of course rainbows are a beautiful but I am pretty sure you along w/ millions of others on this planet know the science of how one is presented.  god did not do this why would you even question as to if god made rainbows? it just ruin the beauty.  I would rather believe in a pot of gold at either end.  As to the concept of life after death I used to in my younger days be scared as hell of dying because I have always felt that once we die that is it, no more just eternal time carrying on w/ out me.  Time will never end and there will always be something forever after I die just not me included.  It sucks but I got over it  a long time ago and count myself lucky to even be given a life to experience. Even though it is as life w/ a President Trump in it.

A backhanded insult now that's funny. The reason I brought up rainbows is because as I see it, rainbows has no reason to exist, it doesn't do anything it's just there being beautiful, why ? I know the mechanism behind the light bending in the prism but still.

It's a phenomenon, a side effect of physical properties that govern the universe.
Light is a specific form of energy with specific properties that exist for definite reasons.  
The sky is not blue either, but blue light scatter makes it appear that way.  
There must be millions of phenomena like that occuring throughout the universe (and here on Earth) that we can't even perceive, or are located beyond the reach of intelligent life, but are just as beautiful and fleeting.  Are those intelligent design too?

It's much easier for me to believe that blue sky and rainbows are just happy circumstances​ than to believe that a God intelligently designed the very laws of the universe to tickle the fancy of some critters that exist for a short time in a tiny little piece of His cosmos.

What you are saying seems very good and intelligent but I still think it's a very cool phenomenon.
Another thing, why are we not just like animals in the way we think? Why do we have a conscious? Why do we reflect upon things. We can choose how we want to act, animals follow their instinct. Is there a higher reason for this?

Tons of animals think and choose and reason.   You really think it is all instinct?  c'mon..

Yes, of course they think, choose and have feelings. Don't get me wrong, I love animals. I'm just saying that they are not responsible for their actions as humans are. As I see it we humans have the responsibility towards nature, animals, each other and ourselves. 

rgambs

Consciousness is a very complicated subject and we don't have it figured out yet, but it isn't an all or none situation.
There are many levels of consciousness, from the base instinct of a bug up to the complex empathy and abstract thoughts of humans and some other mammals.
When you look at the distinctions in those levels of consciousness, it's easy to see that we are just animals, animals which operate at a high level of cognition.

brianlux

I'm guessing there probably are other animals with consciousness- most likely among them being whales, dolphins and elephants. I'm also guessing they're thinking processes may be just as complex as ours only they choose to use their brains differently.  Maybe instead of putting down nearly endless reams of written words, whales have an oral history and philosophy the body of which makes our U.S. Library of Congress look like the school library in small rural town.  Paper would not do them much good.  Maybe instead of using their brains invent new ways to send text messages to their buddies they are content to contemplate how fascinating it is that echinoderms use a  madroporite  to filter water.

And what about cats and dogs?  Our store cat, Edward was on a bench today at chest level and when I said "hi" to him he put his paws up on my shoulder and gave me a hug.  That sure felt like a conscious act to me!

oftenreading

brianlux said:

I'm guessing there probably are other animals with consciousness- most likely among them being whales, dolphins and elephants. I'm also guessing they're thinking processes may be just as complex as ours only they choose to use their brains differently.  Maybe instead of putting down nearly endless reams of written words, whales have an oral history and philosophy the body of which makes our U.S. Library of Congress look like the school library in small rural town.  Paper would not do them much good.  Maybe instead of using their brains invent new ways to send text messages to their buddies they are content to contemplate how fascinating it is that echinoderms use a  madroporite  to filter water.

And what about cats and dogs?  Our store cat, Edward was on a bench today at chest level and when I said "hi" to him he put his paws up on my shoulder and gave me a hug.  That sure felt like a conscious act to me!

What would Edward have done if you said "Piss off", though? . 

brianlux

oftenreading said:

brianlux said:

I'm guessing there probably are other animals with consciousness- most likely among them being whales, dolphins and elephants. I'm also guessing they're thinking processes may be just as complex as ours only they choose to use their brains differently.  Maybe instead of putting down nearly endless reams of written words, whales have an oral history and philosophy the body of which makes our U.S. Library of Congress look like the school library in small rural town.  Paper would not do them much good.  Maybe instead of using their brains invent new ways to send text messages to their buddies they are content to contemplate how fascinating it is that echinoderms use a  madroporite  to filter water.

And what about cats and dogs?  Our store cat, Edward was on a bench today at chest level and when I said "hi" to him he put his paws up on my shoulder and gave me a hug.  That sure felt like a conscious act to me!

What would Edward have done if you said "Piss off", though? . 

Oh, but you have to know Edward!  Sweetest kitty on God's Green Earth (speaking of God)!  I could never say a harsh word to Good Kitty Edward!

PJfanwillneverleave1

rgambs said:

Consciousness is a very complicated subject and we don't have it figured out yet, but it isn't an all or none situation.
There are many levels of consciousness, from the base instinct of a bug up to the complex empathy and abstract thoughts of humans and some other mammals.
When you look at the distinctions in those levels of consciousness, it's easy to see that we are just animals, animals which operate at a high level of cognition.

Yes. And I for one am happy that we can recognize consciousness. As for animals I am not sure yet.

Annafalk

If there would only be animals on earth I think it would be like paradise. They create a balance. We humans are the leaders. We have great intelligence and can do so much good, but we are the ones failing. I believe we have a purpose here on earth bigger than just surviving.

rgambs

We aren't the only animals that wreck ecosystems and change the chemistry and climate on this planet.
Most of the oxygen we breath was a waste product that was "polluted" into the environment by cyanobacteria (algae).  That by-production created an atmosphere that enabled aerobic organisms and eventually complicated critters like us.

Annafalk

If humans would for some reason disappear, (not that I want that.) Would any other animal take over and dominate earth? I wonder...
Interesting info about the Cyanobacterias Rgambs, I had no idea, you seem to be very educated. Thank you for sharing!

RYME

".                "
Carnivore
Hey, It's Sunday, enjoy.
https://youtu.be/FlwQ3ApJgVo
Powerful vocal cords. Wow.  She really lets her voice fly on this one.

tbergs

Even if I'm wrong, I hope there's at least some sort of difference after death for those who are morally empty skin suits. Looking at you Trump cabinet! If nothing matters then this world should disappear.