^^^ I certainly hope I am not destined for that half. What about you?
I don't really care either way TBH, and if I actually had the choice between it happening and me dying or it not happening and me living, I'd probably choose the first option, for the sake of the Earth (sorry everyone, lol). The world would be in complete and utter chaos if 50% of the world's population died in a short period of time anyway, not to mention the problem of 4 billion dead bodies laying around - maybe it would be much better to die of the disease so you don't have to live with the aftermath..... and honestly, 75% of the population would be better. Humans can turn 4 billion survivors back into 8 billion people in no time.
I think he just meant that we're actively preventing further evolution by overriding natural selection...... That will be the case until that massive plague finally arrives to wipe half of us out (I see this as the only thing that might save humanity and preserve the Earth in the long run, so TBH I'm hoping for it to come sooner rather than later. Reboot).
Post edited by Smellyman on
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
Interesting point! This thread goes back a ways now and I'd forgotten that.
To post on this thread in a way that stays with HFD's original question, any answer here would start basically with something like, "I believe God is..."
Also interesting is that any answer to that question would clash with theologian J. B. Phillips' notion that any time you try to define God in human terms, your God is too small. I like that. I don't know if there is a God and I don't believe there is any way to prove, let a lone describe, "God". So my answer would be...
But would that be out of step with the original thread concept?
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Your posts above come off angry. Before those no there weren't angry posts but hateful ones. And why can't an opinion just be that? Why always the negative bs? There is no longer a discussion going on in this thread.
I do not know which thread the full blown racist is in. And I don't feel anyone in this thread is racist. I'm just tired of reading post after post with intentions of bringing people down. There is a difference between fun humor and what I feel when I read some of these posts. But again it was an opinion.
I can't keep up with all of the different threads. There are so many. I did not randomly pick this thread to say anything. I've been following this thread.
My only point was I hate reading the bully type posts here on this site. I do understand it's all over the different places here. I see the closed threads. It is not possible for me to keep up with all on each differ section.
i've been on the beach a while, so sorry for the late reply, but i agree with all of your posts completely. when i started this thread, i explicitly stated i hoped it didn't devolve into the type of garbage all other religion-based threads have gone. but it has. and it's too bad.
we can all have opinions, but it's how we express them that defines us.
Welcome back. There have been some comments here and there, but with any religious or political discussion, there is going to be emotions unfortunately. It's the nature of the beast. We're all adults here and hopefully can continue in the discussion in a rational manner.
This entire discussion has been totally rational, and I don't even think it's been particularly emotional. I still don't even really know what this "hatefulness" was supposed to be (and again, I haven't been even a tiny bit angry at any point). But anyway, thank GOD you rehashed this tidbit HFD! It's just what the thread needed!
sure. totally rational. sorry. next time i'll just skip to the front of the thread.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
Hopefully not to detract or be too off track from HFD's thread here, but I'd be curious to know from those who believe in God how you would react to the notion of God being absolutely mysterious and undefinable. In other words, something incomprehensible to human beings. Would you reject that God, embrace that God, be OK with knowing you can't comprehend God, or find the idea altogether unsettling?
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
Yeah, it's like that discussion about slavery. The God I know would never agree with things like that.
Hopefully not to detract or be too off track from HFD's thread here, but I'd be curious to know from those who believe in God how you would react to the notion of God being absolutely mysterious and undefinable. In other words, something incomprehensible to human beings. Would you reject that God, embrace that God, be OK with knowing you can't comprehend God, or find the idea altogether unsettling?
I pretty much think that God is undefinable. As a child growing up, I pictured God somewhat like Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel depiction of him. Older, long white hair with a long beard. But as I grew up I realized that was just indeed that, an artist depiction of what they thought he might be. But I don't think God can be defined in the normal human parameters, even though I'd say the strong majority of people think. Much like in the movie Dogma, God is whatever he/she/it want's to be. If God wants to be an old white guy, go for it. If God wants to be a black woman, go for it. If God is just an energy force or a spirit, so be it.
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
Hopefully not to detract or be too off track from HFD's thread here, but I'd be curious to know from those who believe in God how you would react to the notion of God being absolutely mysterious and undefinable. In other words, something incomprehensible to human beings. Would you reject that God, embrace that God, be OK with knowing you can't comprehend God, or find the idea altogether unsettling?
I pretty much think that God is undefinable. As a child growing up, I pictured God somewhat like Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel depiction of him. Older, long white hair with a long beard. But as I grew up I realized that was just indeed that, an artist depiction of what they thought he might be. But I don't think God can be defined in the normal human parameters, even though I'd say the strong majority of people think. Much like in the movie Dogma, God is whatever he/she/it want's to be. If God wants to be an old white guy, go for it. If God wants to be a black woman, go for it. If God is just an energy force or a spirit, so be it.
I think we have a human desire, almost a need to define everything. Perhaps letting go of that rope is a way to be free.
I'll have to watch Dogma again. It's been so log I don't remember most of it but I remember it was good.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
Yeah, it's like that discussion about slavery. The God I know would never agree with things like that.
But see, that's where the religion comes back into it. If, by God, you mean Yahweh/Jehovah, you are saying that the God you know is different than the God you believe in. Yahweh/Jehovah absolutely agreed with slavery, unless you don't believe the Bible to be true, in which case, why would you believe in Yahweh/Jehovah to begin with?
Hopefully not to detract or be too off track from HFD's thread here, but I'd be curious to know from those who believe in God how you would react to the notion of God being absolutely mysterious and undefinable. In other words, something incomprehensible to human beings. Would you reject that God, embrace that God, be OK with knowing you can't comprehend God, or find the idea altogether unsettling?
I pretty much think that God is undefinable. As a child growing up, I pictured God somewhat like Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel depiction of him. Older, long white hair with a long beard. But as I grew up I realized that was just indeed that, an artist depiction of what they thought he might be. But I don't think God can be defined in the normal human parameters, even though I'd say the strong majority of people think. Much like in the movie Dogma, God is whatever he/she/it want's to be. If God wants to be an old white guy, go for it. If God wants to be a black woman, go for it. If God is just an energy force or a spirit, so be it.
I think we have a human desire, almost a need to define everything. Perhaps letting go of that rope is a way to be free.
I'll have to watch Dogma again. It's been so log I don't remember most of it but I remember it was good.
Yeah, we do need to define everything. And some things we just can't. I feel like we're limited because of fear. If we don't understand something, many of us are afraid of it. We just can't grasp the concept because we need to have some sort of definition of it. I kind of liken it to our mortality. We're only on this planet for a limited time, but many of us just can't see farther down the road past when we might not be here. "Eh, I won't be around in 100 years, so why does it matter?"
I haven't watched it in a long time either, but I thought it was pretty good. I had some friends that hated it because they thought it was sacrilegious which is absurd in my opinion.
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
it's not. but when that discourse careens into bashing entire groups of people, that is frowned upon. especially when that was mentioned in the first two posts.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
In answering the question, "if you believe in God, what do you think God is?" you are either describing a religion or creating one. Religion, strictly defined, is the belief in God, which means it is the language used to describe God, whether it is an organised and accepted system, or just your personal faith.
The idea that God and religion can be separated doesn't even make sense.
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
it's not. but when that discourse careens into bashing entire groups of people, that is frowned upon. especially when that was mentioned in the first two posts.
It's just that this thread is going along just fine - I don't understand the apparent need for an intervention into something that doesn't need it.
I also don't think that a conversation about the concept of God can adequately happen without discussing religion. It's impossible IMO.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
it's not. but when that discourse careens into bashing entire groups of people, that is frowned upon. especially when that was mentioned in the first two posts.
It's just that this thread is going along just fine - I don't understand the apparent need for an intervention into something that doesn't need it.
I also don't think that a conversation about the concept of God can adequately happen without discussing religion. It's impossible IMO.
as to your first statement: the thread was devolving. i was not the only one in thinking so. it was not an intervention. it a comment on the path of the thread. whether you think it was necessary is irrelevant.
your second statement is false. many people believe in god and don't subscribe to nor participate in any organized religion. it's actually quite common, whether you believe it or not. it's called spirituality.
religion being defined as the worship of god does make the opposite true.
carry on as you wish. i commented on the state of the thread as i saw it at the time and i stand by it.
"Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk" -EV 8/14/93
OP With all due respect you started this thread with "so basically the point of this thread is not to argue about faith, or try to convince someone else that you are right or they are wrong. just, what do you think god is, if you believe a god exists?
Now I'm not one to argue semantics but as a person who does not believe god exists suggests that anyone who thinks this way as well should not post in this thread. I believe anything religious orientated will bring cross opines. I understand the rules of respecting a thread but one can't interject every now and then like the hand of god to sway a conversation that was based on a pointed question.
the original question had zero to do with religion, you can talk about belief in a god without steering it that way. but people always have to chime in and talk about how stupid everyone else's beliefs are to put themselves back in their tower above everyone else. i don't get why it can't be a respectful discussion about beliefs.
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
It really isn't that simple though, religion IS how God is defined. Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic. Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
i disagree. god has been around much longer than organized religion. religions do define god, but god does not define religion. man does. god can exist without religion. there are many people who aren't religious who believe in a higher power. my question was very simple and direct: if you believe in god, what do you think god is?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
So the thread should have consisted of 15-20 people's concept of God and done?
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
it's not. but when that discourse careens into bashing entire groups of people, that is frowned upon. especially when that was mentioned in the first two posts.
It's just that this thread is going along just fine - I don't understand the apparent need for an intervention into something that doesn't need it.
I also don't think that a conversation about the concept of God can adequately happen without discussing religion. It's impossible IMO.
as to your first statement: the thread was devolving. i was not the only one in thinking so. it was not an intervention. it a comment on the path of the thread. whether you think it was necessary is irrelevant.
your second statement is false. many people believe in god and don't subscribe to nor participate in any organized religion. it's actually quite common, whether you believe it or not. it's called spirituality.
religion being defined as the worship of god does make the opposite true.
carry on as you wish. i commented on the state of the thread as i saw it at the time and i stand by it.
To your comment about what I think being irrelevant: Right back at ya buddy. We're all just stating our opinions here, and one's isn't more or less relevant that the other's.
Secondly, no, my second statement isn't false. You're just misinterpreting it. I didn't say that everyone has to be religious to believe in God. I said that a conversation about the concept of God can't adequately take place without religion coming up. Those are two very different things. Sorry your thread isn't following your exact personal expectations, but that isn't how discussion forums work.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you" "Love your next as yourself" There are also many beautiful things written in the Bible.
Oh, there's absolutely no doubt about that! It's especially true if you take the silly myths as parables and fables rather than literal truths.
The problem is that there are beautiful and deep things written in many texts that we can learn from, but those are all cast aside by the Bible and those who cling to it. What about Rumi? The Ayurvedas? Shakespeare? Milton? Whitman Wordsworth Donne Shelley Keats Emerson Lennon Vedder etc etc
"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you" "Love your next as yourself" There are also many beautiful things written in the Bible.
Oh, there's absolutely no doubt about that! It's especially true if you take the silly myths as parables and fables rather than literal truths.
The problem is that there are beautiful and deep things written in many texts that we can learn from, but those are all cast aside by the Bible and those who cling to it. What about Rumi? The Ayurvedas? Shakespeare? Milton? Whitman Wordsworth Donne Shelley Keats Emerson Lennon Vedder etc etc
You say their texts haven't gotten enough attention? Who in the world haven't heard of Shakespeare?
Comments
(oh man, I always thought Monty Python's recreation of the Dark Ages was HILARIOUS!!)
To post on this thread in a way that stays with HFD's original question, any answer here would start basically with something like, "I believe God is..."
Also interesting is that any answer to that question would clash with theologian J. B. Phillips' notion that any time you try to define God in human terms, your God is too small. I like that. I don't know if there is a God and I don't believe there is any way to prove, let a lone describe, "God". So my answer would be...
But would that be out of step with the original thread concept?
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-EV 8/14/93
one can interject any time they wish. out of town, in town, doesn't matter. there aren't statute of limitations on when i can post. you need to stop trying to be a mod.
-EV 8/14/93
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Leaving religion out of it makes it a non-topic.
Comments can be made about the nature of God, sure, but the discussion is always going to circle back the the way God is defined and worshipped.
I'll have to watch Dogma again. It's been so log I don't remember most of it but I remember it was good.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
If, by God, you mean Yahweh/Jehovah, you are saying that the God you know is different than the God you believe in.
Yahweh/Jehovah absolutely agreed with slavery, unless you don't believe the Bible to be true, in which case, why would you believe in Yahweh/Jehovah to begin with?
I haven't watched it in a long time either, but I thought it was pretty good. I had some friends that hated it because they thought it was sacrilegious which is absurd in my opinion.
That concept itself is the least definable one I can think of.
Everything is definable, how can something exist and not be described?
if people can't keep religion out of it, then that's their shortfall.
-EV 8/14/93
Why is discourse so frowned upon by some?
-EV 8/14/93
Religion, strictly defined, is the belief in God, which means it is the language used to describe God, whether it is an organised and accepted system, or just your personal faith.
The idea that God and religion can be separated doesn't even make sense.
I also don't think that a conversation about the concept of God can adequately happen without discussing religion. It's impossible IMO.
Religion is defined as a set of beliefs about God or other higher power.
your second statement is false. many people believe in god and don't subscribe to nor participate in any organized religion. it's actually quite common, whether you believe it or not. it's called spirituality.
religion being defined as the worship of god does make the opposite true.
carry on as you wish. i commented on the state of the thread as i saw it at the time and i stand by it.
-EV 8/14/93
Secondly, no, my second statement isn't false. You're just misinterpreting it. I didn't say that everyone has to be religious to believe in God. I said that a conversation about the concept of God can't adequately take place without religion coming up. Those are two very different things. Sorry your thread isn't following your exact personal expectations, but that isn't how discussion forums work.
I love the similarities.
Love you all
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
"Love your next as yourself"
There are also many beautiful things written in the Bible.
It's especially true if you take the silly myths as parables and fables rather than literal truths.
The problem is that there are beautiful and deep things written in many texts that we can learn from, but those are all cast aside by the Bible and those who cling to it.
What about Rumi?
The Ayurvedas?
Shakespeare?
Milton?
Whitman Wordsworth Donne Shelley Keats Emerson Lennon Vedder etc etc
Not from the bible...plagiarized from the Code
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