why do you believe in God or...

catefrances

...why don't you, if that is the case.


i am an atheist. i don't believe in a God cause it makes absolutely no sense to me. this has been the case since i was 11 years old. religion does not give me the answers i require.

Ahnimus

Where do I begin?

Why I'm not religious:

It's incompatible with science and history.

It's foolishness.

Is there a God? Like Spinoza's God, a Grand Architect?

I don't know, but it's highly improbable. Therefor I don't believe there is one.

Ms. Haiku

I find the idea of God comforting. It is feeling based. When you think of a single person on a journey across a desert, someone who is not unhappy to be in this position, then you'll have an idea of how I feel. Expansion, hidden mysteries revealed, faith. Although I am part of a major religion, ulimately in my case I see it as an individual journey. With this belief I am not lonely.

Bu2

I believe that something wonderful and miraculous happened that caused this planet to be. That caused all the things on this planet to be.

I thank it daily for giving me a new day. I do this at dinnertime when I thank it for another meal. I thank it daily for all the gifts that seem to have been given to us.

When I'm handed a really painful and difficult situation, I ask it for help. And then I immediately feel guilty, because I shouldn't ask for such personal assistance from something that obviously had much more of a goal than to help one single occupant of this planet in a time of need. Others are being killed while I eat my dinner. Others are being raped while I sleep.

So I accept that there is a balance, and I try to accept my place in it. And I try to keep my own personal acts balanced, in the meantime. As in, yes I sometimes do the wrong thing. But I mostly try to do the right thing.

What's the right thing? That which does not disturb the work of the wonderful and miraculous thing that happened to cause this planet to be. That caused all the things on this planet to be.

That, to me, is the closest I can come to explaining my variation of what others call God.

binger

Cause that was who I was told to believe in. Otherwise I'd go to hell. Pretty simple.

Jeanie

God and religion are different things for me cate. Can believe in one without the other. Having said that I don't really believe in either.

Never be able to manage to believe in one Religion. I've checked most of em out and they do nothing for me. Just more rules and regulations as far as I can see.

Thought maybe there might be a god or a higher power but just recently there was an incident that was defining in my life where I would have expected god to be present and there was nothing. I felt absolutely nothing. I even noticed that absence. So I don't know, I'm quite sure other people do feel God, do know that there is a God. I'm not one of those people. I'd love it if there was. What an amazing idea! But nope. No God in my world.

Rhinocerous Surprise

As an atheist, I guess I've always kinda rejected organised religion - from a very early age, I hated going to mass every Sunday!:p But my parents forced me every damn week. I just never really understood what the whole deal was. Then once I hit about 12 or so, I started questioning the actual religion itself, and realised that I had never truly believed in God - I was always just forced to assume my parents were right. I guess it could be the case that I rejected it because it was forced down my throat all my life, but now, the more I think about it, the more I think it's Santa Claus on a wider scale, if you follow me.

wolfbear

I believe anything is possible. But, I don't really believe in "religion" as I see most as a man made way to control. I do have an open mind however and hope there is something there. It just seems to me that most religions alienate or scare or separate when it should be just the opposite, so I have no real use for them. My religion is nature. If a god created it then I would like to meet that entity someday.

jlew24asu

catefrances wrote:

...why don't you, if that is the case.


i am an atheist. i don't believe in a God cause it makes absolutely no sense to me.

of course it doesnt make sense. it cant be proven. and I'm normally a very logic, show me the facts kinda guy.. but sometimes I pretend something does exist beyond my realm of thinking. thats why its called a belief. I'd like to think there is something after death.

I really wish people too my approach....... I dont care what other religion you are. as far as I'm concerned, its none of my business. believe what you believe and have a good time. and I promise never to pressure you to share my beliefs.

catefrances wrote:

this has been the case since i was 11 years old. religion does not give me the answers i require.

fair enough. maybe you will find what you require with something else? as long as your beliefs dont require killing others, have at it.

I hope like you dont feel im insulting you. i'm just responding to you and others with similar beliefs. point being, do your thing.

Bu2

wolfbear wrote:

I believe anything is possible. But, I don't really believe in "religion" as I see most as a man made way to control. I do have an open mind however and hope there is something there. It just seems to me that most religions alienate or scare or separate when it should be just the opposite, so I have no real use for them. My religion is nature. If a god created it then I would like to meet that entity someday.

My post sounds very religious, now, when compared to yours.

When I say a "thing" created this earth, I mean that this "thing" could be a big bang caused by nature....or it could be a big bang caused by some entity. Who or what that entity is, I have no right to challenge, let alone champion.

Religion is a big scary growth that emerged from big fear at one time. It has become a cess pool of war and hatred and bigotry.

So when I say I offer thanks each day to this "thing", I mean that I offer thanks to whatever brought us life and the miracle of fish, flowers, thoughts, food, friendship, creativity, breath, days, and everything else that -- when you really look at it -- is a miracle.

Religion's God is not in play here, in my worship. Life and death and everything in between are what I give thanks for, and to.

jlew24asu

Ahnimus wrote:

Where do I begin?

Why I'm not religious:

It's incompatible with science and history.

It's foolishness.

Is there a God? Like Spinoza's God, a Grand Architect?

I don't know, but it's highly improbable. Therefor I don't believe there is one.

highly improbable or impossible? it either exists or it doesnt.

catefrances

jlew24asu wrote:

of course it doesnt make sense. it cant be proven. and I'm normally a very logic, show me the facts kinda guy.. but sometimes I pretend something does exist beyond my realm of thinking. thats why its called a belief. I'd like to think there is something after death.

why do you wish for this to be the case?

jlew24asu wrote:

I hope like you dont feel im insulting you. i'm just responding to you and others with similar beliefs. point being, do your thing.

no i don't feel like you're insulting me. but you could be doing it so subtlely that i'm too dense to pick up on it. doubt it though.

Bu2

jlew24asu wrote:

highly improbable or impossible? it either exists or it doesnt.

as something highly improbable?

nickcat0

As a teenager I was an atheist . There was no proof of a God , and science seemed to be able to explain most things .
Whilst I was at college , I was friendly with 2 Christians and we used to debate and discuss religion , God , heaven and hell etc. They would point out passages from the Bible to back up their claims , and took time to explain various key passages . I can't fully explain it but , eventually , it all just seemed to make sense .
Since that day I have been convinced of God's existence . I have received comfort in times of despair , and although I'm sure not all my prayers have been answered in the way I wanted ; there have been too many times when my prayers have been answered in a very specific way , that goes beyond coincidence .
In my experience , once I stopped looking for proof and just had faith , then the proof followed .

catefrances

jlew24asu wrote:

highly improbable or impossible? it either exists or it doesnt.

i'd have to say the existence of God is impossible for me to believe.

wolfbear

Bu2 wrote:

My post sounds very religious, now, when compared to yours.

When I say a "thing" created this earth, I mean that this "thing" could be a big bang caused by nature....or it could be a big bang caused by some entity. Who or what that entity is, I have no right to challenge, let alone champion.

Religion is a big scary growth that emerged from big fear at one time. It has become a cess pool of war and hatred and bigotry.

So when I say I offer thanks each day to this "thing", I mean that I offer thanks to whatever brought us life and the miracle of fish, flowers, thoughts, food, friendship, creativity, breath, days, and everything else that -- when you really look at it -- is a miracle.

Religion's God is not in play here, in my worship. Life and death and everything in between are what I give thanks for, and to.

"I know I was born and I know that I'll die but the inbetween is mine."

Bu2

catefrances wrote:

i'd have to say the existence of God is impossible for me to believe.

....why ask everyone else here about it?

I'm just curious, I mean no offense.

jlew24asu

catefrances wrote:

why do you wish for this to be the case?

I just do. I would rather wish something happens then just accept that nothing happens

catefrances wrote:

no i don't feel like you're insulting me. but you could be doing it so subtlely that i'm too dense to pick up on it. doubt it though.

hehe I respect your beliefs

jlew24asu

Bu2 wrote:

as something highly improbable?

it can. but atheists, such as Ahimus, believe it is impossible. and he used the word improbable. now stay out of it!! haha j/k

jlew24asu

Bu2 wrote:

....why ask everyone else here about it?

I'm just curious, I mean no offense.

very good question.

catefrances

Bu2 wrote:

....why ask everyone else here about it?

I'm just curious, I mean no offense.

no offense taken.

i was thinking about it the other day, that's all. i was wondering how people came about their faith. whether is came from habit or some epiphany or whether they were raised in religion. or from fear or uncertainness. and what makes people keep believing.