why do you believe in God or...

Rhinocerous Surprise

jlew24asu wrote:

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

This is what I've said when talking about heaven with theists. I say that heaven is someting people want to believe in because they can't face the finality of death. And I'm not saying they're wrong to believe that, I'm just saying that I don't necessarily need that comfort.

Ahnimus

jlew24asu wrote:

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

This old saying comes to mind "Nothing is impossible, just improbable."

Ahnimus

jlew24asu wrote:

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

Perhaps you've misunderstood. I think Christianity is impossible. That is, it's claims are impossible. But this thread refers to God, which is improbable, IMO.

Anon

I don’t believe in god because nobody has proven his existence.

When i was little i believed, because it seemed to be the safest path. I was raised Catholic and and looked at it this way..

If you believe in god and he exists, you get to go to heaven.
If you believe in god and he doesn’t exist, nothing happens.
If you don’t believe in god and he exists, you go to hell.
If you don’t believe in god and he doesn’t exist, nothing happens.

When i was growing up, he had a lot to say. When i lost someone close to me he had a lot of nothing to say. This 'god' gave me no comfort at all. Did my parents, but not me.

Bu2

Ahnimus wrote:

Perhaps you've misunderstood. I think Christianity is impossible. That is, it's claims are impossible. But this thread refers to God, which is improbable, IMO.

you believe that God itself, or "a higher power", is not impossible, but only improbable?

jlew24asu

Rhinocerous Surprise wrote:

This is what I've said when talking about heaven with theists. I say that heaven is someting people want to believe in because they can't face the finality of death. And I'm not saying they're wrong to believe that, I'm just saying that I don't necessarily need that comfort.

great. but what does face the finality of death mean? there is no such thing. you know why? because you dont know what happens when you die. you just dont. and neither do I

jlew24asu

Ahnimus wrote:

Perhaps you've misunderstood. I think Christianity is impossible. That is, it's claims are impossible. But this thread refers to God, which is improbable, IMO.

so you are an atheist who thinks (believes) that there is a chance god exists?

Bu2

jlew24asu wrote:

so you are an atheist who thinks (believes) that there is a chance god exists?

you copycat, you!

Heh heh...

jlew24asu

Pj_Gurl wrote:

I don’t believe in god because nobody has proven his existence.

yea, but sometimes dont you think there is more to this place then we can comprehend?

Pj_Gurl wrote:

When i was little i believed, because it seemed to be the safest path. I was raised Catholic and and looked at it this way..

If you believe in god and he exists, you get to go to heaven.
If you believe in god and he doesn’t exist, nothing happens.
If you don’t believe in god and he exists, you go to hell.
If you don’t believe in god and he doesn’t exist, nothing happens.

that sounds ok. I respect these beliefs

Pj_Gurl wrote:

When i was growing up, he had a lot to say. When i lost someone close to me he had a lot of nothing to say. This 'god' gave me no comfort at all. Did my parents, but not me.

the power of the mind is what heals (mental) pain. belief in god, sometimes triggers that healing process. but not for all.

Ahnimus

Bu2 wrote:

you believe that God itself, or "a higher power", is not impossible, but only improbable?

I don't see how it could be possible. If you mean a personal God, then no, not possible, IMO. But I suggested a Cosmic Architect, which could simply be a set of physical rules. "God" encompasses many definitions.

Bu2

Asking God for comfort, for answers, is a meaningless exercise. God is a busy entity. God has a lot of people and animals and plants and seas and grains of sand to look after.

I was baptized a Protestant and spent several years in Sunday school, which I disliked. I told my mother one day that I didn't like church, and she promptly pulled me out. She didn't like the drive every Sunday anyway.

I regretted this later when I reached my teens and wanted all the answers. I sought help through the Bible and through my older sister's Chatecism books, and became enthralled by the Catholic Church's rituals and the easy answers that I found in the little booklets my sister brought home. But only for a short time, because the booklets brought up more questions than they did answers. I then turned atheist, at 15, completely.

Later I tried again, and called myself a Christian as I tried to follow the standard approach to God and church that is offered via Congregational Church and also through a coworker who was a Jehovah's Witness. Big mistake. I just started questioning more and getting less satisfactory answers every time I opened my mouth.

I studied Buddah for a time, and found peace in the teachings but couldn't tame myself to live the life required.

And then I started reading the news and reading history and by the time I hit my 30's, I was happily agnostic.

Still am.

jlew24asu

Ahnimus wrote:

I don't see how it could be possible. If you mean a personal God, then no, not possible, IMO.

in the terms the people (in general) think of as a god, then no you find it impossible. as in god as a general accepted definition. so the answer is basically impossible. ok cool fine with me.

Ahnimus wrote:

But I suggested a Cosmic Architect, which could simply be a set of physical rules.

if you want to believe in some interstellar Frank Loyd Wright, be my guest.

I would never tell you I am right and you are wrong.

jlew24asu

Bu2 wrote:

Asking God for comfort, for answers, is a meaningless exercise.

I strongly disagree. for some people, it gives them GREAT comfort. I'm no scientist but I think, from common knowledge, that our brain releases some sort of chemical or something that helps us get over mental pain. "praying to god" might release some of that. its possible? again, I cant prove that, but something has to trigger healing of pain, such as a hug from a loved one.

Bu2 wrote:

God is a busy entity. God has a lot of people and animals and plants and seas and grains of sand to look after.

its just my personal belief. but somehow I think he can handle it : hello he's GOD

Bu2 wrote:

I was baptized a Protestant and spent several years in Sunday school, which I disliked. I told my mother one day that I didn't like church, and she promptly pulled me out. She didn't like the drive every Sunday anyway.

I regretted this later when I reached my teens and wanted all the answers. I sought help through the Bible and through my older sister's Chatecism books, and became enthralled by the Catholic Church's rituals and the easy answers that I found in the little booklets my sister brought home. But only for a short time, because the booklets brought up more questions than they did answers. I then turned atheist, at 15, completely.

Later I tried again, and called myself a Christian as I tried to follow the standard approach to God and church that is offered via Congretional Church and also through a coworker who was a Jehovah's Witness. Big mistake. I just started questioning more and getting less satisfactory answers every time I opened my mouth.

I studied Buddah for a time, and found peace in the teachings but couldn't tame myself to live the life required.

And then I started reading the news and reading history and by the time I hit my 30's, I was happily agnostic.

Still am.

this is none of my business but thank for sharing

Bu2

jlew24asu wrote:

in the terms the people (in general) think of as a god, then no you find it impossible. as in god as a general accepted definition. so the answer is basically impossible. ok cool fine with me.

if you want to believe in some interstellar Frank Loyd Wright, be my guest.

I would never tell you I am right and you are wrong.

I like the idea of Cosmic Architect very much. Look at a spider's web, study the intricacy of it....watch two cats interact with their vocalizations and their tails alone....watch a swarm of bees communicate.....look at the shape of a shell on the beach....

Something MADE all this shit. Even if it was a happy accident like Darwin claims, it all HAPPENED. These things are right in front of our eyes, every day.

"God"-made or "Big Bang"-made.....in the long run, does it matter?

They exist.

Jeanie

Think I'm with Ryan on this one, in that God is improbable.

But I'm more than happy to be proved wrong. If he does exist he's chosen not to prove that to me.

jlew24asu

Jeanie wrote:

Think I'm with Ryan on this one, in that God is improbable.

But I'm more than happy to be proved wrong. If he does exist he's chosen not to prove that to me.

congrats on 8000

but it will never be proven to you. it cant be. you have to believe that "higher power" or "higher equal" or something or anything does exist.

Bu2

jlew24asu wrote:

I strongly disagree. for some people, it gives them GREAT comfort. I'm no scientist but I think, from common knowledge, that our brain releases some sort of chemical or something that helps us get over mental pain. "praying to god" might release some of that. its possible? again, I cant prove that, but something has to trigger healing of pain, such as a hug from a loved one.

its just my personal belief. but somehow I think he can handle it : hello he's GOD

this is none of my business but thank for sharing

TMI, perhaps to some, but Cate was asking how people were "brought" to their religious beliefs, so I gave my own personal history. Aren't you glad I left out all the other details of my life?

Jeanie

jlew24asu wrote:

congrats on 8000

but it will never be proven to you. it cant be. you have to believe that "higher power" or "higher equal" or something or anything does exist.

So you don't think that people have epiphanies j?
Because I'm thinking that all I'd need for proof would be the absolute surety in my mind that he does. I know people this has happened to. It's just never happened to me. I guess I'm saying that at particular points in my life, when one could expect to "know" that God existed that has not happened to me. I've wondered where he is but I've been very certain that he is not with me at that moment. I realize that this is not the case for others. I don't discount the possibility of a higher power or a higher being I've just never personally experienced any evidence of that existence. That would be all it would take for me. If I experienced that feeling, that knowing, and I could not discount it with science or what is known at the time then he would exist for me.

I would feel that if I held the belief that he existed now that I would be projecting my wishful thinking if that makes sense? I figure if he's about and he wants me to believe he'll let me know and I will. Otherwise I just don't. Can't muster up what aint there. But I can see and understand how other people do believe and do know and I'm happy enough for them. It's just not my experience.

:eek: 8000!! I gotta get a life!!

Rhinocerous Surprise

jlew24asu wrote:

great. but what does face the finality of death mean? there is no such thing. you know why? because you dont know what happens when you die. you just dont. and neither do I

Yes, I agree with you. I don't know - nobody does. But I believe that death is final, ie. nothing after it. Y'know, we're gone for good. If you read my post again, you'll notice I never said that people who believe in heaven are wrong.

Bu2

he?

Again, just curious.