why do you believe in God or...

1…910121415…60

Comments

  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    callen wrote:
    sometimes think I'm reading a scientific novel on this board......wow
    i don't get it
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • nickcat0
    nickcat0 Posts: 75
    Although I have been a Christian for about 24 years , I've always worshipped in private and only recently started attending a church on a regular basis .

    I believe , in God , Jesus and the basic Christian message ; but I respect the right of anyone else to believe or not believe in whatever they choose .

    I do have concerns about what "fate" awaits those of us who make the wrong choices , I do hope God is a lot more lenient about who he lets into "heaven" than some biblical passages suggest .

    I don't much care for the way some people with religious beliefs try to beat up non-believers with threats of eternal fires . I also don't much care for the mocking nature of some atheists .

    I don't pretend to know all the reasons why things are what they are , but I have faith and from that faith I have received what I perceive to be proof of God's existence and love .

    I just wish , not only in this thread , but in life in general , we could debate our views whilst showing respect and appreciation of other people's opinions .

    Now if you'll excuse me it's high up here , and I must climb down off my soap box , LOL.
    Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
    9/9/06
    Everton 3 RS 0
  • ClimberInOz
    ClimberInOz Posts: 216
    I always tell my deeply religous grandma that the most dissapointing thing about being an atheist is never getting the chance to say I told you so...

    She always tells me with a big smile that she will be enjoying her time in heaven whilst I am being cooked down below!

    The hell/heaven debate for non believers matters not to me- I will not justify my beliefs with a 'what if' scenario.
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    ClimberInOz wrote:
    The hell/heaven debate for non believers matters not to me- I will not justify my beliefs with a 'what if' scenario.

    well then thank jesus, allah and buddha i was asking a WHY question. ;):)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • Punk77
    Punk77 Posts: 48
    I'm an humanist myself.

    I respect all religeons but have strong feelings AGAINST the organisations (church etc) Faith, believing in something, and 'rules' don't go together.

    My question is: why do we want/ need to believe in 'something' after death? Why should that be comforting? Is this life not worth living, just being that?
  • ClimberInOz
    ClimberInOz Posts: 216
    catefrances wrote:
    well then thank jesus, allah and buddha i was asking a WHY question. ;):)

    Sorry Cate, I missed your original question. I have to confess that after reading an earlier post suggesting that an atheist should believe in god because the consequences are so severe... or something like that- I jumped right to the end.

    Ever since I have started teaching my time is too limited to actually read entire threads. Shame really, because differences of opinions are really what makes life interesting.
  • Collin
    Collin Posts: 4,931
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    yes, if you want salvation the only way is through Jesus Christ. that's the message of the Bible. you're absolutely right. but no... God doesn't send you to hell because you don't accept Jesus. you sent yourself to hell.

    I don't really understand how some atheists feel about god. I think a lot of believers think he refuse to believe in a god, or deny a god.

    The fact is, at least with me, that I have no faith. I don't deny god, I don't refuse to believe in god... It's a lack of faith, an absence of faith.

    I can't force myself to believe in something. Does god expect me to do so anyway? Then I wouldn't even want to be a part of his creation, a cult, where you should have blind faith, ask no questions... A god who wants his creation to follow him out of fear?

    Anyway, god is a dictator. Anyone who dares question his authority gets tortured, anyone who doesn't agree with his rulership gets thrown in the pits of hell... He's a dictator who's good towards his own people, as long as they believe in him, as they follow him.

    So god is the creator of everything, right. This good loving father? Who strikes his children, whom he loves, with famine, hurricanes, floods, diseases... His own children, yes, even the ones who devoted their life to him.

    And why does he do it? Well, that's obvious, he works in mysterious ways, he's god he knows all. Don't question it.

    God commits the sins he hated. But it's ok, don't lead by example, scare them into following you.
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


    naděje umírá poslední
  • brain of c
    brain of c Posts: 5,213
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    i don't get it

    clearly.
    d'oh!!!!!!

    http://www.myspace.com/brain_of_c
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    Collin wrote:
    I don't really understand how some atheists feel about god. I think a lot of believers think he refuse to believe in a god, or deny a god.

    The fact is, at least with me, that I have no faith. I don't deny god, I don't refuse to believe in god... It's a lack of faith, an absence of faith.

    I can't force myself to believe in something. Does god expect me to do so anyway? Then I wouldn't even want to be a part of his creation, a cult, where you should have blind faith, ask no questions... A god who wants his creation to follow him out of fear?

    Anyway, god is a dictator. Anyone who dares question his authority gets tortured, anyone who doesn't agree with his rulership gets thrown in the pits of hell... He's a dictator who's good towards his own people, as long as they believe in him, as they follow him.

    So god is the creator of everything, right. This good loving father? Who strikes his children, whom he loves, with famine, hurricanes, floods, diseases... His own children, yes, even the ones who devoted their life to him.

    And why does he do it? Well, that's obvious, he works in mysterious ways, he's god he knows all. Don't question it.

    God commits the sins he hated. But it's ok, don't lead by example, scare them into following you.

    i imagine when you make the people, you get to play with them anyway you want. ;):p:)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • even flow?
    even flow? Posts: 8,066
    catefrances wrote:
    i imagine when you make the people, you get to play with them anyway you want. ;):p:)

    That is why children have dolls, so they can pretend to be god. ;)
    You've changed your place in this world!
  • Collin
    Collin Posts: 4,931
    even flow? wrote:
    That is why children have dolls, so they can pretend to be god. ;)

    You know, when I look at some kids playing with their toys, you can really see the sadistic side of god shine in them.
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


    naděje umírá poslední
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    Collin wrote:
    I don't really understand how some atheists feel about god. I think a lot of believers think he refuse to believe in a god, or deny a god.

    The fact is, at least with me, that I have no faith. I don't deny god, I don't refuse to believe in god... It's a lack of faith, an absence of faith.

    I can't force myself to believe in something. Does god expect me to do so anyway? Then I wouldn't even want to be a part of his creation, a cult, where you should have blind faith, ask no questions... A god who wants his creation to follow him out of fear?

    Anyway, god is a dictator. Anyone who dares question his authority gets tortured, anyone who doesn't agree with his rulership gets thrown in the pits of hell... He's a dictator who's good towards his own people, as long as they believe in him, as they follow him.

    So god is the creator of everything, right. This good loving father? Who strikes his children, whom he loves, with famine, hurricanes, floods, diseases... His own children, yes, even the ones who devoted their life to him.

    And why does he do it? Well, that's obvious, he works in mysterious ways, he's god he knows all. Don't question it.

    God commits the sins he hated. But it's ok, don't lead by example, scare them into following you.
    no. this isn't the God described in the Bible. read the bible for yourself...take the time to read and you'll find that's not what it says.

    God's not a dictator. God doesn't send you to hell, punish you for questioning his authority... or whatnot. moses questioned God millions of times... the entire israelites questioned God so many times... God didn't strike them dead... Jonah questioned God even after he saved him from the belly of a fish... and God saved a tree for him to shade him from the heat of the sun...

    i can understand where you're coming from but this is an entire misconception that most unbelievers argue against. it's really not an argument for me... i could explain this but there's so much reading involved.
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    Collin wrote:
    You know, when I look at some kids playing with their toys, you can really see the sadistic side of god shine in them.
    no... you see the sinful heredity that was passed on from adam and eve.
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • Collin
    Collin Posts: 4,931
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    no... you see the sinful heredity that was passed on from adam and eve.

    Genesis 1:27
    So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

    Nahum 1:2

    God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

    ?
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


    naděje umírá poslední
  • Collin
    Collin Posts: 4,931
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    no. this isn't the God described in the Bible. read the bible for yourself...take the time to read and you'll find that's not what it says.

    I have read the bible.

    God is a dictator.

    edit: Tell me, will I go to hell, according to you? I don't believe god exists, if he exists I think he's the biggest fuck up in the universe, a sadistic dictator and an extreme asshole, and I don't believe Jesus was his son, I'm not even sure Jesus existed anymore.

    Hell = suffering for eternity, he's sending me there because I don't believe in him.

    God puts the dick in dictator.
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


    naděje umírá poslední
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    Collin wrote:
    Genesis 1:27
    So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

    Nahum 1:2

    God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

    ?
    i think you confuse me more than the bible ;)

    what do these scriptures have in relation with what you see in children, especially the second one?

    "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • gue_barium
    gue_barium Posts: 5,515
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    no... you see the sinful heredity that was passed on from adam and eve.


    passed on through genetics?
    all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
    except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
  • Collin
    Collin Posts: 4,931
    deadnothingbetter wrote:
    i think you confuse me more than the bible ;)

    what do these scriptures have in relation with what you see in children, especially the second one?

    "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23

    God is a vengeful, sadistic, jealous god. He created man in his image, people are vengeful, sadistic, jealous ...?
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


    naděje umírá poslední
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    Collin wrote:
    I have read the bible.
    read it again, this time try to understand it's point of view. start with the epistles of paul... romans particularly... then read his others and look for parallel scriptures... then refer back to the old testament. all this, mind you, while revolving around what you read in the gospels - the focal point.

    are you going to hell? that's a question you should ask yourself...

    but if you want to insist and say, "well, hey i'm never going to believe in God even if i'm dying so might as well get it out of the way.... will i be going to hell then after i die?" well, i hate to be mr. obvious but i think we both know the scriptures well enough to know what the Bible says about that.
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
  • deadnothingbetter
    deadnothingbetter Posts: 2,202
    gue_barium wrote:
    passed on through genetics?
    yes
    This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.

Categories