Fear keeps people believingOriginally Posted by jimmybeanz
I don't want to say that God is evil (don't want to take the chance of getting hit by lightning), but (depending on the day you catch me) I do believe he's arbitrary. People suffer regardless of whether they believe in him or not.
Mycoldyourdone wrote:
tldr that FWD:
well not really, i got to about 3/5ths of it
i knew i shouldnt havent read it when i saw the uppercase gods lol
just cause a story makes you feel good doesnt mean its true
I agree with your logic and rational thinking (throughout the thread). However, I freely admit that my belief in God is more so faith based than logical. I believe there is a God because I think that it's egotistical to believe that I'm the highest level of the food chain throughout the universe. There's no empirical evidence either way, so no harm no foul.Originally Posted by sillyputty
Fear keeps people believingOriginally Posted by jimmybeanz
I don't want to say that God is evil (don't want to take the chance of getting hit by lightning), but (depending on the day you catch me) I do believe he's arbitrary. People suffer regardless of whether they believe in him or not.
You don't believe in a god because you LOVE it...you believe because you're scared to piss what you THINK exists off. Sounds like a victim to me as opposed to someone who speaks freely.
Yet you know nothing about this "god" concept makes any sense...why don't you just stop lying to yourself?
Look, admitting to yourself that there is no god kinda is one of the hardest things many of you will have to do because you have to basically ignore the indoctrination you've been forced into from before you were old enough to rationally think for yourself.
You've been taught this so long that you don't know any other alternative. You just assume its true and never took the time to actually look at what you think you know.
Step back and start to ask yourself questions and if the answers frighten you, don't be scared. Just be confident that the answers you've arrived at were not to scare you but rather they made sense.
Just because your parents/guardians told you these things doesn't make them true. They want the best for you and thought religion would help...but the older you get the more conflicted it makes you when you have to deal with tough ethical questions.
Its time to grow up.
Once again. You know none of this makes sense yet you cling to it...Are you scared? Does uncertainty make you feel anxious? Why?
I agree with your logic and rational thinking (throughout the thread). However, I freely admit that my belief in God is more so faith based than logical. I believe there is a God because I think that it's egotistical to believe that I'm the highest level of the food chain throughout the universe. There's no empirical evidence either way, so no harm no foul.Originally Posted by jimmybeanz
Fear keeps people believingOriginally Posted by sillyputty
jimmybeanz wrote:
I don't want to say that God is evil (don't want to take the chance of getting hit by lightning), but (depending on the day you catch me) I do believe he's arbitrary. People suffer regardless of whether they believe in him or not.
You don't believe in a god because you LOVE it...you believe because you're scared to piss what you THINK exists off. Sounds like a victim to me as opposed to someone who speaks freely.
Yet you know nothing about this "god" concept makes any sense...why don't you just stop lying to yourself?
Look, admitting to yourself that there is no god kinda is one of the hardest things many of you will have to do because you have to basically ignore the indoctrination you've been forced into from before you were old enough to rationally think for yourself.
You've been taught this so long that you don't know any other alternative. You just assume its true and never took the time to actually look at what you think you know.
Step back and start to ask yourself questions and if the answers frighten you, don't be scared. Just be confident that the answers you've arrived at were not to scare you but rather they made sense.
Just because your parents/guardians told you these things doesn't make them true. They want the best for you and thought religion would help...but the older you get the more conflicted it makes you when you have to deal with tough ethical questions.
Its time to grow up.
Once again. You know none of this makes sense yet you cling to it...Are you scared? Does uncertainty make you feel anxious? Why?
I conceded the logic (as well as my appreciation) of all your points, acknowledged my failures/contradictions, yet you come back with this??? Simply put, it's my choice to believe what I want. Not yours, thanks. Not to mention your b.s. comment about whites being better than everyone else. YOU are the extremist here. You aren't any better than the Christian proselytizers. You're trying to convert me to you way of thinking, regardless of what's said. You and that GP whatever his SN is deserve each other.Originally Posted by sillyputty
I believe white people are better than blacks (like me), asians, and hispanics.Originally Posted by jimmybeanz
I agree with your logic and rational thinking (throughout the thread). However, I freely admit that my belief in God is more so faith based than logical. I believe there is a God because I think that it's egotistical to believe that I'm the highest level of the food chain throughout the universe. There's no empirical evidence either way, so no harm no foul.What my parents believed doesn't play a big part in my thoughts, as my mother is Christian, my father is somewhat ambiguous, and I lean towards Islam. One of the biggest problems I have with Christianity is people that pray and wait for God to resolve all their problems. I believe in praying AND working to resolve my own damn problems.
Having said all of that, I don't believe it's my job to convert other people, nor do I want other people trying to convert me. To me God either speaks to/motivates people individually/personally or not. If believers accept that God is all powerful, they should also accept that he doesn't need a 3rd party to intercede on his behalf.
I have faith in that.
Does that make it more of a valid or logical thought?
There is no "supreme" entity at the top of the food chain. Its a relative term used to convey the idea...I actually hate that we still use this term...it confuses people.
Do you want to know where you are in the food chain? Go chill on the African plains and make it through the night. Go swim across the pacific.
Thats where you are in the "food chain"
This is just utterly false. We are not the "top" of any food chain. There are hundreds of animals with skills and traits that we can't even fathom that makes them far better suited to live then anything we could ever imagine.
People always want to make these extreme comments. Just stop that. Just accept that you are an entity and the result of complex chemistry that we can only explain to a certain degree...AT THIS POINT... we are still trying to answer more questions but imposing "belief" hinders our progress.
Well duh. Again. You KNOW THIS and yet you cling to your antiquated beliefs. If you can't prove something then you're free to follow or believe ANYTHING no matter how bad the justification is.
Yes, proof matters. You can't overlook this.
If we don't know something its just that...we do not know it...it doesn't do us any justice to make stuff up just because its "comforting"
Again, while you claim your parents don't influence your religious beliefs do you not realize that even then your experience with religion depends on what you've been exposed to?
Why islam?
Why not hinduism? Or Roman gods? Or Norse gods? Or ancient african gods?
This is my point. You were INFLUENCED to adopt that stance.
How many times will you contradict yourself? You know that praying makes no sense...but you keep doing it! ... Habits are hard to break, huh?
Why pray if you still have to bust your tail and work hard? You still have to study, sweat, and hustle. Prayer doesn't make that any easier.
You can say "this is what I do"...but what of anything that you are doing actually changes things? Prayer? or that fact you got up early and stayed up late to get work done? Day in and out.
You tell me. And be honest.
No one is trying to do that.
I'm just asking questions.
"If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia" -- THOMAS SZASZ
Well if this is true and if they also think god is all knowing, why do they pray to it?
On top of that, why pray in the first place? Do you think you could change the mind of an all knowing and all powerful being by calling in "favors" through the form of prayers?
Originally Posted by jimmybeanz
I conceded the logic (as well as my appreciation) of all your points, acknowledged my failures/contradictions, yet you come back with this??? Simply put, it's my choice to believe what I want. Not yours, thanks. Not to mention your b.s. comment about whites being better than everyone else. YOU are the extremist here. You aren't any better than the Christian proselytizers. You're trying to convert me to you way of thinking, regardless of what's said. You and that GP whatever his SN is deserve each other.Originally Posted by sillyputty
I believe white people are better than blacks (like me), asians, and hispanics.Originally Posted by jimmybeanz
I agree with your logic and rational thinking (throughout the thread). However, I freely admit that my belief in God is more so faith based than logical. I believe there is a God because I think that it's egotistical to believe that I'm the highest level of the food chain throughout the universe. There's no empirical evidence either way, so no harm no foul.What my parents believed doesn't play a big part in my thoughts, as my mother is Christian, my father is somewhat ambiguous, and I lean towards Islam. One of the biggest problems I have with Christianity is people that pray and wait for God to resolve all their problems. I believe in praying AND working to resolve my own damn problems.
Having said all of that, I don't believe it's my job to convert other people, nor do I want other people trying to convert me. To me God either speaks to/motivates people individually/personally or not. If believers accept that God is all powerful, they should also accept that he doesn't need a 3rd party to intercede on his behalf.
I have faith in that.
Does that make it more of a valid or logical thought?
There is no "supreme" entity at the top of the food chain. Its a relative term used to convey the idea...I actually hate that we still use this term...it confuses people.
Do you want to know where you are in the food chain? Go chill on the African plains and make it through the night. Go swim across the pacific.
Thats where you are in the "food chain"
This is just utterly false. We are not the "top" of any food chain. There are hundreds of animals with skills and traits that we can't even fathom that makes them far better suited to live then anything we could ever imagine.
People always want to make these extreme comments. Just stop that. Just accept that you are an entity and the result of complex chemistry that we can only explain to a certain degree...AT THIS POINT... we are still trying to answer more questions but imposing "belief" hinders our progress.
Well duh. Again. You KNOW THIS and yet you cling to your antiquated beliefs. If you can't prove something then you're free to follow or believe ANYTHING no matter how bad the justification is.
Yes, proof matters. You can't overlook this.
If we don't know something its just that...we do not know it...it doesn't do us any justice to make stuff up just because its "comforting"
Again, while you claim your parents don't influence your religious beliefs do you not realize that even then your experience with religion depends on what you've been exposed to?
Why islam?
Why not hinduism? Or Roman gods? Or Norse gods? Or ancient african gods?
This is my point. You were INFLUENCED to adopt that stance.
How many times will you contradict yourself? You know that praying makes no sense...but you keep doing it! ... Habits are hard to break, huh?
Why pray if you still have to bust your tail and work hard? You still have to study, sweat, and hustle. Prayer doesn't make that any easier.
You can say "this is what I do"...but what of anything that you are doing actually changes things? Prayer? or that fact you got up early and stayed up late to get work done? Day in and out.
You tell me. And be honest.
No one is trying to do that.
I'm just asking questions.
"If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia" -- THOMAS SZASZ
Well if this is true and if they also think god is all knowing, why do they pray to it?
On top of that, why pray in the first place? Do you think you could change the mind of an all knowing and all powerful being by calling in "favors" through the form of prayers?
A god that knows everything gives people free choice?
I thought this was basic astronomy. To other planets not in our solar system, our sun appears to be yet another star in the distance.
There are realms that already pre-existed in the Bible before physical creation manifested. I.e. Eternal and everlasting heaven.Originally Posted by wren32
So let me get this straight... "God" created the rest of the universe before earth and then suddenly decided to make earth and our sun at a different time? Doubtful
