Is there a GOD?

[wayneL]

all religions are essentiallly ideological and linguistic viruses which infect people who are vulnerable to accepting easy answers to unanswerable questions.

the church and the bible are manipulative tools for ensuring the flock don't stray too far.

While I think this is true, it doesn't discount the possibility of God/Allah/infinite intelligence/creator/the Force/whatever.

Religion sucks, but I have my reasons for believing in another level of existence.

Cheers

...and please, state your beliefs/positions, but no ridicule.

 

[son of baglimit]

oh cmon tech - a harmless question like this - why not create a real, divisive question like........................

oh yeah this is the divisive one.

divides families, friends, neighbours, workmates, regions, countries - and pretty much everything else.

it creates government policy, laws, wars, and above all, indoctrinates.

I DONT BELIEVE, AND UNTIL THE A-HOLES WHO RUN RELIGIONS CAN COME TO AGREEMENT, I HAVE NO TIME FOR ITS FOLLOWERS EITHER.
ANY RELIGION.

dont like my attitude, get over it - its what free thinking is about.

 

[wayneL]

If I can be a little "tangentle" (thats probably not a word, but I occassionally make my own words up!!), in an attempt to look past the obvious, what prompted the question Tech? ...........

I trust you have not suffered any situation (family/ill health etc) which makes you "question" your "position" in the universe ................

For the record, I think if any person considers humans/him or herself to be the "top of the chain" in respect of evolution/creation or whatever anyone wishes to call it, then that person is a) narrow minded b) narrow minded and c) narrow minded .................

I'm not going to tell you there is a god, cause I can't prove it, and even if I could, those who didn't want to believe there was, wouldn't believe me anyway!! ............. BUT .......... For anyone to discount the possibilty that a higher life form could exist, then they are are simply limiting their possible experiences of what life may be all about .............

I look at the facts ............. Human life exists ............ Life/nature/science etc is so complex that we as humans are still only touching the surface of what we really know ............... For example, It was pointed out to me by a learned "older friend" of mine who reads a great deal on "everything", that science has shown that there are more moving parts in every living human cell than in any man made machine !!! ............. Mind boggling ...........

The question of whether or not we "believe" in God should possibly be replaced with ......... "Have we shut our minds off to the possibilities of our own smallness (insignificance) in the overall scheme of the universe and beyond .................... Are we prepared to keep our minds open to the "truths" of the universe ...............

My perception of God is probably way "left field" , but I too am a victim of my own bias ................. I see my part as a human, is to "learn" to keep my mind open as much as possible ........... that way the learned dogma of my past will not taint the possibility of future truths .................

Enough ranting ................ I'm not normally this serious (bit the opposite!!), but I thought the question from Tech deserved some "serious" comment .....

PS Hows the footy tipping going Tech??

Top post...

I believe Tech is currently reading "The God Delusion" and that is the reason for the thread.

 

[barney]

all religions are essentiallly ideological and linguistic viruses which infect people who are vulnerable to accepting easy answers to unanswerable questions.

the church and the bible are manipulative tools for ensuring the flock don't stray too far.

Hi I,
This may surprise you if you read my above post, but in essence I actually agree with your statement ...................... What Tech asked was Do we believe in God? ................... If we bring in religion and the bible we are assuming a "christian" God .............. We (western society) are conditioned to relate "God" to a christian God only (which is fair enough cause thats what we were brought up with), but, to me, God is simply a "higher more advanced life form than man ................ I mean if we think we/man can have evolved out of nothing from nothing, what is to say that a greater/far more superior life form did not/has not evolved long before we did, somewhere else in the Universe, and that we on earth are no more than an "experiment" in a "test tube" to them (God/Gods) ............... I believe the essence of God whether we are Christian, Buddist, or any whatever, is the same .................. Man has a seemingly inate tendency to "seek God" (Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not ....... Its up to the individual to sort that one out) ............ I think it is just our biased perception of what/who God is that causes most of the arguments/confusion .................. An open mind is essential .............. Lets face it, is the world still flat? ................. What about travelling through time/space at warp speed, or the concept of string theory, relating to multiple dimensions of time/space existing in virtually the same place .......... Is this possible? .............. with an open mind, yes (Scientists are working on the theory already)............... I just like to keep my "options" open ............................ I think I'm getting out of my depth ......... Going to play my wife at scrabble ............ Cheers.

PS Cheers Wayne ................. Maybe we think a similar "language" .............. Pity I can't trade like you can (LOL)

 

[Crafty]

he wore a number 5 geurnsy and ran about in the geelong jumper.

As Rex Hunt would say.... "YAAAAABBBBBBLLLLEEEEETTTTTT"

 

[stargazer]

Hi all

This is some interesting reading

http://whywontgodhealamputees.com

Cheers
SG

 

[Dukey]

Interesting that at present almost 40% went for the full 'No god' option. - Thats higher than I thought. I too voted that way - but I'd like to qualify my position:
I presumed that by 'God' - Tech meant 'Conscious God as found in the Bible'.
I voted No - because I don't believe in that conscious creator-God...

But I am a Pantheist - which is someone who believes that 'Nature' or 'The Universe' are synonymous with 'God'. Many people who think they are atheists turn out to be Pantheists when they consider what it actually is.

Pantheists revere Nature as the driving force behind all of existence.

Other tenets include:
- Pantheist Nature/god - is not a conscious entity, who makes decisions and judgements about the world or 'good and evil'. Instead it can be seen as the laws of physics//chemistry/biology etc - working over aeons of time.

- All Things are One Thing (this is the ZEN bit). Everything is a part of this Nature-God and Nature-God IS everything. Including all people and living things - in fact everything in existence. AND all of it is sacred.

- NO church necessary - Just the majesty and wonder of Nature.

- Famous Pantheists include Einstein, Gorbachev, Sagan, Steven Hawkings, Sitting Bull, SPinoza of course and many others.

Quote from Albert Einstein: A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious attitude; in this sense, and this alone, I am a deeply religious man.

Anyway - thats where I'm at. I see no need to believe in the fear mongering biblical god - And totally agree that that Biblical god was made in mans image - not the other way round.
Pantheism.net

​

..... so hows that for freaky...??????????? Any takers ?????????

​

 

[Wysiwyg]

..... so hows that for freaky...??????????? Any takers ?????????

Your words are many but you say very little.My words of explanation are foolish.

Letters become words, words become thoughts, thoughts are passed from one to another.This will go on forever.

 

[Julia]

Well, Tech, your choice of literature has clearly prompted this so difficult question.
Then, as I write that, I know that for many it's not a difficult question at all: they simply believe in a God, end of story.
I've seen many of these believers find immense comfort in that belief and trust during difficult times, but similarly seen other believers reduced to confusion and questioning when life's events turn against them.

I have a total loathing of all religion, i.e. the rituals and dogma which are used to control populations. Voltaire said "If God did not exist, man would have to invent him". I'm with Voltaire here. The worst religions are those which preach the existence of hell and suggest unless one takes up with their particular God (and it's theirs alone of course) the fires of hell will be one's fate.

I like Dukey's thoughts on Pantheism. This pretty much sums up how I feel.
I am at times in total awe of the precision and beauty of nature, perhaps just walking on the beach watching the regularity of the tides coming in and going out every day.

Devotees of religion often say that this is the only basis for living a moral and ethical life. I totally reject that. They are standing on pretty damn shaky ground given the level of sexual and other abuse which has for so long existed amongst the clergy of all religions.

I respect absolutely the right of those who want to believe in a God, whatever they conceive him, she, or it to be. It just doesn't make much sense to me.

Another question might be "do you believe in a spiritual existence after the death of the human body"? I have known a number of people who reject religion and the idea of a God, but nonetheless believe in a spiritual level of being. I am agnostic about this but do find it interesting. It might be nothing more than a mechanism to make death more acceptable.

Thanks, Tech, for the thought provoking thread.

 

[Dukey]

Your words are many but you say very little.My words of explanation are foolish.

Letters become words, words become thoughts, thoughts are passed from one to another.This will go on forever.

??????????????????????
With all due respect ... just WTF are you talking about here???? Whats your point? I agreed with you at least in part anyway??? But - If I had any idea of exactly what you were trying to say WYSIWIG - then I might be able to have some decent kind of discussion with you - as it is ... I'l let it ride...
--------------------

Julia - I'm with you all the way - nice thoughtful post.

 

[FinalFantasy]

all religions are essentiallly ideological and linguistic viruses which infect people who are vulnerable to accepting easy answers to unanswerable questions.

the church and the bible are manipulative tools for ensuring the flock don't stray too far.

wow I like that, well said!

 

[>Apocalypto<]

I believe Jesus had a vision of how we could all live with each other in a better way. I value his message.

Then the Europeans got a hold of it and turned it into a way to control the masses.

I also beleive Jesus would have been shocked at what we did with his teachings

I belive in being good to one another and not juding on race or religion.

The only God I fear and respect is the market!

 

[lesm]

Why not throw Darwin's 'Theory of Evolution' into the mix, appears to be more plausible.

 

[krisbarry]

Going by the stats in this survey it would appear that believing in God and trading on the market are polls apart

How dare you believe in god and make squillions

For someone to gain wealth in the market, someone has to lose, maybe thats why we have so few that believe in God

By the way I don't believe there is a God, but I am sure we have all prayed to a God for that winning trade...

 

[tech/a]

A fascinating diverse subject,and yes Wayne is correct and I agree with most written here,although some would see my replies as contradictory to some.

I will post my thoughts on the topic when I can devote the time necessary to give a more complete veiw,as it is easy to pigeon hole a veiw in a small amount of text.

I guess my question is more along Julia's lines of the confrontation of Mortality,rather than the Existance of a Creator.

But just quickly on the subject of belief.----A little favorite which doesnt reflect my views entirely but can be appropriate.

"One person suffering from delusion is seen as insane.
A great number of people suffering from delusion---a religion."

 

[bingk6]

all religions are essentiallly ideological and linguistic viruses which infect people who are vulnerable to accepting easy answers to unanswerable questions.

the church and the bible are manipulative tools for ensuring the flock don't stray too far.

Very Very Very True!!!!!

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Going by the stats in this survey it would appear that believing in God and trading on the market are polls apart

How dare you believe in god and make squillions

For someone to gain wealth in the market, someone has to lose, maybe thats why we have so few that believe in God

By the way I don't believe there is a God, but I am sure we have all prayed to a God for that winning trade...

Very well said

It appears the bell curve of answers is skewed towards the heathens at present.

It would be interesting to run it in a bear market.

Enclosed is a chart of god superimposed on a monthly chart of the XAO

Garpal

 

[3 veiws of a secret]

Todd Rundgren wrote a song about God. He named all the Gods he could remember ,and finished off but saying " Will the real God please stand up" . With all my travels I've always noticed ...poorer the country ,stronger beliefs in a God ,richer the country ,then not so much.

 

[Gundini]

Whether there is a God or not I can't be certain, but for the first 7 years of my life I thought I was "Jesus Christ"

Every time I drew on the wall will crayons, or tipped my dinner on ther floor, my Father would come in and say....

"Jesus Christ, what the ---- do you think you are doing?"

 

[The Mint Man]

I dont realy think there is a 'God' considering some of the things that go on in the world!!! Also some of his 'followers' actions leave much to be desired.
Having said that, I dont know if there is a 'God' but I do believe that we are not the only life in the universe, so based on that I had to say God's existance is equally probable and improbable