Do you believe in God?

[Rikki]

"Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace"


I find religion facinating but No, I don't believe in anything except The strange force around is called life .

And what a beautiful and mysterious force it is.

[sonofthemanse]

Son of the manse where does your certainty come from? To tell everyone person on the planet, most whom you do not know, that they do not deserve a relationship with their creator, that they deserve to be punished in hell for being bad people?

Flawed we may be but that is acceptable and ok. For those who do good in life for themselves and others - how would they feel to then be told what you have just told us? Indeed, to share such judgemental, destructive and damning words with anyone, is that not in itself the "bad" of which you speak?

I do not see the beauty in that.

Personally speaking I'm not certain if God exists or not - I wish I knew. I did have a faith once but that sort of collapsed a bit. I'm just giving the official line.
If you want the theology, Adam was the first man. He disobeyed God (i.e. sinned - all this taking the fruit business) and so because we're all supposedly descended from Adam we are now a fallen race. Whether we are really good people or not, we are all born with a bit of sin in us - the Catholic Church calls this 'original sin'. So because God can't stand sin we can't get to heaven on our own by doing good or being good, but need Christ's help to take away that sin. The beauty is that God's intense love for mankind dramatically overshadows the fact that we don't deserve it.

This is a bad analogy, but in the UK we have bankers who make a mess of their banks then get huge bonuses. They don't deserve their bonuses; plain and simple. But the bankers must think this is brilliant getting something they don't deserve. (The difference is that bankers shouldn't get it because money is tight at the moment, whereas we should get God's love because it's infinite & will never run dry.) Hope that makes things a bit clearer!

[azulai]

I think people believe in a higher power because they are scared. It gives comfort and answers difficult questions like what happens after death? Or why are we here? How do you tell the parent of a child that has just died that his life is over? You make elaborate explanations that the parent will see that child again, in the next life. You offer the parent hope.

In the same way children believe their security blanket will keep them safe, the idea of a 'god' gives people a structure and guidance to live their life, rather than ponder these frightening questions. We want to cling to our lives. We don't want it to be over.

Basically, religion, and thus 'god' was invented when some people realized they could use this fear of nature and manipulate others with it to their own benefit. How do you control the poor to do your bidding? You develop a system of rewards to control them. People feel secure when they have an answer, a structure. You tell them there will be great reward in the next life. Your life may be shitty here and now, but the afterlife will be your reward. You make promises and give them hope.

It's much easier than focusing on the now. It's much easier than focusing on this life. It's much easier to say it's "god's plan."

Many religious groups target people with substance abuse problems, and other anti-social behaviors under the guise of "salvation." They then substitute one addiction for another. It's very sad that some cannot find meaning in their day to day life. They still need their imaginary friend to talk to, to comfort them, to make them feel secure. To give them hope. It's much easier than growing the fuck up and taking responsibility.

I feel great sympathy for the LGBT caught in the web of religion. It is difficult to overcome the superstition. It's difficult to let go what has been ingrained in your head and break free.

But, damn take it from me how peaceful and freeing it is when you do. It's very freeing when you are not scared but live by the dictates of your heart and mind. You know wrong from right. Just live your life accordingly with love, compassion and kindness. You do something because it's the right thing to do, not for any reward or promise.

People can cherry pick that book, the Bible, and make themselves feel better, it gives them answers, it gives them hope. They totally disregard the killing of people in that book, the rape in that book, the slavery in that book. It makes it easier to disregard the killing of innocent people in the name of religion today, any day.

That book makes it much easier to justify why you are bullied and treated like shit as LGBT, because after all it's says so in that book (btw you're actually suppose to be killed according to that book). You can live your life of guilt that you are unworthy, a "sinner," and reinforce that you should serve and support your heterosexual masters.

How dare you think you deserve a happy and fulfilling life!?! How dare you think you have a brain and a heart and deserve to be loved equally!?! Who the fuck do you think you are? How dare you think you have the same dignity as a heterosexual? God frowns on your "behavior." Please, know your place and keep yourself subservient.

[East]

I don't disagree with you Jake but do remember that a belief in God or a higher power does not have to include the Bible or anything motivated by fear.

I beleive "God" is love...a feeling versus a person or a thing....I don't define God because I don't need to...I can feel God and that is good enough for memile:....

[Runner67]

Absolutely not.

[Firesoul23]

I consider myself spiritual meaning, that I believe in the collective human spirit, and in miracle occurances, and psychic activity. but the concept that an almighty god watching over us who is entirely good, that's been proven false for me time and time again. Because if there truly was god who was good, things like 9/11 and the recent theatre shooting would never occur, because a true god who loved his people would be able to prevent these things.

[Rainbowmum]

Absolutely do.

[WaltHitman]

Thank God I am native oriented that way even tho I'm only a half breed because a lot of that freaked me out ha ha
Where I live we believe that God has writen you and placed in you wondrous things and that the best of you is the God singing out. Pretty sure the bible says that too, old and new testament. Jews say look if "scripture confirms scripture" so I guess Jeremiah 31:31 and that is the covenant Jesus died for but I'd have to search the passage and it is the same words so it will be easy.
I guess easy for me to say too, I live in the middle of an oak forest on top of a mountain lol! It's a typically easy place to be in a good place and the bad is something that happens to someone in the forest or to us all species agree on that.

[WaltHitman]

I think we wish he was always with us in our stuff but I don't think that because bad things happen there is no God and I am not sure what to blame and not blame him for because I don't know anything the way it would look from that place. I agree with everything FireSoul said except the end which I am somewhat less certain of......But a name like FireSoul implies divinity ha ha and it's a good one. Bet you are too! I love the most your top list had the interconnection of the living and "inexplicable physical phenomenon" sweet!

[monk]

Absolutely do.

Please put this down to my ignorance, but I thought the whole point of paganism was that they didn't believe in God? :confused: