Do you believe in God?

[Corsac]

I personally don't believe in God, I've never had anything to support the notion that God exists. However, I won't judge those that do believe in God just as long as they don't try and force their beliefs upon me.

I think Jay brings up a strong point about God having compassion though.

[smartdevil333]

No. I am a 'militant' (which means I like to argue. Militant indeed !) atheist.

[Kiid]

In my own way. But it's my own religion for me. And it consists of being nice to people and not being rude

[Rae]

Nope
Well, sorta
If there is any form of God, cool!
If there isn't, cool!
I've been looking into the Wicca religion and I'm really liking it!
I much prefer the idea of many gods and godesses sharing the power and not one big, egotistic God that claims that if you don't love and accept him then you're going to hell and be tortured for all of eternity (guess what I hear a lot!)
My response of course is "Cool! I love warm places! 8D Fire and brimstone sounds comfy! Might get a condo next to the sea of lava! ^u^ Maybe become BFFs with Satan! Oh! Maybe I'll see my grandma! Aw, let's face it! I WILL see my grandma!"

I am really tolerant of others beliefs.
Well, until they get stupid or impose on others.
For example, a friend of mine doesn't believe in dinosaurs. Why? Because her church says the earth is only a few thousand years old. AUGH!!! I was walking into the room when I heard her say that to someone else. I walked right out, shaking my head and losing a lot of respect for her. She's also going to school to be a teacher. I'm thinking I'm gonna homeschool my future children...
The imposing part is obvious. If not, well...watch The Most Hated Family in America! XD lol I watched about a minute of it before I had to turn it off...

Okay, I have a lot more I can say on the subject of religion, but my wrist is hurting from typing so much (and drawing and writing and math from earlier today) so I should go and find my wrist brace...
But I'm sure you all get my point :3

[brituc1]

The wizard in the clouds? Nope, notta believer. If I spot a burning bush or a guy walking on water, I might change my mind.

[Lilitu]

I was listening to the song 'laughing with' by Regina Spektor, and I think she's quite right in that, people have a very very strong tendency to look to higher up divine powers or even Fate in times of crisis even when they've spurned God or divine matters their whole life. It's sort of like a final net to catch you emotionally when everything else breaks.
I don't know whether that's human nature or a developed pattern due to cultural surroundings, but it is interesting that many people will do that. The other option would be to lose all hope.

[Pix]

I was listening to the song 'laughing with' by Regina Spektor, and I think she's quite right in that, people have a very very strong tendency to look to higher up divine powers or even Fate in times of crisis even when they've spurned God or divine matters their whole life. It's sort of like a final net to catch you emotionally when everything else breaks.
I don't know whether that's human nature or a developed pattern due to cultural surroundings, but it is interesting that many people will do that. The other option would be to lose all hope.

It would be the opposite for me. I find the idea of some all powerful deity with a will of its own greater than any human will to be creepy at best and easily terrifying (like that little boy in It's a Good Life). As one person said he didn't know if there was a God but it would be better for His reputation if He didn't exist.

As an example, I was once a prisoner and I think if I hadn't escaped I would've died. Had I thought it was God's will that I be captured and tortured I'd have known despair, not hope. Luckily, I didn't see it as my fate or God's will so I didn't give up as I might've and as a result of not believing in God I escaped...believing God made it happened or at least depended on God's caprice would've robbed me of hope not enhanced it. Or perhaps at the very least I'd have lost my window of opportunity to escape because I wasted time praying to a god to rescue me (which wouldn't have been the least bit helpful) instead of slowly freeing myself (which took hours).

And I've heard and read about children who believed in God whose lives were disrupted by extreme trauma or abuse (when it wasn't normal for them) and their belief was that they must've been so bad that God would do that to them (or at least let it happen), so I know I'm not the only one who considers the disturbing implications of such a belief in a world that can be as horrifying as this one (sometimes in the name of God at that).

[Roman]

Im catholic but I dont practice it.

[Zet]

Oh wops wrong thread lol :biggrin:

[Zennyboy]

So many people ask me this is actually unbelievable. Its normally asked when they hear about the case study i took upon myself to do, when i researched religions and read the holy books of earth.

Certain things in my conclusion tends to rub people up the wrong way as well.

My answer to this question, i believe that a centre of creation does exist, but i do not label it god, because the word god strike fears into the heart of even the most bravest of souls. Religion is a preech of fear, do this or you will suffer forever.

This preech was created by man, and only man has the ability to control fear, because in the books, god wants love and not fear.

When studying the holy books, you will notice there is common factors, one is each book states a creation aspect, AKA god, a single god, then some religions say there are others gods, but there is always one to rule over others, and that is the creator.

Another common factor is disciples, each religion has men that were marked as messengers. If god was so supreme and all knowing, why did he convey message to humanity for all time through the use of men when he knew himself that man was flawed.

I believe there is a source of creation, but i dont think its supreme or all knowing, for all we know has no level of intelligence or else it would of foreseen its teachings corrupted over time and the beliterial takes some religion nut jobs have taken.

I do believe humanity cannot survive without religion, and so plays a major aspect to all our lives, however religion brought a valuable thing to humanity and that is faith.

Without faith we would disapair at existence, we would not look to the future, we would not make plans, we could not better ourselves.

Faith also gave birth to law and order, without law and order we would of destroyed the planet and ourselves along with it a long time ago.

Faith gave us the taboos of right and wrong, being gay is not a violation to these taboo's, even gay people know right from wrong, wake up churches of the world.

People need to step back, look at whats been slapping them in the face this whole time and stop being niave.

If god does exist, then he wants love, not fear, and he has the right to judge, not some humans that think they know god, because in every holy book, we are unable to comprehend gods thoughts or ways.

So realistically live life how you want to live life, and not how someone else tells you. Religion is a guide, not a law book. And have faith, listen to your heart and you do know deep down, what is right and whats wrong, no one needs to tell you these things!