Do you believe in God?

[millyowner]

I was raised southern baptist throughout my childhood. It didn't take long for me to see through the many logical fallacies and rhetoric of it all and came to form my own opinions on religious matters.

I can respect someone who is christian...to me, it's just a philisophical belief system that, for many, improves their outlook on life and their feelings on death. My only gripe is that many christians can't seem to reciprocate the same respect to those with differing beliefs.

I would imagine many christians would be upset if athiests groups came door to door to educate the masses on the non-existence of God, yet when athiests get christianity crammed down their throat, christians feel they should have nothing to complain about since, in their eyes, they are doing the athiest a favor by saving their soul from eternal damnation. It's called witnessing and all christians are programmed to "spread the word" whenever possible, or possibly relinquish their position in heaven if God thinks you're not doing a good enough job.

Interestingly, the following graph plots the correlation between IQ and those with strong religious beliefs. Not surprisingly, those with higher IQs typically hold religious beliefs less important. There are other variables to take into account which may make this data moot, but it is statistically significant nonetheless.

[Duncan]

Originally posted by 95milleniaS@Mar 7 2005, 01:06 PM
I think that there is a higher being, and how you live your life on earth will determine how you will life your after-life as well.* However whatever you call him whether it be God, Ala.. whatever- it is up to you.* I don't think that you going to church every sunday ensures you of going to "heaven", and I don't believe in the bible stories either.* Parting water and building a big boat are just a little too far fetched for me.* Besides, they were passes down for hundreds of years by mouth before being written down, then they were translated into several languages.* There is just no way they are accurate.
These are just my opinions, and I value everyone elses as well.* I have no intention of offending anyone.* ( just so ya know )

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That sums me up pretty well, too. I believe that there is something larger than myself controlling the universe, but I can't envision what it looks like and I wouldn't want to try.

And books? Books like the Bible or the Qu'ran are written by humans as a way of explaining what they don't understand - they are by no means "holy" or "God's word". Personally, I'm not sure if God (or whatever) would even need to use words if it's all-seeing, all-knowing, etc.

I'll probably have more thoughts as this discussion progresses. Carry on...

[Duncan]

Originally posted by MillyOwner@Mar 7 2005, 05:53 PM
I was raised southern baptist throughout my childhood.* It didn't take long for me to see through the many logical fallacies and rhetoric of it all and came to form my own opinions on religious matters.

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Which reminds of my favorite George Carlin quote - "I went to Catholic school, until I reached the age of reason."

[626GrL]

yea millyowner you definately have a point...
Like i am a christian, but i dont feel it is right for a christian to push their religious beliefs on someone else. We are all individuals and should belief in whatever we want to believe, and its unrespectful and an invasion of space when some people take it to the extreme. I see nothing wrong with preaching to other christians or posing your point about why you believe the way you do, but it should go for all people. Everyone has a right to their own personal beliefs and i would think pushing your religion on another would not be the christian thing to do anyway, if it is a christian who is doing it in the first place.

[Milleniahead]

how can it not be?

[///BHRpowered]

Human beings refuse to accept the idealogy that there is not a higher power. It is deeply rooted within the mind from the beginning of time passed down generation to generation for a need to explain. When the rain fell because of nothing, when crops grew, when animals were found, and of course, when lighting struck a tree and created fire it could not be explained. Ironically the egotisical attutide of man to give praise to no one but himself was truely reversed in order to believe.

In slightly more modern terms religion, and god in general was seen as a way of controlling the people. Those who were educated to even the primative standards of the time knew far more the common man and often knew there was no such thing as a god, creator, or provided. In an attempt to achieve further political success a mask of secrecy was erected to force the willing into submission. Why should a ruler enforce taxes, conquer lands to gain slaves to build grand structures, or watch over all children through life to show that the ruler is a divine presence not of this world. To work simplier is to merely advance the concept of a higher power that even the said ruler is subject to. People became more comtempt with general life in hopes of a pomising future after death. In other areas of the world is was seen as a way of suvival, without apleasing the "gods" no food would be provided and all would die, afterwards the idea of damnation is advanced. Quite the catch 22 all because the common man refuses to raise up and seek the truth.

Thankfully with technology and the knowledge that mankind has done everything, nothing being provided many are starting to see, in essence, the true light. We have conquered the world, proven beyond a doubt that there is nothing.

Religion in all its forms is a social decease rotting at the very core of internal existance. The bible was a a childs fairy tale written by drunks and over time simply forgotton and treated as secret. Jesus was nothing more then a mother theresa who could perform simple magic tricks.

Keep in mind jesus was highly educated by the romans but considered a poor man. By bending the minds of the weak and impressionable he achieved free room and board and ultimately had it all backfire.

Peoples unwillingness to believe in themselfs allows them to do nothing yet believe that they are superior because a higher power has granted it to them.

[///BHRpowered]

hmm, I spent to much time on that.

the poorer a person the more they believe because they want something better.

a very rich person, educated or not, does not seek a better life.

this is documented with many casesd of people "finding god" often abused as childrens, or long time whores (but get paid for it)

near death experiance's are a joke, people see a light because its engrained that when you think your dying thats what you suppose to see. if I raised a child and told him that when you think your dieing you will see a drunk clown pissing on a wall, I will bet you the keys to my millenia, thats what they'll see, not the light of god.

basically its a fad that is long over due to retire

[///BHRpowered]

this section is such a bad idea

[Shayaan]

Originally posted by ///BHRpowered@Mar 8 2005, 02:17 PM
this section is such a bad idea

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Well that remains to be seen, but props to you! That is like the smartest thing I've ever heard ya say

[95milleniaS]

Originally posted by ///BHRpowered@Mar 8 2005, 01:08 PM
Human beings refuse to accept the idealogy that there is not a higher power. It is deeply rooted within the mind from the beginning of time passed down generation to generation for a need to explain. When the rain fell because of nothing, when crops grew, when animals were found, and of course, when lighting struck a tree and created fire it could not be explained. Ironically the egotisical attutide of man to give praise to no one but himself was truely reversed in order to believe.

In slightly more modern terms religion, and god in general was seen as a way of controlling the people. Those who were educated to even the primative standards of the time knew far more the common man and often knew there was no such thing as a god, creator, or provided. In an attempt to achieve further political success a mask of secrecy was erected to force the willing into submission. Why should a ruler enforce taxes, conquer lands to gain slaves to build grand structures, or watch over all children through life to show that the ruler is a divine presence not of this world. To work simplier is to merely advance the concept of a higher power that even the said ruler is subject to. People became more comtempt with general life in hopes of a pomising future after death. In other areas of the world is was seen as a way of suvival, without apleasing the "gods" no food would be provided and all would die, afterwards the idea of damnation is advanced. Quite the catch 22 all because the common man refuses to raise up and seek the truth.

Thankfully with technology and the knowledge that mankind has done everything, nothing being provided many are starting to see, in essence, the true light. We have conquered the world, proven beyond a doubt that there is nothing.

Religion in all its forms is a social decease rotting at the very core of internal existance. The bible was a a childs fairy tale written by drunks and over time simply forgotton and treated as secret. Jesus was nothing more then a mother theresa who could perform simple magic tricks.

Keep in mind jesus was highly educated by the romans but considered a poor man. By bending the minds of the weak and impressionable he achieved free room and board and ultimately had it all backfire.

Peoples unwillingness to believe in themselfs allows them to do nothing yet believe that they are superior because a higher power has granted it to them.

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I'm impressed- very well written