Do you believe in God?
 

I do. Definitely. Without Him, I couldn't have made it this far. I was raised Christian yet I don't attend church any longer. I still have my faith.

Completely.
I do not, however, believe in Religion.

Absolutely, but I view religions as many ways to the same end.

Gave up on imaginary friends when I turned four.

I believe in God. I also believe in Jesus, and most of the christian belief. However.... Being raised southern baptist, religion..... Not so much.

At my grumpy age I'm sceptical of nearly everything, but my sympathies lie with the pagans.

I'm pretty Gnostic in my beliefs. I believe in wisdom over chaos and that the image of God has done a lot of harm to mankind and cannot be God.

You mean Lemmy? Well, of course!

On a more serious note, I don't. I have no real spirituality, unless you consider forms of humanism religion. I draw my faith from the things we create, the beauty of the art we manifest from our brains and the scientific breakthroughs we have.

I used to be a big douche to people with faith, simply because like a lot of those who believe can't understand my non-belief, I couldn't understand theirs. I've since become friends with a lot of intelligent religious folk who've really helped me warm up to the culture. It's still not for me, but I can see where you come from now. It's the same with atheists/agnostics as it is with all religious sects. Every group seems to have a handful of asshats that somehow get media exposure and make the rest of us look bad.

At the end of my religion bashing phase I was drinking with a buddy, and we arrived at the discussion of religion. When I asked him why he believed in a god, he simply replied, "because it feels good." That, to this day, is still my personal favorite explanation. I'll take it.

Religion has been the single biggest cause of differences between fellow human beings.

So yeah, my belief is limited.

Agnostic..................

There is no God and if there is,he hates us all.

No just you. :)


JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING JUST KIDDING

Yes I do

Good I hate him to.

I understand where you're coming from. I just asked if you believe in God. I wasn't referring to a specific religion. But I have to disagree. Religion isn't the single cause of disagreements with others. What about politics, war, the evolution theory, racism, etc.? The Big Bang theory? I can probably come up with other subjects but I think these are enough to start on. I don't remember who it was but someone mentioned that it was easier to believe in God. Is it easier NOT to believe in a higher power?

If anyone feels uncomfortable with this topic of discussion, I will understand.

You betcha

Not agreeing is the biggest reason for people disagreeing. i know it sounds stupid, but that is what it is: people dont agree on things. There is the desire to believe certain things that we all hold onto with a death grip, and then there are preconcieved notions that we either develope or are taught.

I did a double take on your post because I misread what you were responding to and thought you were saying that the big bang theory and evolution were causing wars. Obviously you werent. :)

And it isnt easy to believe in a higher power. I have been attacked and generally gotten a lot fo shit for not just agreeing with people on this. A lot of people get pissed if you dont just agree with their viewpoint, and I think what people were getting at with saying religion is the cause of disagreements is that there have been some vicious wars and horrific acts done in the name of religion. Granted, they are perpetrated by the vocal few, but xenophobia doesnt require a lot of fuel, and most major religions at some point in their history have openly embraced an "us vs them" philosophy.

Sadly, a lot of athiests have taken the offensive and made their kind look like a bunch of zealous douchebags themselves. Granted there are a ton of religions that never did nothin' to nobody, but I think budism is the only "Major world religion" that didnt get that way by spilling a ton of blood along the way.

He didn't say the single cause, he said single biggest cause.


And to answer the question, yes I do.

thats because buddhism isn't really a religion in the sense that you mean.

I think I know what you are saying. You dont have to be exclusively buddhist, right? Like you are either christian or muslim, but you can be a muslim AND practice buddhism as well, right? Its more of a spiritual philosophy than a religion.

I think "Dogma" expresses my view on beliefs the best:

"Humanity took a good idea and, like always, built a belief structure on it...
I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier. Life should malleable and progressive; working from idea to idea permits that. Beliefs anchor you to certain points and limit growth; new ideas can't generate. Life becomes stagnant."

I enjoy learning about other religions and their beliefs, but I don't embrace any single one. I do like to think their is a God out there though, and an afterlife. It makes me happier to think so.

exactly...

and pretty much impossible to follow 100%

i think it's possible to be interested in buddhism and strive to follow some of what it attempts to teach .. but i laugh when people say they are buddhists ...

So would the Buddha, who basically stated himself that he was not to be worshipped and that Buddhism was only a means of philosophical conveyance.

but like any form of belief ...people got involved, made rules for it and fucked it up - just like anything else that was started with good intentions.

......oops

God no but BOB yes!!!

http://content.answers.com/main/cont...7/Bobdobbs.jpg

I believe in God.

What i found disturbing was when i discovered there were militant buddhist cults. What the hell is that? Apparently the nerve gas attack in japan in the 90s was by a buddhist cult...

I mean, performing atrocities to get into heaven is pretty stupid, but doing it for inner peace? What?!

God, huh?

Which one?

I think they are referring to the Judeo-Christian God.


Its funny calling your Deity "God" is like calling Earth "Planet" or the US as "Country", its ridiculously exclusionary.

Simple answer to your question which leaves nothing open for discussion.



I think he's possible.

He? That right there opens up a rather interesting question. Don't you think a supreme being would be a little bit past gender labels?

And if you are going to use gender labels, why would anyone consider God to be anything but female?

Sure there are those silly illustrations of an old man with a white beard, but that is clearly just a personification based on a purely patriarchal system. If God is the creater who birthed the universe and all of existence, wouldn't a female personification be more apt?

why would it be a gender at all ?

that would suggest that god could have a mate - sexual reproductive organs ?

i dont think god was ever a baby...

agreed, just stirring the pot a little

see, it always comes back to weed with you guys ...


... writers ...

weed?


that's a great idea:D

Several reasons for my referring to God as a male.

1. The title of this thread suggests that it is meaning the Christian god, God. Not all types of god.

2. Because of this, and the fact the God is always referred to as a he in typical protestant and Catholic Christianity.

3. Well, they say God got Mary up the duff so, well. How many women can do that? But then, I suppose it is GOD

try Tarvu --a far more apealing deity to worship
http://tarvu.com/

I understand. No one likes to have anything thrown in his or her face. I don't try to change anyone but at the same time, I will not change my opinion. ;) And I don't judge anyone. God is the only one who can judge and I also believe God is a male spirit. Have any of you heard the Lord's prayer? "Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name...."

This is just MY opinion...I don't want this thread to start a heated debate.

:p

Sure, lets throw abortion, gun control, veganism and rape into the mix and keep it nice and chill :D :p