T
The Real McCoy
Do you believe in God? (Whether it be the God of the Bible or just the creator of the universe in general)
McWilliamson said:I was born a Catholic, but that never made me believe in God more or less than if I was completely away from the church. I did the Sign of the Cross, took my spot in mass, etc. etc...but I have never been able to confidently tell someone "I believe in the God of my Catholic church."
I do however, believe that there are some things about the world that are very difficult to explain without conceding that a supreme power must be at work doing things we can't understand. I actually plan on talking with a deacon at my old church about my mixed views to see what wisdom he can give me or if he can convince me to go back. I quit going a couple months ago.
However, no matter what, you'll never catch me saying "I do not believe in God."
Conflict said:I don't believe in a god per se.
Maybe a demiurge.
However I am firm believer in smurfs and smurfolism. I choose smurfs because, in general, they hold no homosexual and carnal interest in young boys.
McWilliamson said:If you're talking about priests, then you might as well say all men are responsible for crimes of violence and that all women are ditsy, when neither of those is true.
Don't judge the whole by looking at the few.
Conflict said:It's a disturbing trend to say the least. Admittedly I was laying it on a little thick. I still think smurf are just as real as any God, though. I think a lot of people fear the possibility that when you die... you die completely... and there is nothing beyond that. I think many fear this concept fanatically
McWilliamson said:I've never met a person who admitted to being scared of what lay after death.
Conflict said:It's a disturbing trend to say the least. Admittedly I was laying it on a little thick. I still think smurf are just as real as any God, though. I think a lot of people fear the possibility that when you die... you die completely... and there is nothing beyond that. I think many fear this concept fanatically
McWilliamson said:I've never met a person who admitted to being scared of what lay after death.
Conflict said:That's exactly my point.
Kandahar said:No, I don't.
There's no evidence to support the existence of a god, nor is it necessary to include a god in the model of the universe. If religion finds a way to empirically prove the existence of god, I'll change my mind. But wishful thinking does not always match reality.
TimmyBoy said:Just because their is no evidence to prove the existance of something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
TimmyBoy said:Science cannot prove and explain everything. Faith in and of itself is powerful.
McWilliamson said:I do however, believe that there are some things about the world that are very difficult to explain without conceding that a supreme power must be at work doing things we can't understand. I actually plan on talking with a deacon at my old church about my mixed views to see what wisdom he can give me or if he can convince me to go back. I quit going a couple months ago.
TimmyBoy said:When their is no God, their is no faith and when their is no faith, their is no hope.
aps said:I do not believe in God at all. Frankly, I am stunned at how many intelligent people believe in God.
I think the whole idea of religion is to make people strive to be decent people while they are on earth. I was raised Catholic. I never really gave it much thought about how throughout mass, I was constantly saying what I a sinner I am. “I confess to almighty God and you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned through my own fault…..Lord, I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed.” I my admitting that I am a sinner throughout mass supposed to be a positive message? Oh brother. Some people need that kind of thing in order to strive to be decent people.
This whole thing about heaven and hell. Just not credible. OMG, I have to be a good person in my life in order to go to heaven? Oh, if I’m imperfect (which we all are), I have togo to purgatory and pray away my sins? Oh, and if I am really bad, I will go to hell. Give me a break.
What things in the world do you find difficult to explain?
Sorry, but that is not true. I am an atheist, and I do not know many people who are religious and are more hopeful and optimistic than I am.
Deegan said:I am quite sure the answers would be different here, had the situation been dire, and the person was facing his/her demise. As they say, "There are no atheists in a foxhole" but I am also certain some will never acknowledge this fact, or simply never faced that reality. I guess what I am trying to say is, yes I do believe, but it's more to be on the safe side, and this realization sometimes bothers me.
TimmyBoy said:Hmm, that's funny, I know quite a few people who are religious and very hopeful. My dad's side of the family is a good example. When you visit them, their is a fullness and wholeness. They live out in the country. When I return to the city, I see people in the big city are empty, self serving, shallow, superficial, deceptive, fake and cynacil. But when I go to the country and meet with my relatives who are religious, they are hard workers, they are much more moral than the people in the city, they are genuine, when they shake your hand and smile, you know they really mean it. It is not like what I saw in the hometown where I grew up where people give fake smiles. They teach their kids about God and how to be hopeful for the future and to look ahead and look forward to living life. Very happy people. I think that no matter how hard atheists try to justify their beliefs, their will always be some kind of emptiness to them.
aps said:My point, TimmyBoy, was that you don't have to believe in God to be hopeful. You stated that if there was no God there was no faith and without faith there is no hope. So I was pointing out that you don't have to believe in God to be hopeful.
What is your point about city people? You assume that they are not religious? Honestly, that is just plain ridiculous.
Huh? You think I would change my answer if I was on my deathbed or I was suffering? Well, I have been there and done that, and it didn't change my atheism at all.
Deegan said:I am quite sure the answers would be different here, had the situation been dire, and the person was facing his/her demise. As they say, "There are no atheists in a foxhole" but I am also certain some will never acknowledge this fact, or simply never faced that reality.
Deegan said:I guess what I am trying to say is, yes I do believe, but it's more to be on the safe side, and this realization sometimes bothers me.
Kandahar said:People often abandon rationalism during moments of panic...so what? That hardly proves that the irrational is correct.
Pascal's Wager has been logically debunked for centuries.
Scarecrow Akhbar said:No.
God is an invention of the human psyche to explain that death isn't death. It's an escapist mechanism to avoid facing one's mortality, nothing more.
One doesn't have to worry about where one came from, God's been invented to explain that.
One doesn't have to worry about not existing any more, God's been invented to explain that, too.
And in-between birth and death, god is used to keep the population in line.
All in all, a most remarkable human invention, God is.