Just Asking

[unjonharley]

Do you belive in a unseen God??

Why??

just asking

[littleflower]

sure.

why not?

[Rice]

Nah!! God is something made to control people, dictate what they do...

I have never seen proof to the contrary...

[existential_renewal]

used to, then realized that it just wasn't possible

[goathead]

have no problem believing.

just can't believe what some people do in his name...

never seen any proof he doesn't exist.

[theCryptofishist]

No.

If he did exist he'd be a cold-hearted bastard, and one hell of a mind fucker.
Plus, logic and science pretty much make hash of him.

[littleflower]

No.

If he did exist he'd be a cold-hearted bastard, and one hell of a mind fucker.
Plus, logic and science pretty much make hash of him.

that's a pessimist's argument .... there is also much beauty. we focus where we will.
there is a great deal in life that defies logic .....
as for science, tell me that when science can create consciousness ... you may think it inevitable, but i am skeptical.

besides, i'd hate to die and find out it really is true ....

[unjonharley]

Do you belive in a unseen God??

Why??

just asking

More to the point is why?

where is it coming from?

somewhere it was planted in your head

[geospyder]

Myself, I'm confused...

Major disaster - tens of thousands dead or injured - a survivor is found in the rubble and people start praising God for saving the person. My question is why did this God let the disaster happen to begin with?

I'm not being sarcastic - just confused. I used to be "born again" but for the last ten years or so I have some serious doubts, especially after reading the entire Bible again, the last time as a novel instead of scripture.

[unjonharley]

Myself, I'm confused...

Major disaster - tens of thousands dead or injured - a survivor is found in the rubble and people start praising God for saving the person. My question is why did this God let the disaster happen to begin with?

I'm not being sarcastic - just confused. I used to be "born again" but for the last ten years or so I have some serious doubts, especially after reading the entire Bible again, the last time as a novel instead of scripture.

The bible been rewriten many times to some control freaks needs.

[Elderberry]

No.

JK

[Elderberry]

Double post.

JK

[gyre]

Life is inevitable.

Consciousness may be a fluke.

Most likely not, but life as it exists here now may be a novelty.

Sentience appears to not be a given.

Look at life here.
Man is still in the experimental stage compared to the long success of the dinosaurs.
They don't seem to have been particularly aware.

Elephants appear to meet the human standards of sentient beings, as do many apes.
I certainly know people dumber than elephants.

[goathead]

Do you belive in a unseen God??

Why??

just asking

More to the point is why?

where is it coming from?

somewhere it was planted in your head

if there isn't what is the point of it all?

would like to think there is a point to all of this

maybe there isn't

maybe there is

hard not to believe on a star filled night in the desert

at the wonder of it all

we fuck ourselves and each other all the time

nature does as nature will

but why can we even think?

[gyre]

Why would it change whether life has a point or not?

The seemingly obvious lack of a god has often been used as a logical justification for amorality and selfishness.

I think you can do good just because you think it is the right thing to do.
There is more reason to do the right thing, if you control your own destiny. (to the extent possible)
We get to decide who we are.

And I think those who behave a certain way, because they think they are being watched, aren't really good people at all.
I often hear it expressed that they would rather not be doing this or that.

"Character is what you are in the dark."


Unjon, I think it is generally thought that awe at the power of nature, especially death, is the root cause of spirituality and religion.
I can't find an exception to this.

It doesn't matter to me whether there is a god or not.
I've decided it wouldn't affect my choices.

And we won't know until we're dead.

[gyre]

What's wrong with this philosophy?
[youtube][/youtube]

[unjonharley]

And we won't know until we're dead.

So you belive in at least that part. why?

[gyre]

That's when most of the stories say something will change...or not.

I know one way to find out about that part.

[unjonharley]

That's when most of the stories say something will change...or not.

I know one way to find out about that part.

So "why" do "you" want to hold onto a bible/god myth?

[Risky]

We have been discussing this in our home lately, with my husband and I swapping links and interesting points of view.

Here's one -
http://www.godisimaginary.com/video2.htm

[gyre]

That's when most of the stories say something will change...or not.

I know one way to find out about that part.

So "why" do "you" want to hold onto a bible/god myth?

I don't think I am.

I have no faith in the practices at the temple at burning man, but I still put things in there.
It seems to make other people feel better.
So far it seems harmless to me.

I don't think what you believe has any effect on god at all, or your eventual destination.
And I think most organized religion is actively evil.

Interestingly, the buddhists I know, think that you're all buddhists, regardless of your beliefs.
That's just how it works.

[Trishntek]

We are flying around on an electron of an atom of a molecule in what we perceive as the Universe. The Universe is God, beyond time and space. The Creator is not responsible for the relative minutiae of natural disasters and pestilence. Life is what we make it with the resources He provided. All was beautifully perfect and balanced in the beginning.

How can you explain how all we see throughout history is decay and destruction. Evolution teaches a progression of biologic complexity. The geologic record demonstrates great diversity in the beginning. As it began, the Earth was perfect. As time goes on, it gets less perfect. Death and decay is all around us. The world is decaying. Biologic diversity is smaller not greater.

That's my story and i'm stickin' to it

[unjonharley]

That's when most of the stories say something will change...or not.

I know one way to find out about that part.

So "why" do "you" want to hold onto a bible/god myth?

I don't think I am.

I have no faith in the practices at the temple at burning man, but I still put things in there.
It seems to make other people feel better.
So far it seems harmless to me.

I don't think what you believe has any effect on god at all, or your eventual destination.
And I think most organized religion is actively evil.

Interestingly, the buddhists I know, think that you're all buddhists, regardless of your beliefs.
That's just how it works.

buddhist is more a phillosopy and less a religion.

[gyre]

Not to the people practicing it.

There are many wide variations in it though.

There have been some interesting conflicts with some restoring temples.
The temples are often seen as a mechanical part of a functioning religion, not artifacts for preservation.

Like christianity, early tibetan buddhism was very different and much more ritualistic and magical.
Many versions are still in play.

[unjonharley]

We are flying around on an electron of an atom of a molecule in what we perceive as the Universe. The Universe is God, beyond time and space. The Creator is not responsible for the relative minutiae of natural disasters and pestilence. Life is what we make it with the resources He provided. All was beautifully perfect and balanced in the beginning.

How can you explain how all we see throughout history is decay and destruction. Evolution teaches a progression of biologic complexity. The geologic record demonstrates great diversity in the beginning. As it began, the Earth was perfect. As time goes on, it gets less perfect. Death and decay is all around us. The world is decaying. Biologic diversity is smaller not greater.

That's my story and i'm stickin' to it

close, cegar. the in the begaining myth is bible/god based

[dr.placebo]

The universe is vast, and we are small. Is the universe God? Is there a Creator? How could we tell?

There is clearly decay, and yet there is also progress. Hubris it may be, but consciousness is truly miraculous. I believe that any purpose to our existence lies in furthering that consciousness. We yearn to understand more, and we strive to do so, imperfect as that striving may be.

Whether we succeed or fail in this work is beyond our knowledge. What we will morph into is sheer speculation.

Bow before the mystery, and seek to unravel it.

[unjonharley]

The universe is vast, and we are small. Is the universe God? Is there a Creator? How could we tell?

There is clearly decay, and yet there is also progress. Hubris it may be, but consciousness is truly miraculous. I believe that any purpose to our existence lies in furthering that consciousness. We yearn to understand more, and we strive to do so, imperfect as that striving may be.

Whether we succeed or fail in this work is beyond our knowledge. What we will morph into is sheer speculation.

Bow before the mystery, and seek to unravel it.

The only true constant is change.

[ygmir]

I'm more of the "different dimension/side of the curtain type..

I have my "Gods" but, approach them as equals..........they have stuff I want, and vice versa............it's a natural communication, really, more almost a "friendship" as opposed to parent/child or master/slave.
I also ascribe some degree of sentience to most objects animate or not.
I believe in magic, manifestation, and, the power of intention, and reincarntion.

God is an easy term for me to use, but, I don't really see it that way.

stop me before I get eclectic.............

[unjonharley]

So far,A few of you were happy to tell me what you believe.

No one has told "why?" they beleive in god.

[ygmir]

because, it works for me..........