Do you believe in God?

[mistyisjafo]

Just from reading the above, we have a pretty fascinating group here in the LoT. I think it's cool that we are so widely diverse!

As for myself, I always like to think of myself as an Agnostic. I'm willing to believe in some sort of higher power but I'm not willing to go to a church to learn about it. Mostly because I just never really went to church growing up and when I did it was pretty rare thing. I'd also have to agree with NA that religious practices are very limiting. I just can't get behind all those RULES.

But I do consider myself spiritual. I meditate, believe in holistic health and find things like yoga & tai chi really do make me feel more "centered" in a spiritual way. That's about the extent of my belief.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I don't believe in the "classic" sense.

I think "God" was created as a name to put to something that gives comfort to a person. I doesn't matter if its in a time of pain, need or joy, whatever. Someone had to be "blamed" or "thanked" so I think man came up with this mysterious being that sees all.

My view is that there might be some all powerful being. Maybe not. I think if there was it would be a bigger part of the human experince. Why keep the mystery like the "man behind the curtin?"

To me "god" or the like is the human experiance. It's in what we see, what we feel, what we hear. What touches us, what moves us, what makes us angry and what sets us off. Its the mind, heart, eyes, brain, nerves, hands, skin and feet. Its organic. It's the trees, the sun, the sky, the moon. It is animals, fish, and birds. It's music, its voice, its a beat. Its what makes us the same and different all in one.

Anyway.....I digress....

[Capt Jack]

I do believe in 'something' beyond our grasp and/or comprehension going on around us that controls every last thing in the universe. It may be purely the quantum laws of particle physics or a ebb and flow so vast as to be unfathomable to our current senses of reality. I dont however believe in 'created in his own image' and view that as pure conceit at the species level.

I believe whatever it is that keeps everything related to everything else and holds all things in check and balance holds little specific love for the human race as a whole. At the very least no more so than the pebble at my feet, the stars buring a billion light years away that no naked human eye will ever see or the dirt 5 miles below the surface of some distant unnamed planet.

That to me makes each of us ultimately responsible for whatever it is we feed out into the 'universe' (multiple parallel universe theories not withstanding) and in that respect holds each and every one of us accountable for our own actions.

So for lack of a better term, I suppose that for me defines 'God'.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yes and no.

In the end, all I really believe is that some force must have created the universe, the nature of which we can never know.

But I do entertain a murky belief that it's some manner of conscious being with some form of stake in things. But it's mostly a mental exercise. My current model of the universe that I like to ponder is that we're characters in a video game, and God is the programmer. God "controls" what we do in-so-much as he has defined how the system works, but one the game starts running, if it's sufficiently complex, even the programmer can't predict exactly how it will play out. That model gives easy answers to questions like "Can God create a rock so big that he can't lift it?" Can a video game programmer? The answer is...the question doesn't make sense, God is completely outside of this universe.

Then, if I continue the analogy, Jesus (and here I'm really straying from my actual core beliefs...like I said, mental exercise) would be the player character. Still constrainted by the "reality" of the created universe, but posessed with certain knowledge and power beyond the non-player characters (i.e., mere mortals). And a player character is, in some ways, an extension of the creator himself, while not actually being the creator.

Of course, while God would, once the universe was programmed, not have the ability to directly alter the course of things (it's not like programmers can change a game in the middle of playing it), what good programmer doesn't build in a few cheat codes (i.e. miracles)?

So us Jews are just waiting for the day that Elijah finds himself a 1-up mushroom.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Short answer...yes.

But, my belief system is probably unlike any other person's, and that's due to the way I was brought up.

For instance, I haven't been baptized yet. So, technically, I don't really follow any sort of religion at all. Doesn't mean that I am necessarily an atheist. I think there is some form of higher power out there...I just don't really live by a code of guidelines by a specific religion...at least not yet.

See, I was brought up in a family that believes in adult baptism, and choosing whatever religion we want to choose to follow when we're old enough to understand it. Right now, I'm undecided about what belief system to follow, but there are a couple that look like something I would tend to believe in more than other forms.

Personally, I like the idea of choosing whatever religion best suits you, rather than have a belief system forced upon you.

I'm not saying that choosing a religion is like choosing a new pair of shoes...not at all...I just think that people can benefit a lot more by researching different religions and choosing whatever fits them best.

I hope that my points came across okay.

[Capt Jack]

Originally Posted by Jughead P. Jones

I'm not saying that choosing a religion is like choosing a new pair of shoes

actually, Im thinking it is. whatever fits best and is the most comfortable.

[Ghoulish Delight]

As for organized religion, I believe it can be an excellent tool to provide a moral framework for a child to grow up in. Adults should allow themselves more freedom, however, to make their own choices. For some, remaining within the framework is the right choice. But I think too many get stuck in it when it's not right for them. That's one of the reasons I will continue to call myself Jewish, and feel Jewish, despite my general lack of practicing the faith. Namely that Judaism encourages individuals to find their own path and question everything. I will happily raise my children Jewish as I was raised, with the spirit of, "Here is a system of beliefs, one that has worked for many people for a long time. It provides some basic tools to teach you how to treat people and how to make sense of your own life. Once you've learned those tools, it's up to you to decide how to apply them."

[flippyshark]

This is a fun thread, loaded with interesting and wise responses, but I feel it is fair to ask;

Tracilicious, since you opened the topic, what's your answer?

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Namely that Judaism encourages individuals to find their own path and question everything.

Some years ago, I received a subscription to a magazine called "Moment." It would have "thoughtful" essays on controversial moral issues. Somehow, the author always managed to conclude that Jewish teaching stated the correct result.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Some years ago, I received a subscription to a magazine called "Moment." It would have "thoughtful" essays on controversial moral issues. Somehow, the author always managed to conclude that Jewish teaching stated the correct result.

What's your point? I never claimed that following Jewish teaching equals complete open-mindedness. It simply encourages questions. Of course, the hope is that those questions lead to answers that remain within the faith, but that's left up to the individual. So you're reading someone who agrees with those conclusions. No surprise that they're going to lead you to those conclusions.

But the fact remains that the first step in a Jewish boy's (and, in modern practice girl's) adult life is defined by the moment they read Torah by themself for the first time. That is the act that defines them as an adult and creates a covenant with God. And it always has. I find that a very powerful statement, especially contrasted with the history of Christianity in which only the priveledged were given the opportunity to read the Bible for themselves. It took acts of rebellion for it to be translated into a form readable by the masses. Self-exploration is mandated by Torah.