Do you believe in God? - Page 6

katiesue · 09-06-2006, 11:46 AM

I wouldn't say we were punished, it was just to keep us in the game so to speak. You said you still believed so kept up the illusion for everyone else, like my younger sister. Plus we thought we were oh so sly as we'd figured it out but our parents didn't know we did.

Santa still sends me stuff for my stocking.

flippyshark · 09-06-2006, 11:50 AM

As long as Santa has crept into the discussion, allow me a quick semi-OT comment.

I can tell you exactly who blew the whistle on the Santa thing for me - it was Dennis the Menace! At age six, I was introduced, by my older brother, to a stack of Dennis the Menace comic books, (ostensibly by Hank Ketchum, though I think the comics were ghosted out to other hands).

Several Christmas issues contained stories which focused on the efforts of Dennis' parents to keep the Santa illusion together for their kid. These stories would seem to have greater appeal to parents than to children, and they certainly spelled a quick end to the Santa charade for me. If I recall, the stories sometimes ended with some kind of "Santa is real after all" coda, but it was too little too late. After endless pages of seeing grown-ups donning Santa suits and parents sneaking gifts out under cover of darkness, I could not go back to a state of willful ignorance. Instead, I asked my folks some tough questions, like, Do you believe in Santa? And they answered me, "We believe in the SPIRIT of Santa Claus." Exactly what the Dennis comics predicted they would say!

Of course, I'll be playing Santa again this year at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. Hmm.

Gemini Cricket · 09-06-2006, 11:52 AM

I met the tooth fairy as a child. I gave her a makeover. I also told her to rethink her shoes. You know... when one fairy meets another...

Prudence · 09-06-2006, 12:54 PM

I don't know what you're all talking about - Santa brings me presents every year. Although Santa's handwriting is eerily like my mother's. And the Tooth Fairy brought me money for each tooth I lost, and if I should happen to lose any more I expect to receive my share of funds. Apparently the Easter Bunny lost my address when I moved out of my parents' home, though. Bummer.

lashbear · 09-06-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

And the Tooth Fairy brought me money for each tooth I lost, and if I should happen to lose any more I expect to receive my share of funds.

Be VERY careful here..... A friend of mine went to sleep with her head under her pillow, and when she woke up, all her teeth were gone and her mouth was full of quarters !!

Promo-Man · 09-06-2006, 07:29 PM

Do I believe in God? Yes, and I know the real Santa too!

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-06-2006, 07:34 PM

I get all my religious beliefs from message board discussions

Prudence · 09-06-2006, 10:42 PM

I don't think that God is actually causing discussions of amino acids and neuropeptides and RNA to stalk me all dam week, but if He/She/It is, they have a sick sense of humor! (Cue the DM).

Sub la Goon · 09-06-2006, 10:51 PM

Like Frogberto says, it's all about timing.

Give some goopy water several million years and see what happens.

Perhaps one day the "Soooo..." thread will get up and walk right outta this website.

innerSpaceman · 09-07-2006, 07:59 AM

But what if God is not the designer, but rather the creation designs itself? What if the meaning of man being created in the image of God does not mean the flowing white beard, but rather the power of creation?

Everything in the universe connected by via an intricate web of energy, interacting and influencing ... with the thoughts and words and actions of every living thing having an effect on the universe.

Heheh, if humans are involved in the design of things, can there be any wonder that the design has so much waste and poor craftsmanship?

I'm not saying any of this has to do with the evolution of biology, per se. But the same forces that affect the universe through our thoughts and words and deeds were acting long before humans existed. If "GOD" set things in motion, with the details determined by GOD's "partners" in creation ... every star and atom and rock and creature ... it would account for some of the haphazardness in a design, but not deny the existence of a design.

Frogberto makes some excellent points about considering the downsides and the upsides of the 'design' question. But when RStar made that comment about man's inability to create a seed, I don't think it was to be taken literally as a "seed." Rather, it was the legitimate question of why can't we yet be Frankenstein, creating life in the lab? Perhaps billions of years are necessary for random lifelikeness to arise ... but why should it take that long if purpose is behind it?

There are no good answers, but obviously plenty of really fasctinating questions.

For myself, I am encouraged that man's explorations into quantum physics lean more and more toward evidencing the universe of metaphysics which is the underpinning of my spiritual philosophy. Namely, that we are indeed made in the image of GOD ... we have the power to create, and we are - all of us - doing so, whether consciously or not - with every thought and word and action. The universe is made by us.

09-06-2006, 11:46 AM	#1
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	I wouldn't say we were punished, it was just to keep us in the game so to speak. You said you still believed so kept up the illusion for everyone else, like my younger sister. Plus we thought we were oh so sly as we'd figured it out but our parents didn't know we did. Santa still sends me stuff for my stocking. __________________ My life is so exciting I can hardly stand it.
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09-06-2006, 11:50 AM	#2
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	As long as Santa has crept into the discussion, allow me a quick semi-OT comment. I can tell you exactly who blew the whistle on the Santa thing for me - it was Dennis the Menace! At age six, I was introduced, by my older brother, to a stack of Dennis the Menace comic books, (ostensibly by Hank Ketchum, though I think the comics were ghosted out to other hands). Several Christmas issues contained stories which focused on the efforts of Dennis' parents to keep the Santa illusion together for their kid. These stories would seem to have greater appeal to parents than to children, and they certainly spelled a quick end to the Santa charade for me. If I recall, the stories sometimes ended with some kind of "Santa is real after all" coda, but it was too little too late. After endless pages of seeing grown-ups donning Santa suits and parents sneaking gifts out under cover of darkness, I could not go back to a state of willful ignorance. Instead, I asked my folks some tough questions, like, Do you believe in Santa? And they answered me, "We believe in the SPIRIT of Santa Claus." Exactly what the Dennis comics predicted they would say! Of course, I'll be playing Santa again this year at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. Hmm.
	Submit to Quotes

09-06-2006, 11:52 AM	#3
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I met the tooth fairy as a child. I gave her a makeover. I also told her to rethink her shoes. You know... when one fairy meets another...
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09-06-2006, 12:54 PM	#4
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I don't know what you're all talking about - Santa brings me presents every year. Although Santa's handwriting is eerily like my mother's. And the Tooth Fairy brought me money for each tooth I lost, and if I should happen to lose any more I expect to receive my share of funds. Apparently the Easter Bunny lost my address when I moved out of my parents' home, though. Bummer. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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09-06-2006, 07:29 PM	#6
Promo-Man Actor / Comedian / Santa Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The North Pole of Anaheim Posts: 131	Do I believe in God? Yes, and I know the real Santa too!
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09-06-2006, 07:34 PM	#7
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	I get all my religious beliefs from message board discussions __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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09-06-2006, 10:42 PM	#8
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I don't think that God is actually causing discussions of amino acids and neuropeptides and RNA to stalk me all dam week, but if He/She/It is, they have a sick sense of humor! (Cue the DM). __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
	Submit to Quotes

09-06-2006, 10:51 PM	#9
Sub la Goon Ride me! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The line forms here... Posts: 326	Like Frogberto says, it's all about timing. Give some goopy water several million years and see what happens. Perhaps one day the "Soooo..." thread will get up and walk right outta this website. __________________ You roll the dice, you move your mice.
	Submit to Quotes

09-07-2006, 07:59 AM	#10
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	But what if God is not the designer, but rather the creation designs itself? What if the meaning of man being created in the image of God does not mean the flowing white beard, but rather the power of creation? Everything in the universe connected by via an intricate web of energy, interacting and influencing ... with the thoughts and words and actions of every living thing having an effect on the universe. Heheh, if humans are involved in the design of things, can there be any wonder that the design has so much waste and poor craftsmanship? I'm not saying any of this has to do with the evolution of biology, per se. But the same forces that affect the universe through our thoughts and words and deeds were acting long before humans existed. If "GOD" set things in motion, with the details determined by GOD's "partners" in creation ... every star and atom and rock and creature ... it would account for some of the haphazardness in a design, but not deny the existence of a design. Frogberto makes some excellent points about considering the downsides and the upsides of the 'design' question. But when RStar made that comment about man's inability to create a seed, I don't think it was to be taken literally as a "seed." Rather, it was the legitimate question of why can't we yet be Frankenstein, creating life in the lab? Perhaps billions of years are necessary for random lifelikeness to arise ... but why should it take that long if purpose is behind it? There are no good answers, but obviously plenty of really fasctinating questions. For myself, I am encouraged that man's explorations into quantum physics lean more and more toward evidencing the universe of metaphysics which is the underpinning of my spiritual philosophy. Namely, that we are indeed made in the image of GOD ... we have the power to create, and we are - all of us - doing so, whether consciously or not - with every thought and word and action. The universe is made by us.
	Submit to Quotes