Do you believe in God?

tracilicious · 09-03-2006, 10:53 AM

Why or why not?

€uroMeinke · 09-03-2006, 11:16 AM

I don't

But to me it's more of a matter of personal integrity. That is, if I'm honest with myself and how I live my life, make the decissions that I make, the existence of God simply doesn't factor in to it. God's existence is irrelevent to me.

I'm also very comfortable with ther notion that there are thisng out there that we will never come to understand, perhaps "God" is one of those things, but to me such a thing is unknowable, and again unecessary for me to continue to live my life.

I also recognize that other's take the contrary position, they live their lives according to their notion of what God is and how he/she gives meaning to their lives. If I were to adopt such a belief, I would feel dishonest, so I don't, but I also feel no need "converting" others to my beliefs, as whatever the reality of the situation is, remains unknowable - and for all I know, they may be right.

scaeagles · 09-03-2006, 11:22 AM

I do.

Without going into much detail, I have had experiences (one in particular) that there is no scientific explanation for.

Having been raised in a church going nondenominational Christian family, I did what a lot of people raised in that environment do upon going off to college, being that I didn't do it anymore. I've had ups and downs in my faith, but there are things that have happened to me that cannot be explained except by the existance of some higher power. Of course there will be those that will scoff at such at statement, and that's fine. I might as well should I not have directly experienced them.

Not Afraid · 09-03-2006, 11:57 AM

I believe there is a power greater than myself and I choose to call it "God" because it's the vernacular that best matches what I believe. I believe that "god" as I understand it is unknowable and undefinable to us poor little humans with our pea brains and I don't have an issue with believing in some that is not fully understandable to me.

But, I don't buy into most religious practice or teachings as a whole. I always fine them too limiting and too intolerant. I think religion is a human attempt to define and control what is basicially unknowable. However, there are spiritual practices in many religions that I have incorporated into my life as a way to be more in touch with this higher power.

I've come a long way from my fundie upbringing to the place where I feel comfortable with my spiritual beliefs and comfortable discarding those beliefs and practices that don't work for me and my own spirituality.

Snowflake · 09-03-2006, 12:37 PM

I do.

Growing up in a non-religious household, I went to church but I never remember seeing my parents attend. It was, surprisingly, somehting that was never really discussed. I do not buy into a lot of organized religion because so much of it seems to be thou shalt not and this is totally wrong and much (western) religion to me seems to be whoever is intepreting ancient text such as the bible, fits into their own filter. Too much dogma for me.

I did harbor a serious search for a personal path and found a path to follow and that it works for me. I believe in prayer and know from my own experience that they are often answered. But I find faith and beliefs of a spiritual nature to be so very personal, I rarely talk about them.

But, I do believe in God, a power that runs the universe and that I'm in school and optimistically think I'm barely ekking by with a D grade

Alex · 09-03-2006, 12:39 PM

No, because there is no reason to do so.

flippyshark · 09-03-2006, 01:15 PM

I used to be a committed Christian, but over the last ten years, I've slid all the way down the slipppery slope and I'm now firmly in the secular humanist camp. The study of comparative religion, New Testament history and historical research/conjecture about Jesus are subjects that continue to fascinate me, and they occupy a major chunk of my free time. (In fact, pursiung those interests is what eroded my beliefs away, very slowly. I started out on that journey trying to come up with better apologistic defenses of traditional faith, and look where that got me.)

While I am sure that Yahweh the Judeo-Christian God is a human invention, I would concede that it is un-knowable whether there is any higher intelligence or prime mover or uncaused cause behind the universe. I tend to doubt it, but I sure can't disprove it.

I do miss the social aspects of belonging to a church and the music, pageantry and splendor that accompanied it. I also miss the sense of childlike trust and wonderment when I thought I understood life, the universe and everything, and had a name for it. But it's a place I can never return to, however cozy and reassuring I once found it. (whistful sigh)

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-04-2006, 12:58 AM

Yes.

I believe someone started the universe ticking, and someone designed the symmetry and balance we see everywhere.

I can't say my Jewish upbringing has held fast in every respect, but the above holds true for me. Used to believe the Torah was direct from God - now believe it was inspired by God but can't be the actual words. At least I hope so!

Sub la Goon · 09-04-2006, 06:23 AM

No.

I believe in Infinity, which is larger than my brain can fully grasp, but I do not believe that there is any intelligence (benevolent or otherwise) that guides the mechanics of the universe or sets up a moral compass for us all to follow. I believe that spiritualty can be a very strong and positive thing in many people's lives. I see a uniquely human need for spirituality. Organized Religion, on the other hand, lends itself to intolerance and friction. Sometimes with disasterous results.

Motorboat Cruiser · 09-04-2006, 11:20 AM

Somewhere deep inside, there is a part of me that would like to believe that God exists. This makes it hard to consider myself an athiest. And yet, if one exists, I doubt that it resembles the God that Christians describe.

I'm also willing to accept that my feelings are based on a yearning for there to be something more to life that just our time here on this planet. That, if we lead good lives and treat others well, we might be rewarded with another go around or something. And yet, logic tells me that this is truly all that there is and we better make the best of our time here, for we only get one chance to live and then, that is that.

I certainly don't believe that there is a God that is pre-occupied with what gender of person we choose to become intimate with. I think God would be far more concerned with why we seem to have this penchant for killing one another.

In recent years, I have found that aspects of the eastern religions, notably Buddhism, make a lot more sense to me and no belief in a god is demanded.

09-03-2006, 10:53 AM	#1
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	Do you believe in God? Why or why not? __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
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09-03-2006, 11:16 AM	#2
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	I don't But to me it's more of a matter of personal integrity. That is, if I'm honest with myself and how I live my life, make the decissions that I make, the existence of God simply doesn't factor in to it. God's existence is irrelevent to me. I'm also very comfortable with ther notion that there are thisng out there that we will never come to understand, perhaps "God" is one of those things, but to me such a thing is unknowable, and again unecessary for me to continue to live my life. I also recognize that other's take the contrary position, they live their lives according to their notion of what God is and how he/she gives meaning to their lives. If I were to adopt such a belief, I would feel dishonest, so I don't, but I also feel no need "converting" others to my beliefs, as whatever the reality of the situation is, remains unknowable - and for all I know, they may be right. __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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09-03-2006, 11:22 AM	#3
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I do. Without going into much detail, I have had experiences (one in particular) that there is no scientific explanation for. Having been raised in a church going nondenominational Christian family, I did what a lot of people raised in that environment do upon going off to college, being that I didn't do it anymore. I've had ups and downs in my faith, but there are things that have happened to me that cannot be explained except by the existance of some higher power. Of course there will be those that will scoff at such at statement, and that's fine. I might as well should I not have directly experienced them.
	Submit to Quotes

09-03-2006, 11:57 AM	#4
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	I believe there is a power greater than myself and I choose to call it "God" because it's the vernacular that best matches what I believe. I believe that "god" as I understand it is unknowable and undefinable to us poor little humans with our pea brains and I don't have an issue with believing in some that is not fully understandable to me. But, I don't buy into most religious practice or teachings as a whole. I always fine them too limiting and too intolerant. I think religion is a human attempt to define and control what is basicially unknowable. However, there are spiritual practices in many religions that I have incorporated into my life as a way to be more in touch with this higher power. I've come a long way from my fundie upbringing to the place where I feel comfortable with my spiritual beliefs and comfortable discarding those beliefs and practices that don't work for me and my own spirituality.
	Submit to Quotes

09-03-2006, 12:37 PM	#5
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	I do. Growing up in a non-religious household, I went to church but I never remember seeing my parents attend. It was, surprisingly, somehting that was never really discussed. I do not buy into a lot of organized religion because so much of it seems to be thou shalt not and this is totally wrong and much (western) religion to me seems to be whoever is intepreting ancient text such as the bible, fits into their own filter. Too much dogma for me. I did harbor a serious search for a personal path and found a path to follow and that it works for me. I believe in prayer and know from my own experience that they are often answered. But I find faith and beliefs of a spiritual nature to be so very personal, I rarely talk about them. But, I do believe in God, a power that runs the universe and that I'm in school and optimistically think I'm barely ekking by with a D grade __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
	Submit to Quotes

09-03-2006, 12:39 PM	#6
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	No, because there is no reason to do so.
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09-03-2006, 01:15 PM	#7
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	I used to be a committed Christian, but over the last ten years, I've slid all the way down the slipppery slope and I'm now firmly in the secular humanist camp. The study of comparative religion, New Testament history and historical research/conjecture about Jesus are subjects that continue to fascinate me, and they occupy a major chunk of my free time. (In fact, pursiung those interests is what eroded my beliefs away, very slowly. I started out on that journey trying to come up with better apologistic defenses of traditional faith, and look where that got me.) While I am sure that Yahweh the Judeo-Christian God is a human invention, I would concede that it is un-knowable whether there is any higher intelligence or prime mover or uncaused cause behind the universe. I tend to doubt it, but I sure can't disprove it. I do miss the social aspects of belonging to a church and the music, pageantry and splendor that accompanied it. I also miss the sense of childlike trust and wonderment when I thought I understood life, the universe and everything, and had a name for it. But it's a place I can never return to, however cozy and reassuring I once found it. (whistful sigh)
	Submit to Quotes

09-04-2006, 12:58 AM	#8
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	Yes. I believe someone started the universe ticking, and someone designed the symmetry and balance we see everywhere. I can't say my Jewish upbringing has held fast in every respect, but the above holds true for me. Used to believe the Torah was direct from God - now believe it was inspired by God but can't be the actual words. At least I hope so! __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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09-04-2006, 06:23 AM	#9
Sub la Goon Ride me! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The line forms here... Posts: 326	No. I believe in Infinity, which is larger than my brain can fully grasp, but I do not believe that there is any intelligence (benevolent or otherwise) that guides the mechanics of the universe or sets up a moral compass for us all to follow. I believe that spiritualty can be a very strong and positive thing in many people's lives. I see a uniquely human need for spirituality. Organized Religion, on the other hand, lends itself to intolerance and friction. Sometimes with disasterous results. __________________ You roll the dice, you move your mice.
	Submit to Quotes

09-04-2006, 11:20 AM	#10
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	Somewhere deep inside, there is a part of me that would like to believe that God exists. This makes it hard to consider myself an athiest. And yet, if one exists, I doubt that it resembles the God that Christians describe. I'm also willing to accept that my feelings are based on a yearning for there to be something more to life that just our time here on this planet. That, if we lead good lives and treat others well, we might be rewarded with another go around or something. And yet, logic tells me that this is truly all that there is and we better make the best of our time here, for we only get one chance to live and then, that is that. I certainly don't believe that there is a God that is pre-occupied with what gender of person we choose to become intimate with. I think God would be far more concerned with why we seem to have this penchant for killing one another. In recent years, I have found that aspects of the eastern religions, notably Buddhism, make a lot more sense to me and no belief in a god is demanded.
	Submit to Quotes