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What are your thoughts on god?

POSTED BY: christhecynic
UPDATED: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 07:06
VIEWED: 44171
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UNREGISTEREDCOMPANION

Sunday, January 15, 2006 4:06 PM

"Myself, I like a competitive market in deities. Keeps 'em honest."

Hee hee hee....

Best line I heard in weeks.

As for how can someone look around nature and not believe in god? Well, I guess a further study of some of the earth's species might make you ask a few questions......

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/jury-rigged.html

~~~~~
"Funny and sexy. You have no idea. And you never will."

CHRISISALL

Sunday, January 15, 2006 4:24 PM

Wow. I type one letter, and this whole place changed.
Act o' God. or sumpin'.

Anyway, God's soul is all of us, every living thing, like a universal battery that drives life.
We are all cells in God's body, if you like.
Mine is a terse concept.

Bible-thumpin' Chrisisall

MEIMEIMEG

Sunday, January 15, 2006 5:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mattie:
Wow, what a rousing question. This is right up my alley, though.
First off, I was raised LDS--that means that I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. In colloquial terms/situations, most people refer to members of my relitgion as "Mormons"--in reference to the scripture we have called the Book of Mormon. Just a little side note so that if I come off sounding...what?...a little gung-ho(?) you know why.
I believe in God. It's as pure and simple as that. I look at my surroundings and marvel at how people can dismiss the idea that some divine person did not create this world, this universe, this home that we all share. The other night I saw the most beautiful sunset that I had ever seen in my life. Now, people can explain that with science, but I look at it and say that it isn't just chance. It's not just particles in the air reflecting the sun's light a certain and special way that creates such an amazing effect. And if you explain the phenomenon of the sunset I saw using examples and explanations from science, then it is my turn to ask a philisophical question and say this: who invented those particles? Where did they come from? You can't create something out of nothing. Even if the big bang theory is true--and I have a cool picture of God swaying his hand through the air and the particles in space arranging themselves--then SOMETHING had to catalyze that. Why not God?
I believe that God created all things--even the body which my soul inhabits. I believe that I am here for a divine purpose, that God sent me to this Earth for a reason. I believe in a heaven where I can live with God and all of his other beloved creations, and I believe that it is my goal here on Earth to overcome secularity in order to prepare myself spiritually for the day that I die so that I CAN return and live with my Creator.
I know that I have free will. However, I don't think that it's FREE. God is just and will judge mankind according to his actions, thoughts and feelings. Humankind had agency--the ability to make choices--but I believe that it came at a drastic price. The price I'm referring to is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died for the sins of the world, because he transcended below ALL things, mankind is able to repent--allowing an atonement for sins and allowing God to be merciful.
There is a hell. I would define it as a complete disconnection between the inevitable tie that humankind's spirit has with God's spirit. This hell can be experienced here on Earth and it comes when a person completely and totally denies God from their lives. I believe that a description of this hell would be a lack of joy in one's life. Now, atheists, don't crawl up my butt for saying that. This is what I believe. I'm not saying that everyone has to believe it too. And, I'm not saying that people who don't believe in God are bad people. That simply isn't true. If you aren't clear on that, ask me to explain myself better and I happily will, just don't tear me down on the thread.
Here's the deal. God:yes. Heaven:yes. Agency:yes.
My beliefs may be somewhat drastic to some. Others may think that I'm completely off my rocker. Maybe someone will read this and take confidence in what I have to say. It's possible that people will resent what I wrote. This is it, though. I believe in God, pure and simple. If you don't, or if you're not sure you do, that's cool. A question was asked and I answered because I feel strongly about what I believe and why.

This thread is so interesting, I was excited to see a discussion of this type. As for myself, I'm LDS (Mormon). I was going to state my beliefs, but Mattie already did it so well, I don't have much to add. I agree completely.

DARKLIGHTER9

Sunday, January 15, 2006 6:15 PM

He exists alright, i don't fink hes wating on a cloud to throw a lightning bolt at us the moment we slip up (a la catholisism) i fink hes a benevolent farther/teacher who has limiless grace. I guess u could call me a new wave christian (sort of a more relaxed protestant)

________________________________________________
"its clear that the only way around this is to stick my fingers in my ears, close my eyes and sing the firefly theme very loudly" a friend of mine talking about a cirtain scene in the BDM

CAUSAL

Sunday, January 15, 2006 6:23 PM

I'm a Christian theist. I believe in an immanent-yet-transcendent creator God, and believe that He has a purpose for His creation which is being fulfilled in the person of Christ and in Christ's church (not proselytizing, just reporting).

Incidentally, I think that science starts with the same assumption as faith--that is: "There has got to be some explanation for all this." That being the case, my opinion of science is that it can be integrated with but not elevated above faith, and likewise that faith can be integrated with but not elevated above science (in the sense that faith explores the Creator, and science explores the creation). The point of contention I have with science is the (unmerited) assumption of deterministic material monism that some science implies.

________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

MIDNIGHTSHADOW

Sunday, January 15, 2006 7:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by christhecynic:

Everything we are as human beings comes from the contrast in life, only the poor can truely appreciate being rich, only those who have loved, and lost, and then loved again can understand the value of that love.

So... maybe then reincarnation would make sense... ya don't get to nirvana until one has suffered through all / learned all the lessons of life. Just an idea, a tie-in. Not my belief, just a thought.

It is what USMC says is the fear that brings about religion, the fear of truely dying.

For me, the idea of truly-dying-that's-it-yer-gone doesn't bother me a bit. I kinda like the idea of all of one's energy & form just dispersing (energy quickly, physical more slowly) but all eventually becoming part of the larger stuff of the verse. Sounds good to me. I don't feel the need for a more concrete after-life.

In discussing with my 15-year old daughter... her main fear re: dying seems to revolve around not wanting to lose her discrete sense of self. Interesting, as I had not run across that concern before.

Anyone remember that old movie (can't remember the name) about the people on the spaceship (were they space garbage collectors? or was that a different movie?) who all end up dying, and the outcome was different for each, depending on their individual beliefs?

Oh, and it's OK with me to be "just an animal;" human animals just being a different variety, no better or worse than any other.

"Lost in the woods" feels comfortable for me, like bathing in chaos.

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SKYDANCE

Sunday, January 15, 2006 8:31 PM

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=Yarbro&y=6&tn=Mic
hael&x=38

A good overview of the information can be gotten from http://www.michaelteachings.com/introduction.html . However, I view everything on the website with a skeptical eye, because the author makes some "adjustments" to the original material which do not strike me as necessary for someone who accepts and understands the message. (It could just be the Priest in me, watching for heretics around every corner. *chuckle*)

Michael had words on the subject of Christ rising from the dead. To paraphrase: the people who pulled him down were in a hurry to do it before the holiday. Medical technology being somewhat limited at the time, they thought he was dead, when (in fact) he had entered a coma (from which he recovered, once the body was not stressed by being suspended vertically).

Michael also tells us the soul which manifested as Christ has also manifested as Lao-Tzu, Sri Krisna, and Siddhartha Guatama (no others). Its Teaching has survived to this day in its most pure form as Taoism (Christianity is a distortion of the message of unity, imposing many rituals and conditions which have nothing to do with it, and much to do with controlling others). The Infinite Soul is expected to manifest again within our lifetimes; Gandhi was a manifestation of the Transcendental Soul, which prepares society for the manifestation of the Infinite Soul.

Well ... you asked. *shrug*

__________________________
"They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see the sky and they remember what they are."

CHRISTHECYNIC

Sunday, January 15, 2006 8:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thatweirdgirl:
*checks location, nope, not RWD, weird*

Well it's sort of like asking people what their job, age, or location is. Since those are done here I just figured ... um ... *hangs head in shame*

Quote:
I should stay out of this. Alas, I cannot! Somebody turn off my computer...please....

No, you should speak your mind.

Quote:
I believe in God. I believe in science. I don’t think one precludes the other.

I want to say, "Amen," but it sounds too much like it would be a joke, considering the topic.

CAPTBRYAN

Sunday, January 15, 2006 8:52 PM

Yes I believe in God.

Thus I believe there is Lucifer.

God is Love.

Lucifer is not.

God is Truth.

Lucifer wants you to believe he is truth.

Knowing the difference is where God becomes a reality to you.

Seeing that reality and chooseing that reality is your free will.

Evolution theory is as its name says a theory. I know of no proof that it works.The only way to make it work is to bend rules and laws.

If you believe there are no absolutes then you cannot believe that.

God is not the author of confusion.So if your confused it aint God.

My cook likes my artillery...I like where she lets me holster my gun

Ridin the Ocean's boring when there aint no waves

CHRISTHECYNIC

Sunday, January 15, 2006 8:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gennie:
I do not buy the whole Hell thing, so I suppose I do not believe in Heaven.

The two things are unrelated. I believe there are six sects of early Christians that we know of, three believed in (eventual) universal salvation, two believed in oblivion (not hell) for the bad, and one believed in eternal damnation.

Then again all of my information is years out of date (archeology seems to overturn old theories with great speed) and it was not necessarily accurate when I got it in the first place.