Is Believing In God...?

[thegreekdog]

I see hoofprints in the ground all the time.. Could it be the prints of a unicorn?? Boom, evidence unicorns exist!..

The Universe is evidence.. of the universe. You're making an illogical leap that one thing is somehow evidence of something else enitirely. And then you take that even further be claiming to know the actions of this other thing.

So you're agnostic.

What makes you say that? I don't really see how you got that from my post, but, am I agnostic? Yeh, in a room full of atheists. I'm an athiest in a room full of christians.

I don't think it matters, and I hate labels and such. What matters to me is what you do. Growing up having to study a bible 4 or 5 times a week pisses me off. Seeing other people wasting their time in that manner pisses me off too.

I'm touched that you're concerned about me. That's very Christian of you.

Ok, I didn't write that very well. I grew up in a strictly religious family, where I had to study the bible 5 times a week. By about 9 years old I realised it was bull, but I had to endure it for another 7 years. The "you" referred to in the previous post is you in general, not you specifically TGD.

Caring about others and not wanting them to waste their time, isn't Christian. Sticking your nose in other people's business and telling them how to live, or there'll be consequences, that is Christian.

And if you(you specifically TGD) claim to be a Chistian, catholic, whatever denomination you are, I suspect deep down that you know. You know its not true, because you appear to be a smart guy. Stupid, smart, it doesn't matter, you will still lie to yourself.

I understand what you are saying, and I understand what atheists are saying. I understand there is no evidence and that, as time goes on, there is more evidence showing that God does not exist. All that being said and acknowledged, religion is not and never has been about proof. Religion is about faith. That is why it is pointless for a religious person to argue with an atheist about whether God exists or not. I have as much a problem with people trying to prove God exists as people trying to prove God doesn't exist, because it simply does not matter to someone who is religious. So, when I discuss religion in these threads and real life, I try not to get into an argument about whether God exists or not. I will discuss the implications of religion on history and war, etc., which I've tried to do here.

[Aradhus]

So if I spend my life loving, worshiping, fearing my heavenly father, devoting my life to him, it doesn't matter whether he's real or not, just as long as other people tell me he is real. (I don't believe for a second that you don't think it matters) Some of my family are religious, it matters to them. I was religious, kindoff, I was a child, it mattered to me. People question things. What you described is utter blind faith, it is to nobodies credit to never doubt. People like that have been abused, manipulated, brainwashed, and they're used to do/for heinous things.

Only a fool would believe in a god, be curious(presumably because that god created it so), and then never question the existence of that god which you've never seen and have no evidence of.

[john9blue]

Only a fool would believe in a god, be curious(presumably because that god created it so), and then never question the existence of that god which you've never seen and have no evidence of.

Lol you really think no Christian ever questions their faith?

[Aradhus]

I was responding to what TGD said, ballsack. Take your rolling eyes and clown posts and piss off.

[john9blue]

I was responding to what TGD said, ballsack. Take your rolling eyes and clown posts and piss off.

What, so I can't post? How resistant to new ideas you are.

[Woodruff]

I understand there is no evidence and that, as time goes on, there is more evidence showing that God does not exist.

I don't believe that's true at all. There is no evidence one way or another. Scientific discoveries merely show a different way that God may have gone about his business (presuming he USED evolution and such to get things to where they are now, which really only makes sense to me).

[Woodruff]

Only a fool would believe in a god, be curious(presumably because that god created it so), and then never question the existence of that god which you've never seen and have no evidence of.

Lol you really think no Christian ever questions their faith?

Ideally, they all do, and reasonably frequently. How else can their faith remain strong and vibrant?

[neanderpaul14]

Only a fool would believe in a god, be curious(presumably because that god created it so), and then never question the existence of that god which you've never seen and have no evidence of.

Lol you really think no Christian ever questions their faith?

Geee.......Why would anyone want to question a religion that expects you to have faith in stories of 2000 year old hoaxes and magic tricks, that was written at best 2nd or 3rd hand from the so called witnesses, then proceeds to rape your children and hide the culprits behind their vast bureaucracy??

No, no, no, don't question anything, just keep coming in on Sundays with your money for the collection plate and all will be fine, you will go meet allah and your 72 virgins and........... Oh wait am I confusing these works of fiction with each other?? They just all sound so made up it's hard to keep them straight.

Let's all just worship Unicorns and Dragons instead, I've read about those in books that are as fictional as the ones the rest of you worship and they are far less preachy, and more entertaining.

[muy_thaiguy]

Only a fool would believe in a god, be curious(presumably because that god created it so), and then never question the existence of that god which you've never seen and have no evidence of.

Lol you really think no Christian ever questions their faith?

Geee.......Why would anyone want to question a religion that expects you to have faith in stories of 2000 year old hoaxes and magic tricks, that was written at best 2nd or 3rd hand from the so called witnesses, then proceeds to rape your children and hide the culprits behind their vast bureaucracy??

No, no, no, don't question anything, just keep coming in on Sundays with your money for the collection plate and all will be fine, you will go meet allah and your 72 virgins and........... Oh wait am I confusing these works of fiction with each other?? They just all sound so made up it's hard to keep them straight.

Let's all just worship Unicorns and Dragons instead, I've read about those in books that are as fictional as the ones the rest of you worship and they are far less preachy, and more entertaining.

Oh, did you have a traumatic childhood where your family suggested you be religious but then you threw a temper tantrum (like now)?

[neanderpaul14]

Only a fool would believe in a god, be curious(presumably because that god created it so), and then never question the existence of that god which you've never seen and have no evidence of.

Lol you really think no Christian ever questions their faith?

Geee.......Why would anyone want to question a religion that expects you to have faith in stories of 2000 year old hoaxes and magic tricks, that was written at best 2nd or 3rd hand from the so called witnesses, then proceeds to rape your children and hide the culprits behind their vast bureaucracy??

No, no, no, don't question anything, just keep coming in on Sundays with your money for the collection plate and all will be fine, you will go meet allah and your 72 virgins and........... Oh wait am I confusing these works of fiction with each other?? They just all sound so made up it's hard to keep them straight.

Let's all just worship Unicorns and Dragons instead, I've read about those in books that are as fictional as the ones the rest of you worship and they are far less preachy, and more entertaining.

Oh, did you have a traumatic childhood where your family suggested you be religious but then you threw a temper tantrum (like now)?

Actually I was raised Catholic, however the only childhood traumas I had involved a fish bone I choked on once when I was about 6 or 7, prior to the Heimlich Maneuver being widely known. Then once my parents left me at a store while on vacation in Myrtle Beach and drove off. Fortunately for me I must not have been cute enough for your sick, twisted, pedophile priests to be interested in.

Then after reaching an age where I could think for myself I made the rational decision to stop believing in the pile of crap my mommy and daddy were trying to feed me which included Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and all this religious crap about people doing half-assed magic tricks.

As for a temper tantrum; where, when, why, or how did I have on?? I merely stated my side in a debate. Is disagreeing with you considered a temper tantrum in your little mind? Or is disagreeing with your ideas considered a sin in your shallow little religion??

[Snorri1234]

I understand there is no evidence and that, as time goes on, there is more evidence showing that God does not exist.

I don't believe that's true at all. There is no evidence one way or another. Scientific discoveries merely show a different way that God may have gone about his business (presuming he USED evolution and such to get things to where they are now, which really only makes sense to me).

We're running out of places for God to hide.

I think that's probably the main reason why I identify as an atheist and not an agnostic. Every discovery comes no further in telling us anything about god or disproving him, every time it's "ooh maybe God just uses it and the biblical stories are obviously just allegories". I just wonder why we're even bothering with this whole God-thing. We don't need evidence that God doesn't exist, we can safely assume he doesn't untill he shows himself.

[muy_thaiguy]

Only a fool would believe in a god, be curious(presumably because that god created it so), and then never question the existence of that god which you've never seen and have no evidence of.

Lol you really think no Christian ever questions their faith?

Geee.......Why would anyone want to question a religion that expects you to have faith in stories of 2000 year old hoaxes and magic tricks, that was written at best 2nd or 3rd hand from the so called witnesses, then proceeds to rape your children and hide the culprits behind their vast bureaucracy??

No, no, no, don't question anything, just keep coming in on Sundays with your money for the collection plate and all will be fine, you will go meet allah and your 72 virgins and........... Oh wait am I confusing these works of fiction with each other?? They just all sound so made up it's hard to keep them straight.

Let's all just worship Unicorns and Dragons instead, I've read about those in books that are as fictional as the ones the rest of you worship and they are far less preachy, and more entertaining.

Oh, did you have a traumatic childhood where your family suggested you be religious but then you threw a temper tantrum (like now)?

Actually I was raised Catholic, however the only childhood traumas I had involved a fish bone I choked on once when I was about 6 or 7, prior to the Heimlich Maneuver being widely known. Then once my parents left me at a store while on vacation in Myrtle Beach and drove off. Fortunately for me I must not have been cute enough for your sick, twisted, pedophile priests to be interested in.

Then after reaching an age where I could think for myself I made the rational decision to stop believing in the pile of crap my mommy and daddy were trying to feed me which included Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and all this religious crap about people doing half-assed magic tricks.

As for a temper tantrum; where, when, why, or how did I have on?? I merely stated my side in a debate. Is disagreeing with you considered a temper tantrum in your little mind? Or is disagreeing with your ideas considered a sin in your shallow little religion??

If it was merely disagreeing, I would have left it alone, but since you chose to belittle what I believe in like a 13 year old brat, it annoyed me.

[john9blue]

If it was merely disagreeing, I would have left it alone, but since you chose to belittle what I believe in like a 13 year old brat, it annoyed me.

Every time he said "fictional", "unicorns" or whatever, it was a begging the question fallacy, he assumed that God didn't exist to convince us that God didn't exist. Not too bright are you paul?

[Neoteny]

I lol'd.

[Woodruff]

I don't believe that's true at all. There is no evidence one way or another. Scientific discoveries merely show a different way that God may have gone about his business (presuming he USED evolution and such to get things to where they are now, which really only makes sense to me).

We're running out of places for God to hide.

Not really, not if God is everywhere.

I think that's probably the main reason why I identify as an atheist and not an agnostic. Every discovery comes no further in telling us anything about god or disproving him, every time it's "ooh maybe God just uses it and the biblical stories are obviously just allegories". I just wonder why we're even bothering with this whole God-thing. We don't need evidence that God doesn't exist, we can safely assume he doesn't untill he shows himself.

I don't particularly "bother" with it...I just happen to find it a fascinating discussion that really shows a lot about each person's psychology.

[MeDeFe]

I don't believe that's true at all. There is no evidence one way or another. Scientific discoveries merely show a different way that God may have gone about his business (presuming he USED evolution and such to get things to where they are now, which really only makes sense to me).

We're running out of places for God to hide.

Not really, not if God is everywhere.

But then he's rather... well, boring. Scientifically and philosophically.

[Woodruff]

I don't believe that's true at all. There is no evidence one way or another. Scientific discoveries merely show a different way that God may have gone about his business (presuming he USED evolution and such to get things to where they are now, which really only makes sense to me).

We're running out of places for God to hide.

Not really, not if God is everywhere.

But then he's rather... well, boring. Scientifically and philosophically.

According to the Christian depiction, he's VERY boring, yes.

[notyou2]

My god is really cool, drives a Harley, has tattoos and does whatever he wants. He's not boring. Oh wait, I guess he's just another dreamed up god.

[Frigidus]

To clarify any references I might make to fictitious creatures, I'm not trying to compare religion to them (although I might think it privately at times ). I'm just using them to follow someone's logic. This comic explains it pretty well.

[john9blue]

God would have the same status as a leprechaun if there weren't about a hundred arguments for His existence.

[Baron Von PWN]

God would have the same status as a leprechaun if there weren't about a hundred arguments for His existence.

Humor us with a couple.

[john9blue]

Humor us with a couple.

Google is your friend, and unless you refute every last one (or judging by the fact that there is still a debate at all), you cannot say with any real certainty that God doesn't exist. Same for the theists.

[neanderpaul14]

If it was merely disagreeing, I would have left it alone, but since you chose to belittle what I believe in like a 13 year old brat, it annoyed me.

Am not, am not, am not.......

Every time he said "fictional", "unicorns" or whatever, it was a begging the question fallacy, he assumed that god didn't exist to convince us that god didn't exist. Not too bright are you Paul?

Well bright enough not to believe in a 2000 year old story book

God would have the same status as a leprechaun if there weren't about a hundred arguments for His existence.

So now you believe in leprechauns too??

[Frigidus]

God would have the same status as a leprechaun if there weren't about a hundred arguments for His existence.

Arguments about gods aside, that comic seems to me to serve a better purpose of arguing against agnosticism than thiesm. I will admit that thiests come at you with more than "well, it is plausible, I guess".

[Baron Von PWN]

Humor us with a couple.

Google is your friend, and unless you refute every last one (or judging by the fact that there is still a debate at all), you cannot say with any real certainty that God doesn't exist. Same for the theists.

I have heard an awefull lot of arguments for god's existence I haven't realy seen any that could'nt also apply to leperchauns or the FSM or unicorns. I will concede to probably no god on a purely academic stance, but I think it more probable there is no god.