Do you believe in God? Not religion, just that there is a God.

It doesn't have to be in relation to any belief just that there is some sort of force or laws or being that created the world we live in.

If you do, then do you believe that it is a cognitive, living(so to speak), and basically an actual supreme being.

Or do you believe theres is a chance that 'God' is just a force or a set of natural laws which control and govern everything in existance and never change?

yah I believe there is a God. but I also aknowlegde the chance that there isnt but I believe in God.

When I was a kid I use to believe in it, but that's because that is what my grandma tried to teach me. As I grew up, became more educated, read studies on sociology, and other various anthropological studies - i came to the conclusion there is no god. Much of the logic behind religion is contradicting, has no proof (but 'faith' is there way of dealing with no proof), and well - I have different views on it. Religion is relative to individuals.

1) I think some people need religion. Some are weak and need it, and other may need it because they have a fear of some god - and it keeps them inline, so to speak.

2) Some people are just taught from the day the were born that there is a 'god' and they are stuck with it for the rest of their lives. Also, it seems that a lot of church go-ers, a majority are there because their parents made them go, when they rather be at home sleeping. Not to mention, half the parents are balancing their checkbooks, or something else anyways while they are in church. I would say a majority of christians aren't hardcore christians, they are just beleivers. Almost, athiest or agnostic.

3) Humans since ages ago have not had answers for many things (now we have science), and a 'god' or some entity was there answer for 'all that is'. In other words, they just didn't know.

* Sometimes I wonder if there were just some genius people long ago, that devised 'religion' and figured through skilled persuasion, manipulation, and trickery - could basically mind control the population. And as time went on, the 'believed' stories were passed from people to people, tribe to tribe, and religion became huge! Just a thought, not likely though...

I don't know...I don't feel like ranting on. Basically, I use to when I was a kid - as I grwe up I realized it was all BS. Any question I asked, or wanted an explanation for - there often wasn't one, just a 'have faith' answer. It's just like Santa Clause, or the Easter Bunny. I no longer have a fear and no worries. Most of my questions have been answered once I decided myself that this god was not real. I would have to say life is good now! I see people, friends jump around from religion to religion, most never happy with one. A lot of them have become just like me. And just because we aren't believers, doesn't make us bad people in the least.



Other things I have seen...from reading about religion, history various other things. it is apparent that even these christians weren't always so...christian. There have been MANY killings, murders, wars, acts of violence because of religion. The church has been corrupted for ages. Surely, it isn't a good thing as everyone may think. One thing that bothers me, is the hardcore christians - I am talking the Nuns, priests, people in the confessions, etc. They are REALLY naive. I have heard some of the stupidest, most racist, biased, segragational views and thoughts from such people. Their minds and thoughts are infected, and really are not in tune with the world and what happens around them. I will use my grandma as an example. *Keep in mind, my brother and I are both college students.* My grandma has said some of the following (she is very religious):

1) She called me up to tell me to watch over my brother when he goes to college. She heard my brother was going to live with his best friend (a guy) as a room mate in college, and she started saying watch out for my brother, make sur ehe is not gay! WTF? What kind of crap is that? Her religion has put all this 'hate gay' crap in her mind. I bet this is the origin of gay hate crimes, not to mention some racial ones. It's stuff like that, that pisses me off about religion. It warps peoples minds.

2) Rap music is the devil, don't listen to "black people music" she has said. I am not even going to comment on the rest of other things she said. But I think you get the idea. And sure, while not all christians are this delusional, the rest often seem to fall under the "I claim to be christian, but don't act like one should". that last classification, doesn't bother me - it what a lot of friends and people I meet in college seem to be like. Nothing wrong with it. I just don't need religion.

I think one of the funniest arguements I heard was: If there are so many religions, and almost all of them say that "If you do not believe and follow our religion, then you will go to hell. So it is safe to conclude, everyone will go to hell!" So true! So I figure, you might as well enjoy an uninhibited, free life as best you can. So you mormans who have always wanted to try a Cappucino or drink a Vanilla Pepsi, do it now or you won't be able to when you die! At least, can be happy knowing you can experience that much more - and that's just the start of it! But do you see how ridiculous some of this stuff is? What I can't drink caffiene? Why not? It's not like it was made by the devil! It's not like coffee was banned from heaven with Lucifer. I don't see any logic behind this. From a non-religious, health point of view I can see some reasoning. I work out and exercise, and my coaches always said don't drink coke during track meets - it will only make me dehydrate, and they were right. So I drank gatorade or water. But I don't see morman's competing everyday?!?! Unless, it's because they have to ride bikes, then I understand - it would be the same reason. While this is religion specific, there are similiar idiosyncrasies in other religions. So I figure, since nobody can figure out which is the right religion, the real god, or whos right - I stay neutral and let them keep fighting for ground, while I continue on in my happy life. Maybe when there is one religion standing and god has come down to show himself, and point out the right way out of all the religions...then maybe I will join. But right now, its kind of like figuring out which gang to join, and I think that's dumb.

I don't have an aim where I am going with this, just expressing some of my views and thoughts on this subject. Feel free to get mad and what not, or try and justify your ways - I have heard it all, and I understand a lot of it. But most if it doesn't sit well with me. Everything from why Morman's can't have a Coke & a smile with me, or women can't have abortions if they want. Especially, if they aren't even your religion. And of course, the controversy gets deeper and will enevr end, but whatever. I have made my decision, and I am happy. I just observe others, and it all just helps me observe different chracters, etc.

I believe that there exists what many people would label "God".

Aeon, you're so fucking right. Those are my thoughts exactly, for the most part. I've said so much of what you've said right here, in other threads before. I think we have close to what is the right idea. Besides, having a religion which restricts good things in life, like Christianity or Mormonism is alone enough for me not to feel devoted to living under that rule, that's other than the fact that I don't beleive in their God or what they percieve as a God at all.

Beany, what do you mean? Like a supreme being?

quote:Originally posted by ate'd:

Beany, what do you mean? Like a supreme being?

Yeah kinda. I guess you could say a universal consciousness that governs everything exept us (which we govern).

What we are experiencing now is the imagination of a universal consciousness. But we have the freedom to perceive God imagination however we want and act in it however we want (They're our experiences) and "God" has no qualms about whatever happens (why would he he's in heaven? all his thoughts are beautiful) Life is perfect in Gods eyes. Consciousness can't be destroyed, only changed to experience new experiences. Some may seem bad to us, but maybe they are just different and unknown.

You choose yourself, and the changes that are made to your mind.

Release your mind from all of pre-set associations made by man and you can be so much more, just by the power of freedom of thought. Whatever you think, you are. Your experience of life is that way because of how you believe it to be.

You may know from taking drugs that you can fully believe things that no-one else believes. Everyone says your trippin, but as far as you're concerned at that time it definatly is real. How do you know that what you are experiencing now isn't a realistic trip. It's real enough to you, but it might be false. How amazing would life be if your mind was so free that you could choose to imagine anything and it be 100% real in your eyes. Sound like heaven?

It's all possible. You just gotta learn and stay open minded.

Life is a like school. People do bad things, people do good things, people experiment, people do what they're told, people get punished, people get beat up for no reason but we all stay here until we've learnt the secrets of consciousness (of ourselves), then we graduate with a big smile on our faces.

I know you didn't ask for all that.