I'm not a believer myself, so I'm curious to what difference believing in God makes to your life?

Believing in God makes no difference in your life, it's the after-life that counts.

Just answers a few questions (Not by reading the bible or talking to priests). General understanding of things. The god I believe in won't send you to hell or any of that crap you read in the bible. Pay attention to Christianity and its teachings, not christianists and how they interpret the teachings. It is an individual thing and may become very personal.

you're right mojo, but if you think jesus said there was no hell, you're gonna need some verses and an army to back it up.

quote:Originally posted by Mojo Hojo:

Just answers a few questions (Not by reading the bible or talking to priests). General understanding of things. The god I believe in won't send you to hell or any of that crap you read in the bible. Pay attention to Christianity and its teachings, not christianists and how they interpret the teachings. It is an individual thing and may become very personal.



Hm. Kudos for you.

If this was my only life I'd wanna be more careful with it, but since I believe we reincarnate I have more courage to take more risks.

I find it hilarious that most people equate God with christianity so intimately.

GOD IS GOD IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE OUR DOGMA, NOR DOES IT CONFORM TO OUR BELIEFS. IT SIMPLY IS.

quote:Originally posted by napoleon_complex:

Believing in God makes no difference in your life, it's the after-life that counts.

That is only partly true...

It DOES determine what happens to you in the afterlife, however it ALSO affects how you perceive the world while you are still in your physical body.

A heightened level of conscience kicks in. Also, during times of duress, a situation will not seem so hopeLESS, because the one who created you is on your side.

And if you are listening, God will tell you the things you need to do...so there is an added purpose to your life.

These are just a few things that change once you dedicate your life to the Lord.

quote:Originally posted by Mojo Hojo:

Just answers a few questions (Not by reading the bible or talking to priests). General understanding of things. The god I believe in won't send you to hell or any of that crap you read in the bible. Pay attention to Christianity and its teachings, not christianists and how they interpret the teachings. It is an individual thing and may become very personal.



Yup, the Bible is crap, even though God commands us to use it as a handbook for our lives.

But I do agree with you about concentrating solely on what God wants you to do, and not what man is convinced that God wants you to do.

Here's what I do: I read the Bible. I use the Strong's Concordance for referencing, and a Hebrew to English translator, so that I understand completely what it is that I am reading. I don't practice a religion, though I cannot be called anything other than a "Christian", because I am a follower of Christ. I am non-denominational, however.

If you ask God to come into your life, there is no "MAY" in how personal your relationship with Him can become. It is a definite that it will be personal, on levels you could never imagine, because humans are incapable of such things on their own.

quote:Originally posted by ---Beany---:

If this was my only life I'd wanna be more careful with it, but since I believe we reincarnate I have more courage to take more risks.

This is getting off topic, but why do you believe we reincarnate ? What have you seen that would support that idea ? (I am honestly asking...perhaps you have seen some things that I haven't.)

Looking forward to your response.

http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Dead Helmsman:

I find it hilarious that most people equate God with christianity so intimately.

GOD IS GOD IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE OUR DOGMA, NOR DOES IT CONFORM TO OUR BELIEFS. IT SIMPLY IS.

AMEN !

This eternal debate about a concept that is life and our universe. Why the labels and tags.

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

AMEN !

digital, if you really meant that 'amen!' then you and i essentially believe the same thing.

quote:Originally posted by manjiBoy:

I'm not a believer myself, so I'm curious to what difference believing in God makes to your life?

some people religion is like addictive drugs, that's a shitty way to put it but religion takes over some people lives, think about it, like in some 3rd world countries they have to obey their religions,

but here where i live in the US, i've seen some people so dedicated, that's like all they think about, it's sad to see such a waste but sometimes their lives are so shitty and beleiving in religion gives them hope, (false hope, in my opinion),and keeps them going but as long as it makes them happy, i'm fine with it.

but they're afraid to do "bad" things and sometimes are afriad of experimenting, some spend every sunday (sometimes it's their only day off) at church.

personally religion doesnt affect my life, i'm not a beleiver in god but i try not to limit myself, i say try everything once but i have my own view on religion.



but think about it, it can affect lots of people lives, it really just depends on the person.

atleast that's how i intturpreted your question, if you were asking personally like how it affects my life, then i'm sorry for typing a bunch a crap.



edit: also digital savior theres something called an edit button so you don't have to make 4 posts in a row

[This message has been edited by Waterwings (edited 09-11-2004).]

quote:Originally posted by Eil:

digital, if you really meant that 'amen!' then you and i essentially believe the same thing.

Well, I think that is possible...

But perhaps you are too busy denying my ideals because you think I am only what I am labeled.."Christian".

Instead, I might actually have a brain, and know how to use it. http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

I agree with this poster 100%. MAN has screwed up God, not God Himself.

But, He must see some purpose in that, or He would put a stop to it.

Anyway...thanks for the post.

quote:edit: also digital savior theres something called an edit button so you don't have to make 4 posts in a row

When I reply to someone, I do it individually, for two reasons.

1. Respect.

2. If a post is TOO long, it becomes cluttered. Also, I cannot spend the time cutting and pasting each person's post that I intend to reply to. I already spend too much time on this forum !

So, kindly mind your OWN posts. I know what I am doing, and why I do it.

http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

When I reply to someone, I do it individually, for two reasons.

1. Respect.

2. If a post is TOO long, it becomes cluttered. Also, I cannot spend the time cutting and pasting each person's post that I intend to reply to. I already spend too much time on this forum !

So, kindly mind your OWN posts. I know what I am doing, and why I do it.

http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

well good excuse, i apologize

quote:Originally posted by Waterwings:

atleast that's how i intturpreted your question, if you were asking personally like how it affects my life, then i'm sorry for typing a bunch a crap.



I was hoping for more personal responses, but your post wasn't a bunch of crap, kinda interesting really.

Anyway, from what I can tell from everyone's replies (sorry if I'm oversimplifying at all) is that believing in God has two main benefits-

- A change in understanding of life. (not sure how to interpret that)

- Gives hope for the future (either in an afterlife or in this one) and reassurance when you're going through a bad time.

If there's anything I'm missing then please tell me, and also, it'd help alot with my understanding if you can give SPECIFIC examples of how God has affected your life, ie. like how he might have reassured you when someone you knew died, or anything like that, cheers.

[This message has been edited by manjiBoy (edited 09-14-2004).]

This thread raises an interesting point, one thtIve noticed and argued for years, that modern religion allows for NO significant change in perception at all compared to the actual secular religion that underlies all modern schools of thought. Existentially, a regular christian in America is no different than an atheist- he does see the sun as a power or a manifestation, only as the ball of gas he was taught in school. He lays with his wife with the same sentiment and lust that characterizes a secular union. He fathers children with the same spiritual sterility and neglect of any concern for a legacy.



Of course thats only ther regular folks- the fundie lunatics are in a different park altogether, but, not a spiritual one at all. They have completely erased their identity and called it religion, which is to me an abyssal, subterranean, grim, and downward spirituality.

No problem, Waterwings. An explanation is sometimes necessary in order to achieve understanding.

Peace. http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

This is getting off topic, but why do you believe we reincarnate ? What have you seen that would support that idea ? (I am honestly asking...perhaps you have seen some things that I haven't.

Doesn't it mention in the Bible that Jesus is a reincarnation of er.... can't remember his name?

Also it's believed that the bible did originally contain references to reincarnation, but later they all got removed , for some reason.

My beliefs run deep like a great big jigsaw puzzle, and my beliefs in reincarnation fit perfectly with the other peices.

I believe that we all originally came to earth as souls that are completely ignorant (Ignorant to who they are). Then as lives go by they learn more about life and themselves, gaining more wisdom as they go along.