Do you believe in God?

[f_Anna_tastic]

I'm an Atheist.

I've never seen any evidence for a god or gods

[mac1]

I'm an Atheist.

I've never seen any evidence for a god or gods

How do you expalain the formation of the solar system and the development of the earth and life on it? Yes, I support evolution to a great extent and believe that evolution and creationism coexist. However, what force do you believe is responsible or controlling in the formation?

[Jess42]

I'm an Atheist.

I've never seen any evidence for a god or gods

I am definately on the other side because I see no evidence that there isn't something that is planned. Especially as chaotic and dangerous and destructive as our physical universe is yet we are in a very special part of the galaxy that is extrememly tame enough for complex organisms to thrive and the blueprints of life to become so complex. That this planet is so perfectly balanced to support life when so many others are not and not just in this solar system alone. Are we special? No just extrememly lucky for now. But maybe, just maybe a little bit of intervention caused it to be this way. I think life is fairly abundant in the Universe but complex life, maybe not so much. But again and I have to state that my views of a Creator does not stem from any religion. Just coincidence and evolution and the and the way things seem to be in a balance of constant cycle of life and death and rebirth and destruction. It's pretty much self sustaining.

Some of us may believe in God and some of us not, personally I think we are all right to an extent, but I think a bigger more philosophical question is, does God believe in us? Or better yet, do we believe enough in ourselves to keep from self destruction? Or to be able to survive a global catostrophic event and be able to send some of us to another place in order for the human race to survive? I know it sounds far fetched but not really. Look at the asteroid that blew up over Russia? What if it would have been a thousand times bigger? The Yellowstone volcanoe is really getting close to its normal cycle which as big as it is would probably kill most of the humans in this country and possibly on a global scale too and possibly set off chain reactions around the ring of fire that may very well end human existance on this planet. The world and nature and the cosmos are dangerous places and we have been really lucky. But the biggest threat to us are ourselves through ideas of genocide, hate for one another and some ideas of religion that may or may not even be true or may or may not be the whole picture. So the big question is if God exists, does God have enough faith in us or believe enough in us to allow us to continue on? This question I have never heard from any religion.

So I've never really seen any proof of God either 'cause I have never had my prayer answered. But I've never really seen any proof that there isn't a God either. The complexity of life and evolution is just too coincidental to be a coincidence.

[Stephanie2]

The subject of a god is so very controversial. I usually play it safe by saying I am agnostic. So, middle of the road, as I could go either way. It is like the paranormal. I seem to have some "evidence" of that, as in EVP's (Electronic Voice Phenomena), but we really don't know what it is for sure. Many skeptics on that, as well. Interesting topic, though.

[Jess42]

The subject of a god is so very controversial. I usually play it safe by saying I am agnostic. So, middle of the road, as I could go either way. It is like the paranormal. I seem to have some "evidence" of that, as in EVP's (Electronic Voice Phenomena), but we really don't know what it is for sure. Many skeptics on that, as well. Interesting topic, though.

And really it shouldn't be a controversial subject at all. Either you believe or you don't believe. Or you believe this way and others believe that way. But we all have the choice to believe how we do and much of that is formed by life experiences. For some there is evidence and for others there is not. We should never judge others regardless and that is especially true about beliefs. But unfortuantley that isn't the case because a lot of lives throughout history have been lost because of someone else's views of God and the vanity that their view is the only right view. I guess I could be agnostic because I really wouldn't be surprized if there is or isn't but tend to believe more that there is but way more complicated than just good=heaven and bad=hell.

[Khaleesie Fiona]

I'm also an atheist. As for the questions about who 'built' the universe, who says it was built? And just because we don't know where something came from, or don't know how it works doesn't mean it's magic......

[Nami]

I'm agnostic.

I don't believe in any god or goddess, nor is there any actual proof of one. But I also don't disbelieve in the notion of something greater existing.

[Eris]

I feel that I'm in a similar position to Nami. I don't discount the possibility that there may be one or multiple beings with abilities beyond our comprehension. One or more of which may well have been responsible for life on Earth.

I don't however believe for one moment that if there is a deity that would lay down a set of instructions to a select few individuals in remote locations with no witnesses. It's illogical. If a deity wanted to make their will known then they would tell everyone.

But unfortunately that isn't the case because a lot of lives throughout history have been lost because of someone else's views of God and the vanity that their view is the only right view.

I think it's fear rather than vanity.
The fear that they might be wrong and that they don't have any understanding of what will happen when they die.
If there are dissenters who question their doctrine or propose an alternate thesis then they are compelled to silence them, because if everyone agrees with them then they "can't be wrong" right?
I mean "we can't all be wrong now can we?"

It reminds me of the Asch experiments into conformity. He found that the majority of people would change their answers (when the answers were always obvious) to conform with an incorrect majority provided that the other members of the group were united in their position.
When questioned several of the participants said that they didn't think that the rest of the group could all be wrong, so they felt that they themselves must not have been interpreting the information correctly.
But if even one of the experimenter's confederates gave the correct answer then the participants were far less likely to be swayed by those who were obviously wrong.

I think a lot of religious leaders live in fear that if people speak up against their teachings then the rest of their followers might start thinking critically and daring to raise their own questions.
Questions to which they do not have the answers.


I guess you could say that I believe in the possibility of god, but not the possibility that an organised religion based around god knows anything about god.

[Eevee]

I neither believe nor disbelieve. Maybe God exists, but until I'm more sure, I won't break my back to please someone who might not even be there. I don't put that much faith into the unknown.

[Tysilio]

No.
.........

The little cousin dashed in
from her friends outside:
"Mother, what
do we think about God?"
My aunt's brisk answer:
"We think God is silly."

My cousin dashed back
with the news.

-- Thom Gunn

[Jess42]

I think it's fear rather than vanity.
The fear that they might be wrong and that they don't have any understanding of what will happen when they die.
If there are dissenters who question their doctrine or propose an alternate thesis then they are compelled to silence them, because if everyone agrees with them then they "can't be wrong" right?
I mean "we can't all be wrong now can we?"

Well you could be right on the fear thing Falconer but I still tend to believe it is more in vanity than anything else. Sort of like, "My God is better than your God." Or rather "My perceptions of God are better than your perceptions of God." Or better yet, "I am right and everyone else is wrong because God told me." But also the fear element is instrumental when it comes to controlling the masses. Like, "If you don't do what I say because God told me this is the way, you will be punished and tortured forever." Hold people's eternal selves hostage and they will do anything you want if they think you have inside information and the key to eternal bliss.

Personally when it comes to God or the perceptions of who or what God is, I say this over and over again, there are no rights and there are no wrongs. A lot of our perceptions are formed psychologically through our life experiences. But I do think a lot of organized religions tend to bring the concept of God down to a human level and in no way do I believe God can even be relateable completely to humans either through perceptions or concepts. I mean most religions when talking about God reference God as "He". To me that is a lot of assumption. I have said many times that I believe God is so far above our understanding that we may never know or grasp exactly what the true concept of God is.

I'm also an atheist. As for the questions about who 'built' the universe, who says it was built? And just because we don't know where something came from, or don't know how it works doesn't mean it's magic......

I definately agree with this line of thinking. I'm not athiest but man has an incessant need for a beginning and and ending. So we have the Big Bang theory but what if the Universe is and always has been? With no beginning or ending just recycling itself and sustaining itself through destruction and reconstruction or death and life? Even our concepts of time are linear, a straightline that had to begin somewhere and is going to end somewhere. Even theoretical physists like Michio Kaku theorize that the multiverse theory exists possibly at different resonances and vibrational levels right along side one another. Einstien theorised that the past, present and future are happening simultaneously. Which isn't that far fetched if you think about it. All we can percieve is this tiny moment of awarenss of being. The past is nothing more than memories in our Psyches and the future is nothing more than fantasies in our Psyches. The only thing we have proof positive of is right now, wait for it...NOW. Then it's gone that fast and then resides in a mental state only. One thing that we can all agree on is that the Universe and the possiblities in it are as infinate as our imaginations. Whether you believe in God or some other devine entity or not. I personally believe in God but my mind remains open to who or what God may be. Or eventually may be or even just a story to make humans feel better to beat back the fear of death.

Now the local susan's crazy lady, me, will shut up.

[peky]

How many here believe in God, how many here are atheist/agnostic, etc. . .

Hard not to believe when She talks to me every day... I love Her so very much!

[stephaniec]

Hard not to believe when She talks to me every day... I love Her so very much!

I thank god everyday for me

[Hayley]

I have a hard time with the concept of god or any religion. My personal believe is religion or spirituality are very personal things. God, gods, goddesses or whatever people believe is what they deal with. If you are Christian you follow your book and do your ritual or whatever you need when you die you go to heaven. You believe in Buddhism you go thru the cycles of life and death. And so on with other religions. Not sure if this has to do with the topic but yeah finally on to the topic.

For me no I don't believe in God. Or any god. I tried the whole church thing from 16-19 I never once heard anything that made me feel like the stories of the bible weren't just gross exaggerations of people's accounts of what was heard and said. I can understand that some of the morality issues are important, and the bible does have good concepts but as a whole I can't get behind outdated beliefs.

Also "If Lot was righteous, I think I'd rather not be" very much rings true for me.

[Kaydee]

I used to believe in a personal god.   I was a member of a mainline christian church for about 20 years.  However I have found much of what they believed about god and much of the worldview held by these churches and their members to be wrong (imho).  This leaves me doubting whether they - or I - really believed in a real god.

Since discovering I am trans 6 months ago I find the concept of a caring god hard to grasp.  Why would s/he do this to me?   Perhaps after I transition I will have the room to admit the existence of a god.   Right now I have to go with agnostic.

[ThePersona]

I'm an Atheist.

I've never seen any evidence for a god or gods

The point is to believe WITHOUT evidence, I mean we asks for signs but do they ever get answered? Point is, that's why it's called faith.

[Khaleesie Fiona]

The point is to believe WITHOUT evidence, I mean we asks for signs but do they ever get answered? Point is, that's why it's called faith.

And therein lies the problem, or at least a major problem for many people. One can have faith that Grasshoppers will eventually take over, but faith is nothing more than an 'unfounded belief'. People had faith that the planet was flat, at one time.

I don't begrudge people their beliefs, but the whole 'faith' argument is so flawed. I can have faith that I will eventually become filthy rich, but what are the odds of that for a regular ole American? Not too good.

It's tough when people walk up with a book, tell you to read it and have faith that it's all true. Never mind that a great deal of it can't possibly be true. I look back and am appalled at all the attrocities that have been committed by religion, it's sad.

I respect spirituality far more than religion. In my eyes, religion is a business...

No offense meant to anyone, just a conversation.

[Jess42]

And therein lies the problem, or at least a major problem for many people. One can have faith that Grasshoppers will eventually take over, but faith is nothing more than an 'unfounded belief'. People had faith that the planet was flat, at one time.

I don't begrudge people their beliefs, but the whole 'faith' argument is so flawed. I can have faith that I will eventually become filthy rich, but what are the odds of that for a regular ole American? Not too good.

It's tough when people walk up with a book, tell you to read it and have faith that it's all true. Never mind that a great deal of it can't possibly be true. I look back and am appalled at all the attrocities that have been committed by religion, it's sad.

I respect spirituality far more than religion. In my eyes, religion is a business...

No offense meant to anyone, just a conversation.

You are extremely worng in that as asessment Khaleesie, It won't be grasshopper it'll be cockroaches. They can supposedly survive a nuclear holocaust. And that's probably gonna be what wipes us out.

I definately agree with you on riligion being a bif business, probably way more profitable than normal businesses and coporations. They don't have to pay taxes.

I used to believe in a personal god.   I was a member of a mainline christian church for about 20 years.  However I have found much of what they believed about god and much of the worldview held by these churches and their members to be wrong (imho).  This leaves me doubting whether they - or I - really believed in a real god.

Since discovering I am trans 6 months ago I find the concept of a caring god hard to grasp.  Why would s/he do this to me?   Perhaps after I transition I will have the room to admit the existence of a god.   Right now I have to go with agnostic.

This unfortunatle is the big proble that I see with religions. People get fed up with what that organization thinks pr believes or the veil is lifted from their eyes and they just feel something isn't quite right or they see just how many people don't practice what they preach.

This is the problem if there is a God, plenty of organized religions that seem to have all the answer claim it is God that gave them the answers. God doesn't endorse religions I believe, as a matter of fact the Book of Revelation pretty much states this and the Churches will be judged. Like i say everybody judges God by these organized relgions and when they become disenchanted with them they end up blaming God. I know I have been one of them in the past. Most people relate God to these establishments when there is really very little God in them. It's mainly words that were written thousand of years ago. I ripped a Bible up to show a "true" Christian that the gates of Hell wouldn't open and swallow me, unfortunately he thought I as posessed but that's been 15 or 16 years ago and I'm still here.

As for an afterlife and the consciousness surviving outside of the body, I have some sort of proof through EVPs that something intellegent is reacting to questions I ask, or on a few quite clear answers.

[Wynternight]

I'm agnostic because I believe absence of evidence does not equal evidence of absence but I will, if I find there is one, ask what KIND OF SICK F**K makes transsexuals and allows someone to live this life of pain, misery, depression, and self-hatred. One that doesn't care or one that's a giant dick and get their jollies off watching.

[YinYanga]

Agnostic

Some would say I am a 'fence-sitter' but I just think it's reasonable. If I had to worship something it would be sun: It has no gender ,I love the warmth on my skin and it punishes me if I sunbathe without lotion