Does God Exist?

[Sebby Michelango]

Does gender identity exist?

Off course the gender in our brain exist. I'm a proof and it's hard for other to deny it. If that didn't exist, I wouldn't exist as the person I'm today. I would probably not existing as me, but being a whole difference person. Either I would be me, just cis gender, guy all the ways. Or I would be what I would call "not existing as me", having both female brain and xx-chromosome body aka. female anatomy.

If I'm a guy with XX-chromosomes, how wouldn't gender identity exist then? What I am then??? Gender identity aka. gender brain structure are a biological part of the humans brain of which real gender we are. The body do often match, but a chromosome mistake may happening, so the brain and body doesn't match properly - so you can end up with gender (brain) and sex (between your legs) that are separate.

[Tamika Olivia]

On the free will issue, I think the Libet series of experiments is fairly robust evidence against the classic notion of free will, i.e. will being exercised by the conscious brain. Not without faults, mind, but they show fairly conclusively that decisions are made by the unconscious parts of the brain prior to the conscious mind making the decision. If you want to squeeze free will into the unconscious, there may be room in there.

[SonadoraXVX]

1. Does God exist?
-I believe it does, but human beings have anthropormorphise it.
2. Why or why not?
-God is nature, the cosmos, the creator of energy, energy itself, all that is around us, the sub atomic particles to the biggest natural phenomenon, like blackholes to supernovas to massive stars. Does God do our bidding? Nope, we do Nature's bidding. Can we manipulate nature or replicate it? Its possible, but we ourselves are part of the total natural/god experience/phenomenon, since we are life, and earth is life, other than inert gases and rocks.

My 2 cents. 

[autumn08]

And what's your view on these three positions?

What is my view on a deistic God, and the fine tuned universe argument?

The fine tuned universe argument states that because the universe appears designed for life, this is evidence of a designer. We can not prove or disprove this argument, but before Darwin we believed the Earth was designed for life, so a plausible theory is that our life sustaining universe emerged through random mutation, within a multiverse.

What is my view on a theistic God?

Belief in an established God causes both social cohesion and intolerance. Overall, we would be better off with more tolerance, but a diminishment in social cohesion can have devastating effects, if the level of opportunity is also low.

To tie the conversations on free will and God together, we do not a have a choice but to have free will, but the universe is deterministic, and thus I think the concept of divine punishment is wicked. I do not experience God, and I do not see any reason to follow any particular God's edicts, but the reason I am this way is a combination of my genetics and experiences. Thus, I do not think it would fair if a God that created the universe punished me for not following its edicts, when it did not provide the circumstances for me to believe in them.

[stephaniec]

1 yes

2 fundamental law without which there would be no need for conciousnes , everything would just exist with no need to question it.

[autumn08]

1 yes

2 fundamental law without which there would be no need for conciousnes , everything would just exist with no need to question it.

Do you think consciousness can arise from natural selection?

[Deborah]

Do you think consciousness can arise from natural selection?

The theory of natural selection, understood properly, and taken to its logical ends can explain consciousness easily.  That doesn't mean that it proves it came about through natural selection though.   It's simply a feasible explanation.

A few years ago I read On The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin from cover to cover just to see what all the fuss was about.  My primary conclusion is that most people that object to it vociferously on the internet don't have a clue what they're arguing about.


Sapere Aude

[stephaniec]

Do you think consciousness can arise from natural selection?

To me consciousness and the attainment or pursuit  of it by an organism goes hand in hand with natural selection. The building of the platform of consciousness how does the organism achieve that goal. trail and error , like what form of bone structure allows an animal to succeed. It's just in my own personal belief is that consciousness and the consciousness of the creator are intertwined or as I believe is God's gift in order to contemplate the origin of that which is contemplating. Biology is the scaffolding  through which consciousness is  achieved.

[SamKelley]

The fine tuned universe argument states that because the universe appears designed for life, this is evidence of a designer. We can not prove or disprove this argument, but before Darwin we believed the Earth was designed for life, so a plausible theory is that our life sustaining universe emerged through natural selection, within a multiverse.

It sounds like we may have reached similar conclusions autumn.

The fine tuned universe argument is beginning to be shown experimentally - the universe tends towards ever increasing entropy, and life (and even consciousness) is just the manifestation of that increasing entropy.

Jeremy England proposes "You start with a random clump of atoms, and if you shine light on it for long enough, it should not be so surprising that you get a plant".

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-new-physics-theory-of-life/

xx Sami

[autumn08]

It sounds like we may have reached similar conclusions autumn.

The fine tuned universe argument is beginning to be shown experimentally - the universe tends towards ever increasing entropy, and life (and even consciousness) is just the manifestation of that increasing entropy.

Jeremy England proposes "You start with a random clump of atoms, and if you shine light on it for long enough, it should not be so surprising that you get a plant".

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-new-physics-theory-of-life/

xx Sami

Thank you for the interesting article, Sami! 

[Mew]

As per request of Riley, who thinks i can contribute something to this conversation, i will reply.

Do I think God exist?
I cant really say for sure because i focus on whats real. Things I can taste, touch,feel, hear, and see. Because this celestial body known as God is comprised of spirit energy, I can neither feel touch taste see nor hear it. With thorough reading of the bible from front to cover and cover to front as well as comparing the events written to the events that have truly happen, I've deduced that not everything in the bible adds up which in turns makes me doubt its truly God's word and that God is just a concept created during the common era. Upon further reading, there are disturbing details written, I will not say them as this is my opinion and i do not want to disregard any person's belief for what they believe in or not is not any of my concern nor do i have the right to judge, anyways these details clearly show me that God is either evil or people have used this concept called "God" as a source to manipulate, but again this is all my opinion.

Why do I think this?
I can't ignore some of the things written as well as people using " because God said it in his word" as an excuse for there actions without justification. God does not guide our actions, we as beings with free will do. While we are on this mortal plan, it is our responsibility to take action for ourselves. I've seen to many people fall flat because they believe God will provide for them and it doesn't go well for them because they stop believing in their own success. I have on the other hand seen peace in people's eyes because believing in a higher being provides them with a sense of peace and assurance as well as motivation to become something greater or at least become better than they were the day before. I believe if believing in God or some form of higher power helps you through the day, you should keep at it and don't be afraid to show it to. People have different opinions so no matter what it is, just keep doing you and don't let anyone knock you down because of it

[autumn08]

As per request of Riley, who thinks i can contribute something to this conversation, i will reply.

Do I think God exist?
I cant really say for sure because i focus on whats real. Things I can taste, touch,feel, hear, and see. Because this celestial body known as God is comprised of spirit energy, I can neither feel touch taste see nor hear it. With thorough reading of the bible from front to cover and cover to front as well as comparing the events written to the events that have truly happen, I've deduced that not everything in the bible adds up which in turns makes me doubt its truly God's word and that God is just a concept created during the common era. Upon further reading, there are disturbing details written, I will not say them as this is my opinion and i do not want to disregard any person's belief for what they believe in or not is not any of my concern nor do i have the right to judge, anyways these details clearly show me that God is either evil or people have used this concept called "God" as a source to manipulate, but again this is all my opinion.

Why do I think this?
I can't ignore some of the things written as well as people using " because God said it in his word" as an excuse for there actions without justification. God does not guide our actions, we as beings with free will do. While we are on this mortal plan, it is our responsibility to take action for ourselves. I've seen to many people fall flat because they believe God will provide for them and it doesn't go well for them because they stop believing in their own success. I have on the other hand seen peace in people's eyes because believing in a higher being provides them with a sense of peace and assurance as well as motivation to become something greater or at least become better than they were the day before. I believe if believing in God or some form of higher power helps you through the day, you should keep at it and don't be afraid to show it to. People have different opinions so no matter what it is, just keep doing you and don't let anyone knock you down because of it

Hi Mew,


Thank you for sharing, and welcome to Susan's. 

[diane 2606]

If the christian god exists, why doesn't it protect those in the bible belt who believe, from tornadoes? If there's no benefit, why bother? The promise of eternal salvation is only to keep people from challenging the oligarchy.

[Devlyn]

The human race hasn't produced a single survivor yet. What do tornadoes have to do with it?

Hugs, Devlyn

[Deborah]

When I was a Christian, God used to save me parking places at the store.  But he was totally unable to do anything about the gender dysphoria.

I just can't figure out why that is?


Sapere Aude

[Mew]

I also forgot to mention a crucial detail. In the bible it states "only by God's grace will one be saved." this statement is crucial because it doesn't matter whether your pure of heart, if you don't have God's grace, you would not be able to enter into heaven. If you read the bible thoroughly, gaining God's grace is no simple matter and very few people have managed this feat which leads me to believe God is unimaginably cruel and plays favorites

[Deborah]

A widely held although not universal Christian belief is predestination.  That is God creates some to be born predestined for salvation and others for damnation.  Your free will is an illusion and your actions are irrelevant.  John Calvin as well as Thomas Aquinas, both extremely influential theologians, taught this doctrine and it is stated in Paul's letters.  So yes, if he exists he plays favorites.


Sapere Aude

[Emily R]

1- Of course it does!

2- But it is not necessarily as described by religions, that is in many ways just a selling job by organized religions to guide the people into following whichever religion they are selling, not as much now, but hundred and thouthads of years ago, before we had chat groups, blogs and weekepedia where people can hear each other express their opinions and discuss pro/cons or why and why not of every subject there is.

First, With some minor scientific background and a lot of interest in the evolution of the Universe, I have read about the Big Bang and even allowing for dark matter, it cannot be fully explained where and how eveything started, it appears that it came from nothing and that it has been expanding ever since. A higher power called God , Buddha or whatever you like almost had to start the process.

Second,  How can anyone that has seen a baby born and understand how reproduction works can believe that we and all animals started from the provervial soup with some amino-acids and simple chemicals and that evolution have made us reach where we are today.  I do believe in evolution and not creation, BUT it is very very difficult to believe that we all started from the same and that we became what we are today without somebody or something guiding our path to become what we are.

Third:  In moments of desperation, I need to have some deity in which to believe that even if it cannot resolved my problems, at least will give me the understanding to overcome those problems and allow me to face reality without destroying myself.

I guess I need to believe in something!

Emily

[diane 2606]

The human race hasn't produced a single survivor yet. What do tornadoes have to do with it?

Hugs, Devlyn

Every spring, through Kansas and Oklahoma, tornadoes rip through villages and towns. Christians say if you believe and pray bad stuff won't happen to you. Doesn't work, does it?

[Stevie]

 
  Just because something is beyond our understanding does not mean its cause is supernatural.

  Why would god send Moses to ask Pharaoh to let the slaves go free, and every time  Pharaoh agrees to let them leave "god hardens Pharaohs heart" and Pharaoh changes his mind about letting them leave. As a result of not letting them leave god sends plagues  to punish Pharaoh culminating in the genocide of all of Egypt's first born children. If the god of the bible does exist he is a psychopath.

People often ask the hypothetical question if you could go back in time and kill Hitler would you? It might be better to go back in time and kill Abraham for starting this mess.