Is god really out there?

Chase · #11 06-05-2007, 01:19 PM

WWJD in this situation?

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HEDDY · #12 06-05-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase

WWJD in this situation?

I believe he defended his beliefs. I didn't see Santa in the Bible.

I was trying to be nice to her but what she wrote is offensive. She obviously typed what she did to stir up trouble and it worked.

I don't believe in Santa and her comment was frivolous.

Making statments like this are based on ignorance and the statements show a lack of knowledge and lack of openess to learn something new.

billy_bob_78 · #13 06-05-2007, 01:53 PM

I don't think there was any harm done in what Rangergirl said...the analogy was quite correct if somewhat harsh sounding. Come from the perspective of an atheist and you may see the truth in the matter. Dealing with someone religious, I usually try and step back and try and think what it would be to have a faith like they do. As for Heddy, I take exception to the fact that some believe believe it necessary to have faith to be good people, or to be happy. She may believe that God is real, but that's not something everyone believes. I could very well say Santa is real and whole heartedly believe it. Does it make it true? No. That's why it's called having faith.

lollsie21 · #14 06-05-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy_bob_78

I don't think there was any harm done in what Rangergirl said...the analogy was quite correct if somewhat harsh sounding. Come from the perspective of an atheist and you may see the truth in the matter. Dealing with someone religious, I usually try and step back and try and think what it would be to have a faith like they do. As for Heddy, I take exception to the fact that some believe believe it necessary to have faith to be good people, or to be happy. She may believe that God is real, but that's not something everyone believes. I could very well say Santa is real and whole heartedly believe it. Does it make it true? No. That's why it's called having faith.

What then of historical evidence? Jesus did in fact exist. This has been proven. Science still can't explain how we all came to be here, Christianity does. It is not just faith that guides us, history is on our side as well.

Heddy also never implied that only people who have faith are happy or good people. Don't twist words.

Also, the analogy wasn't correct. It is known that Santa does not exist, there have been no lives changed, no miracles performed, no books written. Believing in God is quite different from that I would think and it is rude to compare the two.

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Last edited by lollsie21; 06-05-2007 at 02:11 PM..

HEDDY · #15 06-05-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy_bob_78

As for Heddy, I take exception to the fact that some believe believe it necessary to have faith to be good people, or to be happy.

Please clarify? Are you saying this is how I believe?

It makes me very sad to read what the non-believers have to say in regards to religion. It is something I have a hard time understanding. Believe me I have pretty much identified the aethists on this forum and from time to time I will say something that goes against there beliefs. Such as today.

You can believe what ever you want. I am not the one that will judge you, but I feel it is a gross neglience on my part to let blasphemy and incorrect thoughts about God go unaddressed.

This is my last comment. Sorry if I got off-topic.

billy_bob_78 · #16 06-05-2007, 02:18 PM

I never said that Jesus did not exist. In fact, I like the idea of what he teaches. The fact that Jesus did or did not live does not prove the fact of a God. To me, the analogy is correct for the simple fact that it cannot be proven there is a god. Call me rude or what you will, but in my mind, both are fictional characters. Lives are changed because of the belief in a god, not the existence. Miracles are thought to have been performed by god, not proven to be so. Books are written by men, who have proven themselves over and over again to be fallible. The difference between someone who is faithful and someone who is not, is that I can toy with the notion that there is a god, whereas it is much harder for someone who is faithful to entertain the notion that there is none.

Chase · #17 06-05-2007, 02:20 PM

Well said Billy, as this is a forum and all are free to join, of all faiths and mindsets, everyone should be prepared to face opinions that are drastically different then there own.

and for the record, there were books, and even movies, about Santa

billy_bob_78 · #18 06-05-2007, 02:21 PM

Heddy, my apologies if I misread your statement, which was this:
Do you ever stop and wonder that through all the bad in your life there is good as well.

It was sounding to me as if you were saying that religion was necessary to appreciate the good things in life.

lollsie21 · #19 06-05-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkangel4time

But god as the christians know today has only been in the mind for the last 2000 years or so. If he is the true and only god then why did he let his own people start to have faith in a god or gods that werent real?
Surely not all the people who lived before around 2000 years ago could of gone to hell???? Seriously

But technically they must ...seems they pretty much denied God ?

Its the same in the world today. There are lots of religions all believing different things and going against one another. But what proof do they have that there path is the right one?... Blind faith again!

How many people must die pointlessly in religious wars trying to prove something that cannot be proven, unless god decides to come down for a chat one day. But he hasnt done that so far so i ain't getting my hopes up...

i just dont see how people can believe truly that their god is the right and only one even though on the other side of the world there will be about 500 million others believing something totally different!

I also find it strange that each religion is confined to certain geographies..
According to christianity almost every one in the middle east is evil and wont be at peace after death and its the same vice versa. That sounds like religion is generally confined to likewise thinking Governments.

If that is so then who is to say that Governments didnt invent religion in the first place as a way of gaining compliance from their citizens?
It makes sense as religions are still being used today to start wars with other countries... And it would explain why each religion is confined to certain parts of the world.

Religion may have been a good idea thousands of years ago to make people live right when they needed to be told. But surely we have evolved to the point where we can make our own choices in life and know what is good and bad?

Why do we need religion to seperate us and make divides between groups and countries? Hasnt the madness gone far enough?

The God of the Bible has been around much longer than 2,000 years, even the original texts of the Bible have been around longer than that. That has been proven historically and scientifically.
I always find it fascinating that people accuse those with religious beliefs of blind faith. What gives you the right to suggest such a thing? I DO NOT KNOW a Christian who hasn't struggled with what they believe and how it affects their life. We believe that we are on the right path because what is the purpose of following something that you don't believe to be objective truth? Some of the Bible's contents have been proven, others require faith, so suggesting that we merely have faith and that is where it stops is false.
Also, for your information, God did come down to have a "chat" one day. You've heard of Jesus? He is God in human form and he was sent for 33 years to proclaim the word of God and to live a perfect life so that he might die for the sins of everyone. That includes those of you who doubt him.
The reason why we need "religion" (I actually don't like this word, I have a relationship with God) is because it is so much more than a list of what to do and what not to do. It is more than just a way of living. It is for the purpose of becoming closer to the very being who would send his son to die for my sins and in the process show that love to those who are around me.
It divides because you either believe it or you don't. You are either for it or you are against it. There is no shade of gray there. It's very black and white. Does this mean that I cannot fellowship with those who do not believe and I think they're all bad people? Absolutely not! I WANT to fellowship with those who do not believe because I feel that they are in a very dangerous place. A place where their very souls are at stake and how dare I not share with them the gift of which I have been blessed?

lollsie21 · #20 06-05-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy_bob_78

I never said that Jesus did not exist. In fact, I like the idea of what he teaches. The fact that Jesus did or did not live does not prove the fact of a God. To me, the analogy is correct for the simple fact that it cannot be proven there is a god.

Jesus said he was the Son of God. So, he either is who he said he was or he is a crazy man, which would then question why you would even like the idea of what he teaches, wouldn't it?

Last edited by lollsie21; 06-05-2007 at 02:36 PM..

Is god really out there?

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