Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
Forum Thread

Only read if you are NOT religious and/or do not believe in any 'supreme' being (othe

77,384 213,044 December 2, 2007 at 08:48 PM in Question
personal attacks will not be tolerated and will be mod alerted, if you wish to set someone apart use generalities, such as specific religion not speific person on SD for example

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
you dont get the right to feel insulted, u have been warned...

so, peeps, if you dont believe in god, do you feel that ones that do are delusional?

a lot of people will sight karma or other things as 'he got what he had coming' but i argue that it's all a mathematical randomness that on a small scale might seem like karma

perfect example is: when you play poker and u push with the best hand, a LOT of times, you can predict/be so sure that the card will come that will beat you even if the chance of it coming is less than 1:6. when the card comes, some might argue it as karma, but i argue that its all random, just on a small scale randomness doesn't work

discuss....

Community Wiki

Last Edited by Ram|bunc|tious December 6, 2007 at 06:15 AM


wikipost loves you too!

866 Comments

Your comment cannot be blank.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Aug 2003
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 22,811 Posts
2,637 Reputation
briang
12-04-2007 at 07:25 PM.
12-04-2007 at 07:25 PM.
Quote from SlicKitty :
Dear Mavtech,
Here are a few photos of me:
1. Me sitting at my computer, typing this to you:


and here's a Glamor Shot that I had taken at the mall. I think it makes me look big, but hey...you wanted a photo, so I guess we can have a relationship now?

2.


Love,
God

laugh out loud


LMAO No...you cannot. He's fantastic, not to mention complex...and really, really pissed at me for not coming to bed!

Good night!
same here.

well, i don't think your hubby's pissed at me, but if he is, tell him i'm sorry. my wife wants me to come to bed.

nite nite.
Reply
Joined Jul 2005
L9: Master
> bubble2 5,166 Posts
571 Reputation
sassysour
12-04-2007 at 07:27 PM.
12-04-2007 at 07:27 PM.
Quote from SlicKitty :
Dear Mavtech,
Here are a few photos of me:
1. Me sitting at my computer, typing this to you:


and here's a Glamor Shot that I had taken at the mall. I think it makes me look big, but hey...you wanted a photo, so I guess we can have a relationship now?

2.


Love,
God

laugh out loud


!
Oh great, now I have to listen to Mavtech tell me how the shadow's don't line up, and how his hair is going in one direction, then changes into another, and the lighting isn't the same. Mad laugh out loud
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,431 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
12-04-2007 at 07:29 PM.
12-04-2007 at 07:29 PM.
It does make more sense, thanks, but in a way it backs up parts of what I said earlier.
Again, not that it's a bad thing, it's just the way I see it.


Quote from SlicKitty :
Okay, let me try this, |V|ax (How do you do that?):
It's IVIax (the letter I, and the | sign) and just call me Max, most people do.


Quote from SlicKitty :
You're using god to answer the questions that you have no answer for. - Heavens, no. I rarely/never get direct answers from God, though I do notice steering when I'm lost, if I pray about it. For instance; last semester, I didn't know how I was going to pay for college. My office does not offer tuition reimbursement to my particular group. I prayed. I felt God leaning on me to ask the Top Dog in our Dept. I argued a bit. "God, our company doesn't do that!" But, I have learned better than to argue, so I shut my mouth on that and did what I felt God telling me to do. She offered to pay for one class/semester (which was all I could take during the summer, anyway)! I was floored! To the best of my knowledge, that has never happened before, at our company. I do believe that God opens doors for me when I ask, so in some ways, your statement is right-ish, but it again has nothing to do with me. God just does make provision in so many instances. I wouldn't say that He answers questions for me, like a Magic 8 Ball, but guidance? Yes.
Let me explain where that comment actually came from (I think Mav could understand where I'm coming from as well). The case of your surgery, there was a VERY small chance you'd survive (and I'm not belittling what happened to you), instead of saying luck (to which you have no answer for, you wouldn't understand how that small chance of survival actually landed on you -- and all of the things in day had to happen exactly as they did, and in your mind it can't just be luck), you say it was god.

So that's what I meant by god answers questions.

Yes believing in god actually does create more questions than answers in a way, so I can see where this question was taken the wrong way (we're thinking from different sides of it).

Quote from SlicKitty :
You're using god to believe in something, to make yourself feel whole. - Mmm...well...actually, sometimes I don't feel very good about myself on the whole, specifically because I know God. Sometimes, I feel there's more I could do. Sometimes, I feel I could have behaved better (it's happened to me right here, in this very thread). Sometimes, I think there's something more I could have done/said, or that my words didn't come out properly in some particular instance, but yes...in some instances, I do feel better for knowing God. Either way, it wouldn't matter if I felt better or worse for knowing God, because I just do know Him. It's like saying that I know my husband. I just know him. Whether I'm better or worse for it...I just know him. I happen to think I'm better off for knowing both God and my husband, but neither is a relationship I can deny.
Fair enough.
Reply
Joined Aug 2005
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 21,342 Posts
13,188 Reputation
catluver
12-04-2007 at 07:49 PM.
12-04-2007 at 07:49 PM.
Quote from BrgnHntr :
What the Bible says is that God allows evil to happen (but does not cause it)...whatever the source. How he chooses when and where to intervene is not something I would pretend to know.
I believe that would be Deism.
Reply
Joined Aug 2003
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 17,450 Posts
1,093 Reputation
Drio
12-04-2007 at 08:17 PM.
12-04-2007 at 08:17 PM.
Quote from Peachyum :
You lose nothing of yourself by forgiving someone else their small indiscretions, Drio. Taking the high road is better exercise for ya anyway. Big Grin

You're still trying to make this a free for all and it can't possibly be. You want to live your life as you have with no care for God in the least and then when you die, magically appear in heaven looking for a beer and forgiveness. Why would you possibly think you rate so highly in anyone's book?
I give up no more and no less than God would. Gain and loss of respect? Reputation? Being burned again by the person you forgave?

If he could look inside me and find a good person worthy of heaven. Great. I just don't like the idea of being denied for the sole reason that I wasn't a member of the fan club.

Again, it's not about me being pissed that I'm not getting in. It's what I find odd about his character.... right from the mouthes of his followers. (and ultimately, that's the reason I don't give the religion more merit) It's probably found in every organized religion.

It looks like the gang is all here now.... were any of you raised without your religion?
Reply
Joined Mar 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 12,777 Posts
1,208 Reputation
Imerson
12-04-2007 at 08:21 PM.
12-04-2007 at 08:21 PM.
Quote from IVIax :
Can't answer why this thread was started, but 500+ posts into the thread (with the religious -- PG, covercelery, peachyum, BrgnHntr, Sassysour, SlicKitty; vs the non-religious - Robor, Iconian, Mavtech, Drio, killerbootsman, PiratesSayARRR, Imerson, Arj, and myself) and no one started name calling and arguing and yelling and etc. This has gone fairly smoothly with no "outbreak" or downhill behaviors.
Wanted to point out that I am actually religious (or more spiritual) - I believe in a Christian God, but I don't believe in hell - so I guess I am playing devil's advocate in my arguments and trying to point out some things that I believe are problems with mainstream beliefs.

Quote from Jhaan :
There was some discussions awhile back on God's nature. For some reason, I have a hard time putting all of that into words without God sounding condemning, or judgmental, or powerless.

But I've heard two "sermons" that hit me every single time I hear 'em. The first is by John Lynch.

And the second is from the late S.M. Lockridge. (3 min youtube video [youtube.com])
Jhaan, I've read the part you quoted somewhere else you posted it, and it always gets me too. I think it represents the true personality of God that we've been missing all along.

Oh and I will reply to your PM soon Wink
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,431 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
12-04-2007 at 08:23 PM.
12-04-2007 at 08:23 PM.
Quote from Imerson :
Wanted to point out that I am actually religious (or more spiritual) - I believe in a Christian God, but I don't believe in hell - so I guess I am playing devil's advocate in my arguments and trying to point out some things that I believe are problems with mainstream beliefs.
Fair enough. Sorry I didn't realize you were playing DA, I thought you were serious.
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Mar 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 12,777 Posts
1,208 Reputation
Imerson
12-04-2007 at 08:32 PM.
12-04-2007 at 08:32 PM.
Quote from IVIax :
Fair enough. Sorry I didn't realize you were playing DA, I thought you were serious.
No problem, I understand how it could look that way! laugh out loud

Anyway I think we are going around in circles. SlicKitty and other religious people will continue to believe her experience was a miracle, while non-religious or seekers will see it as really good luck.

It really comes down to lining it up with your beliefs. If you believe God plays an active role in our lives, then it certainly looks like a miracle. If you question the existence of God or simply whether He reaches down to earth, SlicKitty having really good luck is the only possible explanation.

As for the idea of God being right to burn people in hell or annihilate them because they don't act like He wants them to, I have to agree with part of that. I do think God has a right to punish us, and many may deserve some kind of afterlife punishment (I have doubts on this though). But reading the debate on that what I've seen is not just the issue over whether God would condemn or annihilate, but the fact that a so-called loving and merciful God would do it.

I disagree with the position of other Christians on that one, and in my mind the God I believe in is loving and merciful. I think the issue here brought forth by questioners is whether or not the god that condemns or kills is loving and merciful.
Reply
Last edited by Imerson December 4, 2007 at 08:39 PM.
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,431 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
12-04-2007 at 08:38 PM.
12-04-2007 at 08:38 PM.
Quote from Imerson :
No problem, I understand how it could look that way! laugh out loud

Anyway I think we are going around in circles. SlicKitty and other religious people will continue to believe her experience was a miracle, while non-religious or seekers will see it as really good luck.

It really comes down to lining it up with your beliefs. If you believe God plays an active role in our lives, then it certainly looks like a miracle. If you question the existence of God or simply whether He reaches down to earth, SlicKitty having really good luck is the only possible explanation.

As for the idea of God being right to burn people in hell or annihilate them because they don't act like He wants them to, I have to agree with part of that. I do think God has a right to punish us, and many may deserve some kind of afterlife punishment (I have doubts on this though). But reading the debate on that what I've seen is not just the issue over whether God would condemn or annihilate, but the fact that a so-called loving and merciful God would do it.

I disagree with the position of other Christians on that one, and in my mind the God I serve is loving and merciful. I think the issue here brought forth by questioners is whether or not the god that condemns or kills is loving and merciful.
I completely agree with the first part (and I think someone stated it before).

As for the second part, I have a question for you then (just curious to see what religious people think / how they interpret their version of god)
-- I'm agnostic, live life like that. I never say I'm atheist, but unless god comes down and proves to me (scientifically) that he exists, I wont believe it. I live my life obiding most of his laws (because I think they would make me a better person, NOT because I believe in him), then I die and go up to heaven where hypothetically I meet god. I realized I was wrong my whole life and apologize to him. Would he let me in or not? (i.e. do you agree with Peachyum and Brgnhntr that unless I believed while I was alive on earth (before I saw proof) that god would slam the door in my face and tell me "sorry, I only have room for my kind")
Reply
Joined Mar 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 12,777 Posts
1,208 Reputation
Imerson
12-04-2007 at 08:45 PM.
12-04-2007 at 08:45 PM.
Quote from IVIax :
I completely agree with the first part (and I think someone stated it before).

As for the second part, I have a question for you then (just curious to see what religious people think / how they interpret their version of god)
-- I'm agnostic, live life like that. I never say I'm atheist, but unless god comes down and proves to me (scientifically) that he exists, I wont believe it. I live my life obiding most of his laws (because I think they would make me a better person, NOT because I believe in him), then I die and go up to heaven where hypothetically I meet god. I realized I was wrong my whole life and apologize to him. Would he let me in or not? (i.e. do you agree with Peachyum and Brgnhntr that unless I believed while I was alive on earth (before I saw proof) that god would slam the door in my face and tell me "sorry, I only have room for my kind")
I think God would be understanding of an agnostic, but I also think the Bible portrays unbelievers as sinning, so I don't know. It does say Jesus is the only way, so if God believed you were wrong, I would see it like this...

I think He would allow you into Heaven, but I also leave the possibility open for some kind of punishment. The issue with punishment is that I just can't line it up with the New Covenant and Jesus, who seemed to take away the whole eye for an eye thing. I think mostly we have to deal with the consequences of sin on earth, and for some possibly after death, but if there is an after-death punishment, I think it will be refining and purgatorial.

Based on the NDEs I've read, most people, in the presence of God, would be just like you in your example--realizing just who they're standing in front of and just how wrong they were. In that case I don't see a reason or a need for any kind of punishment. But again, I leave the possibility open.

Hope that was clear Crazy
Reply
Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,431 Posts
836 Reputation
Fallacy
12-04-2007 at 08:47 PM.
12-04-2007 at 08:47 PM.
Quote from Imerson :
I think He would allow you into Heaven, but I also leave the possibility open for some kind of punishment. The issue with punishment is that I just can't line it up with the New Covenant and Jesus, who seemed to take away the whole eye for an eye thing. I think mostly we have to deal with the consequences of sin on earth, and for some possibly after death, but if there is an after-death punishment, I think it will be refining and purgatorial.

Based on the NDEs I've read, most people, in the presence of God, would be just like you in your example--realizing just who they're standing in front of and just how wrong they were. In that case I don't see a reason or a need for any kind of punishment. But again, I leave the possibility open.

Hope that was clear Crazy
laugh out loud I think I might like your god as well

And yes that was pretty clear, you're unsure, just like the rest of us are unsure.
Reply
Joined Sep 2004
.........................
> bubble2 13,944 Posts
650 Reputation
Gray.
12-04-2007 at 09:16 PM.
12-04-2007 at 09:16 PM.
Quote from IVIax :
^^ and that's another one of my problems with god, there can NOT be 10 different interpetations of god (well there could be, but only one could be correct). I don't want to spend my whole life believing in the wrong interpetation, I like to be correct (thus I'm saying I don't know, and don't have to chose one Big Grin)
Unfortunately, the issue with living with a finite mind is that it is difficult to understand or explain the eternal. We don't know of anything on this earth that is actually eternal. Yet the God of any religion is eternal. So to get across what one believes is difficult because we are finite and flawed.

I just do the best I can and pray that God gives me the words to say and to correct me if I'm wrong.. to be honest. I believe that the God out there will show me if I'm wrong or if I'm right... I don't want to be wrong and give a false representation of him, you know? I want to understand him completely and I want the same thing for other people, too. I'm not out to deceive anyone here... I'm just trying to learn the answers just like everyone else. laugh out loud Smilie
Reply
Joined Sep 2004
.........................
> bubble2 13,944 Posts
650 Reputation
Gray.
12-04-2007 at 09:20 PM.
12-04-2007 at 09:20 PM.
Quote from IVIax :
I can't find the exact post, maybe I haven't went far back enough. But basically i thought that Peachyum (you know what... maybe it was PG), that their god would still accept you into heaven if you asked for forgiveness and didn't believe in him for your whole life (or up until the last second).*

*maybe I understood wrong (wont be the first time)

Also Peachyum's god doesn't have hell (no torment in the afterlife, just a big dark nothing)
I agree with that... if a person's heart is sincere and they aren't doing it just in case, God will see that and will extend forgiveness to that person. It says so in the Bible. He doesn't want anyone to perish.

However, I do believe in hell. Hell is when a person chooses NOT to be with God and not to believe in him. To get into the theology of hell is an entirely different story, but the easiest thing to say is that hell is separation from God. And God is pure and good, so that would make hell an uncomfortable place to be, since there is no goodness there. But notice that it's is up to that person whether they want to go there or not... that's what I believe. Smilie
Reply
Joined Aug 2005
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 21,342 Posts
13,188 Reputation
catluver
12-04-2007 at 09:21 PM.
12-04-2007 at 09:21 PM.
whatever happened to "Only read if you are NOT religious?" Can't the sinners have our own thread?
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Sep 2004
.........................
> bubble2 13,944 Posts
650 Reputation
Gray.
12-04-2007 at 09:22 PM.
12-04-2007 at 09:22 PM.
Quote from IVIax :
Can't answer why this thread was started, but 500+ posts into the thread (with the religious -- PG, covercelery, peachyum, BrgnHntr, Sassysour, SlicKitty; vs the non-religious - Robor, Iconian, Mavtech, Drio, killerbootsman, PiratesSayARRR, Imerson, Arj, and myself) and no one started name calling and arguing and yelling and etc. This has gone fairly smoothly with no "outbreak" or downhill behaviors.
Iagree

I am so proud of everyone here. I'd say we are the cream of the crop when it comes to SD. Grin

Teehee
Reply
Page 39 of 58
Start the Conversation
 
Link Copied

The link has been copied to the clipboard.