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Well, these threads have somewhat run together in my brain.If by dwelling on the negative you mean that we are focusing on the explanations given by certain religions and testing their validity or searching for more answers, then you are correct.
The same positive effects that a religion has on people can be accomplished without the religion. I can help people in a manner Jesus would have approved of even if I do not accept him as a supernatural being.
If by dwelling on the negative you mean that we are focusing on the explanations given by certain religions and testing their validity or searching for more answers, then you are correct.
But I fail to see how that is a negative.
Well, these threads have somewhat run together in my brain.If by dwelling on the negative you mean that we are focusing on the explanations given by certain religions and testing their validity or searching for more answers, then you are correct.
I'm sorry, can you please repeat the question.
This topic is a very complex one. Many knowledgeable people on the subject have debated it over the years and there is still no agreement. At the end of the day, both sides have to back their arguments with a “just because”.
What is your POV on the free will debate?
Yes. What I have read about this subject is very difficult to grasp. Bottom line, he was not created. He has always been there. God exists outside time and space as we know it. He was there at the Beginning and he will be there at the End.
I think that if there is indeed a god, that Shakespeare's quote on life is very appropriate: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." If God knows what we are going to do, then it would be impossible for us to deviate.
Because I am not 100% sure of an omnipotent and omnicient god's existence, it is difficult for me to rationalize my beliefs to others. I think that whether or not that one god exists, that there is a spiritual element to this universe - that things like intuition and deep connections with other people are real. I don't believe in fairies or crystals or worshipping oak trees, but I think the Wiccans have a good philosophy that others could learn from - "do what you want, just don't hurt anyone else." I think there's something spiritual in respecting the lives of those around you and the collective spirit of life as whole. I believe it is important to respect life around you because we do have free will, and something has to keep it in check.
See, I don't understand why God wouldn't have that same philosophy. Do what you want just don't hurt others. Why does it have to center around God?
It doesn't make sense to me. I wish God was a libertarian but it seems he is a republicrat.
I think a lot of Judeo-Christians are obligated by their teachings to respect life as a whole more - but they become to focused (thanks usually to their denomination) on worshipping God in a certain way and forgetting all the other ways to be reverent.
Faith is as hard to explain as love.
I don't understand how a radio works but I know it does.
Heck I guess quite I bit of life I accept as "just because" or I could get all technical and try to figure everthing out.
I accept God and I guess I can't explain why other than saying it is "faith".
Thats fine, but someone can tell you how a radio works quite easily.
I can see why the philosophy of “do what you want, as long as you don’t bother your neighbor” is appealing to people, the same way a religion without was once appealing to me.
What do you want your philosophy to revolve around? Man? You?
When your philosophy revolves around the fact that you were created by God, you are very happy to worship Him. Again, I can see were you are coming from.
That's fine, but it doesn't mean I'll understand does it?
how about harmony? How about love? why does it have to center on a being?
It's centered around a being because that being is the reason we are here. It also preaches love as its most important premise. It preaches love over almost anything.
But without faith it is not.
Yeah, I don't buy into that. It is so odd to me to preach against pride and yet make yourself the center of the universe. Jekka has also mentioned to me several passages in the bible where god is mentoined as a jealous god, which does not make sense to me.
I also don't understand how God could be angry when he knows what is going to happen the entire time.
I don't think it's odd. Would it be less odd if God didn't preach against pride, instead proclaiming that Pride is virtuous? Would it be less odd if God made other gods with their own universes? If we assume God exists, and we assume humility is virtuous, I don't see anything odd about it.It is so odd to me to preach against pride and yet make yourself the center of the universe.
It's not anger in human terms, it's just a simple way of saying there are consequences for going against God. Same goes for jealousy.I also don't understand how God could be angry when he knows what is going to happen the entire time.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
I guess you could say God was jealous.
Do as I say and not as I do? Wanting to be worshipped pretty much brings about visions of the deepest pride possible.I don't think it's odd. Would it be less odd if God didn't preach against pride, instead proclaiming that Pride is virtuous? Would it be less odd if God made other gods with their own universes? If we assume God exists, and we assume humility is virtuous, I don't see anything odd about it.
DAMN IT!!!
This is like trying to teach someone how to program a VCR who just doesn't get it.
Enough already. They don't believe so they don't get it and cannot grasp the idea of God and faith.
I grasp the idea of faith very well.
If you dont' like the discussion, feel free to leave the thread.
Same goes to you. I see you post your little "sighs" post on other threads.
I was commenting on the back and forth posting which is a legitimate post.
Take it easy bro.
It's more of an expectation than a want, in my opinion.Do as I say and not as I do? Wanting to be worshipped pretty much brings about visions of the deepest pride possible.
If you believe that there is a God who gave you life, you would likely be very grateful. That's why most people who find fault with God's expectations of us typically don't believe in God anyway.
But God doesn't have a "superior" to worship as we do, so it's not really a fair comparison. He did (we believe) become one of us, live a life of poverty and suffer a pretty horrific death... which in the Christian belief gave the opportunity of Heaven to all of mankind.Do as I say and not as I do?
Great posts. If only I could express myself so well.
Expectations can be wants and usually are. In fact it could be argued they are the pinacle of wanting something.
Thats not to say I don't believe in God in anyway, I don't nessecarily belive what the bible puts forth as God.
How can God even hold the concept of an expectation when he already knows what is going to happen? It is almot like watching a sad movie that you know the ending to, and then being disapointed when you get there. And if all of these concepts are beyond our understanding, why would there be consequences from an all loving god when we make the wrong decisions?
Many times people say that if you look at the beauty of the world, you have to see an intelligent design behind it.But God doesn't have a "superior" to worship as we do, so it's not really a fair comparison. He did (we believe) become one of us, live a life of poverty and suffer a pretty horrific death... which in the Christian belief gave the opportunity of Heaven to all of mankind.
Well then I put forth, if you must see the beauty of the world and think that there is something behind it, must you not see the same from the beauty of god?
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