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Just out of curiosity, what if I find meaning in believing that you're a 6 year old Chinese girl named Ling who loves anime? Does that make you a 6 year old Chinese girl named Ling who loves anime?
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I never said me believing in a God makes the God exist, which is what that implies.
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Could you explain why you don't believe in Krishna and the Sanskrit texts, or Allah and the book of Mohammed? I asked you before, and I am curious. What standard do you use to pick a God?
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Allah IS God, so is Yaweh, etc. The difference is in the names which represents the different belief structures. I tend to follow my own conscience in what I wish to believe, and so borrow aspects of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. I don't believe in Krishna because I don't. No justifications can be given.
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Why don't you believe God made Eve from Adam's Rib?
Why don't you believe in Noah and the Ark?
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Believe it or not I do believe in Evolution. To steal from South Park, maybe it's an answer to how and not why.
I don't believe in Noah because it follows way too closely an ancient Babylonian text to be a coincidence. Also a single boat (especially with the ancient technological abilities of the time) could not carry 2 of every creature. If God had intended it to be so (an argument against my logic), he could have just re-created them all. I believe it is, like many of the Genesis stories, are moral fables handed down to teach us lessons. Faith and determination turns a lowly drunk into the savior of all the animals in the world.
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What standard do you use for "good" -- is it Bible based? It probably isn't solely based on the Bible, because I doubt you are in favour of stoning people to death for eating shrimp.
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No where in the Bible does it say to stone people who break the rules of Kosher dining. You're thinking of the Torah.
My morality is my own. While I will say unafraid that the teachings of my religion has influenced me, my morality is still my own. I find nothing wrong with homosexuality, even though the Catholic Church declares it an abomination unto God (another Torah hand-down, not Bible). Fortunately for people like me, the bible states that one must look unto himself for God will show us the way (sorry, don't have the verse off the top of my head). In other words God will show us what is right, regardless of what is preached or written.
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Why does a lack of God rob you of meaning? Doesn't it take more imagination to give yourself meaning than it does to get it from some external source? Especially if you get it from some badly written book... I think discovering the strange and bizarre properties of the universe to be more exciting than reading the Bible over and over again. All the attributes you assign to science I would give to religion, instead...
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Because I've gone through times in my life where everything fell apart. I was physically crippled, my Grandfather died, I was kicked out of the military (flying was the only thing I ever wanted to do), and was heavily in debt due to the military demanding payment for the college they (up to this point) paid for.
I did not find it comforting reading up on black holes. I did not find it comforting believing there is no meaning to this life other than to procreate and die so other generations can inherit.
Amazingly my life turned around after, in prayer, asking God to help me. It's still far from perfect, but I'm happy. No, I do not devote my life to him. Hell I can hardly ever make it to Church. However I did enjoy the feeling that there was someone to turn to beyond my friends and family (who did help greatly as well).
This is not a logical argument, but it is strong to me regardless. There is a quote, "There are no atheists in foxholes." When the chips are down most of us find our faith. As I said maybe it's childish, maybe it's ignorant, but it's strong and gives us strength in return.
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You mean "live, after we die, happily ever after", is that correct? Why Jesus/God and not Buddist Nirvanah?
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Because I don't look good in orange robes :P