darkmagex

Just thought it might be interesting to contribute something by sharing my own personal views on the God subject. I'm not a spiritual person, and honestly I haven't given this all much thought over the years. Just wanted to contribute to the neverending discussion. Anyway.....

I don't hold to any major religion, but don't dismiss God as athiests do. Of course, I don't exactly believe in God in the traditional religious sense either. My reason, mainly, has to do with my belief that we can't possibly understand some things (ie. creation of the universe). I always thought this leant itself more to the Agonistic side of things.

Basically I believe that science cannot explain everything, because as humans we just can't understand it. Religion was created to "trick" ourselves into thinking we could understand it.
Anyone have any similar views? Or questions as to what I mean (hehe).

Slims

I don't dismiss god, I just believe that he doesn't exist. Never has, never will.

Personally I think the world makes much more sense without a god than with one.

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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

Sleepyjack

i don't know about some supernaturl force or being...
but i believe that we are all our own gods.

CSflim

"Explaining" the life mysteries with something magical is not really much progress.

I don't believe science knows everything. But I think it is far more honest to say "I don't know", than "I do know...it's magic".

So to this extent, I dismiss any possibility of God existsing. "He" is a human construction, and hence does not exist. I do however believe that there is far more to reality that can ever be really understood by humans. Somehting so alien to us, that we cannot comprehend. But I am not trying to explain the unexpalainable with myths and stories.

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hobo

Ya, humans were silly back then. Every few years, some new gods would be created for worshipping purposes. I don't see how christians can laugh at egyptians for worshipping their many gods but then turn around and worship theirs. a god is a god, no matter what creationist story it goes with. the only reason religion has held on as long as it has is because it keeps changing itself to keep up with the times. call it marketing.

duckznutz

Darkmagex . . . . do you think that the millions who kneel to pray every week are pondering the philosophies of the creation of the universe? Do you think they all make that effort to go to church week on week, year after year, because they have scientific doubts about interstellar physics?

Maybe they just go out of habit \ fear \ brainwashing \ social pressures \ blah blah blah. A bit like sheep . . . . . . the lord is my 'shepherd'! (No offence meant to anyone religious who might read this . . just my personal view).

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Where your talents and the needs of the world cross . . there lies your vocation.

Charlatan

I don't think it is that simple. No. Most don't ponder the far reaches of space BUT one of the main reasons for religion is to explain the unknowable and give us comfort in that ignorance that there is something bigger than us out there looking after things. Something that cares for us and takes care of us... something the brings meaning where there appears to be randomness...

These are existential questions, questions that we all face and religion is but one answer to those questions.


By the way... sheep is a great analogy for God and Jesus. Cows are hearded. They must be driven on and forcibly brought to the coral. Sheep follow. Shepards watch over their flocks so they can remain blissfully unaware or at least unconcerned of lurking dangers.

Personally, I don't believe in a god or God. I find my meaning and purpose elsewhere (or sometimes not at all). That said, many, many people take comfort in the fact that there is a God. I don't see this as a bad thing in the slightest.

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duckznutz

I didnt mean to imply that it was a 'bad thing'. But I cant agree that even 1% of church-goers consider the 'existential questions' to which religion is but one answer. People attend their 'local' church and denomination for social reasons . . . . . . . lets not pretend they are being 'philosophical' about things. The highbrow discussions on here have almost nothing to do with the ordinary church-goer I suspect!

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Where your talents and the needs of the world cross . . there lies your vocation.