Do you believe in a god?

[short recoil]

I think it is likely we have something called a "soul", although it would be absolutely impossible to discern and it doesn't affects our behavior in any shape or form.

So, yeah, it dosn't exist then.
The only thing i can associate a "soul" with is the nerural lay out of our brains.
Like a chip in a computer, once that chip starts to degrade, it starts to loose its ability to work (think?)
A computer almost certainly does not have a soul.

we are all here, all in the physical. simple as.

If i was to blow my brains out, that would be it, my mind was stop functioning as a "chip" and i would not comprehend my own existence for any time further.

 

[Nat Turner]

So, yeah, it dosn't exist then.
The only thing i can associate a "soul" with is the nerural lay out of our brains.
Like a chip in a computer, once that chip starts to degrade, it starts to loose its ability to work (think?)
A computer almost certainly does not have a soul.

we are all here, all in the physical. simple as.

If i was to blow my brains out, that would be it, my mind was stop functioning as a "chip" and i would not comprehend my own existence for any time further.

In the physical world, no it does not exist. Just because physics has not progressed enough to describe a metaphysical world does not mean it doesn't exist.

 

[TheSomeone]

In the physical world, no it does not exist. Just because physics has not progressed enough to describe a metaphysical world does not mean it doesn't exist.

Yep. Just because everyone before Einstein thought time was constant doesn't mean there is no moving forward faster in time. Plus, it's ridiculous to compare the human mind to a computer chip.

Personally, I'm 100% atheist, but if you want to beleive in metaphysics, be my guest. As long as it doesn't negatively interfere with the way you interact with others.

 

[poseyjmac]

ahhh atheists. so inherently close-minded.

 

[sinkoman]

Erm, that's not exactly how I see things Nat.

I believe in science, that the big bang just HAPPENED, that nothing has a supreme designer, and that there is nothing that created us for a purpouse.

I believe that there is something out there that can't quite be grasped by man, or by his technology. That there is a force out there that just is, and always will be.

It's kinda hard to explain. I guess you could say i'm agnostic.

 

[Nat Turner]

Erm, that's not exactly how I see things Nat.

I believe in science, that the big bang just HAPPENED, that nothing has a supreme designer, and that there is nothing that created us for a purpouse.

I believe that there is something out there that can't quite be grasped by man, or by his technology. That there is a force out there that just is, and always will be.

It's kinda hard to explain. I guess you could say i'm agnostic.

How can you say nothing has a purpose?

Think of the chances and possibilites:

1) less than 1/9999999999999999 that we are random, because it is extremely unlikely that we should exist in our present form and location. If we "accidentally" are created somewhere else, we wouldn't even be able to talk about it here. Other beings would exist, but it wouldn't be us.

2) science has not progressed enough to show we were created on purpose

One has to be true, which do you think it is? You can't seriously believe that science has been fully developed.

 

[Nat Turner]

It's just that it's impossible to go from

a) A Creator exists

to

b) He wants us to do X stuff

with any credibility

 

[Teta_Bonita]

that nothing has a supreme designer, and that there is nothing that created us for a purpouse.

Actually, if you stop and look around you'll notice that almost everything has a purpose. The ecosystem, the water cycle, the food chain- it all fits together.

There are two things I know of that don't have a purpose:
This,
And this random sentence at the end of my post.

 

[Absinthe]

ahhh atheists. so inherently close-minded.

Haha, no.

 

[Nat Turner]

Actually, if you stop and look around you'll notice that almost everything has a purpose. The ecosystem, the water cycle, the food chain- it all fits together.

There are two things I know of that don't have a purpose:
This,
And this random sentence at the end of my post.

No, nothing has a so-called "purpose". We could nuke everything in a heart beat and it would be gone. What happened to your God's plan then? Looks like he was defeated.

My point is that just because we were created, doesn't mean we necessarily have a purpose.

 

[Absinthe]

Nat, you're a keen dude. I like you.

 

[sinkoman]

Actually, if you stop and look around you'll notice that almost everything has a purpose. The ecosystem, the water cycle, the food chain- it all fits together.

There are two things I know of that don't have a purpose:
This,
And this random sentence at the end of my post.

Everything has a natural or ecological purpose, but a supreme purpose I do not believe in.

I believe that if we have a purpose, it was to live. We were created to live. Everything was created to be. Nothing was created with a supreme purpose, or designed by a supreme being.

 

[Nat Turner]

Everything has a natural or ecological purpose, but a supreme purpose I do not believe in.

Everything is inherently natural, with or without purpose.

I believe that if we have a purpose, it was to live. We were created to live. Everything was created to be. Nothing was created with a supreme purpose, or designed by a supreme being.

This is possible, but other purposes are just as likely, if one exists.

edit: you can define natural as whether something is affected by rational human thought and action, though, if you want.

 

[Nat Turner]

Nat, you're a keen dude. I like you.

Thank you. You're keen for thinking I'm keen. :smoking:

 

[poseyjmac]

Haha, no.

atheists don't believe in the existence of god or gods. thats closing your mind to possibilities that could exist. close-minded.

 

[venturon]

A smiley face hardly constitutes a sentence, Teta.

 

[Absinthe]

atheists don't believe in the existence of god or gods. thats closing your mind to possibilities that could exist. close-minded.

Am I close-minded for not believing in pink ponies with popcorn wings? Or leprechauns? Or that the Earth is actually an eyeball belonging to a cosmic alien?

If I stated outright that no gods existed, then perhaps you'd be right. But not believing in something doesn't constitute close-mindedness.

 

[venturon]

Exactly. It'd only really be closed-minded to deny God's existence if you could prove he is real, or as Absinthe said.

I don't see what difference it makes whether I believe in God or not. I wouldn't say it's not important to me, but I have more worldly things to busy myself with.

 

[poseyjmac]

Am I close-minded for not believing in pink ponies with popcorn wings? Or leprechauns? Or that the Earth is actually an eyeball belonging to a cosmic alien?

If I stated outright that no gods existed, then perhaps you'd be right. But not believing in something doesn't constitute close-mindedness.

well im going off the dictionary.com definition of atheism.

a·the·ist Audio pronunciation of "atheist" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (th-st)
n.

One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.

sure, its not as closeminded as many religions. but its a bit too closeminded for my taste.

 

[Absinthe]

Atheists find the idea of a god or gods to be unwarranting of belief? How is that close-minded in any way? When faced with a limitless set of theoretical possibilities, we decide what can be posited with credibility and what we have no reason to bother ourselves with.

What fundamental bias/error do you see in atheism? And if you say something like "Well, I'm an agnostic" then I swear I'm going to push an old lady in front of a bus out of rage.

 

[poseyjmac]

Atheists find the idea of a god or gods to be unwarranting of belief? How is that close-minded in any way? When faced with a limitless set of theoretical possibilities, we decide what can be posited with credibility and what we have no reason to bother ourselves with.

What fundamental bias/error do you see in atheism? And if you say something like "Well, I'm an agnostic" then I swear I'm going to push an old lady in front of a bus out of rage.

ag·nos·tic Audio pronunciation of "agnostic" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (g-nstk)
n.

1.
1. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
2. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
2. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

no thats not me. agnostics are closeminded too.

but the fact that atheism targets gods to deny the existence of shows how closeminded it is, as it is biased.

 

[Absinthe]

Posey, what do you think of yourself as? Because from what I can garner you've been fed some skewed bullshit as to what atheism is. Atheism doesn't attempt to deny the existence of gods. And how agnosticism is close-minded is also baffling to me.

 

[poseyjmac]

Posey, what do you think of yourself as? Because from what I can garner you've been fed some skewed bullshit as to what atheism is. Atheism doesn't attempt to deny the existence of gods. And how agnosticism is close-minded is also baffling to me.

im only going off that definition. if your beliefs dont line up with the definition then you may not be atheist. or dictionary.com may be full of shit. heh

i dont know what i am. i was hardcore christian, and now ive arrived at some belief system that is basically as open-minded as can be. realizing there could be concepts beyond what my brain can handle. not able to be amazed at even the craziest of possibilities, accepting that anything can happen. because if something extraordinary happens and there is a short window of oppurtunity, i dont want to be the one sitting there dumbfounded thinking, how can this be?

 

[Absinthe]

im only going off that definition. if your beliefs dont line up with the definition then you may not be atheist. or dictionary.com may be full of shit. heh

No, my belief is in line with the dictionary's - a disbelief in God.

And what you've described is not wholly outside of theism or atheism, and it's certainly agnostic.

Any way, it's 3 in the morning and I need my beauty sleep.

 

[Murray]

Yes. I do belive in God, and I don't see why there should be that great of a conflict between those who do and those who don't. :/

 

[Kyorisu]

My understanding.

There is no "God". Gods are merley made to help human culture and civilization in general grow with a centralised purpose, their "God".

If you think otherwise it doesn't effect me. Everyone can decide what they want to believe on their own, and others actions should not be able to effect this.

The "Big Bang" was probably a result of a "Big Crunch" before hand. The Universe is a giant cycle. There has allways been probabilty. It was probable for humans to exist and here we are.

There are probably other races of sentinent life out there. They would look different depending on the conditions of that planet. I do believe that there is a set standard that needs to be met for life to exist though.

 

[Dynasty]

i dont believe at all. religion to me is futile. say what you want, i just wont read it :E

they say god is above us....the clouds? we made flying machines and flew above the clouds, no god. oh he must be in space above the earth watching down upon us. do you know what the russian Yuri Gagarin (i think), first man in space, said? 'the earth is blue, but there was no god'.

or something to that effect anyway.

 

[who]

everyone knows god exists.. even if its only through our own goodwill, if anyone posted on this saying they didnt believe in god then u have given god power through denial, to say god doesnt exist is admitting that he might.

 

[Lemonking]

your the kinda guy I dislike,deal with it. dont press it on me,keep to your family and friends dont go preaching that "godwill" crap.

 

[CyberPitz]

I fail to believe in god nowadays. I mean...he might exist, so be it. But orginized religion has scewed my vision of God so much, I think he can't exist! I don't push that God doesn't exist to them, because that's what I hate about them. I hate working Sunday nights, having around 5 people all ask me "Do you believe in God?!" So I say no..and they explain why I should or I'm going to Hell. You know what? I'm entitled to my own blief, now **** you!.....ahem...sorry. Got a little off track...

No.

everyone knows god exists.. even if its only through our own goodwill, if anyone posted on this saying they didnt believe in god then u have given god power through denial, to say god doesnt exist is admitting that he might.

Go to Hell you hypochristian.

 

[CrazyHarij]

Don't you know there ain't no god, it's just the devil when he's drunk.

 

[bvasgm]

I think it's possible that God exists. I think it's possible that God doesn't exist.

agnosticism ftw

 

[Cukel]

I think it would be nice if there'd be a God. A mighty entity protecting us all from all evil, loving and granting an eternal life in his paradise - I'd take that. Unfortunately believing in something like that is impossible because of all things happening around the world. Nice people get killed, raped, mugged, tortured, and just f*cked in every way possible. There is no way a actual allmighty God would let that happen to his beloved sheep - why even create us if the world is mostly nothing but misery and death?
I think believing in some sort of a higher being is comparable to Santa Claus - you are told that if you just believe in him he will do you nice things. But when you grow older, you realize that such thing would be impossible, and even ridiculous. This time, human kind is the child that is coming to an adulthood, and has to abandon the nice, comforting fairy tales and face the harsh reality - life sucks. (Yeah, kinda emo but whatca gonna do)
I want to believe, but I cant.

Church itself is another thing. Even if I could force myself to believe something as impossible as a God, I would still hate most of the organizations called Church's. They do idiotic and disgusting things in the name of their God, and think they have to force their narrowminded propaganda down the throats of every man, woman, and child in the globe - with force, if not with hugs. Discussion with a priest or a hardcore religionist is so damn annoying. They cant stop for one second to listen what the other has to say, and most of their arguments is consists of "Ofcourse God exists, the Bible/Koran says so. What? Ofcourse we can trust the Bible/Koran, it's the word of God!" Ugh.

Hmm, sorry for getting kinda off the topic, summa summarum: Im an atheist. I dont believe in God.

 

[Axyon]

Score one more vote for the unbelievers. I don't think there's a God.

 

[Tantalus]

I think believing in some sort of a higher being is comparable to Santa Claus - you are told that if you just believe in him he will do you nice things. But when you grow older, you realize that such thing would be impossible, and even ridiculous.

I find this highly offensive and high inaccurate (from a Christian standpoint).

Christianity does not say "if you believe in God, nice things will happen to you". It says if you believe that Jesus came to die for you and if you repent of your sins, you will be grant eternity in heaven. Else, you'll perish in hell for eternity.

It is most certainly not possible, but sure, it's somewhat ridiculous. But not much more ridiculous than saying we've slowly changed from a single cell with one strand of DNA and an altogether simple body to an infinitly complex and self-aware being that we are today.

PS: I agree, however, that most churches are full of hipocrites.

 

[Absinthe]

It is most certainly not possible, but sure, it's somewhat ridiculous. But not much more ridiculous than saying we've slowly changed from a single cell with one strand of DNA and an altogether simple body to an infinitly complex and self-aware being that we are today.

I don't find that to be ridiculous at all. Merely in accordance with natural law.

 

[Tantalus]

ahhh atheists. so inherently close-minded.

I'm not an atheist, and I was greatly offended by this. You are more closeminded than any atheist here.

 

[Tantalus]

I don't find that to be ridiculous at all. Merely in accordance with natural law.

Natural law could give us our bodies, sure, I can agree with that. But not the things that make us seperate from animals: creativity, generosity, self-awareness, etc.

 

[poseyjmac]

I'm not an atheist, and I was greatly offended by this. You are more closeminded than any atheist here.

well obviously because you were offended, i must be close-minded, stupid, and a poo poo head.

but the truth is, i consider all possibilities, i don't deny the existence of anything or anyone. on the other hand atheists do, so they are close-minded.

 

[Tantalus]

well obviously because you were offended, i must be close-minded, stupid, and a poo poo head.

but the truth is, i consider all possibilities, i don't deny the existence of anything or anyone. on the other hand atheists do, so they are close-minded.

You're closeminded because you said all atheists were closeminded. That's denying the existance of an openminded atheist.

What don't I deny the existance of?