Why do you have faith?

[Tyguy]

Id like to hear some explanation as to why people have faith in religion. Im really sick of hearing "I just believe, ok!?!?" I feel like thats a cop-out and it doesn't answer the question.

So what has happened in your life that gives you a sense of faith or religious belief?

For all of those without faith, were you religious at any point in your life? If so, what transpired to sway your mind?

For me, I have never really been super-religious. It was a slow process of me getting smarter and starting to question the world around me. I didn't actually consider myself an atheist until probably a few years ago.

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

My house is haunted & I've had ALOT of my prayers answered.

 

[Pesmerga]

Belief is not a voluntary thing. A man believes or disbelieves in spite of himself.

 

[Tyguy]

My house is haunted & I've had ALOT of my prayers answered.

You dont understand the premise of this thread. I dont wanna hear that your prayers were answered...i wanna hear what makes religion in the 21st century viable. I can pray that i wont be molested by a gang on my way home, doesn't make god any more believable if i make it home without being raped.

Belief is not a voluntary thing. A man believes or disbelieves in spite of himself.

Theres a reason regardless. Whether it be you are searching for an answer or it makes you feel better, theres always a reason.

 

[CptStern]

Id like to hear some explanation as to why people have faith in religion. Im really sick of hearing "I just believe, ok!?!?" I feel like thats a cop-out and it doesn't answer the question.

So what has happened in your life that gives you a sense of faith or religious belief?

For all of those without faith, were you religious at any point in your life? If so, what transpired to sway your mind?

For me, I have never really been super-religious. It was a slow process of me getting smarter and starting to question the world around me. I didn't actually consider myself an atheist until probably a few years ago.

well for starters ...

cause I gotta have faith

Baby
I know you're asking me to stay
Say please, please, please, don't go away
You say I'm giving you the blues
Maybe
You mean every word you say
Can't help but think of yesterday
And another who tied me down to loverboy rules

Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby I reconsider
My foolish notion
Well I need someone to hold me
But I'll wait for something more

Yes I've gotta have faith...



faith always struck me as the equivilent of blindfolding yourself stepping over a chasm and hoping for the best


...but you gotta have faith

 

[Raziaar]

Politics: Now 85% more religion.

 

[Pesmerga]

I can't see this thread going anywhere.

 

[Wanted Bob]

For them it gives explanations to what science cannot answer (I'm no religious person, but this reason seems sound to me).

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

well my proof is the system of checks and balances throughout the universe and how, despite the messy environment, everything works. You can call it anything you want, but to me it's proof of perfection, though a messy one.

Also, the Bible says "In a beginning" in the Jewish on, not THE beginning. Recent science shows the universe is in a system of big bang, contraction, big bang, etc etc.

It also says the Earth Became nothingness, not was created nothingness, hinting at the big bad mother****ing meteorite that killed of the dinos and made the Earth nothingness for millions of years.

 

[repiV]

But everything doesn't "just work".
Our biggest struggle as human beings today is to make sense of and enjoy modern life when our genetics is designed to deal with small tribal societies.
If our evolution were aligned with our purpose, people in the West would be getting happier and happier, instead of more and more depressed. And we'd love eating salad, not KFC.
Our internal systems of reward actively hamper progress because most of us have to seek happiness from diversions, and adhering strictly to common success goals leads often only to emptiness, stress and misery. Stress in itself is supposed to be a useful mechanism, not the health hazard it is today.

 

[Mr Stabby]

Some people like the idea, of a sky daddy and an afterlife.

 

[delusional]

Also, the Bible says "In a beginning" in the Jewish on, not THE beginning. Recent science shows the universe is in a system of big bang, contraction, big bang, etc etc.

the universe is expanding, not contracting as once thought, that was proven wrong...

 

[Solaris]

All hail the supreme facsist.

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

no, they say it will expand, rip, and collapse onto itself (space rips have been shown, though I don't think their called that) .

And repiV, I'm talking about on the Galactic scale. But if you want to talk about humanity, we're alive, aren't we? We survived the Ice age, that volcano that nearly exterminated us (forget it's name, but it was a big one), and every disease thrown at us. besides, KFC and such things are our own creation, and we were meant to seek happiness because back when their were no killer-pleasures, it brought us to high success. When we became an established species with cities, religions and common sense were implemented to counter pleasures that lead to death.

 

[Escaep]

Id like to hear some explanation as to why people have faith in religion. Im really sick of hearing "I just believe, ok!?!?" I feel like thats a cop-out and it doesn't answer the question.

So what has happened in your life that gives you a sense of faith or religious belief?

For all of those without faith, were you religious at any point in your life? If so, what transpired to sway your mind?

For me, I have never really been super-religious. It was a slow process of me getting smarter and starting to question the world around me. I didn't actually consider myself an atheist until probably a few years ago.

It doesnt really have an answer. it is like me asking why do you play video games but not wanting "because they are fun" as an answer. It is just what we believe in. Of the countless religions of the world each one has it's own belief in what governs everyday actions, how we came to be, and what will happen when we die.

The Encyclopedia of Religion defines religion this way:

In summary, it may be said that almost every known culture involves the religious in the above sense of a depth dimension in cultural experiences at all levels ? a push, whether ill-defined or conscious, toward some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life. When more or less distinct patterns of behaviour are built around this depth dimension in a culture, this structure constitutes religion in its historically recognizable form. Religion is the organization of life around the depth dimensions of experience ? varied in form, completeness, and clarity in accordance with the environing culture."

I have faith because i was raised around it and taught myself to believe in it. My uncle passed away before i was born, and i believe that he went to heaven and watches over my family. Our family has never suffered any horrible accidents or deaths (besides natural death of grandparents,) I myself find it extremely hard to believe he just went to nothingness, white noise, black space. Throughout history there are lots of signs pointing to people believing in a higher authority.

 

[repiV]

no, they say it will expand, rip, and collapse onto itself (space rips have been shown, though I don't think their called that) .

And repiV, I'm talking about on the Galactic scale.

And how does everything work so perfectly on the galactic scale?

I mean, if that were the case, why did God decide to use a moon to keep Earth's gravity in check instead of just designing it some other way?
Why do comets and asteroids crash into planets and cause mass extinction?
Why is life only supported when such a narrow set of parameters is met, yet conditions vary so widely?
Why isn't time the linear concept that would be convinient?

 

[Escaep]

And how does everything work so perfectly on the galactic scale?

I mean, if that were the case, why did God decide to use a moon to keep Earth's gravity in check instead of just designing it some other way?
Why do comets and asteroids crash into planets and cause mass extinction?
Why is life only supported when such a tiny set of parameters is met, yet conditions vary so widely?

I mean, if that were the case, why did God decide to use a moon to keep Earth's gravity in check instead of just designing it some other way?

Hey, it works dont it.

Why do comets and asteroids crash into planets and cause mass extinction?

Because it is time for a change maybe? The dinosaurs reigned for millions of years and maybe God felt that he wasn't "pleased" so to say and created a new species.

Dont understand your third question.

 

[CptStern]

And repiV, I'm talking about on the Galactic scale.

yes I'm sure the three breasted aliens from alpha centauri B were overjoyed when their sun went prematurely supernova and incinerated their 29 inhabited planets


"look, the fire god in the sky go boom, we are SO dead, ...it must be good because god did it ...it all fits into plac..."

 

[repiV]

Hey, it works dont it.

Even mere humans can see that it's a dodgy design - all it would take is for something to knock the moon off course, and life on Earth would be doomed.
A perfect deity would have a much better solution up his sleeve.

Because it is time for a change maybe? The dinosaurs reigned for millions of years and maybe God felt that he wasn't "pleased" so to say and created a new species.

A perfect God would have the benefit of perfect foresight - and anyway, the concept is meaningless as time is not a line as we perceive it to be. Any God would know anything that ever has been, is and ever will be - all at the same time.

Dont understand your third question.

Only a very narrow temperature range, atmosphere type, gravitational pull etc can support life. The vast majority of environments fall outside these conditions and cannot support life.

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

The moon is what keeps our water's moving. No moon = no waves = no wind.

Asteroids and comets? I don't know, but they only seem to hit at the high points at a particular age, but end up bringing even higher standards of life. By this I mean, every mass extinction has brought forth even smarter and better creatures, but that's just my opinion.

We only know Life as it is on our world, and even that's very powerful. Things live from subzero deathly arctics to super-heated volcanoes. I'd say that's pretty wide, and that's just talking about carbon based life. The fact that early life made it through the apocalyptic, meteor-infested surface of the Earth, and expanded into the sea just goes to show it's power.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by linear time.

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

yes I'm sure the three breasted aliens from alpha centauri B were overjoyed when their sun went prematurely supernova and incinerated their 29 inhabited planets


"look, the fire god in the sky go boom, we are SO dead, ...it must be good because god did it ...it all fits into plac..."

how do you know there was life there, or that they didn't find a way to leave, or protect their world.

Only a very narrow temperature range, atmosphere type, gravitational pull etc can support life. The vast majority of environments fall outside these conditions and cannot support life.

new evidence shows life may exist anywhere from the light gravity moons of Jupiter to the heavy-gravity of Jupiter itself.

 

[CptStern]

but that wouldnt be part of the master plan, now would it? ..or we'd have been visited by 3 breasted aliens by now



look the very idea of a puppet master pulling the strings who's sole focus is on a tiny speck in a corner of a galaxy in a sea of billions of galaxies is just ludicrous ..you'd have a far easier time convincing me a guy in a red suit delivers toys to kids around the world in a single night ..THAT is far more believable

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

Am I saying we are the only ones here? I believe the universe is teaming with life. And if GOd is this all powerful quantum being, he COULD be on Earth creating humanity while on Gormania Prime creating the Oliphan civilization.

And who says 3 breasted aliens haven't visited yet.

 

[repiV]

The moon is what keeps our water's moving. No moon = no waves = no wind.

Actually, wind is caused primarily by variations in temperature.

Asteroids and comets? I don't know, but they only seem to hit at the high points at a particular age, but end up bringing even higher standards of life. By this I mean, every mass extinction has brought forth even smarter and better creatures, but that's just my opinion.

So...you believe in evolution, then?

We only know Life as it is on our world, and even that's very powerful. Things live from subzero deathly arctics to super-heated volcanoes. I'd say that's pretty wide, and that's just talking about carbon based life. The fact that early life made it through the apocalyptic, meteor-infested surface of the Earth, and expanded into the sea just goes to show it's power.

Life isn't likely to differ that much on other planets - as the Earth is made up from the same basic elements as the rest of the universe, minor differences aside.
In any case, the variations on Earth are insubstantial compared to the differences across the universe.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by linear time.

Go read up on the space-time continuum.

 

[CptStern]

Am I saying we are the only ones here? I believe the universe is teaming with life. And if GOd is this all powerful quantum being, he COULD be on Earth creating humanity while on Gormania Prime creating the Oliphan civilization.

but why are humans the chosen one? he made us in his image did he not?

And who says 3 breasted aliens haven't visited yet.

obese women who've recently undergone a masectomy do not count

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

Who says we are the only ones in his image? Bible says he made us in his Image, and that's it, nothing on us being the only ones. This thing that humanity is chosen is somewhat made up. Yes the Bible says we are meant for something great, but nothing on WHAT that greatness is.

And I'm not counting fat women. Who knows what or who has visited. There is too much evidence from the past thousand years to suggest there hasn't been anyone though.

 

[Cole]

Otcescape you're also probably the same kind of person that wonders how earth is such a perfect place for humanity, and wouldn't be possible without a god. Am I right? (more to this later).

The Universe is incredibly chaotic. Black holes, exploding stars, supernova's, colliding galaxies. Not that peaceful if you ask me.


Also lets not forget the most basic things we are taught in math class, so even if you are religious and you do believe "God Just Exists", Simplifying.
God Created Universe
God Just Exists

Simplified:
The Universe Just Exists

TADA!!!

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

yes, but it's a perfect system. Current studies show that black holes exit the stuff they suck up in the center of galaxies (not entirely sure of the accuracy of this).

From there, it is super-compressed into stars. Some break out of their gravity and go out to the galaxy, others stay inside, giving galaxies their glow.

Stars explode, and rebirth into beautiful other stars. Colliding galaxy's create new super-stars, new planets, new places, and new things to see.

Stop being so pessimistic. Just remember, on the galactic scale, for every woe, two wows come forth.

 

[theotherguy]

Am I saying we are the only ones here? I believe the universe is teaming with life. And if GOd is this all powerful quantum being, he COULD be on Earth creating humanity while on Gormania Prime creating the Oliphan civilization.

And a microscopic green elephant COULD be living in your inner ear at this very moment!

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

 

[Cole]

It's a perfect system? Ok what is your point by that? Energy cannot be created or destoryed. Obviously the energy remains constant, therefor I guess its a "perfect system". I'm not being pessimistic either.

I COULD be god!

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

What about energy, it goes happily around. So what?

And you were being pessimistic. You didn't list any benefits from the cataclysms you stated.

 

[Cole]

Ugh Portal, I was simply stating that of course the universe could be considered a "perfect system" because of energy. I just don't understand your point by saying anything about "how the universe is a perfect system" in the first place. That has nothing to do with the Universe being chaotic..

No I wasn't being pessimistic. I never said Black Holes or supernova's were bad. I simply stated that they were chaotic. The Universe is chaotic. I'm not looking at the glass half full or half empty. I'm just saying the glass has liquid in it.

 

[Solaris]

Am I saying we are the only ones here? I believe the universe is teaming with life. And if GOd is this all powerful quantum being, he COULD be on Earth creating humanity while on Gormania Prime creating the Oliphan civilization.

And who says 3 breasted aliens haven't visited yet.

What do you even mean by that???

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

Well I didn't say anything on energy, you did.

And from my view it was a sad look at the universe. I consider chaotic = pessimistic, but whatever.

I wouldn't necessarily call it chaotic. That is to our opinion based off what our bodies consider normal. A cell could call a super nova a safe haven because of the heat and gases for it's food.

and solaris, by quantum I mean the whole sting theory thing. I was recalling one "quantum cafe" from a movie "the elegant universe". Anyhow, it means something can be everywhere at once.

 

[repiV]

and solaris, by quantum I mean the whole sting theory thing. I was recalling one "quantum cafe" from a movie "the elegant universe". Anyhow, it means something can be everywhere at once.

Yeah, that's what Quantum Leap was originally all about. But they decided it would make for a pretty crappy show if the protagonist could be everywhere at once, so they decided to make it a show about time-travelling instead. They just forgot to change the name.

 

[Crushenator 500]

well for starters ...

cause I gotta have faith

Baby
I know you're asking me to stay
Say please, please, please, don't go away
You say I'm giving you the blues
Maybe
You mean every word you say
Can't help but think of yesterday
And another who tied me down to loverboy rules

Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby I reconsider
My foolish notion
Well I need someone to hold me
But I'll wait for something more

Yes I've gotta have faith...

Well I guess it would be nice
If I could touch your body
I know not everybody
Has got a body like you

But I've got to think twice
Before I give my heart away
And I know all the games you play
Because I play them too

:naughty:

I love that song

 

[Cole]

Wow... You're right I said "energy". You said "Perfect System". Perfect System = Energy Conservation. How have you not picked this up yet?

Quantum != String Theory. Quantum != Being Everywhere at once. Its simply the smallest possible unit (well now it does, in Latin it just means amount). For instance, Quantum Physics is about working with the smallest particles we know of in physics. Such as electrons, protons, neutrons, and quarks.

 

[PortalStormzzzz]

well then I'm using the word wrong. Maybe it means bieng able to do multiple things a once(quantum tunneling)? I don't know.

And I meant that the universe is self-sufficient in survival by a perfect system. By this I mean the universe will come and go, expand and collapse, but the matter will always be there. I never meant anything about energy.

 

[Javert]

well for starters ...

cause I gotta have faith

Baby
I know you're asking me to stay
Say please, please, please, don't go away
You say I'm giving you the blues
Maybe
You mean every word you say
Can't help but think of yesterday
And another who tied me down to loverboy rules

Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby I reconsider
My foolish notion
Well I need someone to hold me
But I'll wait for something more

Yes I've gotta have faith...

Are you high?

 

[Escaep]

Otcescape you're also probably the same kind of person that wonders how earth is such a perfect place for humanity, and wouldn't be possible without a god. Am I right? (more to this later).
TADA!!!

That is pretty implied in my beliefs. As i said earlier. And don't think you are about to change my religion if that is what you are getting it.

I find it hard to believe that just, "poof" the universe came, solar systems formed, and life formed. "poof" just like that. "poof"



"Poof"