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After a recent post a simple logic boiled up on my mind which I’d like to share but before that I’d like to appologize if i hurt anyone by expressing my view. I’m sorry I wish not to offend anyone or anyone’s beliefs.
– Say you lead a pious life because you believe in God and there is no God then nothing is going to happen (no harm)
but if there IS God then you’ll be rewarded for it (heaven)– Say you lead a sinful life because you dont believe in sins and God for that matter and in reality there is no God then nothing happens (no harm)
but if there IS God then you’ll be punished (hell).– Say you believe in God and lead a sinful life then you’re obviously going to Hell according to your belief unless you believe God does not punish.
– Say you dont believe in God and lead a pious life then you’re going to get no credit for it since you didnt believe in God in first place.
Any harm in chosing to believe to believe in God? No
Any use of believing in God? MaybeAny harm in chosing to not believe in God? Maybe
Any use of not believing in God? NoWhich option seems more appropriate to chose? Answer yourself.
If you’re inside a room and I tell you that outside the door there is someone who is going to hurt you if he doesnt see a this flag in your hand but at the same time I tell you what I’m saying might be untrue.If what I said was untrue and you go out without holding the flag then nothing happens but if what I said was true then you’re going to get hurt.
But if you go out holding the flag in your hand then nothing is going to happen to you irrespective of what I said was true or not.
Would you chose to hold the flag I gave you or would you chose to go out without holding it?
“If I hold a book in my hand and say this is a pen then for you to say no its not a pen you need to know what pen is” – Dr. Zakir NaikIn order to say certain religion or their concept of God is wrong you need to atleast study their religion isnt it?
I encourage you all to study a religion and then see if you’re convinced by its concepts or not but in any case do not judge a religion by people who practice it since they may not be practicing it right.
Thank you for your time and patience.These are truly interesting points you bring up. And no one can really, trully believe in God without at one point in their life question His existance. What it comes down to is one’s willingness to accept that there is (or is not) a God (higher being….what have you) and to deal with the decisions made. At times it may seem like there is no God(higher being) because of terrible things that happen in the world….through it is how we work through adversity and sorrow that is God (suffice it to say from no one when I write “God” I mean a higher being as well) at work…making us stronger and more dynamic people. Terrible things happen, to things, animals and people we love deeply…some people believe this image many have of “God” is just a crutch to get people through times like that. It is at times like those that even the most devout can question….WHY? It’s finding the answer to the “WHY?” that brings people to a better understanding of God…and whether or not people CHOOSE to believe or not. It HAS to be a choice…without a choice, it is blindly following a concept you have not fully grasped on a personal level. As a child, it is good to be taught about many things, and guided…but ultimately, there comes a time when you….PERSONALLY…have to make that choice. (In the Christian religions there is Baptism and then Confirmation, (the Catholic religion takes a few steps further and has more rites) the latter of those two SHOULD be YOU personally making a choice to accept God. People choose their own paths in life, and one of my professors in school (a theology class mind you) put it this way: You have to make a landing pad in your heart to accept God… it’s a choice we all make…if we are not ready to accept God or choose NOT to…then so be it, live your life the way you see fit…but also let others live theirs. I guess that’s my two cents worth…I hope it made sense and I don’t sound too hoaky. (Let me qualify this by mentioning I went to Jesuit university and took LOTS of theology…I chose to write this at the bottom because I wanted people to think before reading my background on the subject).
i’ve heard the general argument before, of…
is it better to believe and be wrong, or
not believe and be wrong, or
believe and be right, or
not believe and be right?personally, i’m taking the path of believing and hoping i’m right. if i’m wrong, then no problems…
This very logic is why, when surveyed, a majority of people in the U.S. respond that they believe in God. Of course, I’ve heard it said that even the devil believes in God… so maybe belief alone is not enough.
And is belief as a form of “fire insurance” really belief at all?
Jeff wrote:This very logic is why, when surveyed, a majority of people in the U.S. respond that they believe in God. Of course…Because people who claim to believe in god do not really do so. They just wish to believe in god. They somehow feel that their lives are meaningless without god,
Many people justify their faith with god as an explanation Because we lack knowledge of a lot of things.I’ve found that to be very true in many cases, Kudo, which is why I’ve always had a great deal of respect for those who can honestly say they have faith in something. Honest faith truely is a rarity these days. The ironic part being that a lot of those people I can respect for having their true faith have a problem with me, heheh, ah well, no skin off my nose.
More or less, I’m of the attitude that I’m going to follow what I feel is true and right in my heart, discover and learn all I can about the world in all it’s varrying degrees and allow my ideas (including faith) to expand and evolve as I learn more…and in the end, if I’m wrong…then I accept the full responsibility and consequenses. *shrug* I refuse to be a false follower, and there are just some things I can’t believe in my heart of hearts. So, what can you do but be true to yourself and accept the end means of it all?
Jeff wrote:Of course, I’ve heard it said that even the devil believes in God… so maybe belief alone is not enough.Well, according to what I believe (Presbyterian), the devil doesn’t really believe in God as we would, it’s more of, he knows he exists. I mean, the devil used to be one of God’s angels…so of course he thinks God exists. As for me, I completely do, there have been some times when, heck, I know it just had to be God helping me through. He also gives me confidence, plus, if you really aren’t sure, why not go look at what some religions believe in? What do I know, I believe in God, and he is amazing.
Jeff wrote:This very logic is why, when surveyed, a majority of people in the U.S. respond that they believe in God. Of course, I’ve heard it said that even the devil believes in God… so maybe belief alone is not enough.And is belief as a form of “fire insurance” really belief at all?
i suppose i should clarify my above statements then… i said i’m taking the path of believing and hoping i’m right. that sounds like the ‘insurance’ idea to me. when really, it’s not like that for me. i do honestly believe in God; the fact that it’s insurance of a sort is an added bonus.
A woman of few words… I don’t
If I don’t my insurance will not pay out! My aspect on life, is be nice whilst your here if that is not good enough then there is no truth in anything.
Enjoy it up there if that’s the deal 😉
God to those who believe, is a heavenly father (who obviously art in heaven ;)). I personally am a follower of God, but I’m not going to explain to everyone why as that’s my own reasoning.
What I find a crock is, my parents, especially my mother redicules me of believing in a higher ground. Going to church or a youth group was a joke to her really — but yet always calls to her mother who passed away to look over one of her children in a time of need (surgery, etc). She prays to a higher ground.. even though she doesn’t believe there is anything there.
Same goes for those who use God’s name in vain, yet don’t believe in anything more than knowing what his name is. It wouldn’t make sense to say “oh bob” so, they use God or Jesus’ name — and probably don’t even realise that “oh God” is actually sort of a plea for the one they are speaking to, to either smarten up etc.
That’s what grinds me.
Jeff wrote:And is belief as a form of “fire insurance” really belief at all?I failed to make myself clear then. I meant to use my arguments to encourage people to study religions and get to know what is the concept of God before actually denying his existance. I, in no way intend to suggest anyone to believe in God merely as an insurance policy. Well it doesnt go like that in any religion. They dont believe in God because they’re afraid they’ll be punished infact they’re only afraid that they’ll be punished after they believe in God. Why would someone be afraid of God if he doesnt believe in him in first place?
detn8r wrote:Same goes for those who use God’s name in vain, yet don’t believe in anything more than knowing what his name is. It wouldn’t make sense to say “oh bob” so, they use God or Jesus’ name — and probably don’t even realise that “oh God” is actually sort of a plea for the one they are speaking to, to either smarten up etc…It is just an exclamation or cliche bursting out of one’s mouth on a daily basis 😉 It doesn’t mean anything when people say “oh my god”,”oh god” or “oh my goodness” 😀
Which is why Sami’s prefer to say “Jiminy Cricket” *winks, giggle* Tends to keep people off her case *innocent whistle*
Since I expect people to cut me some slack and not do the whole “Unworth pagan heathen” ordeal around me (Which my *eep: Former* roomate does anyway…funny, it’s never ‘cultists’ or ‘fanatics’ or anything, it’s always a pagan plot *rolls her eyes*), I try and cut others some slack as well.
Favorite alternative Sami Phrases Include (not limited to):
Dear Sweet Mother of Cheese!
For the Love of Puppies!
Oh Mother of Cheese Nips…
Jiminy Cricket!
Oh My God…es…es
Forgive me G-Wiz! (thank you aqua teen)
Dear Sweet Mother of Vinegar Chips.
Oh Poodles.
Christmas Trees!
Oh. My. Golly Gee Willicures, Batman.
Cotton Socks!
For the Love of Peanut Butter and Crackers!(Wow, because I don’t sound like a baby talking fool now do I?) I assure you there are many others with fun other descriptive words, but I thought they might not quite be ‘appropriate’ tee hee. *giggles girlishly*
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