Do you HONESTLY believe in God?

Edit: I just read, no "god" threads. Great. I can't change the title, but I will delete part of my thread where I was bashing religions as being nothing but evil/hate and a way to divide societys, but most of this thread is basically what I think heaven/hell to be as a spiritual place, not an actual place.

Side note, I am a math/science person. I won't lie, my english is slacking so pardon me if I have trouble getting what I really want across. I talk ghetto af in real life, but it has nothing to do with me being ignorant, or anything. I consider myself to be a fool at times, but also very intelligent. Anyways, let's get on with it.

1st, answer this. If you are part of a religion, ask yourself WHY? Was it because you grew up as part of that religion and it's the basis of your family? Most likely, yes.

2nd question, have you ever sat down and thought up your own religion and why you are really here?

I have a tattoo of samson and delilah from when i was younger and didn't really know who i was, FULLY. I've always had a great sense of who I am, but as I said I was young and wanted to somewhat fit in cause my favorite rappers/artist are all inked up in bible scriptures, clouds, angels, etc and I thought it was cool. But the more I think about it, they just do it because it's the biggest cult in North America.

Personally, here's what I think "HEAVEN/HELL" is. I am very open minded to this stuff, but once you start basing your facts on the bible, I cease to continue with the debate. But I am definitely open for discussion.

They say the chemical that you dream with, DMT fills your brain when you die. And dreams have always been very strange among scientist and what they mean. Well, let me tell you what I think. I think when you die, you either dream forever, which would be consider a heaven, or you would have nightmares for rest of your life, aka HELL.

To me, it makes perfect sense. As they say, heaven/hell is what you make it. Also, I think whether you dream/have nightmares when you die is based on how you live your life. Either positively, or negatively. If you are a negative/mean person, you typically have nightmares. If you stay positive, you have dreams when you go to bed. "WHATEVER HELPS YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT," kind of term. Also, that essentially would mean you take whatever you love into your dream, whether it's drugs, women, family, roller coasters, etc.

Another side note, I was addicted to heroin for 3 years, only a month sober and first time ever getting sober, and I haven't had one nightmare since I have been out. However, in my dreams I do find sometimes there's heroin. I love getting high, but I hate the consequences. I should probably stop talking about taking possessions into dreams cause it's going to get way too complicated. Really, who's to say drugs are bad. Only the government. Obviously, meth and shit is bad for you, but tbh, opium is produced in the body anyways.

Let's continue. So, I think depending on the type of mood you are in at the time, hopefully you are in a upbeat positive state before you die, then you should have dreams for rest of your life.

As they say, if you commit suicide, you go to hell. Which would make since, as in not an actual place, but a state of mind and you would have nightmares.

The most misconception I think is that heaven/hell is NOT an actual place, it's a state of mind.

What do you guys think? I'd love to have some intelligent debates.

Rules:
1. Be OPEN minded.

P.S. The one thing I have yet to figure out and probably never will have an understanding is
WHERE THE UNIVERSE ITSELF CAME FROM. You can't make something from nothing.
Yes, it makes since there's many galaxys, solar systems within those galaxys, and your planets/stars, blackholes, etc.
But where did the universe itself come from. Now, they say it's infinitely expanding at the speed of light, which would make since, but STILL, how did it start. That's what blows my mind and if a god did exist, then possibly a god created the universe, and the OPPORTUNITY for life, but I think life created itself such as maybe water, lightning, etc, etc, etc fused together and started off as a parasite or whatever and evolved throughout the years.

But how the universe was created blows my mind. Because imagine a small ball that just started expanding at the speed of light. What was around that ball, if you know what I mean. Also, where did all these elements come from. That shit is still more confusing to me than my own religion I have thought up or what happens after you die, which essentially, is what a religion is.

 

Yes i believe there is a powerful god. No i don't follow any religion other than my own personal beliefs. No i don't believe half of the things people try and make you believe. If anything i believe more in a scientific universal self made religion that is only believed by that person because they allow it to be believable. Doesn't mean i want to hear other people tell me i'm wrong about it though, which is probably why these threads aren't allowed.

 

Most of what I say will use examples of or relate to Christianity but it's just because I know most about it but it applies to other religions respectively.

The way I see it, religion is just a philosophy about life. Some people follow it to the T and with no compromise, and some people follow it in a theoretical sense (e.g. the story isn't literal, it just exemplifies a 'moral of the story...'). For example; Jesus feeding the however-many with the fish could be seen as Jesus literally creating matter from nothing... or seen as "give a man a fish... teach a man to fish.." 'moral'. And similarly, Jesus parting the ocean can be taken literally as Jesus controlling the ocean or "you can do anything if you put your mind to it" 'moral'. Those who follow it blindly like sheep I have concerns for. I feel that these sorts of "faiths" or what have you are exploiting naivety and the 'believers'. Reason being is that if you ask them "why are you religious/a Christian" the most common answer is "I want to please God" or "To be allowed to go to heaven" etc. So then we must ask "shouldn't you do these things whether God exists or not, rather than because of God?" Religions IMO are just a way to control the masses, or were, in the appropriately named Dark Ages.

On a side note: Religious people often argue that we should respect their beliefs and leave them be. Because it's offensive to mock them, apparently. Well, I find it offensive that religion affects most things outside of the sphere of religion (law, education, etc). Why do we not have any atheist speakers in schools? Why are our laws the way they are because religious people say it should (gay marriage for example)? Why do we have to pussyfoot around religion when they so noticeably preach their case?

Sure, feel free to have a faith and a God. But don't shove it down peoples' throats when you don't have a logical explanation as to why but "it's just what I believe".

 

I believe in multiple religions combined, some beliefs i agree with , some i don't. Along with other self beliefs based upon my own experiences in life, which is why i refer to it as a "self belief". I'm open to hearing other's beliefs as it's interesting and possibly could change someones opinion on the matter. Not sure why these threads aren't allowed.

 

I completely understand why 'god' threads aren't allowed; some things just can't be argued. People have their own beliefs and that's that.

And Roary, I totally agree. For instance, I have 'Samson and Delilah' tattooed on my right arm because of the 'moral' behind the story. Though I have never read the bible, I can definitely relate to a lot of the morals within the bible, but definitely not literally.

Second note, yes, it's very unfair that eg. gay marriage is even a topic. That should not even be up for discussion. I know a lot of people are against is because I guess it's a wrong doing in the bible, but I think those people should really ask themselves if THEY, personally think it's morally wrong. Even then, if you think it is, what's wrong with others 'sinning.' Let people the fuck be as long as it doesn't involve hurting themselves or others. As for politics even involving religion the slightest is beyond me. I would have to say politics most likely involve religion because all 'politicking' is, is trying to earn yourself a fan base and if you are running for governor/president, you can surely get yourself a following if you are pleasing a specific group.

P.S. Ill be voting for Jesse Ventura (president), also ex-governor and Howard Stern (vice president) in 2016 as independents.

 

To be honest I don't really think about it.

I'd like to say I believe in a God/higher being. I do try to do good and what I think is right. I try to keep an open mind and just listen and take in information from what I read and what people discuss because I don't feel like I'm really educated in this stuff. I just try to learn.

Though I do take offense (well not really offense but they come off ignorant and close minded to me) when I hear people talk how there is no such thing as God because "flying man in the sky that doesn't do anything and nothing created him" and it doesn't make sense to them. They are quick to jump on the atheist train, bash religion and go for the big bang theory and science (which I doubt some of them even studies/questions it but just believes it because it was said to be done by science. Funny.) without trying to hear others.

It could also be because I'm growing up in a very christian environment

 

I definitely believe in God
How else was mankind made and ita a belief. Different religions have different beliefs and I really don't like when people mix buisness life with religion. But in the end I believe in god.

Just do right things, pray, and have fun

 

I feel like there is a bit of a bias in your post... It's kind of like an argument point that was meant to be rhetorical but ended up just kind of pissing me off. I think the general consensus was to not shove religion down our throats but you follow it up with "How else could it have happened" and "Just pray". I won't bother in responding to either of those points but just know that they weren't appreciated.

 

I believe in a higher being than us.

Christianity is full of shit. The old and new testament has a lot of questionable text.

Example:

Leviticus 25:44-46

"44 Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. 45 You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. 46 You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly."

 

I think the reason I made this thread more than anything was to really understand why you guys believe in a god or god(s).

Is it because you grew up under a certain religion?

Also, have you ever thought up your own religion and why you personally believe you are here and/or how you got here?

I'm not surprised that most of you believe in god(s), but can you guys give me more of a reasoning? If not, I completely understand but I was just curious if there was a better reasoning than because of the bible or because your parents are of a certain religion.

As for the typical answer, "How are we here?" I totally get. I think the better question is, "How was the universe created?" Due to the fact I can never seem to wrap my head around that one, I do possibly believe in a higher entity, but I prefer to lean away from the actual thought of a one-man type of god, respectively. At the same time, if god created the universe, 'Who created God? goes the same way. Therefore, I definitely think it's a possibility that a higher entity created the universe and the 'opportunity' for life.

 

Yes I believe in God.
I'm not really part of a religion I just stick to my own beliefs.
I do that all the time.
I'm just not completely firm on what I do believe about God though. Like I believe that if you are in really rough patch in you're life that God will help guide you through it and always be looking out for one another.
One thing I disagree on is when people go to my door step and try and interest me into their religion, I really don't like that. I believe what I want to believe and I don't want to be preached about religion from people, If I ask about religion, God, etc. then go ahead and preach all you want.

 

No sense for there to be one? I'd have to disagree.

It makes no sense that we people have such complex bodies and can speak to one another with multiple languages, smell, taste, and breathe.

On top of that, the fact our Earth can sustain life. It's at the exact tilt, we aren't too far/too close to the sun, etc, etc. All of these types of things really make me question life and therefore, I can not be sure of anything. Almost everyday, whether it be the morning, middle of the day, or at night, I think about how crazy it is to be granted LIFE.

Learn to be open minded. It's very refreshing and it will really open you up as a person, whether you believe in a god or not.

 

I dont believe in any sort of god but people believe in god because they find some sort of comfort in a afterlife. Alot of people are religious because they fear death and it gives them comfort in the belief that when they die they will see passed loved ones again in a heaven. Id love to believe it but i dont. I dont want to go religion bashing though,Everyone has their beliefs.

 

How does that prove there is a god? You didn't make a strong counter argument.

 

It doesn't prove there's a god. It proves you need be open minded.

I don't even believe in a god, so why would I make a counter argument?

 

You just made a counter argument as to why there could be one. The information you supplied isn't sufficient. This apophenia that we have created is for world balance and order. There will always be more proof to disbelieve in God than there is to believe. Faith is blind.

 

Nope. Not at all. We are not talking about truth, we are talking about belief. It is my belief that there is not a god because there is no evidence. I am not claiming that I know that there is not a god simply that I choose to believe that there is not one because there is no proof. Without this pragmatism, you could never think that anything does not exist and the best you could ever be is unsure. I choose to believe that a god does not exist until proven otherwise and it is entirely possible that I am wrong but I believe I am correct until shown otherwise.

 

I am very open minded. You are free to present any evidence that there is a god and I will openly and readily look at it (although I will most likely dismiss it). Complex bodies are from evolution. Language also evolved. Earth is one of uncountable many planets. Even with the tiniest of odds, it is likely that many Earth type planets exist in the universe. Believing in a god would diminish my life. I see no purpose in one and there being one would raise many very unsettling and horrible questions that would make life much more difficult.

If there is a god, then why is there suffering?

 

The whole argument about "all the variables seem too perfect for it to be random" is such bullshit. If you think about the unimaginable amount of planet and star combinations in the universe and the amount of time that has passed, how is it so unrealistic that one planet somewhere would be able to support life?

The reason why I don't believe in god is because I have no reason to. Looking beyond that point about evidence and what not is just stupid. You should be convincing me that there is a god with evidence not the other way around.

 

Ironically, I don't believe in a god, but I do believe in the possibility of a hire entity.

How was the universe itself created?

And, yes. I am right with you. We are products of our environment. If other intelligent lifeforms do exist, it's possible, but they most likely would have much different features as their adaptation would be very different from ours depending on their environment.

ilovegold69, this thread has nothing to do with proving someone wrong/right.