Do you HONESTLY believe in God?

Kinda have to agree there with Swan, his point is pretty clear and he uses the common sense. You just didn't get "cured" by a subnormal human being or just a paranormal one, you have been saved by the doctors who have been in that operation so, kinda stupid to say that "God" saved you while he didn't do anything, people just get used to stupid shits and they believe in all kind of things.

 

Yes, I do believe in a god, and there are a few reasons why. Firstly, in my life I've seen many things happen (mostly health related) that I cannot explain, nor can the doctors/professionals involved. When my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer when I was younger, the doctor gave him approx. 1 year to live. The next year, my grandfather walked into that office, looked that doctor in the eye, and his face looked as if he saw a ghost; it was unbelievable. He went on to live another year before passing away.

Secondly, just like anyone else on this planet earth, I've had my troubles, but I truly believe that God helped me deal with them. The fact that I'm able to pray to something that is bigger than me is a blessing, as it puts my mind at ease and allows me to put the problem in someone else' hands, in a sense.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, though. Nobody should be putting down anyone else for simply stating what they believe in, and sadly, this is what I'm seeing A LOT of these days.

 

Yes I do believe in god.

 

That's easily explained by a number of hypothesis:
- Misdiagnosis, either of the condition or progression of the condition
- Biological factors such as a good immune system
- Lifestyle
- Spontaneous remission (yes, it does happen).

Citing that as a reason to believe is basically just confirmation bias. And, while I'm not being offensive here, it also implies God could care less about the people who actually suffer and die as a result of their diagnosis, no matter how much they prayed. Somehow I don't find "selective healing" to be a particularly valid hypothesis when there are many people who have died that would have been just as good a person as your grandfather.

Unfortunately our minds are influenced by the narratives we live under. If you believe in a God, you "feel" like one exists. You "feel" that it helps and guides you, and this provides us comfort. Comforting feelings are not indicative of truth, and often what we want to exist does not. I could have been raised as a child to believe in Odin or Zeus, but ultimately me wanting them to exist, or my belief in them existing wouldn't make it so.

Please keep in mind that this is a debate forum. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, which is why there is debate in the first place. Please understand that I'm not actually putting down your beliefs, but rather providing sound logic and alternative hypotheses. I'm questioning your beliefs, and I'm criticising them, but that isn't actually a bad thing; criticisms are largely why our society is advancing, as the people who criticise often ask the questions most others are uncomfortable with. They're also what allow people to change their minds and appreciate the world in a more truthful way.

Edit: this is a bit offensive to many people, but the logic behind Tim Minchin's satire is sound, so perhaps this might serve as a more creative means to show my point:

 

A doctor can't accurately predict when someone will die though.

 

I don't subscribe to Pascal's wager, but I disagree. I don't know the strict mathematics of such an equation, but how can the concept of infinity apply to the number of faiths? Logically, there will reach a point where no other original theory of faith can be expounded - there are no infinite terms of faith. It will follow that there is a finite number for the possibilities of faith, though the number will be of overwhelming value. Thus, to believe in even one specific faith still credits a slight practical advantage over holding zero faiths.

Do you disagree?

 

yes i do and the thought of death scares the living shit out of me.

 

I'm an agnostic, it's not that I deny the existence of God or accept. I'm just unsure of supernatural stuff.

 

I'm not, but I think most people are drawn into it through family. Some people find themselves religiously later in life, but I think they're a minority.

Again, I'm not religious, but yes. I think it comes down to chance. If anyone else has the answer to this question, I think that may be the most defining answer of all time .

 

Yes. I believe in God. I'm a Muslim and I definitely believe in God.

I believe my God created the World and also, the hereafter exist as per written in the Qur'an.

I was brought up as a Muslim under my parents care. When I started growing older and older, I go to classes to get to know more about my own religion and I've decided that this is the religion that will make my life be in peace, the right religion for the World and the hereafter. A lot of facts have been shown and past history have make me realize.

 

i just think religion was created by man; religion is the #1 most profitable business in the world. Too many coincidences.

 

No. Simple question and simple answer.

 

I do disagree. You struggle with the concept of something that is infinite it seems. It means precisely this: not finite.

To suggest that there is a finite number of possible faiths or beliefs is, in reality, to severely underestimate the number of things that there actually are in the universe. Even if, for argument's sake, it WERE finite, the chance is still borderline zero.

 

If the chance is borderline zero but not zero then Pascal's wager is correct. You are right, however, in saying that I struggle with the concept of infinity: I have difficulty understanding it. But with my limited knowledge, I can still identify that there could never be an infinite number of faiths (or not finite number) for as a human conception it must adhere to the necessarily finite criteria available for use by human beings. If you think about this, I think you will find it must be correct.

 

An infinitesimal chance at salvation for the extremely likely scenario that there is an anthropomorphic, man-machine, human-alien "God" out there who cares what a tiny mortal like yourself believes is no chance.

There is no evidence for such a Being, so why would He care what a bio-chemical, homo-sapien automaton that calls itself a "human" think?

 

No, it is still a chance. If this god exists, you are saved; if he does not, you are not saved. To set everything else aside and approach the wager as it is intended, it is clear that this is correct. That is, unless it can be proven this God cannot exist.

 

What would this God's relation be to Nature (ourselves)? And why would he seek to torment his mathematical creation?

It is unthinkable to me that the Grand Physicist of the Universe, the Master Programmer of it all, would be privy to the primal desires and attitudes of man.

Maybe that's an argument from ignorance, but you'll need to be more specific about what your "God" is before such a concept can be made at all believable.

 

To me, it seems that the wager is not interested in the conception of god (viz a vi for its possibility) as a primary factor and only secondary. The point is that if any conception of God be believed in, there is a greater chance of salvation received than in the case of no belief.

 

Yeeshhhhhhh

 

well i am muslim i guess yes