The Existence of God

A sound way to break up the argument. Well done.

 

guys all i can say to this is - religion is just a way to group the people, without it there would be chaos and no humanity, we would not be in the world we know today without something to believe in.

 

Truthfully speaking, it's pretty much impossible to fully prove that God exists. Even if Jesus walked the Earth today and performed miracles, a large majority of atheists still would not believe it to be true (just like what happened when Jesus was on Earth). That being said, I think it's better just to argue about whether or not religion is good for humans.

In my opinion, it is good for many reasons. First of all, it gives us something to live for. It's something that we can rely on, put our faith in, and, for some people, give our lives to.

Religion has been the motivation of people for ages. When a baseball player comes to the plate, he may say a prayer before he goes requesting help. Now whether or not the prayer works or if God exists, the player has motivation that God is with him and that is going to help him perform better. i'm not saying that God necessarily helped that player. My point is that religion gives us motivation, and in some instances can get you through a hardship.

Of course I can't pass up the cons, which include spending a lot of time in life devoted to something that [potentially] doesn't exist. On top of that we know that humans are barbaric creatures and religion can start fights (and in some cases, war). I don't think it would be right for me to preach that religion is all good. Obviously it isn't perfect; however, my bottom line here is that whether or not God really exists, religion is better than no religion.

Also, a side question, if God does not exist, does morality exist?

 

You have quite simply defined the term "blissful ignorance" in that post.

The most profound reference I can make here is the instance where the German government was massacring a large portion of Europe and the majority of civilians would have probably agreed with you that not acknowledging for the sake for personal happiness is the best way to go... In the '70s in Argentina, the government was also killing its own people and again many took the standpoint that keeping their head out of it would keep them happy; well if you look at it in the larger picture, ignorance is bliss but knowledge is power.

 

I'm talking in reference to beliefs about afterlifes, which is a completely different subject. This has nothing to do with violence. This isn't "keeping your head out" It's chosing to believe or not to believe. The example you gave was an instance where knowledge is good, I didn't say knowledge was always bad, I just said that knowledge is not always good.

Power. All people want is power. In my eyes, the ultimate goal in life is to be happy, to have a good time. I don't care how many countries you control, I'd take happiness over power any day of the week.

 

1. Are you arrogant enough to suggest that our pitiful excuse for morality is a divine creation?

2. Do you realize how foolish your question is? You may as well ask, if God does not exist, would anything? By asking this question, you are assuming he does already...An non-believer would tell you: If God's existence was disproven, absolutely nothing would change.

 

I don't know if I worded that right, but what I meant was why should we even have morals and standards as humans.

 

Although i was brought up as a catholic i don't :/

 

Wait, what ?

Yeah, well, don't assume. -.- There is no such thing as almost exactly.

I'll dumb it down a bit with some small questions.

1. It's a God. One that, apparently, can acquire human emotions. This God gets angry when these things happen. (Oh, what don't forget. This is an old knowing, all seeing, all-doing God..)
Why ?

2. Are you for or against homosexuality? Or, in a conclusive way, a homosexual in the church?

 

I personally think, no.
It's impossible to prove, that god exists, or does NOT exist.
It's you choise, to believe, or not to believe, nobody knows if it is true or not.

But, I have to say one thing. IF the god does NOT exist, humans were VERY, VERY stupid, to have a pope, go to church on sundays, etc.

But, I personally think, no.

 

I believe in God and that there is a God if im incorrect i will know in my next life

 

If there is no god, you still believe that there is an afterlife?

 

I , for myself, believe in GOD. Thats all.

 

That's all? This is a 'Discussion/Debate' forum for a reason. Discuss, debate, or don't post. -.-

..Why exactly do you believe in God?

 

there must be a creator. God is the only possible reason for life.

Who's to say that the big bang wasn't caused by God?

 

Motivation? I found no motivation in a religion when I did follow one, only a boring walk to church with my Lutheran schoolmates, who I pretty much despised anyway.

The cons of a religion indefinitely outweigh the pros as far as my mind functions, and as for things such as motivation, that may not work for a lot of people who have actually broken down their beliefs and examined them in depth.

You've obviously failed to see the simile. You are "keeping your head out" by not searching for evidence and blindly following. You believe blindly following will make you happy, so you do so. His post has every amount of relevance to yours.

Also, knowledge generally tends to be good. While in the wrong hands it may be destructive, in good hands it can further society dramatically. Consider this: The nuclear bomb. The nuclear bomb is a tool of destruction, yet a nuclear power plant provides entire cities with power. Is knowledge of nuclear reactions bad on the whole?

Some people find that power is the ultimate way to make them happy and have a good time. I certainly find power a great way to advance myself, I find that power over others can be quite beneficial to me.

*sighs*

Argument ad Ignoratum.

Your argument in a nutshell:
"I don't know, therefore God did it."
Can you not see the flaw in that logic?

As for the big bang, no-one said that God DIDN'T do it, but there is no evidence supposing that God DID, either.

 

Well, I go to a Catholic high school, and I promise you that the majority of my schoolmates are happy people who are indeed motivated by God. A relationship with God is one of the most personal and great things you can have in your life. God is the one thing that you can put all your trust and faith in and never ne let down. You can devote your life to sports or school, but when God is the first thing in your life that will never let you down. I know I'm rambling and preaching, but rest assured I (or the rest of my classmates) am not blindly following. I have been educated on my religion all of my life, in an unbiased manner.

 

They all go to a catholic school. That's not a very good point.

I had a relationship with God and I found my xbox360 more personal and great. Your point is subjective, and therefore, not fully valid, nor logical.

"After leaving a church youth group, a young boy and his friend were subject to a drive-by shooting."

Oh, okay.

*Looks at above quote and answer*

Yes, you are rambling.
Yes, you are following blindly.
In something like religion, the only way you could follow a religion and not be 'blindly following' is if that certain God actually came to you himself and said "Follow me," or some variation of that. If that didn't happen to you, don't tell us that you're not blindly following, because you are.

Sentences like this are the exact reason why I'm not revolted by those who follow Siddhartha Buddha...

You may have been educated in your religion, but that means nothing.
I could have been educated all of my life that a man six thousand miles away that I haven't even seen is the purpose of my existence, but what good does that do me? The only difference from my example and your religion is that my person is reachable. -.-

 

I go to a Quaker school. Our Quakerism teacher says that he estimates that 70-90% of the people in the school are atheists. Going to a religious school means nothing.

If you believe in God, why he let the holocaust happen? He was rewarding Hitler and punishing the Jews. Why?

 

Not a very valid point. Hitler kills himself, along with his wife, and the Jews are free from his grasp.

If that's the only kind of reward a God of your perception could give, then by all means, but most people would look at your sentence and think opposite.