Do you belive in God? why?

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I absolutely believe in God. I however no longer attend church. My husband and I both felt we didn't belong there. We didn't like the way our church did things and we decided to leave. We thought we'd find another church but instead we found our relationship with God has been stronger since we haven't been attending church.

[ILoveReptiles]

I would classify myself as an Agnostic Atheist. So, no. I don't believe in God. Nor do I believe in Satan.

It's my feeling that religion was created as a method for the strong to maintain control over the weak, by threatening the wrath of a diety if they did not obey.

As a result of this, I just can't bring myself to believe in any higher power. I live by my own set of morals, which I may add are much better than the morals (or lack thereof) of some people I know directly involved in my life (I.E. my supervisor, who touts himself off to be a good Christian, but in reality has absolutely no integrity, no moral fibre, and is the biggest hypocrite I've ever met in my life.)

[Suki Wingy]

Nope. Never have seen a reason to. A lot of people can't do one good thing for themselves and beleive in themselves, they have to say god did it. Also the way lots of different people come up with lots of different religions. For me, I feel like the world works on pure chance.

ILoveReptiles, I agree with you. Christianity has change so much over history.

I would classify myself as an Agnostic Atheist. So, no. I don't believe in God. Nor do I believe in Satan.

It's my feeling that religion was created as a method for the strong to maintain control over the weak, by threatening the wrath of a diety if they did not obey.

As a result of this, I just can't bring myself to believe in any higher power. I live by my own set of morals, which I may add are much better than the morals (or lack thereof) of some people I know directly involved in my life (I.E. my supervisor, who touts himself off to be a good Christian, but in reality has absolutely no integrity, no moral fibre, and is the biggest hypocrite I've ever met in my life.)

MY own oppinion and please don't be offended by this, is that god is everyone's personal imaginary friend

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Nope. Never have seen a reason to. A lot of people can't do one good thing for themselves and beleive in themselves, they have to say god did it. Also the way lots of different people come up with lots of different religions. For me, I feel like the world works on pure chance.

ILoveReptiles, I agree with you. Christianity has change so much over history.

MY own oppinion and please don't be offended by this, is that god is everyone's personal imaginary friend

Oh, PAAALEASE!!!
I had an imaginary horse when I was a kid. I well know the difference!!!

A lot of us can do "one good thing (or more) for ourselves" but still believe in God. I know for a fact that I would never have been able to get out of the slum I was living in with no money and into a nice clean well built home with out God's help. So, while you are surley intitled to your own opinions, please don't tell me I was just imagining things!!!

PS, I still love you no matter what you believe!!!

[JenBKR]

Nope. Never have seen a reason to. A lot of people can't do one good thing for themselves and beleive in themselves, they have to say god did it. Also the way lots of different people come up with lots of different religions. For me, I feel like the world works on pure chance.

ILoveReptiles, I agree with you. Christianity has change so much over history.

MY own oppinion and please don't be offended by this, is that god is everyone's personal imaginary friend

Wow. Ouch. At least I respect other opinions, thank God for that.

[Suki Wingy]

I DO respect other's oppinions. That is my heartfealt oppinion and I've held back from saying it on PT for a long time. I felt like in a wonderful place like PT I should be able to share that. Notice I said is like, not is. There is a difference. Since when is my own oppinion after hearing many people state how they feel, wrong or taken offensivley? I think religion is a wonderful thing for lots of people, it gives hope and meaning. I just don't see the need for MYSELF to believe in anything, I'm happy on my own. No one can really prove the existance of or apsence of a god anyway so oppinions are all there will ever be in religion, and we must learn to respect others' oppinions and be able to speak what we truley believe and not beome offended by other's oppinions. I truley love you guys and I never wanted to hurt anyone, that's why I refrained from speaking my whole mind at first. It doesn't mean I think any less of you. One of my good friends is storngly Muslim, I belong to a UU group, so I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong or anything.

[JenBKR]

I DO respect other's oppinions. That is my heartfealt oppinion and I've held back from saying it on PT for a long time. I felt like in a wonderful place like PT I should be able to share that. Notice I said is like, not is. There is a difference. Since when is my own oppinion after hearing many people state how they feel, wrong or taken offensivley? I think religion is a wonderful thing for lots of people, it gives hope and meaning. I just don't see the need for MYSELF to believe in anything, I'm happy on my own. No one can really prove the existance of or apsence of a god anyway so oppinions are all there will ever be in religion, and we must learn to respect others' oppinions and be able to speak what we truley believe and not beome offended by other's oppinions. I truley love you guys and I never wanted to hurt anyone, that's why I refrained from speaking my whole mind at first. It doesn't mean I think any less of you. One of my good friends is storngly Muslim, I belong to a UU group, so I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong or anything.

Oh no no, I apologize, that came out wrong, I wasn't saying that you don't respect other opinions, I meant that your last statement stung me a little but I'm ok because I can respect other opinions. Does that make sense? I wasn't trying to say anything about you.

[shais_mom]

Oh no no, I apologize, that came out wrong, I wasn't saying that you don't respect other opinions, I meant that your last statement stung me a little but I'm ok because I can respect other opinions. Does that make sense? I wasn't trying to say anything about you.

Given the tone of previous posts by her, I think that is exactly what she was saying.

MY own oppinion and please don't be offended by this, is that god is everyone's personal imaginary friend

[lbaker]

I don't get it either. Your god in your mind is better than my god in my mind. And if I don't have a "god" I don't have a mind?? Or if I have several I'm mindless?? Too much for this simple mind to deal with.

[JenBKR]

I don't get it either. Your god in your mind is better than my god in my mind. And if I don't have a "god" I don't have a mind?? Or if I have several I'm mindless?? Too much for this simple mind to deal with.

huh? Or....who were you talking to?

[cali]

I belive that God and Science go together, I dont belive in any one God, and all other are wrong, I simpley believe there is a higher being or beings. I belive that "God" created the earth and , s/he created the primitive life, evolution happend from there. docters do not interfere with "Gods" plan, I beleive that Docters ARE "Gods" plan. as for bads things happening to innocent people? try taking a look at the big picture.

yes bad things have happend and innocent people have died, however look at what happend after? after the Tsunami the whole world banded together despite differences to help others. I garentee that if the Tsunami had never happend nobody would have given a second thought to the folks living there, much less helped them, or shown kindness.

latley there have been a lot of disasters, and every one of them has brought us closer together, or made us stop and think in the midst of our hurried lives. in this day and age we are all too caught up in our own money and wealth to take notice of anything else, when these distasters happen we are FORCED to take notice, and what do we do? we stop being so selfish and help those in need. AKA The big Picture.

[jujuboy]

you know what someone said to me once when i was REALLY sick and recovery was SO LONG DOWN THE TRACK?....how do you eat an elephant?..(her reply was)...bit by bit!!!...it's an analogy to faith/belief/trust in "GOD" His Love/His Realness/His existance!!!...I had gone thru TOO MUCH hardship as a child and as a young adult to not eventually "see" that the existance of GOD was a fact of life...so..bit by bit i am "seeing" and "knowing His Presence in my life..and i have learnt along the way to not "try" to convince people in the existance of God...it's just too much of a headache and heartache...prayer is powerful, and i do believe that (thru experience) that when God wants to "intervene and touch lives"...He does it!! and He never gives up on us just because we say..no, i don't believe (that's why there are so many praying believers out there that God uses to pray for you when you are not able to pray or believe yourselves...it's okay..He'll work it out..your part in it to just ask Him to take over and use you if He wants to!!..really simple!!..Horses for courses..each unto their own..God so knows how to speak to people's hearts and for all those who don't believe, that's kool as well coz you are all included in His involvement in everyone's life..as hardened as we all are and can be with hurts and those cold and dead feelings that tend to "hang around" in us...God does such an amazing job at reaching into people's lives...despite our stuff-ups and despite other people making life harder for us in all aspects...for those who get the gist of what i've typed, trust Him to work in your life and others..pray and leave it to Him..and for those who just don't get what is written..ask God to show you what He's really all about, and don't worry about "not getting an answer" or "not believing He can give you an answer"...coz one day, either when you are at your lowest or vulnerable and hurting or suffering depression or have closed off coz "it's just to darn hard to believe" and that people will always try to "lead you up a garden path(lead you astray)....God will intervene and He'll do it in a way that is either so simple and tender or "smak dab" in the middle of your face!!!..and then when you say those all too true words of "Ahh Hah!!..Oh, I get it!!"...and it sticks inside of you like you have been GIVEN understanding...that is when you have begun to eat an elephant...bit by bit!!!...getting to understand and know God is step by step and Jesus has such a major part in all of understanding God..you will never separate the truth of God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit..THEY ARE ONE!!!...and they all work together...i know that this sounds like a real headtrip, it did for me for many years and i just tormented myself in trying to work it out..eventually i just let it all go and said to God.."If your real, You work it out for me and help me to hear/know/embrace your truth and KNOW when you are speaking to me, and He has!!..for many years now, and is continuing...i don't despair any more, coz i know that i don't have to work it out..He does it all, i just let Him know what I'm thinking and feeling and am not afraid to let Him know when i'm angry with Him, to point of not wanting to talk to God for a long time!!! and not really giving a Rip!!!...that's kool, coz He hasn't forgotten me and patiently waits for me to call upon Him again even though He continues to work thru my life in the way of people/animals/creation/the lot!!...when you go thru a major breakdown and you loose EVERYTHING!! even your marbles(mind)...i dont know about you guys, but i found that all i could say was..God help! and sometimes, nothing at all, HE KNEW THE CRY FROM WITHIN, THE GROANING AND THE TEARS..that was all i was able to say..could'nt say or do anything else..how's that for vulnerability and helplessness and powerlessness...you soon realise after a while WHO is keeping you alive and where your next breath comes from...so..HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT???..bit by bit!! ....sorry, i'm raving again ..now you're probably thinking.."crazy aussie God tripper!!"..so be it...GOD BLESS YOU IN ALL YOU DO AND WHAT EVER ROAD YOU WALK ON...GOD'S THERE WITH YOU, STEP BY STEP... Jujuboy

[cyber-sibes]

Isn't it interesting that opinions & beliefs are so varied? fascinating...
Do I believe in a god? Oh yeah, this universe is way too complex to have just "happened" on its own.
Do I believe in God? Always have, always will. My conception of God has changed as my spiritual journey progresses. I've walked down several "paths", and grown in understanding with each one.
This is where I'm at at this point:

We're all born with a "God-size hole", and a desire to fill it up. Our curiosity, our need for answers, our need for purpose, all feed into what path we choose. Some choose structured religions, some choose science, others choose drugs, some choose a hedonistic lifestyle, others choose spirituality outside formal structure. We get to choose, and then live with the consequences of those choices. We're here on this earth to grow into a more mature spirituality, before we move on to whatever's next for us.

My personal experience is that I've found two different organizations that I resonate with. One has formal religious teachings, and one has no religious affiliation. One group has many atheists in it, but recognition that there is a Higher Power, something greater than yourself, is essential. The other group includes people from all sorts of "religious" backgrounds, who now seek to change their lives based on the application of Spiritual Principles. I love growing spiritually, it's an adventure that never ends! My life is richer because of my spiritual quest.

Something I try to bear in mind is that I cannot judge another's experiences, because I don't know what their soul is here to learn. I can only learn my lessons. I believe in an afterlife because nothing in this universe can be destroyed, everything simply changes its form of energy. Everything is God-energy transformed. I personally don't believe that any single religion has an exclusive claim on "The Truth". Truth is truth, no matter what the source.

I encourage each person to keep an open mind, and an open heart. Namaste

[Giselle]

Oh Shais Mom, I wasn't trying to answer your question I just quote it because your post sparked my train of thought and I just kept typing. I didn't even notice the connection until now, LOL. Cathy, I'm going over to your thread right now. This should be very very interesting!