Yes no? Throw your hat in the ring. Here is a guys entertaining opinion that I found.
Just a tad of sarcasm...possibly a little profanity, and maybe philosophy.
Also refers to the dude, Geo Metros, and baby toasters.
Marked religion for people who can't handle hearing other peoples opinions. But then if you are one of those you likely won't ever now about this post.
[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 12-22-2020).]
That guy's a total doofus. He doesn't have a clue.
As to what to make of that perennial favorite (among questions) of "Is (was) there a Creator?" I don't see it as an answerable question. Believers gonna' believe. I don't see that anyone will ever be able to disprove it.
Yet it always seems to be in those most hopeless of places that the strongest enduring faith in God arises and abides.
When you've got (literally) nothing to lose, why not put your faith in a miracle? IMO, it's an easy sell.
From my relatively privileged vantage point, I can't accept that a loving God would permit human beings to exist in such squalid conditions. Why allow the misery, if One is all powerful?
My questions are basically rhetorical. I have no desire for an extended debate... as these type of "discussions" only end badly.
Heard a pastor describe it from the aspect of Central Americans where they went where the people were really partially living off of a garbage dump, but they were always smiling and praising God. When you can't lift yourself out of that place you look to something to help rescue you. The people without the need, look to themselves as the reason they're where they are.
It might make a difference whose eyes are being looked through. I thank my lucky stars everyday that I've been so fortunate. ... When you've got (literally) nothing to lose, why not put your faith in a miracle? IMO, it's an easy sell.
From my relatively privileged vantage point, I can't accept that a loving God would permit human beings to exist in such squalid conditions. Why allow the misery, if One is all powerful? .
Some light shed on it perhaps, alot of details in here:
But, those squalid conditions are the work of Man, not the Creator.
It's one thing for a man to reap what he sows... but to be born into squalor, to be born into intolerable conditions... this is the fault of the new individual? A loving God simply looks the other way and allows this misery to continue? I just cannot accept the rationale to substantiate that belief.
There will always be the poor among us. (paraphrased)
People looking for perfection in religion won't find it on this Earth. There are many storms, obstacles, and inequities placed in front of us to test faith. Seeing the poor is but one of them.
People looking for perfection in religion won't find it on this Earth. There are many storms, obstacles, and inequities placed in front of us to test faith. Seeing the poor is but one of them.
Being the poor (and sick and destitute, etc) is what really sucks.
quote
Originally posted by maryjane:
(Donald) John (Trump) 12:8
There will always be the poor among us. (paraphrased)
Works out well for the ultra wealthy to keep it that way. Always a ready supply of desperate people who will work for peanuts.
[EDIT] I had added the words (Donald) and (Trump) to the above quote.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12-24-2020).]
Originally posted by Patrick: [QUOTE]Originally posted by maryjane:
People looking for perfection in religion won't find it on this Earth. There are many storms, obstacles, and inequities placed in front of us to test faith. Seeing the poor is but one of them.
Being the poor (and sick and destitute, etc) is what really sucks.
quote
Originally posted by maryjane:
(Donald) John (Trump) 12:8
There will always be the poor among us. (paraphrased)
Works out well for the ultra wealthy to keep it that way. Always a ready supply of desperate people who will work for peanuts.
Works out well for the ultra wealthy to keep it that way. Always a ready supply of desperate people who will work for peanuts.
You don't know what you don't know. You can be fat dumb and happy or just angry that you were born the way you are. I have been poor, didn't like it. Not dirt poor but close enough. Still not good with money but doing better.
Something more than what we are? Even if this is all that it is, why would you care if someone chooses to believe and is not harming you with that belief why would you care? end of the day we are all here on this rock, perhaps just part of some grand experiment or just some mistake that hasn't been cleaned up yet.
Like waking from a dream where you understand all of it and then it slips away, you are no worse for not knowing. Have faith and take a nap perhaps you will understand. Perhaps some of us never wake up and are still trying to figure it all out. The biggest hurdle is people, its hard to trust when you have seen what comes of that trust.
Today lets just be happy, I would say hug your family but that is probably difficult. Just don't let them wonder that you care about them.
You don't know what you don't know. You can be fat dumb and happy or just angry that you were born the way you are. I have been poor, didn't like it. Not dirt poor but close enough. Still not good with money but doing better.
Something more than what we are? Even if this is all that it is, why would you care if someone chooses to believe and is not harming you with that belief why would you care? end of the day we are all here on this rock, perhaps just part of some grand experiment or just some mistake that hasn't been cleaned up yet.
Like waking from a dream where you understand all of it and then it slips away, you are no worse for not knowing. Have faith and take a nap perhaps you will understand. Perhaps some of us never wake up and are still trying to figure it all out. The biggest hurdle is people, its hard to trust when you have seen what comes of that trust.
Today lets just be happy, I would say hug your family but that is probably difficult. Just don't let them wonder that you care about them.
Some of the pictures you post are irrefutable proof that there is a God (and a devil)
Sorry Don, I meant no harm. I thought it would be more than obvious what I had added (especially since the quoted post immediately preceded mine), but for anyone who may be unclear, here's your original post followed by my slight alteration (done solely in jest).
quote
Originally posted by maryjane:
John 12:8
There will always be the poor among us. (paraphrased)
quote
Edited post by Patrick:
(Donald) John (Trump) 12:8
There will always be the poor among us. (paraphrased)
Although the change was done in a lighthearted manner, if it displeases/annoys you, I apologize.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12-24-2020).]
Is it actually the head huncho of any the current religions? Doubtful.
Maybe the Deity worshipped by the Selarians from Dexlar-7 is the “one, true God” but I doubt that also, since “Morbo the Awesomness”was modeled after Obrom, worshiped by their relatives who used to inhabit sister planet Dexlar-6.
But we do like to cling to our cute little faiths, don’t we?
I was raised basically believing I was an atheist.....But after I joined the Navy I re-evaluated this belief.
First, while I was on the USS Coral Sea, I started associating with some Mormons; I wasn't a drinker or partier, so while in Subic bay, PI, I went skin diving around Grande Island...Riding out on the boat one time I noticed another sailor who had fins and a mask....So we decided to swim together for safety.
He and his friends aboard the 'Sea were Mormons... In Olongapo, which back in 79-80 was "Sin City, Orient" (you could get TWO girls to do ANYTHING for $10) I ended up going to a Church social and playing musical chairs! The main thing that impressed me was that they were very penitent- true to their beliefs. When I was a teenager my Dad's friend had four daughters I was FORCED to go boating with (A rough job but...) They were all Catholic.....They would party Friday and Saturday night and then come Sunday morning dress in white sweaters and sit in church asking for forgiveness.....That seemed kind of Hypocritical.
Later, while working at NAS Alameda as a civilian one of my fellow aircraft mechanics was a preacher. We had a lot of discussions about religion- I was especially curious about the whole 6000 years vs 15 Billion years argument. After a bit of thinking (Do you smell smoke?) I came up with some theories that eliminate this argument;
1) When you say "the world was created 6000 years ago by God" Who's years are you talking about? Human years or God's years? Anyone who knows about the orbits of the planets knows that planets have years based on their orbital period....Earth (Human) years are 365 days long (Approx') but Jupiter's years are 4380 (Earth) days long, and Pluto's year is 248 times as long as Earth's year. What exactly is a YEAR to God?
2) Take your favorite movie- Say "The World's Fastest Indian"...Did it start with the BIRTH of the main character? Or with him buying his Indian? No, it started with him planning a big trip to the US and Bonneville....All of that previous time was a given. So.....Did God create the universe 6000 years ago with a past that we would see and interpret?
3) And a modification of #2; Is God actually Limited to TIME like we are? Maybe he doesn't have to follow a clock...He created the Universe, past, present and Future all at once......
The first scientists were preachers and other religious people- they were interested in the world that God created. The 6000 year thing can be traced to a religious leader in the 1600s who decided that the "Whereas's" in the Bible were each representative of a year- he carefully counted those "Whereas's" and came up with the number 6000. So that number is not actually IN the bible- it is one man's theory.
As for Atheists, I think they are fools; They believe in the scientific method which states; 1) Come up with a theory, 2) Come up with ways of testing the theory, 3) Test and 4) Confirm FACT. Atheists claim God doesn't exist but LACK of proof does not prove he doesn't exist! Where have they ever proven that God doesn't exist? The only thing Science can do is prove that God is infinitely more subtle than we have thought him to be; He did not wave a wand and create the universe...Instead, he set each particle of each atom in the whole universe in motion with the proper energy which led to Earth and all of the universe. That is far more impressive!
A non-believer is not necessarily an atheist. There are many agnostics.
As a kid, I went to Sunday school. It was at the local United Church. I would've been about nine years of age. I was completely swallowed up by the whole process. I was a total "believer". However, within a year, I began to have my doubts. I quit Sunday school and never went back.
I don't have a problem with people seeking comfort with religion, as long as it doesn't impinge upon my own life... or upon others who wish to be left alone.
IMO, it's respect that needs to be a universal concept... given as well as expected.
I actually am still not a believer....I think it would be arrogant to claim I knew about God.....Still, I try to live my life as good as possible (I may be really good by the time I'm 90...)
To give you an idea of how I am now; A (Catholic) co-worker at the Coast Guard Air Station was feeling really bad back around 2000 when the Catholic Sex-abuse scandal was hitting- "It makes me doubt my belief in God".....So I told him, "No! Don't doubt your belief in God- If you should doubt anything let that be the Church"
That wasn't just something I said to make him feel good- I mean it; Your belief in God is your right and is good- but extending that belief out beyond you is where things can go off kilter....It has been said in different ways, but basically, "Who will watch the watchers?" Anyone in Power should be watched...If an organization you are in does something you have doubts about, then VOICE your feelings- do not remain quiet- thereby giving them your..."Blessing" to go even farther.
Addendum; I want to make it clear- The people who do believe in God and their form of religion may actually have the right answer- But I personally have not seen that answer for MYSELF.
.....They would party Friday and Saturday night and then come Sunday morning dress in white sweaters and sit in church asking for forgiveness.....That seemed kind of Hypocritical.
3) And a modification of #2; Is God actually Limited to TIME like we are? Maybe he doesn't have to follow a clock...He created the Universe, past, present and Future all at once......
Some thoughts.
I believe humans fail regularly, and thus cannot be used to measure the truth of the Bible or God. Except in their attempts and failures of course.
I believe being omnipresent does mean not bound by time.
[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 12-28-2020).]
Time is just another dimension. A dimension in which we are destined to travel in only one direction. God is not so limited.
God gave us free will, the great gift of freedom, including freedom to do evil. In order to eliminate human suffering, he would have to rescind that great gift. Now, apply that concept to government.
I believe humans fail regularly, and thus cannot be used to measure the truth of the Bible or God. Except in their attempts and failures of course.
I believe being omnipresent does mean not bound by time.
A) When I was young I (Of Course) saw everything as Black & White...So I saw them doing things that went against their religious beliefs and saw it as being Hypocritical.....I now see it differently- But part of my journey was meeting those Mormons and seeing how penitent they were...I am, simply put, on a long journey of learning...some day I will get to my.....destination......
B) I think that the whole 6000 years vs 15 billion year thing is just used by (False prophets) to garner power- we should keep an open mind and have some flexibility for our fellow humans...."What is the real answer?" If you know all of the answers, then you are probably the Creator!
[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 12-28-2020).]
I think that the whole 6000 years vs 15 billion year thing is just used by (False prophets) to garner power- we should keep an open mind and have some flexibility for our fellow humans...."What is the real answer?" If you know all of the answers, then you are probably the Creator!
Agreed. I also agree with what you said earlier when you mentioned your conversation about not letting humanities failures cause doubt about God. Also true that Life is a journey.
From my relatively privileged vantage point, I can't accept that a loving God would permit human beings to exist in such squalid conditions. Why allow the misery, if One is all powerful?
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
I don't have a problem with people seeking comfort with religion, as long as it doesn't impinge upon my own life... or upon others who wish to be left alone.
IMO, it's respect that needs to be a universal concept... given as well as expected.
quote
Originally posted by williegoat:
God gave us free will, the great gift of freedom, including freedom to do evil. In order to eliminate human suffering, he would have to rescind that great gift..
quote
Originally posted by 2.5:
Humans issue is many times choosing places where they wish God would step in and others where they wish he would stay out.
Sometimes just quoting responses in certain order reveals insight.
Do i believe in a "god" christian or otherwise.. No. I believe the majority of organized religions are B.S. and are corrupt.. Not necessarily the people who believe in said religions, but those that run them. Fear of eternal suffering and damnation is a good tool to control a populous..
Now do i believe there could have been a "creator" of our species? I am open to that possibility. The universe is a very big place, who's to say there isn't a much more advanced species out there that likes doing some genetic tinkering..
Something like the "Celestials" from Marvel comic books. Super ancient and advanced super species that travels the cosmos planting the seeds of life on suitable planets as experiments, and seeing what they can come up with..
Then there are all kinds of scientific theories about how life may have started here on Earth. Some say the ingredients of life may have been brought here by traveling comets during the earths early creation raining down on the surface bringing water and other things too the planet.
There was one theory that i found enjoyable to read, during earths early days, Mars had a massive asteroid smash into it, blowing off nearly 1/3rd of its mantel off the planet, and a lot of that debris made its way to earth and rained down. Mars has most of the needed ingredients to create life, just not enough water, and the climate is not currently suitable for life, although, during the time of the event, there very well may have been primitive life on Mars.
[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 01-02-2021).]
The blast that could've struck Mars blew off the atmosphere as well and the water was disbursed into space. Now 'they' are ready to acknowledge that Mars can still even have surface water if it's briny enough. Supposedly a test by one scientist (I think done in the 1970s) confirmed water but NASA said there wasn't and it was corrupted data.
