What do you Believe

[DownSide]

Hey i just want to know what you guys believe about God, heaven , hell or if you dont believe in God
I just want to know what you guys think
Im not trying to start a rage war so dont get mad a what people say plz!

[cF WiNGER]

LOL this may start a rage war. I know what I believe in is a bit odd, so I shall keep to myself. But there are going to be a whole mess of opinions in this thread, please everyone keep it clean and respectful.

[aX goes ham]

i believe in god as my savior

[DownSide]

LOL this may start a rage war. I know what I believe in is a bit odd, so I shall keep to myself. But there are going to be a whole mess of opinions in this thread, please everyone keep it clean and respectful.

lol what he said

[DownSide]

i believe in god as my savior

i agree Amen

[Crinkly Duke]

I believe the hype. :D

[Araneatrox]

IN before people get mad. This is my personal opinion and not to be confused with anything else on here TLN or otherwise(I know people are picky about stuff like this)

God is a crutch people use to feel safe about death. The people that wrote the Bible/Quran/(Insert Holy Book) were nomadic triblespeople for the most part that had no concept of natural phenomenon and thus tried to explain it in a way that they could understand.

As for Modern day churches i find it despicable, they say they are trying to help. But sit on piles of money without paying any Tax and use money to help their own priests hide pedophilia charges(Catholic i am looking at here.)

Recently Pope Benedict said that Condoms infact increase the risk of HIV in Africa. This is far worse than anything any single Atheist has done in recent history. Granted there are bad people on either side of the argument. But the Church offering support and guidance to priests that have molested children is the most criminally insane thing i have ever heard.

Richard Dawkins, Carl Sagan, Christopher Hitches, Bertrand Russell Etc Etc are all better teachers of people than anyone else in the Bible/Quran/(Insert Religious Text)

/rant

So for now i will carry on with my life observing the beauty in the universe, objecting against the brainwashing of children and carry on having no objection to homosexuals

[Toomuchmooin]

I believe the hype. :D

Lol, that's good, could also see a GS joke coming here.

Anyway I am a non-denominational Protestant Christian, and I truly believe that Jesus was sent by God to teach us and die for our sins and that he rose again and ascended into heaven.

[cF WiNGER]

There are A LOT of different theories out there about the existence of man. People believe what makes them feel comfortable, or what they were raised to believe.

[Jakerdot]

I recently took a class called Liberation Theology in the Bible. This class was about themes or stories in the bible that people find that they can relate to, or feel a sense of liberation from. For instance, one of the liberating themes we discussed pretty thoroughly was freedom from oppression. (I.E. when God uses Moses to help free the Israelites from hundreds of years of slavery and oppression by the hands of the Pharaohs.) There were many interesting points that were brought up regarding this topic, but I was never able to arrive at the conclusion that the story of Moses and the Pharaoh was liberating at all. In fact, further discussion of the topic made me extremely uneasy. I do not see how anyone can overlook the fact that God MASSACRES every first born Egytpian as the final step to make the Pharaoh set the Israelites free. I just don't get it, how can anyone overlook the genocide of innocents? Religion is a complete failure, placing God on some pedestal and not questioning God's judgments or actions. Bible study is damaging to the youth because children are too young to question things like this, especially when they are only told the stories from a perspective that puts God in good light. If there is a God, and we are to assume that God is the most powerful force in the universe, then it is disturbing to think that no other solution to free the Israelites could be found. This isn't the only instance of an irresponsible abuse of power in the bible...anyone remember the story of Noah? (God's thoughts): Well...I fucked up..time to genocide everyone on the planet and start again..but religion doesn't show the story in that light.

Anyways, it's quite obvious that I do not believe in God, but more specifically, I do not believe in worshiping a God who is capable of such actions.

As my final note, I would like to say that I never question anyone's faith. Faith is something immovable, a construct that only the arrogant are capable of questioning. To question someone's faith is wrong, there is no justification for it. So as to what I officially believe? I believe in humanity, that we are capable of sustaining one another through the pureness of heart and selfless action.

Ok ok one more note cuz I'm just flying here...I actually don't understand why I have to choose a label (agnostic, atheist, catholic...w/e) That these labels exist is due to the arrogance of the church that has developed over generations of exposure to the concept of God.

[-ironman]

I believe in the force...

[DownSide]

I recently took a class called Liberation Theology in the Bible. This class was about themes or stories in the bible that people find that they can relate to, or feel a sense of liberation from. For instance, one of the liberating themes we discussed pretty thoroughly was freedom from oppression. (I.E. when God uses Moses to help free the Israelites from hundreds of years of slavery and oppression by the hands of the Pharaohs.) There were many interesting points that were brought up regarding this topic, but I was never able to arrive at the conclusion that the story of Moses and the Pharaoh was liberating at all. In fact, further discussion of the topic made me extremely uneasy. I do not see how anyone can overlook the fact that God MASSACRES every first born Egytpian as the final step to make the Pharaoh set the Israelites free. I just don't get it, how can anyone overlook the genocide of innocents? Religion is a complete failure, placing God on some pedestal and not questioning God's judgments or actions. Bible study is damaging to the youth because children are too young to question things like this, especially when they are only told the stories from a perspective that puts God in good light. If there is a God, and we are to assume that God is the most powerful force in the universe, then it is disturbing to think that no other solution to free the Israelites could be found. This isn't the only instance of an irresponsible abuse of power in the bible...anyone remember the story of Noah? (God's thoughts): Well...I fucked up..time to genocide everyone on the planet and start again..but religion doesn't show the story in that light.

Anyways, it's quite obvious that I do not believe in God, but more specifically, I do not believe in worshiping a God who is capable of such actions.

As my final note, I would like to say that I never question anyone's faith. Faith is something immovable, a construct that only the arrogant are capable of questioning. To question someone's faith is wrong, there is no justification for it. So as to what I officially believe? I believe in humanity, that we are capable of sustaining one another through the pureness of heart and selfless action.

Ok ok one more note cuz I'm just flying here...I actually don't understand why I have to choose a label (agnostic, atheist, catholic...w/e) That these labels exist is due to the arrogance of the church that has developed over generations of exposure to the concept of God.

Y are you attacking God??

[heuer89]

I believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster

[Jakerdot]

Y are you attacking God??

Please re-read everything I wrote and don't oversimplify it... you completely missed the point.

[Araneatrox]

I believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster


I used to have the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, it was with my Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens books. It went missing when i went to University unfortunately :(

[bradsears]

I believe the following:

1) There are things we don't understand yet.
2) Humans fear things they don't understand.
3) Saying a magic man in the sky controls everything we don't understand makes the fear go away.

For example we used to fear the moon. We don't anymore because we figured out enough about it to predict its behavior. This process is called science.

[Jskoz]

I believe in God because that is how I was raised...

[DownSide]

personale i Believe Jesus is the son of God who came to this earth to for are sins they rose again.

[Spudskii]

I believe the Bible to be true and that Jesus was the son of God sent to earth to retake the keys of death from Satan. I also believe the Christian church is at a breaking point and that most Christians in America are confusing American Civil Religion (worship of the state) with Christianity. The church needs to give everything, keep nothing. Once they fix that then the message of Jesus as well as the apostles will be looked upon with favor and people will see that the church actually cares instead of their current status...

[Toomuchmooin]

I believe the Bible to be true and that Jesus was the son of God sent to earth to retake the keys of death from Satan. I also believe the Christian church is at a breaking point and that most Christians in America are confusing American Civil Religion (worship of the state) with Christianity. The church needs to give everything, keep nothing. Once they fix that then the message of Jesus as well as the apostles will be looked upon with favor and people will see that the church actually cares instead of their current status...

This is exactly how I feel, except the church does need to keep some stuff because the employees need to make enough money to survive and preach to all peoples of the Earth as is our mandate, but nothing more.

[D Moralize]

@Jakerdot I agree with most of what you said except questioning someones faith, like you said people are taught things way to young, if no one ever questioned my belief in santa claus I might still believe in him. Theres comes a time in everyones life (sometimes more than one) but usually when you are transitioning from child to adult that people will make you question your beliefs and I think that is a great thing, you finally are presented with the other side of the story and you can either choose that side and be happy you chose for yourself, or if you can keep your faith through all the tough questions it should make your faith stronger. I know some consider it rude but if you cant answer hard questions about why you believe what you do, I don't think I should have to respect it. Look at anything else if someone tells you they are a democrat but can't tell you why do you respect that?

[MichaelMongrel]

I believe in God and the rapture and seven years of tribulation. But I also believe some things thought to be morally wrong (check my sig for a hint) are not bad.

[Waterboy7]

I believe in the force...

Winner! Winner! Chicken FKN Dinner!!!!

I believe in the Force as well padawon ;)

[vontoxic]

LIL B The BasedGod... Swag to the maxiumum! Swag 100 thousand, 100 trillion! OH MY GOD BASEDGOD!
http://i55.tinypic.com/es92ip.jpg

Honestly, I dont believe in anything but I associate with the tripple 6 For the fuck of it. I used to go to church when I was younger from time to time, My mom never forced it on me and I'm thankful for that.

[Jakerdot]

@Jakerdot I agree with most of what you said except questioning someones faith, like you said people are taught things way to young, if no one ever questioned my belief in santa claus I might still believe in him. Theres comes a time in everyones life (sometimes more than one) but usually when you are transitioning from child to adult that people will make you question your beliefs and I think that is a great thing, you finally are presented with the other side of the story and you can either choose that side and be happy you chose for yourself, or if you can keep your faith through all the tough questions it should make your faith stronger. I know some consider it rude but if you cant answer hard questions about why you believe what you do, I don't think I should have to respect it. Look at anything else if someone tells you they are a democrat but can't tell you why do you respect that?

Right, but how can you question someone's faith? Faith isn't tangible, it needs no explanation. Faith is something that no matter what, it is what you believe in. Just because you have a particular view of something yourself, doesn't mean you have any justification in questioning another persons belief in the same thing. It's not the same thing as right vs. wrong. Faith has no truths. What your describing is someone who cannot justify what they believe in, but that doesn't mean they don't have faith in it. For instance, I can place faith in something I know will never happen.

[Araneatrox]

3rd times a charm Gym XD

But one of my fav Youtubers did an interview with Westborough Baptist Church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTSbfs32yCU&feature=feedu

This is why i cant take take religion seriously. That and the Pope

[Spudskii]

Westboro IS NOT a Chrisitian church...
They spread hate when the Bible calls for love
I'm sorry they have turned you away from the gospel :(

[MichaelMongrel]

Westboro IS NOT a Chrisitian church...
They spread hate when the Bible calls for love
I'm sorry they have turned you away from the gospel :(

It seems to be that WBC really bothers most people not from Topeka. But we've kinda learned to ignore them here. Either that or try to troll them whenever we see them.

[aX goes ham]

i also believe in the rapture and 7 years of tribulation, ive looked over alot of biblical prophecy, and i really hope the rapture happens in my lifetime.

[DownSide]

Westboro is not a Church its a cult

[bradsears]

Westboro is not a Church its a cult

Even as a non believer I have to say don't pay any mind to the WBC.

[DownSide]

Thank you for the very fun discussion

[forefront]

The thing about religion in general is that there is too much to study both for, and against. There are very few that take the time to pick a side and devote years of research to the topic. Even then, they generally get a one sided argument that leaves no room for a counter argument.

1. That's not proper debate, and causes the argument to be a fallacy since it assumes that the argument in itself is absolute.
2. There will never be a true, visible proof of God's existence until the Rapture (if it happens).

All I'm saying is that, no one can truly rule out the existence of God, just like no one can completely prove that He exists. Believe what you are going to believe, but keep an open mind. You will be thankful later in life.

Also, I believe that Jesus died on the cross and I was allowed forgiveness through him.

[D Moralize]

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7134/dmo666.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/193/dmo666.jpg/)

haha how have I not seen that yet


Right, but how can you question someone's faith? Faith isn't tangible, it needs no explanation. Faith is something that no matter what, it is what you believe in. Just because you have a particular view of something yourself, doesn't mean you have any justification in questioning another persons belief in the same thing. It's not the same thing as right vs. wrong. Faith has no truths. What your describing is someone who cannot justify what they believe in, but that doesn't mean they don't have faith in it. For instance, I can place faith in something I know will never happen.

Thats all true, but I think questioning our own faith is a healthy thing, not telling people they are wrong. When someone has a theory or thinks something questions are encouraged because it will either make the claim stronger or fall apart. My little brother would believe everything I tell him, so if I say the moon is made of cheese should his teachers be considered rude when they ask him to rethink that? The smartest religious people I know are the ones who encourage hard questions, if they don't have the answer they look for it, and I think that is a great way to grow as a person, not just is a religious or spiritual way, but that is one area where many people think it is bad to do so and I disagree.