You're honest thoughts on god.

[PunkRoxS9]

I don't believe in God, I think more things point to him not existing than to him existing. But I can understand why people do believe in Him x

[alexa]

I don't believe in a god; I find the concept absolutely ridiculous. I'm the type who only believes in things that can be reasonably explained by logic, and some guy up in the sky controlling our lives certainly doesn't fall into that category. I think people need to rely on themselves, not religion, during difficult times; they'll realize that they are stronger than they think and don't need belief in a greater being to get them through.

[Xeninja]

To be honest, I'm not sure i believe in the God of the Bible. I believe in A God, or omnipotent, omniscient being. But i don't believe that God has a singular, universal plan for everyone in the world. I think we have individual plans of action that we are all suppose to act out. Maybe it's one random act of kindness you perform, or someone you inspire to do something, or raise a family, or something else that seems small.

Yet it's these small acts that can echo out throughout the world that can change everything. God never directly control us, he uses everything around us. Media, the people, the crowd, the enviornment, he can use anything to pull our attention one way or another. Who needs thunder bolts and lightning when a butterfly and a falling leaf will do the job

[lost_soul]

Mmm I find it too hard to believe in God, I'm very skeptical about religion. So, no, I don't believe in God, but, there's always apart of me that's curious. I think we're all just a bit curious as to whether something is out there.

[Aversion]

I believe that there was a god. How else could everything have started? Everything must have come from somewhere. But I believe he's moved on. I don't know how, or where, but I don't believe he's with us anymore.

[Pelios]

God is the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, holy, just, righteous, the King of Kings. I do not remember when I haven’t had a close relationship with God; He has always been there for me. He has given me more than I deserve and I’m really thankful for that, in that way I choose to share my gifts he has given me with the world. We are all his children. We all have access to the Holy Spirit as our guide. This I believe but I can't prove any of it. I am learning as I go, as I come to a better understanding of my religion and Its teachings. It's all about faith.
I would also like to point out that yes kids get cancer, young women get raped, kids get into accidents and live the rest of their lives as amputees, there are horrible disease and disorders, but there are also a lot of great things in this world too.

[Aversion]

I spent a lot of time thinking, and it's like my eyes have been opened. I've suddenly realised just how ridiculous it all is. Somebody up there, controlling our lives.. almighty, with his angels, with absolutely no proof to show he exists, and a lot to show he doesn't.. There are many theories about how the universe started, not all are simply 'the big bang'.I have nothing against people who do believe in him, but I think they need to take the same long hard look that I did.

[Ceilidh]

Honestly? I believe God is just something we made up as people. Then again if you believe in something hard enough then I guess in a way it is real, in your mind anyway.

[the.end]

god is love and love is god.

[John 6:29]

The part that is rather confusing to me about God is a lot of people say, "Well it's logical to believe in God, how else did everything get here?" Well, technically you can argue that, but you still come to the same conclusion: Where did God come from? You can say He's eternal, but why can't matter be eternal? As far as I know matter cannot be created and it cannot be destroyed, therefore it's more logical to assume that matter always was. Either way you look at it science and religion can only take you so far. When it boils down to it, some how something was there an infinite amount of time ago.

[DeadlySin]

I believe that whatever god there is doesn't do much.
We're like...
His little hampsters.
Running around and breeding.
He enjoys watching us run into walls and fall off our wheels.
*shrugs*
I don't exactly have a positive outlook on god. xD
So you can ignore me!

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by mewithoutYou

The part that is rather confusing to me about God is a lot of people say, "Well it's logical to believe in God, how else did everything get here?" Well, technically you can argue that, but you still come to the same conclusion: Where did God come from? You can say He's eternal, but why can't matter be eternal? As far as I know matter cannot be created and it cannot be destroyed, therefore it's more logical to assume that matter always was. Either way you look at it science and religion can only take you so far. When it boils down to it, some how something was there an infinite amount of time ago.

Using the over-used statement of "God did it, yay, rejoice" in terms of making the universe and everything has one gigantic fault: saying that one supernatural thing made stuff doesn't serve as an argument to say which supernatural being made stuff. In other words, it's an argument for saying some sort of god or higher being made stuff but that's where it ends.

As you mentioned, you can then also ask where the supernatural being came from but assuming one can somehow identify which supernatural being created the stuff, it may lead to a first cause argument.

I agree with you though, it's hard to know what happened an infinitely long time ago. Religion offers its view but depending on the belief system used, it just puts us back where we were of not knowing (i.e. some god made it but we cannot understand the god so we don't know how it was made, just that it was made, which we knew anyways). Science has its limitations because some of the theories are used but they still have massive holes.

[ProjectD]

I think god exsists, but is just there. God loves all, even those who don't believe in him, as long as they are good people. But I also strictly believe in Karma. I think God may have created some form of Karma (or Karma was already there) and put that on the earth. God may be God, but I doubt that God wants to have to judge everyone at once. (I'm kinda strange with my beliefs...)
I appreciate my life alot more now that I believe in doing good things brings good things. But I feel that not everyone can live with a Karma (no I'm not saying Karma is a god, just a natural part of the world)

I could write pages about this, but I'll stop now.

[Xujhan]

I just feel like shouting out to all the atheists/agnostics/deists posting in this thread. I had no idea just how many we had on TeenHelp. You guys GMH.

[Jocelyn.]

Originally Posted by Xujhan

I just feel like shouting out to all the atheists/agnostics/deists posting in this thread. I had no idea just how many we had on TeenHelp. You guys GMH.

I was thinking the same thing while reading through this thread I don't feel like such an outcast anymore for having the thoughts I do. I live in a very catholic area, and I just wish I could meet some people in real life like you guys!

I feel there are two reasons religion (mainly the christian religion) was created.

1. To give people a purpose. No one really knows how and why life was put on earth. People think god gives them a
reason for being and a reason for having to die. It gives their life meaning. Instead of just living and dying and
thinking you have little to no impact on anything in your fraction of existence on this planet. It makes death not
so scary, thinking if you are a good person you get to go to heaven and spend eternity with Elvis and Grandma.

2. It was created to control people. It forced people into following the governments laws and ways of thinking
whats morally and ethically acceptable. If they didn't, then they were going to hell. If they didn't go to church
on sunday, and sit and be preached to about what the government says is right and wrong (oh, exuse me... I mean the bible), they were getting thrown in jail.

This may sound strange, but another thing that helped me to become a definite non-believer was biology class. Yes,
science has played a huge role. Something about the complexity of humans and animals and plants, and how every cell
has to be working in perfect harmony for everything in the body to function correctly. Science amazes me. I can't
exactly explain why but it makes it hard for me to believe how the bible says life was put on this planet.

I could go on and on reiterating points that have already been made, but I can honestly say I completely agree with whats already been said by the athiest/agnostics that have already posted. Its nice to have thoughts that you feel no one else has, and then to come on here and see how many people have thought the exact same things...

I cant just have faith. God has not touched my life in any way. I understand how he can give some hope to go on, but everything I've been through I've done on my own.

[John 6:29]

Originally Posted by BadFish

I was thinking the same thing while reading through this thread I don't feel like such an outcast anymore for having the thoughts I do. I live in a very catholic area, and I just wish I could meet some people in real life like you guys!

I feel there are two reasons religion (mainly the christian religion) was created.

1. To give people a purpose. No one really knows how and why life was put on earth. People think god gives them a
reason for being and a reason for having to die. It gives their life meaning. Instead of just living and dying and
thinking you have little to no impact on anything in your fraction of existence on this planet. It makes death not
so scary, thinking if you are a good person you get to go to heaven and spend eternity with Elvis and Grandma.

2. It was created to control people. It forced people into following the governments laws and ways of thinking
whats morally and ethically acceptable. If they didn't, then they were going to hell. If they didn't go to church
on sunday, and sit and be preached to about what the government says is right and wrong (oh, exuse me... I mean the bible), they were getting thrown in jail.

This may sound strange, but another thing that helped me to become a definite non-believer was biology class. Yes,
science has played a huge role. Something about the complexity of humans and animals and plants, and how every cell
has to be working in perfect harmony for everything in the body to function correctly. Science amazes me. I can't
exactly explain why but it makes it hard for me to believe how the bible says life was put on this planet.

I could go on and on reiterating points that have already been made, but I can honestly say I completely agree with whats already been said by the athiest/agnostics that have already posted. Its nice to have thoughts that you feel no one else has, and then to come on here and see how many people have thought the exact same things...

I cant just have faith. God has not touched my life in any way. I understand how he can give some hope to go on, but everything I've been through I've done on my own.

I don't really know about giving life a purpose. In essence, living without God makes life more significant and it is not defined by, "Do this and that and the other." Which is rather limiting your life by means of what you can and cannot do and thus is an insignificant purpose. For example, we use a pencil to write. This is it's purpose. It has no other purpose. Certainly it CAN be used for other things, but 99% of the time we use it for writing. If God was created to serve a purpose in our lives than our lives would be only used to serve God which is about as limiting as a pencil. Without God there are numerous of possibilities to be used for rather than one divine being. It also makes life insignificant consider you could careless if you die if you believe you're going to live forever with a God. In a sense you'd life your life with carelessness serving God and really narrowing yourself without any real cares in this life because you believe you'll see God in the end. So as far as giving life purpose, I think it rather narrows it and isn't really a reason to believe in God.

[Jocelyn.]

Originally Posted by mewithoutYou

I don't really know about giving life a purpose. In essence, living without God makes life more significant and it is not defined by, "Do this and that and the other." Which is rather limiting your life by means of what you can and cannot do and thus is an insignificant purpose. For example, we use a pencil to write. This is it's purpose. It has no other purpose. Certainly it CAN be used for other things, but 99% of the time we use it for writing. If God was created to serve a purpose in our lives than our lives would be only used to serve God which is about as limiting as a pencil. Without God there are numerous of possibilities to be used for rather than one divine being. It also makes life insignificant consider you could careless if you die if you believe you're going to live forever with a God. In a sense you'd life your life with carelessness serving God and really narrowing yourself without any real cares in this life because you believe you'll see God in the end. So as far as giving life purpose, I think it rather narrows it and isn't really a reason to believe in God.

I see where you are coming from, and I think I can agree with you. I just think you misunderstood what I was saying (or maybe I worded it poorly). I basically just meant... its an explanation for why we exist. I don't think people like to think that we're here and then we die, and the cycle just keeps going and going never knowing how it even started in the first place. Religion gives people a reason for why they are here, and why they have to die. And if that makes someone feel better about their own life then good, I'm happy for them. I didn't really mean it gives people meaning as in blindly following God and devoting their life to him because he is the reason for being.

[John 6:29]

Originally Posted by BadFish

I see where you are coming from, and I think I can agree with you. I just think you misunderstood what I was saying (or maybe I worded it poorly). I basically just meant... its an explanation for why we exist. I don't think people like to think that we're here and then we die, and the cycle just keeps going and going never knowing how it even started in the first place. Religion gives people a reason for why they are here, and why they have to die. And if that makes someone feel better about their own life then good, I'm happy for them. I didn't really mean it gives people meaning as in blindly following God and devoting their life to him because he is the reason for being.

It makes sense but it still isn't a right motive or argument for the purpose of God. There's more significance and purpose to life without Him to be found. The only time religion is good is if it fulfills that significance or purpose to life for a specific individual. However, hedonism is rather a myth. Even if you are religious. When you become religious, you wish to be more religious -- so no matter what you are, you're not content. I've often heard people say, "Christ will be all you ever need." Well, technically I suppose you can argue that but you will always want more of Christ so that want or longing will never be fulfilled. And if this were so then people would solely be religious or solely be worldly. Instead you have religious people mingling with the world which is in fact evidence that it does not give them a purpose. It only gives them peace. Perhaps I'm explaining it poorly but to me religion does not give a purpose unless you make it purposeful, like anything else. You can strive to be at the top of your career which gives you purpose, but you can find much more meaning in life then that single career. Therefore, you're truthfully limiting your use to one purpose -- serving God.

On the other hand, I agree that it gives a causation to the universe however, in my opinion your guess is as good as my guess to the real causation of the universe. We can name various theories but in the end there all theories, though some have more evidence, evidence doesn't necessarily set a causation in stone. There were theories of the Earth being flat, well we know because of the larger picture that the Earth in fact isn't flat. So in reality anyone's guess as to the cause or purpose of the universe is merely relative as theories of cause and purpose may change over time.

Many people argue that if God is good and loving etc but there's so much suffering and disasters and disorder than God cannot exist.

Well, the error in much of the arguments against God is that you're presupposing that God is good and loving. If we don't know if God even exist how can we much less guess how His character is. So it's insignificant to use morality arguments against God, it's also irrelevant to use order arguments, or really anything that defines His character. Rather we need to be figuring out if God exists, not who He is as a person IF He exist... but solely if He exists. I mean, I can say, "Okay well theres disorder and famines and hurricanes because God is angry." I've assumed there was a God to begin with but it offers no evidence to whether God is there only that IF He was there He was angry. But I've offered nothing to suggest that He is or isn't there... just that if He is, He's angry. Therefore, the arguments must solely PROVE or DISPROVE God and not argue His character. Whether He is good, loving, angry, hateful, evil, orderly or not is another topic entirely.

Anyways, I'm ranting and straying off topic.

[Kitty.]

I believe in God with all my heart, soul, and mind.
No matter what anyone says, I believe in Him.

[BDF]

Its a personal thing. I dont believe in god. Wats good and wats bad is a person's own perception, not what's written down in lawbooks, or the bible. Of course... if ur brought up by ur parents following those rules, or followin bible teachings, then that effects ur perception, it becomes part of your outlook on life.

People brought up in some backward corner of africa that throw spears at "metal bird planes"... might think its just the regular stuff to maybe... lol I dont know... canibalise each other maybe?? Might not seem like anythin wrong to them if they were brought up that way.


Here's another angle to view it from. If u dont teach a kid the difference between right and wrong, ever, you cant blame him for doing something that u see as wrong, can you? Its the problem with a lot of kids brought up in bad conditions.

Ye so to me god doesnt exist. Things that Ive seen and lived... just dont point or prove to me anythin. Ive given up on the idea a while ago. I do what I think is right, and I stay strong on that.

I might not get on with my mum at all... but if someone barged in my house and tried to stragle her to death, I would not hesitate to... http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news..._life/?ref=rss
even though I feel like strangling her myself sometimes. And I couldnt care less wtf the law says on it.

[Goatboy]

In brief:
God is perfect
God has no gender, but has both a father and mother role to humanity
God is infinite
God is universal
God is love
The universe cannot be separated from God, but God does not depend on the universe
God is personal, but does not intervene in matters of man
Proof of God is his creation, and personal spiritual experiences (yes I know I could elaborate more) (oh scientist believe that the belief of God existing is programmed in us _ did read about a long time ago)
Personally I have never had doubts about God's existence, but I have had an odd relationship with religion and prefer to call myself purely spiritual rather than religious (I am currently deist)
Finally he is the Grand Architect of the Universe: order and stability in the universe is thanks to him

God bless!!!

[MadPoet]

I think that everyone should have something to believe in. I believe in God, but I can't really give an exact reason why. It's just what I believe. I don't think we all know the reason that we believe something. Sometimes you just can't help but believe. It's almost like I just know. I think that some people, maybe such as yourself, like to have God as someone to turn to, but in a sense don't really believe in him. It helps to talk things through, and even if you don't believe in God, he listens. Maybe part of you wants to believe in God, but you're holding yourself back with your own beliefs. Try to open up to God a bit more. If you want to believe, ask him to help you be more faithful in him. However, don't let anyone else tell you whether you should or should not believe. You know what you want, and only you can make that decision.

[Aversion]

Originally Posted by Silver jackal

God is personal, but does not intervene in matters of man

Noah's ark much?

[John 6:29]

Originally Posted by RainOnMe

Noah's ark much?

Old Testament battles much?

[ven]

I don't have any belief in Christian based religion about 'god' simply for the fact the books are written by humans and men predominantly, and since humans are flawed at best then how can i trust a book about something that doesn't show its self and allows unimaginable cruelty to occure to innocent children? if thats 'gods love' then i'll take the devil anyday.
My personal belife is simple i believe in Valhalla the nordic warrior religon for the following reasons 1) i dont have to get up at stupid times to pray to someone who may or may not be their, 2) i dont have to go around 'bothering' others to see my relgion as the one true form of worship, 3) i dont have to do anything e.g be nice to people, donate to charity etc.
All Odin asks of me is that i die like a man like a warrior and if i die well alone against impossible odds then i will go to Valhalla to join the great throng and drink, feast and fight, and then i get to take part in Ragnarok (the final battle).
What more could a person ask for? beer, meat, and fighting? and no annoying praying or listening to flawed priests who rape children.
Oh and i forgot to add i get sundays off :-) another plus point to Odin!.

[Goatboy]

Originally Posted by mewithoutYou

Old Testament battles much?

And old testament genocide much?

[Goatboy]

RainOnMe -here are some things to think about:
"Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man." - Thomas Paine
"Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true." - Thomas Paine
"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."- Thomas Paine
"He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third." - Thomas Paine
"There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice." - Thomas Paine
I personally agree almost 100 per cent with Paine, certainly more than I ever did with Christianity

[Aversion]

Originally Posted by Silver jackal

RainOnMe -here are some things to think about:
"Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man." - Thomas Paine
"Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true." - Thomas Paine
"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."- Thomas Paine
"He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third." - Thomas Paine
"There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice." - Thomas Paine
I personally agree almost 100 per cent with Paine, certainly more than I ever did with Christianity

I think you've got what I said the wrong way around. I do not believe there is a god, for some of the reasons you just posted.

[BDF]

Originally Posted by ven

I don't have any belief in Christian based religion about 'god' simply for the fact the books are written by humans and men predominantly, and since humans are flawed at best then how can i trust a book about something that doesn't show its self and allows unimaginable cruelty to occure to innocent children? if thats 'gods love' then i'll take the devil anyday.
My personal belife is simple i believe in Valhalla the nordic warrior religon for the following reasons 1) i dont have to get up at stupid times to pray to someone who may or may not be their, 2) i dont have to go around 'bothering' others to see my relgion as the one true form of worship, 3) i dont have to do anything e.g be nice to people, donate to charity etc.
All Odin asks of me is that i die like a man like a warrior and if i die well alone against impossible odds then i will go to Valhalla to join the great throng and drink, feast and fight, and then i get to take part in Ragnarok (the final battle).
What more could a person ask for? beer, meat, and fighting? and no annoying praying or listening to flawed priests who rape children.
Oh and i forgot to add i get sundays off :-) another plus point to Odin!.

I like the sound of it, will u let me in on it? lol

[Aversion]

Originally Posted by ven

I don't have any belief in Christian based religion about 'god' simply for the fact the books are written by humans and men predominantly, and since humans are flawed at best then how can i trust a book about something that doesn't show its self and allows unimaginable cruelty to occure to innocent children? if thats 'gods love' then i'll take the devil anyday.
My personal belife is simple i believe in Valhalla the nordic warrior religon for the following reasons 1) i dont have to get up at stupid times to pray to someone who may or may not be their, 2) i dont have to go around 'bothering' others to see my relgion as the one true form of worship, 3) i dont have to do anything e.g be nice to people, donate to charity etc.
All Odin asks of me is that i die like a man like a warrior and if i die well alone against impossible odds then i will go to Valhalla to join the great throng and drink, feast and fight, and then i get to take part in Ragnarok (the final battle).
What more could a person ask for? beer, meat, and fighting? and no annoying praying or listening to flawed priests who rape children.
Oh and i forgot to add i get sundays off :-) another plus point to Odin!.

You, my man, are a legend.

[Tynan]

Originally Posted by jessie,

This may be a bit random but i was wondering if you believe in god. And why?

I mean, i dont want to offend anyone, but i dont think i believe in God. Why? Im not sure. I just dont get why. Therefore i dont go to church or chapel. I really dont believe in him. However i find myself praying to god when things get really bad. Yet i dont believe in him, so im not sure why i do this.

I cant help but wonder, should i believe in god?

really to me it wont matter if you believe in a god. that god figure helps a lot of people get through rough times in there life. and the reason you might be praying to him is that you have a lot of stress in your life and in praying to god you might get some help. idk though.

But my honest thoughts on god is i cant believe in god for the reason being, Ive grown up taught that he is love and mercy and grace, ect... yet he will send a good person to hell just because that person didnt believe in god. i just cant understand that. if god was love and ect... he would let the good person go to heaven no matter of faith. but since god will send a good person to hell because that person wont believe in god, i wont believe ina god.

[Hero_Of_Blade]

I'd have to say I don't believe in god int he way that most major religions do.
I don't view god as an almighty being, more the force that makes everything in the universe turn

To me it's like it's god yet not god, it's a physical force that just makes everything go, so as a force it's not concerned with the denizens of it's universe, it just makes things go, the actions of a human, animal, plant or other individual are down to that individual completely. No blaming 'god' and no relying on 'god' either.

But I have to say if god was a higher being, I really don't think he or she or it would be concerned with every little thing every human does, even if he/she/it is omnipotent I think running the universe is a bit more important than listening to our narcissistic whims. (as a side note i also think it's ridiculous that humanity views it self as being special enough to get all of gods attention when we can't even prove we're the only 'higher' intellectual(using this term loosely) race)