for those who do not believe in a higher power

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

This one is a very simple question?
Do you believe in God?
We have a thread asking WHY you believe but not all do.
Which are you believe in God yes or No

Or if you are not sure what, if anything would make you a believer?

[noise94]

No, I don't.

[Briana]

I honestly dont know right now. I use to believe in him when I was younger but lately it hasnt been as promising. I guess it just deals with the Bible and how wrong I think catholics teach kids stuff, specially with being Gay.

God made everyone (I believe that part) but I guess I just don't like the teachings and how Christians take everything too far and I think some christians dont "preach" the way God wants his word to be preached.

If this makes sense.

Idk if God and Heaven relate...But I believe in Heaven and the afterlife.

[Spellbound]

Yes, I believe in God and love Him.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

wait are people answering the second part?

[Xujhan]

What would it take to convince me to believe in the existence of a god? Sufficient evidence to override all the reasons to not believe.

What would it take to make me respect and appreciate a god? Understanding of his actions and motives, and my judging them to be worthy of respect.

What would it take to make me worship a god? Nothing: I will not do so willingly, even if I judged god to be good.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by Xujhan

What would it take to convince me to believe in the existence of a god? Sufficient evidence to override all the reasons to not believe.

What would it take to make me respect and appreciate a god? Understanding of his actions and motives, and my judging them to be worthy of respect.

What would it take to make me worship a god? Nothing: I will not do so willingly, even if I judged god to be good.

How much is that to overide all the reasons not to believe.

[Rainbow Dash]

Simple answer, I don't know. I think me wanting there to be a higher power outweighs my actual belief of a God though.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by Avada Kedavra

Simple answer, I don't know. I think me wanting there to be a higher power outweighs my actual belief of a God though.

What do you mean, wanting there to be a higher power?

[Rainbow Dash]

If there was a higher power life would at least have a purpose and the idea of an after life is extremely comforting for me. I don't know if I do believe in it or want to believe in it so much I'm almost forcing myself to believe :/

I don't know if I explained that very well

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

I do not believe in a god, whether it be the christian or another god.

I have reasons not to believe in it (see the other thread you referenced) and they have not been refuted, thus I see no reason in believing. For the christian god though, as that's the one in question it seems, I would like to know how the god operates, which is a shroud of mystery explained only be he is just or too much to understand. To me, that's not a sufficient explanation and if I don't know how said god rationalizes and what his motivations are, to believe in it requires blind faith in believing in something virtually unknown.

The absolute most I could believe in is there is A god in general but not distinguishing which one it is or how it operates. That is even more vague than above.

Lastly, in order for me to believe in him, I would have to respect him and furthermore, I would have to actually want to change my views into worshiping something. That is tapping my personal preference regardless of amount of evidence there could be supporting him.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by WOW!USaidSomethingSmart!

I do not believe in a god, whether it be the christian or another god.

I have reasons not to believe in it (see the other thread you referenced) and they have not been refuted, thus I see no reason in believing. For the christian god though, as that's the one in question it seems, I would like to know how the god operates, which is a shroud of mystery explained only be he is just or too much to understand. To me, that's not a sufficient explanation and if I don't know how said god rationalizes and what his motivations are, to believe in it requires blind faith in believing in something virtually unknown.

The absolute most I could believe in is there is A god in general but not distinguishing which one it is or how it operates. That is even more vague than above.

Lastly, in order for me to believe in him, I would have to respect him and furthermore, I would have to actually want to change my views into worshiping something. That is tapping my personal preference regardless of amount of evidence there could be supporting him.

wait so if there were proof you STILL would not want to follow him and praise him?

[dancinfool]

If there was a higher power life would at least have a purpose and the idea of an after life is extremely comforting for me. I don't know if I do believe in it or want to believe in it so much I'm almost forcing myself to believe :/

I don't know if I explained that very well

Makes perfect sense to me- I feel the same way in that yes it would be comforting only I've come to the conclusion that thats the only reason why I would believe in God, therefore, I don't believe in God. hehe I made just about as much sense as you..

wait so if there were proof you STILL would not want to follow him and praise him?

That's what Fletcher seemed to be saying too.. and me.. so don't sound so surprised :P I think that any God who wishes to be worshipped shouldn't be. If you created the world then you are all powerful, why do you need people to worship you?

[MadPoet]

I think that there might be a God, but I'm not sure. I know I believe in Heaven, but I'm not sure I believe in God, if that makes sense. I also dislike the Christian God, and I would not want to follow him. So if there is a God, I honestly hope it's not the God in the Bible.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by dancinfool

Makes perfect sense to me- I feel the same way in that yes it would be comforting only I've come to the conclusion that thats the only reason why I would believe in God, therefore, I don't believe in God. hehe I made just about as much sense as you..


That's what Fletcher seemed to be saying too.. and me.. so don't sound so surprised :P I think that any God who wishes to be worshipped shouldn't be. If you created the world then you are all powerful, why do you need people to worship you?

If I created the world why would I need people to worship me because the world is such a masterpiece complex yet it all works together. I have used this example before, but just as one example what about where the Earth is in the solar system? Any closer to the sun it would be too hot to live but much more distance and it would be too cold for life. How about how the Earth always is going around the sun yet never gets out of orbit and hits anything. The various trees and animals that are all here. According to evolation how did the sky and the sun get here?

[dancinfool]

If I created the world why would I need people to worship me because the world is such a masterpiece complex yet it all works together. I have used this example before, but just as one example what about where the Earth is in the solar system? Any closer to the sun it would be too hot to live but much more distance and it would be too cold for life. How about how the Earth always is going around the sun yet never gets out of orbit and hits anything. The various trees and animals that are all here. According to evolation how did the sky and the sun get here?

You are completely missing my point. I said in the situation where we consider a divine creator (There are endless arguments against this but I really can't be bothered right now).. why would that creator want to be worshipped?
(as an aside evolution is nothing to do with the sun or sky its more to do with life developing but anyways..)

[Kyeto-X]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

According to evolation how did the sky and the sun get here?

*cough* not to be batting for the other team here, but evolution has nothing to do with te formation of the Earth. That would be astro physics and geology.

And Yes I believe in God and that he created the Heavens and the Earth....using the laws of physics that we have discovered since the dawn of humanity :P

[Kitty.]

Yes I believe in God and I am a born-again Christian.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by Kyeto-X

*cough* not to be batting for the other team here, but evolution has nothing to do with te formation of the Earth. That would be astro physics and geology.
And Yes I believe in God and that he created the Heavens and the Earth....using the laws of physics that we have discovered since the dawn of humanity :P

yes, but I thought someone might say evolutionfor how all the animals and plants got here.

[Tara.]

No. I don't. It's not at all logical nor something I am willing to accept.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by Spider*man(girl)

No. I don't. It's not at all logical nor something I am willing to accept.

so there is NOTHING that could happen in your life to make you think that there COULD be a God?

[Tara.]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

so there is NOTHING that could happen in your life to make you think that there COULD be a God?

Nope.

...

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by Spider*man(girl)

Nope.

...

no that is not what you saying or no that is not what you meant?

[Tara.]

No, there is NOTHING that could happen in my life to make me think there COULD be a god.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by Spider*man(girl)

No, there is NOTHING that could happen in my life to make me think there COULD be a god.

oh ok well then that is your choice I was just wondering which one it was.

[dancinfool]

seriously, if someone could answer the question:

in the situation where we consider a divine creator, why would that creator want to be worshipped?

I would be grateful. I've never got a satisfactory answer yet :P

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by dancinfool

seriously, if someone could answer the question:

I would be grateful. I've never got a satisfactory answer yet :P

He created us and sent his son to pay the price we deserved to pay (death and seperation from him so why would we not worship him?

[TheNumber42]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

yes, but I thought someone might say evolutionfor how all the animals and plants got here.

Assuming th universe is infinitely big, there are an infinite number of planets where life could form and, by extension, the chance of life forming on at least one of those planets is 100%. Life formed through random processes, nothing more than luck and an infinite number of perfect situations spread throughout the universe. After life formed, it evolved to where it is today, which I assume is a fairly widely known process and unnecessary to explain.

[Kyeto-X]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

He created us and sent his son to pay the price we deserved to pay (death and seperation from him so why would we not worship him?

I tihnk somepeople are uncomfortable with the word "worship" It has too many religous and/or subbordinate connotations that alot of people do not using it.

Me personally, I don't like thinking that I am a mindless drone underneath God's will. So instead, I look at it as I am God's solider (cause soliders are much mroe manly the brides) and I ask God "What are your Order's, sir?" everyday. It's the same concept in the end, but with a different spin on it that makes me feel comfortable working with it.

As for worship...I am not into the whole singing and dancing and speaking in tongues thing :P I much prefer studying and mediatating to stomping the yard for the Lord

[Xujhan]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

How much is that to overide all the reasons not to believe.

The easy answer is that if I die and find myself at the pearly gates, I'll be sufficiently convinced. Here on earth though? Hard to say. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," after all, so probably nothing short of god actually showing up and speaking for himself directly; not to just me but to many people across various faiths. Really, anything short of that is more likely to be anything from hallucinations to aliens.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

wait so if there were proof you STILL would not want to follow him and praise him?

Correct. Praising him means my entire life is devoted to showing him how amazing he is, and if he were a person, it would be stroking his massive ego. If I don't, he would get angry for not polishing every corner of his ego, which to me is not something I would want to put my faith in. If god knows how great he is, he doesn't require endless praising.

Originally Posted by I love dogs

If I created the world why would I need people to worship me because the world is such a masterpiece complex yet it all works together. I have used this example before, but just as one example what about where the Earth is in the solar system? Any closer to the sun it would be too hot to live but much more distance and it would be too cold for life. How about how the Earth always is going around the sun yet never gets out of orbit and hits anything. The various trees and animals that are all here. According to evolation how did the sky and the sun get here?

First, evolution has nothing to do with the formation of the sun and the sky. By you asking that question, that tells me you don't know what evolution is even about so before you make a mockery, research it a bit because I'm not going to answer you on anything regarding evolution if you cant even tell me what the definition of it entails. I'm more than happy to answer some questions on biological evolution for you but I'm not going to explain to you what evolution is in the first place.

Originally Posted by I love dogs

yes, but I thought someone might say evolutionfor how all the animals and plants got here.

If someone says that, they may be clueless. Biological evolution doesn't account for how life began, so if someone were to say evolution could account for that, they'd be a fool. I would say to them the same thing I said to you, I won't answer them because they're too clueless to even ask their question properly and I don't feel like explaining endless amounts probably having to repeat it since they're too lazy to research it themselves first.

However, if they were to say that biological evolution could explain how the kingdoms animalia and plantae emerged, they would not be as much of a fool. However, I'm not going to answer that for you for the reason stated above that you don't know what evolution even is and second, the answer would be ridiculously long, more than several posts would allow. Third, you should research it yourself to get more details on it, otherwise you'll make a mockery of yourself as done above.

[palmtoptiger]

Originally Posted by Avada Kedavra

Simple answer, I don't know. I think me wanting there to be a higher power outweighs my actual belief of a God though.

I have to agree with that. I would love to believe that there is a higher power, but I can't say that I truly believe in one.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by palmtoptiger

I have to agree with that. I would love to believe that there is a higher power, but I can't say that I truly believe in one.

Can you answer the second part pf the thread?

[thebigmole]

I don't care one way or another. I'm like Fletcher I guess, even if there was proof I still wouldn't worship him or change the way I live my life. I like my morals, and I like my opinions and I don't need God to help form them.

To a later post from the OP, did you ever consider that the reason that there is only life here on Earth is because when the universe formed it was the only planet in the right position to sustain it. I mean did it ever occur to you that if another planet formed that was the right distance away from the sun life could form there as well because of science. I mean it seemed like you are saying that God placed Earth right where it is so that it could sustain life, but that doesn't make sense, if God is all powerful he should have been able to place Earth anywhere and it should have been fine. It's much more reasonable that there are scientific reasons for why life formed on this planet.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by thebigmole

I don't care one way or another. I'm like Fletcher I guess, even if there was proof I still wouldn't worship him or change the way I live my life. I like my morals, and I like my opinions and I don't need God to help form them.

To a later post from the OP, did you ever consider that the reason that there is only life here on Earth is because when the universe formed it was the only planet in the right position to sustain it. I mean did it ever occur to you that if another planet formed that was the right distance away from the sun life could form there as well because of science. I mean it seemed like you are saying that God placed Earth right where it is so that it could sustain life, but that doesn't make sense, if God is all powerful he should have been able to place Earth anywhere and it should have been fine. It's much more reasonable that there are scientific reasons for why life formed on this planet.

Well yes but there was NOT another planet that formed in this or another distance from the sun suitable for life. God is all powerful, but his plan is all perfect as well. Even if there was another planet what would be the chances that it and/or Earth would never get out of orbit in millions of years?

[TheNumber42]

Originally Posted by thebigmole

I don't care one way or another. I'm like Fletcher I guess, even if there was proof I still wouldn't worship him or change the way I live my life. I like my morals, and I like my opinions and I don't need God to help form them.

To a later post from the OP, did you ever consider that the reason that there is only life here on Earth is because when the universe formed it was the only planet in the right position to sustain it. I mean did it ever occur to you that if another planet formed that was the right distance away from the sun life could form there as well because of science. I mean it seemed like you are saying that God placed Earth right where it is so that it could sustain life, but that doesn't make sense, if God is all powerful he should have been able to place Earth anywhere and it should have been fine. It's much more reasonable that there are scientific reasons for why life formed on this planet.

I think the only way a reasonable person can really accept that God exists is to assume that he created the rules of the universe and that what we have now is emergent from what he started. If he exists, then I don't think he handcrafted us and Earth, he just set up a framework for the universe in which we happened to form. Or something like that.

Not sure I really believe that, but make more sense than saying we walked with the dinosaurs 5000 years ago

[TheNumber42]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

Well yes but there was NOT another planet that formed in this or another distance from the sun suitable for life. God is all powerful, but his plan is all perfect as well. Even if there was another planet what would be the chances that it and/or Earth would never get out of orbit in millions of years?

I'm not sure I understood that, but are you asking what the chances are that a planet would continue to orbit the sun after millions of years? Assuming a stable orbit and barring any catastrophic events, they'd almost certainly still be orbiting. What makes that so remarkable?

[Xujhan]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

Well yes but there was NOT another planet that formed in this or another distance from the sun suitable for life. God is all powerful, but his plan is all perfect as well. Even if there was another planet what would be the chances that it and/or Earth would never get out of orbit in millions of years?

We have no idea whether there are other planets wit life in the universe. Considering the size and age of the universe, it seems very possible. Similarly, the odds of the earth being what it is are excellent. Read a book on the formation of the solar system if you want to understand why it worked the way it did.

[~Mr. Self Destruct~]

Originally Posted by I love dogs

Well yes but there was NOT another planet that formed in this or another distance from the sun suitable for life. God is all powerful, but his plan is all perfect as well. Even if there was another planet what would be the chances that it and/or Earth would never get out of orbit in millions of years?

...What? This post makes literally no sense. Why would Earth have to destabilize from orbit... in any case? You also seem to think there is only one sun and one solar system. There aren't any other planets that can situate life, but there are infinite solar systems, or at the very least, many more than this one. We can prove that VERY easily.
I answered, "no", by the way.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Originally Posted by ~Mr. Self Destruct~

...What? This post makes literally no sense. Why would Earth have to destabilize from orbit... in any case? You also seem to think there is only one sun and one solar system. There aren't any other planets that can situate life, but there are infinite solar systems, or at the very least, many more than this one. We can prove that VERY easily.
I answered, "no", by the way.

I did not say there was only one solar system, matter of a fact I took a course about that just last fall.