Is God real post your thoughts!

[Rien]

So you are saying time has no start and no end. Thus, stating that matter, the universe, etc. has always existed. What is so farfetched in saying that God, a supreme being, has always existed. ;) As for the proof. Technically, you are correct. There is no concrete proof that God himself, or any other god for that matter, existed, exists, or will exist. It is called faith.

This is where Occam's razor comes into effect. Is it more logical to assume that the Universe has always existed or to exrapolate further and claim that an omniscient, omnipotent being created it?

 

 

 

I don't know where you got fear from. Is God going to smite you ( runescape pun). Hell is always a fear but why be afraid if you are a good person.

Yes, why should the average person fear Hell? After all, it's only a place of eternal punishment and torment reserved for sinners and non-christians for having committed wrongs of a finite nature.

 

 

 

The majority of the people in this world are not Christian, to let you know, so does that mean that only a minority of God's "children" will be allowed to enter into Heaven' bliss? That certainly doesn't reflect well on a supposedly "loving" God--especially since, according to the Bible, He created everyone. Seeing as how He's omniscient and omnipotent, are we to assume that He created everyone knowing that He'd only end up sentencing the majority of His creation to everlasting anguish, and that He did so while having the power to ensure that everyone could enter Heaven but ultimately chose to do nothing about it?

 

 

 

Of course, at least in my opinion, no one has anything to fear, since I find it incredibly unlikely that the Christian God exists.

 

 

 

Yes, that previous paragraph was a mouthful. :P

[i_love_burritos]

I'll also have you know that the followers of any other religion aside from Christianity (perhaps, with the debatable exceptions of Judaism and Islam) are to be condemned to Hell as well under the same pretense.

 

 

 

No. It's the same for everyone in the "three great monotheistic religions". They're all ripped of each other - to put it crudely.

[ElkNight]

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[Plugpoint]

OK...

 

NO one knows what happends when we die, know one can say that they are more sure than the other. I am a Catholic Christian so I BELIEVE I am going to Heaven. I don't know it but I believe it.

 

What I don't get it what scientoligists and athiests believe in when they die?

 

Can someone answer me?

 

What do you think if a relative passes by?

 

I think when someone dies I will see them healthy, and clean in Heaven.

 

I think when I die I'll decompose. I don't know every last belief of Christianity so excuse me if I'm wrong, but don't even the most devout Christians realise that their body will decompose and that their soul goes to Heaven/Hell? So my body will decompose. I don't believe in people having souls, I believe it's just brains, and my brain will decompose too.

 

And I think Meol got it spot on about not doing things just because of fear or greed.

[Zierro]

This is where Occam's razor comes into effect. Is it more logical to assume that the Universe has always existed or to exrapolate further and claim that an omniscient, omnipotent being created it?

 

 

 

Occam's razor can go both ways I believe. Is it easier to believe that we are a tremendously rare mathematical mistake or that we are here for a reason?

 

 

 

Yes, people go to Hell. Not exactly by what mistakes they had made when living, but rather by blatantly denying God. Even then, I believe everyone has there chance. Be you Athiest, Buddhist, or Christian. Just my opinion.. I'm no Theologist.

 

 

 

If God created everything then he also created your destiny to deny him. If he punishes you for something that he's done himself, then that's the opposite of divine judgment if you ask me...

 

 

 

Also, what about people who die before they even heard about God? Not everyone gets the same equal opportunities.

[Jaffy1]

Well, it is obvious god, and religion was created by mankind.

 

 

 

If a god created all, then WHO or WHAT created god?

 

 

 

-Answer me that.

[Plugpoint]

Yes, people go to Hell. Not exactly by what mistakes they had made when living, but rather by blatantly denying God. Even then, I believe everyone has there chance. Be you Athiest, Buddhist, or Christian. Just my opinion.. I'm no Theologist.

 

What if they were never alive in the first place, stillborn babies for instance?

 

(Assuming they only truly become alive when they can function without an umbilical cord.)

[Alg]

Is debating the existence of a God the same as debating about a religion's opinion of Him/Her/It?

 

All arguing about the Christian view of the afterlife does is show the flaws in the Christian view of the afterlife, written thousands of years ago and probably made to sell the faith (Well, if you don't convert you'll suffer for eternity. Have a nice day!).

[AndyPandy]

Well, it is obvious god, and religion was created by mankind.

 

 

 

If a god created all, then WHO or WHAT created god?

 

 

 

-Answer me that.

 

 

 

I was thinking that.

 

 

 

Also, people say who made the Big Bang happen? The so-called first cause? People say God, but if the Big Bang was the start of time and space, 'What was there before time?' is an irrelevant question, as with no time there is no before.

 

 

 

Also, people say that some sort of motion must have been created to start the Big Bang off. Yet, if you have gas in a container, the gas particles will bounce off the walls of the container, without requiring anything or anyone to get them moving.

 

 

 

What do you think?

[Plugpoint]

Is debating the existence of a God the same as debating about a religion's opinion of Him/Her/It?

 

All arguing about the Christian view of the afterlife does is show the flaws in the Christian view of the afterlife, written thousands of years ago and probably made to sell the faith (Well, if you don't convert you'll suffer for eternity. Have a nice day!).

 

True, but I think people on TIF are most familiar with Christianity seeing as I'm guessing the majority are from USA/Canada/UK, all of which are predominantly Christian countries. So it's just easier to base arguments on that particular view of God.

 

 

 

And InsanityV2, someone somewhere will tell you that God is making each individual atom move lol :roll:

[Housepig]

Is debating the existence of a God the same as debating about a religion's opinion of Him/Her/It?

 

All arguing about the Christian view of the afterlife does is show the flaws in the Christian view of the afterlife, written thousands of years ago and probably made to sell the faith (Well, if you don't convert you'll suffer for eternity. Have a nice day!).

 

True, but I think people on TIF are most familiar with Christianity seeing as I'm guessing the majority are from USA/Canada/UK, all of which are predominantly Christian countries. So it's just easier to base arguments on that particular view of God.

 

 

 

And InsanityV2, someone somewhere will tell you that God is making each individual atom move lol :roll:

 

 

 

That doesn't sound like a good idea to me. We need to differentiate between arguing about the supposed nature of the Christian religion and arguing about the existance of a God. I can accept the rationale behind believing in Deism, but not that behind the believe in an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient higher being dictating what we can and can't do, responding to prayer, and punishing or rewarding us for our actions--which is what Christianity teaches. That defies science, yet a convinving argument against a Deist God is much harder to produce.

[Rien]

This is where Occam's razor comes into effect. Is it more logical to assume that the Universe has always existed or to exrapolate further and claim that an omniscient, omnipotent being created it?

 

 

 

Occam's razor can go both ways I believe. Is it easier to believe that we are a tremendously rare mathematical mistake or that we are here for a reason?

 

I can't see any greater purpose in our existence. Poverty, disease, and war are starkly prevalent in this world; too many people are born into misery and are made to suffer for the entirety of their brief, wearisome lives. Nothing we can accomplish in our time here is lasting; our works inevitably crumble with time, and even the greatest of us will eventually be forgotten. I understand what you're saying, but Reality is far too cold--too unforgiving--for me to entertain illusions of self-worth or purpose, and, by all means, I'm fortunate compared to many others. I wasn't born into poverty, I enjoy generally fair health, and I'm a citizen of one the most prosperous countries in the world; I can't even begin to imagine the hardships faced by the destitute people of the world.

 

 

 

So yes, I do believe we are simply the product of an accident--the sum of a tremendously rare mistake.

 

 

 

Yeah, after reading over this post, it definitely sounds cheesy and nihilistic. Ah well, you'll have to excuse me. :lol:

[Plugpoint]

Housepig, when I said it's easier to make arguments based on the Christian view of God I didn't mean that we should - I should've phrased that a bit better. And now I can't think of a way to express what I meant there haha. I think I just meant that it's easy to slip into talking about the Christian view because we're all familiar with it. Not that we should. If that makes sense :|

[Zierro]

I'm fortunate compared to many others.

 

 

 

Exactly. As unfair as it sounds, hearing tragic stories of suffering of others makes us feel grateful that we don't have that kind of life. If we didn't hear horror stories like that, I have the feeling we'd be a lot less appreciate about our lives than we are now.

 

 

 

Suffering is necessary.

[Lateralus]

I'm fortunate compared to many others.

 

 

 

Exactly. As unfair as it sounds, hearing tragic stories of suffering of others makes us feel grateful that we don't have that kind of life. If we didn't hear horror stories like that, I have the feeling we'd be a lot less appreciate about our lives than we are now.

 

 

 

Suffering is necessary.

 

 

 

Like having an ugly friend to make you feel good. Pretty disgusting and ultimately a poor design.

[Guest User]

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[AlperBacon3]

To all those jerks that are saying you go to hell because you shoplift, do some research on Christian religions. If someone shoplifts it doesnt mean they will got to hell. Hell is and extreme place that people that know God and turn away from him completely may go to hell. Even athiests that believe in what they believe in but do some sort of good acts in their life and make the right choices i believe that they may go to Heaven.

Not according to your Holy Bible; if you'd like I can find the passages which support this. Essentially, in Christian beliefs, all unrepentant sinners are cast into Hell, so yes, even shoplifters will be eternally punished if they do not "accept Christ." I'll also have you know that the followers of any other religion aside from Christianity (perhaps, with the debatable exceptions of Judaism and Islam) are to be condemned to Hell as well under the same pretense.

 

 

 

OK, you may or may not study the Bible and believe in a Jewish or Christian way.

 

So I have knowledge to this. If i got to a gas station and steal 100$ of gas and run i may not go to hell.

 

If i do this regulary saying i dont care, nothings gunna happen turning to all evil, and accepting it you may go to hell.

 

Hell is the source of all Evil.

 

All mistakes we made in life will be resolved in pergatory. We think of it as cleaning our concious will God, or Jesus, OR the Holy Spirit.

 

(whom we believe are all one person ( God this is known as the Holy Trinity)[/size]

To be honest, I don't understand what you're talking about. 'Mind explaining where you're going with this?

 

Additionally, here's a question I'd like for you to answer concerning Purgatory/Limbo (I'd like to test your knowledge, since, frankly, I don't think you know what you're talking about):

 

Are stillborn infants accepted into Heaven?

 

 

 

Why wouldn't stillborn infants be accepted, they are God's creation. And Life begins at the moment of conception.

[mmmcannibalism]

Free will.

 

 

 

If I actually have free will then god is not all powerful

[Guest User]

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[Guest User]

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[AlperBacon3]

10 Questions every intelligent Christian must answer.

 

 

 

1. Why doesn't God heal amputees?

 

2. Why are there so many starving children in our world?

 

3. Why does God demand the deaths of so many innocent people in the Bible?

 

4. Why does the Bible contain so much anti-scientific nonsense?

 

5. Why is God such a huge proponent of slavery in the Bible?

 

6. Why do bad things happen to good people?

 

7. Why didn't any of Jesus's miracles leave behind any evidence?

 

8. How do we explain the fact that Jesus has never appeared to you?

 

9. Why would Jesus want you to eat his flesh and drink his blood?

 

10. Why do Christians divorce at the same rate as non-Christians?

 

 

 

I can't answer all but I can try...

 

10. Why are christians supposed to have a different divorce rate? Not all people a right for each other.

 

6. It dates back to Adam and Eve where he gave all people a free will, therefore brings bad to good people.

 

7. The whole part of believeing is things is the thought of believeing it happened, why should there be proof.

 

2. Adam and Eve, read the Holy Book of Genises for more info, to long to explain.

 

1. God will heal amputees in Heaven, where we are glorified.

 

4. God is the creator, why would he give a scientific expanation. God is super-human.

 

3. I do not know what you mean. But I think you mean, not all deaths were caused by God and they were not innocent.

 

Other deaths were just life at Jesus's time, hardships and all.

 

9. Many Christians believe it is a symbol. ( I can't believe you asked this)

 

" This is my body and blood which shall be given onto you." Jesus said this at the Last Supper before he died on the cross. ( I can go on.)

 

8. Are you saying Jesus appeared to all of us. He has only appeared to few beings. ( St. Jaun Diago)

 

5. What are you saying?

[Alg]

Actually, the answer to most those can be people are human regardless of religion (10), the bible was written far before we got all of the scientific knowledge we have today (including evolution [4]), and The Bible probably was written and retranslated many times since its original conception. (3, 5, 6, 7)

 

 

 

1: Well, for the Christian God, it shows who really will stay with their faith and who will throw it away when it inconveniences them. For a more passive God, it's just a flaw with life.

 

2: You could say it is to see if people are good enough to actually do something about it.

 

5: It was written by men, and for them the best way to justify something is to say it is their divine right to do so. Look at Manifest Destiny, for one. God used to justify, though more clearly done for other reasons.

 

6: See 1

 

8: Does he need to?

 

9: That's symbolic flesh and blood for a Christian's unity with God/Jesus. I always assumed that was fairly obvious.

[RichieMcD]

 

 

 

 

 

I can't answer all but I can try...

 

10. Why are christians supposed to have a different divorce rate? Not all people a right for each other.

 

6. It dates back to Adam and Eve where he gave all people a free will, therefore brings bad to good people.

 

7. The whole part of believeing is things is the thought of believeing it happened, why should there be proof.

 

2. Adam and Eve, read the Holy Book of Genises for more info, to long to explain.

 

1. God will heal amputees in Heaven, where we are glorified.

 

4. God is the creator, why would he give a scientific expanation. God is super-human.

 

3. I do not know what you mean. But I think you mean, not all deaths were caused by God and they were not innocent.

 

Other deaths were just life at Jesus's time, hardships and all.

 

9. Many Christians believe it is a symbol. ( I can't believe you asked this)

 

" This is my body and blood which shall be given onto you." Jesus said this at the Last Supper before he died on the cross. ( I can go on.)

 

8. Are you saying Jesus appeared to all of us. He has only appeared to few beings. ( St. Jaun Diago)

 

5. What are you saying?

 

 

 

10. Wont argue with that.

 

 

 

6. What does freewill have to do with children being born with life ruining conditions or children starving to death in Africa.

 

 

 

7. If I told you I just did a triple backflip to 360 on a pogo stick without proof would you believe it? I find it just as believable as the theory of god.

 

 

 

2. Frankly, the old testament contradicts Christianity so much I don't understand why it is included in the Bible.

 

 

 

1. Why not do it on Earth as there's no proof Heaven exists.

 

 

 

4. There's still no evidence that god created the world other than blind faith and fear to explore the unanswered. Science at least has some form of respected physical effort behind it.

 

 

 

3. Not going to argue on this, I haven't investigated the argument before so there's no point in saying Bull[cabbage].

 

 

 

9. Ye, I'll agree with you on that, pretty stupid questions as it's nothing more than a symbol or a tradition since the days of Christ, 2000 years ago.

 

 

 

8. He's basically arguing many religious figures argue "God and Jesus are all around us within our daily lives", yet there's no logical reasoning behind this.

 

 

 

5. Large areas of the bible seemingly support the idea of slavery, and according to you Christians apparently the Bible is the word of god, so therefore god supports slavery by Christian logic.

[mmmcannibalism]

Free will.

 

 

 

If I actually have free will then god is not all powerful

 

Care to elaborate?

 

 

 

If I have a choice which god can not predict then he is not all powerful

 

 

 

If god knows what I am going to choos it is not free will because god already made the decision.

 

 

 

So either god is not all powerful and doesnt know what is about to happen, or free will is an illusion.

[Zierro]

I'm fortunate compared to many others.

 

 

 

Exactly. As unfair as it sounds, hearing tragic stories of suffering of others makes us feel grateful that we don't have that kind of life. If we didn't hear horror stories like that, I have the feeling we'd be a lot less appreciate about our lives than we are now.

 

 

 

Suffering is necessary.

 

 

 

Like having an ugly friend to make you feel good. Pretty disgusting and ultimately a poor design.

 

 

 

Well, I'm not saying we should go out and seek those horror stories like someone with low self-esteem goes out to seek ugly friends. As for this being a poor design, I'd rather live in a world perpetuated by the balance of good and evil than live in a stagnant, uneventful, boring world with neither. It's a price you have to pay, which reminds me of TANSTAAFL in a way.

 

 

 

Just because humans have the ability to complain, I don't see that as a good reason to not believe in god. It's a means of getting us to strive for what we do want which allows for flexibility, individuality, and self-achievement. Some say that the journey is better than the destination. I definitely think this holds true for the never-ending path to happiness.