Does God Exist?

People can chose not to believe even if they were brought up in a family that went to chapel/church/mosque/synagogue/temple so why is it so hard for you to accept that people can and do make their own choice to believe?


Why do people have such a hard time understanding what i am saying?I dont deny that people are free to choose to believe whatever they want regardless of their upbringing.My point is that so few people have the strength of character to break away from what they were brought up to believe.I could throw figures about at random...99%....89%......78%....it really doesnt matter what figure it is, we all know that almost every child in Scotland, (or Britain or Ireland)had absolutely no choice as to whether he or she was to be indoctrinated into the christian faith.Is that right or wrong?
So basically what i am saying is that what people believe to be their beliefs, are not in fact their beliefs but those of their parents and environment.Do you think for one single second that if your parents died in a plane crash over the Amazon, and you survived and were brought up by the locals...that you would believe in *?So my point is that it is not your own choice as you were very very heavily influenced by everything in your life.School, parents, church, Gov't.Freedom of thought and any concept of free will, no matter how delusional, did not come into it until you were a young *, by which time you were very heavily indoctrinated to believe in *!

Contrary to what you may think, most religious people I know where never "forced" to believe, personally I don't think it's possible to force someone to believe something they don't want to. You can teach them your beliefs but you can’t force them to believe as well.

See above.


You have the right to not believe in * all you want, just like those who do believe also have that right, a little bit of tolerance of other people wouldn't go a miss, no-one is trying to convert you, however you are the one trying to convert others.

I do not deny anyone the right to believe.I am completely tolerant of the beliefs of others.As for the point that no-one is trying to convert me....well i refer you to the points i made about how as a baby i was CHRISTENED...as a toddler i was FORCED into the xmas myth,(softening me up for later),at Primary 1, i was FORCED to learn and sing hymns for a * i now know does not even exist.I was FORCED to go to Sunday school as a young child.At school i was continually inundated with the need to pray and be thankful.Tv....radio.....government ministers, the queen...the pope....Need i go on?By the time i get to 16 and think i have some kind of independence and freedom of choice, it can hardly be said that i have had an upbringing free of any influence can it????So your point about no-one trying to convert me......?You were saying?

A belief in * gives people comfort, strength, understanding, contentment what right do you have to say to those people they shouldn't believe?

No right at all and that is not my point.Also i do understand it gives some people comfort.Ultimately i believe that belief in * or gods causes more problems for humanity than it solves.To me, belief in * is a comfort for some people, of that there is no doubt, but i see the big picture.
As we are sticking to the thread post and NOT talking about religion but merely belief in *, i will say that i think the amount of death and misery for mankind in general that would be eradicated will far outweigh any personal comfort some people get from this belief.I do not want to take away any personal beliefs or any spiritualism....i see myself as spiritual....i would just like organised religions systematically dismantled.....but that is for another thread!

I've seen on here people saying that those who believe have lesser intelligence than those who don't believe in *, well quite frankly that is bollocks, intelligence isn't measured by your belief system.

Well if you are referring to any comments i made, then i retract them.I was wrong to make such insinuations.However, i do believe that if people were allowed to receive a neutral education and upbringing, free from religious input, the numbers of intelligent people believing in a * would be minute.
I do not respect intelligent people more than non intelligent people...i merely make the distinction between the two.I am of average intelligence i would say, and i see no reason to respect someone purely on the basis of having one of the many vital organs that is above average in capability!Its akin to respecting someone for having a good liver....or pancreas!!!It is pure luck of birth and genes and respect should not come into it.

Regardless, a belief in * is not the same as a belief in a religion therefore all talk of religion is off-topic, the question was "do you believe in *", not "do you believe in religion”.

You are right... i have no interest in discussing any religion.To me the concept of * is enough...it saves time.It keeps them all together and save me from having to make the same post over and over.I am more than happy to keep it to the question of gods existence.
PS...please dont take my posts personally.I do have an objective, but that objective is to make people think.....objectively!

 

YouTube - The Top 10 Reasons Why the Bible is Repulsive

Good video this. Its a shame I can't embed it.

 

Yes

 

Just watched that there.Would be funny if it wasn't so absurd.
Does this mean a "real" Christian,say the Pope for example,actually beleives all this stuff?Thats's frightening tbh.I know that Islamic teachings have some pretty backward commands,but I'd always thought Christianity was a tad more,uhm,moderate?
This is the Bible we're talking about.Surely it can't be said it has been interpreted the wrong way,or has been corrupted by folk through the years?The Bible is the final word I thought?
My mind's made up anyway on * and religion.Anyone that tried and sells that * to my kids will be dealt with the same as a drug dealer.I know not everyone religious is bad but those teachings there certainly are,has no place in modern day.

 

exactly.

 

YouTube - 10 questions that every intelligent Christian must answer
Here's another video that helped me to stop believing. By the same guy.

 

What does my head in is that of the 150 people that voted in this poll....very few christians have engaged in any debate.They are either burying their heads in the sand as they cannot handle a debate.....or they just dont even come in here as they cannot handle anybody sowing any seeds of doubt into their heads.Most of those viewing those videos, will be atheists....because the christians are too busy shouting...LALALALALALALALALAALALALLALALALALALA.....HAS HE GONE YET?
We have the capacity to look at both sides without fear......we came through the other side from indoctrination after all.We are cast outs now!Thankfully.

 

Anyone else find something vaguely hilarious about a forum poll on whether * exists?

Maybe it's the possibility of our universe winking out of existence when we finally sort it out.

Me, I'm not answering. Cos if "*" is defined as the creator of all that exists, then to ask whether * exists is... well, how can you put it... a meaningless question.

Asking whether * exists or not is like asking whether Jesus was a Catholic or a Protestant. The categories don't apply to the subject.

 

Just yanking your chain guys!
An element of truth in everything i say about the EXISTENCE OF *, but i do enjoy hearing your side of the story.Im not in here to mock.Seriously.

 

Well i suppose the question could maybe have been....do YOU think * exists?

 

Well, do YOU think Jesus was a catholic or a protestant? :icon_mrgreen:

My point is that Jesus comes before catholicism and protestantism - those categories are only meaningful as a result of Jesus.

In the same way, existence and nonexistence are only meaningful as a result of *. * can't logically belong in those categories, because * makes the categories. * doesn't exist; * doesn't not exist. Jesus is neither a Catholic nor a Protestant.

Although I think it's fair to presume he supports the Celtic.

 

Hold on.....its late.....i will need to figure that one out without the aid of MrBudweiser!Thats like doing a sudoku reading that!

 

If something can't be explained in common language, it's usaully at lot of rubbish. If you need lots and lots and lots of philosophical jargon to give your views any sort of credibility then it's usually un-needed rubbish.

Notice anything about this thread?

 

something bad happens then ''* works in mysterious ways''

something good happens and its ''thats gods work''

suprise suprise

 

*

Does he/she/it exist?

 

No.

 

Only if the tic win the cup:icon_mrgreen:

Meister

 

no. u should ad a poll to this mate would be interesting to see peoples thoughts .

 

I would rather live my life as if there is a * and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

The question will be answered when we die.

 

I firmly believe that there is no *. However, I still feel that you can live a life of moral integrity, decency and and be full of love for your fellow people in the knowledge that we shall not be judged after our death.

I just can't see how a * could allow the suffering that occurs on our planet to continue. And if he is, I want to be no part of his plans.