Does God Exist?

[Gumpertopia]

Why is it no one does Ahura Mazda?

Do him for once.

Or at least do the Mormon Gods.

I would love to hear what you think Mormon Gods are?

[WestRedMaple]

152(!) pages just to point out

Nobody knows

[Creepoc Infinite]

The problem with Islam is that many of the people who had actually memorized the things Muhammad told them went off to battle (not surprised as they were invading out of Arabia), and ended up dying (most of them). So basically the Quran was pieced from the memories of those still living. So who knows what volumes were lost because they didn't start a written tradition soon enough.

Incorrect. The Quoran is one of the first holy books whose content is accurately connected to those that actually said them. Mohammad would show up after having a hallucination or whatever and 15 dudes would write it down that day, compare notes, do it again, and by the end of the week they had a canon. Islam does not have the attribution problems that christianity does. There are no lost volumes, or apocryphal ones. Just the one bad one.

I'm making a different thread for this, because it seems like you guys are interested.

[Creepoc Infinite]

152(!) pages just to point out

Nobody knows

If god exists, we should be able to prove it.

On a different note, we can disprove personal gods of religions, but not the overall concept, mainly because god can mean anything.

[WestRedMaple]

152(!) pages just to point out

Nobody knows

If god exists, we should be able to prove it.

On a different note, we can disprove personal gods of religions, but not the overall concept, mainly because god can mean anything.

If god exists, then it is possible we might be able to prove it, but also possible that we might not.

In either case, it is obvious that our current ability to observe and our knowledge of the universe is still very minor.....which makes it unlikely that we'd be able to do it now even if the possibility would ever exist

[Creepoc Infinite]

If god exists, we should be able to prove it.

On a different note, we can disprove personal gods of religions, but not the overall concept, mainly because god can mean anything.

If god exists, then it is possible we might be able to prove it, but also possible that we might not.

In either case, it is obvious that our current ability to observe and our knowledge of the universe is still very minor.....which makes it unlikely that we'd be able to do it now even if the possibility would ever exist

I should've been more specific, I agree that a deist god can neither be proven nor disproven, however, if the Christian god existed, we should be able to prove it. Quite easily. Same goes for Thor, shiva, Wotan and all the others.

That being said, they can also be disproven, very easily I think

[Arkinesia]

Ignorance? It's just a belief different from yours. It shouldn't be called ignorance until proven otherwise, and since you can't disprove or prove it, it could be (grudgingly) accepted. It's not like most religious people are ignorant of physics and other natural sciences. Most Christians for example, aren't Creationists, after all.

It's belief derived from an incorrect philosophical approach.

Most Christians are creationists. They're old world creationists. They believe in rubbish like "God caused the big bang".

I would rather they believe God caused the Big Bang than they believe God spoke all the animals into existence 6,000 years ago.

Just my two cents.

[Benuty]

The problem with Islam is that many of the people who had actually memorized the things Muhammad told them went off to battle (not surprised as they were invading out of Arabia), and ended up dying (most of them). So basically the Quran was pieced from the memories of those still living. So who knows what volumes were lost because they didn't start a written tradition soon enough.

Incorrect. The Quoran is one of the first holy books whose content is accurately connected to those that actually said them. Mohammad would show up after having a hallucination or whatever and 15 dudes would write it down that day, compare notes, do it again, and by the end of the week they had a canon. Islam does not have the attribution problems that christianity does. There are no lost volumes, or apocryphal ones. Just the one bad one.

Nope there were multiple versions of the Quran before the Third Caliph intervened to create just one.

[Pope Joan]

Does anything at all exist?

It can be freeing to contemplate the void, and learn to say "nothing exists".

The problem becomes that even in the act of negation there is still a concept, or the remnant of a concept, which insists that it, the concept, exists.

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/ar ... ipt_3.html

Sometimes I experience an emptiness behind all phenomena, and that emptiness knows my name.

[Jute]

It's belief derived from an incorrect philosophical approach.

Most Christians are creationists. They're old world creationists. They believe in rubbish like "God caused the big bang".

I would rather they believe God caused the Big Bang than they believe God spoke all the animals into existence 6,000 years ago.

Just my two cents.

Which is exactly what most Christians believe, like the other poster already said. Even the pope and the catholic church accept Evolution.

[Jute]

Does anything at all exist?

It can be freeing to contemplate the void, and learn to say "nothing exists".

The problem becomes that even in the act of negation there is still a concept, or the remnant of a concept, which insists that it, the concept, exists.

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/ar ... ipt_3.html

Sometimes I experience an emptiness behind all phenomena, and that emptiness knows my name.

Which is usually seen as the proof for consciousness,as far as I understand it. "Cogito, ergo sum". I think, therefore I am (or exist). You can question the existence of everything, except the existence of questioning.

[Benuty]

Ignorance? It's just a belief different from yours. It shouldn't be called ignorance until proven otherwise, and since you can't disprove or prove it, it could be (grudgingly) accepted. It's not like most religious people are ignorant of physics and other natural sciences. Most Christians for example, aren't Creationists, after all.

It's belief derived from an incorrect philosophical approach.

Most Christians are creationists. They're old world creationists. They believe in rubbish like "God caused the big bang".

I do not think you know what you are talking about...you are calling the majority of Christians in Afro-Eurasia ( the old world) creationists.

Ergo [citation needed].

[Conscentia]

It's belief derived from an incorrect philosophical approach.
Most Christians are creationists. They're old world creationists. They believe in rubbish like "God caused the big bang".

I do not think you know what you are talking about...you are calling the majority of Christians in Afro-Eurasia ( the old world) creationists.
Ergo [citation needed].

TBH, it was pessimistic speculation.
The problem with polls on this subject is that creationism is generally contrasted with evolution, as opposed to alternative ideas about the origins of the universe.
The world's largest Christian sects have creationist doctrine, so it seemed like a fair speculation.

So you think the majority of Christians in Afro-Eurasia believe the universe came from nothing? That "God" had nothing to do with universe coming to exist?
I'd like to see your citation.

[Arcanda]

Being a christian, I think God exists.However, I have no problem with people who don't - Jesus told us to be tolerant and to love people no matter what.If you see any christian, muslim or jewish person doing bad things, it's that he was either tricked into an antiquated system of beliefs (Like some jihadists are right now) or they use religion as a pretext in order to hurt people and make money (Like Al-Qaeda) or to have a pretext for their intolerance (The Westboro Church).I sin and I've never read the bible, I've only been to church twice, yet I know what God wants : Peace and love.Having a muslim mother and travelling several times in Algeria, I can also say that muslims are nothing but a peaceful people.

How do you percieve atheists?

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.We're one.Our blood is the same, wherever you're from, whatever you believe.And love doesn't hurt anybody, while rivalry often does.That's my philosophy.Quite simple and idealistic, but, you gotta keep trying.

[Creepoc Infinite]

How do you percieve atheists?

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.We're one.Our blood is the same, wherever you're from, whatever you believe.And love doesn't hurt anybody, while rivalry often does.That's my philosophy.Quite simple and idealistic, but, you gotta keep trying.

Honestly, I don't buy that. You sound very condescending. And that being said, religion is not about love, it is a failed and primitive form of science.
It is also a way of controlling public opinion and politics.
Religion promote an us against them attitude. And if you don't have that attitude, you clearly are following your own creed.
And love CAN hurt people. Just read Romeo and Juliet for an example of how it can.

[The Union of Tentacles and Grapes]

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.We're one.Our blood is the same, wherever you're from, whatever you believe.And love doesn't hurt anybody, while rivalry often does.That's my philosophy.Quite simple and idealistic, but, you gotta keep trying.

Honestly, I don't buy that. You sound very condescending. And that being said, religion is not about love, it is a failed and primitive form of science.
It is also a way of controlling public opinion and politics.
Religion promote an us against them attitude. And if you don't have that attitude, you clearly are following your own creed.
And love CAN hurt people. Just read Romeo and Juliet for an example of how it can.

Or what people do in the name of love. Andrea Yates drowned all of her children to "save them" all the stalkers in the world, and even battered wife syndrome. Love is not a good reason.

[Conscentia]

[...] I can also say that muslims are nothing but a peaceful people.

Muslims aren't "a people" any more than Christians are "a people".

[Arcanda]

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.We're one.Our blood is the same, wherever you're from, whatever you believe.And love doesn't hurt anybody, while rivalry often does.That's my philosophy.Quite simple and idealistic, but, you gotta keep trying.

Honestly, I don't buy that. You sound very condescending. And that being said, religion is not about love, it is a failed and primitive form of science.
It is also a way of controlling public opinion and politics.
Religion promote an us against them attitude. And if you don't have that attitude, you clearly are following your own creed.
And love CAN hurt people. Just read Romeo and Juliet for an example of how it can.

Ah, I've already been told I was condescending.Anyhow, that wasn't my goal.
As for love, we gotta find the right form of love.R & J was about a love story, hereI'm talking about love at a more simple level.Maybe you could even call that respect, but still, I prefer to call it love.I won't try to change your mind, so I guess I'm going to stop there with my arguments for my religion.I know there's loads of bad things in the Bible, and people've done horrid things because of how they interpreted the Qu'ran.Those Holy Books were written two millenials ago, I think it's time to move on onto the future.

[Zottistan]

152(!) pages just to point out

Nobody knows

If god exists, we should be able to prove it.

Not necessarily.

[Zottistan]

How do you percieve atheists?

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.We're one.Our blood is the same, wherever you're from, whatever you believe.And love doesn't hurt anybody, while rivalry often does.That's my philosophy.Quite simple and idealistic, but, you gotta keep trying.

Unconditional love makes love meaningless. It has to be earned, otherwise it's just hollow.

[Arcanda]

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.We're one.Our blood is the same, wherever you're from, whatever you believe.And love doesn't hurt anybody, while rivalry often does.That's my philosophy.Quite simple and idealistic, but, you gotta keep trying.

Unconditional love makes love meaningless. It has to be earned, otherwise it's just hollow.

You make a point.

[Neutraligon]

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.We're one.Our blood is the same, wherever you're from, whatever you believe.And love doesn't hurt anybody, while rivalry often does.That's my philosophy.Quite simple and idealistic, but, you gotta keep trying.

Unconditional love makes love meaningless. It has to be earned, otherwise it's just hollow.

I tend to find that random people telling them they love me cheapens the idea of love. My family loves me, some unknown person on the internet does not love me, they don't even know me.

[Risottia]

Why is it no one does Ahura Mazda?

Because it's more or less the same stuff as in Abraham's monotheism, give or take some details.

[Risottia]

Atheists ? I love them.Even if they insult my beliefs, I try my hardest to love them.That's what religion is all about : love.

Maybe that's YOUR religion. You can't talk for everyone else.

I tend to find that random people telling them they love me cheapens the idea of love. My family loves me, some unknown person on the internet does not love me, they don't even know me.

Also, this.

Also, bonobos.

[Zottistan]

Unconditional love makes love meaningless. It has to be earned, otherwise it's just hollow.

I tend to find that random people telling them they love me cheapens the idea of love. My family loves me, some unknown person on the internet does not love me, they don't even know me.

Exactly. And I think you'll find that the people who pretend to love virtually everybody or love unconditionally tend to be quite oblivious to the actual unhappiness of the people around them, although that's just my personal experience talking.