This is what I believe in...

[Crucible]

We can discuss religion here, right? If not this is a WARNING that is WARNING you to take CAUTION reading this DANGEROUS message. Well, not really, but you get the point. I don't want to be held accountable for any injuries or nasty name calling resulting from this post. I don't know anything. I don't know what religion is right or wrong. I don't know what exists and you do not either. You just believe in something based on what other people told you. Keep in mind this is not directed at everyone, just most people. I guess that is how I am. I believe all things are impossible to prove wrong or right. Now I wonder why is it people believe in things like the christian version of God or Muslem, etc etc. Why is thiers correct and no one elses? It is because thier parents or a member of clergy says so. The only reason people believe in that specific religion is because thier parents or friends do so they follow them. They want something to believe in. Atheists are the same way. They just deny possiblility that they are wrong like everyone else. They think that they are so right they would kill thierselves over it. They kill thierselves over something that someone older than them told them was true. There is no proof they are wrong, but none that they are right. Now right now most of you are thinking, "Just wait till you all die, you will see I was right all along". So who is right? Is it okay that I am open to what is true or should I just decide today I am going to have a religion. Should I just put slips of paper in a hat with words like jew, pagan, christian, etc and just pick one out? I mean hey, isn't that what everyone else does?

[Lucius]

Tsk, First of all I was not raised with any religion, I had a free choice when it comes to that and I dont follow the word of somebody else, I just get stuff from here and there that makes sense to me and build my own sort of religion(most new age and buddhism). I follow my heart. Furthermore I believe that one shall not be judged by his religion or what he believes, and all good hearted persons shall get what they deserve, regardless of what they believe. And religion in my eyes is but a guide in life, to help you grow as a person and a soul, the main goal is to help others and be a good person and bring positive energy upon the cosmos and make this a better place for everybody. Its not an absolute life path. And I know there is more out there, see the miracle thats called the everything, or simply everything if you dont believe in "The all" and you'll know. But some dont see it. Thats loose from personal proof of course. So I am not at all bothered by that..there is no false religion, or a incorrect religion, or a wrong religion etc(good hearted religions that is), all hold some truth. True, not everything all religions say is true, thats impossible..but it doesnt make those people wrong people or anything so I see no problem, in my eyes.

[Crucible]

I am not saying those who are wrong are going to "hell". You can have whatever religion you like as long as it has no negative effect on me. (ie people blowing thierselves up or people swearing on thier life I am going to hell because I don't believe in what they do. Now being a christian or any of the religions that are "in" are not the best guides to life. Probably one more like a buddist would be best. I still know that it is best to be good. I still follow some believes in a way. I know what goes around comes around so I try not to sin as most would call it. I treat everyone equally, even the people I live close to. Murdering a murderer is no greater crime than murdering a saint. Keep in mind killing someone in defence is not murder.

[Berserk Exodus]

I believe there's a possibility of a Supreme Being, but I will only believe his existence when I see Him. And if there is a Him, I'm sure we're all working for the same guy. And why is it He?

[Lucius]

Its an it if in my opinion

[Alric]

I think there is a god. I believe in a nicer one though, and I don't think he is that picky. As long as your a good person thats all that matters.

[YULAW]

Originally posted by Cruible+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cruible)</div> You just believe in something based on what other people told you. Keep in mind this is not directed at everyone, just most people.[/b] <!--QuoteBegin-B.E. And why is it He? Because the Bible reflects his being as He never as She. ["The Almighty Father in Heaven".] That doesn't mean he's physically made up a man. I don't believe neccessarily that its a He or She. But "He" plays the Dominant role as we see in our everyday lifes as human beings. I kinda disagree because I made a choice just like Lucius did. But I decided to make my choice based off of years of researching various past and present issues. I think usually as children become adults then they have that ability to think more for themselves and make certain decisions that pertain to what they feel is right in their heart. For instance I consider myself Christian but my beliefs are different than most individuals who consider themselves Christians also. Some People in this forum would believe that you are going to Hell. I don't believe that you are going to Hell just because you don't have a particular faith. And also the Possibility of Hell doesn't exsist in my beliefs. But one thing I know we all would agree on as Christians is That "GOD" is Just. And if you're not with him than you're against him. Oh by the way are you a Marine?

[nerve]

Originally posted by Berserk Exodus I believe there's a possibility of a Supreme Being, but I will only believe his existence when I see Him. And if there is a Him, I'm sure we're all working for the same guy. And why is it He? read Genesis. God created MAN in HIS image.

[Crucible]

Lol paperdoll, that is only the case if you believe in that. Unlike you (unless you are just being yourself) I do not believe in things without any proof. So, God exists and does this and that if you do this specific thing. I was told this by some people who are no different than I am. Am I to trust them? Just because 100 million people say one thing is true does not make it true. They all believe it because other people told them. So... yeah...

[evangel]

Originally posted by Crucible Now I wonder why is it people believe in things like the christian version of God or Muslem, etc etc. Why is thiers correct and no one elses? It is because thier parents or a member of clergy says so. ...Atheists are the same way. They just deny possiblility that they are wrong like everyone else. They think that they are so right they would kill thierselves over it. A blanket statement like that doesn't really work 'cause... Their are atheists who have become Christians. There are "Christians" who have become atheists. There are atheists who have become Buddhists, etc. etc. etc. So, once you believe a particular viewpoint, that doesn't mean it won't or can't change. I think yer main point though is how can one finally decide what the truth is... Firstly, I don't believe that there ever was a true "atheist." The self-proclaimed "atheists" I've spoken with seem more intent on disproving God and religion (or specifically mono-Theistic religions) than they are anything else. Disproving God is impossible, so at best, they are just hyper-agnostics and not true atheists. back to the primary point. Old and New Testament scriptures teach that truth is revealed by God. Much of the time, I see it as a comfort thing... People are raised with a particular way of seeing reality (belief), so anything opposed is immediately wrong -if for no other reason than it pulls them out of a zone of comfort or forces a reestablishment of perspective. As far as myself, I do not believe that "religion" in itself holds truth nor does it have answers. I believe that the scripture is infallible, not because my parents told me (they didn't tell me that), nor because of a leader's voice... I believe it because I also believe that God has allowed knowledge of truth through faith. There are many ways of "knowing" (epistemology is the study of how we "know" what we know). I think the most important way is by faith. Otherwise, the only way we could "KNOW" anything would be through "experiencing" reality through our five senses (which we know is extremely limited --- because we cannot travel into the past to see whether accounts of history are true -nor can we teleport to scientific labs where the reports and accounts of discoveries occur at any precise instant or moment) My point is, there are only two real ways of "knowing" -through the physical senses, which is subject to time and individual perspective (and to change), or through faith. Proof, therefore, is a matter of choice also (Jesus said that many saw and even experienced the miracles he performed first-hand, yet still did not believe his claims of exclusive truth -what would it take for them to believe?) Even though they "knew" him, they did not KNOW him, because it was not revealed to them. I believe it is the same today.

[icedawg]

Originally posted by Berserk Exodus And why is it He? The Bible was written during a time when the world would simply not have accepted a female God. Thus, in order for the Bible to survive, it had to be written to appease the misguidance of the people at the time.

[Serinanth]

I still dont understand the whole being created in his image thing... God is a supreme being supposedly the allmighty, and dosent even exist on this physical plane, so how could be possibly be crafted in his image... Im glad I rant about this stuff... I see now...Our souls are the image that was created. Not these physical bodies. We are in a sense a part of god but separate in that we each have our own unique experience. God is all. EVERYTHING... Earth, moon, stars... All of it.. including us Just my thoughts =) *poinG!*

[evangel]

As far as being created in his image... I take that to mean that as you said, our souls are created in his image, but that we also are endowed with certain abilities or characteristics which Gos has such as the ability to plan, to think logically, to feel, be creative, etc. Here's a link that expounds on this a bit, also... http://www.comereason.org/theo_issues/theo080.asp Originally posted by icedawg+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(icedawg)</div> <!--QuoteBegin-Berserk Exodus And why is it He? The Bible was written during a time when the world would simply not have accepted a female God. Thus, in order for the Bible to survive, it had to be written to appease the misguidance of the people at the time.[/b] Just wanted to add a little bit to that... The characteristics of God mentioned in scripture are also mostly masculine. He is not man or woman, but is usually described as having many attributes that we would understand as being masculine (For example: he is described as a warrior, a Father, a Master, Shepherd, and several times is depicted as angry and vengeful when it comes to judging sin). Most Christians believe these attributes still apply today, despite any PC perceptions of "misguidance" or cultural/social irrelevence...

[Berserk Exodus]

Originally posted by Serinanth I still dont understand the whole being created in his image thing... God is a supreme being supposedly the allmighty, and dosent even exist on this physical plane, so how could be possibly be crafted in his image... Im glad I rant about this stuff... I see now...Our souls are the image that was created. Not these physical bodies. We are in a sense a part of god but separate in that we each have our own unique experience. God is all. EVERYTHING... Earth, moon, stars... All of it.. including us Just my thoughts =) *poinG!* Remember Stranger In A Strange Land? "Thou art god." Anyways, there's no reason for god to be a He other than survival as a text, as icedawg said.

[Blulanou42]

There is the void 0 female nothing then the all 1 male god but, if I say the ultimate is 0 that means that all 'things' 1 are the same even good and bad even god and the devil RIght! god knows not of our stupid quiblings over 'right 'and 'wrong.' God is the living being infinite all, stars universe and then earth, even Earth so... the best things we can do and the best things we can do for all things living cause we are all the same same molecules same energy same quatas I don't prescribe to 'a' religion, they're all about 50% right, 50% wrong cause they were ALL written down by MAN, and manis neither perfect or completely flawed. So, I may call myself a Taoist say, but I will no I never am. that was someone else's definition of Tao God is within and then god is without, everything and all and nothing And then you learn to allign your body to feel the energy of the earth and you learn to focus that through your empty relaxed body and your chi or your aura gets better and better if you breath deeper and deeper for longer and longer and move the ways that your anscestors did, like animals you will be fit and have longevity in age, you will be in your 90s and able to flip a man at full strength as though he were weightless and massless because your balence, and your mind are so empty that they are filled with the energy of earth. and then... you get a choice to transcend you may leave this place, or recycle yourself in an effort to help others transcend you can transcend and transcend and the soul it never ever ends it merely is in the all and one day we will all be joined together again forever in eternal instantaneaous happiness but who knows how to get there from here? only the very old, only those who have made practice of meditating on very old old plants. What does God look like? eternal energy What does the void look like? your mind just before you start to dream

[munkle]

But what if this supreme being has no sex. A sex is only required for reproduction and because there is only one supreme being, there wouldn't be any need for it to be male or female. The only reason for the supreme being to have a sex is to appease the people that are following it. Some previous imagage for a supreme being were being female because woman give new life. It later changed because woman depend on the men to get food and build shelter. If any it would almost make more sense for a supreme to be female and thus be able to create new life. I don't, just some thoughts about a supreme being. As for religion, I was brought up as a Christian but have since gone undecided. I was never Baptised, which is sort of strange among my peers but I did attend Bible school for a few years. I didn't realize at the time, but the things that they were teaching at Bible school went against the logic that was already planted in my brain. But because of this, I do believe there is a god.