Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: tangoblue on 09/03/2009 19:28:11
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is god real cos i don't think so. no offence to any religious people.
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Neither do I.
I recommend reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins if you want to hear the athiest side of the argument in full.
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I, however, believe God is real, and present in our lives in many ways...
(is this a poll?)
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Very nice for you. Just don't look for any proof, except in how you feel.
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Hi Emilio Romero,
You write that you believe in a god present in many ways.
Do you perhaps also believe that things like coincidence or contingency are mostly superficial, and that the course of events is at a deeper level predestined or governed by a god person?
Do symbols convey a power in some cases? Do you think there is a separate sacred incorporeal realm above or beyond the physical that influences your everyday existence?
Are you a scientist or student interested in science?
I just wonder about the elements of magical thinking that seem so manifest in many religions. But perhaps you disagree with the assumption that many aspects of religious beliefs have a lot in common with magical thinking?
What do you think (for others reading this item)?
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Hello, please note that I do not want to get in a religious discussion... for that there may be other fora, not this one. But out of respect, I will succinctly answer your questions.
Do you perhaps also believe that things like coincidence or contingency are mostly superficial, and that the course of events is at a deeper level predestined or governed by a god person?
Yes I do, I believe God has a “plan” for every single one of us... it’s not our place to unveil it.
Do symbols convey a power in some cases?
I don’t think that is necessarily true, I don’t think they convey power per se. They are means some people use to channel their faith (usually, if you need that, there is a good chance your faith is pretty weak to begin with).
Do you think there is a separate sacred incorporeal realm above or beyond the physical that influences your everyday existence?
Yes, I do.
I just wonder about the elements of magical thinking that seem so manifest in many religions.
Asked and answered... [;)]
But perhaps you disagree with the assumption that many aspects of religious beliefs have a lot in common with magical thinking?
I think you may be mixing up a bit the concept of religion and faith... but that is a whole different ballpark
Regards [:)]
emilio
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Hello Emilio,
thank you very much for your kind answer. In many respects i have had the same answers consistently from religious people, and consistently different ones from non-religious people.
"I think you may be mixing up a bit the concept of religion and faith... but that is a whole different ballpark"
You are probably right, i need to check that out, as for me both concepts are very much intertwined. Interesting.
kind regards
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Faith is not a science. God cannot be measured. He/She/It can not be weighed. A belief has no reality. A belief has no falsehood. It is what it is. Is there a value to a God? It seems to have been around for a long time. Is there a value to a hug? That too has been around a long time. So God is a good hug. It is a feeling, an emotion, a value, a community tie, a guidance, an authority, a culture, but all in a belief. Can we live without a God? Maybe. But something would have to replace Him. Maybe evangelistic atheism. I wouldn't like a world without a God any more than a world with only one God. With many one Gods the world is an interesting place. Is God good or evil? Because God is a belief He can be either. He is the supreme authority. If he says to fly planes into towers we will fly those planes into towers. If he says to take our son to the top of that mountain and slay him to prove your loyalty, we will do so. If he says to spread kindness, help the needy, learn the truth through science, care for the planet, we will do so. So the answer to the question, "Is God real?", yes God is real, as real as any belief without proof can be. Do not deny anyone their God anymore than deny someone a hug. But it is OK to believe there is no God as well.
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Fair enough.
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It really depends..When you trust in God..you feel like god is there with you...discussions are going on this topic for so many years, but we have not come to an conclusion yet...
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It really depends..When you trust in God..you feel like god is there with you...discussions are going on this topic for so many years, but we have not come to an conclusion yet...
I do agree. It would depend on the person on whatever he believes at.
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If you need someone to believe in then try believing in yourself.
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I don't believe in God in the accepted sense of being the creator of the universe and all within it. I do, however, believe in the Godhead. Belief in the Godhead was/'
is central to the philosophy of organisations such as The Golden Dawn and Argentium Astra. It is that there is a Godlike aspect to all of us and through certain practices we are able to realise that aspect.
Aleister Crowley said "Within every man (and woman) is a star of burning gold". I believe that. I have had many "paranormal" experiences (and still do) so I am sure there is a lot more to nature than is accepted by science.
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DB - that very last part, in my mind, should be "...there is a lot more to nature than is as yet understood by science."
If paranormal activity were proven to exist under scientific scrutiny, then they would have to be accepted by science. I would love some paranormal stuff to be true - I personally would like to have telekinesis, but only because I'm lazy.
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I reckon if you did have telekinesis, it would still take just as much effort as getting up and moving the thing manually, because the energy has to come from somewhere
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Hey DP - I didn't say it was likely!
It's a small piece of wood with some cunningly placed graphite but that's not important right now. :)
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God is very real to those who believe in him. I would not deny anyone their right to believe in their God, whoever he/she/it may be.
Faith, however, has nothing to do with God. People who claim to have faith in God actually have faith in whoever it was who told them to have faith in God.
If your Vicar, Priest, Rabi, Cleric, Bible, parents or whatever, teach you to have faith in God and you follow this teaching, then you are displaying a faith in that teacher, not in God.
Personally, I am an atheist.
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Just think how many wars have been caused all due to religion/religious reasons even for the creationists too. All of which I do not believe in.
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Whatever happens good or evil whether from believers or non-believers, does not mean God is or is not.
When you look for the origin of all things, time matter space, so much stuff... even things like affection and honour, it must have a source. Chance, where did it come from? Matter? Love? Whatever is the source of all this is God.
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This assertion "Whatever is the source of all this is God." seems to have been made without reference to any evidence. Can you cite some please?
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Faith?
What we believe is always a very personal thing. Even scientists, who demand proof have different interpretations about their understanding. Who's to say what any of us should believe? So much of what we classify as proof, has one or more of it's tenants based upon at least some fasion of trust or faith. As for me, I choose to believe in God and about this faith I also choose not to argue or debate the issue...................Ethos
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Two points.
First, how can you choose to believe in something? If I offered you a million dolars could you choose to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of your garden?
Secondly, re " also choose not to argue or debate the issue", are you sure about that?
Incidentally, while this remains a scientific forum, it is still in order to ask for evidence of an assertion made without citing any evidence.
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Whatever happens good or evil whether from believers or non-believers, does not mean God is or is not.
When you look for the origin of all things, time matter space, so much stuff... even things like affection and honour, it must have a source. Chance, where did it come from? Matter? Love? Whatever is the source of all this is God.
Could you define God please?
To understand where Matter or Love or anything else comes from, you first have to define what God is. If you cannot define what God is,then you cannot define what did or did not come from God.
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Secondly, re " also choose not to argue or debate the issue", are you sure about that?
Absolutely...............................Ethos
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I mean to be quite loose in definition and open minded, alike Einstein. As a boy, I asked the philosophical question with everyone else, how did the universe come to exist? Science said, Hydrogen and a chance. The big bang. But where did the hydrogen and chance come from. Also the dimensions. There are better theories now. Can one just say, endlessly, "this came from that"?
By God I mean origin, where ultimately something came from something. Matter and energy does not simply appear.
I suppose if one like me can accept that something or someone always existed, that perhaps the universe always existed. And is a god like thoughtless entity. Other things in the universe, in man and beasts suggests though, in design and concepts like, affection, love, anger, honour, justice... that there is thought and good will in the source and origin.
So evidence is that something cannot come from nothing. Time, space, energy, matter, mind, intelligence, and the nature of persons who believe, like it is hard wired not philosophy. And by revelation of a being to such as Moses, Ezekiel, Paul and other Biblical characters.
I think from faith God is light and love, so good. And there are evil entities in the universe. That God is Spirit and infinite.
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I personally belive that we are all just a bunch of cells with an expiary date. in other words when you die you die - nothingness
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When you look for the origin of all things, time matter space, so much stuff... even things like affection and honour, it must have a source. Chance, where did it come from? Matter? Love? Whatever is the source of all this is God.
...how did the universe come to exist? Science said, Hydrogen and a chance. The big bang. But where did the hydrogen and chance come from. Also the dimensions. There are better theories now. Can one just say, endlessly, "this came from that"?
By God I mean origin, where ultimately something came from something. Matter and energy does not simply appear....So evidence is that something cannot come from nothing.
What is wrong with simply addressing some of the current "unknowns" (that is, unknown _today_) with....the truth?
i.e., "I don't know." (_today_)
Isn't that more intellectually honest an answer than presuming to know the answer(s) without any hard evidence?
It also makes sense if we look back on things that we didn't understand earlier in our history, e.g., the weather: even the religious know today that storms aren't brewing because the gods are displeased.
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even the religious know today that storms aren't brewing because the gods are displeased.
I wouldn't be too sure of that Demo. I suspect some quite recent US Presidents may have believed otherwise.
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Uh-oh, in that case, Geezer, we're ALL in trouble!