| Is there a god?
Posted: 7/23/2008 12:13:49 PM | bear45408
Thank you for the insightful and clear study of the context of the oft-quoted and rarely understood "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." I have always understood it to mean that the Grace of God and the salvation through Jesus Christ is made available to everyone even if they didn't hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but I had never thought about it in the way you presented it until now. Thank you.  | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 7/23/2008 1:38:53 PM | Certainly. I grew up in the deep south with fundamentalism. What I noticed was that most of the really hard core members who made it an ingrained part of their life were excessive in general with other aspects of life. They did NOTHING in moderation. Many of them had 180 degree different lifestyles before they became religious. If they were into drugs, they were hard core addicts, if they were into sex, they were prostitutes and exotic dancers before they "found Christ". After conversion, they were every bit as excessive in religion, even to the point of becoming a pain in the neck to the pastors and other church officials.
this is very understandable.these people are affraid of not being excepted.they have to follow every belief they encounter over the top.they are so consumed with guilt of their past that they cant handle the idea of a single sin now.it is a tad trying to deal with this.lol.god bless them though.they are on the journey. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 7/23/2008 2:03:19 PM | And THIS makes sense to you?
Fleur_de_Lis Replied with:
It does to me. What doesn't make sense is how anyone can think they can comprehend a designer who created us and everything we see
You forgot to quote what I actually was talking about:
"Of course, in any case, it begs the question:
Who designed the designer, which, of course, is always
answered with "the designer has ALWAYS existed". [rolling eyes]
So by your argument, a bicycled must have a designer, but
the DESIGNER... someone infinitely more complicated than
the bike... does not.
And THIS makes sense to you?"
I'm not saying I "comprehend" your designer; actually, that's what YOU are claiming. I'm simply saying that the argument that the universe is complex and hence NEEDS "a designer" is nonsensical since in the same breath you say that something more complex that the universe (your god) doesn't need one.
You get to have it both ways because you simply claim "MAGIC!" and then it makes sense to you, just like humans have done for 100,000 years.
James, Seattle, Washington, USA, Earth | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 7/24/2008 7:50:52 AM | | Of course there is a god. Who could ever make up a story about a deity who loves each of us so much that he kills himself just to save us, but at the same time if you don't appreciate it he sends you to hell to burn and suffer for eternity. Now there is a god who knows how to love. Maybe that's where the idea for tough love came from. Of course there is a god. Just the idea of a god who kills himself and us out of love for us proves there is a god. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 7/24/2008 5:44:35 PM | I agree with this whole heatedly and was just wondering your views on this philosophy and concept. Basically I think God is energy within the universe and we'll be able to tap into that energy through certain methods (i.e. mediation) if we're aware of it and are open.
I feel love and compassion is the end result of being enlightened with God's energy....that's just me....
Your thoughts?? | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 7/24/2008 5:46:37 PM | Consider the word God to be synonymous with Spirit, Great Spirit, divine nature, love, light, energy, peace, consciousness, essence, higher self...highest self :)....
Consider the word God to mean everything - really everything in the universe...including all the solar systems, galaxies, planets, stars, moons, and all that resides on and in all planets - plants, trees, animals, mountains, seas, lakes, even guns, bombs, genuises and those slower of learning too, wonderfully compassionate people and closed minded angry and bitter too....
Consider God to be One with everything, with everyone, and eternal. (And not to confuse too much, but some then take that in all ways and say God is the Everything, which means it's the Nothing also.)
There are so many ways to consider God.....perhaps just consider it at all and something might come to you that makes sense.....or nothing will come to you, which will mean perhaps 'there is no God' makes sense to you.
I know, for me, I had such a blockage with the word - I used everything but, until I read the Conversation with God books and suddenly it's almost like they gave me permission to really let my blockage go and let in that word....finally. It did not change my ideas that go with the 'One with everything and eternal concept'....but now I could actually use the word.
Do I feel it in a religious sense? Well, I feel it in a spiritual one and who I am to say what is right for another? I can only feel what is right for me.
You want proof, OP? Well, that's like asking for someone to prove what's reality and what's illusion. We can't prove anything, but we know it exists.... (though I imagine there will always be the potential of total disagreement on which is which :) !!  | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 8/31/2008 7:02:02 PM | | Yes there is and her name is Alanis Morristte. Seriously i believe god is a woman. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/3/2008 6:59:27 AM | | Through my experience, I would say that we attribute our success to a power beyond our effort. Like it’s a common phrase when some one meets success” that was just a lucky day", I guess we all refer to God that way. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/3/2008 7:16:38 AM | I know, for me, I had such a blockage with the word - I used everything but, until I read the Conversation with God books and suddenly it's almost like they gave me permission to really let my blockage go and let in that word....finally. It did not change my ideas that go with the 'One with everything and eternal concept'....but now I could actually use the word.
for me it was "the purpose driven life"...that book put a lot of things in perspective. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/3/2008 3:28:08 PM | One in particular, or just in general?
IMO there are as many gods as humans need. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 8/24/2009 6:37:35 PM | Oh lord...thank you...the tears are rolling now...a million thank yous xxx
I am sooo happy...ah gad...i mean it! | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 8/27/2009 10:04:11 AM | Alanis Morristte was a great god in Dogma. G,Burns also very good but my favorite is "Easy Writer" from Seasame Street who is now 70+ aka Morgan Freedman. I think the look all of them give to the charators who are so wrong about who they are and what god should be/do is the one that most of us will see when we go before Him.
God must klaugh at us a lot I do. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 8/27/2009 9:34:29 PM | IMO-- We have a deity when we have faith and not so much if we don't.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? from epicuras(sp?)
further humble opinion---Just a response to epicuras' age old questions...
IF a deity is omnipotent it creates everything---would such a deity create lessor states of being-- to be "prevented"? or would every state of being be equivalent--- are we as humans with our societal beliefs capable of removing said deity from the box of binaries....good and evil? Would an omnipotent, creating, "SOURCE" differentiate between its creations allowing only favorite good ones or good behavior and squashing prejudged evil ones and evil suffering? If the deity differentiated wouldn't that make the deity unfair and unjust? or malevolent.. only an unbiased fair/just creator deserves the name God/ess . | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/5/2009 8:56:14 AM | Epi's question "Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?"
Wendy's answer "From man."
Qoute from God"He is like us knowing good and evil"
and so we are clear on why your life is screwed up as the world around it is your fault not God's Let me give you a few more quotes from God "Let's give them dominion over all the Earth" "If you do what is right then you will be accepted if you do not sin awaits to consume you" "They can do anything""Behold blessing and cursing is put before you choose" "Look I give you power of all" "Nothing is withheld form you"
God made you so that you can be. The fact that you make choices that are lame and have to live with them are your fault. If you do not like your life change it. God gave you the power to do so but you have to master yourself that is the challenge of this life. to make a life for yourself that you are not ashamed of when you are presented before your maker. Enjoy your life try to improve the life of others and stop blaming God for not doing what he made you to do.
If you are poor because you spent all of your money on drugs and got fired it is your fault not God's. If you are poor because your boss went under and gave you a bouncer for a paycheck it was your fault for not having savings and working one job instead of two. If you are poor because you were born in poverty it is your parents fault until you are of age and able to ask God for his plan and follow it yes He has ans will intervene in such cases if you stay poor it is your fault.
I can go on but I do not think it will benefit. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/5/2009 5:20:41 PM | as we consider the purely "lame" choices that may or may not result in suffering>>> other suffering must be considered....when we see the suffering of the innocent do we say to that?? Amen>>>or do some find a way to accurse the victims of such suffering as willfully choosing there plight??
when there are starving(War, disease or starviation) orphans in Africa sent to the back of the line after waiting in line for several hours to recieve food>>and mind you they are not fed before being returned to the back of the line. and each time they make it to the front of the line they are sent to the rear by the Aid workers so that they starve to death because they do not have parents anymore. When we see a person born without limbs due to a non preventable birth defect or a soldier who comes home and is denied decent care and services after being handicapped by war>>> to what do we say of this suffering??? | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/5/2009 6:16:23 PM |
vvendy said
God made you so that you can be. The fact that you make choices that are lame and have to live with them are your fault. If you do not like your life change it. God gave you the power to do so but you have to master yourself that is the challenge of this life. to make a life for yourself that you are not ashamed of when you are presented before your maker. Enjoy your life try to improve the life of others and stop blaming God for not doing what he made you to do.
Ah yes... if anything BAD happens it's your fault, if anything GOOD happens it's a god's doing. That is so incredibly dysfunctional!
If you are poor because you were born in poverty it is your parents fault until you are of age and able to ask God for his plan and follow it yes He has ans will intervene in such cases if you stay poor it is your fault.
Well, since a vast majority of the world is born into poverty with no real hope of ever escaping it -- and many of those desperately poor believe in your god -- I say your god is CRIMINAL in his actions and should be imprisoned for abuse on a massive scale.
Why is it that your god chose to make the default nature of his creation (man) so negative?
Your god could have chosen to make the world and the people in it happy and at peace, but again, he chose to create a reality in which despair and misery are the norm from which his creations must climb out of. I think this particular god sounds more like a psychopath than a savior.
James | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/5/2009 6:51:22 PM | | I believe in the Sun god, does that count? More of a natural earth believer, like the native americans. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/8/2009 5:24:19 AM |
Why is it that your god chose to make the default nature of his creation (man) so negative?
I think your negitive nature has nothing to do with God. I have a friend and coworker who was raised in the jungle. she learned how to dress keep a house and now is in her sr year to getting her BS in education. As I said you must work to improve your life and the life of the world around you that is your job and I am doing my job to the best of my ability you are just being selfish and/or lazy if you are not working on the things that you know you can and should be doing. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/9/2009 4:12:12 PM | while I appreciate that a BS in Education may be a good thing if one is to live in mainstream industrialized capitalistic societies>> if one is to continue living in the jungle there might be other qualities more necessary than keeping house, dressing in the latest fashion and a BS in Education>> that mind you are no less valid, important or impressive and are not indicitive of laziness or slipshod character and have nothing to do with selfishness or whether or not there is a god.
the aforementioned do have a geat deal to do with the nature of our society and what each society finds value in and VVendy's post demonstrates a great deal of ethnocentricity and very little cultural relativism. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/10/2009 5:54:14 PM |
Epi's question "Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?"
Wendy's answer "From man."
Yes, who can ever forget that evil man made virus Polio. | |
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| Is there a god?
Posted: 9/10/2009 9:25:45 PM | We would be able to live as we pleased if other people would allow but that does not happen. It would be great if the people the UK just kicked off their island 7 years ago could just say no to living in the industrialized world or the tribe in Mexico that went for 100 years of peaceful isolation who are being killed and enslaved by drug traffickers thanks to the government could just say, "Could you not build your road here please." I'm sure the first guy who got HIV was just thrilled with France and its decision to build the road whorehouse and Diamond mine in his area that lead to making the SVP virus morph. I do not no if polio is man made but my father was in WRD and made some very deadly things. I could list some sicknesses the English French and Dutch developed in the 1700's germ warfare is nothing new.
You have not been following well if you think that I believe life in the jungle is better/worse than life at the Hilton. You missed the point. The point is it does not matter who you are only what you do with what you have to achieve what you ought enlisting God as a helper in it because As He is the author and editor of your life's story if you believe in the JCV of God. | |
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