"God is dead and we killed him"

right on :)

Obviously the "believe just in case" people didn't read the links I posted... or else they would at least back up their logic with an explanation of how believing is safer than disbelieving.

If I believe in one God, don't I risk facing the wrath of all of the other god's, who have forbade me to believe in any other higher power? Seems to me the odds of going to heaven are pretty bad in either case.

And if I believe, I risk being taken advantage of; being manipulated; being taken for a fool.

Here's the biggest danger in belief: You assume you know the answers. Science may not have the answers, but the thing that makes science superior to religion is that theories can be revised. Scientists don't claim to know - the research continues. Religion doesn't search for answers, because it already HAS the answers. In fact, religion is resistant to revision, and THAT makes it dangerous. So what good is a society who stops searching for the truth because they already know the truth? Personally, I would like to see humans evolve a bit further... become more intelligent, expand their consciousness. But religion just doesn't facilitate that.

Think about it... Imagine if a scientist, tomorrow, emeged with undeniable proof of how we were created, and this new theory (which is proven), as nothing to do with God. Let's also assume this knowledge contains warnings crucial for the survival of humanity. Religion would resist his "devilish trickery", he would probably be killed, and chaos would ensue. Religion can get ugly when truth is involved.

So to me, the better odds are in NOT believing.

Twinkley: If you haven't already, read A Brief History of Time. Some of the theories in the book have been put in doubt since the time it was written, but a lot of the ideas are pretty solid. I think you'll come to understand how the big bang is at least a realistic possibility.

And your question, "Where did THAT all come from?" Well, first, the big bang not only spewed out matter - it was the beginning of time itself. There was nothing before the big bang... there was only singularity.

I know that's not a complete or proven answer, but again, scientists admit they don't know yet... they're still searching. But think... God is equally questionable. If he created everything, who created him?

Danny ... I clarified that in an earlier post, son ...

Allah, Bhudda, India's 10 Gurus, Jehovah, Apollo ... they're all me!

I never figured in a million years that people would become multi-lingual, and find out about each other's Gods ...

Believe in me Danny ... your soul is troubled, and needs guidence ...

No ... that was my son, Son.

Ask yourself this: does it really matter to know...

Believe if it makes you happy
if it smacks a smile on your face, believe.

Don't believe if you think it's futile.
Don't believe if you feel you're losing your time and mind.

Any way you go, go because you want to.
Because that's what matters, really.

If the way you go is the one you chose,
then be happy with it and leave it at that.




(I didn't copy that)

Last I heard God was the bouncer at the Foundation Room...and he has my cubans;)

Actually, they caught GOD, and his stepson too. Never thought GOD would be driving an old blue car.

:bonk:

my advice, have a snack and don't worry about it

who said snack ??? :D :D :D

Maybe there is a god, I mean.. how could man/woman create something as delicious as a Krispy Creme Doughnut :)

Must be the work of some higher power.. no doubt.. heheh :D

never had a krispy cream ... i've heard they're heavenly

Darin,

Refer to the "Good vs. Evil thread"

Krispy Kreme is EVIL therefore God couldn't have created it!


Mmmmmm sooooo eeeeeevil....

twinkley

Yes, but Kripsy Kreme is the God of doughnuts!!!
I think even Homer Simpson would agree on that...

That was a quote from Nietzsche ... Gees You'd think god would know that ????

Question?

Lets assume god, heaven and hell exist !

Who is going to hell and who to haven ?

Good person that don't believe in god or bad person that do believe in god?

Those who believe in Krispy Kreme (Guess I had the wrong spellin) will already be in heaven :)

DOn't know if I'd want to go to Heaven .. Wouldn't it be boring there with all the rules?

Hmmm.... one of the better points in the entire thread. :confused:

Believing because it puts a smile on your face... I hate to use a pop culture comparison, but if you were in The Matrix, would you want to know the truth, or would you prefer the comfortable content of ignorance? I think this is the same. We need to break from tradition and try to move forward as a species. Religion only holds us back from the truth.

you can see it that way .... truth is, I don't want to spend my time thinking about this whole thing .. so the truth .. well .. really isn't all that important .. at least on that matter, because everyone has its own truth, so have fun finding the right one :p

A lot of different points of view... and not one pissing match.
I'm impressed. We have a live and let live atmosphere around here.
:xthumbs:

I was raised Jewish though more as a hobby than anything, not to sound crass. My parents asked me (mother's side is Jewish) whether I wanted to be Bar Mitzvah'ed when I was around 8-9 and I said:

'do I get presents?'

That sealed the deal for me, so I went through the process, it was interesting but I didn't learn much. Then when I was 17 we had a Rabbi who came to my school, so I'd go meet with the little Jew-group because I had nothing else to do. His take on the religion was quite profound, and I felt like it made a lot more sense than all the sacraments and other Christian stuff I had been reading about. He mostly talked about kindness to others and by embodying God's will by basically being kind and nice to everyone. None of the 'chosen people' nonsense, just mostly reading from modern Jewish scholars and authors about modern events and discussing a person's place in the world.

I've read some of the Quran, and mostly the Old Testament (duh.) I'm a VERY scientific person, sociology, biology, astronomy, whatever, it all fascinates me. It is utterly staggering to think about the universe and all that sometimes, especially reading that everything is supposed to IMPLODE (??) in 20 billion years. The one part I can't get over is what started it all, what caused the big bang, etc. Is there a higher power? Science tells me no, but it's the gaps in the story I'm worried about ;)

C.

I took the blue pill. Im actually in the REAL world communicating to you through this network called the INTERNET.

One day, you will all wake up.. to the real world... heeeee :cool:

Raph: There may not be a the truth... but I'd rather keep searching than just stop all forward progress and accept that it's all God's will.

Cal: Scientists have never claimed the the universe "will" implode. It's just one possible theory. But a number of discoveries have put that theory in doubt. It's really dependent on the velocity of the current expansion. If the velocity is too high, gravity will never pull everything back together... the expansion will go on for eternity. If the velocity is low enough, though, gravity will eventually manage to take over and pull everything back in, causing an eventual implosion.

I understand that there are holes in science, and we want to fill them, but we always want to fill those holes with theology. Of course science has holes... that doesn't mean we should give it up. It just means we're still working on it. You're not going to figure out the mysteries of creation overnight. It's going to take time. But it would be a mistake to just call it quits and say, "Well, there's no explaining. God must have done it."

Remember, one day we couldn't explain lightning... so that meant it was thrown by angry gods. Now we have a common universal understanding of lightning. One day I hope we'll understand creation in the same way. Of course, Christians will riot in the streets when that day comes.

One thing I have to give this God guy, though... he at least makes for some interesting conversation!

Raph, Danny,

Actually, the newest evidence says the universe is exponentially expanding, and that
someday(tm) it will all just... drift apart....

twinkley

It's true... the universe is constantly expanding... that should make traffic better. :D

Are you refering to highway traffic or website traffic Stuart?

:bonk: