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04/16/2005 12:36:22 AM · #1 |
Do you believe in God? How do you know that he's real? How can a person who is un-certain as to whether or not he is real ever really come to the conclusion that he is real -- short of him appearing infront of you and telling you he's real or praying for something like all the water in your glass to disapear and then it suddenly does.
I know the bible fairly well -- I went through Christian schools and church during my childhood.
Here's another one -- if you kill yourself, will you go to heaven? I can't say for certain that I agree with what I've read. People say things like you are throwing away the gift of life that God gave you, so no, you won't. Well what if that gift of life is littered with bouts of depression and possibly some other mental disfunction? Should you sit there and just live on just to some day look back at how horrible your life was and how hard you've had to work through depression, hypochondria, illness, heartache, lonliness, and fear, among other things, and you you have gained little or nothing at all from it all?
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04/16/2005 12:38:52 AM · #2 |
| Many people have expressed their opinion on this and related issues in this thread. |
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04/16/2005 12:44:57 AM · #3 |
| Nothing like a good light-hearted conversation on a friday night.... LOL |
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04/16/2005 01:06:45 AM · #4 |
First nomination for the rant. But DP there is nothing wrong with being agnostic. I go though my faith and disbelief in little waves. And I have had the glass of water emptied for me, so to speak, on several occasions. Either you believe or you don't. Any sign He could show you could be explained away.
Grab a beer and be happy.
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04/16/2005 01:12:26 AM · #5 |
As long as there are unknowns a god will be created to explain them.
David
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04/16/2005 01:13:07 AM · #6 |
Perhaps it would help if you were to read the philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard on the subject of faith. It is quite the only philosophy the makes sense to me.
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04/16/2005 01:14:13 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by deapee:
Do you believe in God? How do you know that he's real? How can a person who is un-certain as to whether or not he is real ever really come to the conclusion that he is real -- short of him appearing infront of you and telling you he's real or praying for something like all the water in your glass to disapear and then it suddenly does.
I know the bible fairly well -- I went through Christian schools and church during my childhood.
Here's another one -- if you kill yourself, will you go to heaven? I can't say for certain that I agree with what I've read. People say things like you are throwing away the gift of life that God gave you, so no, you won't. Well what if that gift of life is littered with bouts of depression and possibly some other mental disfunction? Should you sit there and just live on just to some day look back at how horrible your life was and how hard you've had to work through depression, hypochondria, illness, heartache, lonliness, and fear, among other things, and you you have gained little or nothing at all from it all? |
Nietzsche said "Whatever does not kill me, makes me strong." It hasn't been an easy life for me, but I wouldn't, even looking back, trade it for NO life.
Robt.
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04/16/2005 01:14:23 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Britannica:
As long as there are unknowns a god will be created to explain them.
David |
As long as there is a God, there will be unknowns to try and explain Him away.
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04/16/2005 01:34:24 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by deapee:
Do you believe in God? How do you know that he's real? How can a person who is un-certain as to whether or not he is real ever really come to the conclusion that he is real -- short of him appearing infront of you and telling you he's real or praying for something like all the water in your glass to disapear and then it suddenly does.
I know the bible fairly well -- I went through Christian schools and church during my childhood.
Here's another one -- if you kill yourself, will you go to heaven? I can't say for certain that I agree with what I've read. People say things like you are throwing away the gift of life that God gave you, so no, you won't. Well what if that gift of life is littered with bouts of depression and possibly some other mental disfunction? Should you sit there and just live on just to some day look back at how horrible your life was and how hard you've had to work through depression, hypochondria, illness, heartache, lonliness, and fear, among other things, and you you have gained little or nothing at all from it all? |
Your depression is not a reason for suicide. you live beacause you love - this is my favourite quote. beacuse the life is love. A man must have a trust, and as they say - at first there was a word, this word was love, and love is God.
Yes, I believe in God, and i may suggest you to be wise, do not get depressious. we have just one chance to live, and you are going to waste it with your depression, or end it? NO, thanks, enjoy it as much as possible! |
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04/16/2005 01:35:37 AM · #10 |
Dear god, don't know if you noticed but
your names on a lot of quotes in this book
us crazy humans wrote it
you should take a look
and all the people that you made in your image
see them fighting in the streets
cause they can't make opinions meet
about god.
XTC
Don't know if I believe in god, but I do believe in something greater than myself... |
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04/16/2005 01:43:17 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by TooCool:
Don't know if I believe in god, but I do believe in something greater than myself... |
Indeed.
Originally posted by ~ Albert Einstein:
"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." |
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04/16/2005 01:46:42 AM · #12 |
Being a Taoist and all, I definatly believe in the Tao. A natural order of things , a force in each and every living sentiment or being. It is not a religion or philosophy, but it is a way of life. Everything in the Universe is balanced. One can achieve happiness when the Tao is balanced.
Message edited by author 2005-04-16 01:47:05. |
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04/16/2005 01:59:25 AM · #13 |
To deapea
ALL of us have many challenges to face in life. Some of them are short term, others have a longer time frame to work out. Suicide is a permanent solution to what are usually temporary problems. All of us have ups and downs. But there is much of life to be enjoyed - and photography helps us look for the beauty around us. Please hang in there. Take a few moments and reflect on the good things that have happened to you in your life, the friends that you have, your family, your fellow workers - the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, flowers of spring. There is much good in the world - just look for it and you will find it.
I personally do believe that God exists and that he is ready and willing to give us the internal strength we need to get through the difficult stretches of life. |
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04/16/2005 02:10:19 AM · #14 |
| To Deapee. Im in your same shoes, but one thing I never try to lose is faith. I just have to figure out where I belong in this one big equation, and when I do, I just pray and hope I turn out ok, have a strong mind, keep your 3rd eye open, and I dont mean your camera. I mean see things for what they really are, whats important and whats meaningless? its up to you to figure it out. |
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04/16/2005 02:10:49 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by Mary Ann Melton:
To deapea
ALL of us have many challenges to face in life. Some of them are short term, others have a longer time frame to work out. Suicide is a permanent solution to what are usually temporary problems. All of us have ups and downs. But there is much of life to be enjoyed - and photography helps us look for the beauty around us. Please hang in there. Take a few moments and reflect on the good things that have happened to you in your life, the friends that you have, your family, your fellow workers - the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, flowers of spring. There is much good in the world - just look for it and you will find it.
I personally do believe that God exists and that he is ready and willing to give us the internal strength we need to get through the difficult stretches of life. |
Very Well Said.
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I also believe in God, Jesus, and the Bible. Just remember everyone has a choice. And I will NOT put anyone down because of there beliefs. I ask for the same respect. Thanks everyone!
I have been sick for more than five years now and it's my faith that helps me. It's one of the reasons I entered this picture in a challenge not to long after joining this site.
Message edited by author 2005-04-16 02:23:19. |
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04/16/2005 02:16:58 AM · #16 |
i definitely believe in God. my faith sustains me when i'm down and helps me know that brighter days are ahead.
my thought has always been...wouldn't you rather belive in God now and find out later that he doesn't exist or not believe in Him and find out that he does?
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04/16/2005 02:25:49 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by SDW65:
Originally posted by Mary Ann Melton:
To deapea
ALL of us have many challenges to face in life. Some of them are short term, others have a longer time frame to work out. Suicide is a permanent solution to what are usually temporary problems. All of us have ups and downs. But there is much of life to be enjoyed - and photography helps us look for the beauty around us. Please hang in there. Take a few moments and reflect on the good things that have happened to you in your life, the friends that you have, your family, your fellow workers - the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, flowers of spring. There is much good in the world - just look for it and you will find it.
I personally do believe that God exists and that he is ready and willing to give us the internal strength we need to get through the difficult stretches of life. |
Very Well Said.
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I also believe in God, Jesus, and the Bible. Just remember everyone has a choice. And I will NOT put anyone down because of there beliefs. I ask for the same respect. Thanks everyone |
Very well said.......I agree with you, but If your a strong believer of your beliefs than there will always be a resentment towards other religions or beliefs for you personally. Because if we all believed in just simply the same things there would be no wars or religious disputes. Most Religion just complicates things |
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04/16/2005 02:38:59 AM · #18 |
| While I am a Christian, I also think that we must respect and be courteous to those who do not believe as we do. And I think if everyone, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Agnostic, Atheist, Budhist, Hindu , etc etc - would exercise that common curtesy towards one another, the world would be a better place. If we could look at how the religions are similar and how they are different and try to understand one another, I think we would find some common ground. The Bible says that pure religion is to help the fatherless and widows. If we could truly learn to love one another - then so many of the world's conflicts as well as individual conflicts would cease or at least be easier to deal with. And Christianity is based on selfless love. |
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04/16/2005 02:39:24 AM · #19 |
What a loaded question. Yes, I believe in God. I don't understand fully why. The belief seems to fit some need and some emptiness that would exsist otherwise. I am not a scholar and I don't really want to be one. What I've heard about Jesus leads me to have belief in the Christian faith. However, I am very wary about ANYONE who says they know what God intends fully for mankind. I make a comparison to a baby who somehow KNOWS that he/she is loved by parents, but would never at that level fully understand why the parents do what they do for the child or why the love is even there. If a God is so great to create a Universe how can I expect to understand that God?
I do know that time and again my prayers and the prayers of many others have been answered...not always in the way requested, but can always work for good, if that makes sense. I worship God, but I do not worship the Bible. I believe it has some truths in it, but I don't believe that it's the only inspired word we have about how to live our lives. For me, personally, my test is the life of Jesus. The popular WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) slogan really does help me determine if I feel something is right. That is where the Bible is helpful for me.
I think what it boils down to for me is that I have my beliefs based on very personal experiences and thoughts. I also believe that there is a very real possibility I could be so totally wrong! I don't think so, but I'm okay with knowing that I could be. The fact is, that you won't know for SURE...as in face to face with God or Hell or whatever (or nothing), until it's too late to go back and change how you live or what you believe.
I also believe in Satan and evil in this world. I believe there is a real struggle between God and Satan for the lives of mankind. Not the little angel and devil on the shoulder, but a deeper sense of self-giving and love vs. self-centeredness and hate.
In any case, I am up tonight with severe allergy problems, so I will be using that time in prayer for you and whatever you are searching for. I've been through a lot, but have always come out okay on the other side and something or Someone is sure carrying through all of it.
Peace,
Judy |
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04/16/2005 02:42:07 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by deapee:
Do you believe in God? How do you know that he's real? How can a person who is un-certain as to whether or not he is real ever really come to the conclusion that he is real -- short of him appearing infront of you and telling you he's real or praying for something like all the water in your glass to disapear and then it suddenly does.
I know the bible fairly well -- I went through Christian schools and church during my childhood.
Here's another one -- if you kill yourself, will you go to heaven? I can't say for certain that I agree with what I've read. People say things like you are throwing away the gift of life that God gave you, so no, you won't. Well what if that gift of life is littered with bouts of depression and possibly some other mental disfunction? Should you sit there and just live on just to some day look back at how horrible your life was and how hard you've had to work through depression, hypochondria, illness, heartache, lonliness, and fear, among other things, and you you have gained little or nothing at all from it all? |
Do I believe in God - Absolutely
How do you know he's real - The hand of God is on all creation. You have to study, think, observe and ponder over this universe, it's beginning, it's balance and continuation to reach your own conclusion. Knowing God is real is something you come to know over time. As to Him appearing or water disappearing... miracles are overated. They made the point that things were changing and that was what was needed. The critical thing about knowing God is real is internal, what makes you happy, what your life will be about, what is our purpose, why do terrible things happen in life, what is the plan for the future, why isn't it happening now. It is and is not a secret, happiness is found in large part within our own definitions of it. All over this planet people are happy in what we think of as miserable conditions. You can adjust internally and a relationship with God helps in that regard.
Suicide is not something that prevents any future relationship with God.
Some religions teach that, but it is tradition, and not based in scripture. Taking any life is a crime against natural and spritual law, but with suicide there are terrible mitigating circumstances and God is a Father, not a mathematician who just adds colums to sort out life and death.
Depression is hard, and seems eternal. It passes slowly, but you have to take steps to aid that process. Look forward, and look backward. Be honest about good things, good days and progress. Do not take the bad ones as inevitable. Realize your thinking is skewed and make room for the possibility things are not as you either see or feel. Our minds, thoughts and emotions are matters of chemical and electrical interactions which are at times beyond our initial control. Seek ways to establish control.
How much you gain depends on what you are measuring. Don't be deceived. Happiness is spiritual and depends in large degree upon your doing for and giving to others in various ways. Being loved, feeling useful and having purpose are all things we can take the initiative in and refuse the misleading of pat answers and an unfeeling worlds philosophies. Take heart, it passes, you redefine, find meaning and happiness and in doing so discover that pain never lasts forever and there are signs and controls that are learned which can prevent its repitition.
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04/16/2005 03:01:04 AM · #21 |
I would recommend that you read two books. The first is "Pulling Your Own Strings" Wayne Dyer, and the second is "The Age of Reason" Thomas Payne. These two books are very well written and I believe will help you with some of your questions.
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04/16/2005 03:05:30 AM · #22 |
The most common graphic representation of Taoist theology is the circular Yin Yang figure. It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. No love without hate, night without day etc. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray. The Yin and Yang are a model that the faithful follow, an aid that allows each person to contemplate the state of his or her lives.
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04/16/2005 04:51:42 AM · #23 |
My son is 6 and he goes to a mixed race, multi-cultured school of many religions. He's bright and inquisitive and I've never wittingly forced him into a belief or non-belief of God. Recently, he's begun questioning religion, existence and loads of other stuff I can't mention(!). Here are a few questions that I've had to deal with, so any comments would be fascinating:
1. Am I a Christian?
2. If there's a God why can't we see him?
3. Is God a man or a woman?
4. How can there be different Gods - does it mean someone is lying or wrong?
5. If there's a God why doesn't he stop Adam's sister from being so sick? (She's only 4 and has leukemia)
6. Why can't I see him?
7. Is God old? If he's old when was he young?
8. Who made God?
9. Why didn't God stop the tsunami?
And there are plenty more where those came from.
Please try to leave your own beliefs out of it and answer these logically. |
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04/16/2005 05:03:56 AM · #24 |
I might have things a little backwards but I'm pretty convinced that there is a dog ;)
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04/16/2005 06:53:44 AM · #25 |
I believe in a God,
and I'll believe it even more when I win a DPC ribbon!
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