Jump to content



Do you believe in God and why


ivor bigun

Recommended Posts

40 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

sunmaster, check this dude out.

you might find this interesting.

he's apparently using "scientific methodology". lol

 

https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/who-we-are/history-of-dops/dr-ian-stevenson/

Dr. Ian Stevenson founded the Division of Perceptual Studies in 1967. 

Dr. Stevenson established the Division in order to conduct research in which scientific methodology is utilized to empirically investigate phenomena which cannot be explained by the currently accepted scientific assumptions and theories about the nature of mind or consciousness, and its relationship to matter. Examples of such phenomena, sometimes called paranormal, include various types of extrasensory perception (such as telepathy), apparitions and deathbed visions,  after-death communications or ADCs, poltergeists, experiences of persons who come close to death and survive (usually called near-death experiences or NDEs), out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and children’s memories of previous lives.

Yes, I read a book about him a long time ago. Good stuff.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/20/2023 at 7:22 PM, Tippaporn said:

In your example you are using a friend who is receiving audio information from you, which would be slower than light.  Sound travels at a much slower speed than light.  Whilst technically correct . . . it takes time to receive communication, regardless, there is no such time lapse for you as you think the thought that you are then conveying to another.  So your thoughts are happening in the now.  And while, yes, it takes time to receive communication from another once that communication is received then the reception of is happening for the friend in his now.

If you were communicating via email, or a physical letter, then of course it takes time for the communication to be received by the recipient.  You, though, are typing the email or writing the letter in your now.  Once the communication is received then the recipient is reading it in his now.

Again, experience happens in the now moment point.  Never in the past or future.  The past is only the perception of experience moving in linear fashion from moment to moment.  If you have any other explanations which would contradict that and prove it to be wrong then I'm more than willing to hear and consider it.

If you're interested in learning more then read Seth's many explanations regarding time, what it is and our experience of it - how and why we experience it as such.  This he explains in great detail as time is an integral part of our physical experience.  As is space.  Both must be well understood for what they are in order for other information to make sense.  In the meanwhile you can't honestly claim Seth is wrong since 1) if you haven't read his explanations it would then be impossible to say he's wrong since you don't know what he's saying and 2) you can make the assumption that your ideas are correct but the possibility exists that they are not.  Once you become aware of Seth's ideas then you may well indeed find your ideas to be incorrect.  Perhaps not.  But it may well be a fatal error to dismiss that very real possibility.

For myself I don't care which answer is correct or incorrect but I will choose the one which is correct.  I will not, though, defend an idea which is incorrect for the sole reason of wanting to be right in what I believe to be true.  I make this point not to accuse you of trying to attempt to defend an incorrect idea.  But to simply make you aware that this is a pitfall which many unwittingly fall into.  One always needs to ask themselves whether this may be the case during an exchange of ideas.  For if one is arguing not for truth but merely to be right then one is only fooling themselves.  And if one is seeking true knowledge it will never, ever happen if one is not brutally honest with one's self.

I was being generous using light cause it gets even worse for sound ????

 

Since we're on the subject of seeing events I just want you to know that in physics there's a difference between 'seeing' and 'observing'. Seeing an event (like we just discussed) is when the light from that event reaches your eyes or scientific instrument, whereas observing an event is the exact time and place the event happened. So for example if I see the explosion of a distant star tonight that was 10 lightyears away, then I would report the time of the explosion as ten years ago.

 

In special relativity we are only interested in observing events NOT seeing events, so when we assign coordinates to events its when and where those events actually occurred in a particular reference frame. Just wanted to make that clear since its very important in understanding how time works in relativity.

 

There's a common misconception in SR which is 'moving clocks tick slowly' and although its true that you will observe a moving clock to run more slowly than your own, there's actually more to it than that and the relativity of simultaneity shows us that its time itself that changes from one frame to another where observers take different paths through spacetime.

 

 I'll try to explain using two reference frames. Imagine yourself (Tippaporn) on Earth and me (Elad) travelling at some speed V relative to you. Since speed is relative then I could say that I'm at rest, and you, on Earth, is travelling at speed V, it makes no difference in relativity. Due to this symmetry not only will you observe my clock running slow, but I will also observe your clock to be running slow, sounds like a paradox but its not when you take the relativity of simultaneity into account.

 

If you observe and assign coordinates to two events that occur simultaneous but at different locations in your frame, and remember this is observing so those events really do happen at the same time in your reference frame. Then in my frame, I will observe the same two events at different times lets say two seconds between each event. How can this be because if time was just slowing down then the two Events would still be simultaneous in any frame. Time changes on different paths through spacetime.

 

In SR when we do the transformations of coordinates from one reference frame to another, the math shows us that the time coordinate depends on the space coordinates, and space depends on time, there's a mixing of space and time into one spacetime and this is how the universe seems to work. The condition of two events being simultaneous is a relative one not an absolute one.

 

I'm finding it very hard getting this across, and I'm not the best science communicator ????but I hope it helps you to understand that time is not absolute, it make no sense to say "I wonder what aliens are doing right now in the Andromeda galaxy" because our now is not the same as theirs, if they exist.

 

I would've liked to add some 2D spacetime diagrams to illustrate better how it works but I'm not sure you'd appreciate them.

Instead of searching the thread would it be possible to send me a link on Seth's definition of time, I'd like to have a look at it.

 

      

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Time and space are opinions, and depend very much on the point of view. 

Imagination can bend the physical point of view of linear time.

For example, if i imagine a straight segment connecting me to some star, that segment exists in no time, and

beyond any measurable length of time.

So, linear time is a product of a limited Imagination, but Imagination is unlimited. ????

I would ask @Sunmaster to repost the " disk diagram " of few days ago, perhaps some of the "science types" here might give it some though, instead of dismissing it as " woowoo" ????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/20/2023 at 3:36 PM, KhunLA said:

And there's the spin, if it's good, God created, did it, if not, then it's something else, 'works in mysterious ways', and now, 'it's nature'.

 

Did not God create everything ?

 

Sounding like a movie script ... this scene I love, classic by Byrne, and @ 2:10, ????

 

Now you're making it up. I never said that God only makes good things- I said God made everything, which means good and bad.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Now you're making it up. I never said that God only makes good things- I said God made everything, which means good and bad.

It's becoming quite hilarious now.

Apparently some people believe obvious lies, then they realize that they've been believing a lie, and then accuse innocents and passersby for their misunderstandings. ????

 

 

  • Love It 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

why would your God make bad things? to what end?

God ideas are beyond your understanding, especially as you deny its existence. 

So a good starting point is accepting the possibility of God's existence. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/20/2023 at 1:14 PM, KhunLA said:

So you just believe, God basically started everything, and it now just runs on auto pilot, the good and the bad.

 

Do you believe in a heaven & hell (afterlife) ?

Do you believe in prayer, and being answered ?

If answered (saved from terminal illness), God's miracle ?

if not answered, 'works in mysterious ways' BS ?

 

If God created everything, who or what created God, or are we going with the 'always was, always will be' theory.  And there is no other or need to be, it's just is.

 

All of which, none can be proved or disproved. 

 

Just the Christian Bible is so wacked, you'd have to be total idiot to believe any of that.  No need to attempt to disprove that, it does that all by itself.

@thaibeachlovers

did you see or not this reply, or ignore ????

Curious what belief you have.

 

God created everything .. but what else 

 

Not making things up, but most Christians leave out the bad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

It's becoming quite hilarious now.

Apparently some people believe obvious lies, then they realize that they've been believing a lie, and then accuse innocents and passersby for their misunderstandings. ????

 

 

That depends on what else they believe.  TBL said God made everything .. but what does the mean, after making, does God oversee & decide things.

 

I asked, but think he missed or ignored it ????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

As to why God doesn't allow us to live in paradise and live on fruit, I'm sorry, but God hasn't as yet communicated with me as to why God does anything. 

I like the humbleness, how can we expect to understand God's designs in every single little detail? However i believe that we can try.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/20/2023 at 7:14 PM, KhunLA said:

So you just believe, God basically started everything, and it now just runs on auto pilot, the good and the bad.

 

Do you believe in a heaven & hell (afterlife) ?

Do you believe in prayer, and being answered ?

If answered (saved from terminal illness), God's miracle ?

if not answered, 'works in mysterious ways' BS ?

 

If God created everything, who or what created God, or are we going with the 'always was, always will be' theory.  And there is no other or need to be, it's just is.

 

All of which, none can be proved or disproved. 

 

Just the Christian Bible is so wacked, you'd have to be total idiot to believe any of that.  No need to attempt to disprove that, it does that all by itself.

So you just believe, God basically started everything, and it now just runs on auto pilot, the good and the bad.

 

Yes.

 

Do you believe in a heaven & hell (afterlife) ?

Do you believe in prayer, and being answered ?

If answered (saved from terminal illness), God's miracle ?

if not answered, 'works in mysterious ways' BS ?

 

Neither. I believe we return to God after our body dies.

No

N/a

No such thing as mysterious ways- nature is what nature is.

 

If God created everything, who or what created God, or are we going with the 'always was, always will be' theory.  And there is no other or need to be, it's just is.

 

God doesn't converse with me so I have no idea, and yes it just is what it is

 

All of which, none can be proved or disproved. 

 

If it could be proven or disproven there would be no need for faith.

 

Just the Christian Bible is so wacked, you'd have to be total idiot to believe any of that.  No need to attempt to disprove that, it does that all by itself.

 

Why stop at the Christian Bible?

I don't put stock in the Bible per se, other than as a history book.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That depends on what else they believe.  TBL said God made everything .. but what does the mean, after making, does God oversee & decide things.

 

I asked, but think he missed or ignored it ????

I think @thaibeachlovers answered rather clearly to that question, which has been asked countless times...however, I'm not so arrogant to explain God's designs, beautiful or ugly, i can only try to understand, and it's quite a long way.

Imho, good and bad are 2 faces of the same medal, and on this planet we have to live with it, and try to be as good as we can.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

@thaibeachlovers

did you see or not this reply, or ignore ????

Curious what belief you have.

 

God created everything .. but what else 

 

Not making things up, but most Christians leave out the bad.

It may seem strange to you but I don't read every post on this thread, and I missed it.

Just for you I went back to it and answered your questions.

 

I'm not a Christian, though I value the Christ's teachings for a better personal life. If we all behaved as he preached we'd live in a better world.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That depends on what else they believe.  TBL said God made everything .. but what does the mean, after making, does God oversee & decide things.

 

I asked, but think he missed or ignored it ????

I missed it.

 

To be crystal clear, I don't think God oversees my life. I make my own decisions and my own mistakes. Do you think I believe God deliberately gave me cancer? I don't.

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

TBL and I agree on many things, but this is still one point where we completely disagree.
He believes that the Godhead created the universe and everything in it and then left evolution to its own device. God is not interested in the affairs of mankind and doesn't care what you do with your life.

My belief is that we are part of this super-consciousness that some call God and that we have a direct access line to this consciousness. Such a consciousness is aware of everything within it. I also believe that one of the fundamental aspects of reality, the driving force of the universe or "God attribute" is love and that the universe is benevolent.

These 2 core beliefs create 2 very different scenarios:
With the first one, you set yourself apart from the Godhead. "God created me and the world, but now it's off somewhere doing its thing and doesn't care or know about me". This creates a tension, a dissonance, loneliness, separation.

The second one allows you to feel connected to the Godhead in a direct, personal and loving relationship. "I have nothing to fear because I know that every path ultimately leads to the One. "God" is alive within me and I'm alive within it, and we are ultimately one and the same thing."

I gave that a like.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Sunmaster said:

TBL and I agree on many things, but this is still one point where we completely disagree.
He believes that the Godhead created the universe and everything in it and then left evolution to its own device. God is not interested in the affairs of mankind and doesn't care what you do with your life.

My belief is that we are part of this super-consciousness that some call God and that we have a direct access line to this consciousness. Such a consciousness is aware of everything within it. I also believe that one of the fundamental aspects of reality, the driving force of the universe or "God attribute" is love and that the universe is benevolent.

These 2 core beliefs create 2 very different scenarios:
With the first one, you set yourself apart from the Godhead. "God created me and the world, but now it's off somewhere doing its thing and doesn't care or know about me". This creates a tension, a dissonance, loneliness, separation.

The second one allows you to feel connected to the Godhead in a direct, personal and loving relationship. "I have nothing to fear because I know that every path ultimately leads to the One. "God" is alive within me and I'm alive within it, and we are ultimately one and the same thing."

That's a very good description, and i fully agree. 

Of course one can ask countless questions, but it's down to every single being to understand the answers. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

I think @thaibeachlovers answered rather clearly to that question, which has been asked countless times...however, I'm not so arrogant to explain God's designs, beautiful or ugly, i can only try to understand, and it's quite a long way.

Imho, good and bad are 2 faces of the same medal, and on this planet we have to live with it, and try to be as good as we can.

Thanks for that post. IMO correct.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So you just believe, God basically started everything, and it now just runs on auto pilot, the good and the bad.

 

Yes.

 

Do you believe in a heaven & hell (afterlife) ?

Do you believe in prayer, and being answered ?

If answered (saved from terminal illness), God's miracle ?

if not answered, 'works in mysterious ways' BS ?

 

Neither. I believe we return to God after our body dies.

No

N/a

No such thing as mysterious ways- nature is what nature is.

 

If God created everything, who or what created God, or are we going with the 'always was, always will be' theory.  And there is no other or need to be, it's just is.

 

God doesn't converse with me so I have no idea, and yes it just is what it is

 

All of which, none can be proved or disproved. 

 

If it could be proven or disproven there would be no need for faith.

 

Just the Christian Bible is so wacked, you'd have to be total idiot to believe any of that.  No need to attempt to disprove that, it does that all by itself.

 

Why stop at the Christian Bible?

I don't put stock in the Bible per se, other than as a history book.

But then if everything is on auto pilot since the start you are the same as non-believers 99.9 per cent but for some reason you are convinced there is a god even though it has no actual interaction or judgement or moral guidance or any form of contact in your life. Maybe you believe in the amazingness of reality rather than god. 

Edited by Fat is a type of crazy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

TBL and I agree on many things, but this is still one point where we completely disagree.
He believes that the Godhead created the universe and everything in it and then left evolution to its own device. God is not interested in the affairs of mankind and doesn't care what you do with your life.

My belief is that we are part of this super-consciousness that some call God and that we have a direct access line to this consciousness. Such a consciousness is aware of everything within it. I also believe that one of the fundamental aspects of reality, the driving force of the universe or "God attribute" is love and that the universe is benevolent.

These 2 core beliefs create 2 very different scenarios:
With the first one, you set yourself apart from the Godhead. "God created me and the world, but now it's off somewhere doing its thing and doesn't care or know about me". This creates a tension, a dissonance, loneliness, separation.

The second one allows you to feel connected to the Godhead in a direct, personal and loving relationship. "I have nothing to fear because I know that every path ultimately leads to the One. "God" is alive within me and I'm alive within it, and we are ultimately one and the same thing."

In that case, God has a screwed up sense of humor, giving people/kids, even born with cancer.  

 

That's where I can't believe.   Aside from from everything else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So you just believe, God basically started everything, and it now just runs on auto pilot, the good and the bad.

 

Yes.

 

Do you believe in a heaven & hell (afterlife) ?

Do you believe in prayer, and being answered ?

If answered (saved from terminal illness), God's miracle ?

if not answered, 'works in mysterious ways' BS ?

 

Neither. I believe we return to God after our body dies.

No

N/a

No such thing as mysterious ways- nature is what nature is.

 

If God created everything, who or what created God, or are we going with the 'always was, always will be' theory.  And there is no other or need to be, it's just is.

 

God doesn't converse with me so I have no idea, and yes it just is what it is

 

All of which, none can be proved or disproved. 

 

If it could be proven or disproven there would be no need for faith.

 

Just the Christian Bible is so wacked, you'd have to be total idiot to believe any of that.  No need to attempt to disprove that, it does that all by itself.

 

Why stop at the Christian Bible?

I don't put stock in the Bible per se, other than as a history book.

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/21/2023 at 3:50 PM, Tippaporn said:

Ever hear about mind over matter?  Well, truth be told mind creates matter.  But I can tell you're not ready to hear the how and why.  :laugh:

Just to note.  The emoticon is applicable to only the last sentence above.  I'm quite serious about the others.

 

A fitting cartoon to celebrate my return to the God sub-Forum, after a long ban for speaking truth about covid and the jabs...

Larson - Mind over matter.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

That's a very good description, and i fully agree. 

Of course one can ask countless questions, but it's down to every single being to understand the answers. 

In order to ask a meaningful question, you need to know already half of the answer...

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

In order to ask a meaningful question, you need to know already half of the answer...

 

Really? Is that a sort of law ?

Not saying you're wrong, but can you give an example ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, mauGR1 said:
42 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

In order to ask a meaningful question, you need to know already half of the answer...

 

Really? Is that a sort of law ?

Not saying you're wrong, but can you give an example ?

Hi mauGR1,

A question is meaningful FOR YOU when the answer or answers to it are helpful FOR YOU.

This is not only true for very mundane questions but also for philosophical concepts as addressed on the God sub-forum.

A simple example: It would not be meaningful to ask for directions, when you don't know where you want to go. Missing that essential piece of knowledge, will make it impossible to provide a helpful direct answer.

In other words answers to questions will only be helpful when the receiver can place them in his/her frame-of-reference. 

When someone asks a metaphysical question to which the answer is totally out of his world-view, it will as good as always be to no avail trying to answer. The answer - even if fully correct - will have no anchor-points in the questioner's world-view and it will be rejected or distorted by his pre-conceptions. While that same answer can be an Aha-erlebnis for those that do have the necessary background to appreciate it.

I vividly remember the endless discussions we had 2 years ago with members that had no clue about spirituality and always equaled it with organized religion. Missing that essential concept, their questions were often unanswerable by more knowledgeable members.

 

  • Love It 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.