Do you believe in God and why

[mauGR1]

1 minute ago, ThaiBunny said:

I'm hoping they've got my 72 virgin youths lined up for me

For me, i hope that i can travel at the speed of light using my thought as a vehicle.

[Peter Denis]

8 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

Ok, i guess the next step will be to put in practice those teachings.

I used to be interested too, but then i heard the Dalai Lama saying that one should preferably stick to his religion of birth.

I find that Christian esoteric teachings have a lot in common with Buddhism btw.

The essence of all religions is same.  It's like a core surrounded by a circle.

You can approach the core from various angles.  And yes, the angle that is closest to the culture in which you were raised is 'easiest' to travel.

And as you approach the core, you will find that your fellow travellers using the Islamic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Zoroaster, or other angle are more close to you than those of the culture you belong to, but not yet interested in uplifting their spirit.  

[mauGR1]

3 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

The essence of all religions is same.  It's like a core surrounded by a circle.

You can approach the core from various angles.  And yes, the angle that is closest to the culture in which you were raised is 'easiest' to travel.

And as you approach the core, you will find that your fellow travellers using the Islamic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Zoroaster, or other angle are more close to you than those of the culture you belong to, but not yet interested in uplifting their spirit.  

True, organised religion is often very far from the core, both Buddha and Jesus were not too happy with it.

But then, it's a personal thing, one can choose to uplift his spirit, as you say, without expecting the others to do the same.

The fact is, most folks are scared of loneliness, and they conform, more or less consciously, to various beliefs, just to feel part of something.

[curious297]

When i was young, my mother sent me to church. Not to find religion but more so for peace and quite with the bonus that she could listen to David Rodigans reggae radio show on Sunday afternoon whilst preparing dinner. When I was there, this old frowning man standing way high on his pulpit would tell us 50 ways we would all go to hell with the answer to our prayers being not to be so materialistic. At the end of his sermon, a a "gold" bowl was handed out to the congregation for the "collection" with a note stating "No coins please, it scratches the plate"

 

That told me all I needed to know!

 

If religion can help someone cope through the stresses of life, I have nothing against it however, I have seen how it is used to manipulate the masses with it's vague scriptures and seemingly impossible  stories (of which that's all they are). Most every religion, their GOD has a different name but his agenda appears to be the same, guidance but who guides the guides?  I myself cannot believe in a priests conjecture just because it is said to be so.

[Peter Denis]

13 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

But then, it's a personal thing, one can choose to uplift his spirit, as you say, without expecting the others to do the same.

True, a Missionary spreading the word of (his) God is an abomination.  The true man of God does not need to preach to convey the message.  His mere presence and being is sufficient, and he does not need to speak about God to show the way.

 

[VincentRJ]

35 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

True, a Missionary spreading the word of (his) God is an abomination.  The true man of God does not need to preach to convey the message.  His mere presence and being is sufficient, and he does not need to speak about God to show the way.

 

 

That's an interesting concept. I wonder how many religious authorities agree. ????

[Peter Denis]

2 minutes ago, VincentRJ said:

That's an interesting concept. I wonder how many religious authorities agree. ????

Religious authorities are an oxymoron.

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, VincentRJ said:

Do you think this applies only to the Homo Sapiens Sapiens species, or do you include all forms of life, including the myriads of bacteria, microbes, insects, and so on? The human body is a host for bacteria. Not all bacteria are harmful to health. Without the 'good' bacteria that pervades our body, we couldn't survive.

IMO the "spark" that allows an organism to live ( something scientists can't do ) is from God, and after the organism dies the spark returns to God. IMO the spark is what makes us "us". Without the spark, the planets may have evolved from the gas that was in the beginning, but would be lifeless, no vegetation, no organisms.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

True, organised religion is often very far from the core, both Buddha and Jesus were not too happy with it.

But then, it's a personal thing, one can choose to uplift his spirit, as you say, without expecting the others to do the same.

The fact is, most folks are scared of loneliness, and they conform, more or less consciously, to various beliefs, just to feel part of something.

IMO loneliness is the thing most fear above all, even if they won't admit it. People will go to extraordinary lengths to "belong".

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

I'm hoping they've got my 72 virgin youths lined up for me

That's only for martyrs. You need to die for religion first.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, VincentRJ said:

True. If you are a scientist in a specialized subject, doing academic or theoretical research, then that's your job. Contemplating what some people might consider to be 'imponderable' can produce useful results. That's progress.

 

However, the investigation must begin with at least an appearance of sound evidence, not an airy-fairy anecdote. ????

How can you be certain that in 10,000 years scientists will not be able to prove everything you dismiss as airy fairy? Could scientists in the middle ages prove the atom existed?

 

BTW, your airy fairy is only because you choose not to believe in it. Those that do know it isn't.

[Peter Denis]

16 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO the "spark" that allows an organism to live ( something scientists can't do ) is from God, and after the organism dies the spark returns to God. IMO the spark is what makes us "us". Without the spark, the planets may have evolved from the gas that was in the beginning, but would be lifeless, no vegetation, no organisms.

Without the 'spark' the planets would not only be lifeless, they would disintegrate like any lifeless object does.

If atoms have consciousness, so do planets.  As above, so below.

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

"He has said that the universe didn’t start in a huge explosion as most people now believe, but instead it is an infinitely old, constantly inflating entity in which time can run both forward and backward."

What a nifty theory. Of course he must be saying that when the suns all run out of fuel and die, they just time warp back to the beginning and start over.

What a load of ......................................

[thaibeachlovers]

4 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Without the 'spark' the planets would not only be lifeless, they would disintegrate like any lifeless object does.

If atoms have consciousness, so do planets.  As above, so below.

I didn't mention that IMO the planets also have the spark- hence Gaia.

[mauGR1]

22 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO loneliness is the thing most fear above all, even if they won't admit it. People will go to extraordinary lengths to "belong".

Not sure you like reading books, but "Metamorphosis" by F. Kafka is a good read.

Warning: It's shockingly sad.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

Not sure you like reading books, but "Metamorphosis" by F. Kafka is a good read.

Warning: It's shockingly sad.

I love reading books, but other things keep getting in the way, like TVF. Not being God I can only do one thing at a time.

I collected hundreds of books in my life intending to read them when I retired. I've retired but my life has too much going on to do much reading. If I'm honest, I have too much going on as it's the only way I'm not feeling lonely. I watch a lot of DVDs when I'm not on TVF as they stop me thinking and thinking is the enemy. Reading allows me to think as well, which is probably why I don't make more of an effort.

If I can find that book I'll make the effort.

 

BTW I read the NHS has recognised loneliness as a very bad thing, leading to ill health and suicide, so have started to assist elderly people to do things like going to dancing classes. Excellent news if it's true. In NZ the public health won't even provide psychological counseling, then the government complains too many people are killing themselves.

IMO people kill themselves in Pattaya by jumping off high buildings because they are lonely, or can't stand the idea of going back to home country where they don't know anyone, but that's just my theory.

[mauGR1]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

BTW I read the NHS has recognised loneliness as a very bad thing, leading to ill health and suicide, so have started to assist elderly people to do things like going to dancing classes. Excellent news if it's true. In NZ the public health won't even provide psychological counseling, then the government complains too many people are killing themselves.

 

Agree that loneliness kills, but it's also true that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

As we get old, we open our eyes to all the falsehoods of materialism, we also become more selective in choosing potential friends or partners, the good thing is that there is more time to think and ponder.

Personally i don't think that thinking is an enemy, thoughts are the physical form of the Spirit, imho.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

Agree that loneliness kills, but it's also true that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

As we get old, we open our eyes to all the falsehoods of materialism, we also become more selective in choosing potential friends or partners, the good thing is that there is more time to think and ponder.

Personally i don't think that thinking is an enemy, thoughts are the physical form of the Spirit, imho.

I'm happy for you, but loneliness makes me sad, then I get depressed and eat too much, and we know what happens when we eat too much.

Much better to just do things that stop me thinking about it. That way I survive to post on TVF.

 

I don't think I should be continuing on this line of conversation, but thanks for your input.

[mauGR1]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm happy for you, but loneliness makes me sad, then I get depressed and eat too much, and we know what happens when we eat too much.

Much better to just do things that stop me thinking about it. That way I survive to post on TVF.

 

I don't think I should be continuing on this line of conversation, but thanks for your input.

Thanks for appreciation, don't forget that you have full control over your thoughts, it just needs a little effort at the beginning, but as they say, practice makes perfect. (i am far from that)

Loneliness can be an advantage, i find that too many people around confuse me.

Of course i am not suggesting you sit in meditation and become a Buddha in 5 minutes, but surely you can control your thoughts and fight sadness.

Your mind is like a room, get a broom and get rid of the garbage, is that easy.

[VincentRJ]

18 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm happy for you, but loneliness makes me sad, then I get depressed and eat too much, and we know what happens when we eat too much.

Much better to just do things that stop me thinking about it. That way I survive to post on TVF.

Might I suggest that you take inspiration from Tenzin Palmo who was born in the UK and initially named Diane Perry. She lived in a small cave in the Himalayas for 12 years, and spent the last 3 years completely alone, but didn't feel lonely.

 

She would have stayed longer, but had to leave because of visa problems. She would have willingly returned to the cave to continue her isolated life-style, but her teacher recommended that she start a nunnery.

 

"In 1976 Tenzin Palmo commenced living in a cave in the Himalayas measuring 10 feet wide and six feet deep and remained there for 12 years, for three of which she was in full retreat. The cave was high in the remote Lahaul area of the Indian Himalayas, on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Tibet. In the course of the retreat she grew her own food and practised deep meditation based on ancient Buddhist beliefs. In accordance with protocol, she never lay down, sleeping in a traditional wooden meditation box in a meditative posture for just three hours a night. The last three years were spent in complete isolation. She survived temperatures of below −30° Fahrenheit (−35°C) and snow for six to eight months of the year."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenzin_Palmo

[Curt1591]

Here's one man's reasoning ...

If it doesn't play, you can copy the link and view it on Facebook.

 

 

Edited March 7, 2020 by Curt1591

[Skeptic7]

5 hours ago, Curt1591 said:

Here's one man's reasoning ...

If it doesn't play, you can copy the link and view it on Facebook.

 

 

 

Wow...A "comedian" without comedy. No wonder the dude is so miserable. Surely would have been a delivery man without actually delivering. Same as his act!  

[Curt1591]

34 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Wow...A "comedian" without comedy. No wonder the dude is so miserable. Surely would have been a delivery man without actually delivering. Same as his act!  

He was taking a break from the act.

https://youtu.be/q2XbkDfyzQs
 

Edited March 7, 2020 by Curt1591

[OneMoreFarang]

On 3/5/2020 at 5:49 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO people kill themselves in Pattaya by jumping off high buildings because they are lonely, or can't stand the idea of going back to home country where they don't know anyone, but that's just my theory.

If they want to kill themselves they should do it.

They should be able to buy poison in the pharmacy so that they don't jump in public places and leave a mess.

[OneMoreFarang]

On 3/5/2020 at 5:57 PM, mauGR1 said:

thoughts are the physical form of the Spirit, imho

Please describe the "physical form" of your thoughts. Are the round or how many corners do they have?

[mauGR1]

41 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Please describe the "physical form" of your thoughts. Are the round or how many corners do they have?

Yes, i will, but first you have to count the ants in the Amazon forest

[ivor bigun]

On 3/5/2020 at 6:03 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm happy for you, but loneliness makes me sad, then I get depressed and eat too much, and we know what happens when we eat too much.

Much better to just do things that stop me thinking about it. That way I survive to post on TVF.

 

I don't think I should be continuing on this line of conversation, but thanks for your input.

Although i started this thread i only come on it from time to time to see whats happening ,so sad to hear that you are lonely,i suppose luckily i never have been ,in fact sometimes i am glad to get some time alone .

I suppose fantastically handsome men like me have always had to beat the women and admirers off????, seriously though I cannot imagine what it is like to be lonely ,i hope at least coming on here gives you a chance to interact with others ,if even for a short time

take care .

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

Yes, i will, but first you have to count the ants in the Amazon forest

 

About 4.75678E+15

Please confirm with your latest count.

God didn't tell me. I used scientific sources to get to that number.

 

And then answer the question!

[ThaiBunny]

On 3/6/2020 at 4:43 PM, VincentRJ said:

She would have stayed longer, but had to leave because of visa problems. She would have willingly returned to the cave to continue her isolated life-style, but her teacher recommended that she start a nunnery.

No-one to file a TM30 for her?

[mauGR1]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

About 4.75678E+15

Please confirm with your latest count.

God didn't tell me. I used scientific sources to get to that number.

 

And then answer the question!

Thanks, although i don't believe you and your scientific sources, i will reveal to you that my imagination has countless curves and corners, and it's expanding at the speed of light.

Not sure you can grasp the concept of infinite though, but you can try, it's free.

Glad to help