Troll post removed

Admire (and a bit envious of) all the talented artists here. Impressive. Thanks for sharing. ????

22 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

The title of this thread is 'Do you believe in God and why?'

It is not whether you believe in or belong to a specific religious faction.

When discussing this let's make a difference between spirituality and religion.

 

That's a lost cause. Atheists apparently think religion is the same as spirituality. Certainly most of the posts scorning God are against religion.

22 hours ago, Logosone said:

However, on the balance of probabilities one can certainly say that it is almost certain that there is no God.

Can you or any human make a lump of meat live? No, you or any human can not do so. Yet, you think that you are capable of discerning if God exists or not. God, that created life the universe and everything.

Humans know nothing, Jon Snow.

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Humans know nothing, Jon Snow.

If humans know nothing, then it follows that they cannot know anything about a God, if such an entity were to exist. That's basic logic.

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That's a lost cause. Atheists apparently think religion is the same as spirituality.

...

Yes, the majority of atheists do not make any difference between the two, and the atrocities done in the name of organized religion make them dismiss everything that smells religion-like.

That's unfortunate as the pedophile-priests, genital-mutilation, etc. are the easy-way-out for not wanting to listen to those with a spiritual view of life.  And to be clear, I am not promoting any 'preaching' which is basically about enforcing your personal views on those you believe ignorant and thus denying them their own journey.

Actually I am not interested in discussing matters of the spirit with those that dismiss a-priori any spiritual belief (based on experience, not on hear-say from the Bible or other sources).  But I am interested in sharing views and learning from fellow-travellers.

18 hours ago, CMNightRider said:

Jesus is the only way to heaven. Such an exclusive statement may confuse, surprise, or even offend, but it is true nonetheless. The Bible teaches that there is no other way to salvation than through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is not away, as in one of many; He is the way, as in the one and only. No one, regardless of reputation, achievement, special knowledge, or personal holiness, can come to God the Father except through Jesus.
 

Seek and ye shall find?

 

Round and round it goes...???? ????

2 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Round and round it goes...????????

Are you referring to the Wheel of Rebirth? ????

3 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

the majority of atheists do not make any difference between the two

Not sure where you got that information, but the deeper issue is people confusing knowledge and belief.

 

Because what we believe affects how we behave, it has consequences.

 

The Age of Enlightenment saw a paradigm shift from magical thinking to empirical thinking. Sadly, there is a growing anti-science mentality today, partly from 'religious' thinking and partly from 'spiritual' thinking. Flat earthers may be harmless cranks, but anti-vaxxers and climate deniers are a danger to us all.

 

I see phrases like these in social media forums ad nauseum: 'atheism is a belief', 'the religion of scientism', 'so-called experts'.

 

Even as we battle the covid virus, I see doctors despairing over attacks on their heroic efforts. #Fake crisis was on one placard I saw.

 

The USA appears to be the number one source of anti-science thinking. I strongly doubt these people are atheists, but I could be wrong...

3 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

3 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Round and round it goes...????????

Are you referring to the Wheel of Rebirth?

Old good Skeptic is discovering the laws of nature ????

53 minutes ago, teatime101 said:

Not sure where you got that information, but the deeper issue is people confusing knowledge and belief.

 

Because what we believe affects how we behave, it has consequences.

 

The Age of Enlightenment saw a paradigm shift from magical thinking to empirical thinking. Sadly, there is a growing anti-science mentality today, partly from 'religious' thinking and partly from 'spiritual' thinking. Flat earthers may be harmless cranks, but anti-vaxxers and climate deniers are a danger to us all.

 

I see phrases like these in social media forums ad nauseum: 'atheism is a belief', 'the religion of scientism', 'so-called experts'.

 

Even as we battle the covid virus, I see doctors despairing over attacks on their heroic efforts. #Fake crisis was on one placard I saw.

 

The USA appears to be the number one source of anti-science thinking. I strongly doubt these people are atheists, but I could be wrong...

The top 10 countries for scientific research in 2018

1. United States of America. The United States is the most prolific publisher of high-quality science in the world, but China is closing the gap with astonishing rapidity. ...
2. China. ...
3. Germany. ...
4. United Kingdom. ...
5. Japan. ...
6. France. ...
7. Canada. ...
8. Switzerland.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. South Korea and 10. Australia, so I don't know where you got that idea from.    And the countries with the most atheists................................... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/atheists-countries-list-six-world-most-convinced-a6946291.html                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

1 hour ago, teatime101 said:

but I could be wrong...

That's the only thing i like in your post, i am sure you can do better though

1 hour ago, teatime101 said:

climate deniers are a danger to us all.

It's statements like that which turn some of us off science.

Science saved us from early death from disease so we can live longer in a grotty rest home, science gave us smart phones to rot the youth with social media, science gave the rich the ability to amass even more wealth at the expense of most of humanity, science gave us the internet so we can watch porn, science gave us tv so they can sell stuff via ads, science gave the Chinese government the ability to enslave a nation, science gave us big planes so the masses can destroy other countries.

God rot science.

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That's a lost cause. Atheists apparently think religion is the same as spirituality. Certainly most of the posts scorning God are against religion.

Atheists get upset about something they don't believe in, I find that extremely funny.

 

Religion is for those that don't want to go to Hell. Spirituality is for those who have been there.

33 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

The top 10 countries for scientific research in 2018

1. United States of America. The United States is the most prolific publisher of high-quality science in the world, but China is closing the gap with astonishing rapidity. ...
2. China. ...
3. Germany. ...
4. United Kingdom. ...
5. Japan. ...
6. France. ...
7. Canada. ...
8. Switzerland.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. South Korea and 10. Australia, so I don't know where you got that idea from.    And the countries with the most atheists................................... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/atheists-countries-list-six-world-most-convinced-a6946291.html                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Of all time, Scotland has by far the highest scientific discoveries per population.

“Through the present moment, you have access to the power of life itself, that which has traditionally been called "God." As soon as you turn away from it, God ceases to be a reality in your life, and all you are left with is the mental concept of God, which some people believe in and others deny. Even belief in God is only a poor substitute for the living reality of God manifesting every moment of your life.”

― Eckhart Tolle

“The word God has become empty of meaning through thousands of years of misuse... By misuse, I mean that people who have never glimpsed the realm of the sacred, the infinite vastness behind that word, use it with great conviction, as if they knew what they are talking about. Or they argue against it, as if they knew what it is they are denying. This misuse gives rise to absurd beliefs, assertions, and egoic delusions, such as "My or our God is the only true God, and your God is false," or Nietzsche's famous statmeent "God is dead.”

― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

8 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Atheists get upset about something they don't believe in, I find that extremely funny.

You can make generalisations like this if you like, but the only generalisation you can make with 100% certainty about atheists is that they don't believe in God.

 

 

It's amazing that this thread still exists.

How many people did god heal already in this pandemic?

How many people will never get infected because of all those prayers?

If god would exist and if he would love the people then there wouldn't be a pandemic.

So you believers have two choices:

a) god does not exist

b) god is happy to see lots of dead people

Which one is it?

18 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Atheists get upset about something they don't believe in, I find that extremely funny.

It's more that we get upset about people who believe in something irrational and people who ignore science.

If they would do that only at home then fine.

The problem are those believers who are in charge all over the world. It's like waiting for St Claus to bring presents and then being surprised when he does not show up.

17 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

“The word God has become empty of meaning through thousands of years of misuse... By misuse, I mean that people who have never glimpsed the realm of the sacred, the infinite vastness behind that word, use it with great conviction, as if they knew what they are talking about. Or they argue against it, as if they knew what it is they are denying. This misuse gives rise to absurd beliefs, assertions, and egoic delusions, such as "My or our God is the only true God, and your God is false," or Nietzsche's famous statmeent "God is dead.”

― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Yes.

 

As illustrated (brilliantly) by this cartoon:

 

C. We all die, this life is very short compared to forever, and he made us, then left us with free will, which is why sometimes people die before their "time".  God may have healed some and let others die. Maybe like many have said, we all have a purpose,and when we serve that purpose, then it's our time, at least in where God might step in and save us. Many have seen death, died and came back, because of human error in some way, and God let them go back, because their purpose wasn't served.

6 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

So you believers have two choices:

a) god does not exist

b) god is happy to see lots of dead people

Which one is it?

None of the above, try again, luck helps the brave ????

Just now, OneMoreFarang said:

It's more that we get upset about people who believe in something irrational and people who ignore science.

If they would do that only at home then fine.

The problem are those believers who are in charge all over the world. It's like waiting for St Claus to bring presents and then being surprised when he does not show up.

Those who appear to believe in science are just as irrational IMHO.

I'd prefer to have someone who 'trusts in God', than someone that thinks 'wearing a face mask and staying at home'.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Those who appear to believe in science are just as irrational IMHO.

I'd prefer to have someone who 'trusts in God', than someone that thinks 'wearing a face mask and staying at home'.

Definitely they can be compared to the  spanish inquisition in the middle age.

43 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Of all time, Scotland has by far the highest scientific discoveries per population.

Single Malt being just one of the many...

21 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

C. We all die, this life is very short compared to forever, and he made us, then left us with free will, which is why sometimes people die before their "time".  God may have healed some and let others die. Maybe like many have said, we all have a purpose,and when we serve that purpose, then it's our time, at least in where God might step in and save us. Many have seen death, died and came back, because of human error in some way, and God let them go back, because their purpose wasn't served.

 

Damn it, you might be right.

 

I was just thinking the other day that I have fulfilled almost all that I have wanted to achieve in life. I am very contented. My bucket list is full, so to speak.

 

Now you've prompted me to seek out new purposes, set new goals, new ways to feel unfulfilled, so that I can relish feeling miserable again in their pursuit. Living in the moment, in the now, enjoying everything that I have and that I am just won't cut it any more.

19 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

C. We all die, this life is very short compared to forever, and he made us, then left us with free will, which is why sometimes people die before their "time".  God may have healed some and let others die. Maybe like many have said, we all have a purpose,and when we serve that purpose, then it's our time, at least in where God might step in and save us. Many have seen death, died and came back, because of human error in some way, and God let them go back, because their purpose wasn't served.

How does "free will" have anything to do with when you die, other than those who choose suicide? Does a 5 year old child choose to die from leukemia? How do you know what "god" decides? Pure fiction, all of it.

27 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

Yes.

 

As illustrated (brilliantly) by this cartoon:

 

The best representation of the folly

of religions, they are the narratives of

power and greed created by banal minds.

Surely time overdue to abolish religions

and treat the Bible or other ancient

wisdoms as your guide, whether you

believe in a God or not.

As for science, got to have it, but its

those same banal minds have abused

it to our detriment.

Dont vote for the ducks.