Do you believe in God and why

[save the frogs]

2 hours ago, MrPancake said:

And Brian Cox is a botoxed cuckhold.

 

yeah, whats up with that guy's lips?

agree. boring rehashed drivel that will never convince anyone of anything. 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, MrPancake said:

I don't believe in god.

Why?

Because it's dumb.

You really put a lot of thought into that. Well done. Can we have some more, please.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, MrPancake said:

 

Stupid reasoning.

You can't proof non-existence.

Something that doesn't exist leaves no trace by definition.

God is a moronic concept.

And Brian Cox is a botoxed cuckhold.

Have you applied for Mensa? You really should as you'd be a shoo in.

 

Just love the well reasoned posts on here.

[Hummin]

9 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

yeah, whats up with that guy's lips?

agree. boring rehashed drivel that will never convince anyone of anything. 

 

Another mensa 🙊

[thaibeachlovers]

So typical, Get two guys filling up the pages with loooooooong posts about stuff that I didn't even understand but I'm sure were of interest, then they just stop, and leave a gap in our lives, that no number of posts saying "god is dumb" will fill.

 

Will they return? One can only hope. Meanwhile sunsets will have to comfort me.

 

BTW, when is AN management going to recognise this thread as the longest ever on the forum, and award it a 🏆?

[MrPancake]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Have you applied for Mensa? You really should as you'd be a shoo in.

 

Just love the well reasoned posts on here.

 

Keep believing in unprovable garbage if that's what you wanna do.

I'd rather doubt.

As for Mensa, they're a bunch of jackasses.

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

if  you "believe" in a  God  you may as well "believe" anything

[xylophone]

[Sunmaster]

@thaibeachlovers

I've been posting on this thread since the very beginning and a lot has changed since then. Both in the dynamic of the thread, as well in my own little world. I used to search for answers wherever I suspected to find answers...books, art, music, people, discussions...but I don't feel this need anymore. I don't feel like reading spiritual books anymore. There is nothing to be added on an intellectual level. 
Bob Marley said: Once you stop racing, you've won the race. 

The primary question now is, how much of what I know do I actually live?

What more can I add here in this thread? I've covered a wide range of topics...religion, spirituality, art, science (consciousness research), sociology, philosophy, meditation... Those with ears to hear will pick up on the info, others not, no problem. It is neither my goal to convince anyone, nor do I see it as my duty to change anyone. 

After nearly 3 decades of searching, I feel like a big chapter in my life has come to an end, and a new chapter is just starting. It's like I got rid of old and worn clothes that were too small for me, and instead put on new clothes that are a few sizes too large. I need to grow into them. It will take time. 
One day I will get rid of these clothes too and walk around naked, metaphorically speaking. 🙂 

If you or anyone else has direct questions for me I'd be happy to answer, but other than that...🤷‍♂️

[Hummin]

26 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

@thaibeachlovers

..🤷‍♂️

Amen 🙏 

 

Respect

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

@thaibeachlovers

I've been posting on this thread since the very beginning and a lot has changed since then. Both in the dynamic of the thread, as well in my own little world. I used to search for answers wherever I suspected to find answers...books, art, music, people, discussions...but I don't feel this need anymore. I don't feel like reading spiritual books anymore. There is nothing to be added on an intellectual level. 
Bob Marley said: Once you stop racing, you've won the race. 

The primary question now is, how much of what I know do I actually live?

What more can I add here in this thread? I've covered a wide range of topics...religion, spirituality, art, science (consciousness research), sociology, philosophy, meditation... Those with ears to hear will pick up on the info, others not, no problem. It is neither my goal to convince anyone, nor do I see it as my duty to change anyone. 

After nearly 3 decades of searching, I feel like a big chapter in my life has come to an end, and a new chapter is just starting. It's like I got rid of old and worn clothes that were too small for me, and instead put on new clothes that are a few sizes too large. I need to grow into them. It will take time. 
One day I will get rid of these clothes too and walk around naked, metaphorically speaking. 🙂 

If you or anyone else has direct questions for me I'd be happy to answer, but other than that...🤷‍♂️

I started not long after yourself, and while the thread consolidated and educated me, I still believe the same as when I started- God is the creator of life the universe and everything, but God doesn't intervene in my life. If I thought my life was God's plan for me I'd hate God. I prefer to believe that s**t happens and a lot ended up on me, because I was too dumb to get out of the way ( women mainly ).

If God is reading this, can I have the winning lotto numbers please.

 

The thread was very illuminating about non believers though, at least the ones that actually thought about it. The ones with the one line idiocies were not even worth my time.

 

I do miss the thread though, and I used to look forward to reading and posting on it and some of the characters that were regular posters like MauGR and yourself.

I don't miss some of them, like that sc****c guy. I think I have him on ignore now, but I don't see him anymore. I should have done that ages ago.

I posted a lot on this thread and that does leave a gap in one's life when it's over.

 

If I learned anything from life, it's that everything ends, eventually, and things I love end sooner than things I don't.

Even the universe will end sometime.

 

I'm going to end too, in a few years time, or less, so I'm hoping that I'm right about what comes after. If I am, we'll all have a big get together in the afterlife.

 

Take care and may life's problems be small ones.

 

 

PS. I still love sunsets.

[xylophone]

Food for thought.........

 

[Hummin]

24 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Food for thought.........

 

This is nature, if no living conditions, no life. It is only humans who keep life where there is no conditions for life. They even let them reproduce and stay same place and repeat it over and over. 

 

In natural habitats, humans had moved on to where it is food, and better living conditions. These humans cant do that, because other humans made borders and rules. 

 

God made rules, humans cheats the rules, therefor continously humans suffering, and where humans are, they kill all life, that eventually will kill humans. 

 

Nature is god, nature is not human, not like you and me, 

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, Hummin said:

This is nature, if no living conditions, no life. It is only humans who keep life where there is no conditions for life. They even let them reproduce and stay same place and repeat it over and over. 

 

In natural habitats, humans had moved on to where it is food, and better living conditions. These humans cant do that, because other humans made borders and rules. 

 

God made rules, humans cheats the rules, therefor continously humans suffering, and where humans are, they kill all life, that eventually will kill humans. 

 

Nature is god, nature is not human, not like you and me, 

You are so right. Why oh why do posters keep complaining that God doesn't care about humans enough, as if God has to hold their hand and take away all their cares, feed them when hungry, heal them when ill, provide for every need. The Bible has a story about that when humans lived in the garden of Eden, but they disobeyed and were cast out.

Time for some to man up, grow a pair and accept that mankind's problems are as a result of mankind's bad behaviour. God didn't make humans kill each other, eat bad food and drink alcohol or smoke tobacco- that's on people's choices. If God took away free will in exchange for an easy life, they'd likely complain about that too.

 

Humans make bad choices, behave badly, and live badly. It's on them, not God.

[save the frogs]

Will human beings split into different dimensions?

 

 

[Hummin]

Alive and kicking @thaibeachlovers @soalbundy

 

[Hummin]

On 3/23/2024 at 6:45 PM, save the frogs said:

 

yeah, whats up with that guy's lips?

agree. boring rehashed drivel that will never convince anyone of anything. 

 

Whos talking? 

 

One of my favorite physicist who have a great talent to explain and share science with people, entertain and educate. 

[Hummin]

On 3/24/2024 at 10:30 AM, xylophone said:

Tragic comic 

[Hummin]

On 3/23/2024 at 5:03 PM, MrPancake said:

 

Bless you.

 

😄

Im blessed with a great life, because I have accepted nature as my master 🤗😁😉

 

We are born, make the best out of it, we die

[Jack100]

Anyone know what the astronauts thoughts were on this ?

I guess they came closer than most to having some ideas .

Or were they caught up in earthy  problems as soon as they got back .?

[xylophone]

[save the frogs]

Yeah, one guy's theory is that human beings used to be quite barbaric back then.

So religions were useful for keeping people in check.

The fear of hell was necessary to prevent violence. 

People say religions cause wars, but that guy's theory is the fear of Hell by religion prevented a lot of violence.

 

Now, maybe people are a bit smarter and less barbaric so we don't need this theory of Hell anymore?

 

Anyway, that's just one guy's theory. 

 

Who revived this thread? God bless you!

 

 

[soalbundy]

On 3/28/2024 at 7:49 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

You are so right. Why oh why do posters keep complaining that God doesn't care about humans enough, as if God has to hold their hand and take away all their cares, feed them when hungry, heal them when ill, provide for every need. The Bible has a story about that when humans lived in the garden of Eden, but they disobeyed and were cast out.

Time for some to man up, grow a pair and accept that mankind's problems are as a result of mankind's bad behaviour. God didn't make humans kill each other, eat bad food and drink alcohol or smoke tobacco- that's on people's choices. If God took away free will in exchange for an easy life, they'd likely complain about that too.

 

Humans make bad choices, behave badly, and live badly. It's on them, not God.

One shouldn't take the bible literally but as spiritual analogies. The garden of Eden is an important example of egoic growth smothering spiritual inspiration. The NASA physicist Tom Campbell, author of the trilogy 'My big T.O.E' (my theory of everything) was able to explain all the anomalies in physics in this book after investing years of scientific work into consciousness at the Monroe institute where he learned to have out of body experiences at will (see youtube).

 

Basically the ever evolving absolute (call it god if you will) split off many independent units of consciousness (IUC) connected by a data stream in order for multiplicity to lower its entropy but this wasn't sufficient, it was similar to a chat room without consequences. So a 'digital big bang' was initiated to form a self evolving virtual reality which evolved according to the rule set(the universe), when sentient beings of a high order evolved the IUC's split off parts of themselves as free will units of consciousness (FWUC) to control the virtual reality avatars (our body minds). This now had consequences, as long as the actions of the FWUC's resulted in loving cooperation and caring the data streams to the IUC's resulted in lowering the entropy to the main body of the absolute which is infinite, eternal without form knowing only itself and being only of itself which hindert its own evolution. The IUC's through the free will units now had knowledge and experience other than themselves through the data streams received which could be processed by the absolute but since there were two different dimensions (the virtual reality universe and the absolutes reality) the IUC's couldn't interfere with the decisions of the FWUC's who acted in the virtual reality zone (universe) only the data stream could be received.

 

The expulsion from the garden of Eden is to be understood so;- the free will units started to identify with their avatars which had survival instincts and hence formed egos, the FWUC's started to lose knowledge of their own identity and became the 'me', a mixture of ego and the absolute resulting in both good and evil being produced. Your real identity is the eternal absolute as a free will unit of consciousness. The death of the avatar results in the FWUC returning to the IUC to be given a new avatar,(reincarnation) hopefully with a better outcome, the knowledge of the old avatar is to 99% forgotten as the data stream is given up to the absolute but an inherent knowledge of its shortcomings remains.

[saintdomingo]

Do any RCs actually believe in transubstantiation - that in the Mass the wafer changes substance to become "really, truly and substantially the Body of Christ," "while retaining the appearance and properties of a wafer."

I still remember it from a school history lesson on the Reformation. Could hardly believe what I was hearing.

[soalbundy]

2 hours ago, saintdomingo said:

Do any RCs actually believe in transubstantiation - that in the Mass the wafer changes substance to become "really, truly and substantially the Body of Christ," "while retaining the appearance and properties of a wafer."

I still remember it from a school history lesson on the Reformation. Could hardly believe what I was hearing.

If Jesus really existed, I personally think he did although there isn't much data to support that, he was an enlightened sage, a man who trod on too many powerful toes and ended up on the cross, he became a wiser man for a few hours because of it. A man, just a man but the church wants you to believe otherwise, the flock can only be kept together with myths and fear, only then will they pay for the protection of the mother church.

[Red Phoenix]

9 hours ago, soalbundy said:

A man, just a man...

Although that's true on the purely physical plane, that statement does not acknowledge that there are levels of consciousness in Man. 

Man 1, 2 and 3 represent man whose basic condition is mainly physical (1), emotional (2) or mental (3).  Note that none of these 3 stages are superior or more advanced than the others, and that these 3 levels account for 99,95% of mankind.  To these 3 the saying of 'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust'  is applicable, as there is nothing permanent in them. 

Man 4, 5, 6 and 7 (the remaining 0,05 %) are altogether of a different kind, and have achieved a degree of being awake/conscious.  While in man 4 it are still just flashes with (long) periods of automatic behavior (acting/feeling/thinking) in between like in men 1, 2 and 3, in man 5 there are longer periods of that enlightened stage and the difference is profound between him and man 4.  Man 6 is once again a huge step-change difference with man 5 as he is concious/self-concious all the time.  In man 4, 5 and 6 pure consciousness is crystalizing in their being, but it can still be lost (although traces of it will remain as consciousness is never truly lost).  Man 7 is the highest that man can achieve, he is living consciousness and from a totally different order once again, you could say that man 7 has achieved God-consciousness.  Simply coming in contact with men of levels 5, 6 or 7 will have profound spiritual consciousness effects.  Needless to say that all the hurdles/temptations of the physical world are 'trying you out' and have the effect of keeping man at the lower levels.

And someone that has achieved level 7 is an extreme rarity and blessing (think Buddha, Lao Tse and Jezus) and such people represent the light of the world.

 

[soalbundy]

6 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

Although that's true on the purely physical plane, that statement does not acknowledge that there are levels of consciousness in Man. 

Man 1, 2 and 3 represent man whose basic condition is mainly physical (1), emotional (2) or mental (3).  Note that none of these 3 stages are superior or more advanced than the others, and that these 3 levels account for 99,95% of mankind.  To these 3 the saying of 'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust'  is applicable, as there is nothing permanent in them. 

Man 4, 5, 6 and 7 (the remaining 0,05 %) are altogether of a different kind, and have achieved a degree of being awake/conscious.  While in man 4 it are still just flashes with (long) periods of automatic behavior (acting/feeling/thinking) in between like in men 1, 2 and 3, in man 5 there are longer periods of that enlightened stage and the difference is profound between him and man 4.  Man 6 is once again a huge step-change difference with man 5 as he is concious/self-concious all the time.  In man 4, 5 and 6 pure consciousness is crystalizing in their being, but it can still be lost (although traces of it will remain as consciousness is never truly lost).  Man 7 is the highest that man can achieve, he is living consciousness and from a totally different order once again, you could say that man 7 has achieved God-consciousness.  Simply coming in contact with men of levels 5, 6 or 7 will have profound spiritual consciousness effects.  Needless to say that all the hurdles/temptations of the physical world are 'trying you out' and have the effect of keeping man at the lower levels.

And someone that has achieved level 7 is an extreme rarity and blessing (think Buddha, Lao Tse and Jezus) and such people represent the light of the world.

 

One mustn't get too involved in the myths that grow around such famous figures in history, virgin births, walking on water, resurrection etc. there are also many unbelievable myths surrounding the Buddha. In more recent times even the Delai Lama has had myths attached to his birth (the sounds of trumpets and bells in the sky during his birth for instance). A high level of conscious awareness doesn't turn one from a man of flesh and bone with human desires into a demi god.

 

Buddha expressed himself in a less exalted manner than Jesus saying, 'don't believe anything you hear or read, even if it is from me, if it doesn't correspond to your own experience' whereas Jesus elevated himself above humanity when he declared, the only way to the father is through me. What was really said is of course lost in the fog of history.

 

In more recent times it is known that Ramana Maharshi (died in the 1950's) would hold gatherings without speaking a word and it has been testified by both westerners and Indians alike that his mere presence could bring about a state of enlightenment.

The revered sage Nisargadatta, also in recent times, swayed his audiences with fiery discourses and could destroy ones pre-held spiritual conceptions by letting one explain them in his presence, he would say nothing but the held concepts died away under his gaze, people left his presence joyful and uplifted and yet his interpreters said he could be a rather foul speaking man, he refused treatment for his throat cancer saying, I as the absolute have no need of this body.

 

No matter how enlightened a person may be, all are human beings with feet of clay with their desires and frustrations, joys and depressions. Jiddu Krishnamurti, at one time declared by the Theosophical society to be the world teacher of humanity (a title he rejected), when speaking to an audience never used the word 'I', instead he would say 'the speaker would like....' Shortly before his death at 90 said he felt that nobody took him seriously but that he was endured as a figure of fun and yet he was revered throughout the world and was showered with gifts of land, castles and money (which he returned)....in short, he was plagued by doubt about himself. 

[VincentRJ]

22 hours ago, soalbundy said:

One mustn't get too involved in the myths that grow around such famous figures in history, virgin births, walking on water, resurrection etc. there are also many unbelievable myths surrounding the Buddha. In more recent times even the Delai Lama has had myths attached to his birth (the sounds of trumpets and bells in the sky during his birth for instance). A high level of conscious awareness doesn't turn one from a man of flesh and bone with human desires into a demi god.

 

Buddha expressed himself in a less exalted manner than Jesus saying, 'don't believe anything you hear or read, even if it is from me, if it doesn't correspond to your own experience' whereas Jesus elevated himself above humanity when he declared, the only way to the father is through me. What was really said is of course lost in the fog of history.

 

In more recent times it is known that Ramana Maharshi (died in the 1950's) would hold gatherings without speaking a word and it has been testified by both westerners and Indians alike that his mere presence could bring about a state of enlightenment.

The revered sage Nisargadatta, also in recent times, swayed his audiences with fiery discourses and could destroy ones pre-held spiritual conceptions by letting one explain them in his presence, he would say nothing but the held concepts died away under his gaze, people left his presence joyful and uplifted and yet his interpreters said he could be a rather foul speaking man, he refused treatment for his throat cancer saying, I as the absolute have no need of this body.

 

No matter how enlightened a person may be, all are human beings with feet of clay with their desires and frustrations, joys and depressions. Jiddu Krishnamurti, at one time declared by the Theosophical society to be the world teacher of humanity (a title he rejected), when speaking to an audience never used the word 'I', instead he would say 'the speaker would like....' Shortly before his death at 90 said he felt that nobody took him seriously but that he was endured as a figure of fun and yet he was revered throughout the world and was showered with gifts of land, castles and money (which he returned)....in short, he was plagued by doubt about himself. 

 

"One mustn't get too involved in the myths that grow around such famous figures in history, virgin births, walking on water, resurrection etc. there are also many unbelievable myths surrounding the Buddha. In more recent times even the Delai Lama has had myths attached to his birth (the sounds of trumpets and bells in the sky during his birth for instance). A high level of conscious awareness doesn't turn one from a man of flesh and bone with human desires into a demi god."

 

This is a very significant point which is difficult for 'believers' to address because doing so would tend to undermine their faith.

 

Religions tend to be a part of the political system of 'control of the population'. The narratives tend to adapt to the cultural background of the people, and fanciful stories are created to impress the gullible and uneducated masses.

 

One could argue that as long as this 'fanciful story-telling' maintains a peacful and harmonious society, the fictions are justified. However, the long history of religious conflicts, which continue in the present time, would tend to falsify this argument.

 

As you mention in your post, Buddhism appears to be in a different category in the sense that the scriptures include the advice, claimed to be the actual words spoken by the Buddha, that one should not accept the views of any authority without questioning whether the views align with one's own experience and understanding. This teaching from the Buddha is known as the Kalama Sutta. The following article describes it in detail.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wheel008.html

 

When I first read the Kalama sutta, I was very impressed that a religion could encourage any thoughtful questioning. As a result, I read more about Buddhism, but found there's a mixture of sensible advice and unbelievable nonsense.  One should always try to separate the two.
 

[saintdomingo]

On 7/21/2024 at 5:13 PM, xylophone said:

Mr Scherlock doesn't know what he's talking about.

There is no insure possible or necessary. Christ made a once for all perfect, finished sacrifice for sin on Calvary. You cannot earn your way to heaven. The requirements are, to fully repent, accept Christ as your saviour, sin no more and obey the commandments. But the gate is narrow.

So where that leaves us I am not sure.

 

[rocketboy2]

5 hours ago, saintdomingo said:

Mr Scherlock doesn't know what he's talking about.

There is no insure possible or necessary. Christ made a once for all perfect, finished sacrifice for sin on Calvary. You cannot earn your way to heaven. The requirements are, to fully repent, accept Christ as your saviour, sin no more and obey the commandments. But the gate is narrow.

So where that leaves us I am not sure.

 

Right on.