why does this forum care so much about religion

godBoy · #1 10-16-2007, 09:28 PM

The forum cares so much about religion because it is logical to believe that this universe and life on our planet cannot simply pop into existence without a cause.

This forum has attracted many people who are fascinated by religion / science and the battle between them. I don't see science having anything that even starts to disprove God's existence but I find those who try to argue this point fascinating and amusing.

The question of God's existence is the most important question one can ask - that's why it's a popular topic.

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #2 10-17-2007, 06:03 AM

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The forum cares so much about religion because it is logical to believe that this universe and life on our planet cannot simply pop into existence without a cause.

This forum has attracted many people who are fascinated by religion / science and the battle between them. I don't see science having anything that even starts to disprove God's existence but I find those who try to argue this point fascinating and amusing.

The question of God's existence is the most important question one can ask - that's why it's a popular topic.

[/ QUOTE ]
how does God pop into existence then? human beings need God to exist, but why does God need human beings? God is a concept that just doesn't work. It is illogical. Is our existence pointless and random without God? Yeah, I think it is. Obviously many people choose the illogical delusion over the harshness of reality. I can't say i blame them, its more convenient to be lazy. I think all non believers have a certain hatred for believers the same way thin people loathe fat people and honest people loath liars. And I guess that hatred is reciprocal since every group of believers claims superiority over everyone else on the planet.

Splendour · #3 10-17-2007, 09:21 AM

Lebowski: And I guess that hatred is reciprocal since every group of believers claims superiority over everyone else on the planet.

Christians are specifically told not to claim superiority in the New Testament, but to practice humility. Religious groups are claiming divinely revealed truth which is an entirely different thing from superiority. In their zeal to teach the truth some may come across as superior and due to human nature there are some bad apples that have an imperfect understanding of church teachings that think they are superior, but its not the nature of Christianity to teach superiority. Christ said he came to serve.

Humility is a precept Christianity teaches to prevent people from claiming superiority and to continue to maintain the Christian's ability to see truth and to help unbelievers in recognizing truth. But the nature of man is imperfect, subject to temptation and ambition which translates into imperfect and self serving actions. That's why we have the saying "to err is human, but to forgive is divine."

There's also the possibility that a cult can offshoot and give false teachings. Christ said false prophets would follow him.

Edit: my bad, The New Testament also specifically teaches Christians to love. For God IS love. Probably even more than humility this is the central doctrine.

BuddyQ · #4 10-17-2007, 10:05 AM

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Is our existence pointless and random without God? Yeah, I think it is.

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Without intention, it is per se, you don't have to 'think' that it is. If you fling a 6 deck shoe of cards out a 10 story window, and on the ground you see that 40 or 50 cards have, by outrageous chance, formed a little house of cards, does that house of cards have any purpose or a point?

The mystery to me is - where they hell did the cards come from? Will we ever know for certain?

I think most people have some kind of feeling, or 'sense' that existence is not pointless. What ever this 'feeling' is, it has manifested itself through the eons as 'faith' in something 'behind' existence, informing existence. Of course humans being what they are, imperfect, have used this faith, like fire, to varying degrees of both good and bad ends.

Barretboy · #5 10-17-2007, 11:04 AM

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[ QUOTE ]
Is our existence pointless and random without God? Yeah, I think it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Without intention, it is per se, you don't have to 'think' that it is. If you fling a 6 deck shoe of cards out a 10 story window, and on the ground you see that 40 or 50 cards have, by outrageous chance, formed a little house of cards, does that house of cards have any purpose or a point?

The mystery to me is - where they hell did the cards come from? Will we ever know for certain?

I think most people have some kind of feeling, or 'sense' that existence is not pointless. What ever this 'feeling' is, it has manifested itself through the eons as 'faith' in something 'behind' existence, informing existence. Of course humans being what they are, imperfect, have used this faith, like fire, to varying degrees of both good and bad ends.

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I think this is a great analogy.

luckyme · #6 10-17-2007, 12:04 PM

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Of course humans being what they are, imperfect, have used this faith, like fire, to varying degrees of both good and bad ends.

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"imperfect" whats?

Humans are humans, by definition they are perfect, as a group, and in a general sense individually. huh?

luckyme

scorcher863 · #7 10-17-2007, 01:59 PM

does anyone else find it illogical to assert either
1. there definetely is a god
2. there definetely isn't a god
both seem easily debunked with just a few simple questions.

One thing is for certain, whether we believe there is a god or there isn't, the world and universe continue to exist.

madnak · #8 10-17-2007, 03:49 PM

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does anyone else find it illogical to assert either
1. there definetely is a god
2. there definetely isn't a god
both seem easily debunked with just a few simple questions.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd think so, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, very many people maintain that 1. is actually supported logically, and even empirically.

vhawk01 · #9 10-17-2007, 05:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
does anyone else find it illogical to assert either
1. there definetely is a god
2. there definetely isn't a god
both seem easily debunked with just a few simple questions.

One thing is for certain, whether we believe there is a god or there isn't, the world and universe continue to exist.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you can say "there definitely isn't God X" depending on the characteristics ascribed to God X. If he is a logical contradiction, it makes sense to say he definitely does not exist. But I think it is obviously stupid to say "any type of god cannot possibly exist." And of course, no one says this. Some people sloppily or lazily say "LOL God doesn't exist dummy" or something like that in response to some monotheist, but they PROBABLY just mean "no reason to think God exists and only a fool takes a policy of believing in things UNTIL they are proven false." Sort of like how I say unicorns don't exist, ya know? I'm not positive of this. It would be idiotic to claim that unicorns definitely don't exist. But I don't feel the slightest bit remorseful when I say it.

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #10 10-17-2007, 07:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
does anyone else find it illogical to assert either
1. there definetely is a god
2. there definetely isn't a god
both seem easily debunked with just a few simple questions.

One thing is for certain, whether we believe there is a god or there isn't, the world and universe continue to exist.

[/ QUOTE ]
If God exists, he cannot exist within the realm of human logic. it leads to a bunch of questions like "where did God from" that have to be answered by shrugging your shoulders. Also, the God that humans believe in is essentially a human himself. So if you make the statement "God can exist, but we cannot understand him anymore than a new born child understands quantum physics" then what is the point of even acknowledging his existence? it doesn't matter either way.