What religion are you?

[Timmotheus]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
But what created the micro-organisms?

They were "born" by the random synthesization of a number of essential organic compounds in virtually the same place, which happened to be surrounded by a bilipid shell. Amazing all of the chance things happened, but it did take a long time. Even more amazing; viruses evolved to attack the microorganisms! As odd and nearly impossible as that all is, I still firmly deny the possible existance of a higher power. My belief in random chance, physics, and organic chemistry is too strong.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Sage
Are you talking about this post? Sandstorm said that, you bloke.

 

[MazKid]

Originally posted by sn00pie
What created the higher power?

The Human mind.

Period.

 

[Duke]

I edited the poll to include Agnostic as separate from Atheist.

I'm an atheist, and yes, I'm sure of it. This does not mean that I categorically deny the possible existence of a god, because you cannot prove that something does not exist. I just feel that lack of evidence against does not equate to evidence for.

Since it is not logical to believe that everything I've never seen must exist, I choose to believe what my physical senses tell me or can be derived from physical senses.

I recently got into an interesting discussion concerning the difference between agnosticism and atheism. I consider an agnostic to be a person who believes that there is approximately equal evidence for and against the existence of god(s), which I don't (hence the vote for "atheist"). This other person considered himself an agnostic for the "negative proof" reasons that I outlined above.

I don't believe that life has any greater meaning beyond itself. What more 'meaning' does it need?

As for the origin of life, the Universe is plenty large enough for such a seemingly impossible string of coincidences to have occured purely by random chance. Many times in many ways.

 

[DGB454]

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[Pako]

Shall we just merge this thead now to the 'other' thread that has several posts discussing the acceptance of God as the Almightly Creator of all the heavens and the earth vs. micro organisms evolving into the complex eco system that we see today?

Or....shall we stay on the original topic as stated by Attila's original post?

 

[Red Eye Racer]

Originally posted by neon_duke
I edited the poll to include Agnostic as separate from Atheist.

I'm an atheist, and yes, I'm sure of it. This does not mean that I categorically deny the possible existence of a god, because you cannot prove that something does not exist. I just feel that lack of evidence against does not equate to evidence for.

Since it is not logical to believe that everything I've never seen must exist, I choose to believe what my physical senses tell me or can be derived from physical senses.

I recently got into an interesting discussion concerning the difference between agnosticism and atheism. I consider an agnostic to be a person who believes that there is approximately equal evidence for and against the existence of god(s), which I don't (hence the vote for "atheist"). This other person considered himself an agnostic for the "negative proof" reasons that I outlined above.

I don't believe that life has any greater meaning beyond itself. What more 'meaning' does it need?

As for the origin of life, the Universe is plenty large enough for such a seemingly impossible string of coincidences to have occured purely by random chance. Many times in many ways.

I respect that,... it makes good sence from that viewpoint,....

...........but man,... I think it's cynicism at it's extreme..... almost like you gave up hope :shrugs:

Just cause it isnt proven, either way,... we can still cling to 'hope', right? I mean,... isnt there a part of you that 'hopes' that all this life isnt here for nothin? Did you ever stop to think that maybe life feeds itself from an evolutionary standpoint via re-encarnation?

JMO.

 

[TarnishedAngel5]

I'm Christian. Presbyterian to be exact. In fact, my chruch camp, Kirkmont, starts next Sunday.

 

[DGB454]

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[Sage]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
...........but man,... I think it's cynicism at it's extreme..... almost like you gave up hope :shrugs:

Just cause it isnt proven, either way,... we can still cling to 'hope', right? I mean,... isnt there a part of you that 'hopes' that all this life isnt here for nothin?

WHat do you mean "for nothing"? I think the gift of life is absolutely fabulous, and that it's our duty to make "something" out of it... I think the human race has done a lot more than "nothing" in our time...

And I'd rather live my life to its fullest without any strings attached than to have a bit of hope in my system about some greater being... if someone comes around with ample evidence that a greater being exists, I'll listen, and maybe have hope. But as it is, I'm living what I think is a full life, because I don't feel like anybody is watching me, I don't feel like I'm obligated to do anything... I can do what I want to do.

 

[Red Eye Racer]

Originally posted by Sage
WHat do you mean "for nothing"? I think the gift of life is absolutely fabulous, and that it's our duty to make "something" out of it... I think the human race has done a lot more than "nothing" in our time...

And I'd rather live my life to its fullest without any strings attached than to have a bit of hope in my system about some greater being... if someone comes around with ample evidence that a greater being exists, I'll listen, and maybe have hope. But as it is, I'm living what I think is a full life, because I don't feel like anybody is watching me, I don't feel like I'm obligated to do anything... I can do what I want to do.

I'm talking beyond just human life,.... and no, Im not saying there is/isnt a 'greater power',... I'm saying there's a reason we're here,... from an evolutionary standpoint.

IMO,... being closed-minded to one idea, whether it be christianity, athiesm, ect,.... is only slowing down the evolutionary process,.... wich, IMO, HAS an end result,.... not necceserely a spiritual one,... but a goal none the less.

JMO

 

[DGB454]

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[Red Eye Racer]

Originally posted by DGB454
Let me ask this? How many people here will pray just before they die just in case? Or how many have said God help me when they were in serious trouble?
Just curious.

nope,.. as your bible says,.. we're put here with a free will,.. .IMO, that means no help from god himself, we're on our own until we die.

 

[Sage]

Not me, except a few times when I was much, much younger and believed in God. But since I decided to be an atheist, I've never wished toGod for help, nor will I say a prayer before I die.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by DGB454
Let me ask this? How many people here will pray just before they die just in case? Or how many have said God help me when they were in serious trouble?
Just curious.

I certainly won't pray before I die, and I've never asked a higher power for assistance, except once, to find a parking space. I told 'God' I'd convert if I found one.

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by Sage
*snip* But as it is, I'm living what I think is a full life, because I don't feel like anybody is watching me, I don't feel like I'm obligated to do anything... I can do what I want to do.

Since we're on this subject:

That's the beauty of being saved and sanctified through Christ's love and forgiveness as well as being filled with the Holy spirit which is the active force of God. You are motivated to live life to it's max of fulfillment, and not out of obligation or respect, but out of desire and love and not out of fear or lack of self worth.

This is something that's hard to explain, but better experienced so that you can KNOW that it's a real acting force and not some mystic fairytale passed down from generation to generation.

How this helps to better qualify your statement.

 

[Duke]

Originally posted by Red Eye Racer
I respect that, it makes good sence from that viewpoint, but man, I think it's cynicism at it's extreme. almost like you gave up hope.

Just cause it isnt proven, either way, we can still cling to 'hope', right? I mean,... isnt there a part of you that 'hopes' that all this life isnt here for nothin?

Ah, but there's another way to interpret my "what other meaning does it need?" line.

DGB semi-sarcastically wished me "good luck with that". What you're both missing is that I've already had all the good luck I'll ever need, just by being born. You can look at it this way: I feel I'm already in heaven, right here and now, so I don't need any outside meaning to cling to. I don't need any higher hope for something beyond this life.

I'm happy with the chance I've been given to exist at all. It's not cynical... quite the contrary. I'm endlessly optimistic that no matter what happens to me, it sure beats the alternative: to never have existed in the first place.

 

[Red Eye Racer]

Originally posted by neon_duke
Ah, but there's another way to interpret my "what other meaning does it need?" line.

DGB semi-sarcastically wished me "good luck with that". What you're both missing is that I've already had all the good luck I'll ever need, just by being born. You can look at it this way: I feel I'm already in heaven, right here and now, so I don't need any outside meaning to cling to. I don't need any higher hope for something beyond this life.

I'm happy with the chance I've been given to exist at all. It's not cynical... quite the contrary. I'm endlessly optimistic that no matter what happens to me, it sure beats the alternative: to never have existed in the first place.

👍 very enlightening 👍

 

[DGB454]

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[Duke]

Originally posted by Pako

That's the beauty of being saved and sanctified through Christ's love and forgiveness as well as being filled with the Holy spirit which is the active force of God. You are motivated to live life to it's max of fulfillment, and not out of obligation or respect, but out of desire and love and not out of fear or lack of self worth.

I am motivated to live my life to its maximum fulfillment out of desire and love. Note that I'm not implying you aren't.

PS - I vote against merging. The load times would be horrific.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by M5Power
I certainly won't pray before I die, and I've never asked a higher power for assistance, except once, to find a parking space. I told 'God' I'd convert if I found one.

That's great!👍

I won't pray before I die. I wouldn't want to waste my last few moments of life doing something I haven't believed in my entire life. And, no, I've never said God help me.

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by neon_duke
I am motivated to live my life to its maximum fulfillment out of desire and love. Note that I'm not implying you aren't.

PS - I vote against merging. The load times would be horrific.

I was remarking to Sage's comment about the motivation of fear from a vengeful God as a driving force to do 'good deeds'. Or more specifically to feel obligated because someone or something is watching you....

 

[Duke]

I understand that. I just wanted you to know that wasn't what motivates me. AND that it is possible to be motivated by good things without the intervention of a god into your life.

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by neon_duke
I understand that. I just wanted you to know that wasn't what motivates me. AND that it is possible to be motivated by good things without the intervention of a god into your life.

Well, ummm..., you mention god's. The Bible describes the rulers of Egypt as god's of men. The same could hold true for our current law giver's and our current justice system passing judgement upon people when they do the wrong thing, or at least when they get caught.

Are these institutions and collections of people that enforce these laws god's by definition? Each time you approach a red light, and no one's around, why is that we sit there and wait? There's no logical merit or self conclusion as to wait for the green light, no one's around, but we sit and wait for the green light because it's against the law the run it.

Conclusions:
There are a lot of variables that influence our decision making. Be it self motivation, pressure to abide by the rules of our society, to adhear to a lifestlye that has been layed out from example by Christ, or combinations of any or all of the above.

 

[Attila_Da_Hun]

question out of curiousity, could the earth itself be a god? after all, aren't we born from the planet, the planet created us and nurtured (sp) us, sheltered us, ect. both speaking relgious and scientific (kinda). just a though even though im an atheist...

 

[viperman]

you just fueled the fire!




good job :thumbsup:

 

[Acidman]

Christian for me, but pretty slack.

 

[ledhed]

I'm antagonistic..

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by Attila_Da_Hun
question out of curiousity, could the earth itself be a god? after all, aren't we born from the planet, the planet created us and nurtured (sp) us, sheltered us, ect. both speaking relgious and scientific (kinda). just a though even though im an atheist...

Oh, your talking about Gia?

 

[Warped_Devotion]

Originally posted by Integra Type R
👍 Ditto. Although I am very slack in my Christian duties.

Same......just can't get the gumption to go to church. I always fall asleep cause it's so warm inside.