lol, I'm not saying you and I should live forever, Im asking why God would create human existence just to be eventually wiped out.

BORIStheCrusher wrote: lol, I'm not saying you and I should live forever, Im asking why God would create human existence just to be eventually wiped out.

That's a fantastic question that nobody can answer.

Mulva wrote: In the sense that organized religion teaches? Not a chance.

There might be some force out there undiscovered or incomprehensible to the human mind, but it isn't an omnipotent being judging my every move. And I don't envision my soul spending eternity with the souls of tens of billions of other dead people from the past million or so years.

+1

ss7 wrote:

BORIStheCrusher wrote: lol, I'm not saying you and I should live forever, Im asking why God would create human existence just to be eventually wiped out.

That's a fantastic question that nobody can answer.

Sounds fair.

I just feel like christianity and religion in general is just a way for people to feel good about their impending death/end of the world...Yeah it would be great if the end of the world was EXACTLY when everyone accepts christ and all are saved for eternal glory, but I mean that's just the way everyone has it in their minds. I mean there has to be something out there, and I do believe that, but I can't sit here and believe a religion when it seems to good to be true.

Since the question was phrased with "god" capitalized, I'm guessing it is asking if I believe in the Christian deity, since Christians have made a proper noun out of the generic term for deity.

In which case, my answer is no. I look at the Christian deity to be just like any of the ones from other other religions -- a man-made construct designed as a way to explain the unexplainable and as a learning tool for morals and such (with all the Sunday school parables and whatnot).

Good post, Heretic.

Just wanted to stop in and thank everyone for keeping this thread civil and on topic. This is what happens when people act like adults, even if they have differing opinions.

justincredible wrote: Just wanted to stop in and thank everyone for keeping this thread civil and on topic. This is what happens when people act like adults, even if they have differing opinions.

True dat.

Boris, I bet the dinosaurs thought the same thing. It all comes down to if you believe in life after death. You seem to view the end of humanity as the end of everything, Christians believe that when you die you either go to Heaven or go to Hell. What you're asking is not going to have an answer, if you're looking for me to explain something as complex as God, it's not possible. Nobody knows what's going to happen the many thousands of years in the future. Man could kill each other out looong before the sun does, and that gets into the whole free will I was talking about. There could very well be some other part of creation that God chooses to inhabit the earth, seems a bit egotistical (couldn't think of the right word so went with that one) to think that mankind is only fit to rule.

The answer to your question is never going to be solid or up to anyone's standard, but that's the best I got.

100%

I may define it in a different way than others, but I definitely believe in a higher power. I've had a few moments in my life where I've felt the presence of something greater than myself.

For example, when I went to Israel for the first time about ten years ago, I had the chance to see the Western Wall (the last remaining structure of the second temple) and I felt as if some force was pulling me toward it and I burst into tears. Yes the place means a lot to me, but not as much before I visited.

Israel is such a spiritual place, if you want to feel God. (No matter what your religion/beliefs are), that is where you need to go.

Yes, I believe in a God that is all powerful, all knowing, and beyond human comprehension.

Mr Pat wrote: It all comes down to if you believe in life after death.

Do you believe in life after death? If so, does that mean heaven and hell?

Boris, I do believe in life after death. Heaven and hell. I also believe in Purgatory, but that's mainly a Catholic thing.

100% with all my heart sould mind and strength

NNN wrote:

sleeper wrote: Yeah me too. I don't understand why God has to be all mythical with this faith bullshit. Why not do some real miracles and convince the masses so that people can be saved? Seems like God is an egotistical jackass to me and if he exists I can't wait to meet him, I'd humble him guaranteed.

I'm sure that'd go over well.

"I'm one of 6.5 billion people living on a planet that, were it the size of a grain of sand, would be dwarfed by a universe that you created to the scale of a star that's 800 times the diameter of the Sun. Are you ready to be humbled?"

If God's so powerful, why doesn't he exist?

I don't believe...I know.

Mr Pat wrote: Boris, I do believe in life after death. Heaven and hell. I also believe in Purgatory, but that's mainly a Catholic thing.

So is there free will in heaven?

HitsRus wrote: I don't believe...I know.

Prove it. I mean seriously, if you "know" then it should be easy to prove right?

sleeper wrote:

HitsRus wrote: I don't believe...I know.

Prove it. I mean seriously, if you "know" then it should be easy to prove right?

You've got a point, I can probably prove most anything I know.

Honestly fellows there is no way we are going to be able to prove it. That's why they call it faith.

Boris, I'm sorry but I really have no way of answering that. I really have enjoyed our discussion but I have no way of knowing anything about what I'm going to be able to do in Heaven or what it's going to be like.

BORIStheCrusher wrote:

sleeper wrote:

HitsRus wrote: I don't believe...I know.

Prove it. I mean seriously, if you "know" then it should be easy to prove right?

You've got a point, I can probably prove most anything I know.

I mean there may or may not be a God, but one thing is for certain, NO ONE KNOWS! Believers preach certainty on a CLEARLY uncertain topic and it just boggles my mind.

Mr Pat wrote: Honestly fellows there is no way we are going to be able to prove it. That's why they call it faith.

Boris, I'm sorry but I really have no way of answering that. I really have enjoyed our discussion but I have no way of knowing anything about what I'm going to be able to do in Heaven or what it's going to be like.

Thats fine, I'm not calling you out, just like to get honest answers from different perspectives. Truth is I have no idea either, thats why I question it; asking questions is the best way to learn.

Mr Pat wrote: Honestly fellows there is no way we are going to be able to prove it. That's why they call it faith.

Boris, I'm sorry but I really have no way of answering that. I really have enjoyed our discussion but I have no way of knowing anything about what I'm going to be able to do in Heaven or what it's going to be like.

Why rely on faith? Why is "faith" good enough? Why would God want us to have to resort to faith in order to "save us"? Why not give people on Earth DEFINITE proof of his existence so we may follow in the footsteps of Jesus and live a great life praising his existence?

BORIStheCrusher wrote:

Mr Pat wrote: Honestly fellows there is no way we are going to be able to prove it. That's why they call it faith.

Boris, I'm sorry but I really have no way of answering that. I really have enjoyed our discussion but I have no way of knowing anything about what I'm going to be able to do in Heaven or what it's going to be like.

Thats fine, I'm not calling you out, just like to get honest answers from different perspectives. Truth is I have no idea either, thats why I question it; asking questions is the best way to learn.

Oh I understand. It's perfectly normal to question it too. I was always taught (and believe) you can't have a mature faith without questioning your beliefs. I spent a lot of time figuring out what exactly I believed in and I think it's necessary to do so. I have no problems answering questions about my faith, I actually really enjoy talking with people about what they believe just as long as everyone stay's civil and nobody says, "You're wrong."

Sadly not everyone can be civil about religion (on all sides).