Does God Really Exist?

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AnnaG

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I think perhaps some people only call themselves atheists because they like to align themselves with real atheists to appear to be rational to the real atheists.
 
petros

petros

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Nov 21, 2008
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There is no such thing as gods because life has and always will be and doesn't require a boogeyman to happen.
 
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Cliffy

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JLM said:
I think the only way to really settle this once and for all is to get a respected and proven theologian on the thread.
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The problem with theologians is that every religion has them and they are specific to that religion. Alan Watts had a Doctorate of Divinity and a Master Degree in theology. He was a bishop of the Anglican church but studied comparative religions and Eastern and Western philosophies. He eventually became a Zen master. If you really want to know what someone who has been through that mill thinks about it all, you should look up some of his books. The Book [On the taboo about knowing who you are] and The Wisdom of Insecurity I highly recommend.
 
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AnnaG

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Cliffy said:
The problem with theologians is that every religion has them and they are specific to that religion. Alan Watts had a Doctorate of Divinity and a Master Degree in theology. He was a bishop of the Anglican church but studied comparative religions and Eastern and Western philosophies. He eventually became a Zen master. If you really want to know what someone who has been through that mill thinks about it all, you should look up some of his books. The Book [On the taboo about knowing who you are] and The Wisdom of Insecurity I highly recommend.
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He is only one man, though. A lot of people believe in consensuses, so only if 9 out of 10 "experts" say something, will these people believe it regardless of evidence.
 
JLM

JLM

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SirJosephPorter said:
A theologian starts with the wrong premise, that God exists, and he (the theologian) knows the nature and shape, form of God.

Since I don't believe in God, I wouldn't believe anything a theologian says. And I suspect neither would anybody who disagrees with him.

Really. Hardly my problem, is it? But you are right about close mindedness, I have a closed mind when it comes to God. I have decided after careful consideration that God doesn't exist.

I am open to being convinced of existence of God, but I really cannot think of any argument, any proof anyone can put forth that will convince me.
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Hey- no problem - two hundred years ago there were thousands just like you who ddn't believe you could light up a room by flicking a switch. Some of us have learned from that scenario and some haven't.
 
JLM

JLM

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AnnaG said:
Sir Porker is soo funny sometimes.

Anyway, there's no evidence of gods existence and obviously there's no evidence of non-existence either, so no-one can say conclusively that there are or are not gods.
THAT is the only logical conclusion. And IMO, it does not matter to humans whether there are gods or not because we have no evidence of them. Any guesses as to what gods are like (if there are gods) is moot because we cannot know them and attributing human traits to them is a bit arrogant and ignorant.
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Ooooooooooh oooooooooh, Anna - Now you've done it. We are now in for that scenario about the existance of Swiss cheese on the dark side of the moon for the 17th time. :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
talloola

talloola

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AnnaG said:
I think perhaps some people only call themselves atheists because they like to align themselves with real atheists to appear to be rational to the real atheists.
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so then, what are they in reality. I am an atheist, don't
align myself with anybody else, couldn't care less what
others think, atheist just seems to be what I am if I don't
believe in any gods.
I am just a non-believer, atheism isn't a believe system,
I suppose there are atheists who spout loud and clear, just
like there are believers who do the same, they are known as 'big mouths'.
 
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Cliffy

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AnnaG said:
He is only one man, though. A lot of people believe in consensuses, so only if 9 out of 10 "experts" say something, will these people believe it regardless of evidence.
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True. It is only a starting point. I like Dawkins and Einstein too.

I think the point most people get hung up on is the Jewish/Christian/Muslim god concept. They look at that and see how ludicrous it is and say "no way!" There are thousands, yay, billions of ways of viewing divinity. To deny it outright without a thorough investigation is short change oneself, because, for me, we are our own divinity. We create ourselves. If we don't know that we end up creating someone who is someone else's construct based on other's beliefs - in other words by default.
 
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AnnaG

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JLM said:
Ooooooooooh oooooooooh, Anna - Now you've done it. We are now in for that scenario about the existance of Swiss cheese on the dark side of the moon for the 17th time. :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
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Oh, well. What's one more continuous loop among the dozen or so others?
 
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AnnaG

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talloola said:
so then, what are they in reality. I am an atheist, don't
align myself with anybody else, couldn't care less what
others think, atheist just seems to be what I am if I don't
believe in any gods.
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That is what makes what I was referring to as a real atheist. :) The others I was describing are basically "wannabes". lol AKA "posers".
I am just a non-believer, atheism isn't a believe system,
I suppose there are atheists who spout loud and clear, just
like there are believers who do the same, they are known as 'big mouths'.
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Yup.
 
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wulfie68

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AnnaG said:
Anyway, there's no evidence of gods existence and obviously there's no evidence of non-existence either, so no-one can say conclusively that there are or are not gods.
THAT is the only logical conclusion. And IMO, it does not matter to humans whether there are gods or not because we have no evidence of them. Any guesses as to what gods are like (if there are gods) is moot because we cannot know them and attributing human traits to them is a bit arrogant and ignorant.
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And this is why I consider myself an agnostic on those days I care to think about the subject: I don't see enough evidence to support either camp of the debate.

But on to something else SJP said, if belief is what it takes to create a god, could I create one by choosing to believe and worship said deity? If so I think I'd try to resurrect someone like Bast, the Egyptian cat goddess... except I'd name her Pixie in honour of my current furball, who incidentally DOES think she's a Goddess or at the very least, royalty...
 
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