The God Who Wasn't There

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
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Being happy in spite of all the madness around us. That is the point, the lesson to be learned in life. All that other stuff out there is just distraction. You have nothing to offer the world unless you are happy, at peace within yourself. Otherwise, you are just adding to the crap pile.

Exactly, it's easy, only allow 'in', what you want, and let all the other stuff
float around out of your 'way', you have more important things to do, and it's
called living.
 

CanadianLove

Electoral Member
Feb 7, 2009
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No you don't, you simply believe there is. That's not the same as knowing it. If it were actually knowable as a verifiable fact, any rational person would be convinced by the same evidence you were, all you'd have to do is point to it. But you can't, because it exists only inside your own head.

Some people know there is a God. Some do believe, or disbelieve, in God, but some have had experiences that have proven to them that there is God. You will never change their minds because of that experience.

The day that are ready to understand and except God (sorry to sound like and athiest, but I don't think you will ever be) you too will know there is a God too. You may not think of it as God, but as purely a higher power, or energy force.

It could be related to a young scientist that conducted an experiment that had positive results, but was never able to repeat it for the rest of his life. He knows it can be done, but can't prove it.
 

captain morgan

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 28, 2009
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A Mouse Once Bit My Sister
The point isn't whether there is a god or not.

The point is the tragic harm such a belief causes people and the world.

If people realize there is no god then they can stop wasting what's left of their lives; stop waging war; stop following stone age rituals; stop abusing their children; stop holding back scientific advancement, etc...

The god disease is very damaging.

That suggestion is insufficient to explain Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Camer Rouge, et al...
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
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No you don't, you simply believe there is. That's not the same as knowing it. If it were actually knowable as a verifiable fact, any rational person would be convinced by the same evidence you were, all you'd have to do is point to it. But you can't, because it exists only inside your own head.


Wrong....but you carry on with your delusions if that is what makes you feel better about yourself and superior to those that don't believe what you believe.
 

Spade

Ace Poster
Nov 18, 2008
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Let's see...
Hitler was a Catholic and avowed Christian...
Stalin in his youth received a scholarship to a Georgian Orthodox seminary; his mother wanted him to be a priest.
Mao grew up in a Buddhist tradition.
Khmer Rouge was a Cambodian ruling party, but was not a religion.

Sorry, what's your point, Captain?
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Thanks for the clip.

There may be no god, but listening to a radio clip yesterday, I learnt about the elves, faeries, trolls, hidden people, and dorks of Iceland.
In the Land of the Fairy King: Iceland’s Elf School
Apparently there are dorks in Canada, too. They come from the dork side, feed off each other, have a single over-developed right wing that has them spiraling inward getting nowhere. Interesting...
CBC 1 was intersting as always yesterday.
 

Cannuck

Time Out
Feb 2, 2006
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BTW, there's more time spent by believers trying to make others believe than there is time spent by atheists showing why it's foolish to believe. :)

If this web site is any indication, it would seem not.

I watched the first 25 minutes or so and got bored. It's not that well done. The first thing that struck me is the need to point to fringe elements in an attempt to label the whole. It is akin to pointing out the thievery of Svend Robinson and saying all NDPers are criminals. It's intellectual dishonesty and I understand how this type of thing appeals to the likes of Scott Free.

The video may make sense and have some relevance if one accepts the bible as a historical biography. Since most Christian denominations don't, the video misses the mark. Of course, it may have some entertainment value for those that have a limited understanding for what "Christianity" actually is.
 
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Cannuck

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Stalin in his youth received a scholarship to a Georgian Orthodox seminary; his mother wanted him to be a priest.

My mother wanted me to be a doctor and I am an Emergency Medical Responder. I guess, using your logic, the medical community is now responsible for every wrong I do.
 

L Gilbert

Winterized
Nov 30, 2006
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Some people know there is a God. Some do believe, or disbelieve, in God, but some have had experiences that have proven to them that there is God. You will never change their minds because of that experience.

The day that are ready to understand and except God (sorry to sound like and athiest, but I don't think you will ever be) you too will know there is a God too. You may not think of it as God, but as purely a higher power, or energy force.

It could be related to a young scientist that conducted an experiment that had positive results, but was never able to repeat it for the rest of his life. He knows it can be done, but can't prove it.
Whoever has experienced that "proof" is simply gullible and what's worse, is willing to be gullible. There is NO demonstrable and operational evidence supporting the existences of gods any more than there is for faeries and rakshasas.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
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No he wasn't wrong. Knowing is NOT the same as believing whether you say it's the same or not.


Exactley...and I KNOW.... how unfortunate for you and he. Stuck in your own delusional world, unable to comprehend the truth. How truly sad.
 

VanIsle

Always thinking
Nov 12, 2008
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Whoever has experienced that "proof" is simply gullible and what's worse, is willing to be gullible. There is NO demonstrable and operational evidence supporting the existences of gods any more than there is for faeries and rakshasas.
No. What Canadian Love says is right Les. The demonstrations are personal evidence and there is no way of sharing that kind of "personal proof". It's a happening that cannot be explained. One day, when you really want to know something, or really want to find something that is important to you and maybe really trivial to others, that "proof" will be there for you. There simply isn't a way to explain that kind of belief. We are not gullible. We've just had the pleasure of the experience. You will call it a coincidence or plain good luck. We're not talking about prayers for saving a life of someone full of cancer when any fool knows it cannot be saved. If this was going to happen then we could all pray for no one to die and no one would. We could all pray to win the lotto and everyone would. Nonetheless, answers to small things do occur and to some of us, they are extremely important. They may even be life saving but not in the way of keeping one breathing. They may be life saving in the way of one event in one person's day or week or whatever.
 

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
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People for centuries have described 'unusual' happenings in their lives, miracles,
ghosts, gods, whatever, and for them, it is their truth, but has no bearing on
most of us, or reality, only to them.
The imagination of a human being can be 'huge' and very 'convincing' to some.
The very best movie makers and song writers and story tellers etc., have those
imaginations, and bring it to life for us to be entertained, and that is wonderful.
We all watch or read and appreciate the author or producer, but while being
entertained and imagining, we remain in reality with ourselves, some can't do that.
.
 

VanIsle

Always thinking
Nov 12, 2008
7,046
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People for centuries have described 'unusual' happenings in their lives, miracles,
ghosts, gods, whatever, and for them, it is their truth, but has no bearing on
most of us, or reality, only to them.
The imagination of a human being can be 'huge' and very 'convincing' to some.
The very best movie makers and song writers and story tellers etc., have those
imaginations, and bring it to life for us to be entertained, and that is wonderful.
We all watch or read and appreciate the author or producer, but while being
entertained and imagining, we remain in reality with ourselves, some can't do that.
.
Well I'm really glad you are entertained! How can you possibly begin to understand what I feel, particularly since you have never had the privilege? It's not my imagination. There is simply no way for you to begin to understand something you have obviously never encountered. If you think I don't live in reality, you are sadly mistaken. We just have different realities. You have your dis-belief and I have my belief. I'm not usually too vocal about mine because I don't feel the need to pass judgement on someone else's feelings particularly in the way of letting them know that I think what they believe is entertaining. One day it might not be so funny to you. It feels pretty nasty to have someone say your beliefs are "entertaining". Harsh actually.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
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Well I'm really glad you are entertained! How can you possibly begin to understand what I feel, particularly since you have never had the privilege? It's not my imagination. There is simply no way for you to begin to understand something you have obviously never encountered. If you think I don't live in reality, you are sadly mistaken. We just have different realities. You have your dis-belief and I have my belief. I'm not usually too vocal about mine because I don't feel the need to pass judgement on someone else's feelings particularly in the way of letting them know that I think what they believe is entertaining. One day it might not be so funny to you. It feels pretty nasty to have someone say your beliefs are "entertaining". Harsh actually.

Everyone's personal life experiences influence what they believe and takes them to their final destination. I really don't care what people believe or don't believe. Life is about the journey, not the destination. How you travel, the guide books you use, the sign posts you follow are all personal choices and decisions.

For me the proof is in the pudding. How gracefully the traveler moves through life says much more to me than what they believe. How we treat our fellow travelers, our compassion and empathy speak much louder than ideologies. When I meet someone, I check to see if they give off a warm, fuzzy feeling or are they whiners and complainers? Are they full of themselves or wanting to dump all their problems on me (Psychic vampires).

I avoid the vampires and try to associate with the warm, loving type. It just makes for a more enjoyable trip.
 
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talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
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Well I'm really glad you are entertained! How can you possibly begin to understand what I feel, particularly since you have never had the privilege? It's not my imagination. There is simply no way for you to begin to understand something you have obviously never encountered. If you think I don't live in reality, you are sadly mistaken. We just have different realities. You have your dis-belief and I have my belief. I'm not usually too vocal about mine because I don't feel the need to pass judgement on someone else's feelings particularly in the way of letting them know that I think what they believe is entertaining. One day it might not be so funny to you. It feels pretty nasty to have someone say your beliefs are "entertaining". Harsh actually.

The entertainment factor, which I explained was associated with the huge
imaginations belonging to the authors and movie producers, who then, from
the workings of their imaginations, entertain us.
What you have going on in your mind, I have no connection to, and it doesn't
entertain me at all.
I do believe that my opinion did connect the imaginations of the movie moguls,
and the imaginations of all who tell tales of seeing things that I have never
seen or experienced.
I did not say that your imagination entertains me, I have no idea what you
'imagine'.
Your interpretation of my post tells me that you do have a 'large' imagination,
and used it to interpret my post.