Why don't you?

[sweetie_88]

Most people out there are saying that they don't believe in God. Why?

[Zekk_T_Strife]

It's probably because they don't.

[sweetie_88]

It's probably because they don't.

again with the sarcasim

[BillyGalbreath]

Show me proof that he exists. And not some 100 year old prophecy that cant be proven. Give me hardcore evidence. Scientifically EVERYTHING can be proven - so prove that he exists.

[MVPlaya]

Show me proof that he exists. And not some 100 year old prophecy that cant be proven. Give me hardcore evidence. Scientifically EVERYTHING can be proven - so prove that he exists.

Bingo.

And most people out there are saying they don't believe in Buddha, why?

[PandaCivic]

it's called Faith, you either believe or you don't. you can't force someone to believe what they don't.

[sfalexi]

I don't know what to believe. THere's evidence supporting/denouncing all sorts of theories. I just got sick and tired of evangelical hypocrites at my church. People who wave their hands in the air singing, "Oh Lord how I love thee!" then talk not twenty minutes later after the service about how trashed their gonna get and how they messed with this girl or that or if their friend wants to come over and smoke up with them. I got sick and tired of how they preached about being "accepting" and "not judging" but how they all avoided me (the kid with the acne!) and how every time I went there I was in a row all by myself without anyone to talk to before or after. And how when I sat down somewhere people would make sure to look EVERYWHERE else before sitting down next to me in case there's some OTHER place they can go. Or how when we had to get in a circle and hold hands, I would LITERALLY hear them whispering/arguing over who has to hold MINE.

And I said, "You know what? I don't want to be associated with these people. They're a bunch of hypocritical assholes." I didn't see the point of subjecting myself to a bunch of shit on a weekly basis. Especially when I found out that most of them were liars and didn't even TRY to lead a christian life. I mean if you sin, you sin. But don't sit there and PLAN your sins. LEAST of all in church!

Then I started thinking, if there is a God, and he's supposed to love every one of us, why does he treat us the way he does? THere's pain and suffering all over the place. If he's so great with miracles, why is it that Joe Schmoe, who prays regularly and is a TRUE christian in every sense of the word has to watch HIS mother die of cancer while this bastard in the back talking about ****ing this girl and getting high this weekend is the one that happens to get everything handed to him on a silver platter and just 'magically' has the set of genes that makes him handsome, strong, tall, perfect skin, and NEVER had a sickness in his life? Why does "God" give HIM all the good stuff and protect HIM from illness while the TRULY good kids suffer?

And I said, "Well, if there IS a God in this world, I hate him. He's a bastard, and as hypocritical as his worshippers."

So I stopped going to church and just live life as I see fit.

Rod Steele

[BillyGalbreath]

......if there is a God, and he's supposed to love every one of us, why does he treat us the way he does? THere's pain and suffering all over the place. If he's so great with miracles, why is it that Joe Schmoe, who prays regularly and is a TRUE christian in every sense of the word has to watch HIS mother die of cancer while this bastard in the back talking about ****ing this girl and getting high this weekend is the one that happens to get everything handed to him on a silver platter and just 'magically' has the set of genes that makes him handsome, strong, tall, perfect skin, and NEVER had a sickness in his life? Why does "God" give HIM all the good stuff and protect HIM from illness while the TRULY good kids suffer?

Brilliant - the question I was hoping someone would ask. Because I have the answer. The perfect, painful, but truthful answer.

God doesn't exist. He is made up. A fairy tale. Just another story. Like Santa Claus. It keeps people in order. It gives the weak something to look forward to. It brings happiness to the sad. Calmness to the timid. And it makes the conscience grow stronger inside the self.

How do you make kids act good ? "You better be good, better be nice. Santa knows if you've been naughty or nice."

Same principle with God. "Be GOOD and do not SIN or you will NOT be welcome into the pearly gates of Heaven ! And you shal rot in hell and have Satan laugh as he burns your rotting flesh from your bones in the firey pits of hell !"

When people grow weak, and are going thru the hardest times in there life, who do they have to look up to for help ? Who wants to help them when the whole world has turned its back to them ? What stopps them from killing themselves ? A fiary tale. God.

Suicide = Hell. Hell = Fear. Fear drives the human race.

[Clifton]

I dont beleive in god, because first of all there is no proof. no matter how much 'faith' you claim to have- You will never know if any of that shit is true, ANY of it. Honestly its not so much i dont beleive in god as it is, i dont care, God is irrelevant, i will say it again, GOD IS IRRELEVANT. <--take that to heart.

[Zekk_T_Strife]

I'll go ahead and argue for sweetie being entirely consistent with the arguments show by such a child who is extremely confused in what faith is:

Sweetie_88: "If God doesn't exist, who pops up the next Kleenex?"

[KaWaiiSkYe]

LmFaO!!!
Sweetie, you really got to understand that no one here wants to constantly discuss about God. You've started about 7 new topics about God. Can't you at least just put them all in one? I still personally think you should go join Youth on the Rock dot com instead. It'll suit you. You'll love it there much more than here now because no one there will critizise you or complain about you postin' up topics on God. They'll all be there agreein' with you. So go be happy and join em.

[m0by]

No proof of existence of God? Really? I see the signs everyday and everywhere I go. Just open your eyes and look!

I reluctanly had to respond to this thread, because I do believe God does exist and he surpasses all. I'm not going to sit here and preach, because that's not my position. However, what I'd like to point out is that I have purpose to fulfill in this life (for God, I suppose), and without it my life feels meaningless. That is what gets me up in every morning (hey, whatever works for me, right?). My purpose in life. . .well, I'm still searching to tell you the truth.

Okay, lets look at it from a different point of view, the way my thinking was before I perceived there is a god. If everyone is their own natural entity without being subject to higher power, then everyone is free from spiritual confinement. Relatively speaking, there should be no consequence for the actions we take. What are morals? It means nothing to me. Frankly, I don't give a shit what's right and wrong. What are rules? Ha! I laugh in your face. I otta spit in your face for even trying to tell me whtat to do. They're just man-made rules to keep me supressed from getting what I really want. I say my rules are better and you should follow my rules instead. Steal, lie, cheat, go kill. Why should I care if I hurt others? I'm certainly not going to hell for it, so it shouldn't matter. . .

Of course, I don't live by my own rules anymore, nor have I killed anybody. I realized God's rule is better than anyone else's; not the president's, not even my parents'. And yes, life is still hard. Still harder for others as well. But God does exist, and it is the only thing that makes sense to me in this fuct up place called Earth. Eternal life in Heaven is all I think about when I'm struggling.Painless, everlasting joyful place. Now, why wouldn't anybody want to believe that? It gets me through life much easier this way. Somethings you just don't need proof.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of hyporcrites out there, but there are also some few genuine followers who have the ability to change people's lives, and I'm fortuanate to have met them.

[BillyGalbreath]

...Okay, lets look at it from a different point of view, the way my thinking was before I perceived there is a god. If everyone is their own natural entity without being subject to higher power, then everyone is free from spiritual confinement. Relatively speaking, there should be no consequence for the actions we take. What are morals? It means nothing to me. Frankly, I don't give a shit what's right and wrong. What are rules? Ha! I laugh in your face. I otta spit in your face for even trying to tell me whtat to do. They're just man-made rules to keep me supressed from getting what I really want. I say my rules are better and you should follow my rules instead. Steal, lie, cheat, go kill. Why should I care if I hurt others? I'm certainly not going to hell for it, so it shouldn't matter. . ...

Hmmm - ok.. how about your idea is good, but there are flaws in it. Your looking at only a portion of the truth here - take a step back and look at the big picture. If you were to follow these set of rules, then of course you will be imprisoned, or killed. Thus meaning your mortal life will come to a drastic end and then you will not be able to do the things you want. BUT, if you followed all the laws and was kind to other people, then you will not be prisoned and you will gain many mortal friends to help you get what you want and better your mortal life.

Still. No God.

As I said before - God is a made up fairy tale to make people have hope. To give them strength when they need it most.

More proof, just look what YOU said about God.

...what I'd like to point out is that I have purpose to fulfill in this life (for God, I suppose), and without it my life feels meaningless. That is what gets me up in every morning (hey, whatever works for me, right?). My purpose in life...

Even YOU needed the fairy tale to help you thru a hard time. It gives you hope when there is no other. Thats all it is. A fairy tale to give hope, and to keep people in line the way adults keep kids in line with the stories of Santa Claus.

[Ironliftr3]

I've got to hand it to Sweetie....she KNOWS how to stir up controversy and start a heated discussion! I've yet to post to any of her threads, because like Squirrley, I prefer to stay out of the 'religion' debate, and believe personal beliefs should be kept PERSONAL. But, I've read several of them, and it seems like more often than not, she posts the topic, and then never reposts. Meanwhile the thread goes on and on! Gotta love it!

My take...I'm in agreement, there is no 'PROOF'. That's the nature of faith. To say you need proof indicates a lack of true faith, which is the entire point of God’s word. I've been on the fence for years, but recently find myself believing more and more that what I was brought up learning is true. Sweetie's problem is that she is NOT going to 'convert' anyone on this board. Such a conversion in personal beliefs is only going to happen by ones own choice, not because of a 16 year old attempt at persuasive discussion (no offense).

I don’t want to start a debate, but let me ask a question of the ‘non-believers’. Let’s say for the sake of argument that the Bible is 100% true, yet you don’t believe. What happens when you die? Even though you’ve led a good life, been fair to others, treated others the way you would be treated (i.e.: basic ‘Christian values’), but didn’t ‘believe’ or ever repent the mistakes you did make, what happens when you die? As I said, assuming for a Bible is true, as millions believe; you are subject to eternal damnation.

But, had you lived the same EXACT way, yet opened your mind and spirit, and let the word of God lead you, confess that you are a sinner, and that Christ died on the cross so you could be forgiven those sins, again, assuming the Bible is truth, when you die, you are rewarded by going to heaven, and having eternal happiness beyond your possible worldly imagination. All because you had a little ‘faith’ that the word of God is truth, and set aside your selfish expectations that everything in life must be ‘provable’.

I’m not trying to convince anyone that there is a God, or that the Bible is fact. But, where is the harm in believing it to be so?

[jslaughter]

I reluctanly had to respond to this thread, because I do believe God does exist and he surpasses all. I'm not going to sit here and preach, because that's not my position. However, what I'd like to point out is that I have purpose to fulfill in this life (for God, I suppose), and without it my life feels meaningless. That is what gets me up in every morning (hey, whatever works for me, right?).

Amen, my friend I am right there with you!

Okay, lets look at it from a different point of view, the way my thinking was before I perceived there is a god. If everyone is their own natural entity without being subject to higher power, then everyone is free from spiritual confinement. Relatively speaking, there should be no consequence for the actions we take. What are morals? It means nothing to me. Frankly, I don't give a shit what's right and wrong. What are rules? Ha! I laugh in your face. I otta spit in your face for even trying to tell me whtat to do. They're just man-made rules to keep me supressed from getting what I really want. I say my rules are better and you should follow my rules instead. Steal, lie, cheat, go kill. Why should I care if I hurt others? I'm certainly not going to hell for it, so it shouldn't matter. . .Of course, I don't live by my own rules anymore, nor have I killed anybody. I realized God's rule is better than anyone else's; not the president's, not even my parents'.

Ever read any CS Lewis he poses the same thing in one of his books, though which one escapes me right now . . .

I started a lengthy thing here and decided to continue it in a "fresh" post - - I just wanted to tell you that I agree with you Moby.