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If I were to offer you the idea of the belief in God, but with no connection to religious teachings, of any kind, would that be acceptable?
Not a being that humans are created in the image of, but a being of light and unbelievable love.
To atheists, is it the religion part that causes problems?
Just questions, but maybe an answer too.
Why does if have to be a belief in a god?
Why can't it be an actual god?
If it's still a god we have to believe in, it doesn't matter what form it takes, if we can't see any evidence for it, it will be exactly the same as all the other gods.
Give me a god I can have actual tangible communication with, then we're in business.
The part about does religion cause problems is an open question with many answers. Depends what religion you are talking about for a start. They're not all the same. Some are harmless, some are harmful and everything in between.
If I were to offer you the idea of the belief in God, but with no connection to religious teachings, of any kind, would that be acceptable?
Not a being that humans are created in the image of, but a being of light and unbelievable love.
To atheists, is it the religion part that causes problems?
Just questions, but maybe an answer too.
No. While I loathe the unearned power, authority, and influence of religions like Christianity and Islam, my beliefs run deeper than that— that “God,” by whatever name its believers call it, is an absurd, outdated concept by which they measure whatever the hell they measure. For me, believing in “God” makes no sense, especially since so many of the various “miracles” ascribed to this thing have been debunked by science and other reality, and the debunking continues on.
A “being of light and unbelievable love”? Unbelievable, to be sure.
Religion does cause some problems, but that has nothing whatsoever to do with my disbelief. The world teems with problematic entities that I do not reject as real.
The issue with God - or any other flavor of deity/deities - is that the evidence for their existence comes solely from a whole lot of personal experience (inconsistent, often mutually exclusive, and across a very wide and varying spectrum) and personal incredulity. Basically, deities are bigfoot and sea monsters and vampires all rolled into one, and with less evidence.
This thread and this forum is very revealing of people. Most of us can see the difference among posters: those who seek disunity and complaint, and those trying to seek common ground. The first leave an empty and void legacy of ruin and waste; the latter, hope and attempts at a greater good. Even if you leave God out of the picture, others and possibly the universe will see the difference, and what makes a difference. Some will waste an entire life, and squander much that they have and won't see.
In other words, primarily the people who don't agree with you.
If I were to offer you the idea of the belief in God, but with no connection to religious teachings, of any kind, would that be acceptable?
Not a being that humans are created in the image of, but a being of light and unbelievable love.
To atheists, is it the religion part that causes problems?
Just questions, but maybe an answer too.
I would be right there with you. I rejected religious dogma long ago, but still struggled with the question of God's existence -- for 45 years. Then, I had an epiphany that solved my dilemma irrefutably. Since then, I have had a constant knowledge that not only does God exist, but all that exists exists in God. The knowledge sustains me 24/7/365, throughout all joys, trials, and tribulations.
I can state unequivocally, come to God with no mediators, it's a one-One relationship, and like no other.
No one is forcing, though when one is born into a religion, all the old bottomless pit stuff is somewhat forced onto you, and also, for some odd reason, many schools won't accept pupils that don't belong to a church.
Where do you live where this bolded is a fact? I am not familiar with any such thing anywhere. Are you making this up?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BECLAZONE
My point is, that I can't see any reason to be atheist, just because religions make you feel uncomfortable for whatever reason. I'm not of any particular religion, though, no doubt, I'd be seen as a non believer/atheist, by those that are. I also may have higher standards than many in recognized religions too.
It seems to me you have created for yourself a host of problems. This is not a problem with religion. It is a problem you may need to resolve for yourself.
Anyone can form a religion to explain the mysteries of life. The problem is that certain countries, like the U.S.A., allow their citizens the freedom of religion.
What???
I think it's a problem when "someone" thinks freedom of religion is a problem.
I'm not surprised. No offense to you, star but Christians are horribly uninformed of how the real world works. Christians leaders work hard to keep their constituents uninformed and not asking questions because knowledge is the mortal enemy of Christianity. Now as to my question here are the physiological facts: Now why would God choose to light up the exact same areas of the brain as drugs and sex?
Well, who came first, God or man? Who invented drugs and crack cocaine? It surely wasn't God, the Father of us all... and that includes you and all the other unbelievers.
According to the study, there was no mention of the Mormons receiving God's Divine Love... only that they felt a connection to God. Well, what was their connection? Were they just "thinking" about God? If that gave them such a high, well, God love 'em. I'm not too familiar with their beliefs... only that they are regular church goers.
One of the things that I'm sure you're not aware of is the spirit of God. Check this out:
"All things, mediately or immediately, have their existence and operation and growth in the spirit of God, and only in that spirit. And this spirit is evidenced in many and varied ways in men's experience. Hence, men say that they live and move and have their being in God, meaning only that they live and move and have their being in God's spirit. This spirit is the source of life and light and health and numerous other blessings that men possess and enjoy - the sinner as well as the saint, the poor man as well as the rich, the ignorant as well as the enlightened and educated - and each and all are dependent on this spirit for their being and comfort.
THIS IS THE SPIRIT THAT ALL MEN POSSESS TO A GREATER OR LESSOR DEGREE.
And the brilliant preacher or teacher or orator, possessing this spirit to a greater degree than his less favored brother, depends upon the same spirit. It is universal in its existence and workings, is omnipresent, and may be acquired by all men in this sense: to the degree that their mental receptivity permits.
And this further demonstrates the fact that God, through and by this spirit, is with men always - in the lowest hells, as well as in the highest heavens of the perfect man. It is working continuously, ceaselessly, and always at the call of men, be that call mental or spiritual. It is the thing that controls the universe, of which man's earth is an infinitesimal part. This is the Spirit of God."
I would be right there with you. I rejected religious dogma long ago, but still struggled with the question of God's existence -- for 45 years. Then, I had an epiphany that solved my dilemma irrefutably. Since then, I have had a constant knowledge that not only does God exist, but all that exists exists in God. The knowledge sustains me 24/7/365, throughout all joys, trials, and tribulations.
I can state unequivocally, come to God with no mediators, it's a one-One relationship, and like no other.
I think it's a problem when "someone" thinks freedom of religion is a problem.
I agree with you; however, some will argue that freedom of religion allows people to detract from science.
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