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Post by Sizzle on Jan 25, 2018 16:14:28 GMT -5
I try to only believe in what I can see. So no ghosts or gods or aliens for me. I would believe if somebody had proof, but thousands of years have gone by and I don't see squat. I'll stick with science. Lame Kevin Sorbo movies don't cut the mustard. do you believe in life that isn't of the earth?
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Post by bad guy™ on Jan 25, 2018 16:22:58 GMT -5
I love religions. But I’m not religious myself. I’ve always been into researching religion and history since I was quite young. I took a religion class in high school. It was basically just bare bones "how it was founded" without going into any real scripture for any of them. Explained that the first human signs of religion came about 10k years ago when there's evidence of humans burying the dead instead of burning. Explained the earthly origins of the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam and where they branched while still acknowledging important figures...like Muhammad is a prophet in all three but only meaningful in two, Jesus was an acknowledged prophet in Judaism and Islam but the central figure of Christianity etc) without getting into the parables like the parting of the Red Sea/900 year old earthly angel etc. Explained the ties of the Eastern religions and how they got their starts, how the Romans ripped off the Greeks among other things. It was a fascinating class. Unfortunately, not all of the discussions remained open minded. It was supposed to be open ended to learn about them, not discuss which was right and wrong...which didn't really work. My hope for humanity is an Australian TV commercial. If I find it I'll link it. It was a woman at the head of the table and surrounding her were all the major Godly figures, even hit Scientology. They handled them all with respect and a bit of comedy (Muhammad texting Jesus telling him he was picking up his children at daycare so he couldn't make dinner, referencing the Islamic belief that we are supposedly all his descends, and respecting that Muhammad's face is to never be seen). Zeus says the elephant in the room needs addressed (poking fun at the Indian God who was at the table telling him that joke was older than Buddha) and asks why the woman was Atheist. She said that's the fastest growing religious choice in Australia, but there was no reason they couldn't all come together for dinner. Because the one thing no major religion book prohibits? Eating lamb. It was a freaking commercial for a lamb meat company. And it was phenomenal.
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Post by bad guy™ on Jan 25, 2018 16:24:49 GMT -5
Born and raised a Catholic. I'm of the belief that SOMETHING has to be out there, because while science explains just about everything...how the hell did the nothingness get the materials for the Big Bang? Something had to put 'em there. Regarding my Catholicism, I decided long ago that God may well be real; but there shouldn't need to be a five hundred word book (for ANY religion) telling us to not be dicks, likewise an hour or two each weekend should not leave a person feeling worse about themselves and in full repentance mode for even something minuscule, which was always how I felt in church. You'd think being decent people regardless of who ya think made ya would be inherent to us all as, if nothing else, a self-preservation skill...but...well...I know that to be wrong in many cases, but I remain optimistic nonetheless despite being a natural pessimist. And here's the ironic part, the "bet ya didn't know that" about your least friendly admin: I was actually in line to go to St. Vincent's Seminary and become a priest. At one point, my conviction was that strong. You'd never know it now looking at me, chain smoker, drinker, foul-mouthed and tatted to the nines on my back. People get shocked when they hear that. I always liked this theory when I was younger. But then on the flip side of that, you could wonder why at that particular moment did God decide to create the universe. It makes my head hurt trying to put the concept of time pre-Big Bang/the events of Genesis together haha. Reminds me of a comic strip I saw forever ago of God looking down on earth during the Jurassic period, looking at the Bible, looking down at Earth, then back at the Bible and face palming, asking how he could forget the freaking dinosaurs. It's interesting to think about for sure.
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Post by Jack Specific on Jan 25, 2018 16:27:20 GMT -5
Born and raised a Catholic. I'm of the belief that SOMETHING has to be out there, because while science explains just about everything...how the hell did the nothingness get the materials for the Big Bang? Something had to put 'em there. Regarding my Catholicism, I decided long ago that God may well be real; but there shouldn't need to be a five hundred word book (for ANY religion) telling us to not be dicks, likewise an hour or two each weekend should not leave a person feeling worse about themselves and in full repentance mode for even something minuscule, which was always how I felt in church. You'd think being decent people regardless of who ya think made ya would be inherent to us all as, if nothing else, a self-preservation skill...but...well...I know that to be wrong in many cases, but I remain optimistic nonetheless despite being a natural pessimist. And here's the ironic part, the "bet ya didn't know that" about your least friendly admin: I was actually in line to go to St. Vincent's Seminary and become a priest. At one point, my conviction was that strong. You'd never know it now looking at me, chain smoker, drinker, foul-mouthed and tatted to the nines on my back. People get shocked when they hear that. We can surmise that something had to come from nothing though. Whether it be god/gods or the Big Bang. Regardless of what actually is Creation, it's amazing and vast. Time, space, dark matter and creation itself.
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enigmafigs
Superstar
Sup.
Joined on: Nov 26, 2017 13:37:26 GMT -5
Posts: 648
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Post by enigmafigs on Jan 25, 2018 16:32:39 GMT -5
I try to only believe in what I can see. So no ghosts or gods or aliens for me. I would believe if somebody had proof, but thousands of years have gone by and I don't see squat. I'll stick with science. Lame Kevin Sorbo movies don't cut the mustard. Not a believer in gods or ghosts but I believe aliens are out there. Surely there can't be just one planet out of possibly millions that has life. In fact, aliens could make a good discussion as a seperate topic. Might make a thread on that in the future.
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RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,581
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Post by RedDevil on Jan 25, 2018 16:54:42 GMT -5
Confirmed atheist here - agnostic might be a bit closer as I concede there might be a very slight, slight chance there’s something in it, but it’s so slight in my view that I feel more comfortable with the word atheist.
I went to a Church of England school and so at a young age was indoctrinated with all the usual stuff you’d expect, which I swallowed as you’d expect a kid to do, until I reached the age where I actually thought about some of the Bible stories and all the related teachings and couldn't make any of it add-up. All the (I’m sure) well-meaning teachers and clergy couldn’t give me decent answers and in the end didn’t want to engage in such talk with an 10 year old, so I basically stopped listening to them. Since then I’ve approached such matters with a polite detachment; “each to their own”- type of thing
20+ years on and I’m no closer to seeing how any of it makes sense, or commands such firm loyalty.
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Post by disorder on Jan 25, 2018 17:25:53 GMT -5
Card carrying member of the satanic temple
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Post by King Richius on Jan 25, 2018 18:09:02 GMT -5
I always liked this theory when I was younger. But then on the flip side of that, you could wonder why at that particular moment did God decide to create the universe. It makes my head hurt trying to put the concept of time pre-Big Bang/the events of Genesis together haha. Reminds me of a comic strip I saw forever ago of God looking down on earth during the Jurassic period, looking at the Bible, looking down at Earth, then back at the Bible and face palming, asking how he could forget the freaking dinosaurs. It's interesting to think about for sure. This reminds me of a Piers Anthony book where he tries to rationalize Genesis with scientific theory. It was an entire chapter in And Eternity but much of it came down to one simple question: who says a day is 24 hours long for God?
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Post by Grumpyoldman on Jan 25, 2018 18:33:25 GMT -5
I was raised Roman Catholic. Went to church every Sunday, bla bla bla. My parents made my brothers & sisters go to catechism (90 minute Catholic class every Wednesday night). When I was 9, I asked my catechism teacher if pets went to heaven. She replied "No. They have no souls. They rot in the ground when they're buried."
Having just lost a cat, I was stunned & appalled by her answer. I figured if there were no pets in heaven, I didn't want to go there.
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Post by Nivro™ on Jan 25, 2018 18:57:10 GMT -5
Im more down the agnostic side but I would lean more to Christianity then I would being Atheist. Simply because I pull the positives from Christianity that I think helps someone be a better person. For instance, the 10 Commandments are a very positive thing. Regardless if you're religious or not if you followed those (or at least the majority of them) you'd just in general be a better person. Its one reason why I never understand these non religious people getting up in arms about them being posted places. Its simply positive ideas/aspects to live by. Its not like its saying "Thou shalt not be gay" or "Thy woman belongs in the kitchen"....Nothing is offensive about them and the ones that get offended by them are just giant va-jay jays.
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Post by Planktung on Jan 25, 2018 20:22:58 GMT -5
The only person I pray to is The Miz.
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Post by jayrod2009 on Jan 25, 2018 21:45:56 GMT -5
I try to only believe in what I can see. So no ghosts or gods or aliens for me. I would believe if somebody had proof, but thousands of years have gone by and I don't see squat. I'll stick with science. Lame Kevin Sorbo movies don't cut the mustard. I have a theory on ghosts being riffs in time. Although time is man made and technically doesn’t exist, its hard to actually pin point “proof” per say. But, if you look past generic haunts, and look at what I would consider scientific documentation on spiritual activity, its almost like a ripple in time. Conjoining a past moment with a current. It seems in most cases, the fracture in time contains a person doing a task. Most of the time its walking from point A to B, while completely appearing out of thin air on its journey. I find that idea much more fascinating. Cause, you could conjoin that theory with the folding paper time travel theory and come to the conclusion that these entities are time travelers, and are stuck in a pattern. Then take that theory and stitch deja vu into it, and you have a nice little piece of science and continuity. Oh and uh, not a believer in the religion gimmick. However, its a hell of a money maker!
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Post by jayrod2009 on Jan 25, 2018 21:55:53 GMT -5
I can't believe this hasn't gotten locked yet. Its a respectful crowd so far. Although I’m not religious, I have zero issue with others religious beliefs and respect their personal outlook on life.
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Post by theMOESIAH on Jan 25, 2018 21:58:24 GMT -5
I can't believe this hasn't gotten locked yet. Its a respectful crowd so far. Although I’m not religious, I have zero issue with others religious beliefs and respect their personal outlook on life. I'm a big believer in the 11th commandment. I like to call it the Carlin Commandment after it's creator, George Carlin: Keep thy religion to thine self.
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Post by BCizzle on Jan 25, 2018 22:06:35 GMT -5
I try to only believe in what I can see. So no ghosts or gods or aliens for me. I would believe if somebody had proof, but thousands of years have gone by and I don't see squat. I'll stick with science. Lame Kevin Sorbo movies don't cut the mustard. do you believe in life that isn't of the earth? Well, there have been tons of scientists looking for life in the universe, with their telescopes and space probes, and they've covered a lot of space and found nothing. So there might be something somewhere, but it's so far away that we'll probably never see it. So it doesn't seem to be relevant. I feel the same way about God and Heaven and Hell. We all live on Earth - we know that's real. Worrying about an afterlife that nobody has come close to proving seems absurd to me - people should focus on the world we have.
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Deleted
Joined on: Oct 6, 2024 17:51:00 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2018 22:41:56 GMT -5
I'm Catholic, but I tend to side more with evangelicals politically. I also very much admire Dennis Prager who is Jewish.
Logic argues in favor of a Creator. Something, i.e. existence, can't come from nothing. There's also such great specificity in the conditions necessary for life, atmospheric composition, distance from the Sun. That favors the idea of an intelligent design to existence. Also, if there's no divine judge of our behavior in life, then there's no reason to be good, and, really, life is pointless.
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Post by jayrod2009 on Jan 25, 2018 23:20:30 GMT -5
do you believe in life that isn't of the earth? Well, there have been tons of scientists looking for life in the universe, with their telescopes and space probes, and they've covered a lot of space and found nothing. So there might be something somewhere, but it's so far away that we'll probably never see it. So it doesn't seem to be relevant. I feel the same way about God and Heaven and Hell. We all live on Earth - we know that's real. Worrying about an afterlife that nobody has come close to proving seems absurd to me - people should focus on the world we have. Super telescopes are still only magnifying very very very large objects to pin head size visuals. We are asking to find sonething that would be the fraction of a pin head in scale of the universe to prove lives existence else where. Thats almost like playing Where’s Waldo with ant sized people on the global map. The releases fron the government and nasa last year were so intriguing though. To know contact in some shape had been made in the past 40 years is mind boggling. Our technology alone is proof we have stumbled across some intersteller shit. Anyone can look at the history of man, or “humans” for the sensitive kind, and see the advances we have made only in the past 100 years are a small leap in comparison to our species actual existence. Humans are what? 10,000-25,000 years old? In that span we went from cave dwelings to carpenters to stone etchers and steel creators in thousands of yeard, to only go from horse and buggy to self driving card, flight, and space exploration in 100 years. Tesla and Einstein can all puff their smart brainchests, but clearly we have had help beyond the mental capacity of even the smartest group on this planet.
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Post by BSR on Jan 26, 2018 2:37:07 GMT -5
I believe in God, but organized religion is a sham.
It's just a few people each church pushing their own agendas.
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Jimmy Toucan (+ The Flipout)
Superstar
'They should just give us album of the year...right now.'
Joined on: Aug 7, 2016 17:04:33 GMT -5
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Post by Jimmy Toucan (+ The Flipout) on Jan 26, 2018 5:54:44 GMT -5
I believe in humanity’s ability to question things we don’t understand. So not religious in any sense, and perhaps not even spiritual, but rather a feeling of overwhelming befuddlement in how things on this rock are how they are, why they are why they are, and how everything is governed by time.
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SweetPrinceBH
Mid-Carder
The Pretty Reckless
Joined on: Apr 21, 2016 10:15:28 GMT -5
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Post by SweetPrinceBH on Jan 26, 2018 9:20:17 GMT -5
I didn't expect this thread to last, so I'll give a bit more of a detailed response.
I do believe that there's something beyond this life, but not necessarily an all knowing being in the clouds. The theory that I've considered the most is reincarnation, which would mean that if God exists, you're never gonna see him because the second you die, you're born again.
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