Social Anxiety Support

Lostsoul26 · 02-25-2009, 05:44 PM

Why do people still believe there is a god after a shocking ,gut wrenching tragedy like the Australian bushfires that killed so many. In one of the towns that was burnt to the ground a large group of people ran to a church where they obviously believed they would be safe from the fire. The church burned down. If they had not been religious would they have survived? It almost makes me angry when religious people try to explain why "god" would alow such a disaster. I believe there is no meaning to life, we just exist without fate or destiny. 27000 people die every day in undeveloped countries while filthy rich people think about how make more money for themselves. What is "god's" reason for the mentally ill and disabled or conjoined twins? Why is it not obvious to people that god does not exist?

solasum · 02-25-2009, 05:47 PM

It's hard to believe, isn't it?

Sunshine009 · 02-25-2009, 05:54 PM

A good force does exist but other forces exist too.

bezoomny · 02-25-2009, 05:55 PM

Now that the post is in a different forum, I have no comment. Thank you.

MavenMI6Agent009 · 02-25-2009, 05:56 PM

puts flame suit on

Lostsoul26 · 02-25-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bezoomny

I don't get your point.

You don't believe in God? Congratulations.

Bad things happen in the world? Thank you for telling me that, I might've gone my whole life never realizing.

It seems like you're trying to start a flame war...

Im sorry if my post offends you , that was not my intention.

caithiggs · 02-25-2009, 06:04 PM

I think that it is absolutely impossible to either prove or disprove something that for ages people have been incapable of even DEFINING, letting alone finding empirical evidence for. "God" is a term to describe something so abstract nobody can even agree one what it is, let alone understand it.

Certainly, there is no God in the oversimplified way that MANY fundamentalists have often tried to describe it as. But why argue about that?

People have been being born and dying for billions and billions of years. Horrendous things happen throughout history. It's not something suddenly some oversimplified "god" decided to bestow on us, but it is actually part of the nature of the earth. We are part of earth; we die. If there is a god, I assume god's a part of that too. Our nature wouldn't disprove its existence however.

Toad Licker · 02-25-2009, 06:12 PM

Another religious thread... Oh God, No!

huh · 02-25-2009, 06:50 PM

In before the lock! Hah...sorry, I don't have much to add to this thread. People have all sorts of reasons they believe God exists.

its_Rob · 02-25-2009, 07:00 PM

I find it hard to believe in God too. It's still a pointless thread because it will only cause flame wars.

hyacinth_dragon · 02-25-2009, 07:02 PM

I am agnostic. I don't believe that we will ever really know whether or not a god or gods truely exist thus I have a hard time debating the topic as it seems very circular.

Cerberus · 02-25-2009, 07:12 PM

The OP has been polite. He hasn't flamed or insulted anyone personally. Other people in this thread, on the other hand . . . .

Religious debates are about as pointless as political debates, in that you can argue that most people's minds will not be changed. Thus, acting as though religious debates are more pointless is just special pleading.

Some of you may be tired of this particular topic, but I don't see why that makes people in this thread feel as though they can be rude.

hyacinth_dragon · 02-25-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerberus

The OP has been polite. He hasn't flamed or insulted anyone personally. Other people in this thread, on the other hand . . . .

Religious debates are about as pointless as political debates, in that you can argue that most people's minds will not be changed. Thus, acting as though religious debates are more pointless is just special pleading.

Some of you may be tired of this particular topic, but I don't see why that makes people in this thread feel as though they can be rude.

My comment was a general one stating my opinion, not intended to insult the person who started this thread. My apologizes to those who were offended by it.(my comment).

Eraserhead · 02-25-2009, 07:19 PM

Why should religiously oriented debate be off the table? The question of "God" is not a trivial one and it's worth thinking about and discussing. Why reject the discussion out of hand? Why must it be taboo?

Chrysalii · 02-25-2009, 07:28 PM

In the case you described it would seem to be more of a comfort factor. Like how when a loved one dies people say "He/she is in a better place." Also you imply in your post that belief is of a god as the sole cosmic force, or at the very least an overwhelming force. I suppose, since I never asked about it (thank you SA

), many people that while a good god may be the main force there are other lesser/somewhat equal forces out there. These forces cause these disasters that you reference in your post. Personally I think it's more interesting to look at it that way.
Or in even simpler terms, There is an incompetent god, or a lazy god. Which would explain a lot as well. From what I've observer that even with major religions and their strict dogmas, everyone has their unique interpretation, so there can be many possible answers to your question (which is why I always list my religion as other).
Lots of people are touchy about religion, it's a personal thing unlike politics which is very public.

millenniumman75 · 02-25-2009, 07:30 PM

***Thread Lock Watch***
The obvious reasons have been stated in this thread.......

.......which belongs in Spirituality (or whatever thereof).

Same song and dance, if the Thread Lock Warning goes up, somebody's gettin' infracted!

dontcare · 02-25-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicolay

Why should religiously oriented debate be off the table?

Quote:

Spirituality
Faith based support. NOT for debate.

.

huh · 02-25-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontcare

.

To be fair, this thread was in S&C when that was said. It has since been moved of course...

Perfectionist · 02-25-2009, 08:12 PM

I've found that every "God cannot exist because of horrible disaster X" argument can be countered with an argument of "but God can exist just look at amazing survival story Y".

As long as there are mass disasters and horrible experiences, there will continue to be the rare person that miraculously survives them against all odds. It can be seen both ways, and I think I've accepted that.

dontcare · 02-25-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huh

To be fair, this thread was in S&C when that was said. It has since been moved of course...

ok, I don't want to know then ...
Maybe it can be moved back?

02-25-2009, 05:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lostsoul26 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 77	I do not believe in god Why do people still believe there is a god after a shocking ,gut wrenching tragedy like the Australian bushfires that killed so many. In one of the towns that was burnt to the ground a large group of people ran to a church where they obviously believed they would be safe from the fire. The church burned down. If they had not been religious would they have survived? It almost makes me angry when religious people try to explain why "god" would alow such a disaster. I believe there is no meaning to life, we just exist without fate or destiny. 27000 people die every day in undeveloped countries while filthy rich people think about how make more money for themselves. What is "god's" reason for the mentally ill and disabled or conjoined twins? Why is it not obvious to people that god does not exist?

02-25-2009, 05:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sunshine009 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 1,642	A good force does exist but other forces exist too. __________________ "God grant me the serentity to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference" - serenity prayer

02-25-2009, 05:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
bezoomny Status: the new disease Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mississippi Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 2,814	Now that the post is in a different forum, I have no comment. Thank you. __________________ bravo - echo - zulu - oscar - oscar - mike - november - yankee

02-25-2009, 05:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
MavenMI6Agent009 Status: Cook Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: EL Crapo, Tx Gender: Male Posts: 13,633	puts flame suit on __________________ "The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares." (Henri Nouwen) -------------------------------------------------------

02-25-2009, 06:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Toad Licker Status: Broken Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: A Fruitloop Daydream Gender: Male Age: 44 Posts: 29,594	Another religious thread... Oh God, No! __________________ All will wither, go to sleep The ones you love you may not keep All you touch will fall apart The dreams you kill will break your heart There's no mercy, there's no rest The void will scream within your chest No one knows and no one will So leave this place that makes you Ill - Madder Mortem

02-25-2009, 05:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
solasum Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 914	It's hard to believe, isn't it?

02-25-2009, 06:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
caithiggs Status: n00b Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: no trace Gender: Female Posts: 215	I think that it is absolutely impossible to either prove or disprove something that for ages people have been incapable of even DEFINING, letting alone finding empirical evidence for. "God" is a term to describe something so abstract nobody can even agree one what it is, let alone understand it. Certainly, there is no God in the oversimplified way that MANY fundamentalists have often tried to describe it as. But why argue about that? People have been being born and dying for billions and billions of years. Horrendous things happen throughout history. It's not something suddenly some oversimplified "god" decided to bestow on us, but it is actually part of the nature of the earth. We are part of earth; we die. If there is a god, I assume god's a part of that too. Our nature wouldn't disprove its existence however.

02-25-2009, 06:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
huh Status: Statistical Anomaly Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: WI Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 1,037	In before the lock! Hah...sorry, I don't have much to add to this thread. People have all sorts of reasons they believe God exists.

02-25-2009, 07:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
its_Rob Status: Depressed and homesick Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ft. Bliss, Texas :'( Gender: Male Age: 19 Posts: 323	I find it hard to believe in God too. It's still a pointless thread because it will only cause flame wars.

02-25-2009, 07:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
hyacinth_dragon Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA Gender: Female Age: 26 Posts: 740	I am agnostic. I don't believe that we will ever really know whether or not a god or gods truely exist thus I have a hard time debating the topic as it seems very circular.

02-25-2009, 07:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
Cerberus Status: SAS Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 5,721	The OP has been polite. He hasn't flamed or insulted anyone personally. Other people in this thread, on the other hand . . . . Religious debates are about as pointless as political debates, in that you can argue that most people's minds will not be changed. Thus, acting as though religious debates are more pointless is just special pleading. Some of you may be tired of this particular topic, but I don't see why that makes people in this thread feel as though they can be rude. __________________ "Through the valleys grey Through the shapeless land I walk alone I'm left alone Through the deepest void, a blackened paradise I walk alone, I'm left alone"

02-25-2009, 07:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
Eraserhead Status: Radical Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 2,209	Why should religiously oriented debate be off the table? The question of "God" is not a trivial one and it's worth thinking about and discussing. Why reject the discussion out of hand? Why must it be taboo? __________________ The final page is written in the books of history, as man unleashed his deadly bombs and sent troops overseas. To fight a war which can't be won, it kills the human race. A show of greed and ignorance, man's quest for dominance. My Blog

02-25-2009, 07:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
Chrysalii Status: Obscured By Clouds Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Baldwinsville, NY Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 1,503	In the case you described it would seem to be more of a comfort factor. Like how when a loved one dies people say "He/she is in a better place." Also you imply in your post that belief is of a god as the sole cosmic force, or at the very least an overwhelming force. I suppose, since I never asked about it (thank you SA), many people that while a good god may be the main force there are other lesser/somewhat equal forces out there. These forces cause these disasters that you reference in your post. Personally I think it's more interesting to look at it that way. Or in even simpler terms, There is an incompetent god, or a lazy god. Which would explain a lot as well. From what I've observer that even with major religions and their strict dogmas, everyone has their unique interpretation, so there can be many possible answers to your question (which is why I always list my religion as other). Lots of people are touchy about religion, it's a personal thing unlike politics which is very public. __________________ R.I.P. Nibbles (Mid Summer 2003 - October 21, 2009) Good bye, my bunny, my friend.

02-25-2009, 07:30 PM	#16 (permalink)
millenniumman75 Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dayton-Cincinnati, OH Gender: Male Age: 34 Posts: 38,625	*Thread Lock Watch* The obvious reasons have been stated in this thread....... .......which belongs in Spirituality (or whatever thereof). Same song and dance, if the Thread Lock Warning goes up, somebody's gettin' infracted! __________________ millenniumman75 You are a success story waiting to happen! Live and let live VACUUMS more than a Hoover.... Live and HELP live is better!

02-25-2009, 08:12 PM	#19 (permalink)
Perfectionist Status: Too Cool for School Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At the Hundredth Meridian Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 2,313	I've found that every "God cannot exist because of horrible disaster X" argument can be countered with an argument of "but God can exist just look at amazing survival story Y". As long as there are mass disasters and horrible experiences, there will continue to be the rare person that miraculously survives them against all odds. It can be seen both ways, and I think I've accepted that. __________________ -Oh if Hans Christian Anderson could've had his way with me