Why Do You Believe In Deity?

[Neptunus]

Inspired by the "Thinking About God" thread...

Why do you believe in your god/goddess(s)?


<Also, see the included poll> Feel free to elaborate on the questions.

*Note- This is for people who DO believe in deity. Please do not turn this thread into an atheism vs. theism flame war.

[Anxiety75]

I have a book called 'Mankind's Search for God'. It talks about many of these beliefs. I've learned a lot about them.

I am a Christian.
Yes, I have had prayers answered.
Yes, I have felt God's spirit present during or after prayer.

[Neptunus]

^ Thank you for answering.

[kpiper0101]

I believe all my prayers are answered; I just don't always get my way! But yes, I have gotten what I asked for many, many times, and I have often felt the presence of God when I pray. I'm Catholic.

[screwjack]

I'm not sure this poll is so accurate. Some people don't need any signs or divine intervention to believe in their concept of God, being here is enough evidence. But then I think the notion of ascribing the creator a gender and thinking he's some white haired dude in the sky is silly.

[kpiper0101]

Originally Posted by screwjack

I'm not sure this poll is so accurate. Some people don't need any signs or divine intervention to believe in their concept of God, being here is enough evidence. But then I think the notion of ascribing the creator a gender and thinking he's some white haired dude in the sky is silly.

I agree with that. I think it's an attempt to understand why people believe. Spiritual things are difficult to define in earthly terms. I refer to my higher power as He, but not so much as a reference to gender, just a lack of pronouns in the English language -- "it" sounds like an inanimate object to me. We're limited by our humanness.

[Sunshine009]

I'm not any religion. I believe in a higher power.

[Neptunus]

Originally Posted by screwjack

I'm not sure this poll is so accurate. Some people don't need any signs or divine intervention to believe in their concept of God, being here is enough evidence. But then I think the notion of ascribing the creator a gender and thinking he's some white haired dude in the sky is silly.

See "no, I've never had my prayers answered and/or received "signs" AND "please elaborate." If you don't assign gender to your deity, then you can...well...elaborate on that! As for the no religion part, that's why there's the "other" option.

Care to contribute something positive to this thread instead of calling other people's beliefs silly?

[Neptunus]

Originally Posted by kpiper0101

I agree with that. I think it's an attempt to understand why people believe. Spiritual things are difficult to define in earthly terms. I refer to my higher power as He, but not so much as a reference to gender, just a lack of pronouns in the English language -- "it" sounds like an inanimate object to me. We're limited by our humanness.

And I agree, which is why this little internet poll is (and has to be) general in nature. It's not an attempt to prove/disprove belief, just created (no pun intended) for curiosity's sake.

[screwjack]

Originally Posted by Phoebus

See "no, I've never had my prayers answered and/or received "signs" AND "please elaborate." If you don't assign gender to your deity, then you can...well...elaborate on that! As for the no religion part, that's why there's the "other" option.

Huh sorry but I didn't see that anywhere on the poll or your op about elaborating.

Care to contribute something positive to this thread instead of calling other people's beliefs silly?

Sure. The word God I think has lost true meaning. I believe that the ineffable is trully the ineffable to know God, to be one with the spirit of God is not something you can talk about or proletyze or read about you feel it in you and experience it. Why would something that created the universe have need for a gender? But anyways it's just the buddhist in me showing, I may find that particular belief silly but I don't disrespect someone or their beliefs for having it. I'm sure my idea of enlightenment and karma seems equally silly to them.

[Sloppy Joe]

Jewish, had prayers answered, felt presence, I suppose there was "signs" - though I don't like that way of putting it. No dreams.

[striker]

The absolute is said to be formless, whereas the human mind thinks in terms of symbols.
The Deity then becomes a symbol for the human mind to focus on the formless.

[Great.]

I'm agnostic - I think it is likely there is a god but I don't claim any religion. I've had "coincidences" that are too coincidental to be anything but from god.

[Neptunus]

Huh sorry but I didn't see that anywhere on the poll or your op about elaborating.

Ah well, no harm.

Originally Posted by screwjack

Sure. The word God I think has lost true meaning. I believe that the ineffable is trully the ineffable to know God, to be one with the spirit of God is not something you can talk about or proletyze or read about you feel it in you and experience it. Why would something that created the universe have need for a gender? But anyways it's just the buddhist in me showing, I may find that particular belief silly but I don't disrespect someone or their beliefs for having it. I'm sure my idea of enlightenment and karma seems equally silly to them.

Not so silly considering the existence of gender in nature. And what makes you so certain that there's just one "God", and that he/she/it created the Universe? Maybe there's one Uber God and many underlings...or maybe there's multiple creators. But I guess that's the "polytheist" in me showing.

Thank you, though, for sharing your views in a more respectful manner.

[eagleheart]

Honestly, I'm afraid to even post about this, because people get sooo catty and confrontational about the littlest things, let alone religious beliefs and personal worldviews.

I just joined a board for a particular faith tradition (for lack of a better term) and now I don't even want to post there anymore because someone joined and I guess what i post isn't good enough. I was just trying to say hello. I don't go onto atheist boards and criticize people's signatures because they don't measure up to my worldview. So I thought for a few minutes and then changed it to a Mägo de Oz lyric.

I don't even really think I'm good enough for God, if God exists/existed, which I won't even talk any further about whether/what I believe in God or not, because everything I read suggests to me that it would just trigger a round of *****ing. Definitely not good enough for people.

[scaredtolive]

I stopped believing when my grandmother died. I still haven't made peace with the big man on that one. Probably should. Not to offend anyone but the problem I have when I look at the world is that if there is a god, how could there be so much evil in the world? People starving, people killing each other over ethnic and religious differences, women and children sold into slavery. I look at these things and I think (not to blaspheme) but if I was God I wouldn't allow these things to exist. So if there is a God why does he/she whatever allow these things? Shouldn't his/her sympathies far exceed mine?

[Neptunus]

Originally Posted by eagleheart

Honestly, I'm afraid to even post about this, because people get sooo catty and confrontational about the littlest things, let alone religious beliefs and personal worldviews.

Hopefully my previous responses in this thread didn't make you feel that way. My apologies to everyone if I came off a bit harsh.

I just joined a board for a particular faith tradition (for lack of a better term) and now I don't even want to post there anymore because someone joined and I guess what i post isn't good enough. I was just trying to say hello. I don't go onto atheist boards and criticize people's signatures because they don't measure up to my worldview. So I thought for a few minutes and then changed it to a Mägo de Oz lyric.

I know how you feel. I've left several "faith specific yahoo groups" and boards for the same reason. Too much infighting and negativity. I *almost* let a few bad apples "wreck" my spirituality. Then I realized...they don't matter. Only *my* relationship with the divine matters. I've decided that after I've worked on my self-esteem for a while, and mastered my studies, then maybe I'll rejoin...Not to fight, but to be able to stand my ground without getting hurt so easily.

I don't even really think I'm good enough for God, if God exists/existed, which I won't even talk any further about whether/what I believe in God or not, because everything I read suggests to me that it would just trigger a round of *****ing. Definitely not good enough for people

.

Although I disagree with the "not good enough" part, I appreciate your thoughts on the subject.

[eagleheart]

Originally Posted by Phoebus

Hopefully my previous responses in this thread didn't make you feel that way. My apologies to everyone if I came off a bit harsh.

Oh my goodness, not at all! That didn't even enter into my head. No worries.

I know how you feel. I've left several "faith specific yahoo groups" and boards for the same reason. Too much infighting and negativity. I *almost* let a few bad apples "wreck" my spirituality. Then I realized...they don't matter. Only *my* relationship with the divine matters. I've decided that after I've worked on my self-esteem for a while, and mastered my studies, then maybe I'll rejoin...Not to fight, but to be able to stand my ground without getting hurt so easily.

Thanks for sharing that. I wish I was more like this -__;;

Although I disagree with the "not good enough" part, I appreciate your thoughts on the subject.

Thanks.

[Neptunus]

know how you feel. I've left several "faith specific yahoo groups" and boards for the same reason. Too much infighting and negativity. I *almost* let a few bad apples "wreck" my spirituality. Then I realized...they don't matter. Only *my* relationship with the divine matters. I've decided that after I've worked on my self-esteem for a while, and mastered my studies, then maybe I'll rejoin...Not to fight, but to be able to stand my ground without getting hurt so easily.

Believe me, easier said than done.

[Neptunus]

Originally Posted by scaredtolive

I stopped believing when my grandmother died. I still haven't made peace with the big man on that one. Probably should. Not to offend anyone but the problem I have when I look at the world is that if there is a god, how could there be so much evil in the world? People starving, people killing each other over ethnic and religious differences, women and children sold into slavery. I look at these things and I think (not to blaspheme) but if I was God I wouldn't allow these things to exist. So if there is a God why does he/she whatever allow these things? Shouldn't his/her sympathies far exceed mine?

So sorry for your loss. But that's a whole new can of worms.