^ Thank you for answering. 
Why Do You Believe In Deity?
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.
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.
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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.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.
Care to contribute something positive to this thread instead of calling other people's beliefs silly?
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.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.
Ah well, no harm.Huh sorry but I didn't see that anywhere on the poll or your op about elaborating.
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.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.
Thank you, though, for sharing your views in a more respectful manner.
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.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 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 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
Although I disagree with the "not good enough" part, I appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
Believe me, easier said than done. :yesknow 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 -__;;
So sorry for your loss.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?
:squeeze But that's a whole new can of worms.
And you are entitled to your beliefs. But if you can't stand religion/spirituality, then why are you reading this subforum? Seems to me you're trying to shove your propraganda down *our* throats, which makes you no better than the zealots. So take your anger and disdain elsewhere.I believe that anyone who professes their belief in some "deity" is a complete and utter fool. These are my opinions and I have every right to voice them as I please, just as every religious zealot/nut has the right to shove his or her religious propaganda down my throat. Too many times I see preachers on the corners of streets and neighborhoods holding their signs up proudly or yelling to the masses of how Jesus or some other phony-baloney supernatural, superhero is going to save them. Where are the voices of reason in these places shouting back at these ignorant people? We are a progressive and intellectual people, are we not? When will we finally grow up and let go of these fairy tales? I believe in the deity of reason and I hope that one day he will annihilate all the ignorance and illogical thinking that exists in our world. Alas, I am a complete and utter fool for believing in such a thing.
^ Well, unfortunately, you replied before I could reword my last post more delicately. Say what you want, doesn't mean we'll listen...or care for that matter.
Oops, ya' got me! Guess I should have said "I" instead of "we." And, btw, I meant just YOU. I only listen to respectful people.
Yes, well said, and thank you.You can be rational and believe in a deity. As you can be a realist and expect the worst while still hoping for the best. God dosen't even have to be a belief in the creator, it can mean the human family transcending all hatred and fear, becoming one in love. A point of view about life.
Veryshyperson,Veryshyperson said:How was I not respectful?
You know how. Go back and read the first post in this thread...carefully. I should have recommended doing that in the first place, instead of letting my temper get the best of me. Ah well, lesson learned.
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