Why do you believe in deity?

Yes, I've had prayers answered.
Votes: 9 40.9%
No, I've never had prayers answered.
Votes: 5 22.7%
Yes, I've felt my god's presence during prayer.
Votes: 10 45.5%
No, I've never felt my god's presence during prayer.
Votes: 5 22.7%
Yes, I've met my god in dreams
Votes: 3 13.6%
No, I've never met my god in dreams.
Votes: 9 40.9%
Yes, my god has given me "signs"...through divination, strange "coincidences" etc.
Votes: 12 54.5%
No, I've never been given "signs".
Votes: 5 22.7%
Christianity
Votes: 10 45.5%
Judaism
Votes: 2 9.1%
Islam
Votes: 1 4.5%
Sikhism
Votes: 0 0.0%
Hinduism
Votes: 1 4.5%
Buddhism
Votes: 1 4.5%
Shinto
Votes: 0 0.0%
Wicca
Votes: 0 0.0%
Neopagan religion other
Votes: 2 9.1%
Other
Votes: 6 27.3%

Total voters

22

Why Do You Believe In Deity?

2801 Views 45 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Amocholes, Apr 7, 2009

Neptunus

Discussion Starter · Apr 2, 2009

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.

Status: Not open for further replies.

21 - 40 of 46 Posts

Anxiety75

· #21 · Apr 7, 2009

I can understand your point. But many of these problems are caused by peoples' own greed and their not relying on God. Instead of peace they cause division. A lot of innocent people suffer not because God doesn't care but because people don't listen to him. Also the Bible says at 1 John 5:19 that the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one, Satan. So he is the cause of all the bad. God plans to destroy Satan in order to undo the damage he has caused for thousands of years. god promises a resurrection, including people like your grandmother. (I've lost mine too)

If you want to know more I can PM you, if that's okay. I don't want to offend your own beliefs or make you confused.

scaredtolive said:
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?

veryshyperson

· #22 · Apr 7, 2009

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.

scaredtolive

· #23 · Apr 7, 2009

Anxiety75 said:
I can understand your point. But many of these problems are caused by peoples' own greed and their not relying on God. Instead of peace they cause division. A lot of innocent people suffer not because God doesn't care but because people don't listen to him. Also the Bible says at 1 John 5:19 that the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one, Satan. So he is the cause of all the bad. God plans to destroy Satan in order to undo the damage he has caused for thousands of years. god promises a resurrection, including people like your grandmother. (I've lost mine too)

If you want to know more I can PM you, if that's okay. I don't want to offend your own beliefs or make you confused.

Thanks. I used to be a religious person. When I was a kid I'd get a small chair and use it as a pulpit. My parents used to have some recordings of me preaching on it when I was like 7. I didn't really know what I was talking about at the time though. I guess I'm just angry at how some things have turned out. I've had some other medical problems that don't allow me to go into the profession that I wanted. I suppose it's just misdirected anger. Things have always seemed difficult for me. I guess I just don't understand why.

Neptunus

Discussion Starter · #24 · Apr 7, 2009

veryshyperson said:
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.

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.

veryshyperson

· #25 · Apr 7, 2009

Phoebus said:
Oh bully for you! If you can't stand religion/spirituality, then why are you reading this subforum? Take your hatred elsewhere.

I didn't say I can't stand it and I didn't say I hate anything. (I hate when people randomly take away from something I said or add to something I said that was never there in the first place, so illogical). I am reading this thread because I can and because I want to. I have a right to voice my opinion on anything I want and I have a right to read anything I want without having to justify it to you or anyone else.

Neptunus

Discussion Starter · #26 · Apr 7, 2009

^ 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.

veryshyperson

· #27 · Apr 7, 2009

Phoebus said:
Say what you want, doesn't mean we'll listen...or care for that matter.

Thanks for making a great point for me. I don't even have to say anything else.

Neptunus

Discussion Starter · #28 · Apr 7, 2009

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.

veryshyperson

· #29 · Apr 7, 2009

Phoebus said:
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.

How was I not respectful?

screwjack

· #30 · Apr 7, 2009

Though I respect those that don't believes opinions and they should be able to have their say, always butting in to a thread where you know people have deeply held beliefs and smarmily telling them that they are personally what is wrong with society is disrespectful.

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.

If we always give in to cynicism and have the mentality of "get them before they get us" nothing will ever change in the world.

Neptunus

Discussion Starter · #31 · Apr 7, 2009

screwjack said:
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.

Yes, well said, and thank you.

Veryshyperson said:
How was I not respectful?

Veryshyperson,

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.

veryshyperson

· #32 · Apr 7, 2009

screwjack said:
Though I respect those that don't believes opinions and they should be able to have their say, always butting in to a thread where you know people have deeply held beliefs and smarmily telling them that they are personally what is wrong with society is disrespectful.

It's disrespectful for religious zealots to butt into political matters and scientific matters pronouncing something immoral based upon their ridiculous belief system. Religious zombies butt into every aspect of our lives. I think you can handle me butting into your little thread here. I have as much right to speak as anyone else. Your hurt feelings aren't my top concern.

Scrub-Zero

· #33 · Apr 7, 2009

I'm christian and had prayers answered.
And God probably saved my life...a few times, but since i can't prove it, i won't talk about it.

justpassinby

· #34 · Apr 7, 2009

I've had prayers answered. I'm aware of God's presence when I struggle internally to do the right thing, and also in prayer. More so when I need him. I've had a few miracles. I won't talk about it either though.

Zephyr

· #35 · Apr 7, 2009

veryshyperson said:
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.

You know, that kind of thing wouldn't bother me so much if these people could only show that they're right in their opinions. Reality has a way of flattening all personal objections. Heck, I'd have no trouble even with the Fred Phelps gang, the Westboro Baptist Church, who hold a lot of extreme, hateful opinions. They say that God hates **** (in fact, that's their url). If they could actually somehow show that, you know, there's a god and this god does in fact hate "****" then they'd just be making a factual claim and all of us would have to shut up. Of course, they can't do that, because that's all it is: a religious opinion. And there's no way to show that anyone's religious opinions are better or more truthful than anyone else's. So it amuses me when people want to tell me their particular opinions (luckily that doesn't happen in real life very often) as if I should give a flying ****.

Still, I suppose they have a right to voice their opinions, as long as they aren't being overly disruptive or intrusive. Problem is, there are people that take their religion seriously enough that they have to try to convert everyone. There's some quote in the Bible mandating Christians to bring all the nations of the world under the yoke of Christianity or something like that. That has to rest somewhat uneasily with tolerance and plurality.

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person86

· #36 · Apr 7, 2009

I voted "other" and "no" to everything. I have no specific religion, in fact I used to be quite an atheist, but I have recently found myself praying occasionally, "just in case." You never know what's out there.

justpassinby

· #37 · Apr 7, 2009

Zephyr said:
You know, that kind of thing wouldn't bother me so much if these people could only show that they're right in their opinions. Reality has a way of flattening all personal objections. Heck, I'd have no trouble even with the Fred Phelps gang, the Westboro Baptist Church, who hold a lot of extreme, hateful opinions. They say that God hates **** (in fact, that's their url). If they could actually somehow show that, you know, there's a god and this god does in fact hate "****" then they'd just be making a factual claim and all of us would have to shut up. Of course, they can't do that, because that's all it is: a religious opinion. And there's no way to show that anyone's religious opinions are better or more truthful than anyone else's. So it amuses me when people want to tell me their particular opinions (luckily that doesn't happen in real life very often) as if I should give a flying ****.
Still, I suppose they have a right to voice their opinions, as long as they aren't being overly disruptive or intrusive. Problem is, there are people that take their religion seriously enough that they have to try to convert everyone. There's some quote in the Bible mandating Christians to bring all the nations of the world under the yoke of Christianity or something like that. That has to rest somewhat uneasily with tolerance and plurality.

why are you even commenting then? If I didn't care about something I wouldn't comment either way.

Zephyr

· #38 · Apr 7, 2009

justpassinby said:
why are you even commenting then? If I didn't care about something I wouldn't comment either way.

You misunderstand me. I most certainly do care about people preaching at me - in that, I don't like it. I don't like it if they can't show why I should listen to them. That's why I commented on that person's post. I wouldn't mind it so much, even Fred Phelps getting right into my face, if they could show they're right.

justpassinby

· #39 · Apr 7, 2009

do you realize you have a choice to ignore it?

Zephyr

· #40 · Apr 7, 2009

I have the choice to try to ignore it, of course. I still don't like it. I think it's the pretension that bothers me the most - if these people are pushing opinions on me, then I have to assume that they want me to listen to them. They have nothing to back up what they're saying. Fine. Why should I listen to them? Why should anyone listen to them? What makes them so high and mighty? Just because they say so? I think it's that completely unfounded air of personal infallibility that grates on me.

21 - 40 of 46 Posts

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