Do you believe in a God?

[Kanra Jest]

At least in liberal democratic societies we can choose to either suspend our disbelief, or to not suspend our disbelief in a diety.

But what we can't do is suspend our ability to worship. And whatever we worship, we become.

Some of us worship a diety, and some worship mammon. We worship sex, power, money, property, and honours. But whatever we worship, we become.

I suppose if you worship a thing you worship the god/godess who represents that thing too, in a manner of thought. Now isn't that an interesting concept

 

[citizen cane]

The universe is the way it is, regardless of what we believe.

 

[Stigmata]

I believe it is conceivable for there to exist some sort of cosmic entity that exists beyond the realm of human comprehension.

I get agnosticism; submitting to the idea that there could possibly exist some sort of deity out there that we are unaware of, yet not actively subscribing to any particular belief system. I don't really get atheists, though. It is predicated upon the concept that human's ability to reason and therefore utilize logic and science is completely infallible, yet the very concept of a deity is very much outside of the realm we can calculable -- It always has seemed a little arrogant to me that human assume they have the capability to discern if their is a higher being, that the intelligence of humans has no bounds.

 

[GoggleGirl17]

I entertain the idea of universal consciousness, that everything in the universe is a fragmented projection of itself and that all there is is pure consciousness, but I find spiritual hierarchies and personifications unnecessary and ultimately derivative of the same thing. Either way, I consider this to be intuitive information and not a matter of absolutes, so I am not concerned with whether any of it is true or untrue.

 

[Mole]

The universe is the way it is, regardless of what we believe.

You are right: the universe is the way it is, regardless of what we believe, but the universe depends on how we perceive. This is called the quantum field.

With one perception the universe is a wave, and in another perception the universe is a particle.

 

[Mole]

I entertain the idea of universal consciousness, that everything in the universe is a fragmented projection of itself and that all there is is pure consciousness, but I find spiritual hierarchies and personifications unnecessary and ultimately derivative of the same thing. Either way, I consider this to be intuitive information and not a matter of absolutes, so I am not concerned with whether any of it is true or untrue.

Yes, we can see the microcosm in the macrocosm.

For instance, ancient cities were designed with sacred geometry to reflect the sacred geometry of the heavens.

My city, Canberra, was designed by theosophists who inscribed sacred geometry on the ground to reflect the sacred geometry of astrology, click Washington D.C & Canberra A.C.T Sacred Geometry quick intro tour - YouTube.

 

[Polaris]

As someone with a philosophical bent, I have to believe in God, because God is the sole and ultimate answer to philosophical inquiry. To be an atheist would be to designate philosophy a futile endeavor. Apart from that rather abstract reason for believing in God, I am convinced that God has made his presence known to me in various striking ways throughout my life. I also find the testimony of people who have underwent near death experiences and encountered God compelling.

 

[Lexicon]

I do not, & cannot, actively believe in the existence of any deity. However, as I obviously can’t confirm the non-existence of something merely by its perceived absence, I am open to being wrong.

We’ll see when I’m dead, I guess. Til then, no amount of human opinion, anecdote, or scripture will really be enough to convince me, at this point.

 

[Red Memories]

I believe that man wants there to be a God in the image of himself.

I wonder what the beings several galaxies over look like and want...

Sadly I feel this is what most religion divulged into.

Religion is meant to be about love and transformation of the self into someone moral, stronger, better. Instead man has morphed religion to be, say, and do whatever they like. It irritates me endlessly.

 

[Lark]

Sadly I feel this is what most religion divulged into.

Religion is meant to be about love and transformation of the self into someone moral, stronger, better. Instead man has morphed religion to be, say, and do whatever they like. It irritates me endlessly.

I think you'd be interested in Erich Fromm's books if you think that, he suggested that religion had its origins in a sort of universal, unconscious humanism.

 

[Lark]

I do not, & cannot, actively believe in the existence of any deity. However, as I obviously can’t confirm the non-existence of something merely by its perceived absence, I am open to being wrong.

We’ll see when I’m dead, I guess. Til then, no amount of human opinion, anecdote, or scripture will really be enough to convince me, at this point.

I think the whole existence or non-existence of God question could be besides the point sometimes.

I mean if God exists and is indifferent to humankind surely that's possible too (I would consider it awful too BTW). H P Lovecraft was an atheist but his fiction largely concentrates on the idea of God(s) and monsters existing, largely indifferent to humankind but should they ever notice humankind they're generally cruel and murderous, like a kid pulling the legs of a spider.

Kahil Gibran who wrote the prophet had a saying about if people did not experience paradise in this life they would not in any other. I dont think it was simply a matter of being life affirming like Nietzsche or opposing the whole traditional "pie in the sky" or "jam tomorrow" deferment of life/living/joy. I kind of think if you live a life oblivious to God, or totally indifferent towards God, then you'll have developed in a particular way.

For me its highly analogous to love and social relationships. Maybe even attachment theories. You can theorize about things which might actually be outside of your experience and you can even use that theorizing as a means of avoidance too.

Which I think any committed atheist could take as a psychological rationalization of human need, the whole Fuerbach "man made God, not God made man" idea. That's fine, I believe in living and let live when it comes to these things.

 

[Lexicon]

I think the whole existence or non-existence of God question could be besides the point sometimes.

I think the point is just to live. Deeply. Regardless of whatever else is or isn’t.

Ultimately, I’m just broadly grateful for my existence, but I guess I don’t have any drive to give that gratitude to anyone in particular. All I know is that I’m alive. And, I will die someday. So, I’ll make the most of my time in between now & someday— love, grow, & do my best to be good to others. I’ve seen enough death firsthand that it’s impossible to forget how very brief & precious life is. So I just do my best to live well, however that may be defined.


I don’t really feel the need to look beyond that, these days. That’s more than enough for me. Whatever happy accident, or divine plan in the universe spat me into existence, I am immensely thankful. Mental THANK YOU card filled out & signed, but there’s no one I want or need to actually mail it to— no name for the envelope, if that makes sense.

 

[Bacopa]

It's not so much that I don't believe, it's that I think god doesn't matter.

 

[Kanra Jest]

Sadly I feel this is what most religion divulged into.

Religion is meant to be about love and transformation of the self into someone moral, stronger, better. Instead man has morphed religion to be, say, and do whatever they like. It irritates me endlessly.

Religion should above all be about personal evolution. Actually. Religion is too confining. Spirituality is what Religion should be. And isn't. And spiritual, to me, is the transformation of self and love. Like what you said. Exploration of something greater, external or within, I'd say within is the most important. Above all we must come to terms with Self and be the best we can be. Religion is a useful tool but it can be restricting.

 

[Red Memories]

I think you'd be interested in Erich Fromm's books if you think that, he suggested that religion had its origins in a sort of universal, unconscious humanism.

I'll actually check that out, thanks/

 

[Red Memories]

Religion should above all be about personal evolution. Actually. Religion is too confining. Spirituality is what Religion should be. And isn't. And spiritual, to me, is the transformation of self and love. Like what you said. Exploration of something greater, external or within, I'd say within is the most important. Above all we must come to terms with Self and be the best we can be. Religion is a useful tool but it can be restricting.

I think in my time of being religious I have found religion and spirituality to be two different things entirely. Religion itself is a man-decided rule of faith while spirituality is the actual spiritual connection. And the interesting thing in essence is, I would deem all "spiritual" people to be religious in some way as even without a church they have moral rules and obligations to this innate working. However, not all religious people are actually spiritual. Many people utilize church as a way to look good, a social connection, etc. and care little about the "Spirituality" to it. And there's also the whole issue of warping religion to defend abuses, bigotry, and other harmful beliefs or used to protect very bad people. Or those who use it like a get out of jail free card, hey I went to church on sunday so it doesn't matter what a dirtbag I am the other 6 days of the week.

tl;dr organized religion is a trainwreck.

 

[Kanra Jest]

I think in my time of being religious I have found religion and spirituality to be two different things entirely. Religion itself is a man-decided rule of faith while spirituality is the actual spiritual connection. And the interesting thing in essence is, I would deem all "spiritual" people to be religious in some way as even without a church they have moral rules and obligations to this innate working. However, not all religious people are actually spiritual. Many people utilize church as a way to look good, a social connection, etc. and care little about the "Spirituality" to it. And there's also the whole issue of warping religion to defend abuses, bigotry, and other harmful beliefs or used to protect very bad people. Or those who use it like a get out of jail free card, hey I went to church on sunday so it doesn't matter what a dirtbag I am the other 6 days of the week.

tl;dr organized religion is a trainwreck.

Hmm that's an interesting way of looking at. "In a sense" we can be. I do consider myself spiritual, but never jived well with religious domains finding them too restricting and defined, and too many contradictions or hypocrisy (but good things can also come from it, flawed as it is!). Still, I find them to be different things, yet often blurred together. I don't claim to be correct though, there will always be some that would disagree with me. You are correct in that Church is largely a social event. Mainly what I remember it as. Church is also used politically, as well as what you mentioned on the least fortunate abusive aspects.
.
Organized Religion is Dis-organized. Ironically.

 

[Red Memories]

Hmm that's an interesting way of looking at. "In a sense" we can be. I do consider myself spiritual, but never jived well with religious domains finding them too restricting and defined, and too many contradictions or hypocrisy (but good things can also come from it, flawed as it is!). Still, I find them to be different things, yet often blurred together. I don't claim to be correct though, there will always be some that would disagree with me. You are correct in that Church is largely a social event. Mainly what I remember it as. Church is also used politically, as well as what you mentioned on the least fortunate abusive aspects.
.
Organized Religion is Dis-organized. Ironically.

Well the thing about true spirituality is that is more about finding the rules and bindings for your specific state rather than the state of others. What vices you have may be completely different from mine entirely, in which your spirit needs different aids than mine would. So in a sense spirituality is true religion to me, because it is the untampered belonging within a realm of supernatural.
"Religion" is organized like a factory chain in which you make rules and ideas which will supposedly help and fix everyone one way which does not work. It is more often an excuse then anything. People using historical books to decide what people should live like today when God gives free will and therefore isn't going to take any rights from you so yeah...people can organize piece of shit philosophies and do so every day. Walk in most churches. XD

ps: for anyone thinking I'm rude here I was a devout Catholic and if anyone can tell you about a shit church, let me tell you about my former church. I can say it lol.

 

[Kanra Jest]

Well the thing about true spirituality is that is more about finding the rules and bindings for your specific state rather than the state of others. What vices you have may be completely different from mine entirely, in which your spirit needs different aids than mine would. So in a sense spirituality is true religion to me, because it is the untampered belonging within a realm of supernatural.
"Religion" is organized like a factory chain in which you make rules and ideas which will supposedly help and fix everyone one way which does not work. It is more often an excuse then anything. People using historical books to decide what people should live like today when God gives free will and therefore isn't going to take any rights from you so yeah...people can organize piece of shit philosophies and do so every day. Walk in most churches. XD

ps: for anyone thinking I'm rude here I was a devout Catholic and if anyone can tell you about a shit church, let me tell you about my former church. I can say it lol.

That's because everyone is a little different and one size doesn't fit all. Not everyone works the same, or has the same struggles, or the exact same "solution" or at least that would assume a LOT if we did. I just don't like the term religion in general, because of it's negative connotations and the general religion understanding that overpowers our world is so enveloping. Like Catholicism for example if we're throwing those out for the heck of it. Or Christian. I was raised a Christian and taught the bible was the infallible word of God and to go to church. Though the book seemed kind of like an idol to me (no offense to anyone who believes in it, that's cool, just idk)blah blah. Where was I going with this?

Oh yeah

Free will. Do what thou wilt? Something of the sort. Within reason, anyway. Live, Love, Learn, Evolve. Kind of the positive fruit that can overall be learned.

Make inner use of knowledge, or "gnosis" as I like to call it.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

No, but I think that universal consciousness may be a property of the universe, alongside gravity and energy. Obviously we can not yet prove this. If true, then in some sense, the idea of a God as related by Krishnamurti and Spinoza may prove correct.

Do I believe in the anthropocentrized, anthropomorphized idea of some God with ego and vanity? NO. God would be unbound by such limitations, as those are primarily a product or consequence of humans' limitations--we are faced with physical, chemical, mental limitations, and as such our ideas of God tend to be bound and/or defined by those limitations.

Universal consciousness would not be like anything we could imagine through our own narrow lens of consciousness. The idea of God, especially that found in the ancient religions of the Greeks and Egyptians, as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, is completely wrong, it's just a projection of human/animal pettiness, instinct and ego.