I found a good quote to use in this thread...

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts

MoonMan wrote:And on the first day Man created God in his own image.

I just smiled when I saw your signature. xD

Souloe wrote:I meant more the definition part. "Whoever created this universe" can be one definition of He who we call God. But it seems like you have some ideas of your own. Care to share who you think God is?

My definition of a God is the originator of the universe (not necessarily Creation-style), who watches silently over everything and is a normally hidden and passive presence in our lives. No, he didn't make your girlfriend break up with you. The universe was made, you and your girlfriend came along, and then events transpired that resulted in your woman leaving you. He didn't do it. He didn't cause that earthquake in Haiti. He created the universe. Then that earthquake happened. It killed thousands, and He could've stopped it.

But He didn't, because God isn't benign, nor does He desire a perfect universe where there's only absolute happiness. He's fine with things just the way they happen in the long run, because He's God -- what does it REALLY matter to Him? If humanity is irresponsible enough to ruin its only planet by means of environmental destruction and war, the blame is ours to bear, not His.

He doesn't sponsor religion. He doesn't care that you prostate yourself a hundred times daily, or erect idols of Him, or sing hymns in His name wearing your best Sunday clothes. Again, we can choose to do that, but He doesn't ask or demand it of us. If it helps anyone feel better, it's only us -- we do it because we're grateful, not because we expect great gifts if we do it, or thunderbolts from Heaven if we don't.

But He does observe you and does take interest in what you do, on the individual level. You can become aware of Him at any time, and some choose to be grateful toward Him, and some don't. If you are grateful, you'll just know what He wants, and what He disapproves of (like a conscience). Again, that freedom is yours. But if you do decide to accept and embrace Him, He'll make you aware of all your actions, and how they reflect upon your soul. And that supreme awareness of what you're doing makes you want more than anything to live your life nobly and to its fullest; to make the most of what He's given you, without demanding or even asking anything in return.

That's my God, anyway. I don't try to equate Him with any other notion of a God I've ever seen.

MoonMan wrote:I found a good quote to use in this thread...

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts

Dear lord you found something good and managed to be civil about it. Thank you.

Well, I'm in a good mood today.

My answer would be a no.

One day I realized that there is no way to prove if there is a god. If there is, who cares? Enjoy life while you have it.

So, I became an agnostic. My parents response to this decision? Forcing me to go to a fundamental Baptist church in the middle of boondocks. The pastor is the most ignorant, bigoted, dickhead imaginable. Also, he knows where I live. He came to my house one day to make me pray and try to exercise the demons out of me.

So, the only thing that my parents forcing me to go to church has done is forced me further away from religion.

BAAAAAAW TEENAGE ANGST

Cradsbury wrote:My answer would be a no.

One day I realized that there is no way to prove if there is a god. If there is, who cares? Enjoy life while you have it.

So, I became an agnostic. My parents response to this decision? Forcing me to go to a fundamental Baptist church in the middle of boondocks. The pastor is the most ignorant, bigoted, dickhead imaginable. Also, he knows where I live. He came to my house one day to make me pray and try to exercise the demons out of me.

So, the only thing that my parents forcing me to go to church has done is forced me further away from religion.

BAAAAAAW TEENAGE ANGST

Thank you for doing this right. No arguing with anyone, no bashing Theists, just how and why.
Props to everyone else who managed this as well.

(Double Post)

I guess for me its like my old signature said. It's in a conversation:

"Do you believe in god?"
"I want to believe."
"The why don't you?"
"It's not that easy, haven't faith requires leaps of faith-the cerebral acceptance of miracles and the divine. Then there are codes of conduct, the Bible, the Koran, Buddhist scripture...they all have similar requirements...and similar punishments. They say that if I do not live my life according to their code I will go to hell. I can't imagine a god who would rule that way."
"You dodge the question expertly."
"What?"
"I didn't ask if you believe what Man says about god. I asked if you believe in god."
"Well...my mind tells me I will never understand god."
"And the heart?"
"It tells me I'm not meant to."

And that sums up my view.

Vain wrote:Then there are codes of conduct, the Bible, the Koran, Buddhist scripture...they all have similar requirements...and similar punishments.

I take issue with this. I've been a Shakyamuni Buddhist and the precepts espouse morality, but in a fundamentally different way from that of the Abrahamic religions.

Ah, but my point is that they all are similar on the basic level. I didn't mean to say that they are all the same. The similar requirements I meant are that each religion gives a certain code of conduct that you must adhere to. Each code of conduct is based on a moral stand point, but may be of different views. They also all have similar punishments as in the whole fire and brimstone thing or something equally awful if you fail to meet those requirements. I did not make my post to offend anyone, just giving my views.

god wont take action and intervine with us because well hed have to destroy us he loves us there is sa god its hard to believe all the things and volcanoes oceans sea's mountains and tree's came from rocks dont yout tink and well theres proof we all came from the same other so at least we know there is a eve like character.

Vain wrote:"Do you believe in god?"
"I want to believe."
"The why don't you?"
"It's not that easy, haven't faith requires leaps of faith-the cerebral acceptance of miracles and the divine. Then there are codes of conduct, the Bible, the Koran, Buddhist scripture...they all have similar requirements...and similar punishments. They say that if I do not live my life according to their code I will go to hell. I can't imagine a god who would rule that way."
"You dodge the question expertly."
"What?"
"I didn't ask if you believe what Man says about god. I asked if you believe in god."
"Well...my mind tells me I will never understand god."
"And the heart?"
"It tells me I'm not meant to."

That's me in a nutshell. I want nothing more than to believe, but I just wasn't born with the gift of faith.

"Faith is a gift...I have yet to recieve." -Robert Langdon, Angels and Demons

I believe 'God' Is a way of control, domination, and wit.
Wit is required to think of this, it's like the most epic trick, ever.
Domination, Domination over how you think.
Control, Control over what you think.

So really, I see it, as a huge mistake, to even worship the stuff.

To be honest?, i think, that ctulhu, and lovecraftian gods, have an equal chance to be worshipped, if people can believe in the fictional bible?
So can I.

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to go pray to azathoth, Cthulhu, and the great old ones.

Fh'taghn.

That's an interesting viewpoint, GreatOldOneCthulu. All I ask is that you do not say Hasta three times anywhere near me . . . or for that matter on the same planet as me. Pretty please?