Is there really a god?

[quankanne]

you're asking questions, some pretty tough ones to answer, too, so I think you're doing a good job of helping us to put into words what our faith is about. I'm sorry that it doesn't make sense to you right now, but don't ever stop asking! I think the more you think about it and open yourself up to the possibility, the greater the chance that something with click into place.

 

I think as far as faith goes, you're looking at it from a practical, "feel it, see it, breath it" aspect, so our belief in God doesn't make sense. Again, you're taking the time to ask, so something is definitely there. At least in my way of thinking!

 

Really, this is very insightful.

 

thanks, O! Sometimes I feel like I'm being very Franciscan in my outlook and should be outside hugging trees after each post :laugh:

[Oh really, now...]

you're asking questions, some pretty tough ones to answer, too, so I think you're doing a good job of helping us to put into words what our faith is about. I'm sorry that it doesn't make sense to you right now, but don't ever stop asking!

Yeah. This is why I got angry at Apex - it is not the seeker's role to tell other seeker what the One Right Path is; we can only display our personal paths for inspection, in the hopes that others will be able to appreciate what value we get from those paths.

Sometimes I feel like I'm being very Franciscan in my outlook and should be outside hugging trees after each post :laugh:

Well, I'd say you're as much like the Franciscans at Saint Brighid's as the San Franciscans in San Francisco. Okay, bad pun.

Seriously though, we may be the iconic liberal, leftist American city, but we're not all hippies. There are plenty of goths, punks, ravers, all-around fruitcakes, emo-kids, artsy-fartsy types.. a ton of Asian street gangers, blacks and hispanics with their associated subcultural types.. even Normal People! Sometimes, though, I seriously feel like this walking down the street:

=me =probably human, but I'm not quite sure

 

:bunny: :bunny: :bunny:

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[Toni_no12002]

There are so many religions.which one is the right one i guess everyone will disagree with this question but there must be one right religion

[Oh really, now...]

there must be one right religion

Whatever makes you think that? A number of major world religions - Buddhism and Hinduism included - firmly hold the belief that there *is* no one right religion.

[Pocky]

Yes maybe i still am on square one but something like this is very hard to digest.Your talking about someone who no one has actually seen.Would you believe that quickly if you where me?

 

Most people are ill-equipped to answer questions based on the validity of religious beliefs. Generally speaking, the majority only know enough to support their own belief and aren't educated beyond their own view. I don't think you're going to find your answers here.

 

If you really are interested in religion; why it exists and what each religion teaches then I suggest you start reading outside this forum. I can give you a long list of books that relate to religion; mainly I've focused on Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, but if there are alternate religions you are interested I can definitely get a great resource list for you.

 

Again - if you want to understand why religion exists, I'd suggest reading the book I've already referred; some hold the theory that religion exists because it supports the needs of a society , some hold the theory that it exists because of repressed sexual thoughts and guilt caused by actions in the earliest civilizations, some hold the theory that religion exists because it supports inequality and distracts the poverty and lower classes from realizing that the upper classes are controlling them, some hold the theory that religion exists because our bodies have a gene that force us into a communal relationship with others since community was imperative for our survival as a species.

 

There are many theories as to why religion exists and there are many different religious beliefs; you'll need to research if you want to find the answers you're seeking.

 

My one post a day for Tan

[Oh really, now...]

I see you are reading Martin Buber! He's a favorite of mine.

[newbby]

i think most if not all religions have a similar truth at their core, messages get misinterpreted over time. you dont have to be religious to believe in god though.

[quankanne]

There are so many religions.which one is the right one i guess everyone will disagree with this question but there must be one right religion

 

maybe the point at which to start is to find out where you fall in, rather than if you do or not. There's a quiz someplace about "what religion am I" based on questions about your thoughts and mindsets. I think the times I've taken it, Roman Catholicism was repeated 3rd or 4th on my list, which surprised me, because that's the faith I claim. But the quiz showed me that there were faiths that reflected my beliefs much better than the one I know. I'll see if I can hunt it up for you ...

 

Franciscans: heee ... O, images of some of the sweet, practical if sometimes otherworldly religious popped into my head when I joked about the tree-hugging!!! I've not had the privilege of meeting anyone from the City by the Bay (when the lights go down in the ci-tay la la laa)

[ButtonPusher]

There are so many religions.which one is the right one i guess everyone will disagree with this question but there must be one right religion

I think this is absolutely correct. There is only "one" real religion. It's just that we all approach it from different paths.

 

Whatever makes you think that? A number of major world religions - Buddhism and Hinduism included - firmly hold the belief that there *is* no one right religion.

The buddha actually said, when asked what he thought of other religions, that any religion that leads to enlightenment is the right religion. Call it enlightenment, "entering heaven", attaining the divine state etc, the point is that the path of any religion ultimately leads to the same place.

[Toni_no12002]

Whn i asked the question i meant because some claim that one god is right and another claims another is right.So who do you go for?If you go for one then that on might not be the right one.I dont fully know what religions expect of you but sometimes i think they ask too much.

 

One thing that annoys me is christanings.People get there kids christened when they are babies but how do they know they will choose that religion?

 

I found out that my nannas funeral wasnt a religious one.Does that mean she wont go to heaven?

 

Can i ask a question and it will seem stupid but ive said something about it in other threads.

Everyone who id religious here,do you watch porn?In the eyes of the bible that is a sin.I think that nowadays its very hard to be totally religious.

On one takes christmas seriously now its all about presents and scoffing your faces.

[newbby]

i think you are still running around on the surface of this. i dont think that your nanna wont go to heaven, do you?

perhaps what people mean by finding god before you die, is that if you become enlightened before you die, it makes the transition from life to death easier.

i think you are taking the teachings very literally, i think alot of people do though.

your other question only applies if you believe that there are many different gods. so unless this is your belief then the question is irrelevant.

the porn question seems abit out of place here, i think that if your boyfriend makes you so unhappy you should leave him.

[quankanne]

Whn i asked the question i meant because some claim that one god is right and another claims another is right.So who do you go for?If you go for one then that on might not be the right one.I dont fully know what religions expect of you but sometimes i think they ask too much.

 

which one do you go for? If you're monotheistic (believe in one and only one God), the answer gets a little easier because it's God you're worshiping, the rest is just icing on the cake, so to speak. There is more than one way to praise or honor God, and none of them are wrong. Why do I continue to practice the faith of my parents and grandparents? Because I like what it has to offer, because it's familiar, because I know that in 2000 years, the basic tenets of Catholicism have not changed. Things are black and white, yet compassion and love and forgiveness are highly touted. Is there much being asked of me? Yes, but because there is a definite sense of what is allowed and what is not, it's not hard to give of myself.

 

One thing that annoys me is christanings.People get there kids christened when they are babies but how do they know they will choose that religion?

 

you don't. That child possesses the same free will as his parents and is able to choose his spiritual path in life, even if it's contrary to the one his parents hoped for. A christening or baptism is the way parents, and the community of believers they belong to, profess their faith while introducing the child into that circle of believers. It's actually quite beautiful when you think of it as a gift the community of believers is giving to a little bitty baby ...

 

I found out that my nannas funeral wasnt a religious one.Does that mean she wont go to heaven?

 

the funeral is for those left behind. Nana merits heaven through her beliefs and her actions (James 2:17).

 

Everyone who is religious here, do you watch porn?In the eyes of the bible that is a sin.I think that nowadays its very hard to be totally religious.

On one takes christmas seriously now its all about presents and scoffing your faces.

 

I've seen porn, but don't watch it on a regular (or irregular) basis, but then again, it's just not my cup of tea because it's never done anything for me. Lusting after men is another issue!

 

We sin. God forgives. It all works out, so if we're not perfect 100 percent of the time, we're still covered by the love he has for us. I think as your baby grows older, you're going to experience this for yourself: he may do something boneheaded and hurtful, but it doesn't mean you love him any less or hope that he is the best guy he can be, so in that sense, you're a forgiving person. Same thing with God. Even when we watch porn. It is hard to be good, but it's in trying to be good that we please God, IMHO.

 

Christmas? Yeah, it's commercialized, but I really don't pay attention to that.

[Oh really, now...]

Franciscans: heee ... O, images of some of the sweet, practical if sometimes otherworldly religious popped into my head when I joked about the tree-hugging!!! I've not had the privilege of meeting anyone from the City by the Bay (when the lights go down in the ci-tay la la laa)

Well, hi there! *waves*

I have to say, I plan to travel to several of the most beautiful places in the world in my lifetime, but I think San Francisco will always be very special to me. Everything from the parks and the old Victorian houses to the Mayor (<3 Gavin Newsom), all of my favorite little hidden shops... the memories of rollerskating up Market Street in the Gay Pride parade, handing out condoms to the crowd...

 

San Francisco, to me, is a secret garden. It's a city, with the problems and annoyances that all cities have... But it is so easy to get lost in the hedges, going down stairwells and through courtyards to hidden shops... Sitting on Castro Street, watching gay men who must spend 3 hours in the gym every day court... walking through the Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park, going on the Friday Night Skate through the park with 50 people, led by the guy with his hair buzzed to a very close military cut, shaved into a soccer ball pattern, and dyed pink... The Irish kid who sits on Gough Street with a fiddle and plays jigs and reels for the passing throng...

 

It all feels very charmed to me. What can I say? Whether or not dearest Bill O'Reilly likes it (not only can he go to hell, he probably will), San Francisco is a very special city.

[Apex]

Again - if you want to understand why religion exists, I'd suggest reading the book I've already referred; some hold the theory that religion exists because it supports the needs of a society , some hold the theory that it exists because of repressed sexual thoughts and guilt caused by actions in the earliest civilizations, some hold the theory that religion exists because it supports inequality and distracts the poverty and lower classes from realizing that the upper classes are controlling them, some hold the theory that religion exists because our bodies have a gene that force us into a communal relationship with others since community was imperative for our survival as a species.

I’ll add the potential existence of gods, and the potential existence of an afterlife.

[d'Arthez]

I’ll add the potential existence of gods, and the potential existence of an afterlife.

That is the explanation of fear, or of consoling oneself with one's fate in life.

[Toni_no12002]

Im still unsure wether to believe or not.I dont know what the right thing to do is.

[quankanne]

best thing to do to find out if you want to embrace your spirituality is to study it. Read. Go visit different church communities or some of the projects they sponsor. Learn more about it. This is a great forum to hash things over, but until you experience things first-hand, it's not going to make much sense. Not meaning to sound like a fuss-pot, but just give you a bit of encouragement and sense of where to start looking.

[Toni_no12002]

When you look at the bible and stuff its very difficult to read it all in old language.Ill never get it!

[newbby]

if it is christianity you are interested in, you might be better off actually going to church and seeing how YOU feel about it. there are many religions, you may find that one of them is good for you, you may find none of them is, you may continue on a spiritual journey without religion as such or you may not. whatever, it is your journey of discovery, so whatever you decide, i hope you enjoy it.

[Sarah12385]

Pertaining to the original post -

No, there is no real proof. That's what faith is all about though. I am a muslim woman, but haven't always been. I was born and raised a Catholic. Both Christianity and Islam teach one thing - There is only One God. The Bible and the Qur'An both teach this. This is the proof, in my opinion.

This is just my belief and opinion, but faith is about believing in something which has no real proof of existence on this earth for the nakjed eye to actually see. This whole life is a test, I think. God makes things happen for a reason.

Maybe two people that were close in this life die in such a close time span because God knows that they are lost without their significant other, and so he takes the other person's phyical life, which makes it hard for their families on earth, but it's really a blessing in disguise, because now that person is with their significant other again.

It may sound corny to people, and I know not everyone believes in God, etc. But it's just my opinion

 

 

~Sarah~

[Oh really, now...]

When you look at the bible and stuff its very difficult to read it all in old language.Ill never get it!

Well, if the King James is all you've got, go find a modern translation at the library. Personally, I love the King James Version for its poetry, but it can be a bit difficult to read.

[the corinthian]

Im still unsure wether to believe or not.I dont know what the right thing to do is.

 

I find that, when issues of faith are concerned, one has better luck seeking the answers for oneself. When one asks the opinions of others, one simply becomes more confused.

 

You believe what you want to believe. There is no way to tell if your beliefs are right or not. Accept what seems reasonable to you.

 

When you look at the bible and stuff its very difficult to read it all in old language.Ill never get it!

 

One must also consider that the bible was written by persons who may have not actually witnessed events which are told of in the bible. If you are wondering about Jesus, consider that the synoptic gospels were written well over one-hundred years after his supposed death.

 

It cannot be proved that any of the events told in the bible actually took place through accepted application of science or history.

 

People who believe the bible are people of faith. A person who has true faith cannot be disuaded in his or her beliefs through science or reason. You either believe without question or you will question and, therefore, not believe.

 

Do whichever comes naturally.

[slubberdegullion]

If you are wondering about Jesus, consider that the synoptic gospels were written well over one-hundred years after his supposed death.

The book of Mark, the earliest, was apparently written when there were still people around who witnessed the execution. It was written, so scholars say, about 40 years after the death of Jesus.

It cannot be proved that any of the events told in the bible actually took place through accepted application of science or history.

Actually, there are some biblical accounts that have been corroborated by archaeological evidence, but granted they are few and far between.

[Toni_no12002]

Hi thanks all I went to a christning yesterday.My friend was a godmother she doesnt believe in god does that matter?

 

Also im not christned eithwer so that means i cannot get married in a church and i cannot have a proper funeral!i think thats not fair.I thought we all was the children of god so he is treating us unfairly.I cannot hel;p the fact my parents didnt christen me and i sure as hell cant afford it now!

[newbby]

Hi thanks all I went to a christning yesterday.My friend was a godmother she doesnt believe in god does that matter?

 

Also im not christned eithwer so that means i cannot get married in a church and i cannot have a proper funeral!i think thats not fair.I thought we all was the children of god so he is treating us unfairly.I cannot hel;p the fact my parents didnt christen me and i sure as hell cant afford it now!

 

well you would not care about either a christian wedding or funeral unless you wanted to be a christian. do you want to be a christian?

you say you want to believe in god, i assume you are talking about the christian god because all your questions are related to christianity. what are your reasons for wanting to be a christian?

i am only asking these questions because i want to know what YOU believe in.