I once beleived in God. and now i realize that it doesnt make sense. i think religeon is an answer to mankinds fear of death.. or it gives life a cause. or maybe government used it to gain power. in ancent times ofcourse. i think we live and then die.. and after life is like before it.. we are nothing. \n\nanyone feeling like debating this with me.
130251
Well, I agree with you to a point, so better wo find someone to debate with that has a stronger opinion against yours :-) Try the Christian Chat Rooms on chat.yahoo.com - you WILL find people in there to have a really loud debate with about this. Just don't expect any real answers. Just lots of praying and bible verses and counter-arguments like "can you see the wind? No? Well it's there. And so is God. Case closed."
317448
Something has to be eternal, perhaps! Some say it is God, some say it is the energy-matter stuff or nature. I know that I don't know the answer. I would like to leave it that way. \n\nSome people believe in God or a supernatural power. Such people are in the modern educated populations of Christian, Islam and other religions as well as many tribal populations. There are also atheists in different pockets of the world. But in today's context, it would be perhaps ignorant, and even dangerous, to think whatever  'I'  believe is the only truth and hence everyone should believe the same (sorry to stray, but have seen this tendency in many questions/answers here). \n\nMany of us believe in exploring the truth in our own limited way, some of us don't care how it all started and many find answer in God-concept. So be it. We should try to understand each other's thinking and hence it is a valid question. But I don't think there should be any conflict.\n\n---\nWhen I started writing, Emmiboo didn't post .. I should perhaps learn to type faster..!
658702
I have to agree with you. I have argued with my mother in law on countless occasions about this. Everyone believes in something. I do believe there is a superior existence , I do not, however follow any specific religion. In any religion there is always some kind higher existence. There is no TRUE fact proven (in any religion) on what and or who is right. I find people tend to quote things from the bible but don't actually know what they're talking about. And to those who believe that everyone should have a faith, I do. I believe there is something, or someone who will show us our true religion, everyone, as a whole. I apologize if I have offended anyone. That was not my intention.
331509
No, it doesn't, because that describes what I used to be. I used to laugh in my mind and mock the priests when I was forced to go to church during my years in catholic school. I participated in the chants and the masses, but never believed. It didn't work, and it won't work. I simply don't believe, and nothing can change that. I've also had 3 near death experiences in my life, and "saw" all I had to see, absolutely nothing. I have no problem with the cold hard fact that I will be buried under 6 feet of dirt in a pine box. I'm not insecure about death, and that's why I don't "need" a religion, or believe in some deity.
232742
There is no reason to fear death unless you are an enemy to God.  This earth life is a miserable existence.  Something much better awaits most of us.  Even if you consider yourself to be a sinner God will forgive you if you are willing to offer him your will.\nThere are many misconceptions about death.  It is nothing spooky.  Think of it as returning to a familiar and loved home where people love you.  I don't suggest that you do anything to cut your life short -- just live life as best you can without ill will toward anyone and don't frear death.  Death happens to everyone.
519457
It's interesting...you say you have come to the conclusion that there is no God... but it seems you are still searching.  Maybe you want to believe in something bigger than yourself, but with all of life's tragedy it seems that the world is empty and devoid of a higher power.\n\nOrganized religion often paints God as an all-powerful male ruler.  But maybe God is something different.  The universe and all its beings are made up of energy, particles vibrating at different speeds.  Maybe God is really a culmination of all this energy-- both positive and negative.  Many people believe that the universe is like a boomerang... you get back what you put in.  This means if you project fear or anger out to the universe, the universe will return the same negative energy to you.  On the contrary, if you truly feel love and security, you will transmit that energy outwardly and will receive the same energy in return, which will eventually manifest itself in real life events.\n\nIf you think of God as collective energy that includes all things, that would mean we're all little parts of God; more powerful as a whole than as individuals.  This would also mean that to hear God, we need only to listen to our own inner voices, however they may sound.  You might try focusing on changing your own energy, then joining with others to make small positive impacts on the world.  Maybe then you will make peace with your own version of God.
615488
I lost a loved one on christmas day, came home from church that day an dwas told that a loved one have just passed away. i was ticked off because I was at church during that time asking "god" to help this person out during their time of need. \nSince then my resentment for pray and god has grown. \nIn fact I had started to question the concept of god and religion more than ever and then after a few years have realized that god does not exist and that religion is used to exploit the ignorance of people.\n\nThings happen in life, people die whether by illness, accident, or other situations. What should matter is keeping their memories in your heart and never forgetting the good time that you have had with your loved one. But also cheerish their advice that was given to you. \n\nIf there was a god both my prayers and yours would have been answered by "god"
35799
There is no such thing as god, its a man made concept.\nDont worry about it. When you die your dead thats it.
438044
I know this is long, but it's worth reading.\n\nI believe in God because I've found peace in Him.\nWhen I have a bad day at school, or if my parents get mad at me, all I have to do is read my Bible. Instant spirit boost. It reminds me that God is always there right beside me, no matter what I'm going through (and that he went there before me and knew everything that was going to happen, and that nothing happens that he doesn't already have worked out). It's a faith thing.\nTo answer your last two questions: Indeed, we are all sinners. It had to be that way. God wants us to have a relationship with him. That relationship is called "fellowship", and you can't have real fellowship with someone unless they genuinely want to. It wouldn't be a true relationship if, say, you tried to be friends with a computer; the computer just does whatever you tell it to do, it doesn't have a real choice of whether to stay with you or go somewhere else, so its friendship really means nothing. So, in order for God to have true fellowship with His creations, there had to be something standing between humans and God, so that only people who genuinely wanted God in their lives had a relationship with Him. That's why there had to be sin, and all of us had to be sinners, so that we could opt to have fellowship with God. And, if He destroyed us, there still wouldn't be fellowship. You just have to realize, God has already won. He won when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for all the sins of mankind, so we can have a relationship with Him. He loves you and He wants you, and He's already forgiven you; all you have to do is accept it.\nTo answer your last question: I'm not sure about either Ghandi's or Einstein's faith in God or their salvation, so I don't know if they went to heaven or hell. But I do know this: Jesus said "No one comes to the Father except through me." So if Jesus wasn't their personal Saviour and they had not placed their trust in Him, they did not go to heaven. For the Bible says that no good deeds on this Earth are enough to "buy" your way into heaven, even if you're incredibly smart or act on integrity all the time, you still need atonement for your sins through Jesus Christ.
214437
I agree with you.  When you REALLY look at the horrors of tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, epidemics, etc... I don't see how to reconcile it with a "loving" god. As for evolution, 300 years ago, people atributed lightning, earthquakes, infection, miscarriages, adn other stuff to god's will.  Now we know there are physical processes going on that can basically explain these things.  So why hold out for creation of life? We'll probably have even better answers in 50 years and then what?  Wel... god must be still be in the big bang! yeah that's it!  Silly.\n\nAnd why did humans only live on average into their 30's for the past 2,000 years? Now we live to mid-70's (in US).  Because of god?  Or science?  God was pretty important for westerners, the chuch ran just about everything.  But health didn't improve until medicine did.\n\n100 years ago, literally 50% of children died within 1 year.  This is god's perfect creation?  Humans are god's perfect design?  That's funny.
421960
My belief is Atheism. The proof of its truth is obvious. (Above you will find an excellent explanation by 'Michael' which helps to explain 'How' it is obvious.) \n\nAnyone who claims direct knowledge of God or gods, ghosts, spirits or the like is either insane or an outright fool and a liar.  We live in an infinitely changing universe of matter, energy and space - there is nothing supernatural which has been found anywhere within it.  There is no truth to the belief that there is life after death or before birth.  That, by definition, is just nonsense.\n\nUntil I am presented with believable evidence that I am incorrect, I have no choice than to remain solidly atheistic.  It is the only logical course available.\n\n{}{}{} r u randy? {}{}{}\n.
124603
This life is but a test. God right now is testing your faith. Think about it if people did not believe than no one would do goog. Also look around you there are lots of signs like how everything is made and the miracle of life. If you don't believe than you have nothing tolook forward to after death and than what if the hell exists your pretty much screwed then. So god is always testing you. In this life believe in god and god gives you little signs of him but you'll see the truth through the inevitable death. Just believe in himand  his oneness
586993
i am very tollerant of other peoples religion on the condition that they don`t try and shove it down my throat! my beleifs can`t really be put into a neat little box. maybe i could say i beleive in Katherineism?! (my name is Katherine) i beleive everything happens for a reason, we will meet all our departed loved ones when we die, there is some higher power or force up there, i`m just not sure if it`s god? Also, the spirits of departed loved ones show themselves in the form of birds.  i`m going to keep checking your answers, because i`m also interested in other people spiritual beleifs.
611716
Dear Sonya,\n\nAbout 2000 years ago, God came to earth in the form of a man (Jesus). He lived physically on earth for about 30 years. He was crucified (nailed to a cross) by men who hated him. He (his body) died on the cross that same evening. He was then taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb.\n\nOn the third day after he was buried, he (his body) came back to life. After this, he was seen alive for a period of 40 days by more than 500 people. Many of these people who saw him alive went off and told other people that Jesus was alive. After 40 days, Jesus ascended up into heaven.\n\nJesus died on the cross to pay for your sins (and mine). If you repent (turn away from sin), and commit your life to Jesus Christ, you will become one of God's children. You can then live in daily relationship with the God of the Universe, and when you die one day, you can go to heaven to live with God for ever.\n\nFor a brief explanation of how to come into relationship with the God of the Universe, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/new/essence.html\n\n--\n\nI used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ. \n\nFor a draft-version of my journey from atheism to Christ, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html\n\nIf you would like to know more about Jesus, feel free to contact me.\n\nCordially,\nJohn
192451
Hi Josh. I'd like to take a stab at your question, because I am always interested in helping either fellow christians or woould be christians that have an open heart get closer to god in a sincere, but non-pushy way. \n\nThat being said, have you ever felt like you were in a no-win situation? Maybe even a life or death experience, where you thought there was no way out? And yet you could feel ro sense things beyond your control either rescuing you from harm's way or voices or forces pulling you to go in one direction or another that ultimately made the difference in your life?\n\nWell those are points of evidence towards God. They could be angles helping to keep you on the right path or simply preventing you from going under. Whatever the case may be, God is all around us. You can't see bacteria or the wind, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, does it?\n\nToo often people who have lost their way or never even knew the way write off things they can't readily see or explain. I feel bad for athiests because they deny or block the love God has for them. They really enjoy being angry. These people are much like the rich: hey are consumed by material things that they can see, and yet even when they seemingly have it all they're still not happy, becuase it's never enough. God won't come to you in a box, or in the form of a house or from a steering wheel. But that doesn't mean he's not there. \n\nPlease don't let the world block out god from your heart and from your life. God is all around you, but he gave you the free will to choose to believe, so have the faith and know that whatever energy you spend on letting him into your life will not go unwasted. It never does and in the end the truth will come out and you will have been better and wiser for knowing it when you meet God someday. \n\nHope this gave you some hope.
248558
It is difficult for me to believe in anything I can't see, for one.  I just don't buy into all of the stories the Bible says.  Stories written by regular men.  Men, who are subject to lie and manipulate.  And the bible itself is a translation and we all know what happens when you try to translate text.  Some things don't even have an equivalent in our language and so, the person who translates does their best, in their opinion, to find the closest meaning which could mean, not the same at all.  And it is more than the bible.  It is history that I doubt and religion is a sort of history.  It has been proven countless times that man in his greedy attempts for power will do anything, including omitting the truth or changing it, to get what they want.  Then, I also look at life and death.  I wonder why if there is a God, why do good people die.  And it simply doesn't make sense that it is just God's plan.  Especially, when nothing but pain comes from it.  Take a newborn's death upon delivery.  Why?  What could be God's plan?  Some might say that God took the child becuase it would have suffered later.  But then why not make it his plan to just not give it an illness?  If the lesson is for the mother...isn't that just cruel?  And why kill a baby to teach a mother a lesson?  God created intricate human bodies and watches as these humans destroy all that God created?  I could go on forever.  It is why I am atheist.  I just feel that people need hope and faith.  They need something to justify certain things.  Some people need guidelines and discipline they cannot find within themselves.  Death is the reason, in my opinion, we have religion.  It is hard to accept the why and what happens next.  But easy to say, well they are in a better place...Just me.
271500
Hmmm. Hi. Perhaps my perception on things hasn't been explained clearly enough. I apologize for that. Here is, in short, what I do and don't believe:\n\nThere is no such thing as a god. To me, the concept of the existence of a deity (besides being unproved and absurd) is just that- a concept. And a misleading one, at that. To me, it's a lie.\n\nI do not worship the christian devil. Hell, I do not even believe in it! To me, Satan is a reflection of humanity. You are your own god, and are free to accept it or not. Satan is not an entity, it's a force, it's in us. It's our vital force.\n\nHave fun, and be tolerant.\n\nBy the way, when I say Satan's spawn, it doesn't mean I believe I am the child of your devil, it means I am the Satan, as it is in me. It's sometimes also meant to shock. Depends.\n\nHappy, now?