Do you think you have to be intellectually open, or emotionally to understand the complexity of god?
951704
It doesn't require a belief in a supernatural god to have a conscience.  Most humans are born with a conscience that grows and develops in the early years.  Atheists and other non-theists try to do what is right because society works best when people do what they're supposed to do.  Anarchy is not in the best interest of anyone.\n\nAs for understanding the complexity of God: religion is clearly a very emotional experience.  Believers are every day pointing out that they don't believe because their minds tell them that God exists, but because they FEEL the love of God working in their lives.  Myself, reading the Bible stirs both my intellect and my emotions.  Much I can admire, but there is more that I find appalling.  Such immorality.  How can that be reconciled with the belief that God is love?  Both my intellect and my emotions reject the idea.
602544
THANK YOU! I believe, in all sincerity, that everything that exists is a reflection of the Divine. So, I ought to be able to look at ANYTHING and learn something about Deity. Kind of like looking at an artist's work and knowing from that work something about not just the art but the Artist too. Being what I am, which is human, it should be easier to see Divine attributes mirrored in things like me. In other words, I ought to be able to look at other people and see or learn things pertaining to the Divine Nature. So I check out the race as a whole. One constant that I find all over the world and down through time is ... Humor! With that in mind the answer to your question is a definite ... YES! And with THAT in mind ... Ain't it a relief knowin' that? LOL! ~ Peace & Blessings ~
639967
At times I really start to question the human race & the concept of intelligence. Not to accept that there are possibilities outside one's inherent beliefs makes your mind closed therefore ignorant.\n\nPeople aren't meant to know everything. We aren't animals acting on instinct. If you believe anything at all you are closing your mind to possiblities in a world of uncertainties.
647165
Good question. Now, I am a Christian, so, will answer from my perspective and understanding. God is a being that is highly advanced in, intelligence and has the capability to Create. Not only life!!! He/She/it can bring into existence anything. Thus, through this creation, He does has Absolute power. This makes God all seeing, all knowing and all powerful. He can see, past, present and future from one time zone, so, he know what you did, are doing and will do. He expresses a concern for humanity (This is even seen it Highly intelligent children, so, NOT a myth). He would allow his creation to learn and experience life, both good and bad. He has emotions, He/She/It can laugh, cry, have hurt feelings and joke.\nGuess that enough, could say more.\nI like what Taimur say, yet it seems more from what is written than a personal relationship. I thought the question ask for my opinion not that of what is written, Sorry, if I answered wrong. I just went from experience and not Bible or any other book.
630676
Jim, sometimes I think you are brilliant and other times I just don't understand you...\n\n\nEducation is important. Assuming we are discussing faith: People should know what / why they believe things and not have a completely blind faith.
189828
If there is a god, the whole creation thing might be so much more complicated than anyone can imagine
385799
It depends on the attitude of the person I'm speaking to.  As long as they're not trying to convert me I'm open minded but as soon as someone tries to hand me a copy of watchtower or asks me to consider taking jesus into my heart after waking me up at 8am I get rather defensive.
191612
I think so, because with the carnal mind it is hard to understand and accept the Mighty things of God and Jesus Christ.
968589
good question\nbut did u experence the apsent of god ???\nbut yes\ngod exist\nwe don't have enough tools to experence this visically\nbut with our spirit\nwe feel him\nwe feel his power\nevry time evry where
610900
Hmm.  I wouldn't say this is a full description, but definitely an important part.  At least of the god that I believe in.  One that wants us to question everything, since that's how we learn.
863194
somebody with an open mind
445973
It comes with the territory.  \n\nA long time ago, I was attending a huge church in a metropolitan area of the city and after I had been there for almost 10 years a friend asked me a question about theology.  \n\nI answered his question with many references and a very detailled explanation to which he replied, "You have a very acute understanding of what the pastor of this church teaches every Sunday morning".  And then it hit me...\n\nI had allowed myself to be swept into a fundamental mindset which didn't allow me to really express myself as Father had created me to do.  Instead of caring for individuals around me, I had grown into this person who had to be right all the time because of personal insecurities.\n\nI think Christians need to start really thinking about what they individually believe and rely less on what is sold to them on Sunday mornings...
873708
Dear Atheist for Christians Banned:\n\nI find in our Category, here, that the great wealth of ideas and what has been learned is seldom shared. Rather, we shout small bytes at each other when, at least I, would prefer to get deeper into experiences and the lessons contained therein. Exploration about God is appropriate for the Religion/Spirituality Forum. Are we offering each other something of depth and richness to contemplate?  What is available to us - from each other?\n\nYes, I have read many articles on Evolution.  I like to dabble in Physics just enough to "stay up" with the latest information.\n\nAtheism has demanded, recently, that God be proven. They seem to feel that Christians are duped!  Yet, Atheism leads to our not acknowledging there is anything beyond or more than physical matter and human Intellect. Nothing more. No other concepts integrated .  Just Intellect examining a world of physical matter.\n\nScience, however,  has decided God can not be disproved or thrown away, after all. Physics has found itself smack up against Him and is desperate to prove Him. (String theories (all 5) or M-Theory). But I tell you, God will never be a mathematical formula.  It takes the soul or spirit-mind within,  to bring forth its Knowledge of its Creator (which it shares with the divine Presence).  Only soul/spirit can direct the Scientist to proper understanding of the Order of Creation. Science is, after all, inspiration ; inspired first - to learn of it's world and our Self. But, then, at best, you have still a cold calculation from Science - about the Created and it's Creator - with no experience of His divine nature; the ecstasy, the unlimited-ness, the Unopposed force of the Creative Being, of Who we are a part. \n\nThe Intellect is of logic and reasoning. It deduces and judges. God is Knowledge and Knowing. \n\nWe should be open to thoughts that behind the Intellect lies our soul or Spirit: The Seat of all Knowledge. Until we understand soul/spirit - we can not know our Self. \n\nIntellect is a mental exercise. It changes, shifts, and alters its thought processes.  But, Knowledge is unalterable.\n\nThe Evolution of Earth contains the Creator existing along with it.  This is Integration. \n\nBest regards, Lana
171373
i would say we would know something we may not call it god. when i think of god i think of strength not from god but that whatever higher power is playing the cards helped me learn on my own so i can be more independant
1167127
Yes.. ^^ during my first two years in highschool I'll admit that I have forgotten God, but now since my third year in highschool(i'm in Phil. We have 4 years of secondary level here... ^^)\nI can say that i'm more close to God and I learned more about his greatness and about his sacrfices. I can say that now I have a deeper faith on him. ^^
857886
I was born as a catholic christian.  It comes a time that I personally asked God and it is also the time that I am losing belief in God and siding to belief that God was only a figurative thing.  Until, I was fed up one day with my problems and I raised my head and uttered to God that He is not real, to my surprise He answered and shown me a vision up to this time I can vividly recall.  His voice is the one described by the prophets, gentle, forgiving and powerful.
655725
I had a religious Catholic upbringing at home and school, I chose to go to a co-ed state high school instead of a Catholic all-boys one, quickly learned that not everyone has belief in God.\n\nI  went on to University and mixed with every type of person and gradually the religious conditioning began to fade away but I still half believed in God and would never dare say I didn't believe in case I was struck down on the spot.\n\nI took up buddhism for a time and it cleared my head even more. \n\nQuite recently only a few years ago I was aware that all the religious garbage had finally left my head, I felt clear clean and bright and life made sense more than at any time previously, I still feel that way and I can tell you it's great. But it was a long slow and gradual process, not hard work though. \n\nI'm very pleased to be in charge of my own brain instead of having some religious dogma in charge of it. If you are not  controlling your own brain and thoughts somebody else is ...you can be sure of that (and I don't mean God guys).\n\nProblem is my family, and one especially newly fundamentalist sister..she gets very nasty at times and communication is on hold for time being.