Do you ever wish that God would show himself at least once?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It scares me that people believe this BS. Please just die out already.

Religion will continue to be influential as long as educated, otherwise rational people teach their children to accept an unseen god that acts in mysterious ways, that sometimes favor them - and sometimes does not.

Luckily, fewer parents are doing that - and fewer children are accepting it and the society is becoming more accepting of non-believers, so that it's not considered weird or dangerous to question religious belief. There are also many more readily-available sources of information about the facts about religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Yes, I am. I assume that God knows better than I do what is best. I have also felt "divine intervention" and I have a sense of faith, which is a real feeling, so that is why I have assumptions that God exists when it is not obvious"

So god thought it best that 6 million Jews die in a holocaust? That scores of children and adult Cambodians should have died brutally under pol pot? god thinks what Is happening in Sudan is what's best for us? God thinks it best that hundreds of thousands of children should starve to death each year?

Look, you have this idea of a personal god and a very insulated view about your own suffering and it's benefits. But as another poster said, it blithely and offensively discounts human suffering, ENORMOUS human suffering, because it is part of god's plan?

That is just so self righteous and self absorbed and myopic I cannot fathom your train of thought as real.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, people who feel they've experienced a divine intervention don't necessarily think it through, in terms of how it relates to other people or other situations. They are focused of their own experience, and unfortunately (IMO), their perception of personal specialness is encouraged by the religious establishment that thrives on people believing that they have been singled out and protected by God.

Also, people’s stories of divine intervention are often received favorably, with some listeners believing and being inspired by it. Meanwhile, people who find divine intervention questionable – or plain ridiculous, often remain quiet (at least in real life), or are even mildly supportive, not wanting to appear impolite or confrontational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God has blessed me, loved me, guided me in ways I can't explain. I don't need to see him to know he walks beside me.

This is an example of the kind of statement an educated person could make in a group of people and not be challenged on it and not perceive that some listeners may think it's profoundly silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Yes, I am. I assume that God knows better than I do what is best. I have also felt "divine intervention" and I have a sense of faith, which is a real feeling, so that is why I have assumptions that God exists when it is not obvious"

So god thought it best that 6 million Jews die in a holocaust? That scores of children and adult Cambodians should have died brutally under pol pot? god thinks what Is happening in Sudan is what's best for us? God thinks it best that hundreds of thousands of children should starve to death each year?

Look, you have this idea of a personal god and a very insulated view about your own suffering and it's benefits. But as another poster said, it blithely and offensively discounts human suffering, ENORMOUS human suffering, because it is part of god's plan?

That is just so self righteous and self absorbed and myopic I cannot fathom your train of thought as real.

See my earlier response to this same train of thought. My assumption is that there are things I cannot understand about how God works and they do not discount thew ways that God works that are clear and understandable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Yes, I am. I assume that God knows better than I do what is best. I have also felt "divine intervention" and I have a sense of faith, which is a real feeling, so that is why I have assumptions that God exists when it is not obvious"

So god thought it best that 6 million Jews die in a holocaust? That scores of children and adult Cambodians should have died brutally under pol pot? god thinks what Is happening in Sudan is what's best for us? God thinks it best that hundreds of thousands of children should starve to death each year?

Look, you have this idea of a personal god and a very insulated view about your own suffering and it's benefits. But as another poster said, it blithely and offensively discounts human suffering, ENORMOUS human suffering, because it is part of god's plan?

That is just so self righteous and self absorbed and myopic I cannot fathom your train of thought as real.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, people who feel they've experienced a divine intervention don't necessarily think it through, in terms of how it relates to other people or other situations. They are focused of their own experience, and unfortunately (IMO), their perception of personal specialness is encouraged by the religious establishment that thrives on people believing that they have been singled out and protected by God.

Also, people’s stories of divine intervention are often received favorably, with some listeners believing and being inspired by it. Meanwhile, people who find divine intervention questionable – or plain ridiculous, often remain quiet (at least in real life), or are even mildly supportive, not wanting to appear impolite or confrontational.

I would never discuss this issue IRL and if I heard someone else say it, I would also be highly doubtful. But if you experience it for yourself, it is undeniable. It is not about personal specialness -- it is about something greater than yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It scares me that people believe this BS. Please just die out already.

Religion will continue to be influential as long as educated, otherwise rational people teach their children to accept an unseen god that acts in mysterious ways, that sometimes favor them - and sometimes does not.

Luckily, fewer parents are doing that - and fewer children are accepting it and the society is becoming more accepting of non-believers, so that it's not considered weird or dangerous to question religious belief. There are also many more readily-available sources of information about the facts about religion.

I was raised by two parents who thought exactly as you do. I felt a strong connection with God -- a feeling of faith -- from the time I was a young child. I was ridiculed by my parents for it. I feel a strong sense of faith to this day, despite my upbringing. Faith is a fact if you feel it. Why do you assume that people cannot experience something real unless you yourself experience it too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Yes, I am. I assume that God knows better than I do what is best. I have also felt "divine intervention" and I have a sense of faith, which is a real feeling, so that is why I have assumptions that God exists when it is not obvious"

So god thought it best that 6 million Jews die in a holocaust? That scores of children and adult Cambodians should have died brutally under pol pot? god thinks what Is happening in Sudan is what's best for us? God thinks it best that hundreds of thousands of children should starve to death each year?

Look, you have this idea of a personal god and a very insulated view about your own suffering and it's benefits. But as another poster said, it blithely and offensively discounts human suffering, ENORMOUS human suffering, because it is part of god's plan?

That is just so self righteous and self absorbed and myopic I cannot fathom your train of thought as real.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, people who feel they've experienced a divine intervention don't necessarily think it through, in terms of how it relates to other people or other situations. They are focused of their own experience, and unfortunately (IMO), their perception of personal specialness is encouraged by the religious establishment that thrives on people believing that they have been singled out and protected by God.

Also, people’s stories of divine intervention are often received favorably, with some listeners believing and being inspired by it. Meanwhile, people who find divine intervention questionable – or plain ridiculous, often remain quiet (at least in real life), or are even mildly supportive, not wanting to appear impolite or confrontational.

I would never discuss this issue IRL and if I heard someone else say it, I would also be highly doubtful. But if you experience it for yourself, it is undeniable. It is not about personal specialness -- it is about something greater than yourself.

People often have different reactions to the same experience. Many may react the way you did. Others may never think that an unusual feeling is divine intervention in which an invisible being spared them from harm, while causing death or suffering to others. that sounds like belief in personal specialness AND something greater than yourself.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I wish she would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It scares me that people believe this BS. Please just die out already.

Religion will continue to be influential as long as educated, otherwise rational people teach their children to accept an unseen god that acts in mysterious ways, that sometimes favor them - and sometimes does not.

Luckily, fewer parents are doing that - and fewer children are accepting it and the society is becoming more accepting of non-believers, so that it's not considered weird or dangerous to question religious belief. There are also many more readily-available sources of information about the facts about religion.

I was raised by two parents who thought exactly as you do. I felt a strong connection with God -- a feeling of faith -- from the time I was a young child. I was ridiculed by my parents for it. I feel a strong sense of faith to this day, despite my upbringing. Faith is a fact if you feel it. Why do you assume that people cannot experience something real unless you yourself experience it too?

It seems like you are the person making assumptions -- if you feel it, it's a fact. And the fact is whatever you interpret it to be.

No - facts are not simply personal interpretations of feelings. Luckily, thanks to scientific advances and improved education and communications, more people will understand that.

And I predict that fewer people will say things like "Faith is a fact. If you feel it" even if that's what they think. Sort of like how people know better than to say that people of other ethnicities are inferior. They may think that, but they know better than to say it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It scares me that people believe this BS. Please just die out already.

Religion will continue to be influential as long as educated, otherwise rational people teach their children to accept an unseen god that acts in mysterious ways, that sometimes favor them - and sometimes does not.

Luckily, fewer parents are doing that - and fewer children are accepting it and the society is becoming more accepting of non-believers, so that it's not considered weird or dangerous to question religious belief. There are also many more readily-available sources of information about the facts about religion.

I was raised by two parents who thought exactly as you do. I felt a strong connection with God -- a feeling of faith -- from the time I was a young child. I was ridiculed by my parents for it. I feel a strong sense of faith to this day, despite my upbringing. Faith is a fact if you feel it. Why do you assume that people cannot experience something real unless you yourself experience it too?

It seems like you are the person making assumptions -- if you feel it, it's a fact. And the fact is whatever you interpret it to be.

No - facts are not simply personal interpretations of feelings. Luckily, thanks to scientific advances and improved education and communications, more people will understand that.

And I predict that fewer people will say things like "Faith is a fact. If you feel it" even if that's what they think. Sort of like how people know better than to say that people of other ethnicities are inferior. They may think that, but they know better than to say it.

You are being illogical -- or you don't understand what faith is. It is "a firm belief in something for which there is no proof." It is a fact that some people have faith. It has nothing to do with WHICH religion they believe. So, uh, it's somehow similar to thinking people of other ethnicities are inferior -- where in the world do you get that? Totally unrelated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God has blessed me, loved me, guided me in ways I can't explain. I don't need to see him to know he walks beside me.

This is an example of the kind of statement an educated person could make in a group of people and not be challenged on it and not perceive that some listeners may think it's profoundly silly.

I don't care that others may think if it is silly or stupid. I am not moved by others' opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God has blessed me, loved me, guided me in ways I can't explain. I don't need to see him to know he walks beside me.

This is an example of the kind of statement an educated person could make in a group of people and not be challenged on it and not perceive that some listeners may think it's profoundly silly.

I don't care that others may think if it is silly or stupid. I am not moved by others' opinions.

I am. Most people on this planet believe in some form of religion. How could so many people, throughout the ages, be SO STUPID?? I don't think they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God has blessed me, loved me, guided me in ways I can't explain. I don't need to see him to know he walks beside me.

This is an example of the kind of statement an educated person could make in a group of people and not be challenged on it and not perceive that some listeners may think it's profoundly silly.

I don't care that others may think if it is silly or stupid. I am not moved by others' opinions.

I am. Most people on this planet believe in some form of religion. How could so many people, throughout the ages, be SO STUPID?? I don't think they are.

I am pp to whom you are responding. I am a person of faith, and I was saying that I don't care that people think I am stupid.

[Anonymous]

to 19:25 poster- see - the message is lost to you. Please be more open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the atheists out there.. what if it all turns out to be true? Won't you wish you had believed?

Ah, fire insurance faith. "Isn't it better to believe than risk eternal damnation."

I am not sure if athiest applies to me, but I can tell you I have a peace that passes all understanding the prevailing monotheistic deities do not exist.

Can you rephrase this?

I am no pp -- but sounds to me like pp is quite comfortable not believing in any of the God stories she/he has heard.

I'm the PP. Thanks...yes, I feel at peace with my non belief in the idea of a god as a person like in the Bible. I grew up in a Christian family and the concept of finding "a peace that passes all understanding" was used a great deal and I also struggled with that. But years down the road, after accepting that I simply didn't believe I found a deep peace.