General Discussion

defacto7

(14,162 posts)

65. I left this thread a while ago but just now returned

Wed Nov 27, 2013, 04:42 AM

Nov 2013

thinking about your comment. I asked myself, "how can I show appreciation for this person's comment without sounding like a cagey atheist?" Anyway, if nothing else atheists have a nose for BS, I guess it's in our nature. Your answer to the question, "why do you believe in God?" is the only correct answer a believer can offer. If you were to say you saw god in the sky... I would call delusion. If you said I believe because science shows or doesn't show.... I'd call error in facts. If you had said you believe because the bible says so... I call error of ignorance. But you gave the only answer that does not destroy the concept of faith as stated in Christian tenets. Most answers undermine the Christian concept of faith from its foundation. You left it intact. Therefore I see a logical reason for you to believe in God. It does not include me or anyone else. It does not nullify faith be seeing, hearing or touching God, and it does not demand others to believe your experience. It just is what it is. It's simple.

Of course that is not my experience and I don't have that perception or have a need for it but your belief as stated is the only reasonably logical answer to the question a Christian can give considering the prerequisites of faith.

My atheist 2 cents.

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As of 2011, 90% of Democrats believe in God (or a Higher Spirit): Gallup. [View all] Skip Intro Nov 2013 OP

How would an agnostic answer this lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #1

Shrug. . . Journeyman Nov 2013 #11

I don't know. LadyHawkAZ Nov 2013 #27

How would an ignostic answer this? defacto7 Nov 2013 #43

That's why I have no use for gallup Major Nikon Nov 2013 #46

The question did have a 'no opinion' option muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #74

No opinion is not the same thing Major Nikon Nov 2013 #81

'no opinion' is the same thing as 'don't know'; 'unequivocal' is quite different muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #83

You are being disingenuous with what I said Major Nikon Nov 2013 #90

'no opinion' (nt) muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #91

I just told you they did have an opinion Major Nikon Nov 2013 #94

An agnostic does not have an opinion on whether a god or universal spirit exists muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #98

I think your analysis of the English language is not up to scratch on this occasion Major Nikon Nov 2013 #102

Thank-you, exactly my point lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #86

To me, Gallup is a synonym for Religion-Lobbying. nt valerief Nov 2013 #137

That's the same as asking... gcomeau Nov 2013 #60

There is no choice for none of the above lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #87

Becase "none of the above"... gcomeau Nov 2013 #95

There are some questions that are not simply yes or no, that is why this poll is bull lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #105

True. gcomeau Nov 2013 #107

The poll, like religious people and even some rabid atheists is black and white MillennialDem Nov 2013 #114

Sigh... gcomeau Nov 2013 #115

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #122

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Nov 2013 #121

It's a false dichotomy whether you choose to acknowledge it or not Major Nikon Nov 2013 #125

No, it isn't. gcomeau Nov 2013 #126

I've already told you how to answer your own question Major Nikon Nov 2013 #128

No you haven't gcomeau Nov 2013 #154

Have it your way Major Nikon Nov 2013 #155

Try again. gcomeau Nov 2013 #157

Why don't you answer your own question Major Nikon Nov 2013 #159

I did. gcomeau Dec 2013 #166

Reality. n/t Chan790 Nov 2013 #150

Seriously doubt that! Coyotl Nov 2013 #2

I didn't take the poll. Skip Intro Nov 2013 #4

Christian bias is a polling problem. Coyotl Nov 2013 #17

A 92% problem? n/t Skip Intro Nov 2013 #20

28% of Protestants, 33% of Catholics, and 23% of those who attend weekly religious services DO NOT Coyotl Nov 2013 #31

Those are Canadians; when the OP talks about 'Democrats', we can take it as meaning Americans muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #77

The party needs to welcome believers and non-believers. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #3

Thanks you! defacto7 Nov 2013 #6

I agree. n/t Skip Intro Nov 2013 #12

Do you think the party doesn't? They bend so far back as to have their heads up their collective 2banon Nov 2013 #18

God bless America!!! CAG Nov 2013 #22

lame 2banon Nov 2013 #24

funny, I had the same reaction reading your little tantrum CAG Nov 2013 #29

take your snarky comments somewhere else. I wasn't talking to you in the first place. 2banon Nov 2013 #34

There's that Christian love we hear so much about. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #93

+1 Go Vols Nov 2013 #124

+10000!! nt eqfan592 Nov 2013 #127

The reality is they do what they have to, to get votes. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #25

That's exactly what makes me sick. 2banon Nov 2013 #36

I tend to think it is less than 90% but at least 75%. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #38

I guess it's more of a regional thing 2banon Nov 2013 #45

Church attendance is in decline in this nation amoung Chritians for so many reasons. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #50

I live in Western Washington State, the most liberal part of the state. There are still liberal_at_heart Nov 2013 #52

But is anyone ever AT them? Or are they historical relics? maxsolomon Nov 2013 #111

This message was self-deleted by its author 2banon Nov 2013 #117

I didn't know Jefferson said that, but there's a whole lot of truth in 'them words' 2banon Nov 2013 #118

If you haven't checked out the Jefferson Bible, you really should maxsolomon Nov 2013 #123

Jefferson suffered for it too Major Nikon Nov 2013 #133

no doubt n/t 2banon Nov 2013 #147

Well said!!! Religion is all about manipulative propaganda and politics, but many RKP5637 Nov 2013 #85

90% ARE believers, so we can just welcome each other, I guess (and others) :) grahamhgreen Nov 2013 #62

*shrug* geomon666 Nov 2013 #5

Yeah. Evidently 92% in this case. n/t Skip Intro Nov 2013 #10

As a poster mentioned above, the party should welcome both believers and non-believers Cali_Democrat Nov 2013 #146

Look. Gallup is full of shit, as are the others. Proof: NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #7

All polls are full of shit unless they show what you want them to show? Skip Intro Nov 2013 #8

Yes, most of the time. I find most people are this way. NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #13

I don't like to see polls that report what I don't want to see. Skip Intro Nov 2013 #19

Polls like that are decidedly WRONG! NYC_SKP Nov 2013 #26

Nobody called me for my vote 2banon Nov 2013 #9

Compared to....?? defacto7 Nov 2013 #14

That's super. nt nyquil_man Nov 2013 #15

Sad, we have these big wonderful brains and so many insist on filling them with religious bullshit. bowens43 Nov 2013 #16

Metaphysics is by definition not real. Rather easy to understand, one should expect. Coyotl Nov 2013 #21

"Metaphysics is by definition not real." ??? meaculpa2011 Nov 2013 #76

I believe because I feel in my heart God exists. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #28

I left this thread a while ago but just now returned defacto7 Nov 2013 #65

oh jesus y. christ snooper2 Nov 2013 #97

You know what I think it is? Most humans wants to feel that they're special, unique and immortal. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #37

Religious and spiritual beliefs aren't always so simplistic nomorenomore08 Nov 2013 #61

Well, some of them were sheep herders. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #109

Having been raised Catholic, gone to Catholic schol, I'm certainly not a huge fan of nomorenomore08 Nov 2013 #131

People should be reminded that's where it comes from Major Nikon Nov 2013 #141

Fair enough. And frankly, I do find religion in general kind of stupid. Fundamentalism doubly so. nomorenomore08 Nov 2013 #144

Yesssss! SammyWinstonJack Nov 2013 #88

Exactly. But this is BULLSHIT. People just don't answer this honestly in phone interviews. More and RBInMaine Nov 2013 #138

Thanks for the thread! I'm always so worried that the DU non-believers are sitting at home bored, CAG Nov 2013 #23

Oh, I just idly wondered "So what?" djean111 Nov 2013 #32

It's easy to lose perspective about mainstream Dems, pnwmom Nov 2013 #39

I was not insulting people of faith at all - and, honestly, seriously, djean111 Nov 2013 #53

I wasn't referring to you. I was just pointing out why it matters. pnwmom Nov 2013 #57

It's ironic to me... defacto7 Nov 2013 #55

Oh, I think when one replies to a comment that jeers about atheists being bored and twiddling djean111 Nov 2013 #108

Given the fact that the very existence of atheists is a gratuitous insult... eqfan592 Nov 2013 #129

In the Bible, Jesus tells his followers that they will be mocked and persecuted for believing and he Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #99

I imagine you sit at home waiting to tell us how wonderful God is. And how he changed your life! n-t Logical Nov 2013 #153

What on earth is a universal spirit? Kurska Nov 2013 #30

I believe in defacto7 Nov 2013 #67

I'm one of the 8%, but I find myself defending the Pope against semi-literate Canadians DisgustipatedinCA Nov 2013 #33

That makes some logical sense... defacto7 Nov 2013 #41

To me it's the delta, the radical shift in such a short amount of time. DisgustipatedinCA Nov 2013 #44

... SidDithers Nov 2013 #79

You're defending the Pope against Canadians? Cali_Democrat Nov 2013 #119

This made me literally laugh out loud. perfect placement for that meme! nt eqfan592 Nov 2013 #130

YAY I am finally a 1% or 10% or however much.. Tikki Nov 2013 #35

This poll says 98%of Republicans believe in God. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #40

They believe in Republican Jesus CAG Nov 2013 #47

Yeah their Jesus hates poor people and hangs out with the wall street crowd. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #51

"Man is the only animal to have discovered The One True God....several of them." Mark Twain Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2013 #42

+1 hobbit709 Nov 2013 #68

"Excerpt From Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven" IDemo Nov 2013 #96

And how many answer that because of pressure to do so? Scootaloo Nov 2013 #48

Far fewer than you might guess quaker bill Nov 2013 #75

Especially the Songs of Solomen :) (nt) LostOne4Ever Nov 2013 #113

Societal pressure bhikkhu Nov 2013 #49

nah quaker bill Nov 2013 #78

Another aspect of that is, it doesn't take any thought to "believe in god" bhikkhu Nov 2013 #142

NPR had a show on Sunday that said athiest/agnostic was at 20% now peacebird Nov 2013 #54

The exception? DU. demosincebirth Nov 2013 #56

'universal spirit' could include every belief spanone Nov 2013 #58

What's a "universal spirit?" Deep13 Nov 2013 #59

It's something required in 12-step addiction recovery programs HereSince1628 Nov 2013 #80

So, God then. Deep13 Nov 2013 #112

Well, an emotional crutch or a cane...something to give confidence HereSince1628 Nov 2013 #139

Or just a sense of humility Nevernose Nov 2013 #148

Yes, maybe, I certainly can't say what was meant... HereSince1628 Nov 2013 #152

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #63

Welcome to DU defacto7 Nov 2013 #66

I'm confused. Do all those people believe in the SAME "God"? If not, the wording should be Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #64

the only god I believe in is Murphy hobbit709 Nov 2013 #69

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #70

And 98% of Republicans believe in God Fumesucker Nov 2013 #71

The God I believe in is so awesome, he doesn't NEED to exist. He's more awesomer because he DOESN'T. Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #72

How many believe in ... GeorgeGist Nov 2013 #73

.... hmmm, does that equate to belief in extraterrestrial intelligence? ... or just the RKP5637 Nov 2013 #82

Man, ya had to know THIS was going to piss some people off... cherokeeprogressive Nov 2013 #84

We already have quite a few Republicans posing as Dems as it is Cali_Democrat Nov 2013 #120

I hope you don't lose any sleep... cherokeeprogressive Nov 2013 #143

There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway, DefenseLawyer Nov 2013 #89

I guess belief in God, broadly defined,doesn't bother me. Vattel Nov 2013 #92

Me too, because deep down we all know that there is no god other than Thor. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #110

Good point. Vattel Nov 2013 #116

Not that surprising considering that school has turned TBF Nov 2013 #100

It is impossible to know the minds of others, what they claim to 'believe' is of zero importance. Bluenorthwest Nov 2013 #101

Can this help reduce bullying? get the red out Nov 2013 #103

Interesting that a smaller % of Independents and Liberals believe in God than do Democrats! FarCenter Nov 2013 #104

My God is donuts. And I believe in them with all of my heart. cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #106

so what smackd Nov 2013 #132

And 88% of them do so while watching porn with "violent" acts, like consensual oral sex. Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #134

MANY more DO NOT BELIEVE in these MYTHOLOGIES but won't admit it in phone interviews. It is on the RBInMaine Nov 2013 #135

Except in 2013 when they don't. valerief Nov 2013 #136

Well, the Bible club at my kids Middle School with over 1,000 kids has only 3 kids Quixote1818 Nov 2013 #140

Which God? AnnieBW Nov 2013 #145

i doubt people are completely honest when they answer questions like this. nt Sheri Nov 2013 #149

Magic isn't real. 99Forever Nov 2013 #151

We are all atheists RedCappedBandit Nov 2013 #156

Or in the case of Christianity, 3 gods farther Major Nikon Nov 2013 #160

No. Not true. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #161

Perhaps Major Nikon Nov 2013 #162

All Churches that believe in the Trinity say that it is One God in Three Divine Persons. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #163

At best most rather than "all" Major Nikon Nov 2013 #164

Ok point taken about my saying all, but most think it is how I explained it. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #165

One has to wonder why Major Nikon Dec 2013 #167

. Iggo Nov 2013 #158