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CJCRANE

(18,184 posts)

68. Everyone means something different when they say "God".

Sun Jan 4, 2015, 04:25 PM

Jan 2015

I know someone who helps others based on their faith. From what I can tell, this person thinks their works are necessary to get into heaven.

I met another person who believes in establishing a theocracy, through force if necessary, and that person also believes they are doing good and that their works will get them into heaven.

So what these people do is based on their concept of God and what God wants them to do. So it's based on a kind of personality.

I read about Zen Buddhism which has a code of ethics independent of deity. This gave me a lens to see the compassionate side of Christianity and Islam (and I assume Judaism, from which they are derived). But this again, is probably my own personal projection of what these religions mean and the person who wants a theocracy would not agree with my interpretation. The other person might also not agree with my concept that heaven and hell are more a state of mind than a destination.

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After A Year Without God, Former Pastor Ryan Bell No Longer Believes [View all] damnedifIknow Jan 2015 OP

How I stopped believing in the nonsense was when I asked myself how randys1 Jan 2015 #1

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn�t go away. PassingFair Jan 2015 #15

One of my favorite authors LiberalLovinLug Jan 2015 #75

Why does this belong in the General Discussion forum rather than the religion forum? nt el_bryanto Jan 2015 #2

Could be because it's about no religion? shraby Jan 2015 #4

You should visit the religion forum if you think that it doesn't discuss this kind of story el_bryanto Jan 2015 #5

Just because they discuss it there, doesn't mean it is a religion only theme. shraby Jan 2015 #8

Why do the rules for General Discussion impose restrictions on posts about religion? el_bryanto Jan 2015 #13

It's actually about lack of belief. phil89 Jan 2015 #86

You should visit the religion forum - it is dominated by people who talk about their lack of belief el_bryanto Jan 2015 #90

Who cares? tkmorris Jan 2015 #34

Well two reasons el_bryanto Jan 2015 #40

I see a lot of religious people arguing for the stifling of criticism of or negativity about Arugula Latte Jan 2015 #53

Both are wrong. el_bryanto Jan 2015 #58

That penguin clip always makes me laugh. Thanks. nt TheBlackAdder Jan 2015 #76

You're quite welcome! Arugula Latte Jan 2015 #84

How does one 'live as an atheist'? Stop praying? Stop begging for miracles? randome Jan 2015 #3

Easy, you just live the way you should live as a human being. shraby Jan 2015 #6

IDK Krytan11c Jan 2015 #9

I suspect he was very skeptical when he started. Then he had this "revelation." immoderate Jan 2015 #10

You stop going to church, and stop praying. (nt) jeff47 Jan 2015 #31

That could describe agnostics as well as atheists as well as those who simply don't give a damn. randome Jan 2015 #59

There's still a difference between "I missed it" and "I'm never going" jeff47 Jan 2015 #60

He said what the difference is ohheckyeah Jan 2015 #70

My faith is a lot simpler than he makes his out to be. dawg Jan 2015 #7

Agree. I don't think we can wrap our brains around God. tblue Jan 2015 #22

Great Literature never tried to define God, since he was beyond human conception. TheBlackAdder Jan 2015 #83

sadly, this person's initial and subsequent concept of God is quite childlike KittyWampus Jan 2015 #11

With respect, who are you to say that? Orrex Jan 2015 #14

what is more childlike than seeing "god" as an omnipotent father figure? KittyWampus Jan 2015 #79

With respect, who are you to say that? Orrex Jan 2015 #82

So the person who concludes invisible man in sky, not real, is childlike? randys1 Jan 2015 #16

I guess your counterpoint would be that any belief in God is childlike? nt el_bryanto Jan 2015 #19

Belief despite an absence of evidence might be characterized as childlike. Orrex Jan 2015 #23

When you see evidence you mean demonstrable evidence? el_bryanto Jan 2015 #24

Yes I would. Orrex Jan 2015 #27

OK - so you would characterize DU Believers as Childlike, if they believe in a God. el_bryanto Jan 2015 #33

If they can provide evidence to justify that belief, then I will be happy to hear it. Orrex Jan 2015 #36

Do you think this sort of back and forth belongs in General Discussion or in the Religion Forum? el_bryanto Jan 2015 #39

It's not my thread, and it's not for me to say. I defer to the Hosts. Orrex Jan 2015 #44

Do you feel like it's wrong for believers to suggest that you are arrogant? el_bryanto Jan 2015 #45

Before I answer, let me ask a framing question Orrex Jan 2015 #49

I think it's wrong in a public forum - where the are DU believers and DU atheists el_bryanto Jan 2015 #56

If we were stuck in a general room, I would pursue the matter differently Orrex Jan 2015 #61

I don't understand the first comment - this is the general discussion room? el_bryanto Jan 2015 #66

Participation in GD is not compulsory Orrex Jan 2015 #69

So because I'm not required to participate in GD you should able to say whatever you like? el_bryanto Jan 2015 #72

That is not my claim at all, so I have no reason to defend that claim. Orrex Jan 2015 #74

A few points el_bryanto Jan 2015 #80

In fairness... Orrex Jan 2015 #89

You are right - having made my point earlier - i should shut up and discontinue this conversation nt el_bryanto Jan 2015 #91

most people believe in the dwarf planet Pluto hfojvt Jan 2015 #71

That's clearly a false analogy, and I have to think that you know this. Orrex Jan 2015 #77

Matthew 18:3 ohheckyeah Jan 2015 #73

The SO of a friend of ours confided in me that she prays to the Virgin every day. CTyankee Jan 2015 #25

If someone tells me that they draw comfort from such belief, I don't contradict them. Orrex Jan 2015 #32

Yes. She wasn't proselytizing in the least. She was saying it simply and sincerely. CTyankee Jan 2015 #37

Carl Sagan made a point along these lines Orrex Jan 2015 #38

well, I was a bit surprised that this came up at a tailgate in the Yale Bowl's parking lot... CTyankee Jan 2015 #42

LOL. Sounds to me like you responded correctly. Orrex Jan 2015 #47

You would laugh at some of the conversations I had in the Yale Bowl parking lot CTyankee Jan 2015 #98

sensible.... dhill926 Jan 2015 #54

God is something children are told to believe in so they will behave randys1 Jan 2015 #97

By that you mean you aren't sure what to call it el_bryanto Jan 2015 #99

what do u call it? randys1 Jan 2015 #100

I call it faith I suppose. nt el_bryanto Jan 2015 #101

Which is a way of re-framing the issue to make it more palpable to adults randys1 Jan 2015 #102

So you prefer child-like then? Passive aggressive bullshit. nt el_bryanto Jan 2015 #106

When I was like, four years old, I was super into dinosaurs - still am actually Scootaloo Jan 2015 #103

Jesus I never thought about that. Thousands of years of religious tradition is just like a 4 year el_bryanto Jan 2015 #105

ah, no� the concept of god as an invisible man in the sky is childlike. KittyWampus Jan 2015 #81

But why is that concept childlike? Orrex Jan 2015 #94

Sorry, but that twisted logic doesnt fly here or anywhere, you want to believe in randys1 Jan 2015 #96

Okay. I'll bite, as you seem to know. What is "God" actually? Moonwalk Jan 2015 #29

Well, some different ideas that are a bit less childlike are: KittyWampus Jan 2015 #87

So, it sounds like this guy was right to become an atheist, as it would seem... Moonwalk Jan 2015 #104

God is a concept -- in your mind vlyons Jan 2015 #52

Very sensible post. And I would actually say there's so many religions KittyWampus Jan 2015 #85

Oh so there's an objective version of what god is? phil89 Jan 2015 #88

the esoteric view of the universe is quite similar amongst all cultures throughout time KittyWampus Jan 2015 #93

Just say Maybe seveneyes Jan 2015 #12

It's not necessary to show that a god doesn't exist Orrex Jan 2015 #18

"the existence of God seems like an extra layer of complexity that isn�t necessary" phantom power Jan 2015 #17

I thought this was a strange conclusion personally LiberalLovinLug Jan 2015 #95

Very strange man. How does someone "live" as an atheist? tritsofme Jan 2015 #20

You can read the start of his journey on his blog... Luminous Animal Jan 2015 #30

You live to convince others they're wrong.... ileus Jan 2015 #43

I think you live differently phil89 Jan 2015 #92

"Anytime you can step outside your comfort zone, Zorra Jan 2015 #21

Even as a child I knew it was bullshit. Catholicism didn't take. EEO Jan 2015 #26

Same here. AngryDem001 Jan 2015 #63

At least he found himself a new job! Quantess Jan 2015 #28

I'd stop believing if they wanted me to eat the way those 7th dayers do. ileus Jan 2015 #35

And some people move in the opposite direction. Nye Bevan Jan 2015 #41

A year without god is like a year without processed sugar. You get healthier--and better teeth. nt valerief Jan 2015 #46

I think that GHW Bush probably nauseates God. LuvNewcastle Jan 2015 #65

You're all going to hey-yall! Enthusiast Jan 2015 #48

As I've been told before threads about religion don't belong in GD. liberal_at_heart Jan 2015 #50

I consider myself to my agnostic. iandhr Jan 2015 #51

Man is the only animal to have found the ONE True God....several of them. Mark Twain Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2015 #55

Or LWolf Jan 2015 #57

If god knows everything, why did he create satan, cancer, and Republicans??? blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #62

Why did he create the Palins? AngryDem001 Jan 2015 #64

With so much evil in control project_bluebook Jan 2015 #67

Everyone means something different when they say "God". CJCRANE Jan 2015 #68

A year well spent. Bonx Jan 2015 #78

Locking aikoaiko Jan 2015 #107