NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, I don’t know about some of you, but I’m sick to death of this fight. Therefore, I made a thread for those of us that, frankly, don’t care either way if there is or is not a “god.” I’m going to take more of a Buddhist/Taoist stance and say that there is no way to know for sure who the hell is right; and, frankly, it doesn’t matter.

I’m not looking for a debate since everyone has their own threads to do that in, I’m just giving people who want to pick “other” or “none of the above” on the issue a place to breathe and know that they are accepted and not alone. We’re not searching for anything; we just don’t care and/or think that it doesn’t matter either way!

Here’s to us!

Alright, I've gotta say it.

http://www.the-gateway.net/fun/thisthreadrocks.jpg

Yay! See, as an atheist, I deny the existence of a higher power, but I could really care less either way. I am indifferent, and feel no need to disprove a god's existence. So I'm with you.

Those threads are just flambait for peops who want to start shit is all...

Okay, I don’t know about some of you, but I’m sick to death of this fight. Therefore, I made a thread for those of us that, frankly, don’t care either way if there is or is not a “god.” I’m going to take more of a Buddhist/Taoist stance and say that there is no way to know for sure who the hell is right; and, frankly, it doesn’t matter.

I’m not looking for a debate since everyone has their own threads to do that in, I’m just giving people who want to pick “other” or “none of the above” on the issue a place to breathe and know that they are accepted and not alone. We’re not searching for anything; we just don’t care and/or think that it doesn’t matter either way!

Here’s to us!
agreed...according to my personal philosophy, absolutely nothing in my moral code or life-outlook would change based on the existence or non-existence of God. whether or not God is real does not impact my values, my priorities, or my perspective on my life.

Count me in.

One hour wasted on trying to convince someone you're right on the issue is an hour you could have spent helping the homeless, donating blood, cleaning up your community, being a mentor..... or, just enjoying life in general! Be here now.

One hour wasted on trying to convince someone you're right on the issue is an hour you could have spent helping the homeless, donating blood, cleaning up your community, being a mentor..... or, just enjoying life in general! Be here now.
Well, now, to be fair, some people actually enjoy butting their heads against walls until they bleed.

Didn't I hear it from somewhere (Big Fish) that you never talk about religion, because you never know who you're going to offend... my 2 cents..

agreed...according to my personal philosophy, absolutely nothing in my moral code or life-outlook would change based on the existence or non-existence of God. whether or not God is real does not impact my values, my priorities, or my perspective on my life.
If I had a uterus, I would so have your children.

If I had a uterus, I would so have your children.
Bottle has a uterus, you have a penis. Perfect.

If I had a uterus, I would so have your children.
Well, if she had an uterus......

Those threads are just flambait for peops who want to start shit is all...

Yeah maybe, but so is this one. The guy is all, "People who start threads about God are losers and I am better because I don't make threads about God, but instead threads about threads about God!"

Well, I don't think so.

No man can be a true Athiest, as no man can truly believe in God. For to do either implies a surety of ideas that can not exist in a rational mind.

-Louis Hobbs-

No man can be a true Athiest, as no man can truly believe in God. For to do either implies a surety of ideas that can not exist in a rational mind.

-Louis Hobbs-
thats to say that humans have rational minds, which, in my experiance is never the case. People may have rational minds at times, but never fully, and to believe otherwise is ignorance, or ignorant, both maybe?

Bottle has a uterus, you have a penis. Perfect.
I'd be perfectly fine with her having my children, but I kind of doubt she'd be up for it. :(

thats to say that humans have rational minds, which, in my experiance is never the case. People may have rational minds at times, but never fully, and to believe otherwise is ignorance, or ignorant, both maybe?

maybe it's a matter of balancing what you feel and what you think.... of course, there's a difference between what you've been taught to feel and think as opposed to what you truly feel and think....

assuming that what you think and feel is of your own judgement (if you believe it is possible to have such a thing), i always thought a key to the mind is to balance thought and feeling.

Nothing like an injection of cool refreshing genuine agnosticism.

People oftentimes confuse an unsure attitude about the existance of god with agnosticism, which is the firm belief that god is trivial since god is unknowable.

An agnostic firmly believes that things are exactly the same whether or not there is a god.

I’m going to take more of a Buddhist/Taoist stance and say that there is no way to know for sure who the hell is right; and, frankly, it doesn’t matter.

That's actually agnostic.

That's actually agnostic.

Buddhism and Taoism have agnostic properties, esp. Taoism. I guess I should state that I use Buddhism and Taoism as philosophies.

These past few posts bring up a good point. How many definitions of an "agnostic" have you heard? I have heard so many, it's unreal....

Practicing Buddhist here. Buddhism varies from sect to sect, and person to person, but there certainly is an agnostic/atheistic streak.


From the " Basic Points Unifying The Theravaada and the Mahaayaana":
3. We do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God.
http://www.serve.com/cmtan/buddhism/Misc/unify.html

You, my friend, are correct.

Buddha said he would neither confirm nor deny the existance of a god. Of course the world/universe was not created by a god because Buddhism believes everything always has been here in one form or another and always will be here.

It's so nice to see people here that are so open to the same ideas I am (and even open to different ideas, but still are cool in how they express them). I feel cool and refreshed from these injections of genuine agnosticism. ;)

That fellow in the picture has a very large torso indeed.

agreed...according to my personal philosophy, absolutely nothing in my moral code or life-outlook would change based on the existence or non-existence of God. whether or not God is real does not impact my values, my priorities, or my perspective on my life.

I would disagree. Nearly everything hinges on God, especially if you assume one of a certain nature, like the Christian God. If there is a God, then He has a plan and purpose for my life. He has a way for me to live so that I will do the most good for my fellow human beings. If there is no God, then none of that matters. The entire of value and ultimate importance falls by the wayside without God.

I would disagree. Nearly everything hinges on God, especially if you assume one of a certain nature, like the Christian God. If there is a God, then He has a plan and purpose for my life. He has a way for me to live so that I will do the most good for my fellow human beings. If there is no God, then none of that matters. The entire of value and ultimate importance falls by the wayside without God.


You are a nihilist, religious people are functionally nihilists.

I find value in many things.

This value has integrity because it is not predicated on any false premises.

If I had a uterus, I would so have your children.
sweet, my first willing concubine! i'll get the boys in the lab to work on installing your uterus immediately...

Okay, I don’t know about some of you, but I’m sick to death of this fight. Therefore, I made a thread for those of us that, frankly, don’t care either way if there is or is not a “god.” I’m going to take more of a Buddhist/Taoist stance and say that there is no way to know for sure who the hell is right; and, frankly, it doesn’t matter.

I’m not looking for a debate since everyone has their own threads to do that in, I’m just giving people who want to pick “other” or “none of the above” on the issue a place to breathe and know that they are accepted and not alone. We’re not searching for anything; we just don’t care and/or think that it doesn’t matter either way!

Here’s to us!
good idea pal :)
as an agnostic i can see how some people could care deeply, and it is a very important point of philosophy, but i just don't care :D

I would disagree. Nearly everything hinges on God, especially if you assume one of a certain nature, like the Christian God. If there is a God, then He has a plan and purpose for my life. He has a way for me to live so that I will do the most good for my fellow human beings. If there is no God, then none of that matters. The entire of value and ultimate importance falls by the wayside without God.
it is only possible for everything to hinge on God if you assume God exists, or if you construct the value for your life based on assumptions of Gods existence or nonexistence. personally, i think it is dishonorable and unworthy of any human to do that, but (again) that's just my personal opinion. i also believe that forcing anybody to agree with me would be futile and irrelevant, so i'm not going to try to make anybody live according to my values.

Okay, I don’t know about some of you, but I’m sick to death of this fight. Therefore, I made a thread for those of us that, frankly, don’t care either way if there is or is not a “god.” I’m going to take more of a Buddhist/Taoist stance and say that there is no way to know for sure who the hell is right; and, frankly, it doesn’t matter.

I’m not looking for a debate since everyone has their own threads to do that in, I’m just giving people who want to pick “other” or “none of the above” on the issue a place to breathe and know that they are accepted and not alone. We’re not searching for anything; we just don’t care and/or think that it doesn’t matter either way!

Here’s to us!

Damn straight!

Count me in.

I actually think it's pretty arrogant to say you can know something that really is impossible to know (that works both ways).

Either way, I have principles and morals; I help people and care about things; I have meaning in life and value things; and I enjoy life... I see no need for a God.

Same here, I don't believe in God, as such, but I believe in something else, whatever that may be.......

Let the lack of religious debate commence!

Here's to not fighting over something that boils down to pure opinion :)

I would disagree. Nearly everything hinges on God, especially if you assume one of a certain nature, like the Christian God. If there is a God, then He has a plan and purpose for my life. He has a way for me to live so that I will do the most good for my fellow human beings. If there is no God, then none of that matters. The entire of value and ultimate importance falls by the wayside without God.

But that is not asking "does God exist" - it is asking "should he be worshipped/obeyed". You are (as you said) assuming things about God like him actually being interested in the fate of individul humans, him having their best interest at heart, humanity being more than an old experiment lying forgotten in a corner etc.

If you simply state "the God described by the Bible is not someone I would follow" the question whether or not he actually exists becomes irrelevant. Does not necessarily mean you do not respect him (as a craftsman or an intelligent being), just that you do not follow him.

But that is not asking "does God exist" - it is asking "should he be worshipped/obeyed". You are (as you said) assuming things about God like him actually being interested in the fate of individul humans, him having their best interest at heart, humanity being more than an old experiment lying forgotten in a corner etc.

If you simply state "the God described by the Bible is not someone I would follow" the question whether or not he actually exists becomes irrelevant. Does not necessarily mean you do not respect him (as a craftsman or an intelligent being), just that you do not follow him.
well said.

sweet, my first willing concubine! i'll get the boys in the lab to work on installing your uterus immediately...
Woo hoo!

Count me in.

I actually think it's pretty arrogant to say you can know something that really is impossible to know (that works both ways).

Either way, I have principles and morals; I help people and care about things; I have meaning in life and value things; and I enjoy life... I see no need for a God.


Ditto!

I don't need something standing over me threatening to send me to hell for me to want and to enjoy helping people. For those of you who would go off on killing sprees and be completely selfish without that threat, then keep on having the faith and more power to you. :)

Same here, I don't believe in God, as such, but I believe in something else, whatever that may be.......

would that be the belief of chocolate and/or ice cream? ;)

Ditto!

I don't need something standing over me threatening to send me to hell for me to want and to enjoy helping people. For those of you who would go off on killing sprees and be completely selfish without that threat, then keep on having the faith and more power to you. :)
"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." --Albert Einstein

:)

What is so confusing to me is the nature of people to flame other people's opinions and tout their own opinion. I really appreciate the debates, even the ones on religion but when they start out as "blah blah blah are morons because they believe blah blah blah" or people *should* feel compassion for blah blah or else they're idiots and should be cast out of society...wow...there's nothing to be gained from that except hard feelings for those who are sensitive to that sort.

Anyway...believe what you want to believe, don't close your mind to other possiblities and keep your beliefs to yourself unless you actually want to have a open discussion with individuals who you honestly feel have the right to their opinion too and are not some convertable flock of sheep.

That's what I believe!