NationStates Jolt Archive

September 11th, The Tsunami, World Wars 1 & 2, Hurricane Katrina & Others... etc.

Why would God allow such things to happen to mostly innocent people? Was this God's plan for them? Did they all do something so horrible that God would allow them to suffer so? I'm confused... where is God in all this?

Maybe it's easier for people to see their God through these disasters, but for me it's hard to believe that some omnipresent being, who many put their faith in would sit by and allow/watch this happen. Many good people lose their lives in these disasters... are we to believe it was meant to be that way?

Also, whose God is the correct one. With so many beliefs in this world, which one is correct? Aren't we all going to hell in the eyes of anothers religion...? If so, is there really a hell... if not... why would there be a heaven?

God is in the details.

[Edit for seriousness/] The wheels of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine… even the worst times are moulded by God to his plan. Maybe these events will lead to something great… it's hard to see how but we're only mortals, and can't comprehend God and shouldn't bother trying.

September 11th, The Tsunami, World Wars 1 & 2, Hurricane Katrina & Others... etc.

Why would God allow such things to happen to mostly innocent people? Was this God's plan for them? Did they all do something so horrible that God would allow them to suffer so? I'm confused... where is God in all this?

Maybe it's easier for people to see their God through these disasters, but for me it's hard to believe that some omnipresent being, who many put their faith in would sit by and allow/watch this happen. Many good people lose their lives in these disasters... are we to believe it was meant to be that way?

Also, whose God is the correct one. With so many beliefs in this world, which one is correct? Aren't we all going to hell in the eyes of anothers religion...? If so, is there really a hell... if not... why would there be a heaven?
We didn't do exactly what Jesus said so God (remember God is Love) showed us the error of our ways by killing a bunch of random people.

It is my personal belief that God has chosen to let the Earth take its natural course. Hence, he doesn't interfere in disasters or wars.

And as for which is the correct religion; no one can say, because the only people who do know are dead. It is the eternal question. You need to make up your own decision.

Where is God?

In..YOUR ASS.

*laughs self to death at terrible terrible lousy crappy joke*

September 11th, The Tsunami, World Wars 1 & 2, Hurricane Katrina & Others... etc.

Why would God allow such things to happen to mostly innocent people? Was this God's plan for them? Did they all do something so horrible that God would allow them to suffer so? I'm confused... where is God in all this?

Maybe it's easier for people to see their God through these disasters, but for me it's hard to believe that some omnipresent being, who many put their faith in would sit by and allow/watch this happen. Many good people lose their lives in these disasters... are we to believe it was meant to be that way?

Also, whose God is the correct one. With so many beliefs in this world, which one is correct? Aren't we all going to hell in the eyes of anothers religion...? If so, is there really a hell... if not... why would there be a heaven?

god was where it has always been. in the old pages of some book. gods not hiding under some rock either, cause ive looked there. how does the quote go? something like 'god is just a fairytale for adults.'

What's wrong with World War 2?

Sure, millions died, but because of it we have the United Nations, the Jewish people have a home country now and... well I'm sure there's other things I just can't think of any now.

God is in the details.

[Edit for seriousness/] The wheels of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine… even the worst times are moulded by God to his plan. Maybe these events will lead to something great… it's hard to see how but we're only mortals, and can't comprehend God and shouldn't bother trying.

I'm not so sure the utter destruction of an entire city and mass deaths will lead to something great. Why shouldn't we bother trying to comprehend? They are our beliefs, are we supposed to follow blindly behind something we don't understand or comprehend?

Maybe there is no God.

Of course, if we are talking about the Christian god, it would probably far worse if there was divine involvement. I'm thinking seven plagues, floods, orbital strikes on cities...

According to noted televangelists, god raised his veil of protection because we allowed gay rights, feminism, and paganism to exist.

September 11th, The Tsunami, World Wars 1 & 2, Hurricane Katrina & Others... etc.

Why would God allow such things to happen to mostly innocent people? Was this God's plan for them? Did they all do something so horrible that God would allow them to suffer so? I'm confused... where is God in all this?

Maybe it's easier for people to see their God through these disasters, but for me it's hard to believe that some omnipresent being, who many put their faith in would sit by and allow/watch this happen. Many good people lose their lives in these disasters... are we to believe it was meant to be that way?

Also, whose God is the correct one. With so many beliefs in this world, which one is correct? Aren't we all going to hell in the eyes of anothers religion...? If so, is there really a hell... if not... why would there be a heaven?

i think all the disasters are mostly of our own accord. we fucked up the earth with pollution and now we're paying for it, we exploit third world countries and they pay for it and we get violent and cause wars and such. god hadn't much anything to do with it. and i think all paths lead to god and as long as you've lived as a more or less good person then you get to go to heaven.

It's not a matter of "allowing" to happen any more than you "allow" billions of bacteria to be mindlessly slaughtered every time you bathe. It's just something that happens.

Remember that old saying: God helps those who help themselves.

Well ... we were given the world ... what we do with it and how we react to it is up to us. If a hurricane wipes out a major city, then we (yes WE) must take the steps necessary to help ensure that it doesn't happen again.

The greatest gift God ever gave mankind was a highly developed brain and then stepped back and let us use it. So use it.

In..YOUR ASS.

*laughs self to death at terrible terrible lousy crappy joke*

Yeah...that was crappy...

Yeah...that was crappy...

Because Crap comes out of your ASS.

*laughs himself to death at even worse joke*

I think, to be honest, that in one sense God is utterly powerless against such disasters. Asking why God doesn't help you is like asking why your spirit doesn't help fight infection.

God relies on life to interact with the world. In that respect, you will see quite a lot of what could be taken to be his response; through the outpouring of aid and support that will come in afterwards.

Maybe that's not what you want, but I'm afraid it's the best he can do. He's not all powerful, you know.

And as for which is the correct religion; no one can say, because the only people who do know are dead. It is the eternal question. You need to make up your own decision.

which raises another point. if god was real, how could it possibly send souls to "hell" because they made the wrong decision?

In the Bible, it says that when the time comes near for Christ to return, natural disasters and terrorism and the like will increase in intensity like birth pains before a child is born. If God did not allow for these sorts of things to happen, it would contradict the prediction made by Jesus in the Bible.

Also, I've recently been reading the books of Deuteronomy and Ezekiel, which are books that give the Jews the laws they are to follow if they want to live a great life and the punishments they receive for not following them, respectively. Since the United States is allowing such things as gay marriage and other sins that are clearly defined in the Bible, I personally believe that God is no longer defending our country like He did back when we were a truly Christian country.

Just because He is a loving God doesn't mean He won't discipline us, for if one is not disciplined, how can one know the difference between right and wrong? Parents discipline their children all the time to show them the difference between right and wrong for their protection because they love them. This could very well be another reason God is allowing this to happen.

September 11th,
Caused by terrorists with a blind hatred and a false interpertation of their own religon

The Tsunami
Caused by an earthquake

, World Wars 1 & 2,
Caused by some really mad Germans
Hurricane Katrina
Uh,damn I forgot how hurricanes developed. Something about warm air circulating around and...stuff...or was that tornados?

Why would God allow such things to happen to mostly innocent people? Was this God's plan for them? Did they all do something so horrible that God would allow them to suffer so? I'm confused... where is God in all this?
Well, I see it like this, God isn't going to save us from our own messes, or messes we can save ourselves from. All the problems you listed, we rose above them.

Maybe it's easier for people to see their God through these disasters, but for me it's hard to believe that some omnipresent being, who many put their faith in would sit by and allow/watch this happen. Many good people lose their lives in these disasters... are we to believe it was meant to be that way?
Again...Why should He save us from the problems we started?

September 11th, The Tsunami, World Wars 1 & 2, Hurricane Katrina & Others... etc.

Why would God allow such things to happen to mostly innocent people? Was this God's plan for them? Did they all do something so horrible that God would allow them to suffer so? I'm confused... where is God in all this?

Maybe it's easier for people to see their God through these disasters, but for me it's hard to believe that some omnipresent being, who many put their faith in would sit by and allow/watch this happen. Many good people lose their lives in these disasters... are we to believe it was meant to be that way?

Also, whose God is the correct one. With so many beliefs in this world, which one is correct? Aren't we all going to hell in the eyes of anothers religion...? If so, is there really a hell... if not... why would there be a heaven?

Because God is not omnipotent. He does his best, and he is omnibenevolent, but there's only so much even he can do, and he is constrained by the laws that he set up to rule the universe.

My take: he lives on in our hope for a better tomorrow, and the belief that if we persevere, we can right the wrongs that happen in this world. He gives strength to those who seek right and act for the best, if not in the form of some goofy miracle, then in the faith that you are not alone in your hope for a perfect world.

In the Bible, it says that when the time comes near for Christ to return, natural disasters and terrorism and the like will increase in intensity like birth pains before a child is born. If God did not allow for these sorts of things to happen, it would contradict the prediction made by Jesus in the Bible.

Also, I've recently been reading the books of Deuteronomy and Ezekiel, which are books that give the Jews the laws they are to follow if they want to live a great life and the punishments they receive for not following them, respectively. Since the United States is allowing such things as gay marriage and other sins that are clearly defined in the Bible, I personally believe that God is no longer defending our country like He did back when we were a truly Christian country.

Just because He is a loving God doesn't mean He won't discipline us, for if one is not disciplined, how can one know the difference between right and wrong? Parents discipline their children all the time to show them the difference between right and wrong for their protection because they love them. This could very well be another reason God is allowing this to happen. I don't think a disaster of that magnitude and indiscriminate death is God's discipline. It might be a part of the design, or a consequence of our own actions.

which raises another point. if god was real, how could it possibly send souls to "hell" because they made the wrong decision?

Because people are very arrogant and believe they are the best and shouldn't have to answer to anybody, when the evidence of God's existence is obvious.

Because people are very arrogant and believe they are the best and shouldn't have to answer to anybody, when the evidence of God's existence is obvious.

no it isnt. if it was obvious everyone would beleive...no one knows for a fact that god exists...

I don't think a disaster of that magnitude and indiscriminate death is God's discipline. It might be a part of the design, or a consequence of our own actions.

I was just throwing that out there as another option. I think He's just removed His protection and it is also supposed to be part of the "birth pains" described by Jesus in the Bible when asked when He would return.

Maybe God is angry, and his name is Allah.

Ha! Haven't thought of that, have you? What makes you think he's yours? :p

Personally, I'm sure there isn't one.

In the Bible, it says that when the time comes near for Christ to return, natural disasters and terrorism and the like will increase in intensity like birth pains before a child is born. If God did not allow for these sorts of things to happen, it would contradict the prediction made by Jesus in the Bible.

Also, I've recently been reading the books of Deuteronomy and Ezekiel, which are books that give the Jews the laws they are to follow if they want to live a great life and the punishments they receive for not following them, respectively. Since the United States is allowing such things as gay marriage and other sins that are clearly defined in the Bible, I personally believe that God is no longer defending our country like He did back when we were a truly Christian country.

Just because He is a loving God doesn't mean He won't discipline us, for if one is not disciplined, how can one know the difference between right and wrong? Parents discipline their children all the time to show them the difference between right and wrong for their protection because they love them. This could very well be another reason God is allowing this to happen.

I hate that logic. Do we really know what God wants? We can interpret His "messages" in countless ways.

And since when have we ever been a truly "Christian" country?

And seriously...Can we ever look at a disaster or an attack and not call it an act of God?

And in my experience, good parents don't kill their children.

no it isnt. if it was obvious everyone would beleive...no one knows for a fact that god exists...

OK, but anyone who doesn't believe in God, or at least most who don't believe in a god of any kind, believe in the Theory of Evolution. I don't want to go too deep into this unless asked, but the Theory of Evolution can't work for many reasons. If Evolution doesn't adequately explain our existence, what other explanation does? There has to be some sort of god out there, whether it's the God of the Bible or some other god, there has to be one out there.

Uh,damn I forgot how hurricanes developed. Something about warm air circulating around and...stuff...or was that tornados?


I think all these hurricanes have something to do with global warming anyway

Just because He is a loving God doesn't mean He won't discipline us, for if one is not disciplined, how can one know the difference between right and wrong? Parents discipline their children all the time to show them the difference between right and wrong for their protection because they love them. This could very well be another reason God is allowing this to happen.You see, there is a fundamental difference between physical discipline and out-and-out Carnage. What you're talking about isn't a mere smack on the backside with a wooden spoon; it's the actual death of several members of our world.

If God is responsible for that, he's just earned himself another Morning Star.

Maybe God is angry, and his name is Allah.

Ha! Haven't thought of that, have you? What makes you think he's yours? :p

Personally, I'm sure there isn't one.
:rolleyes:

Allah = Christian God

I mean...c'mon...only main difference is that we think it's a weird idea for God to even be able to have a relative. He's freakin' GOD!

I personally think that:
1)God doesn't interact with our world. So he/she/it couldn't change anything in regards to natural disasters.
2)All the gods that are worshipped are actually the same being. This one being doesn't really care which religion you follow, as long are you aren't hurting, discriminating against, or opressing other people because of it.
3)There's only one plane you go to in the afterlife; there is neither Heaven nor Hell.
4)God cannot see the future; although he/she/it knows everything that goes on at the moment and all that has happened, he/she/it doesn't know what will happen.
5)God is not perfect. God DOES have a sense of humor, though. This point explains just about everything, really. :P

Maybe God is angry, and his name is Allah.

Ha! Haven't thought of that, have you? What makes you think he's yours? :p

Personally, I'm sure there isn't one.

I agree, there are so many religions how do you know your one is right. i also think there is no god

<snip>
And in my experience, good parents don't kill their children.

and using the christian god, he is supposed to be all-loving. why would a god thats supposed to love me let me wander around dumb to his existance? handing me a book that says 'inspired by god' does not show me god exists...

This one's easy:

God was taking a dump. He turns his back to the world for a second and it turns to shit.

(I hope everyone finds that funny)

and using the christian god, he is supposed to be all-loving. why would a god thats supposed to love me let me wander around dumb to his existance? handing me a book that says 'inspired by god' does not show me god exists... Mmm, but what would be your reaction if you suddenly saw God incarnate? You'd fall to worship out of fear, and free will would be removed.

and using the christian god, he is supposed to be all-loving. why would a god thats supposed to love me let me wander around dumb to his existance? handing me a book that says 'inspired by god' does not show me god exists...

You just need to make up your own mind. If you believe in God, great. If not, great. You can live your life to the fullest in either case.

You have FREE WILL and a BRAIN. Use 'em!

OK, but anyone who doesn't believe in God, or at least most who don't believe in a god of any kind, believe in the Theory of Evolution. I don't want to go too deep into this unless asked, but the Theory of Evolution can't work for many reasons. If Evolution doesn't adequately explain our existence, what other explanation does? There has to be some sort of god out there, whether it's the God of the Bible or some other god, there has to be one out there.

well i am atheist and i am unsure of evolution. that doesnt mean evolution is wrong or there is not some other answer. god could exist but i could not possibly make a decision with what i am given. if im given thousands of maps that each lead to a door that goes to heaven, how do i pick the one that is true from the ones that arent.

This one's easy:

God was taking a dump. He turns his back to the world for a second and it turns to shit.

(I hope everyone finds that funny)


meh... it's better then the in your ass joke someone posted earlier.

It's not a matter of "allowing" to happen any more than you "allow" billions of bacteria to be mindlessly slaughtered every time you bathe. It's just something that happens.

Remember that old saying: God helps those who help themselves.

Well ... we were given the world ... what we do with it and how we react to it is up to us. If a hurricane wipes out a major city, then we (yes WE) must take the steps necessary to help ensure that it doesn't happen again.

The greatest gift God ever gave mankind was a highly developed brain and then stepped back and let us use it. So use it.
I like that. That's good. I think I'll beleive that.

Mmm, but what would be your reaction if you suddenly saw God incarnate? You'd fall to worship out of fear, and free will would be removed.

i would worship because i see my creator. the bible says there is to be a fear of god. if i knew beyond a doubt that god exists, then i could use my free will to follow or deny him.

meh... it's better then the in your ass joke someone posted earlier.
The more you think about that joke, the funnier it becomes. I promise.

September 11th, The Tsunami, World Wars 1 & 2, Hurricane Katrina & Others... etc.

Why would God allow such things to happen to mostly innocent people? Was this God's plan for them? Did they all do something so horrible that God would allow them to suffer so? I'm confused... where is God in all this?

Maybe it's easier for people to see their God through these disasters, but for me it's hard to believe that some omnipresent being, who many put their faith in would sit by and allow/watch this happen. Many good people lose their lives in these disasters... are we to believe it was meant to be that way?

Also, whose God is the correct one. With so many beliefs in this world, which one is correct? Aren't we all going to hell in the eyes of anothers religion...? If so, is there really a hell... if not... why would there be a heaven?


God is both good and evil, because all creation is His. Therefore evil must be done in order for good to be done. We see good and evil through the sin of knowledge, but we don't have the capacity to understand the WHY of the good and evil, for to gain that would most likely be an even greater sin. We sinned so that we might be as Him, so we create good and evil, but on a scale of our powers. You can't fathom why, because He is a being of unimaginable evil, as well as unimaginable good. As for what religion is right? That's why we have holy wars ;) Though I think personally that if the One God existed then the Jews or the Muslims would have to be correct. The Jews and Muslims are decendants of the same people, Jews from Abraham, Muslims from...his brother who has a name that escapes me....Christians come from Jews. So I dunno, God will kill whoever is wrong I suppose, or at least that's what all their clergy have been saying for thousands of years *shrugs* at least that's how I see it.

Rubuking Bayzbollistan.

You say that God is punishing the US for allowing things like gay marriage. Well, let me say this:

I live in Massachusetts, the first US State to allow gay marriage. We've lived with it for over a year now. Shouldn't we have been drowned out in a tidal wave of our own by now?

God's allowing hurricanes to rip apart the Gulf, but He's allowing the new Sodom and Gemorah (ie. Massachusetts) to live in peace? Explain that logic.

well i am atheist and i am unsure of evolution. that doesnt mean evolution is wrong or there is not some other answer. god could exist but i could not possibly make a decision with what i am given. if im given thousands of maps that each lead to a door that goes to heaven, how do i pick the one that is true from the ones that arent.

That's what we call agnosticism.

That's what we call agnosticism.

i dont believe in god. therefore atheism...

(that was a hypothetical example of trying to choose which religion is right)

Rubuking Bayzbollistan.

You say that God is punishing the US for allowing things like gay marriage. Well, let me say this:

I live in Massachusetts, the first US State to allow gay marriage. We've lived with it for over a year now. Shouldn't we have been drowned out in a tidal wave of our own by now?

God's allowing hurricanes to rip apart the Gulf, but He's allowing the new Sodom and Gemorah (ie. Massachusetts) to live in peace? Explain that logic.

He's slow at reacting? :rolleyes:

I agree, there are so many religions how do you know your one is right. i also think there is no god
Well, I have multiple nations, so what if it's the same with god? He's just tryin' things out. Lookin' at all the religions, seein' what's working. Also, having many different religions would boost His/Hers/whatevers followers. I'm just sayin', don't get mad.

A few thoughts that come to mind for me.

If God did prevent any kind of disater, if Earth was perfect, what would be the point of heaven?

People generally assume God isn't corporeal... could he nt, therefore, take the forms of multiple deities from multiple religions, meaning that, in some strange and wonderful way, they're all right?

Wrt. evolution, it's not a matter of faith, it's a matter of science... those that truly understand the subject will nkow what i mean by that, but I digress.

If we are all going to die eventually, why is it in God' s interest to prolong anyone's life?

Why would God possibly punish sinners on Earth, when the basis of Christianity is he punishes them in hell instead?

Just a few random thoughts to throw into the discussion.

Where is god? God is in Crawford Texas on vacation.

Where is god? God is in Crawford Texas on vacation.

WE HAVE A DEITY IN OFFICE!? w00t!

God is in the Caribean on vacation.

Where is god? God is in Crawford Texas on vacation.

wow.

*Stands stupified, jaw dropped, and excessive drool running retardedly from corner of mouth*

Reverbia']A few thoughts that come to mind for me.

If God did prevent any kind of disater, if Earth was perfect, what would be the point of heaven?

People generally assume God isn't corporeal... could he nt, therefore, take the forms of multiple deities from multiple religions, meaning that, in some strange and wonderful way, they're all right?

Wrt. evolution, it's not a matter of faith, it's a matter of science... those that truly understand the subject will nkow what i mean by that, but I digress.

If we are all going to die eventually, why is it in God' s interest to prolong anyone's life?

Why would God possibly punish sinners on Earth, when the basis of Christianity is he punishes them in hell instead?

Just a few random thoughts to throw into the discussion.

theres one thing that i drum around my mind too, being whats the purpose of heaven if earth was perfect. well, heaven is perfect and uncorruptable the bible says. but would we have free will in heaven? because free will is what supposedly did us in because of adam and eve eating an apple. if god could have made a perfect place we would be born in heaven, and not earth. because heaven would never be corrupted because of something we did.

WE HAVE A DEITY IN OFFICE!? w00t!
Oh god. Oh god. I hope not. That really scares me. It really does. I've got chills.

Where is god? God is in Crawford Texas on vacation.

If Bush is in fact God's appointee, then I'm siding with Satan.

God is in the Caribean on vacation.

Still? He's been there for 5 weeks, c'mon what the hell?

If Bush is in fact God's appointee, then I'm siding with Satan.
Oh, man, I'm with you. I'm crying, I swear to... who? I don't know anymore.
It's cool. I'm cool. It's all right. It's just a joke.

Still? He's been there for 5 weeks, c'mon what the hell?

hey, he still has sick days.

If Bush is in fact God's appointee, then I'm siding with Satan.

lol go satan

Still? He's been there for 5 weeks, c'mon what the hell?
You expect him to be in America through all the hurricanes. He's smarter than that!

Being an atheist this isnt something I often think about, but assuming God did exist, he gave us free will so he cannot just intervene in these things. Free will is not just the ability of people to do what they feel like, it applies to all things. Without taking away free will God cannot stop a hurricane or end a war or even help a sick child. And without free will we and the world would be nothing but puppets and our existence would be meaningless.

wow.

*Stands stupified, jaw dropped, and excessive drool running retardedly from corner of mouth*

Which, oddly enough, is exactly what god is doing in Crawford, Texas right now.

There's no God. There are just laws of physics.

It's better like this, trust me...

Where isn't God?

There's no God. There are just laws of physics.

It's better like this, trust me...


Yea first post!!!!! Ye be a physicists now?

Where isn't God?

earth...

There's no God. There are just laws of physics.

It's better like this, trust me...

And who do you think invented the laws of physics?

And who do you think invented the laws of physics?

Figg Newton.






"God" is on a desert island with Jim Morrison, Elvis and Tupac.

"God" is on a desert island with Jim Morrison, Elvis and Tupac.

Is John Lennon with them?

:headbang:

Look, whether you like it or not, you know NOTHING about the cosmic forces. Neither does any religion, no matter how credible or massively followed it is. Sure, there's a Bible. But do we know it's true?

And don't say yes. Because you DON'T know.

That's just the thing. If we were to know anything, and I mean anything , aboot the cosmic forces, our heads would explode. Okay?

And goddamnit, the bible does NOT condemn anything along the lines of gay marriage, abortion, or any of that shit. It's just interpreting it that way. Interpreting is different than direct statement. If
I were to interpret "Let's go to the store" as "Feet should be illegal", does that make it true? No.

And, you frothy, devoute Christians and whatnot, don't leak your religion juices all over me aboot this, and claim things like "You just haven't seen the light" or some generic crapola.

I'm saying, basically, that we don't know. And whoever said that the flaws of evolution made God a fact, I need to say that it doesn't. It's logic, yeah. But not solid evidence. For all you know, some highly evolved alien race made us.

No one will ever know.

[insert religious nut here] :mp5:

By the way, this is why I hate political/religious debates. They never get anywhere. People are too stubborn.

September 11thCaused by terrorists with a blind hatred and a false interpertation of their own religon (yes, Colodia)

The Tsunami
Caused by an earthquake (yes, Colodia)

World War I
Caused by an overall eagerness in Europe to take each other on (and yes, the Germans had a major role in it but they didn't start it alone and definitely weren't the only ones to blame)

World War II
Caused by some really, really insane Germans (and partially to set the record straight after the lost war and the Versailles Treaty)

Hurricane Katrina
Caused by water temperatures above 26,5°C to supply energy from evaporated water from the Atlantic Ocean combined with some wind out of Africa and the Coriolis force caused by the turning earth which makes the wind turn (as it is slower than the earth and gets dragged along).

The two categories these examples fall in are a) natural disaster (which apparently is part of how our earth functions according to natural laws which - like I believe - God has put into work along with His creation of everything), or b) man made (in which case God is not to blame, but man is for leaving His course and what He said would make us all get along).

I don't see much that could be done about a) except for not settling in endangered regions and using our abilities to prevent where possible and to help where impossible.

As for b) - tough one. If everyone lived according to what pretty much every major religion or belief comes down to (the Golden Rule, love one another, help one another, forgive one another) then this shouldn't be a real problem. Apparently, man is not as smart as some achievements made in a) might suggest. Monkeys with nukes...

1 John 4:16 - So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
This (bold) is what I took as my babtism verse at age 14. At 15 I had my confirmation (Lutheran) and stayed that way ever since.

What strikes me most with the big three religions of this world (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) that - when looking at history - they seem not to get along too well, but strangely enough they are all worshipping the same God!
The one that Abraham worshipped. If people only understood that fact and thought it out - things really could be a lot better!
Yes we do have brains, pretty good ones, actually - if only more people would use them before acting, for good...
Just think about what could've been achieved if all the brainpower we put into methods to kill each other had been used to help and cure... Sad, so sad...

Anyway, good night y'all! :p Always good thinking on NS - I really enjoy that.

god is dead

Yea first post!!!!! Ye be a physicists now?
No I'm not... You can call me Epicurean Agnostic/Apatheist having some history with Jehova's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and Methodists, ordained by Universal Life Church and enthusiastically reading Bertrand Russells' and Robert Ingersolls' writings...

My background in physics is even more hazy :-)

:headbang:

Look, whether you like it or not, you know NOTHING about the cosmic forces. Neither does any religion, no matter how credible or massively followed it is. Sure, there's a Bible. But do we know it's true?

And don't say yes. Because you DON'T know.

That's just the thing. If we were to know anything, and I mean anything , aboot the cosmic forces, our heads would explode. Okay?

And goddamnit, the bible does NOT condemn anything along the lines of gay marriage, abortion, or any of that shit. It's just interpreting it that way. Interpreting is different than direct statement. If
I were to interpret "Let's go to the store" as "Feet should be illegal", does that make it true? No.

And, you frothy, devoute Christians and whatnot, don't leak your religion juices all over me aboot this, and claim things like "You just haven't seen the light" or some generic crapola.

I'm saying, basically, that we don't know. And whoever said that the flaws of evolution made God a fact, I need to say that it doesn't. It's logic, yeah. But not solid evidence. For all you know, some highly evolved alien race made us.

No one will ever know.

[insert religious nut here] :mp5:

By the way, this is why I hate political/religious debates. They never get anywhere. People are too stubborn.

Jesus dude calm down (no pun intended).

I think this is an impossible subject to debate, thoroughly impossible, simply because people are so polarized on either side of the subject that any actual meaningful interactions are more scarce then nuns at a fraternity house.

I don't have much input to this thread other than this: Calm down about the subject, and try not to make this debate too heated. Each argument has its merits and absolute proof is non-existant. I understand there are strong feelings among believers (on both sides of the aisle), but just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them wrong, and it definitely doesn't make them inferior to you.

Now, for my beliefs:

I am a catholic, though I do not go to church very often - I think the institution itself needs some work - but it is the common belief (atleast the way I was taught) that when God created the world he gave humans free-will, something that makes us unique from angels. Free Will works both ways, meaning we have the power to make decisions for the good or bad. While this doesn't explain the Tsunami, or other natural acts, it does describe the destructive forces of humans - the first and second world wars and of course 9/11.

You cannot take away our ability to make evil choices without eliminating free-will (IMO our greatest gift) entirely.

Thats about it...thanks.

Jesus dude calm down (no pun intended).

I think this is an impossible subject to debate, thoroughly impossible, simply because people are so polarized on either side of the subject that any actual meaningful interactions are more scarce then nuns at a fraternity house.

I don't have much input to this thread other than this: Calm down about the subject, and try not to make this debate too heated. Each argument has its merits and absolute proof is non-existant. I understand there are strong feelings among believers (on both sides of the aisle), but just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them wrong, and it definitely doesn't make them inferior to you.

I don't know where you got the idea that I was on one side. I just think that we have no right, or capacity even, to acknowledge whether or not God or cosmic beings exist.

If my language made you think I was starting a heated debate... I just like to curse. Is that a crime?

I'm on neither side of the aisle. Okay?

And I did NOT say that anyone was inferior to me, based on beliefs. That, in itself, is a major reason that I hate religion. Too much loyalty to one religion leads to condemning anyone else who doesn't share your beliefs, which is what will doom the world.

Please don't overanalyze my half-assed statements.

If you got the heated debate thing from my use of the gunny smilie... I just like to do that. I'm NOT trying to start a heated debate.

But I am a master debator.

I don't know where you got the idea that I was on one side. I just think that we have no right, or capacity even, to acknowledge whether or not God or cosmic beings exist.

If my language made you think I was starting a heated debate... I just like to curse. Is that a crime?

I'm on neither side of the aisle. Okay?

And I did NOT say that anyone was inferior to me, based on beliefs. That, in itself, is a major reason that I hate religion. Too much loyalty to one religion leads to condemning anyone else who doesn't share your beliefs, which is what will doom the world.

Please don't overanalyze my half-assed statements.

If you got the heated debate thing from my use of the gunny smilie... I just like to do that. I'm NOT trying to start a heated debate.

But I am a master debator.

I like you!:p
You and share strikingly similar beliefs on this issue...we humans can't possibly begin to fathom the meaning of life or the origin of our world...

I don't know where you got the idea that I was on one side. I just think that we have no right, or capacity even, to acknowledge whether or not God or cosmic beings exist.

If my language made you think I was starting a heated debate... I just like to curse. Is that a crime?

I'm on neither side of the aisle. Okay?

And I did NOT say that anyone was inferior to me, based on beliefs. That, in itself, is a major reason that I hate religion. Too much loyalty to one religion leads to condemning anyone else who doesn't share your beliefs, which is what will doom the world.

Please don't overanalyze my half-assed statements.

If you got the heated debate thing from my use of the gunny smilie... I just like to do that. I'm NOT trying to start a heated debate.

But I am a master debator.

Only the calm down comment was directed at you...the rest was just a general comment, I have seen many threads like this deteriorate quite fast.

And you may be a master debator, but I am a cunning linguist.

Figg Newton.






"God" is on a desert island with Jim Morrison, Elvis and Tupac.

my that is clever (no sarcasm intended)

Only the calm down comment was directed at you...the rest was just a general comment, I have seen many threads like this deteriorate quite fast.

And you may be a master debator, but I am a cunning linguist.

Ah... Well, people know more aboot my beliefs now. So...

:D