Where do you stand on the probability of God's existence?

[cliffy1]

I think we are getting closer, if not to agreement, at least to mutual respect. One saying that I found poignant was by Allen Watts: "Belief is holding to a rock, faith is learning how to swim in the stream of life." Another was by Mark Twain: "And man created (a) God in his own image."

[fluffy]

I think we are getting closer, if not to agreement, at least to mutual respect.

That's a nice thought. When dealing with matters that come from the realm of the unknowable/unprovable there can be no right and wrong. It is our personal right (and responsibility) to develop some sort of belief system that works for us, and with that growth comes the respect for other's right to develop their own system. Where we get the seeds that our beliefs can grow from doesn't really matter as much as it matters to keep an open mind so that when new insight comes along we can adapt and change if our heart says change is in order.

[5VP]

Suddenly the fence you're on becomes electrified by the scientists of chaos(in rubber suits) who built it and they're running towards you shooting metaphysical bullets of theory at you...

Which side of the fence do you jump to for shelter or do you just wait to get shot ??

GoD side?? No GoD side???

The scientists are getting more accurate but won't let you stay on the fence much longer cuz the power is getting ramped up and your resistance is disturbing the flow and your barefeet and Crocs aren't enough to keep you safe anymore.

Today people, today. Make a decision...

[cliffy1]

Suddenly the fence you're on becomes electrified by the scientists of chaos(in rubber suits) who built it and they're running towards you shooting metaphysical bullets of theory at you...

Which side of the fence do you jump to for shelter or do you just wait to get shot ??

GoD side?? No GoD side???

The scientists are getting more accurate but won't let you stay on the fence much longer cuz the power is getting ramped up and your resistance is disturbing the flow and your barefeet and Crocs aren't enough to keep you safe anymore.

Today people, today. Make a decision...

I face the onslaught with truth and light. Darkness cannot live in the light. A smile can disarm the most belligerent detractor. The only truth is your truth and that needs no defense or offense. Everything is just someone else's opinion and they are entitled to it. Dogma, on the other hand, is always offensive and always needs to be defended.

[fluffy]

GoD side?? No GoD side???

As soon as I know for sure, I'll jump.

[steven lloyd]

Suddenly the fence you're on becomes electrified by the scientists of chaos(in rubber suits) who built it and they're running towards you shooting metaphysical bullets of theory at you...

Which side of the fence do you jump to for shelter or do you just wait to get shot ??

GoD side?? No GoD side???

The scientists are getting more accurate but won't let you stay on the fence much longer cuz the power is getting ramped up and your resistance is disturbing the flow and your barefeet and Crocs aren't enough to keep you safe anymore.

Today people, today. Make a decision...

I face the onslaught with truth and light. Darkness cannot live in the light. A smile can disarm the most belligerent detractor. The only truth is your truth and that needs no defense or offense. Everything is just someone else's opinion and they are entitled to it. Dogma, on the other hand, is always offensive and always needs to be defended.

I think 5VP needs to breathe slower. Find a mantra, practice some meditation and seek some internal peace. Once he finds his own conscious contact with God he will understand and be less concerned about how others understand God ( or not ).

[cliffy1]

I think 5VP needs to breathe slower. Find a mantra, practice some meditation and seek some internal peace. Once he finds his own conscious contact with God he will understand and be less concerned about how others understand God ( or not ).

It always baffles me why Christians rarely follow Jesus command to "Judge not lest ye shall be judged." What others believe or don't believe is completely irrelevant. It is for each individual to make the journey home and that does not require adherence to any dogma or belief system. If it takes a thousand lifetimes, what difference does it make to me or you?

[5VP]

I think 5VP needs to breathe slower. Find a mantra, practice some meditation and seek some internal peace. Once he finds his own conscious contact with God he will understand and be less concerned about how others understand God ( or not ).

There we are with the "Judge not..." thing again. You've obviously not been reading this entire thread or you'd see the, "What goes around, comes around..." thing at play here, where being antagonistic always seems to only apply to the other guy/gal.

One of my mantras is, " I am a human becoming, help me to become" from the Handbook for the New Paradigm...

http://www.trufax.org/handbooks/paradigmvol1.html

Try the "Walk a mile..." thing. To get to my place would be well over one hundred of those and no neighbors(except wildlife) for the last 40 km.

Peace and solitude surround me daily. I daresay, moreso than for most here except perhaps, for the cliffy1 but Nakusp is New York city compared to here...

Lessons in peace and humility I've already learned and, as I've stated about 10 gazillion times, my belief in God has little to do with Christian religion. Christianity was just the intro to the greater aspects of God in my life...

This is a public forum which invites interaction regardless of who knows what about god...

And besides;I'm just a hermit foolin' around...

P.S.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a fence too...

[JOF585]

I will believe in creation until science can create life out of inert objects. good luck with that

Adam and Eve had 2 sons and then what ?

[Nebula]

I will believe in creation until science can create life out of inert objects. good luck with that

Adam and Eve had 2 sons and then what ?

Now, now. Don't let logic ruin this discussion.

Aw, what the heck.

First off, evolution has nothing to do with how life started. It has everything to do with how life changed over time.

That said, it is typical of a creationist to hold evolution up to a higher standard than they are willing to hold creation to. Requiring a full on explanation of how life began (if one believes in evolution), but not requiring themselves to explain the same thing if one believes in creation.

A. "You can't completely explain how life began, therefore it was god that created life."

B. "How did god create life?"

A. "He made it happen."

B. "How did he make it happen?"

A. "It doesn't matter. He's god."

B. "So you can't explain how your god made life appear?"

A. "Hey! Are you questioning my faith?"

[5VP]

Obviously this is a larger topic than our human brains can comprehend but IMHO, we were/are created to evolve.

It's how we evolve and into what that holds value for god.

The Urantia Book has a good explanation for the Garden of Eden thing among everything else that we think we know about our existences here on Mother Gaia/Urantia including the origins of the term Morontia...

Please read into it before responding or taking absurd personal offense and posting knee jerk reactions.

[fluffy]

It's how we evolve and into what that holds value for god.

I think that ultimately we all search for the same things, and I don't think where we get our inspiration/information is as important as the search itself. The goal is the same, there are many paths to get there.

[forum]

It's how we evolve and into what that holds value for god.

I think that ultimately we all search for the same things, and I don't think where we get our inspiration/information is as important as the search itself. The goal is the same, there are many paths to get there.

I'll agree that mankind is driven towards the same goal and seeking similar things, but looking in different places. Some men are definitely looking in the wrong places *cough* christianity *cough*.

[cliffy1]

I'll agree that mankind is driven towards the same goal and seeking similar things, but looking in different places. Some men are definitely looking in the wrong places *cough* christianity *cough*.

From the perspective of some, all religion seems ludicrous. For others it is the only thing that makes sense. Some look outside themselves for answers while other look inside. I personally think religion is dangerous. At least it is for me. I believe I am the only authority in my life and I will not yield my authority to anyone. But most people don't seem to have that strength of conviction in their own innate wisdom and it is not for me to say what is good for them or not. That is not my job. Sometimes people can only learn that the stove will burn you by touching it. Sometimes we have to let them.

[Glacier]

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