Does God Exist?

[jillian]

Personally, I think that Religion is the problem. Everyone knows what is right and wrong. There is no such thing as "origional sin" or even a concept of sin. There is only right and wrong 'depending upon circumstance'. If you kill someone is it wrong? I firmly believe it depends upon the reason. Did you get in a drunken fight, or were you defending your family, or defending an old woman being attacked on the street. The christian religions are the worst for 'written in stone' sins. Thou shalt not kill. Look at nature to know the truth...

That isn't accurate. It doesn't really matter how one gets their sense of right and wrong, whether it is from their religion, their philosophical beliefs or whatever way they get them. But both testaments, as far as I know, allow self-defense, defense of otherss and defense of property as an excusable reason to kill. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, in the original Hebrew, the Ten Commandments don't say "Thou shalt not kill", they say "Thou shalt not murder", if translated properly. This would be consistent with the law on the subject as western nations apply it (I can't speak for non-western nations, because I don't know).

[Insein]

The Christian religion is no worse than any others where "right and wrong" is concerned. And while your approach to right and wrong may make sense to you, it would not make sense to a 13th century Japanese samurai. Nor does it make sense in some of these Third World countries where life is cheap.

There is no universal right and wrong.

Using nature as your standard, are you saying the natural selection/survival of the fittest is the determining factor for right and wrong?

Exactly. right and Wrong differ greatly in many cultures. Look at the Terrorists. They believe they are right for beheading those that do not believe in Ala. I don't think many other cultures would find that to be "right." Thats why laws are written.

[Gunny]

Exactly. right and Wrong differ greatly in many cultures. Look at the Terrorists. They believe they are right for beheading those that do not believe in Ala. I don't think many other cultures would find that to be "right." Thats why laws are written.

I mentioned Japanese samurai earlier ... in their culture, if the daimyo told a lesser samurai to kill himself (commit seppuku), that samurai was honor-bound to do so. If a peasant insulted a samurai, the samurai could justifiably cut his head off on the spot.

So yeah, it's just a matter of what we're brought up believing is "right or wrong."

[5stringJeff]

Personally, I think that Religion is the problem. Everyone knows what is right and wrong. There is no such thing as "origional sin" or even a concept of sin. There is only right and wrong 'depending upon circumstance'. If you kill someone is it wrong? I firmly believe it depends upon the reason. Did you get in a drunken fight, or were you defending your family, or defending an old woman being attacked on the street. The christian religions are the worst for 'written in stone' sins. Thou shalt not kill. Look at nature to know the truth...

So if I felt it was morally acceptable to beat you until you were unconscious, would that make it OK?

[Norse_soul]

The Christian religion is no worse than any others where "right and wrong" is concerned. And while your approach to right and wrong may make sense to you, it would not make sense to a 13th century Japanese samurai. Nor does it make sense in some of these Third World countries where life is cheap.

There is no universal right and wrong.

Using nature as your standard, are you saying the natural selection/survival of the fittest is the determining factor for right and wrong?

Yes, exactly. Natural Selection and Survival of the fittest is the only determining Factor.

[Norse_soul]

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that having Personal beliefs in a god, or gods...is wrong. My biggest problem with most organized religions is the fact that they leave no room for your own interpretation. In fact they frown upon you thinking for yourself when it varies with what they say. Like the Catholic church actively trying to stop the movie "the Da Vinci Code" from being released. Religion's have power only when they control what people think.

[Dilloduck]

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that having Personal beliefs in a god, or gods...is wrong. My biggest problem with most organized religions is the fact that they leave no room for your own interpretation. In fact they frown upon you thinking for yourself when it varies with what they say. Like the Catholic church actively trying to stop the movie "the Da Vinci Code" from being released. Religion's have power only when they control what people think.

The individual is responsible for what he thinks.

[Gunny]

Yes, exactly. Natural Selection and Survival of the fittest is the only determining Factor.

Interesting. So, in your honest opinion, the people of New Orleans should have been left to their own devices? Not trying to pick a political fight either.

Our society is based on the strong protecting the weak. They would otherwise die. If I understand you correctly, too bad for those that can't cut it, huh?

[Gunny]

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that having Personal beliefs in a god, or gods...is wrong. My biggest problem with most organized religions is the fact that they leave no room for your own interpretation. In fact they frown upon you thinking for yourself when it varies with what they say. Like the Catholic church actively trying to stop the movie "the Da Vinci Code" from being released. Religion's have power only when they control what people think.

I'm not big on organized religion, and do have my own interpretation.

[avatar4321]

Thankfully, the existance of God isn't predicated on whether we believe in Him or not.

There may be some uncertaining or disbelief in people now, but things will change. He will make His Mighty Arm bare before the nations and redeem His covenant people.

[manu1959]

Thankfully, the existance of God isn't predicated on whether we believe in Him or not.

There may be some uncertaining or disbelief in people now, but things will change. He will make His Mighty Arm bare before the nations and redeem His covenant people.

when the human race exterminates itself what will god do with all her free time?

[Hagbard Celine]

I doubt it, but it sure is fun to entertain the possibility that there are angels and demons and seraphim and Jesus flying around overhead. And it would be nice to know for sure if there is an afterlife. But like I said, I doubt it. It's more likely that God was created by man, not the other way around--and since no one save hillbillies and white people confused by the disparity between their racially inclusive world view and an actual incident in which they experienced the kindness of a large black man, has ever seen an angel, so they probably don't exist either.

[Dilloduck]

when the human race exterminates itself what will god do with all her free time?

Start all over ?

[theHawk]

Actually - the Biblical timeline for Earth-age is 6000 years....

I'm a little curious to know where any of these numbers come up. Genesis is so vague, isn't it possible it covers eons?

[Hagbard Celine]

I'm a little curious to know where any of these numbers come up. Genesis is so vague, isn't it possible it covers eons?

No, it's not possible. Adam and Eve were created out of clay 400 years ago and they rode dinosaurs to church every Sunday and Wednesday evening. And they didn't have belly buttons.