Fleur-de-lis Posted February 17, 2007 #1 Share Posted February 17, 2007 (edited) Edit: The thread submitted itself before I finished typing the title...Oh well. My religion(an I believe all Christians) believe that the Holy Spirit sort of acts as your conscience(sp?), making you get that feeling when you are about to do something you know to be wrong or helping you to remember that you need to spend time with God. And for those who don't believe(I.E. Athiests and the like)--the Holy Spirit pleads with their soul to listen and acknowledge that God is real. Kind of hard to explain, but I think that is the jist of it. So this is my question----and please be honest and really think about it. I'm really interested in your opinions. * Have you ever felt like something inside you is trying to convince you to believe? Or trying to prod you to enter a church, or anything of that nature? I'm sure since you don't believe in that type of thing, you would just brush it aside and excuse it as your mind playing tricks on you or whatever....But have you ever thought for a second..."Maybe or what if God really exists" Edited February 17, 2007 by Fleur-de-lis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vague Posted February 17, 2007 #2 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Edit: The thread submitted itself before I finished typing the title...Oh well. My religion(an I believe all Christians) believe that the Holy Spirit sort of acts as your conscience(sp?), making you get that feeling when you are about to do something you know to be wrong or helping you to remember that you need to spend time with God. And for those who don't believe(I.E. Athiests and the like)--the Holy Spirit pleads with their soul to listen and acknowledge that God is real. Kind of hard to explain, but I think that is the jist of it. So this is my question----and please be honest and really think about it. I'm really interested in your opinions. * Have you ever felt like something inside you is trying to convince you to believe? Or trying to prod you to enter a church, or anything of that nature? I'm sure since you don't believe in that type of thing, you would just brush it aside and excuse it as your mind playing tricks on you or whatever....But have you ever thought for a second..."Maybe or what if God really exists" Since I left the church I have had no desire whatsoever to go back into another one. They make me sick to my stomach. And, yeah, sometimes I look up at the stars and for a moment I believe there has to be something greater, but I sure as hell know it's not the god they advertise in churches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jodie.Lynne Posted February 17, 2007 #3 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Ya see, for me it isn't a question of believing in god. Its the religious garbage that goes on to parade itself as "the word and way of god". It is my belief that there are many paths to god. But, most religious organizations get caught up in ritual and dogma rather than the core message of the various religions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornagainuhmanduh Posted February 17, 2007 #4 Share Posted February 17, 2007 (edited) I do wonder if there is something greater on occasion. I was raised going to church, but I've never truly believed in the Christian God and I know that I never can. Are you also implying that non-christians can't properly listen to the voice that tells them when something is wrong if it doesn't tell them to go to church? Edited February 17, 2007 by uhmanduh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf MacCanine Posted February 17, 2007 #5 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I believe that the "little voice inside your head" or the feeling you get is nothing more than your subconscious mind.It's a survival response.In the martial arts,this is called "the Self".Some call it the "Instinct" or the "Sixth Sense".Everyone has it...but not all utilize it or listen to it. My instinct has never tried to convince me to believe in God,nor has it ever tried to get me to go into a church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleur-de-lis Posted February 17, 2007 Author #6 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Are you also implying that non-christians can't properly listen to the voice that tells them when something is wrong if it doesn't tell them to go to church? No...I was just saying that I believe the Holy Spirit does that, but obviously you can think for yourself too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo Posted February 17, 2007 #7 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I am not an Atheist in the strictest sense in that I would concede that your Christian God may exist. For me, though, pondering divinity is an intellectual exercise and I have no desire to worship any entity. Maybe I am completely without your 'Holy Spirit'? To be honest that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm happy with being the person I am and I don't need to believe a deity is going to appear and make me a better person in a heavenly paradise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoddessWhispers Posted February 17, 2007 #8 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I am not an Atheist in the strictest sense in that I would concede that your Christian God may exist. For me, though, pondering divinity is an intellectual exercise and I have no desire to worship any entity. Maybe I am completely without your 'Holy Spirit'? To be honest that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm happy with being the person I am and I don't need to believe a deity is going to appear and make me a better person in a heavenly paradise. I don't think one has to subscribe to religious faith in order to feel they have a conscience. I was raised as an Atheist and I have a conscience. I'm compassionate, loving, protective of those that may need assistance. I'm a political activist, and a humanitarian. So, I do not think faith is a necessary requirement to judge between what is right and wrong. I don't believe in the old motto: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, in that strict sense, because it would put me at a disadvantage in the face of a sadist or offensive personality that may attempt to "do unto me". But I do treat with respect those that treat me so, and I give everyone credit for being a decent person unless they discredit themselves as other than deserving of that respect. I've met and witnessed the history, of a great many that would claim allegiance to a faithful credo, behave as if they are without conscience, on many fronts, so I don't think faith makes one more humane. It's all a matter of individuals personal choice, sense of honor, and character, that makes for what are called "good people", or otherwise, as I see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornagainuhmanduh Posted February 18, 2007 #9 Share Posted February 18, 2007 No...I was just saying that I believe the Holy Spirit does that, but obviously you can think for yourself too... Thank you for the clarification Fleur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airika Posted February 18, 2007 #10 Share Posted February 18, 2007 My problem with this, is that it states in the bible that only the ones that are saved are "filled with the holy spirit". So then my question to you would be, if (according to your bible) those that don't believe in god, don't have the "holy spirit" then wouldn't the only possible explaination for your question be, that the bible is YET AGAIN, wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMelsWell Posted February 18, 2007 #11 Share Posted February 18, 2007 (edited) My problem with this, is that it states in the bible that only the ones that are saved are "filled with the holy spirit". So then my question to you would be, if (according to your bible) those that don't believe in god, don't have the "holy spirit" then wouldn't the only possible explaination for your question be, that the bible is YET AGAIN, wrong? Ah, but I am a Christian and my sect believes that everyone has the Holy Spirit within them and you merely have to wait and listen in the silence and let the light fill you. But then again, I also believe that the Gospels and the Bible were written by men/women who dwelt in the light, and wrote the words they heard. The words are there as the word of God, BUT you have the same ability the Apostles did and can hear the message and the meaning on your own--and you should do so. I believe this is the reason there are so many biblical contradictions. Whew, that's an unpopular Christian belief. I mean why would God have stopped talking to his "flock" after the Bible was written, that makes no sense. It's like God saying "Eh, they got the book, my work here is done." Or worse yet, why would he choose to only speak to his people through self-appointed ministers? Eeek, that's even worse! Edited February 18, 2007 by MissMelsWell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Manfred Posted February 18, 2007 #12 Share Posted February 18, 2007 * Have you ever felt like something inside you is trying to convince you to believe? Or trying to prod you to enter a church, or anything of that nature? Nope. I come from a family of "atheists" going back generations. Hell, I didn't even know the difference between Catholics and Christians and hadn't a clue what a Muslim was until I was 16. I don't have any feelings of being pulled toward Christianity. Actually, being within churches, walking past priests, speaking to adamant theists makes me uncomfortable to the point where I have a need to recoil, not to be drawn in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMelsWell Posted February 18, 2007 #13 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Nope. I come from a family of "atheists" going back generations. Hell, I didn't even know the difference between Catholics and Christians and hadn't a clue what a Muslim was until I was 16. I don't have any feelings of being pulled toward Christianity. Actually, being within churches, walking past priests, speaking to adamant theists makes me uncomfortable to the point where I have a need to recoil, not to be drawn in. I actually feel much the same way, the thought of sitting in a church while a priest or minister tells (or yells) me what I should believe and how I should act is, well... disquieting and uncomfortable. I'm quite capable of hearing and understanding the Word of God without sheepishly putting my soul in the hands of mortal men/women. My soul is for God and God alone, my sins are my own responsibility, a responsibility I take seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brave_new_world Posted February 18, 2007 #14 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Later in his life when he (Mahatma Gandhi) was asked whether he was a Hindu, he replied: "Yes I am. I am also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMelsWell Posted February 18, 2007 #15 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Later in his life when he (Mahatma Gandhi) was asked whether he was a Hindu, he replied: "Yes I am. I am also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew." And Gandhi is a man to be respected, a man whose teachings should be read, a nobel and Godly man who opened his heart to the light and heard the word of God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ourmoonlitsun Posted February 18, 2007 #16 Share Posted February 18, 2007 I'm curious, Fleur-de-lis, what your stance is regarding those that are non-Christian, yet also not atheists--people that follow a different theology and still believe in a deity/deities. Is the little voice they hear simply false? A voice of the devil even though it tells them to do good? Or are they simply misinterpreting that voice of the "holy spirit" as something else? I ask because you tie that voice of conscious with Christianity... Do you see the point? You have a loaded question implying that if anyone hears some spiritual little voice of conscious in their head, then it is the voice of the "holy spirit"; the voice of your religion, whether they wish to believe it or not. Perhaps I do hear a voice but it is not of your belief system--your undoubted reaction is to assume I'm wrong and that can't be true, right? If I hear a voice, it must be the holy spirit/the christian god. Maybe my parents just did a good job raising me so I know right from wrong... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Manfred Posted February 18, 2007 #17 Share Posted February 18, 2007 (edited) And Gandhi is a man to be respected, a man whose teachings should be read, a nobel and Godly man who opened his heart to the light and heard the word of God. He also called Africans that naughty 'N' word. Edit: wow, that isn't censored? Whoopsies Edited February 18, 2007 by Mad Manfred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brave_new_world Posted February 18, 2007 #18 Share Posted February 18, 2007 He also called Africans that naughty 'N' word. Edit: wow, that isn't censored? Whoopsies At least he never claimed to be a saint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleur-de-lis Posted February 18, 2007 Author #19 Share Posted February 18, 2007 I'm curious, Fleur-de-lis, what your stance is regarding those that are non-Christian, yet also not atheists--people that follow a different theology and still believe in a deity/deities. Is the little voice they hear simply false? A voice of the devil even though it tells them to do good? Or are they simply misinterpreting that voice of the "holy spirit" as something else? I ask because you tie that voice of conscious with Christianity... I'm not saying that your conscious is only the Holy Spirit. We can all think for ourselves, and we are all able to decide what is right or wrong, with or without the Holy Spirit...I am saying that Christians believe that from a religous side of things the Holy Spirit sort of works as their conscious...People from the other religons are really just the same as atheists, I believe that they have the Holy Spirit inside them trying to turn towards God, but like atheists they chose to ignore it and go on their own way, but they simply pick another religon to follow, instead of not believing in anything at all... Do you see what I'm saying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoddessWhispers Posted February 18, 2007 #20 Share Posted February 18, 2007 He also called Africans that naughty 'N' word. Edit: wow, that isn't censored? Whoopsies I for one would love you to show evidence that Ghandi referred to Africans as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Manfred Posted February 19, 2007 #21 Share Posted February 19, 2007 (edited) I for one would love you to show evidence that Ghandi referred to Africans as such. Google "Ghandi N*****s", you'll find all the evidence you need. By the way, his own grandson has admitted to this and his excuse being "that's just the way people talked back then". I first became aware of this in a Penn & Teller bull episode (yes I know they do a hell of a lot of editing, regardless, he said it). Edited February 19, 2007 by Mad Manfred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jodie.Lynne Posted February 19, 2007 #22 Share Posted February 19, 2007 I'm not saying that your conscious is only the Holy Spirit. We can all think for ourselves, and we are all able to decide what is right or wrong, with or without the Holy Spirit...I am saying that Christians believe that from a religous side of things the Holy Spirit sort of works as their conscious...People from the other religons are really just the same as atheists, I believe that they have the Holy Spirit inside them trying to turn towards God, but like atheists they chose to ignore it and go on their own way, but they simply pick another religon to follow, instead of not believing in anything at all... Do you see what I'm saying? Sooo you are saying that only your way is the right way then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RougeRat Posted February 19, 2007 #23 Share Posted February 19, 2007 I for one would love you to show evidence that Ghandi referred to Africans as such. Here is an acticle talking about it. http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_090102a.html It's one of the more sane sounding things I found while searching. I can say that I didn't know any of this before now though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ND-DAVE Posted February 19, 2007 #24 Share Posted February 19, 2007 Sooo you are saying that only your way is the right way then? This is were a topic like this gets an OP in trouble. In the OP's perspective it would be. All beliefs are personal when broken down. I may go to a church and hear the same message that I have recieved through my beliefs but still find differences in the sermon. All different people have different understandings and beliefs even if they are in the same church. And the same with the whole world and its population. Just like my beliefs will be right to me even though they are wrong for you. Or if they are similar even down to the fine line of being Christian they are different because they are personal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atheist God Posted February 19, 2007 #25 Share Posted February 19, 2007 In response to OP No I never feel like going into a church nothing inside me says beleive.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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