if you were completely cut-off from God? Meaning...how would you cope if your life was completely void of all the characteristics that God embodies (i.e. love, happiness, forgiveness, warmth, kindness, peace, truth, vision, morality, values, righteousness, understanding, tolerance, salvation, etc.). I guess one's life would consist of the antonym of these traits: hate, unhappiness, condemnation, agony, unkindness, agitation, lies, blindness, immorality, improprieties, indecency, intolerance, & damnation.

Personally, I can't imagine such an existence, and God willing, hopefully I don't have to experience this fate. Why would anyone fail to embrace the positive qualities that personify the Most High God?

actually, it wouldn't be the opposites. You would just be like our animal like ancestors, or some tribes that are millions of years behind. We would just survive, not care about anything else

I can't imagine it to be honest...I need God...but if I where completely cut off from him..gee its hard to think what it would be like

HOWEVER - athiests are kind loving gentle caring people too..this I know

Are you speaking about my ex-husband?

On a more serious note I can't imagine life without these qualities because I was born with the capability of all these things. I found them through love.

Why would anyone fail to embrace the positive qualities that personify the most high God?
I could tell you one reason....the God of the old testament and therefore the new did not possess these qualities to me. After being in the church for many years I wondered the opposite of you, how the God that destroyed entire villages and such is displayed as a God of love and kindness. just my thoughts.

i agree i cannot imagine this. GOd or Jah is what connects all into one.

Being cut off from God, would we remember what it was like to be in God's presence? WOuld we have any concept of Love, Joy, Happiness? Without the duality of Joy and Sadness, Love and Hate, life is just a plateu, no up's, no down's. Things just "are".

SOunds boring, but we wouldn't know any better.....

Regards, PA

I don't know the atheists seem to get a long fine. My Dad was an atheist and you couldn't find a more honest, kind, intelligent, and loving man. He taught me good values, respect for others and nature, hard work, and understanding. Just because you don't believe in God doesn't mean you’re the embodiment of evil nor does it mean you are unhappy. Matter of fact I find your attitude, science101, most insulting. My Dad was a WWII vet how dare you say those things about him because he was an atheist.

You need to go to the doctor and be checked for foot in mouth disease, science.

Left To Tell : Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust link


From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In 1994, Rwandan native Ilibagiza was 22 years old and home from college to spend Easter with her devout Catholic family, when the death of Rwanda's Hutu president sparked a three-month slaughter of nearly one million ethnic Tutsis in the country. She survived by hiding in a Hutu pastor's tiny bathroom with seven other starving women for 91 cramped, terrifying days. This searing firsthand account of Ilibagiza's experience cuts two ways: her description of the evil that was perpetrated, including the brutal murders of her family members, is soul-numbingly devastating, yet the story of her unquenchable faith and connection to God throughout the ordeal uplifts and inspires. Her account of the miracles that protected her is simple and vivid. Her Catholic faith shines through, but the book will speak on a deep level to any person of faith. Ilibagiza's remarkable path to forgiving the perpetrators and releasing her anger is a beacon to others who have suffered injustice. She brings the battlefield between good and evil out of the genocide around her and into her own heart, mind and soul. This book is a precious addition to the literature that tries to make sense of humankind's seemingly bottomless depravity and counterbalancing hope in an all-powerful, loving God. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee’s family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans.
Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them.
It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from her bathroom hideout having discovered the meaning of truly unconditional love—a love so strong she was able seek out and forgive her family’s killers.
The triumphant story of this remarkable young woman’s journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss.

Personally, I believe God embodies all of these things, but the things are not defined only by God. It is obvious that there is love, happiness, etc. etc. in people that do not believe in God as well. To think that people who do not believe in God are filled with the antithesis of these traits is horribly narrow-minded and just plain wrong.

There there it's ok Darkwind....we all get mad when someone says something about a family member, its only natural we retalate...but dont let it get to you...after all you are stronger than that arent ya??

I interpreted science101's post a little less literally. Not necessarily cut off from "God" as in the CHristian deity, but from the qualities that are embodied in a divine being (Love, Joy, Happiness, etc). It was even specified: Meaning...how would you cope if your life was completely void of all the characteristics that God embodies.

As I said (and I'm basically paraphrasing my last post), life would not consist of the opposite of joy/love/happiness etc. since being cut off from God would imply no knowledge of said traits. Without the duality of good/evil, happiness/sadness, we are doomed to a single level of mediocrity that cannot be changed or altered. One that we could not even comprehend digging out of.

Know what I mean.

Regards, PA

The only reason why god embodies those characteristics is because mankind gave him those characteristics. As mankind also invented the concept of god. I don't see why anyone needs a god in order to have love, happines understanding, truth, peace...etc...in their lives. I know I don't need a god or anything else in order to have those. They are an engrained part of humanity.

IMO - If you feel you don't need a God, does not make you a lesser person....I have met many like you and found them all loving, kind and warm people


Like my friend Sheri and although she is an NB..she totally respects me for my belief in God

Darkwind:

Sorry! It was just a rhetorical question. That's all! Didn't mean to open old wounds.

Purplos:

Well....if you believe the word of God that heaven & hell exists. You would have the polar opposite (antithesis) of God's wonderful characteristics if you were separated (cut-off) from him. Am I correct?

Tengu:

You really don't believe what your comments highlighted above. Do you? Mankind gave God those characteristics?? I think it is the other way around. God said the following, "Let us make man in our image, according our likeness". If it wasn't for God injecting those good qualities in us, we would all be balbaric in nature. Essentially we would comprise of everything that is wrong with humanity.

How do you know what god's word is? There are too many religions around, all claiming to be god's word and each swearing that all the others are blasphemy! Some preach a heaven and a hell, some preach only an afterlife. You care to give any proof that whatever religion you advocate is the true religion? - CM

would you?

this comes back to the question of if such a thing as a god is a part of everything or is separate from everything.

however, even if separate, you are separate from me and we could both embody certian characteristics. Hence, even in separation, one could embody the characteristics of another. Perception is key here as well. It is a dependent on the observer to cast values on the observed. You could go out and torture squirrels for fun, and I could see that as embodying certian characteristics of your god, for example.

The Bible is my proof! The Bible continually warns of a place called hell. There are over 162 references in the New Testament alone which warns of hell. And over 70 of these references were uttered by the Lord Jesus Christ!

What else do you need? Do you want me to cite them?

I don't understand the connection. Please explain!

That's what I figured! You need to learn the history of that piece of mythology and the religions that use it! Here I thought you had some proof!

Science...why cant you just respect Tengu's beliefs...after all you want others to respect yours too...right???

Charlie Mike:

The Bible is my "How To" manual; my reference guide. All the questions I need answered is directly in that book. Additional verification does not need to be instituted.

BM:

Yes I can!

You have my sympathy.

Good...cuz I would hate to see this get closed...everyone is different, we all have different, God made us all that way...christianity is man made and I fully respect it, but I was brought up to respect ALL beliefs regardless what that may be


Charlie Mike - Others do see their bible as proof, its their belief...nothing wrong with that

I dont follow the bible but if it makes someone happy to follow it, so be it...dont you do what makes you happy?

BM, I think what Charlie Mike was pointing out was that anyone that has ever researched the bible can see that it is nothing more than a collection of mythological stories set against a quasi-historical setting. To offer the bible as proof to one that doesn't believe that it is anything more than barbaric mythology and to offer it as if it is the epitome of truth, usually does not set too well with that person. I probably would have responded in much the same way, albeit a tad more politely.

I know Mako and I agree(which is why I dont follow the bible) .....but I was just pointing out how others see it differently...and believe in it..this I do respect also....I am just being nice about it all from both sides

Sympathy! Sympathy is DEFINITELY not needed!

Thanks anyway!

-sci

Who do you think wrote that statement "Let us make man in our image according to our likeness?". A man wrote that. Men wrote the Bible. Gods were invented out of man's need to explain his existence. And the concept of who god is has changed several times throughout history accoding to how man needed to see him. And god will change again throughout time. Some people need to believe there is an almighty being that created us that needs us to worship him. I respect those people that are fulfilling that need however they see fit to do it, be it through Christianity or some other religion...

Tengu:

Let me point out something I posted in another thread regarding the men that constructed the bible. Please read:



If the scriptures were not translated properly, those responsible for interpreting its meaning would have to answer to the God. I've read the bible countless of times. At this very moment, I am reading the Book of God to understand its true meaning. I read the Old Testament, New Testament, etc. The plot; the characters; and the basic message never changes. Why? Sure the way the book is translated may be taken out of context by the uneducated few from time to time, but overall, the lead character's (God) basic message has endured.

Millions upon millions, like me, share the same enthusiasm for the Holy Scriptures. We can't all be naive - can we?

At this point I will just agree to disagree with you. I have no need to believe in God. I was forced into a very harmful religion at an early age, have read the bible countless times and at this point in my life I do not have a place for it. I respect your beliefs that the Bible is inspired of god and will not drop to your level and call you or anyone else naive for your beliefs. I wish you well on your spiritual path and hope it leads you where you wish to go. However I wish you would be a bit more tolerant to other people's ideas and beliefs. Because in the end we are all just trying to explain this life to ourselves...what works for one person might not work for someone else and we should all accept that.

Tengu:

We have different perspectives, that's all! I will say this - contrary to how I portray myself, I am VERY tolerant of others. Lord knows, I spend lots of time with those that don't share my views; nor do I try to impose my will on them either. One thing I need to take into consideration is that everyone is not going to share my convictions; fervor for God. I truly hope I don't come off condescending? If I do, I sincerely apologize.

Thank you for the apology. I guess it is rather difficult to see how someone is coming accross through text. I have much respect for people who are strong in their convictions. I look forward to having further discussions with you. I really do enjoy conversations like this.