Why I Think God Exists

[Galactic Goatman 4,201]

1 minute ago, Mr Walker said:

No need to apologise i just wondered if you understood that it was a statement of belief not fact.

I dont judge people by what i hear about them from others, and i dont judge gods that way, either  The only god I know from  personal experience is incredibly wise, loving, and caring.

It has saved my life and thatt of my wife many times. It has taught me, mentored me and given me strength power and wisdom over 4 decade. This god "sits on my shoulder"  teaching me,  offering advice, and power and protection.

 it has never done me harm or wrong, and has never urged me to hurt others, but spent a lot of time telling me to give to, and help others and animals/the environment.

I too am a person of facts not belief  I have NEVER believed in the existence of gods but i know from the facts of my own life tha t one walks with me, watches over me, guides and protects me  etc.  

Ah I see. But it's in my experience as a person that if a god did exist, it doesn't give a damn about humanity. Why kind of a god would allow it's people to kill one another? Call me a nihilist if you want,  it is in my opinion that if a god did exist, I would never worship it. 

[Mr Walker 6,389]

Just now, AustinHinton said:

I don't hear the voice of god(s), perhaps because I follow no faith? 

Honestly i dont think that is a reason, and i cant give you  guidance on that.

 i was an atheist, secular humanist, when god chose to impose his presence in my life .   I do agree that human beings can shut god out of their life by choice, will and effort, and that we can also invite "him " into our life, with an open heart and mind  But how god responds will depend on the individual.  God just is;  a cosmic intelligence present within all intelligent beings, but also part of the natural environment (You can speak to god via plants or animals if you choose, and it can respond via them)  

[Galactic Goatman 4,201]

1 minute ago, Mr Walker said:

Honestly i dont think that is a reason, and i cant give you  guidance on that.

 i was an atheist, secular humanist, when god chose to impose his presence in my life .   I do agree that human beings can shut god out of their life by choice, will and effort, and that we can also invite "him " into our life, with an open heart and mind  But how god responds will depend on the individual.  God just is;  a cosmic intelligence present within all intelligent beings, but also part of the natural environment (You can speak to god via plants or animals if you choose, and it can respond via them)  

What sort of benefits can one expect once they "let {god} in"? 

[Mr Walker 6,389]

1 minute ago, AustinHinton said:

Ah I see. But it's in my experience as a person that if a god did exist, it doesn't give a damn about humanity. Why kind of a god would allow it's people to kill one another? Call me a nihilist if you want,  it is in my opinion that if a god did exist, I would never worship it. 

But who says  (the christian)  god simply allows or encourages humans to kill each other.  All my life since god came to me  it  has been pushing me to love others, to help them, to give all i can to them to work for social justice, equality and the liberation of humans from materialism and fear. With god's presence a human being can lose every material possession and even face losing their life, and yet have no fear no anger no regrets .     God has taught me the true reasons for protecting and care for animals and the environment. Not because it is necessary for our own survival but simply because it is morally right    God does point out the consequences, good and bad, of human behaviours, thoughts and deeds.  it is a social conscience for all. 

[Mr Walker 6,389]

3 minutes ago, AustinHinton said:

What sort of benefits can one expect once they "let {god} in"? 

All the ones a person reads about, and then a lot more trivial but significant ones. 

 With god within you, you need never again be afraid, lonely, lost ,or disconnected  (indeed how or why could you be afraid, lost, lonely or disconnected with a god residing within your heart and mind?

You need never feel anger, guilt or hate. The mind of god does not feel those things and can teach you how not to.

Your life can be filled with joy and happiness peace and contentment. 

I tis actually what the east would call a moment and ongoing process of enlightenment and raised consciousness 

 Perhaps more significantly you will always have everything you need to survive, and will never envy what others have and you do not

 Your desire for material things will be much reduced and you will know that happiness and contentment come from within .  and you will ALWAYs  find a car park right outside where you want to shop

A connection to the cosmic consciousness, or mind of god,  also allows you some access to the minds and thoughts of other beings, which can be both a blessing and a curse but can be used to help those around you in need.  

[Galactic Goatman 4,201]

20 minutes ago, Mr Walker said:

But who says  (the christian)  god simply allows or encourages humans to kill each other.

Then it is not a god of love, nor one worth worshipping. 

12 minutes ago, Mr Walker said:

All the ones a person reads about, and then a lot more trivial but significant ones. 

 With god within you, you need never again be afraid, lonely, lost ,or disconnected  (indeed how or why could you be afraid, lost, lonely or disconnected with a god residing within your heart and mind?

You need never feel anger, guilt or hate. The mind of god does not feel those things and can teach you how not to.

Your life can be filled with joy and happiness peace and contentment. 

I tis actually what the east would call a moment and ongoing process of enlightenment and raised consciousness 

 Perhaps more significantly you will always have everything you need to survive, and will never envy what others have and you do not

 Your desire for material things will be much reduced and you will know that happiness and contentment come from within .  and you will ALWAYs  find a car park right outside where you want to shop

A connection to the cosmic consciousness, or mind of god,  also allows you some access to the minds and thoughts of other beings, which can be both a blessing and a curse but can be used to help those around you in need.  

Hmm... it's a tempting offer, but I'm going to have to decline.  

[Only_ 2,068]

1 hour ago, Mr Walker said:

But who says  (the christian)  god simply allows or encourages humans to kill each other.  All my life since god came to me  it  has been pushing me to love others, to help them, to give all i can to them to work for social justice, equality and the liberation of humans from materialism and fear. With god's presence a human being can lose every material possession and even face losing their life, and yet have no fear no anger no regrets .     God has taught me the true reasons for protecting and care for animals and the environment. Not because it is necessary for our own survival but simply because it is morally right    God does point out the consequences, good and bad, of human behaviours, thoughts and deeds.  it is a social conscience for all. 

We paint creation with the stars of our fiery imagination.

Edited August 10, 2017 by Be.cause

[Mr Walker 6,389]

3 hours ago, AustinHinton said:

Then it is not a god of love, nor one worth worshipping. 

Hmm... it's a tempting offer, but I'm going to have to decline.  

You missed my point The god of the bible is a loving caring compassionate god who combines both justice and mercy (the justice means that those who do harm are punished. The mercy means that all are offered eternal life0

. I was just pointing out that the god of the bible has been given a bad rap,  often by people who don't think anyone is qualified to judge their behaviours or point out the consequences of their behaviours.  Dont forget that, in the bible story god gave us eden, a perfect idyllic existence,  yet we would not live within the rules required to stay there.  

 As to the second that is the whole point of a god of love. You can (almost) always decline his offer   You can choose the life you live and the consequences which go with your choices.  Just don't blame god if it turns out less than perfectly  happy, fulfilled, connected, and  empowered. 

gee I thought the availability of preferential parking would get you, if nothing else did.  

[Mr Walker 6,389]

2 hours ago, Be.cause said:

We paint creation with the stars of our fiery imagination.

I don't quite get the connection to my post, but this is lovely. 

I am an evolutionist who believes that the god I know is an evolved entity; wiser, older, and more powerful, than myself.

 I find incredible beauty in  the products of evolution,  and especially in the imagination and creative potential of humanity. 

[Galactic Goatman 4,201]

7 hours ago, Mr Walker said:

You missed my point The god of the bible is a loving caring compassionate god who combines both justice and mercy (the justice means that those who do harm are punished. The mercy means that all are offered eternal life0

So basically, your god is perfectly willing to kill but excuses his actions by offering eternal life, which he has no way of proving to you that you will get it? Sounds like a scam. 

 

7 hours ago, Mr Walker said:

. I was just pointing out that the god of the bible has been given a bad rap,  often by people who don't think anyone is qualified to judge their behaviours or point out the consequences of their behaviours.  Dont forget that, in the bible story god gave us eden, a perfect idyllic existence,  yet we would not live within the rules required to stay there.  

Considering your god drowned the world for not acting the way he wanted (why did he give them freedom of choice then?), I think his bad rap isn't entirely undeserved.

If god didn't want Eve to eat the apple, why didn't he take the apple away? If he couldn't then he wasn't omnipoweful, if he didn't know it was there he wasn't omnipresent. 

7 hours ago, Mr Walker said:

gee I thought the availability of preferential parking would get you, if nothing else did. 

I don't have a car.

[cluey 939]

On 7/8/2017 at 6:34 AM, Will Due said:

I hear you there. It seems pretty undignified, arguing about God's existence. 

As I said in another post; you're born in your father's house, he gives you his name, he calls you his son, he feeds you, he clothes you, he issues you a room in his mansion to grow up in, and then because things don't go your way while he's next door, you blame him, and claim he doesn't exist. There's no "evidence."

That does seem like a waste of time.

 

my dad did that........so i can call him god......lol......he would love that............

[Liquid Gardens 12,239]

9 hours ago, Mr Walker said:

I was just pointing out that the god of the bible has been given a bad rap,  often by people who don't think anyone is qualified to judge their behaviours or point out the consequences of their behaviours.

Often he's given a bad rap because of his behavior period.  The only way out of that evaluation is to make the words 'good', 'bad', 'evil', 'cruel', essentially meaningless.

Quote

 Dont forget that, in the bible story god gave us eden, a perfect idyllic existence,  yet we would not live within the rules required to stay there.  

Who is this 'we' and 'us' you are referring to?  I never lived in Eden; using 'we' and 'us' is quite the stretch since you are only referring to two people.

[Phaeton80 3,960]

Reality, and the laws that govern it, is dripping with intelligence; specific design, focus, intent at all levels (from the smallest atomic, to flora / fauna, to the largest astronomical level). We need mathematics to interpret the patterns of our reality, everything has rules, or logic, that dictates its blueprint. As we need human intelligence to build software code, so must there be intelligence to build, say, DNA code. Even (micro, non transspecies) evolution drips with an inherent intelligence, adapting the system to the specific surroundings. Every geometric, atomic design of every being and plant on earth has logic, grounded in (complex, brilliant) mathematical rules.

In other words, intelligence / consciousness is what our world, reality is made of. Without it, nothing would exist. There must be a source for that.. Call it what you like, but we cannot exist without it imo.

[Will Do 6,578]

5 minutes ago, Phaeton80 said:

Call it what you like, but we cannot exist without it imo.

I'll call it the Almighty. 

 

[Liquid Gardens 12,239]

2 hours ago, Phaeton80 said:

In other words, intelligence / consciousness is what our world, reality is made of. Without it, nothing would exist.

Hmmm, based on the fact that our tiny inconsequential species have created things using our puny human intelligence while riding on an infinitesimal speck in this universe?  That seems like a bold, and kinda unfounded, statement (recognizing of course that you did state it is just your opinion).

The easiest example of why I disagree is something like snowflakes.  They are intricate and geometric and much like other 'things that require intelligence to create'.  By all appearances though, they seem to simply be the result of the scientific laws governing water crystallization.  Should I then think that the laws of crystallization require an intelligence?  Because we have grounds to expect something different?  On what basis should we think that intelligence is required for natural laws, if there was no intelligence, on what basis should we expect nothing?

I'm not sure, but this kinda sounds a little like what ancient people thought:  "I don't know and can't imagine why some people get sick, what lightning is, etc, ergo gods".

[GoldenWolf 3,363]

3 hours ago, Liquid Gardens said:

Often he's given a bad rap because of his behavior period.  The only way out of that evaluation is to make the words 'good', 'bad', 'evil', 'cruel', essentially meaningless.

That is exactly what has happened and I see right through it.

Edited August 10, 2017 by Mystic Crusader

[GoldenWolf 3,363]

19 hours ago, Will Due said:

Perhaps the most effective presentation of how Jesus revealed who God is: loving, merciful, and steadfast, willing to lay down his life for the sake of his friends.

Another p.o.v., he was guilty and laid an egg out of revenge.

[Will Do 6,578]

2 hours ago, Mystic Crusader said:

Another p.o.v., he was guilty and laid an egg out of revenge.

 

[back to earth 23,454]

6 hours ago, Liquid Gardens said:

Often he's given a bad rap because of his behavior period.  The only way out of that evaluation is to make the words 'good', 'bad', 'evil', 'cruel', essentially meaningless.

Who is this 'we' and 'us' you are referring to?  I never lived in Eden; using 'we' and 'us' is quite the stretch since you are only referring to two people.

 

Well, the sins of the fathers shall be passed on to their children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  children's children's  children's  .....    children . 

And man is still  punishing woman for 'making him eat it'  as well         ( the daughter's daughter's daughter's  ........  daughter  . )

But you would think after Jesus got our sins forgiven .... they would finally drop this one ?     According to Mr Walker ... no ... we still suffering  for what they did .

More 'theological'  quicksand   

 

 

[back to earth 23,454]

5 hours ago, Will Due said:

I'll call it the Almighty. 

 

 

Is that because of what he might to do all of us if we don't obey  ( with our free will ) ?  

[back to earth 23,454]

6 hours ago, Liquid Gardens said:

Often he's given a bad rap because of his behavior period.  The only way out of that evaluation is to make the words 'good', 'bad', 'evil', 'cruel', essentially meaningless.

Who is this 'we' and 'us' you are referring to?  I never lived in Eden; using 'we' and 'us' is quite the stretch since you are only referring to two people.

 

I forgot ....

 

 you could come and visit

 

 

[Claire. 23,731]

On 2017-08-09 at 8:45 AM, Blood_Sacrifice said:

Is there any idea on how the laws of physics/nature came into being? If the laws formed slightly differently, then we probably wouldn't be here to ask this question. Were they always there?

By the way, I am not advocating God here - I am certainly not trying to convert anyone here by saying God created them. I am looking for a scientific answer, so if anyone knows the origin of the cosmological constants and laws of nature, then please let me know.

Scientists have been trying to answer that question for years. We simply don't know. You might find this article from NOVA quite interesting. It addresses your very question and the problems inherent in coming up with an answer for it.

[XenoFish 106,598]

What if we find God and it's nothing like most of humanity expects. Perhaps it is something that see's us as nothing more than that .1% bacteria the Clorox wiped didn't get. How many people would accept that? We discovered god and found out it doesn't care about us at all. 

 

[Will Do 6,578]

28 minutes ago, XenoFish said:

What if we find God and it's nothing like most of humanity expects. Perhaps it is something that see's us as nothing more than that .1% bacteria the Clorox wiped didn't get. How many people would accept that? We discovered god and found out it doesn't care about us at all. 

 

You mean you think he might be an apatheist?

 

[Will Do 6,578]

54 minutes ago, back to earth said:

 

Is that because of what he might to do all of us if we don't obey  ( with our free will ) ?  

If you're not careful following Caligastia back to earth, you could end up eating yourself like he is, because of your free will.