Do you believe in God?

[WriterDom]

We haven't had a poll in a while.

 

[00Syd]

Need more poll options.

 

[donnydave]

Everyone does, when they're about to die


Or come

 

[jockdom]

I better shut my gob, I'll just end up offending people.

 

[Recidiva]

I need more options.

I'm not sure if God believes in me, and that's critical.

 

[WriterDom]

Need more poll options.

Nope, it's a up or down vote.

 

[Recidiva]

Nope, it's a up or down vote.

Thumb sideways.

I don't have faith in a specific God.

I'm not willing to exclude the existence of some version of what might be termed God.

I've redefined God in almost mechanical terms.

Do I believe in the Christian God? No. Thumbs down.

 

[JMohegan]

Anonymous polls are pointless.

What is your concept or definition of "God," WD? What are you asking about?

 

[WriterDom]

Thumb sideways.

I don't have faith in a specific God.

I'm not willing to exclude the existence of some version of what might be termed God.

I've redefined God in almost mechanical terms.

Do I believe in the Christian God? No. Thumbs down.

The Christian God is the Jewish and Muslim God as well don't you think? At the root anyway.

 

[JMohegan]

The Christian God is the Jewish and Muslim God as well don't you think? At the root anyway.

I thought Christian God = the Trinity thing.

 

[Recidiva]

The Christian God is the Jewish and Muslim God as well don't you think? At the root anyway.

"God" is a generic term.

They're not the same, I'm certain, in the hearts and minds of their believers.

 

[WriterDom]

Anonymous polls are pointless.

What is your concept or definition of "God," WD? What are you asking about?

You are free to define your own god. Or Goddess for that matter. Or have multiple gods. The choice is between that and no higher power or afterlife. Of being completely on our own to be eaten by bugs and return to the soil.

 

[Recidiva]

You are free to define your own god. Or Goddess for that matter. Or have multiple gods. The choice is between that and no higher power or afterlife. Of being completely on our own to be eaten by bugs and return to the soil.

Again, this is entirely dependent upon the idea that there's some non-evident contract that you need humans to tell you about.

That's why I would have to insist a God believes in me enough to speak to me in my terms before I attempted a relationship of trust.

 

[JMohegan]

You are free to define your own god. Or Goddess for that matter. Or have multiple gods. The choice is between that and no higher power or afterlife. Of being completely on our own to be eaten by bugs and return to the soil.

Okay, thanks for clarifying. My answer is that I have no fucking idea.

That is to say, I can tell you which of other people's ideas I find goofy or presumptuous or just flat out terrifying. But I've got no guesses of my own. I'm agnostic.

Not yes, not no, just acknowledgment that there's no way to know.

 

[WriterDom]

I thought Christian God = the Trinity thing.

Their beliefs are very different but they all go back to Moses and Abraham.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religion

From what I understand Muslims believe the virgin birth of Christ but don't put him on a God level.

 

[Recidiva]

Their beliefs are very different but they all go back to Moses and Abraham.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religion

From what I understand Muslims believe the virgin birth of Christ but don't put him on a God level.

Moses and Jesus are prophets, same as Mohammed.

 

[JMohegan]

Their beliefs are very different but they all go back to Moses and Abraham.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religion

From what I understand Muslims believe the virgin birth of Christ but don't put him on a God level.

Supersessionism is deeply offensive to quite a few people.

"Their beliefs are very different" - uh, yes. Isn't that the point?

God in 3 persons = Jesus + Holy Spirit + Dad

If you believe in that, you are Christian. Jews and Muslims believe in something else.

 

[JustaNobody]

What if you believe some higher power exists, but isn't going to do anything about the creatures of this planet, so you're going to be eaten by bugs just the same? Deism, belief that there is a god but it has absolutely no impact on the lives of people, is becoming increasingly common these days. If you believe in a moot god, is that more like traditional belief or atheism to you?

 

[Recidiva]

What if you believe some higher power exists, but isn't going to do anything about the creatures of this planet, so you're going to be eaten by bugs just the same? Deism, belief that there is a god but it has absolutely no impact on the lives of people, is becoming increasingly common these days. If you believe in a moot god, is that more like traditional belief or atheism to you?

I think atheism defines itself as faith that there IS no god.

Deism is closer to agnosticism.

 

[rosco rathbone]

I pray all the time because it feels nice, but I don't believe in any intelligent, omnipotent being who happens to care about my personal problems. If anything, I'd lean instinctively towards some forms of gnosticism. The idea of the demiurge or the archons seems closer to what we have here in reality.

 

[Recidiva]

I pray all the time because it feels nice, but I don't believe in any intelligent, omnipotent being who happens to care about my personal problems. If anything, I'd lean instinctively towards some forms of gnosticism. The idea of the demiurge or the archons seems closer to what we have here in reality.

I've noticed that under stress or when I feel helpless, I can resort to prayer. Even if I don't think anybody's listening, it does seem that I have the impulse.

I file it under the same impulse that defines recovery from grief: Bargaining.

 

[rosco rathbone]

I've noticed that under stress or when I feel helpless, I can resort to prayer. Even if I don't think anybody's listening, it does seem that I have the impulse.

I file it under the same impulse that defines recovery from grief: Bargaining.

I also like to say Grace before meals because I like the traditionalness of it.

 

[Recidiva]

I also like to say Grace before meals because I like the traditionalness of it.

I like to bless my food as well.

I make a point to be grateful for what I have and make an effort to honor abundance. Usually this occurs to me most when I have less than I once did and I wasn't properly appreciative.

 

[rosco rathbone]

I like to bless my food as well.

I make a point to be grateful for what I have and make an effort to honor abundance. Usually this occurs to me most when I have less than I once did and I wasn't properly appreciative.

I feel kind of lucky in that thankfulness comes fairly easily to me. Sometimes I get weirded out at the disconnect between what I consider "abundance"....the fact that I can take a hot shower, drink clean water any time I want, run an AC in the summer, go to a great public library, live free of fear and starvation and oppression....and the notion of wealth in the greater culture.

Here's a cool essay that kind of ties this idea into the thread:
http://edge.org/3rd_culture/dennett06/dennett06_index.html

 

[Shankara20]

Nope, it's a up or down vote.

I voted "no" assuming the monotheistic-personality-of-a-"God"-separate-from-me-but-all-inclusive-as-an-all-encompassing-"God-is-always-was-and-always-will-be"-watching-and-personally-interested-in-me,-my-salvation-and-able-and-willing-to-shower-on-me-Grace-at-God's-whim-totally-independent-from-the-quality,-duration,-fervor-and/or-intensity-of-my- groveling was the definition you intended.

If my assumption was incorrect - well....

never mind