How Many Believe in God?

MIKROMARIUS,
This is a good link,
www.sikhs.org
www.sikh-history.com

We believe that God is the creator, and the creator is God.

I personally dont wear a turban, I choose not too.

Sikhism i believe is the newest religion that has a following of over 20 million and I also believe is the 5th largest religion.

Its teaching are ahead of their time, in that we believe in the equality of all man/woman no matter thier creed, caste, color.

We are also taught that this planet is but one of many others created by God.

I can see why you would consider it very absurd that we believe that God cannot take human form nor have children.
It contradicts christians belief in God.
It also does not put Earth as the middle of the Universe as you can see stated above.
Deep

I believe in god but god is not an entity. God is all creation or the idea that creation came from. It is not some person or figure.' We had to understand it that way in order to comprehend with our puny minds the greatness that creation is.

I was raised catholic but just call myself christian. In several of my other postings around here some of you will recognize my encounter with a demon and my beliefs in higher level spiritual entities.

Religion exists to fulfill a need in all of us which is an emptiness which many of us have filled instead with pursuit of materiality.

Some other people discussed the idea of the lifetime and how we have varing degrees of faith and interest in god and creation. They are so true! I also had a lot of the same journey but now I'm not turning back from the only thing that really matters in the end, reunification.

I hope those of you that need proof of everything will realize that with closed minds, your ability to perceive proof around you is greatly diminished and you are in a viscious downward cycle.

If I was not scared that I might be wrong I would not believe in a higher being. If there is one then I would be better off believing than not Tough decision...

Originally posted by lurkinginthecorner
If I was not scared that I might be wrong I would not believe in a higher being. If there is one then I would be better off believing than not

Tough decision...

Good enough reason as any to believe I suppose. As long as you DO believe, why you believe is irrelevant. And what harm could believing cause even if it wasn't true?

Originally posted by ADVISOR
I'm going to guess your probably no older than late teens early 20s TOPS.

You're very wrong. If you'd checked my profile and did the math, you'd see that I'm 35. I've been agnostic every since I seriously started questioning the existence of Santa Clause.

If I'm wrong r right who cares, thats just the typical stage of life where one questions their beliefs. People have been older and younger, it's not important. What is, is that EVERYONE questions religion one time or another during this journey called life.

It is very important. It's important to question everything in life, whether it's science, politics, religion....you name it. It's a real fool who doesn't.

Please stick to the topic. The questions were:

1) Do you believe in god?
2) Why or why not?
3) And what religion (or philosophy), if so, or not?

Keep in mind that questions 1 and 2 are the most important! Many of you are skipping these completely!

Other comments aren't needed. Although, once you have stated your answer to the original questions, feel free to comment all you want. I'm just doing a little research here.

[Edited on 9-19-2003 by Satyr]

Originally posted by chebob
As long as you DO believe, why you believe is irrelevant. And what harm could believing cause even if it wasn't true?

Wrong! "Why" is the most important!!!!

So far, if I'm closely accurate, this is what we have:

Believers of gods or creators (16)

1 - I don't know why (just believes)
1 - Born and raised Muslim
1 - Just knows there's a god
1 - Just believes there is
1 - because it's ancient
1 - believes because it's unfathomable not to believe in a creator
1 - has seen and felt him, heard him, and walked with him
1 - just says he believes
1 - says proof is everywhere (look in mirror - no religion)
1 - believer who preaches in every post (conversionist?)
1 - born and raised catholic
1 - believe in God (Pentacostal)
1 - believer (faith only)
1 - believes, raised catholic, but god is not entity
1 - would rather believe out of fear of being wrong
1 - creator, but not "God"

Nonbelievers/agnostic/atheist/undecided (12)

3 - agnostic
1 - undecided
1 - unclear
1 - undecided atheist/agnostic (used to be xian - decided religion is harmful)
1 - atheist (earth would be at peace if there were a god)
1 - doesn't believe (not specified)
1 - undecided believer in own version of god
1 - doesn't believe (no explanation)
1 - no god, but afterlife
1 - Unity/meditation


If you're one of those who gave no reason why you feel the way you do, please feel free to elaborate. This is what's most fascinating to me.

[Edited on 9-19-2003 by Satyr]

I would classify 1 - Unity/meditation as beliving in God, but in a very weird way. It doesn't fit in its current catagory.

If you really want to know:
I am a Christian with reformed Calvinist leanings. Right now I am studying whether to adopt a preterists or a dispensationalist view. However this is what I believe:
1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the entire Bible should be used for the edification of the saints.
2. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah as prophesied in the Bible.
3. That Jesus Christ was crucified as an atonement for our sins, died, and was resurrected on the third day.
4. I believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
5. Salvation (acceptance by God) is obtained by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (the finished work of Christ on the Cross). Salvation cannot be obtained by any amount of "good works". Salvation can only be obtained by faith in Christ. (For those who truly have never heard about Jesus, there will be a plan of Salvation).
6. As Christ was resurrected, so will we.

I once was an atheist and came to the conclusion that this belief is truly inconsistent with the way we act. If there exists nothing beyond our universe and if when we die our existence ceases, why struggle? Why build civilization? Why have children? Why work for a better world? If death brings the end of existence, what difference does it make to me that maybe in 500 years men will be traveling to the stars? I would not be on that starship. If death brings the end of existence, then all utopian philosophies are pure nonsense; you are better off spending your time in the pursuit of momentary enjoyment rather than wasting it in the pursuit of building a "brave new world".

However, I realized that God's existence is independent of what we feel or think. You cannot believe God into existence. Even though I realized the futility of existence without God (for we will then all die and cease to exist), I accepted this as how the universe really was. But every once in a while, I would make a silent prayer, "God if You are there, give me a sign of Your Existence. It doesn't have to be much. Just do something that cannot be explained away. You don't have to part any seas for me. Just give me a little miracle."

One night, I exprienced an event (a Pauline conversion experience) which was the Direct Revelation of God's Existence to me. The details of this event cannot just explained away, it could only be interpreted as God's direct revelation of His Existence to me. Since then I have learned other things which leads one to accept Christianity as a reasonable belief, but that event was what started me on that path to learn those things.

jagdflieger,

the idea that you will not find god unless you look for god is what I mentioned and several others here.

what makes some search out god and others to turn their back is the real question.

I think as our soul advances we cannot avoid the inevitable question of 'whether god?'

THENEO,
Perhaps the reason some do not search for God is the fact that they may find God. Then what will they do? Once you come to the conclusion that God exists, then you must reach the conclusion that He has some claim to your life. Many people have problems with dealing with this issue. The real issue is not whether or not God exists but whether they will submit to His rightful authority in our lives. One of the things taught by a church I once attended was when to stop answering people's objections to belief. We were told, you stop answering objections and ask the question, "If I could answer to your satisfaction all your objections to belief, what would you do?"

Originally posted by ktprktpr
I would classify 1 - Unity/meditation as beliving in God, but in a very weird way. It doesn't fit in its current catagory.

Wasn't sure about that, since no creator was mentioned.

Both my parents are athiest. I was raised an athiest but, for some reson, I am an agnostic.

Originally posted by THENEO
the idea that you will not find god unless you look for god is what I mentioned and several others here.

what makes some search out god and others to turn their back is the real question.

Oh! Make no mistake! I searched for "god" plenty. I also did many, many years of those silent prayers mentioned above....just asking for a sign, or just a little strength or help in a time of extreme hardship. Well, no sign ever came. No help ever came. As a matter of fact, life only got worse and worse. So, I prayed some more....."Oh why hath thou forsaken me, my lord?"

Nothing!!!

Well, strength finally did come, but not in the form of belief. I realized I was going to have to be strong, and lean on no one but myself, since there was obviously NO F*CKING GOD!!! Either that, or he just hates me and many other good people I know and love.

Now, this I can honestly say is my main reason for disbelief. Either there is no god, or he's such an a$$hole, I sure as hell don't like him. From the descriptions I get from religious people, I'd have to assume he just doesn't exist....because they all say he's a great guy. LOL
I think these people have very active imaginations. If something good happens in my life, I'm taking credit for it, damnit! It's a direct result of series of good decisions on my part! Not a favor from "god".

[Edited on 9-19-2003 by Satyr]

Yes, I believe in God and Jesus, but am skeptical about the stories I've read in the Catholic religion. I don't attend masses or anything at all, I just pray to God when I need his help and guidance. All I believe in is God, and only God, I have like my own definition of God in my head. My God isn't Allah, or any other kind of God, it's just what I make God to be in my head. So I guess you could say I believe in my own type of God, who helps me out, is there for me, and will be there to save me when earth ends.

"Well, strength finally did come, but not in the form of belief. I realized I was going to have to be strong, and lean on no one but myself."

What you say above is the key. You looked inside yourSELF and found strength. That IS the strength of God since you, I, and everyone else are Godly people.

That little voice that said to quit looking outside for help and to get your s..t together was the voice of God. It was your soul or Holy Spirit.

You were looking for a sign. The sign is within you and everywhere. Look in the mirror. YOU are an extension of God.

Find from somewhere and want to share

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair and his beard cut as always.
He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.

Suddenly, they touched the subject of GOD.

The barber said: "Look man, I don't believe that GOD exists as you say so."

"Why do you say that?" Asked the client.

Well, it's so easy; you just have to go out in the street to realize that GOD does not exist. Oh, tell me, if GOD existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If GOD existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't think of a GOD who permits all of these things."

The client stopped for moment thinking but he didn't want to respond so as to prevent an argument.

The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barbershop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the barbershop and he said to the barber:
"Know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How come they don't exist?"-Asked the barber. "Well I am here and I am a barber."

"No!" - the client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street."

"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me."

"Exactly!"- Affirmed the client. "That's the point. GOD does exist, what happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Originally posted by madmanacrosswater
I recognize the Christianity that has been taught to you thru the years. I treat it with respect. However, certain aspects of Christianity deeply troubles me.

You say God's physical presence is not on Earth at the present time. I would have to respectfully disagree. We are God's physical presence as is all around us.

Well, what I meant was that the physical Father isn't here anymore. He left when Man broke his command, and chose Satan's word instead of God's. It was no longer safe for him to be around. According to tradition, the Father is now outside the Universe, which may mean simply that he is outside this solar system. That he is now sipping to a pi�a colada somewhere in the Orion system. He is not physically present here. But he is indeed present in many ways. God is Love, and wherever there is love, God is. Whereever there is existence God is there too, for God is "Him who is" the existing "I AM"

I would also have to respectfully disagree about the tree. Christianity teaches that true "salvation" is limited to but a few. No, all of us will continue on long after our present physical bodies expire. It is in what form will each of us exist. The ones who have allowed God into their heart and do not question his existence and try to pass his love to others will undoubtedly exist on a higher plain while the ones who question or seek without looking within themselves will exist on various different levels.

The written or spoken word of each individual is actually one of the sloppiest ways of trying to figure out what another individual actually thinks. That is why God does not want each of us to judge each other. We really do not know what each individual was or is thinking when they do certain things-especially in speech or writings.

Well that's what you think. There are many who know exactly what you think. You just don't know it. Telepathy is the thing with us humans that links us to God. We are Godlike. Created in his image. When the gospel says that Jesus knew what his enemies were thinking, he really did know. When the bible speeks about "him who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says" it means that whoever listening to the Holy Spirit which is Jesus' spirit, his thoughts. When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Wisdom and their eyes were opened so they could see like God sees, it basically speeks of the same thing. It's scary as hell, but it became the most important human thing back in Eden, when Man and Woman chose to judge for themselves instead of leaving it to God which is the path of Life. Most people who have lived as witnesses of the witnesses doesn't even know it themselves. They've lived like that most of their lives and everyone around them speeks about it all the time even if they don't know it. It's quite creapy, but this is what has created most religions, laws and heroes and all true prophecy on this planet. To me telepathy is just as much a part of me as regular talking and hearing. Thinking is communication. Have you ever wondered why when things are invented the same discovery is normally made many places around the world eventhough it is impossible the different inventors could have planned it? Same thing. I just don't look forward to the day when I stand before God and he pulls out one embarrastment after the other. The really boring thing with this is that it's impossible to proove, for there are people guarding these secrets with their lives, for it will bring about the Great Judgement and Man isn't ready for that yet. We haven't finished the path of Wisdom yet.

I have heard this one day equals 1000 years before. Again, I would have to disagree. Science, which was given to us by God is the ability to discover and reason. This planet and universe have existed for billions of years. It is a fact as much as can be "proven".

Yes it has existed for billions of years. But human sivilisation has only existed for roughly 6000 years. And the Creation of the bible is an allegory and must be understood as what it is. It's usage of certain words and phrases isn't casual. When Jesus says he is the Light, he refers to Creation. He is the one who reveils. Heaven and Earth points to other deities, Satan highly involved: The Egyptians called these two Geb and Nut. The Messopotamians called them somethig else. Many allegories infact. It's built on several levels, which needs the right keys to be opened/understood. I understand the part about the prophetic journey of Man. And this is where 1 day=1000yrs comes in. I also understand the thing about the Creation of the universe. But then 1 day equals 1 billion years.

I know you value the Bible and the teachings within. That is good. However, I have not learned from the Bible, Koran, etc, but have learned from within and had much of what I believed confirmed with a recent event in my life.

I haven't read the bible for more than a couple of years. I used to be an atheist, but I found God in a book about ancient geomery and basic math for builders. I saw the universe from the outside, and I also saw events that has proven to be prophetic. So eventhough I have only read the bible for roughly 5 years, I am still able to explain things pastors and priests haven't noticed eventhough they have been rased as Cristians, gone to Christian schools been to church every Sunday since they were babies and have been reading the bible every day since they learned to read. The reason I can do this, is:

First: I have a highly personal relationship with God. Meaning I speek in the spirit and he answers through his servants and all of his Creation.

Secondly: I have a strong faith and a strong mind that allows me to explain everything from what God shows me.

Search and believe and you will find. Knock and he will open. Call and he will answer. Understand what it means and you'll get answers to all your questions. But will you believe? Did you focus on it when he showed it to you? Or did you ignore it because you don't believe it? That the answer you got was not the answer of the Church?

However, we are both on the same track. We both know the father exists. This is good.

Namaste
madman

Yes, God bless you for that, brother.

Blessings,
Mikromarius

Originally posted by Stranger
Find from somewhere and want to share

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair and his beard cut as always.....

Brilliant story, Stranger! Hope it did it's job....

Blessings,
Mikromarius

Originally posted by MrEisenhower

Originally posted by mikromarius

So they didn't have science "back then"? Hehe. That's a good one. Take the Great Pyramid for instance. Thousands of years old, but still it is a symbol of highly elolved scientific understanding of the Earth, the Universe, math, physics, biology, you name it. Or how do you suppose the Arabs managed to calculate the circumferance of the earth hundreds of years before Christ was born. The people back then were just as intelligent and clever as we are today, perhaps even smarter.... How old are you? Thirteen?

Blessings,
Mikromarius

No, I'm not 13, I'm more like 17. And why does age have any importance? This sounds like snobbery, looking down on those that you feel are insignificant. I don't know why but some people get enjoyment out of belittling others. I used to have higher opinions of you as a poster.

Sorry if I hurt your feelings. I guess I let my frustration with other posters out on you. Please forgive me. I didn't mean so seem snobbish. I just wanted to put a finger on the general ignorance about the people back then. They were just as inteeligent as we are today, and they made some quite impresseve structures and wrote down the cornerstones of modern science we still observe today. I simply wanted to point out what I call a pubertile understanding of the world. I'm not calling you insignifficant or stupid, so please forgive me. I was quite frustrated there.

You say people were more intelligent back then? I believe in the evolution of the human mind, there was/is no longer a need to evolve physically after we had mastered the ability to alter our environment. Why would Egyptians be smarter than us? Are you an Egyptian? Saying that the Egyptians were smarter than us is completely obsurd, there is absolutely zero proof of this and is nothing more than speculation on your part. Fact.

On the Earth today we have come to the point where the number of the living excedes the number of the dead. There are more people alive today than there hase ever been living throughout history on this planet. I just pointed out this by saying there is just as good a chance that there lived more intelligent and clever people back then as lives now. Einstein would maybe have to bow in shame before Pythagoras, for his mind may very well have greater than his (allthough Pythagoras is probably not the right example, since he only reveiled secrets kept by the Egyptians and other nations of science for centuries and even millennia, he didn't invent his knowledge, he just reveiled it).

Read my post again, I had said science had no 'real' meaning. They knew how to construct a building, common logic. Something that is pyramid in shape would not fall over and would use less material than a large square building. The extent of their science is questionable.

Agree. But how were they able to calculate pi to eight decimals 4500 years ago? How were they able to calculate the golden proportion just as good? Without science? I would say it is a greater scientific acheivement to build the Great Pyramid or the tower of Babel for that matter without the tools we have today. They had to solve problems we today have almost forgot how to solve without computers and hydraulics. If Man of today suddenly lost all our machines and utilities, we would have looked more like cavemen than would the Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Jews back then.

Would the Egyptians have known what caused lightning? Would the Egyptians have known that rainfall was caused by part by Evapotranspiration?

Perhaps not. But there are clues in arcaeology that might help us out here. The ancient Egyptians, Babylonians and Jews knew about electricity. They have found Egyptian wall carvings that resembles a primitive lightbulb, that actually worked when they plugged it in. In Mesopotamia they have found clay jars with anodes and cathodes which were probably filled with winegar making it a fully working battery cell. They probably used this battery in gold work. And the Ark of Covenant may very well have been a static weapon which killed anyone who touched it unless they wore the right cloathing, shoes etc. The way it is built with two layers of gold insulated by an unknown type of wood (wood is a great insulator) and on top, two Cherubim with their wings almost touching eachother. The "glory of God" could be seen from time to time above the Cherubims or between their wings. God's Glory may very well be electricity. God even says in the Prophets that he counts Egypt and Babylon among them who know God. Is God then electricity, since they both knew about it, just like the Jews did?

The Egyptians were ahead of their time in there scientific understanding, but I feel that the extent of their knowledge is greatly over-hyped to make them seem greater and more godlike than what they honestly were.

I'm not speeking merely about Egyptians. I speek about all the masterminds of the old. Abraham would probably have scored close to 200 points in an IQ test today. The same could be said about many of the other masterminds of the �ra.

Or how do you suppose the Arabs managed to calculate the circumferance of the earth hundreds of years before Christ was born

I have never seen this, if you could provide me with a source of your information that would be great.

Since you're so clever, go to math.rice.edu... and see if you can do what Eratosthenes did in the third century BC but don't look at the facit until you're done, so we can see if you are just as intelligent as this guy was ....

My point was and a personal point I tried to make was that, I believe that the Bible and tried to explain the phenomena around them. Obviously you missed my point entirely, and was never supposed to string out any argument. The Bible shows very basic thoughts

I didn't miss it. I see you're a believer and hold the bible close to your heart. But it is not enough to say that the people back then were fools. They were certainly not less intelligent than we are today. That was my point.

the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

Not very scientifical is it? You say they were more intelligent, why isn't there a greater detailed description of how it rained?

Right I'm off, I don't want to get into any religious debates right now,

Look at what I wrote. I didn't say they were more intelligent than us. I just said that they migh just as well have been more intelligent than us, or to use the words I think I used: that they were "perhaps even smarter than we are today". Afterall there is a 50/50 chance....

Blessings,
Mikromarius

[Edited on 19-9-2003 by mikromarius]