Religion, God, The Bible, Higher Powers Options

[OriskybusinessO]

I have a question for all of you believers out there...

If there are so many different reilgions, then how do you know which is true (please dont answer with 'faith')? If there were some 'higher-power' that everybody knew was true why wouldnt the whole world become that religion, or believe in them?

I think that the whole Bible, God, Higher Power deal is fake. There was once this man who traveled to Africa (around the 1400's before any European had ever been there) and wrote a book about how there are people there that had faces in there chests, necks 5 feet tall, etc. Everybody believed it. How do you know the Bible deal isnt like this? I am pretty sure there is no proof that this stuff is real... so please explain it to me. And don't say faith because some people who dont believe, or have 'faith', dont think that there is a higher power and it is just a bunch of... fake stuff.

[pinaykizzes]

i dis-agree....i believe in God nd he has done alot fo me..thaz all

[sadolakced acid]

please see the 'god' thread, the 'christianity' thread, etc. for some good arguements for both sides. i know they're a bit deep in the pile of old threads, but they're there.

[gigiopolis]

please see the 'god' thread, the 'christianity' thread, etc. for some good arguements for both sides. i know they're a bit deep in the pile of old threads, but they're there.

Yah, because there's already lots of threads on these subjects that have much more information in them. It just makes the debate forum cluttered.

[*Statistik*]

I dont really know religion stuff..

[jnukes]

god made tha universe. what can be higher than that?

[sporadic]

Well, I'm sure this has been brought up before, but all the same.


Yeah, I've thought of that before. Who's to say what's real and what isn't? People as a whole want to believe that there's more to life than what we know. There has to be something that we can't comprehend. If there isn't, then life is pointless and why should we continue pursuing a material "happiness"? It's an endless, possibly pointless circle. The belief in God and religion gives people something to strive for: heaven.

[pandamonium]

Its weird but i do believe in God. but i also have questions.

I am so pleased that you made this topic cause i wonder about it all the time. like i believe in reincarnation for some reason. but i think there is a great power out there , but who knows all of the other religions can be true. i guess we will have to find out what everything is like in the next life.

There are so many possibilities out there its un-imaginable.

but i believe there is a God/greater power out there but for me he is God, just because he made most things. to other people it can be whoever.... but i also wonder what else is out there, other than our galaxy like humans ,.... there are probably other solar systems out there with so many other species. but again we will find out in the next life after our physical one.

[smthngcrprategrl...]

the problem with the bible is that it was written about 2 million years ago! since then it has been rewritten and translated so much that things have been altered and the bible is no longer accurate if it even was to begin with.

[HelloSunshine]

the problem with the bible is that it was written about 2 million years ago! since then it has been rewritten and translated so much that things have been altered and the bible is no longer accurate if it even was to begin with.

hmm..good point..it has been alteterd...so some of the stuff is different...I've also heard it keeps out some things..well no matter what..I'm a Catholic Christian, I believe in God, and I believe the Bible

[Kriegsgefangene]

the problem with the bible is that it was written about 2 million years ago! since then it has been rewritten and translated so much that things have been altered and the bible is no longer accurate if it even was to begin with.

There is a problem about your post, because the bible was written in a different time frame that 2 millions years.

(Excuse me, if you get mad. I like making sarcastic statements literal.)

But yes, it has been written, revised, and so on and so forth.
_______________
I do no neccessarily care about religion at all, but if you ask me, I will give my oppinions.

Faith/belief, what ever you want to call it. It is hard to follow something that we really can't see with out eyes. A god exsists as you believe, yes?

What about ghosts? They are somewhat from the same plane as god, and yet, you refuse to believe in them as well? Wouldn't they be like, angles, watching over you?

What ever.

I don't like religion mainly because you are really just preached at. You aren't really explained to why life is here.

If 'God' was so great enough to give Jesus the ten damned commandments, why didn't he just say that we were put on earth for a reason? Why didn't he tell us more?

What ever. Any questions?

[Spirited Away]

God 1, God 2, Creation/Evolution, Jesus, Should a Christian be a Republican, Christianity, for Christians and Atheists, Life after Death, You can't have it both ways!, Religion pros and cons...

Those are the few topics that are related to religio. I can easily find them in the archives.

[Sumiaki]

Why do people believe in love and fate? You can't touch it, you can't see it, you can't really prove it. Yet people believe in love and fate. I think people need to believe in something for security. Even if things in their life isn't going as they plan, they can always count on religion. I believe that's why...

[SkaironFrenzy]

There are so many reasons in this world (or universe) that there is some kind of higher power or creator. There are proofs out there that there is a God/Creator… Christian God or Muslim God… it doesn’t matter. For example, the distance from the Earth to the sun… if we were any further we would go into an ice age…. So how can u explain that the ‘big bang theory” supposedly place our world in the right distance stable enough for life? Other example is the human body, if you look at the complexity of the human body, do u think that evolution can create such a wonderful and complex life form?

So yea I duno if this answers your topic… (sorry if it was off topic)

[sadolakced acid]

There are so many reasons in this world (or universe) that there is some kind of higher power or creator. There are proofs out there that there is a God/Creator… Christian God or Muslim God… it doesn’t matter. For example, the distance from the Earth to the sun… if we were any further we would go into an ice age…. So how can u explain that the ‘big bang theory” supposedly place our world in the right distance stable enough for life? Other example is the human body, if you look at the complexity of the human body, do u think that evolution can create such a wonderful and complex life form?

So yea I duno if this answers your topic… (sorry if it was off topic)

the distance from the sun isn't almighty important...

in the northern hemisphere the earth is farther from the sun in the summer.

the big bang will never be proven.

the human body is complex... but there is an explination about how it got formed. (yes evolution by natural selection)



the bible was written by people interperating the words of jesus. the people we know to be human.

do not people lie?

could not the bible have lies?

the king james version of the bible is riddled with politics... becuase king james commisioned it.

you're reading a summary of a summary of a summary...
kinda like the game telephone

how do you know whether the verses you might be quoting aren't added by someone along the line?

[CrimsonArchangel]

There is a problem about your post, because the bible was written in a different time frame that 2 millions years.

I am going to have to agree with ^ but I'm going to have to reword his statement a bit.

Bible was not written 2 million years ago because the earth is much less than 2 million years old. I will dwell deeper into this if this topic does not get closed and when I'm thinking straighter.

That said, religion is not going to church, or reading a holy book or preaching and blah blah. Religion is just the personal relation a person has with their god.

LOOK, MA! I DID NOT GENERALIZE!!

Sorry for the sarcasm. I'm not happy.

[HelloSunshine]

I am going to have to agree with ^ but I'm going to have to reword his statement a bit.

Bible was not written 2 million years ago because the earth is much less than 2 million years old. I will dwell deeper into this if this topic does not get closed and when I'm thinking straighter.

That said, religion is not going to church, or reading a holy book or preaching and blah blah. Religion is just the personal relation a person has with their god.

LOOK, MA! I DID NOT GENERALIZE!!

Sorry for the sarcasm. I'm not happy.

I agree totally with you, yeah, the bible was made more like 2,00 years ago

[smile4me]

Why do people believe in love and fate? You can't touch it, you can't see it, you can't really prove it. Yet people believe in love and fate. I think people need to believe in something for security. Even if things in their life isn't going as they plan, they can always count on religion. I believe that's why...

exactly. i think religion was made to well..give ppl a sense of security. something to count on. something they can rely upon when things are at its worst. and if things do start turning around for htem, they can call it religion. some clal it coincidence, but personally, wouldn't that be a lot of coincidences...

[gelionie]

Well although I believe in Christianity... but I think most religions are actually worshipping THE SAME GOD. I don't know why... but that's what I think. =]

[sadolakced acid]

no, the commonality with all religions is thier belief in an afterlife (i know, there are some that don't) and with divine being(s)

[picaso_smile]

Religion is so old that I think the main range of religions are variations on the truth... you can see definite similarities in most. For example, if i'm correct, Islam and Christianity both have a god and a human form.

[ComradeRed]

No... Allah is entirely transcendental. He does not appear as a human. Mohammed was just a prophet, not a manifestation of Allah.

[picaso_smile]

No... Allah is entirely transcendental. He does not appear as a human. Mohammed was just a prophet, not a manifestation of Allah.

Ah. I see.... But still somewhat similar, yes? Mohammed is a major part of their religion... and some religions believe that Jesus was just a very good person.

[sadolakced acid]

those religons that belive jesus was human are 'false' and the 'work of the devil', no?

and is not mohhamad a 'false prophet' according to christianity?

[Oh4SuChSwEeTnEsS]

Ha. Mohammad had epilepsy. he had seizure, and decided that he was God. he took this idea to the jews and christians and they scoffed. so he wrote his own religion. Islam. true story, btw! Allah was a pagan god that mohammed decided was his "favorite" or most important. also...if jesus died and never rose again, why cant they find his body or remains. they know where he was buried, but they have no sign that he was ever there. (the flood and noahs ark stuff is true...they actually found noahs ark! in a mtn)

[Oh4SuChSwEeTnEsS]

Christianity is one of the oldest and the most proved religions out there. no one has techinically proved it wrong. they all have there theories. just as people now believe evolution, they used to think earth was flat. to us this seems silly, but its the same idea.

[Spirited Away]

No one proved Christianity wrong but it can't prove itself to be right either, it only claims to be so.

Christianity IS NOT old compared to Judaism and Hinduism (which is older than Judaism).

[Oh4SuChSwEeTnEsS]

Most religions have been proved wrong. Judaism has many of the same beliefs as christianity, they just dont believe that Jesus was the messiah. they also follow the old testament laws more closely bc the messiah was to bring the new covenant(which christians believe is the new testament) its complicated to talks about christian beliefs bc there are many denominations. :)

[Spirited Away]

Most religions have been proven to be wrong? Which ones?

There are many denominations but essentially they all have fundamental beliefs such as in God and in prayer... etc. Also, if there are many different denominations, then which is the right one? What if they're all wrong?

[Oh4SuChSwEeTnEsS]

All denominations have the same base. the church has its faults in modern society. one of them is that they argue entirely too much about details and dont focus on what is important. a lot of religions have been proved wrong simply by the fact that their holy books contradict themselves. islam. a religion of brotherhood and peace. (34000 americans coverted to it after 9 11 bc of this) tells people to kills jews, christians and any other relgions. it actually promises them rewards for this. and they claim that christians are intolerant? i agree that christians arent always the most supportive of other religions. but did u know that 70 percent of all muslims children in palestine want to grow up to be suicide bombers? the koran tells them to be at peace and brothers with one another, yet kill. how is this?

[Spirited Away]

That would have been so incredibly offensive if I were Muslim. Since I am not, I cannot speak well for that religion, but I can assure you that Islam is not like that.

Is that the only impression you have of Islam? Is the war in Iraq your only basis for what Islam is about?

[sadolakced acid]

  Ha. Mohammad had epilepsy. he had seizure, and decided that he was God. he took this idea to the jews and christians and they scoffed. so he wrote his own religion. Islam. true story, btw! Allah was a pagan god that mohammed decided was his "favorite" or most important. also...if jesus died and never rose again, why cant they find his body or remains. they know where he was buried, but they have no sign that he was ever there. (the flood and noahs ark stuff is true...they actually found noahs ark! in a mtn)

at least i know what i'm talking about when i talk about christianity...

mohammad NEVER claimed to be god... i think you're confusing him with jesus. he claimed to be the PROPHET.

NEVER did he claim he was the mezziah.


did you know they don't know where napoleon is buried? they have a tomb and a body, but the problem is that napoleon's servant died at teh same time...

napoleon is god!!!

and they didn't find noah's ark. they found the Mt. ararat anomalie, or something that vaugley looks like a ship from satallite photos. it could very well be a misshapened rock. they have never proven what it is, because the area is held by rebels and the government won't let foriegners in.



the bible says tho shalt not kill, yet what were the crusades?

if you wish to talk about hypocritisism, christianity is one of the biggest on it.

[pympgangsta4real]

Why do people believe in love and fate? You can't touch it, you can't see it, you can't really prove it. Yet people believe in love and fate. I think people need to believe in something for security. Even if things in their life isn't going as they plan, they can always count on religion. I believe that's why...

They believe in love because they feel it. I can't explain fate, because it too, as does destiny, falls in the place of God and everything else. No one on this whole planet can prove it... yet it's a possibility. You're right that people need to believe in something for security... but what a better place to believe in than ourselves? We may not be able to always count on ourselves, but that's because of how society is and how society has trained us. We're afraid to fail, when failure and fear are the best motivators other than true love itself. Honestly, I believe that humanity simply CAN NOT accept the fact that some things, in this time and age, CAN NOT be explained, and CAN NOT be proven, and that's why we have such strong debates on the issues of religion and creation. No one on this planet has such authority to claim which religion is true and which is false, and one doing so would be one playing God himself... and the most famous man who tried to play God comes to mind... Adolf Hitler. No one has that right on this world, and when a single human being has the right to determine who has the right to live and who has the right to die in this world, then truly, there is something worth fearing in this world, and a big problem with society. Back on topic however... no one knows, and it's quite possible that no one will know either. You guys with me on this?

[sadolakced acid]

oh, everyone will know. but no one will live to tell us, so it's quite useless.

sweetness... did you know that %70 of all stats are made up?

[picaso_smile]

those religons that belive jesus was human are 'false' and the 'work of the devil', no? 

and is not mohhamad a 'false prophet' according to christianity?

And is not Jesus somewhat of a false prophet to the Jews?

The point is there are undeniable similarities among many religions.

if you wish to talk about hypocritisism, christianity is one of the biggest on it.

Lets see.... I do believe that anyone alive today was not alive during the crusades.... who says anymodern day Christians agree with the crusades??

[*mona lisa*]

ugh i can't believe how many times i have to say this.

RELIGION IS BASED ON BELIEF AND INTERPRETATION, DAMMIT.

[sadolakced acid]

i'm not talking about the crusades. i'm talking about everything.

[picaso_smile]

i'm not talking about the crusades. i'm talking about everything.

Please elaborate on that one..............

[sadolakced acid]

christianity:

1- god is good, yet he only saves belivers.
2- war can be stated to be ok, even tho it goes against a commandment, but homosexuality cannot be stated to be ok, even if it only goes against a bible verse.
3- christians claim that they're trying to 'save' people by telling them about jesus... when in reality it's because 'jesus won't save everyone until every able ear has heard his words." so that people who try to 'save' people are actually being selfish and trying to save themselves.

that's enough for now.

[Spirited Away]

Lets see.... I do believe that anyone alive today was not alive during the crusades.... who says anymodern day Christians agree with the crusades??

What is the difference between modern day Christian and those brave Crusaders? They do the Lord's work just like any good Christian. You not agreeing with what they did in the past doesn't make them any less of a Christian.

[picaso_smile]

What is the difference between modern day Christian and those brave Crusaders? They do the Lord's work just like any good Christian. You not agreeing with what they did in the past doesn't make them any less of a Christian.

The difference is, today any real Christian (excluding any radicles or nut bags)wouldn't go to war and kill people over what they believe.

Also, I never said they weren't Christians. Seems you enjoy putting words in my mouth. Not quite a debate if you're arguing with things you said now is it?

[Spirited Away]

The difference is, today any real Christian (excluding any radicles or nut bags)wouldn't go to war and kill people over what they believe.

Also, I never said they weren't Christians. Seems you enjoy putting words in my mouth. Not quite a debate if you're arguing with things you said now is it?

Putting words in your mouth or saying things that is intended in your writing?

By the way, how did I put words in your mouth, you're just imagining things or not reading correctly. Try reading again before you wrongly accuse me of anything.

So because today's Christians don't find it necessary to fight for what they believe in, but Christians in the past deems it necessary to fight for their faith makes the difference? You're right, there is a HUGE difference. From what I'm getting from your answer, Christians back then fought for their faith, but Christians today just don't care all that much and "wouldn't" fight (notice that I'm using your own word and not making anything up). Oh well. Though I do not agree with the Crusades for the most obvious reasons, I respect them more.

By the way, it's a good thing that Christians do not go to war anymore seeing how most major religious bloodbaths involve Christians. I guess there's more peace in the world now that Christians stop using force to convert people.

[picaso_smile]

Putting words in your mouth or saying things that is intended in your writing?

You not agreeing with what they did in the past doesn't make them any less of a Christian.

I never said they weren't Christian. I believe we were discussing the differences between mordern day and past Christian groups.

And how do you know what I'm intending?? Oh... .that's right. You don't.

[Spirited Away]

I never said they weren't Christian. I believe we were discussing the differences between mordern day and past Christian groups.

Babe, I didn't say that YOU said they were any less of a Christian. I said that even with you not agreeing with them do not make them less of a Christian. MEANING, from MY OWN MOUTH, they are not any less of a Christian just because you don't agree with them.

I don't understand HOW I am putting words in your mouth. I just don't. Is anyone else feeling that?

And how do you know what I'm intending??   Oh... .that's right. You don't.

How do I know what you're intending? Oh, that's right, I probably don't because you don't even know how to write what you intend to convey.

[aznxdreamer]

the one true power is the one you believe in.

[Teesa]

exactly. i think religion was made to well..give ppl a sense of security. something to count on. something they can rely upon when things are at its worst. and if things do start turning around for htem, they can call it religion. some clal it coincidence, but personally, wouldn't that be a lot of coincidences...

omygosh, you took the words right out of my mouth
that's exactly what i believe..that religion is just something that people depend on, especially when things are at its worst..and when something good does happen, they say god helped them through that difficult time, or whoever they believe in.

[eggnite]

My two cents:

Believing in God is something I consider to be a blessing that not all people have. And I often pray that more people will eventually know God. It is something that once you actually do have, you can feel it's truth. I cant explain in words, and laugh at me if you want, but God is very real to me. Its so incredible how often God answers my prayers, just another reason that God is real to me.

christianity:

1- god is good, yet he only saves belivers.
2- war can be stated to be ok, even tho it goes against a commandment, but homosexuality cannot be stated to be ok, even if it only goes against a bible verse.
3- christians claim that they're trying to 'save' people by telling them about jesus... when in reality it's because 'jesus won't save everyone until every able ear has heard his words." so that people who try to 'save' people are actually being selfish and trying to save themselves.

that's enough for now.

1- God saves those who want to be saved, and doesnt save people who dont want to be saved. I think thats very nice. He gives everyone what they want.
2- I believe that the commandmet you refer to has a more accurate translation somewhere along the lines of "thou shalt not murder for pleasure". That part about homosexuality confused me, could you refraise that.
3-i follow on the first part, but I have never heard the second part before...I dont see how teling people about Jesus is selfish...



John 3:16-For God so loved the world that he sent his only son so that whosoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life

[darkphyre]

My two cents:

Believing in God is something I consider to be a blessing that not all people have. And I often pray that more people will eventually know God. It is something that once you actually do have, you can feel it's truth. I cant explain in words, and laugh at me if you want, but God is very real to me. Its so incredible how often God answers my prayers, just another reason that God is real to me.

If I may add to the previous post:

Religion is a blessing that not all people want to have. Please refrain from praying for me to know God. I am not interested, and I doubt I ever will be. I dislike religion because it often leads to people using the words "truth," "moral," and "real" as if they actually mean anything (see above for an example).

[eggnite]

Sorry, I didnt mean to offend you.

[sadolakced acid]

1- God saves those who want to be saved, and doesnt save people who dont want to be saved. I think thats very nice. He gives everyone what they want.
2- I believe that the commandmet you refer to has a more accurate translation somewhere along the lines of "thou shalt not murder for pleasure". That part about homosexuality confused me, could you refraise that.
3-i follow on the first part, but I have never heard the second part before...I dont see how teling people about Jesus is selfish...
John 3:16-For God so loved the world that he sent his only son so that whosoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life

1. no... god does not save those who do not belive in him. that's what the scripture says. you can not belive in god, and want to be saved, and god will still no save you.
2.i belive the commandment i refer to is "THOU SHALT NOT KILL", not tho shalt not murder for pleasure. it is simply, thou shalt not kill. which means, all killing is bad, it's a sin, don't do it. meaning. if you kill anything (even an animal) you've sinned and are not going to heaven.
3. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND COMMING OF CHRIST. HE WILL ONLY COME AND TAKE ALL HIS BELIVERS TO HEAVEN ONCE EVERY ABLE EAR HAS HEARD THE WORD OF CHRIST. ALL MISSIONARYS ARE JUST TRYING TO GET CHRIST TO COME TO THEY CAN GOT TO HEAVEN.

selfish reasons.

[eggnite]

1-If you believed that God could save you, doesnt that mean that you believe God exists? And also, its not believing in God that saves you. Its accepting his forgiveness.

2-The aramaic version can be translated im many ways, as simply killing for survival, or murdering for pleasure, etc, its just a matter of how you choose to interpret it. I choose to interpret it as murder, rather than plain killing, because it seems logical that you should be able to defend yourself if worst came to worst.

3-I have never heard of that before. But if it is true you could be very right. However, I dont think that all missionaries evangalise for that reason. The original reason for evangalism is Jesus' great commission.

Well, thats just how I feel about those things. Its my understanding. I dont think that I know all the answers, but after all, this is the debate forum, so Im doing just that, debating. No hard feelings or anything.

[demolished]

smthngcrprategrl34 Dec 11 2004, 5:43 PM Post #9

the problem with the bible is that it was written about 2 million years ago! since then it has been rewritten and translated so much that things have been altered and the bible is no longer accurate if it even was to begin with.

yea, its probaly all lies now. the bible is f**k up already. its so misunderstanding.

i found something wierd about buddha's religons althought i'm buddism. one of the eightfold path says that " as a buddism, you should not be wealthy or poor . you should be between poor and wealthy, which it is called " the middle way " it means to be in the middle of too much of something and too little of something.

the problem is .. " Gotama " ( the founder of buddha's religons )

let me repeaT .. " THE PROBLEM IS THAT GOTAMA WAS NOT RICH, HE WAS VERY POOR, HOW DID HE BECAME BUDDHA ? ONE OF HIS EIGHTFOLD PATH SAIDS " ALWAYS BE IN THE " MIDDLE ". HE WASNT IN THE MIDDLE, HE WAS BE LOW " MIDDLE ". DO YOU PEOPLE SEE THE DIFFERENT, HE MADE UP THE EIGHTFUL PATH SAYING " BE IN A MIDDLE " SO YOU WILL NOT SUFFER AS MUCH. HE NEVER BEEN AT THE " MIDDLE ".

DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW WHAT I MEAN ? ITS KINDA HARD TO EXPLAIN UNLESS YOUR BUDDISM.

forgive me for my grammer and spelling if you find any.

[Spirited Away]

smthngcrprategrl34  Dec 11 2004, 5:43 PM Post #9 
the problem is ..  " Gotama " ( the founder of buddha's religons )

let me repeaT .. " THE PROBLEM IS THAT GOTAMA WAS NOT RICH, HE WAS VERY POOR,  HOW DID HE BECAME BUDDHA ? ONE OF HIS EIGHTFOLD PATH SAIDS " ALWAYS BE IN THE " MIDDLE ". HE WASNT IN THE MIDDLE, HE WAS BE LOW " MIDDLE ". DO YOU PEOPLE SEE THE DIFFERENT, HE MADE UP THE EIGHTFUL PATH SAYING " BE IN A MIDDLE " SO YOU WILL NOT SUFFER AS MUCH. HE NEVER BEEN AT THE " MIDDLE ".

DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW WHAT I MEAN ? ITS KINDA HARD TO EXPLAIN UNLESS YOUR BUDDISM.

forgive me for my grammer and spelling if you find any.

I'm disappointed in you. Don't call yourself Buddhist when you don't even know how it came about. Please. It gives Buddhism a bad name for having a clueless follower.

Siddhartha Gautama was a Prince. Yes, he was rich, however, he gave up ALL HIS WORLDLY POSSESSIONS which was a part of his enlightenment. Please google "Siddhartha Gautama" and learn more about him.

I'm not a Buddhist, but it seems I understand more than you. *Sigh*. I was actually sad when I read your post.

[DaTru KataLYST]

^ I wanted to say that.