Is there a GOD?

[DB10GOONER]

I kind of envy people with religious beliefs.

Generally speaking, those people get something good out of it. If it makes them happy then I'm pleased for them.

However, religion can be very divisive, and has often been corrupted to suit the agendas of ruthless and power-hungry people. Religion has created endless human conflict which is still happening all over the world.

Count me out.

I'd rather believe that we all contain some small measure of some kind of life force which gets recyled in the great compost bin in the sky. Humans, cats, dogs, mice, snails and even Gary Neville.

Maybe I'm a bit of a Buddhist.

It is true that every "organised" religion at some stage in its history has committed terrible crimes against humanity - murder, theft, enslavement and genocide to name but a few. But these things were perpetrated mostly by an uneducated superstitious mass led by a handful of devious powerful and morally corrupt people. It's human nature to an extent, not the fault of the faith or "religion" involved.

I am firmly against fundamentalist forms of religion. Anything that promotes the concepts of intolerance of others, sectarian hatred and killing to spread a religion is wrong.

So I suppose rather than saying I have religion as such, I think saying I have faith would be more accurate. I believe in a Christian (Catholic to be specific) God but not necessarily the version put forward by the Catholic church - which I don't attend unless someone has either been born, got married or died!

It's more of a set of beliefs and ideals that help me live my life in as decent and honest a way as I can.

I would also add that faith of some description can get you through some bad times. When my dad died a couple years ago I found his Catholic funeral a very dignified and cathartic part of a terrible few weeks. When a plane I was on had a really bad take off and everyone on board thought we were all about to die I prayed to God to let me see my kids even just one more time and maybe it worked, maybe it didn't, but it got me through a horrific 20 minutes on that plane.

[cusamano]

i have strong beliefs. I dont get involved in deep discussions about it though as i cant prove anything and a non-believer cant prove it their way either.

exactly, me too!

[MegaGooner]

I kind of envy people with religious beliefs.

Generally speaking, those people get something good out of it. If it makes them happy then I'm pleased for them.

However, religion can be very divisive, and has often been corrupted to suit the agendas of ruthless and power-hungry people. Religion has created endless human conflict which is still happening all over the world.

Count me out.

I'd rather believe that we all contain some small measure of some kind of life force which gets recyled in the great compost bin in the sky. Humans, cats, dogs, mice, snails and even Gary Neville.

Maybe I'm a bit of a Buddhist.

It is true that every "organised" religion at some stage in its history has committed terrible crimes against humanity - murder, theft, enslavement and genocide to name but a few. But these things were perpetrated mostly by an uneducated superstitious mass led by a handful of devious powerful and morally corrupt people. It's human nature to an extent, not the fault of the faith or "religion" involved.

I am firmly against fundamentalist forms of religion. Anything that promotes the concepts of intolerance of others, sectarian hatred and killing to spread a religion is wrong.

So I suppose rather than saying I have religion as such, I think saying I have faith would be more accurate. I believe in a Christian (Catholic to be specific) God but not necessarily the version put forward by the Catholic church - which I don't attend unless someone has either been born, got married or died!

It's more of a set of beliefs and ideals that help me live my life in as decent and honest a way as I can.

I would also add that faith of some description can get you through some bad times. When my dad died a couple years ago I found his Catholic funeral a very dignified and cathartic part of a terrible few weeks. When a plane I was on had a really bad take off and everyone on board thought we were all about to die I prayed to God to let me see my kids even just one more time and maybe it worked, maybe it didn't, but it got me through a horrific 20 minutes on that plane.

^^^^
This

Wise words DB10. I seem to have had similar experiences fairly recently(Dad passed on and a few near death experiences) and as much as we can debate about God, the first thing we do when in such a situation is pray. We tend to always forget that when the going is good though, so sometime I do say a word of thanks for my "mercies".

[QuartzGooner]

They say there are no atheists in foxholes.

Sorry to hear of your mourning DB10 and Mega.

[MegaGooner]

They say there are no atheists in foxholes.

Sorry to hear of your mourning DB10 and Mega.

I could well believe that Quartz and thanks for your concern bud.

[brazilianGOONER]

Is there GOD?

Yes. His name is Dennis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEzlXOp9J_8

other than THAT god, i don't believe in any other one.

but as a physicist, i can't see all this creation happening without some intelligence attributed to the matter. it's there, in every thing, some sort of a code of how things need to evolute. it can't all have happened randomically (does that word exist?)

that intelligence, you may call god if you wish i like to see it more as an 'invisible instruction manual' that everything has than as a superior being

You evolved from a gorilla, mate...and things haven't got much better

Deal with it.

come again?