If you believe in god, you're an idiot...

[teganyavo]

"imagine for a moment that you could dream any dream you wanted to dream--and, each night, you could make your dream last for what appeared to be 75 years of total time. Or any length of time you wanted to have. What would you do with this? Naturally, as you began on this adventure of dreams, you would fulfill all your wishes. You would have every kind of pleasure imaginable, and satisfy every curiosity. You would visit every place, and see every thing--and after several nights of 75 years of total pleasure each, you would say "Wow, that was pretty great! But now lets have a dream that isn't under control." Well, naturally, something unexpected must happen. And you would go through your dream with slightly less control than before, and when the unexpected happened, you would say "My, that was a close shave, wasn't it?" And you would proceed on like this, relinquishing more and more control, and making further and further gambles, until eventually, you would dream where you are now. You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today."

-Alan Watts

atman imo. The idea of an eternal being that would send a disappointing experiment to a place where it would consciously be tortured for eternity is, imo, the most ridiculously stupid shit I can possibly imagine

[vincin]

If you were God what would you do?

[boboo]

Originally Posted by vincin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

If you were God what would you do?

Patrick Stewart explains what i would do:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fg_cwI1Xj4M?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fg_cwI1Xj4M?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[chtulu]

What I don't get why some people here claim to be Christan or religious and follow a certain church, but yet admit that they hardly follow any of the doctrine or scripture. If you're going to be that liberal and cherry pick what you like in the Bible, Koran, etc, then why label yourself at all? These books and religions clearly state you must follow their rules and philosophies or you will burn in eternal damnation.

My real question is WHY believe in ANY God? Why choose to be satisfied with fairy tales to explain natural phenomenons that are already explained by science? Science shows us that the universe is much for vast than what any God explains to us. It also has shown us how vastly more complex life on earth is than just saying it was randomly put here by some egotistical being who just wants to be worshiped by lesser beings.

Another point I'd like to make is even if there WAS a god, look at all the horrible things that has happened to this world that he has allowed to happen. Look at utterly incompetent he is with his "work". I'm sure no one has cared to realize that over 90% of life that has even been on earth is now extinct. If there was a great and all knowing God, why would he have created entire, just to have it destroyed and wiped away forever? Either he is an Incompetent God, or he is an Evil God, that enjoys suffering and annihilation.

I'd suggest watching "God on Trial". It's a very well done piece of work that judges God by his actions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP4i6tRGw7Q

[boboo]

Another vid you can check out to see the worst in christians is "Doomsday code" which is a documentary on apocalyptic christians.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...5521791525424#

[Alawen Everywhere]

Originally Posted by chtulu [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

What I don't get why some people here claim to be Christan or religious and follow a certain church, but yet admit that they hardly follow any of the doctrine or scripture. If you're going to be that liberal and cherry pick what you like in the Bible, Koran, etc, then why label yourself at all? These books and religions clearly state you must follow their rules and philosophies or you will burn in eternal damnation.

My real question is WHY believe in ANY God? Why choose to be satisfied with fairy tales to explain natural phenomenons that are already explained by science? Science shows us that the universe is much for vast than what any God explains to us. It also has shown us how vastly more complex life on earth is than just saying it was randomly put here by some egotistical being who just wants to be worshiped by lesser beings.

Another point I'd like to make is even if there WAS a god, look at all the horrible things that has happened to this world that he has allowed to happen. Look at utterly incompetent he is with his "work". I'm sure no one has cared to realize that over 90% of life that has even been on earth is now extinct. If there was a great and all knowing God, why would he have created entire, just to have it destroyed and wiped away forever? Either he is an Incompetent God, or he is an Evil God, that enjoys suffering and annihilation.

I'd suggest watching "God on Trial". It's a very well done piece of work that judges God by his actions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP4i6tRGw7Q

What's amazing here is that the loud atheist is the most closed-minded person in an argument about religion.

I'm going to repeat myself once more and then relegate you to the "not so bright" pile.

Religion is not about dogma, literal interpretations of sacred texts and nitpicking for most of the religious. It's about socializing and community. People go to church to be part of something larger than themselves. They go to church because they get something from the traditions, or the companionship, or the gospel choir, or a million other reasons that are not the written mythology of their cult.

Most people just believe in some sort of vaguely defined force of good in the universe--some kind of embodiment of mercy, kindness, justice and other idealized virtues. No one really thinks there is a robed sky god sitting on a golden throne in the clouds.

Mostly, they want to not feel alone and afraid. They want to have an idea of why they're here and what they're supposed to do while they're here. Most religions espouse a belief of trying to be a good person while they're alive.

Do you really have a huge issue with that? I think your mom made you go to church and you're kind of pissed off about it. I'd say try to get over it. Live and let live.

Pray with me.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Now was that so bad?

[chtulu]

Religion only cheapens our existence here. It literally devalues our lives by saying there is something greater after this. I find that tragic and believe that we should love this life more than anything because it's the only one we get.

Also, your argument about church being about community can be used to rationalize why the KKK exists. Sure, they teach hate, intolerance, and above all, teach that they are the superior ones, while everyone else are lesser beings; but hey, if it brings a community together, than it MUST be healthy and good for society, right?

[Alawen Everywhere]

Do you know the difference between rationalizing something and explaining it?

You're going to have a bitch of a life if you get this worked up about how other people explain the world to themselves and try to convert them with insults and condescension.

Incidentally, I'm 100% atheist. I believe that we're here because we're here and when we die we cease to exist. I am not afraid of the void before I was born and I am not afraid of the void that will follow. I also believe that it is important to try to be a good man while I walk this planet.

And so, with that in mind, I am going to go cut up a pineapple.

[boboo]

Originally Posted by chtulu [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Religion only cheapens our existence here. It literally devalues our lives by saying there is something greater after this. I find that tragic and believe that we should love this life more than anything because it's the only one we get.

Also, your argument about church being about community can be used to rationalize why the KKK exists. Sure, they teach hate, intolerance, and above all, teach that they are the superior ones, while everyone else are lesser beings; but hey, if it brings a community together, than it MUST be healthy and good for society, right?

Cthulu im an atheist, but it doesnt mean im right. Its a belief, just like any other. Saying "because its the only one we get" as if its law is rather presumptuous. I agree its the only life we get, and the videos youve linked about atheism I am in accord with. But im only 99.99% sure that when I die its over. There is absolutely no way for me to be sure until i check out of here. For you to say "because its the only one we get" as if its self-evident truth makes you sound like a dogmatic religious person, which you are railing against.

[boboo]

I hate religions because it makes life cheap. It makes people care less about ameliorating their condition here for some pie-in-the-sky dreampipe.