AIBU to ask your opinions on God?

[Violetduck]

Do you beleive there is a God? I would like to, but how can he exist alongside modern science?

Aibu to believe in something more?

It’s the mocking, arguing-the-price-of-fish-with-the-Almighty posts that I find arrogant.

But arguing with a deity is a long-standing tradition in many religions. Israel literally translates as "to fight God", it happens in the texts with people held up as admirable and worthy of emulation - and many win the argument or at least concessions that God was being unfair. There are many Talmudic stories of God being proud when his creation stands up to him for the good of other people. This is seen as duty within some systems.

Not all religious systems require 'accept, obey and worship me or experience eternal agony'. Not all systems have an individualistic and/or eternal punative afterlife or a requirement of 'accept, obey and worship me'. An institution that uses that interpretation is likely to be one that has that same mindset towards those in authority within it and often frame those who speak out against them as arrogant. Any power should be able to be challenged.

I am not from a very religious family but would say I have a faith it's something of my own no one really knows I believe in God but I do. I think it's important to have your own relationship with God or a faith. Mine has always been there but not been put on me in anyway.

@SwedishEdith

I'm a Christian and believe all the disease, death etc in the world are here because of the curse of sin. God created a perfect world but sin entered into it because we have the ability to obey or not, everyone has sinned; we've all lied etc. But because God loves us he sent Jesus to pay the penalty of sin, which is death and separation from God. If we accept this free gift (Grace) through faith/trust we can have a relationship with him now and forever.

What does any of that mean? I've had Christians tell me the "God sent Jesus" stuff. To do what? How? How does being crucified "save" anyone from anything?

I never understand this either and I went to Catholic school. I'm not asking in a goady way but can someone who believes explain in basic logical terms how Jesus dying was a gift from God that helped mankind?

I believe there is a god.

@PurBal

I believe in God. I don't really understand why there is this concept of science versus religion. They're not at odds with one another, you can be a scientist and religious. As for religion: doubt is not the opposite of faith.

Evolution versus Adam and Eve is a good example of how science and religion often clash, surely?

you seem to imply that it's possible that God is an abusive narcissist deity, but you worship him anyway. So what value does your worship have if it comes from fear? I'd rather live my life free of God. Satan might be a better fit for me anyway.

The issue isn’t how you live your life. That’s given to you (in this theology) as a choice. But if you believe God exists, has control over the afterlife, and you choose not to worship Him (your choice), I can only wish you the best of luck!

But arguing with a deity is a long-standing tradition in many religions.

Maybe so. In Christianity it is unacceptable hubris. I love how many people here think that, if God does exist as we conceptualise Him, and one day they are going to be weighed and judged by their Creator, that they’re going to get the chance to stand there and argue the toss like they’re at the local one-stop shop and someone’s asking them for yet another form of ID! Just hilarious.

[quote 80sForever]@DameFanny yes you are correct, it is because certain people literally ate batshit and all the other foods forbidden in the bible that we have the virus....and still people wouldn't believe.

[/quote] Do you ever wear garments made from more than two materials? If you own anything that's polyester or polyester blend you are disobeying clear and direct instructions in the Bible. Many Christians use selected rules in the Bible as 'proof' some things are sinful or not, then when confronted with other ones like the clothing rule, will say it's obviously not to be taken literally. Which undermines the idea that their example (in your case about the foods eaten) is somehow one of the true ones and god didn't mean the others...

Also men with one testicle cannot attend church (Deuteronomy 23:1) so presumably a man who has lost one to testicular cancer isn't welcome in your place of worship?

And Deuteronomy 23:2 says that nobody of illegitimate birth can ever go to church either, "even to the tenth generation" so presumably you agree with that too?

You obviously went to bible school but an unregenerate person is not going to understand this....there is too much jargon in here. This is where the church is missing the mark.

I've never been to bible school or had any kind of formal training in Christianity. This is why I think the Alpha course is great as it explains it all in an understandable way:

coastalchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/3WhyDidJesusDie_Online-V1.pdf

static1.squarespace.com/static/528e293fe4b06be250ac6001/t/5294a216e4b0e7c53c006a8e/1385472534320/Why-Jesus-Nicky-Gumbel.pdf

I also like this as a gospel overview:

streaming.answersingenesis.org/vid/ondemand/new-answers-dvd-3/how-can-someone-start-a-new-life-in-christ.mp4

Our good deeds would be meaningless.

I don't believe in god. I do good things because I'm a good person, not to get a reward or avoid punishment.

I also think - if you think Satan is a good ‘fit’ for you - you haven’t thought enough about the nature of evil. That’s if you believe in this system at all.

If you are genuinely interested in finding out, there are numerous great debates with Christian and atheist scientists arguing their point. These are highly intelligent people. One I listened to today actually pointed out that the Bible fully supports Big Bang theory with God commanding the universe into being. I really do not think it takes greater faith to believe that a supreme being ( creator God) who has no beginning and no end, existing outside of time, commanded the universe into being ( big bang) than to believe that originally there was nothing at all and suddenly that nothing exploded into the complexity and beauty of universes that exist.
The questions that convince me there is a God, other than my personal experience, are things like why we perceive beauty, why we have a conscience and know what is wrong, why we seek spiritual answers as if something is missing.
My brother died a year ago, early 50's, with a brain tumour. He had such a beautiful and strong faith and was looking forward to being with Jesus. It was a privilege to observe really and his funeral was one of the most amazing experiences I have lived through. I cannot adequately describe what I mean by that but it was such a celebration of his life and faith, there were 100's of friends and family including live streamed around the world and I was on a high for days afterwards. Knowing that our time here on earth is just a fraction of our eternal life helps me keep life in perspective.

I never understand this either and I went to Catholic school. I'm not asking in a goady way but can someone who believes explain in basic logical terms how Jesus dying was a gift from God that helped mankind?

Have you ever tried the Got Questions website? www.gotquestions.org/eternal-life.html Each article is a fairly short read!

One of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite books comes from a character telling a priest that "I do what I do without hope of reward or fear of punishment. I do not require Heaven or Hell to bribe or scare me into acting decently". I like it very much.

I never understand this either and I went to Catholic school. I'm not asking in a goady way but can someone who believes explain in basic logical terms how Jesus dying was a gift from God that helped mankind?

I’m not claiming belief, but the basic logic is: God creates world. World is perfect and without sin. Satan tempts Eve. Eve and Adam fall, and they and their progeny are tarred with Original Sin (the first sin, considered to be so great that there is a debt to be redeemed). But there is no way sinful man can redeem himself. So God - because He loves man and wants them to be redeemed - sends Jesus into the world. Jesus is without sin. When, in a state of perfection, He allows Himself to be crucified, that sacrifice is taken as payment for the debt of Original Sin. Basically, Jesus suffered so that we don’t have to IF we believe.

@flaviaritt

I also think - if you think Satan is a good ‘fit’ for you - you haven’t thought enough about the nature of evil. That’s if you believe in this system at all.

I don't believe in your system. Not at all. However, when I look at the website of the Satanic Temple, I see much that I am in accord with. There's not a lot to argue with (scroll down to the fundamental tenets here) thesatanictemple.com/pages/about-us

I would much rather be part of a group like this than part of a group who commit hateful acts in the name of faith - whatever faith that might be.

pointythings

If you say so.

No way am I clicking on that. 😂

[quote 80sForever]@squeekums well you're going around in circles because to find out if he is real you need to ask but you wouldn't ask because you think he is not real[/quote]
Even if it was real, yes it, why is this so called god always male....
Then honestly id be telling it what an evil, fucked up bastard it is, telling it to go jump of a cliff and die.
I mean if it created us and the world, it also created things like cancer or corona virus, deliberately killing innocent people for fun.
it lets kids die, innocent kids and babies
it lets famine happen
Who in their right mind would think that is worth worshiping?

Then honestly id be telling it what an evil, fucked up bastard it is, telling it to go jump of a cliff and die.

Another one who is struggling with the concept. If ‘He’ is real, when you die, whatever He wants to happen to you will happen. You won’t have a chance to give him a piece of your mind as you contemplate the infinite for the split second before you are atomised and sent to Hell.

😂

@deliciouschilli

I believe there is a god.

And so do I. I don't adhere to any religion, but my life changed immeasurably when I found a simple faith that works. You can argue about what God is or isn't, but nobody anywhere has any idea at all actually. But people do know what they feel and experience.

So many people on this site and others seem to suffer from mental health issues that they try to fix with medication. To me it just seems obvious that they lack a deeper meaning in their lives - or just haven't found it yet.

“So then I turned round to Him and I said...”

😂😂😂

I used to believe. I was raised in a very conservative religion and 100% believed when until I wasn't about 33/34. Leaving has been liberating and I can see a lot of harm caused by organised religion as a now outsider.

Now I have no beliefs. I can't even imagine how I did believe.

Maybe so. In Christianity it is unacceptable hubris. I love how many people here think that, if God does exist as we conceptualise Him, and one day they are going to be weighed and judged by their Creator, that they’re going to get the chance to stand there and argue the toss like they’re at the local one-stop shop and someone’s asking them for yet another form of ID! Just hilarious

If you listen to 'Old Harry's Game' on Radio 4, there's several episodes with the Professor and God.

The Professor has been sent to Hell because he is an atheist. He's also a scientist. His conversations with God are very funny - and God (played by Timothy West) gets very angry with all the questions he gets asked.

Satan is played by Andy Hamilton.

chomalungma

Sounds funny.