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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask your opinions on God?

999 replies

Violetduck · 04/12/2020 21:31

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?

OP posts:
Xnon · 10/12/2020 12:19

@LastChristmas20

Sorry I may be a little lost here.

Is the conversation saying that Atheism is akin to tribalism? (If not then no need to read further! My brain is muddled today)

Because honestly I take no comfort in that I'm an atheist and so are other people. But it also grants me no discomfort. It's just what it is.

It's not something I choose to be to be in a club/tribe etc.

I have no religious beliefs. I'm void of any membership in that respect and neither need or want it.

I'm not proud of it. I'm not ashamed of it. Religion/a higher being factors into my life or decisions in no way. And nor do I want it to.

I'm perfectly content and at peace with a total lack of religion.

Tribalism is the religion, or any group. So if there’s a group of atheists that would be an example of tribalism. A group of Christians would also be an example of tribalism.

The hardest position to take is that if an individual belief. Whether it’s atheism or a spiritual faith someone has come to be themselves or whatever.

It’s also why I find discussions like this exhausting; too much gets twisted or misunderstood or miscommunicated. And really interesting at the same time.

The funniest post was by the poster who said it’s all Eve’s fault - funny because it sounded like she was being serious. Like I’m pretty sure that’s an allegory written by a bloke.

SpudsandGravy · 10/12/2020 12:48

Agnostic here, but I don't feel that the existence of modern science is an impediment to the existence of a god.

Malbals · 10/12/2020 13:21

I am a scientist and I do believe but maybe not as in the sense that is the old belief of god
More as something bigger than earth and a creator of everything i believe in science but how did this all happen so randomly if no help from something big than we understand where did the universe come from if energy cannot be distroyed how was it created how did the world and everything on it become in the first place, the water air materials to live the diversity how did the first group of cells build together reproduce and the Neville into so many different creatures
I do think that there must surely be something else that’s happened here
Also how about young children remembering things about past lives that have been researched to be true maybe all the different people and children are lying about this but what if??? ...

letsnotscaretheneighbours · 10/12/2020 13:26

Non believer here. No issues with people who do, up to them, but not in my house. Plus my BIL uses it as a stick to beat my SIL with. They are Catholic and when they had their blessing it was all about the wife being beautiful on the inside but no make up, fancy clothes, etc and also about serving her husband and calling him lord. Screw that. I'll stay in my equal partnership with my husband ta muchly.

So many differing versions of religion I cant see how their can be one god. No wonder religion causes so much conflict.

LindaEllen · 10/12/2020 13:33

No god.

I think religious beliefs were to explain science when we had no better knowledge (how scary must thunder/extreme weather have been to those who didn't understand it?) but now the majority of people accept that we now have explanations for most things.

For those who spout the 'prove he's NOT real' shite, how the hell do you prove ANYTHING isn't real? The onus is on you to provide proof there is a god, not us. It makes more sense NOT to believe in something that nobody can collect evidence for, than to believe in it, insisting that you shall blindly believe until someone proves you shouldn't (knowing full well that disproof of this nature is impossible).

I'd never say ^ that to believers face to face though - as I think we can all have our own beliefs, so long as they don't try to convince me to their way of thinking.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/12/2020 15:22

The funniest post was by the poster who said it’s all Eve’s fault - funny because it sounded like she was being serious.

I posted something about Eve which was completely sarcastic - but it is what some fundamentalists trot out apparently seriously.

TheSandman · 10/12/2020 15:23

Tribalism is the religion, or any group. So if there’s a group of atheists that would be an example of tribalism. A group of Christians would also be an example of tribalism.

I think atheists are like cats, they don't herd very well.

Xnon · 10/12/2020 15:51

@TheSandman

Tribalism is the religion, or any group. So if there’s a group of atheists that would be an example of tribalism. A group of Christians would also be an example of tribalism.

I think atheists are like cats, they don't herd very well.

I’ve witnessed a group of atheists behave like a tribe back at uni. The consensus seemed to be: “if you believe in god you must be a bit thick”. Atheists can and do herd. It does happen. Think there was an Atheists Society at uni too...also the Enlightenment movement was a group of atheists, no?

Tbh tribalism can happen with any ideology. Cliques form naturally and they find something in common with each other.

Free thinkers can be more like cats. Very independent. Not all of them are atheist either. Some of the most independent people I know are spiritual (but not religious), but they “found themselves” and their place in the universe through various things like yoga, nature and their own journeys.

unmarkedbythat · 10/12/2020 16:45

ANTItheists herd naturally. Not sure people who just don't believe in any gods do.

Free thinkers can be more like cats. Very independent. Not all of them are atheist either. Some of the most independent people I know are spiritual (but not religious), but they “found themselves” and their place in the universe through various things like yoga, nature and their own journeys.

But these people are atheist. To be atheist does not mean you can't be 'spiritual' or find your place in the universe or do yoga or appreciate nature or experience a mental, emotional, spiritual journey- it just means you don't believe in any gods. That's it.

LastChristmas20 · 10/12/2020 16:47

@Xnon

I think more university you'll find as well as being a group of atheists they were also a group of twatty "now we've left home we're grown ups look how cool and smart we are" typical students.

Just like the Christian Union at my Uni who would stand outside our bars and clubs and offer us advice on how Jesus wanted to save us and not to go inside. And how much better it was to not be drinking and what a mistake we were making.

I'm sure both groups look back now and realise it was dickish behaviour.

I don't tar all Christians with the same brush. But it feels like thats an ok way to treat non-believers.

Most atheists, as with most people of any religion aren't out to insult people of opposing views. We're happy getting on with our lives.

Xnon · 10/12/2020 17:04

@unmarkedbythat

ANTItheists herd naturally. Not sure people who just don't believe in any gods do.

Free thinkers can be more like cats. Very independent. Not all of them are atheist either. Some of the most independent people I know are spiritual (but not religious), but they “found themselves” and their place in the universe through various things like yoga, nature and their own journeys.

But these people are atheist. To be atheist does not mean you can't be 'spiritual' or find your place in the universe or do yoga or appreciate nature or experience a mental, emotional, spiritual journey- it just means you don't believe in any gods. That's it.

I'm intrigued by your last paragraph. What do you think 'spiritual' means?

It's a fuzzy word. Spiritual has so many different connotations for different people.

Technically Buddhism is an atheist religion, but they would still consider themselves as spiritual.

Xnon · 10/12/2020 17:09

[quote LastChristmas20]@Xnon

I think more university you'll find as well as being a group of atheists they were also a group of twatty "now we've left home we're grown ups look how cool and smart we are" typical students.

Just like the Christian Union at my Uni who would stand outside our bars and clubs and offer us advice on how Jesus wanted to save us and not to go inside. And how much better it was to not be drinking and what a mistake we were making.

I'm sure both groups look back now and realise it was dickish behaviour.

I don't tar all Christians with the same brush. But it feels like thats an ok way to treat non-believers.

Most atheists, as with most people of any religion aren't out to insult people of opposing views. We're happy getting on with our lives. [/quote]
So funny about what those groups at uni are like Grin yes!

unmarkedbythat · 10/12/2020 17:33

What do you think spiritual means?

NoddyWithAVoddy · 10/12/2020 17:34

It's just dog spelt backwards.

MaryBoBary · 10/12/2020 17:41

No I don't belive in god. But I do think I believe in karma

Xnon · 10/12/2020 18:16

@unmarkedbythat

What do you think spiritual means?
I asked first because I wanted you to clarify what you meant. What you said was interesting and I’m intrigued because religion and spiritual have/can be used synonymously. There is an overlap, but also a difference.
Gobbycop · 10/12/2020 18:20

There isn't one is my opinion.

Labobo · 10/12/2020 18:22

To me God is a human concept for a positive, creative life force around us that made the planet we live on, that makes things happen which we cannot explain. We explain God in human terms of consciousness and intervention, omniscience, but I suspect God's version of these is way beyond anything relatable to human.I believe in God because I want to, I love the notion of a higher being who made all the incredible varieties of life on our planet. I love praying and the peace and sense of having problems held for you by a greater force for good. But I'm aware that this choice is nonsensical to many people. I find most religions very problematic and bound by petty human power games and greed so I rarely go to church.

Xnon · 10/12/2020 18:41

@unmarkedbythat

What do you think spiritual means?
This sums it best for what I think spiritual means.

“Religion is belief in someone else’s experience. Spirituality is having your own experiences.” Deepak Chopra

I guess it’s just a feeling there is something more than just the physical reality; that there is something metaphysical to experience too.

Againstmachine · 10/12/2020 20:25

@NoddyWithAVoddy

It's just dog spelt backwards.

They are the only type of god's we need to believe in top dogs, Fact.

CathyorClaire · 10/12/2020 21:27

[quote TeenyTinyDustinHoffman]@youvegottenminuteslynn

I think you'll be waiting quite a while on that one. It tends to be tactically ignored, along with questions such as "Why does a loving God allow natural disasters?" Or bone cancer? Or dementia?[/quote]
Oh, I know this one. It came up regularly on Sunday mornings.

Conveniently it's Satan's fault and not the loving Lord's but when you take into account Satan was given dominion over the world by God as part of the foot-stamping over Eve's disobedience you might be forgiven for thinking God's really the one in the frame.

TheSandman · 11/12/2020 00:13

Conveniently it's Satan's fault and not the loving Lord's but when you take into account Satan was given dominion over the world by God as part of the foot-stamping over Eve's disobedience you might be forgiven for thinking God's really the one in the frame.

Yep. Satan is God's Rudy Giuliani.

Xnon · 11/12/2020 00:23

@TheSandman

Conveniently it's Satan's fault and not the loving Lord's but when you take into account Satan was given dominion over the world by God as part of the foot-stamping over Eve's disobedience you might be forgiven for thinking God's really the one in the frame.

Yep. Satan is God's Rudy Giuliani.

Rudy Giuliani as in the Borat 2 movie?! Grin
GoneScone · 11/12/2020 00:28

Nope, I don't believe in anything that there isn't a scrap of evidence to prove its existence. Even if I did believe in God, I certainly wouldn't worship him, he sounds a bit of a petulant nob Grin

XmasShopper · 11/12/2020 00:38

I have two children born three years apart both on New Years Day and something incredible happened during my second birth - the mid-wife said it was the best birth she'd seen in a year.

I wasn't christened and my parents aren't religious, but it changed me forever and, while I don't follow institutionalised religion, I still thank "a God" regularly for what I have now.