Do you believe in God/a higher power?

[CuriousAboutWhatYouThink]

Not religion. I have no time for organised religion and the associated man made rules.

But do you believe in 'something'?

For context, my grandad was a CofE vicar but my parent rebelled against it and we were brought up broadly l in the religion (eg we celebrated main religious festivals like Easter and Christmas) but not as practising Christians and without a particular belief in God.

As an adult, I have friends of different faiths and none and it's something we have discussed from time to time. It's also something I used to discuss with my grandma who had a very strong belief in God but also believed the Bible until she became older when she still had a strong faith but admitted she thought the Bible was largely nonsense!

I suppose I've always felt that there is 'something' but I refer to it as the universe. I don't know, I always feel that there has been 'something' looking out for me.

That doesn't mean bad things have never happened because they have and religion/belief doesn't protect anyone from that. And it doesn't mean my life is anywhere near perfect because it's not. But the universe has always seemed to 'step in' when needed.

I don't know. I'm going through a tough time at the moment but I have a feeling everything will turn out to be OK because it always does.

The irony...

That's because you don't have an answer.

The fact is, you won't catch an athiest in this thread threatening and judging people simply for having faith. Telling people that they will burn in hell for not believing in your God is pretty nasty, don't you think?

Face it, you don't have the moral high ground here, at all. All you have is a self-referential work of fiction to fall back on and empty threats.

Have you ever met a cat?

They are arseholes. There is no way there are cats in heaven.

But the idea of someone lining up a cat and going through the 10 commandments is fucking hilarious, so thanks for that mental image.

Oh Percy 1948 where is any love here?

You think dogs and cats believe in god?

well… we did joke that my dog believed I was his Goddess but it was probably cupboard lobe.

Oh I don't know - I think we are doing a bit of judging? We are judging fundamentalist believers as being a bit batshit aren't we?

Communism is an atheist ideology and has butchered millions

Don’t be silly ! - you’re the one posting about pets adopting a Christian mentality!!

btw - the cat and dog fight constantly, they steal food from our plates, they tease the brown bear who comes into our yard - is this appropriate behaviour 🤣

Poking fun at a fundie is a world apart from condemning people to burn in hell for eternity.

Oh, I most certainly am judging some people for their faith 🤣

Athiesm is simply a lack of belief in God.

There is no such thing as an "athiest" ideology, least of all communism. Communists aren't communists because they don't believe in God.

HTH.

I believe there’s something. I think we’re all part of a bigger picture. There’s far too much documented proof of ghosts for there not to be some form of spirit world. I guess we’ll all get to know one day. What you choose to believe whilst you’re a mortal being is your own choice but I do believe everyone goes to the same place in the end.

She said ‘an atheist on this thread’. Maybe there are some Stalinist or Maoist communists on MN but in all my years I’ve never come across one.

Oh don't be ridiculous - animals can't be good or evil. They don't have the capacity for morals. Also, where is your evidence that the bible is 'the word of god'? How could it be? It was written by (fallible) human beings, decades (at least) after Jesus supposedly lived. The later gospels more like 100 years.

No

Of course animals can be good or evil. Have you never gone out on a walk and met friendly dogs and vicious ones?

Yes, and I blame their ‘god’, ie owner.

Was the shark you've just jumped over good or evil?

Kept it up for a while though, so well done on that one.

If you do believe in heaven, then of course your pets are there. It wouldn't be heaven for owners otherwise.

So if my cat and dog aren’t practicing Christian behaviour what will happen to them when they die - they are both quite old.

I'm not judging, but it depends how serious their transgressions are

This is just too funny...

If animals have no emotion or spirit, then you're saying they are virtual robots so what's the point in having them. Animals can love like humans

Who’s picking up all the dog shit in heaven? 🤔

My 2 boy dogs are definitely not christians. In fact, they spend much time of their time engaged in what looks like fellatio. I’m pretty sure this is frowned upon in heaven and eternal damnation is all they have to look forward to.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New Testament): "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." This explicitly states that Scripture is inspired by God.