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Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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24
BioHive · 17/03/2024 14:46

@Mustardseed86 where to begin

Tv shows

The big bang theory
Sliders
Star. Trek voyager
Stargate sg1
Supernatural with Sam and Dean
The matrix films
Colombo
House of cards

BioHive · 17/03/2024 14:49

And what I gleaned from the shows is yes if people want to believe in x religion that's up to them but unless I meet God or the being that calls itself God then I'm with sam and dean, basically never bow to any supernatural being or deity

Mustardseed86 · 17/03/2024 14:50

Ah, OK 😊. You might like C.S. Lewis's science fiction trilogy.

Out of the Silent Planet (The Cosmic Trilogy) https://amzn.eu/d/aUTj5nP

OP posts:
Mustardseed86 · 17/03/2024 14:53

Mustardseed86 · 17/03/2024 14:46

There's an app that gives you the 'quick' version of lots of classic books. I can't remember what it's called but you might find it interesting.

I think these days a lot of people struggle with time and the attention span for a lot of the really in-depth books, which is a shame. It's worth investing the time if you can though.

Just looked it up - it's called Blinkist.

OP posts:
BioHive · 17/03/2024 14:56

@Mustardseed86 much appreciated

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 16:07

Mustardseed86 · 17/03/2024 14:46

There's an app that gives you the 'quick' version of lots of classic books. I can't remember what it's called but you might find it interesting.

I think these days a lot of people struggle with time and the attention span for a lot of the really in-depth books, which is a shame. It's worth investing the time if you can though.

People struggle with priorities. For some reading and learning is a priority, for others it isn’t. Either position is fine. Writing random words, cutting and pasting AI responses is a pointless waste of time and indicates there is no desire to learn. It’s sad, whatever little agenda chatgptfan has it’s pointless waffle and best we ignore!

BioHive · 17/03/2024 16:32

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 16:07

People struggle with priorities. For some reading and learning is a priority, for others it isn’t. Either position is fine. Writing random words, cutting and pasting AI responses is a pointless waste of time and indicates there is no desire to learn. It’s sad, whatever little agenda chatgptfan has it’s pointless waffle and best we ignore!

Great way to have a debate if it's not from hours spent on one book then the results are not worth considering great way to slow down progress

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 16:55

if people want to believe in x religion that's up to them but unless I meet God or the being that calls itself God then I'm with sam and dean, basically never bow to any supernatural being or deity

That's my view too.

If God really existed, then I'm happy to hear from him, meet him and have a conversation with him. Depending on his answers I may change my mind about his existence.

Until then, I'll think for myself.

BioHive · 17/03/2024 16:56

Sounds almost like certain religions any thing different than the official doctrine then it's the work of the devil etc e.g. Galileo

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 17:07

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 16:55

if people want to believe in x religion that's up to them but unless I meet God or the being that calls itself God then I'm with sam and dean, basically never bow to any supernatural being or deity

That's my view too.

If God really existed, then I'm happy to hear from him, meet him and have a conversation with him. Depending on his answers I may change my mind about his existence.

Until then, I'll think for myself.

As a matter of interest, how would you know it was God? What would you expect God to look like?

BioHive · 17/03/2024 17:18

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 17:07

As a matter of interest, how would you know it was God? What would you expect God to look like?

Q with his abilities

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 20:17

As a matter of interest, how would you know it was God? What would you expect God to look like?

I have absolutely no expectation of what God looks like. It would be up to God to reveal himself if he wanted me to get to know him.

As I said, I am very curious and open minded, should a god or other powerful creature want to reveal him or herself. I would love a good discussion with this God!

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 20:35

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 20:17

As a matter of interest, how would you know it was God? What would you expect God to look like?

I have absolutely no expectation of what God looks like. It would be up to God to reveal himself if he wanted me to get to know him.

As I said, I am very curious and open minded, should a god or other powerful creature want to reveal him or herself. I would love a good discussion with this God!

But what would make you accept that something was God revealing himself? Are you expecting to bump into a bearded bloke dressed in white granting 3 wishes? Would you accept a mystical experience? What about am act of kindness from a stranger?

Garlicking · 17/03/2024 20:36

Sci-Fi diversion:
The Star Trek character Q was cleverly conceived. It's an insouciant member of a species that not only exists beyond time and space, but can manipulate them at will. They're portrayed as individuals, but are all aspects of a unified entity called the Q Continuum.

They have strict rules on minimal interference with the universe as it is known to us lesser beings, but this Q's something of a renegade. He's fascinated by the human species and loves to mess around with us. He has a childish, often cruel, sense of humour.

He has an obsession with Jean-Luc Picard, the Star Trek Captain played by Patrick Stewart, appearing at random to make things infinitely worse for the crew or, occasionally, to rescue them from certain doom. Picard and a few others discover they can summon Q by direct appeal, though the outcomes are unpredictable. The Continuum eventually sentences Q to death, but it's unclear what that means for an immortal Q.

Q's god-like qualities are obvious, and even expressed once or twice in the script. Pretty brave for an American show, I thought! More on Q for the q-rious 😉 https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Q

Science fiction often introduces beings whose existence and capabilities transcend reality as we know it. Should there be such entities, they would be gods - and God would be one of them (or the only one). For most of us, this is an interesting fictional and/or philosophical concept: what would it mean, would it matter, and how much fun could we have with the storyline? Others feel there definitely is such thing and they can call upon it personally.

For me, self-evidently, it's sci-fi and I prefer mine without lengthy genealogies or Bronze-Iron Age rhetoric, thanks!

Q (Star Trek) - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_(Star_Trek)

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 20:45

But what would make you accept that something was God revealing himself? Are you expecting to bump into a bearded bloke dressed in white granting 3 wishes? Would you accept a mystical experience? What about am act of kindness from a stranger?

It's really simple - if there was a God and if this God wanted us humans to know about him, then he would be clever enough to make himself known unequivocally!

heyhohello · 17/03/2024 20:48

Some tv gold on the subject. 🙂

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 20:56

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 20:45

But what would make you accept that something was God revealing himself? Are you expecting to bump into a bearded bloke dressed in white granting 3 wishes? Would you accept a mystical experience? What about am act of kindness from a stranger?

It's really simple - if there was a God and if this God wanted us humans to know about him, then he would be clever enough to make himself known unequivocally!

But that’s what I’m trying to grasp what sort of thing would you accept as unequivocal proof?

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 21:03

But that’s what I’m trying to grasp what sort of thing would you accept as unequivocal proof?

If God is all powerful and intelligent, and if God wanted us to know about his existence, then surely he would make himself known to us in a way that leaves no room for doubt!

What about that are you not 'grasping'?

Garlicking · 17/03/2024 21:12

I dunno, @Kdtym10, how could an omnipotent being demonstrate its existence? It's hardly so short on options that it's limited to obscure metaphors and vague hints, is it?
~ Make pretty little flowers fall from the sky all over the world, while announcing itself verbally in all languages relevant to each region
~ Put a fresh loaf of bread on every table in the world, inscribed with a statement of its existence in the relevant language
~ "Smite" one member of every group and community, with one of its ancient threatening phrases stamped on the forehead of each corpse
~ Possess (or "infuse with the Spirit") one delegate at every governmental and NGO meeting, making them emit lightning while delivering statements of God's existence
I'm not even omnipotent; pretty sure a real deity can think up even more ideas!

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 21:14

Lalupalina · 17/03/2024 21:03

But that’s what I’m trying to grasp what sort of thing would you accept as unequivocal proof?

If God is all powerful and intelligent, and if God wanted us to know about his existence, then surely he would make himself known to us in a way that leaves no room for doubt!

What about that are you not 'grasping'?

But what, for you would leave “no room for doubt”? That is what I’m “not grasping”.

I have little doubt there is a higher power because of things I feel internally, many others are in the same position. But the room for don’t is important.

So just like you don’t give children all the answers, you often let them work things out for themselves as this is so much more valuable.spiritual growth is no different.

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 21:23

Garlicking · 17/03/2024 21:12

I dunno, @Kdtym10, how could an omnipotent being demonstrate its existence? It's hardly so short on options that it's limited to obscure metaphors and vague hints, is it?
~ Make pretty little flowers fall from the sky all over the world, while announcing itself verbally in all languages relevant to each region
~ Put a fresh loaf of bread on every table in the world, inscribed with a statement of its existence in the relevant language
~ "Smite" one member of every group and community, with one of its ancient threatening phrases stamped on the forehead of each corpse
~ Possess (or "infuse with the Spirit") one delegate at every governmental and NGO meeting, making them emit lightning while delivering statements of God's existence
I'm not even omnipotent; pretty sure a real deity can think up even more ideas!

So we’ve had frogs falling from the sky - was that a weird weather event or the power of God?

We have had charities going into war zones distributing bread - was this enabled by God? In the Bible he provided food on numerous occasions.

We’ve had many plagues where the victims were left marked? Was this God unleashing a plague like in the Bible?

Most societies have had leaders stand there confidently stating Gods existence. Some have even apparently been accompanied by “signs”

I guess what you’re saying is, you don’t just want God to do these things for mankind, you want him to do these things for you, in your lifetime. What makes you more special than the billions of people who have existed, do exist or will exist?

Kdtym10 · 17/03/2024 21:24

heyhohello · 17/03/2024 20:48

Some tv gold on the subject. 🙂

I love that and never seen it- where’s it from?

I love “whistle down the Wind” it’s got so many messages

"Whistle Down The Wind" 1961 Alan Bates, Haley Mills, Bernard Lee, Norman Bird

Director: Bryan ForbesStory by: Mary Hayley BellScreenplay: Willis Hall, Keith Waterhouse

https://youtu.be/pbILg8szWsE?si=LdsTRbYcyGOapliu

heyhohello · 17/03/2024 21:27

@Kdtym10 Rev was a BBC comedy series.

www.imdb.com/title/tt1588221/

Garlicking · 17/03/2024 21:28

I guess what you’re saying is, you don’t just want God to do these things for mankind, you want him to do these things for you, in your lifetime. What makes you more special than the billions of people who have existed, do exist or will exist?

Leaving aside the issue of whether the phenomena you mentioned are clear signs or not, what's stopping him from doing an unequivocal announcement once for each generation, or once a century?

heyhohello · 17/03/2024 21:30

@Kdtym10 yes, WhistleDown The Wind. Vaguely remember watching it years ago. Think I might rewatch it now. Thanks.🙂

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