Sciforums religion survey 2014

Discussion in 'Religion' started by James R, Dec 21, 2014.

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What do you believe? (Select all that apply.)

Poll closed Jan 11, 2015.
  1. I don't believe in God now, and I never did.

    12 vote(s)
    26.1%
  2. I don't believe in God now, but I used to.

    15 vote(s)
    32.6%
  3. I believe in God now, but in the past I did not.

    4 vote(s)
    8.7%
  4. I believe in God now, and always have.

    5 vote(s)
    10.9%
  5. I have no opinion on God/do not wish to select one of the above options.

    6 vote(s)
    13.0%
  6. I don't believe in God, but I believe there is a higher power, life force or similar.

    4 vote(s)
    8.7%
  7. I don't regard myself as religious, but I am a spiritual person.

    7 vote(s)
    15.2%
  8. I believe that human beings have a soul or life force which remains after the death of the body.

    5 vote(s)
    10.9%
  9. I believe in reincarnation.

    4 vote(s)
    8.7%
  10. I describe myself as a follower of a recognised religion.

    3 vote(s)
    6.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    8,000
    Yeah... an the Noah thang hasnt worked out so good ether.!!!

    For a supposedly smart guy... the Lord dont seem very good at thankin thangs thru... ie... a brain-damaged lab-monkey (or even me) coud have put together beter plans for humanity than God.!!!
     
    zgmc likes this.
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  3. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,199
    This story admits that God made a mistake. Christianity touts God as perfect. Both positions cannot be true. And if he did wipe the slate clean and started again then it looks like he messed up again.
     
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  5. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    That's a good question. Try not to lose our minds and principles, I guess. And kill lots of bad people with drones.
     
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  7. Hapsburg Hellenistic polytheist Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,227
    What Christianity has to say about it is rather tertiary. The story originates in Jewish mythology, and Judaism doesn't necessarily purport their deity's 'perfection'. Especially in Classical Antiquity, it rather sided with a theology that purported a multifaceted deity that was equally capable of anger and spite as it was of mercy and benediction. Like most gods from Classical-era Eurasian religions, the behaviour of the divine was rather contractual and situational. You can't ignore the story's original cultural and literary context.
     
  8. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,199
    Hapsburg,

    Yes I understand. It is rather easy though to take such myths as A&E and Noah and highlight the rampant incongruities, especially if the proponent touts them as if they were not myths.

    In the history of gods, most of the old gods, Zeus etc, Roman, Greek, pagan, etc, all had their particular personalities, from jealousy, hatred, revenge, pride, etc., so it is not surprising that the creators of the OT texts would copy much of what is expected of gods and their personalities into the OT God. Replaced polytheism with a monotheistic concept but kept much of the emotions the same.

    Christianity though tries something new for its god - an attempt to transform the OT god into perfection, all good, can do no wrong, loves everything perspective. The problem then arises from quoting texts from the OT as if they are relevant to the NT perspective - doesn't work very well. Two different gods involved.
     
  9. davewhite04 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,331
    Cris,

    You're talking as if God simply created robots when He created humanity... why? What is your life like? Did you buy your house or did God? Who is responsible for repairs to your house?

    Edit:
    How about Bush, Blair, the money people, Hitler, the list is endless....?
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2015
  10. Cris In search of Immortality Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,199
    If a car manufacturer creates a set of cars according to a specific design and they all fail to operate then clearly the design was flawed.

    If a god creates a set of humans and they all fail to operate as he intended then his design is flawed.

    If his design intentionally included the ability for humans to be able to choose good or evil then he should not be displeased when his design operates as intended. Why then destroy those who chose evil, since they are only functioning as he designed?

    If he wanted everyone to choose good then his omnipotence would allow him to create a free will mechanism where everyone would be able to evaluate the choices more appropriately and choose good each time.

    A god with ultimate power can design humans any way he wishes. That he deliberately created some so that he could kill them is simply absurd.

    How would you honestly evaluate your god who knowingly created people he knew would be bad so he could kill them later?
     
  11. davewhite04 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,331
    That's why He created the Ten Commandments which aren't a joke, and EVERYONE knows them yet they are violated time and time again. Do you want free will Cris?
     
  12. Seattle Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    8,874
    Actually, much of the Ten Commandments are a joke.
     
  13. davewhite04 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,331
    Have you murdered anyone lately? Is that a joke too?
     
  14. Seattle Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    8,874
    No. Have you read the 10 Commandments? The first 4 are a joke.
     
  15. leopold Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    17,455
    oh man, you didn't have to say that.
    i wouldn't mind it at all if my children learned them, and tried to live by them.
    well, most of them anyway.

    an interesting question would be, can you get the same effect with a generous dose of shakespeare.
     
  16. davewhite04 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,331
    Continue to joke about while the planet goes to shit because people ignore what God has said, and no, not just the biblical God, but the deities of other religions too.
     
  17. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    Actually, the planet is going to shit in part due to religion, specifically Christianity. In a very literal sense, the denial of climate change is driven by the idea that the world was created just for human beings, and therefore oil was placed there for us to burn, therefore it can't possibly do any harm. Christian countries happen to be the among the worst polluters.
     
  18. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    Most societies in history have made murder a crime. It didn't take the 10 commandments to teach us that.
     
  19. davewhite04 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,331
    Who taught them that it was a crime? Is this where you say, evolution says...

    It did for the people that Moses rescued.
     
  20. Seattle Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    8,874
    The planet isn't going to "shit" because of people ignoring what "God" said.

    It's interesting that you feel it's important to follow any of the "gods". Anything but reality.
     
  21. davewhite04 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,331
    After the 10 commandments in stone were written, God did this:

    Jeremiah 31:33-34
    33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

    34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

    I mean, you just know what's right or wrong. If you are an evil twat, then let your head be it.
     
  22. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    No one had to teach them, it's self evident. And by the way, killing someone for being a witch or disrespecting their parents is also murder.
    Rescued from what?
     
  23. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    That's what I'm saying, we know it's wrong to murder because we are social apes with empathy. No God required. And yes, I do think evolution had a part of that. Even chimps don't kill other chimps for no reason.
     

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