[mountain_man]

I don't believe that God exists except in the minds of people who believe that he does.

What? Talk about a round about answer. Do you have faith God doesn't exist?

[shatteredsoul]

I don't think you meant to be hostile. I think you feel that you have to defend yourself at all angles and maybe that frustrates you. I respect your opinions and I understand where you are coming from. I really do. The things I am asking are truly begging the question. I am not trying to be difficult, just trying to open your awareness to things a little bit. I am sorry if made you feel like you have to fight to get your point across.

[firmbeliever]

If there is a supreme being, I would like to have a chat with him/her. (Pretty clever, covering all my bases. Why is God never a woman? Definitely stronger gender.) .

I don't believe God is either a Man or woman! :)

I am glad I started this thread, it just lets everyone have their say on religion...
And makes an enjoyable read for me...

[Capuchin]

Mountainman, depends how you define faith. If you define faith as the belief in something, even when evidence points to the contrary, then no I don't have faith that god does not exist.

Shatteredsoul, where was I hostile? I didn't feel under pressure to defend myself, I found it quite easy to do.

[shatteredsoul]

I find it easy to defend my beliefs as well, that doesn't mean I am not defensive about it.
Look, I am not arguing with you. I think you may want to argue with me because I just said, I don't think that is what you meant to be. It came across that way. That was MY PERCEPTION. Part of the problem is your inability to look at things from any other perspective, other than your own. I was trying to say, the way you are writing, it seems you are frustrated, I am sorry if I made you feel that way. Just take the apology for what it is and stop reading into it. I have no problem debating all day but you see black and I see white. I don't think it will change either of our minds. I have acknowledged that I respect and understand your opinion. That is my choice. You don't have to do either.

If there is one thing we can agree on, it is that we don't agree. The mind and the body are fascinating things, the fact that you don't believe you have a soul that connects it, is where we disagree.

[Capuchin]

I have blood vessels and a spine that connects them :).

From here, you seem like the frustrated one. Maybe we both cannot see it from other's perspectives :)

[shatteredsoul]

No not frustrated with you, frustrated that my stupid mouse keeps freezing up every time I try to post. I will be happy when I have batteries. Boy you sure are a friendly one!! Have a great day my friend, spine and all!!

[Synnen]

If there is a supreme being, I would like to have a chat with him/her. (Pretty clever, covering all my bases. Why is God never a woman? Definitely stronger gender.) I have an issue with someone that sits back and watches all the death and destruction, and maybe, just maybe, grant a miracle to those that pray. All the power to those that do, sincerely.
.

My "God" is a woman. As a Wiccan, I worship the Lady, and her consort, the Lord, in all their faces with all their names.

But... that's my choice. I can easily see why others have the faith that they have in other gods (or NOT, in the case of atheism) that they do.

My heart goes out to atheists, actually. I have a hard time defending my minority faith to those that feel I should convert to something more mainstream... I can't imagine the pressure that an atheist has to conform to SOMETHING, to believe in a god/goddess just because someone tells them that it's better, or they'll be happier, or whatever.

People should be left to believe or not as they see fit.

[jillianleab]

My heart goes out to atheists, actually. I have a hard time defending my minority faith to those that feel I should convert to somethign more mainstream....I can't imagine the pressure that an atheist has to conform to SOMETHING, to believe in a god/goddess just because someone tells them that it's better, or they'll be happier, or whatever.

Meh. You get used to it and ignore people. It actually helps to reinforce why you don't want to be a member of any religion, given all the hate and intolerance they throw around. The only time it bothers me is when a$$hat politicians make comments like this:

"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."

Guess who said it? Good 'ol Dubya's daddy!

[mountain_man]

Mountainman, depends how you define faith. If you define faith as the belief in something, even when evidence points to the contrary, then no i don't have faith that god does not exist.

Shatteredsoul, where was I hostile? I didn't feel under pressure to defend myself, I found it quite easy to do.

Faith as defined by Merriam-Webster "something that is believed especially with strong conviction"

So with strong conviction you believe God doesn't exist. And being a scientific, logical person that makes you the person with more faith! See I took the easy way out and just believe (have faith) there is a God and trust in Him without all the answers.

[Capuchin]

I have no idea what you just said.

[mountain_man]

I have no idea what you just said.

What I am trying to say is you have mountains of faith to not believe in God at all... and being a logical, scientific person that is contradictory...

Let me ask you this and anyone else that doesn't believe in God

The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. presently contains over 70 million items (books, magazines, journals, etc.). Hhundreds of thousands of these were written by scholars and specialists in the various academic fields. "What percentage of the collective knowledge recorded in the volumes in this library would you say are within your own pool of knowledge and experience?"

[startover22]

What I am trying to say is you have mountains of faith to not believe in God at all....and being a logical, scientific person that is contradictory...

Let me ask you this and anyone else that doesn't believe in God

The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. presently contains over 70 million items (books, magazines, journals, etc.). Hhundreds of thousands of these were written by scholars and specialists in the various academic fields. "What percentage of the collective knowledge recorded in the volumes in this library would you say are within your own pool of knowledge and experience?"

Hmmmm, you have me thinking, this might take a while... LOL

[NeedKarma]

What I am trying to say is you have mountains of faith to not believe in God at all....and being a logical, scientific person that is contradictory...

Actually it takes no faith at all.

[startover22]

You don't have faith in believing what you do?

[mountain_man]

Actually it takes no faith at all.

It actually takes more faith to not believe that God exists at all because you have to constantly disapprove the existence of God to satisify your belief... I can just simply believe and leave it alone

[NeedKarma]

I don't have to disprove anything.

You can't simply believe and let it alone, you feel a need to convert people and spread the 'good news' whereas I couldn't give two poops what religion a person is, as long as they are a good person.

[startover22]

I don't have to disprove anything.

You can't simply believe and let it alone, you feel a need to convert people and spread the 'good news' whereas I couldn't give two poops what religion a person is, as long as they are a good person.

I am going to say you are right on brotha...
And, we wouldn't want you to give two poops... LOL
Being a good person is what all of this boils down to. A believer or not, that is the best answer yet.

[mountain_man]

I don't have to disprove anything.

You can't simply believe and let it alone, you feel a need to convert people and spread the 'good news' whereas I couldn't give two poops what religion a person is, as long as they are a good person.

I am not trying to convert you, you can only make that decision. I am just trying to shed some light on things the way I see it.

[mountain_man]

I am gonna say you are right on brotha....
And, we wouldn't want you to give two poops....LOL
Being a good person is what all of this boils down to. a believer or not, that is the best answer yet.

Startover22... you didn't answer my previous question you were thinking hard about?