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Why so mysterious?
I usually preach the voodoo gospel in a fashion more akin to this: Funky Nassau
Whether you believe in my version of God I don't care, I just think that it's no wonder that so many people are so nihilistic when they don't think there is more to life than the next one night stand.
I agree to some extent, whilst I do not believe in good, I do believe in the morals, ethics and behaviour that many, not just one region integrates in its belief system, the sense of right or wrong and tradition is something religion as a whole tends to do right. Ie love thy neighbour
O just don't have faith in a divine power or preset fate.
Not mysterious, just think religion should be kept personal. I don't see a need to disclose it in this thread - even if it is related.
I think people want there to be more to life than eating, breathing and shagging. As the traditional organised religions have lost numbers, you see increasing numbers of people putting all their faith in crystals, or in astrology, or in sinister sects like Scientology. I wouldn't want to mock someone else's beliefs because I wouldn't want mine mocked, but some of the stuff people find to replace God (of whichever form) is really quite sad, especially all those people stuck in the giant Ponzi scheme that is Scientology.
By the way, it should be noted that I share the sentiments of many of you that organized religion is a headache. I read a lot and tend to be more well versed than any of the pastors I meet, so I don't attend Church. The Bible does not demand such.
Not to toot my own horn, but as Jessi said, I'm the resident expert on this particular subject, so if anyone is curious about something in particular, feel free to contact me. Genuine curiosity; not "PSH! I BET HE CAN'T TRUMP MYYYYYYY LOGIC!!!111"
Used to be part of the 'must be something bigger than us' camp but not anymore.
Are (all of) the demands of the Bible important to you ?
Quite.
To extend my curiosity, may I enquire which (if any) written words do you consider to be the words of God ?
Perhaps you will not believe until it happens ?
i dont see whats so wrong with nihilism tbh
My family is Catholic, and I can't relate to a lot of their beliefs just as they can't relate to mine. My mum can't get her head around the fact that I don't believe in an afterlife, but if anything, it motivates me to try and make the most of everything now - for me, this isn't a dress rehearsal, this is it.
I did live with a girl briefly who told me she doesn't worry about slipping up etc because God will always forgive her in the end. It's been a long time so I don't know if that's actually the case, but it raised my eyebrow, I don't think that's the healthiest way to conduct yourself.
Going to Church and going through the motions won't save you. That's the one key thing that Jesus taught us- being pious won't save you if you don't back your words up with actions.
I don't believe in what I do because "I don't like the alternative", I don't think there is an alternative. I think it is a fact that there is a God and that He created the World. I don't think Genesis is literal, I think it is more allegorical using "a day" to imply a period of development, but I don't for one second think that nothing, literally nothing, magically exploded and became something without involvement from a higher being. Stuff works too well in this world for it to have happened by chance, regardless of what obnoxious oafs like Dawkins try and (abusively) argue.
Other people disagree and I think it is a shame for them, but it is their life and their choice. I'm not particularly interested in a debate on it, because I won't change my beliefs and Dawkins followers won't change theirs.
That's pretty much why I'm in the 'I believe in something, even if it's not a specific God' camp. Evolution and stuff, yeah, fine, but I can't get my head around the whole Big Bang thing or that everything just HAPPENS to work the way it does without some other involvement from SOMEWHERE.
Plus it's nice to think that I'm not just going to be worm-food when I'm dead.
I don't think life innately has a purpose beyond the biological imperative to procreate. If that's what you mean by nihilism then I'm guilty, but I'm not sure it's a charge I should be worried about. If you're going a step further and intimating that a lack of belief in the supernatural leads to less empathetic, moral, caring and conscientious people then I think that's poppy-cock.
That's a deeply depressing view to take on life. What's exciting about life without one eye on divine parental supervision is that it's what you make of it - you define you own purposes. I think that's more invigorating and fascinating that being beholden to an iron age, desert theology.