Seriousness God? - Page 2

Jaime_Astorga · 06-12-2009, 01:12 AM

No thanks. I'm good as is.

Donnageddon · 06-12-2009, 02:55 AM

Results so far are:

Yes 13%

Not Yes 87%

Not looking good for God.

(S)He may need a new agent.

StDo · 06-12-2009, 03:35 AM

Yes 14 : 14 No

Donnageddon · 06-12-2009, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StDo

Yes 14 : 14 No

That is certainly one way of looking at the data.

GeoffC · 06-12-2009, 04:34 AM

half and half ....

Gideon · 06-12-2009, 04:47 AM

Yeah, I suppose if my religion was anything like the stuff being talked about here I wouldn't be religious either.

Fortunately for me, it isn't. And I'm going to be a priest. I also grew up on the discovery channel... and the magazine! Still love it. And science in general. And I believe in evolution. And the big bang. I also don't believe in a big guy in the sky watching me all the time. I'm for the strict separation of church and state. I'm for gay marriage. I think that goes for just about everyone at my church, too.

My girlfriend is also planning on becoming a priest. We spend a great deal of time working with non-profits working towards social justice, the poor, kids, etc. We plan on spending our lives doing that. We're both college graduates, both pretty smart and could have done just about anything with our lives but we both felt that we should spend our lives trying to make the world a better place for everyone in it: Christian and Atheist, Jew and Buddhist, poor and rich, black and white. We work besides a lot of people who are religious in a variety of ways following many creeds, and a few who aren't. We do a pretty good job not denigrating each others beliefs, we focus on what people do. For some people their faith helps them, for others their faith hinders them. For some they are motivated by a strong desire just to do good, and God may or may not be part of that issue.

But clearly, like so many other people for most of human history who've believed in God or something similar and somehow lived good lives despite that terrible lapse of reason, we're just complete idjits. Silly us.

Personally, I don't care if a person believes in God or not. I don't think God cares, either. But I also don't believe that God, or the existence of God, is something that can be decided by an argument or set of propositions. If God does exist, we're talking about something that is totally beyond human understanding or experience in our ability to comprehend. If he doesn't.. well, it doesn't really matter.

What is clear is that people are capable of all the heights of saintliness and all the monstrousness we can conceive with or without religion. The most brilliant of people and the stupidest. Whatever religion is, whatever God is, it is more than a simple set of propositions that one can acquiesce or disagree with.

I'm not trying to convince everyone, but I would suggest that the issue is complicated. It's in the realm of economics and politics - a nearly universal human activity that varies enormously and effects us all greatly and has for all of human history. You can just dismiss it as human silliness, but you might as well be dismissing economics. The basics might be wrong, but that doesn't stop it and its believers from shaping the world. A response of "you're a bunch of idiots" isn't terribly useful or helpful. Religion is subtle, and it's more complicated than simply believing in Zombie Jesus or fearing for your immortal soul.

GeoffC · 06-12-2009, 04:49 AM

Religion is subtle

could not have put it better myself ....

Dave Berk · 06-12-2009, 08:40 AM

I want to believe, but I'm probably agnostic.

krisk · 06-12-2009, 10:29 AM

what flavor of priest are you going to be Gideon?

Moejoe · 06-12-2009, 10:38 AM

pshrynk · 06-12-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisk

what flavor of priest are you going to be Gideon?

I'm guessing Episcopalian, since his SO is also going to be a priest.

krisk · 06-12-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I'm guessing Episcopalian, since his SO is also going to be a priest.

I figured, but one never knows for sure

slayda · 06-12-2009, 02:19 PM

God, save me from the "Do-gooders".

krisk · 06-12-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

God, save me from your followers.

fixed

vivaldirules · 06-12-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

God, save me from the "Do-gooders".

Yes, my son (erm, purple psockdonkey). I shall do the best I can.

View Poll Results: God?
Yes	20	34.48%
No	18	31.03%
Maybe	6	10.34%
Depends	3	5.17%
Blue one next to the fish	6	10.34%
Portugal	4	6.90%
Spain	3	5.17%
Germany	4	6.90%
Chocolate	5	8.62%
Buy my a pretty flower	1	1.72%
But wait, theres more...	6	10.34%
I am left handed. Does it rotate?	2	3.45%
I am ready to be surprised	4	6.90%
Door number 2	2	3.45%
Polls are tough	4	6.90%
I am not interested	3	5.17%
What Me Worry?	3	5.17%
So what?	4	6.90%
Explitive Deleted	4	6.90%
Orange	4	6.90%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 58. You may not vote on this poll

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06-12-2009, 01:12 AM	#16
Jaime_Astorga Member Retired Posts: 274 Karma: 4446 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Device: PRS-350-SC: Sony Reader Pocket Edition	No thanks. I'm good as is.

06-12-2009, 02:55 AM	#17
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	Results so far are: Yes 13% Not Yes 87% Not looking good for God. (S)He may need a new agent.

06-12-2009, 03:35 AM	#18
StDo Translating Calibre... Posts: 657 Karma: 2902 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ER.de Device: [PRS-500], PB360	Yes 14 : 14 No

06-12-2009, 04:34 AM	#20
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	half and half ....

06-12-2009, 04:47 AM	#21
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Yeah, I suppose if my religion was anything like the stuff being talked about here I wouldn't be religious either. Fortunately for me, it isn't. And I'm going to be a priest. I also grew up on the discovery channel... and the magazine! Still love it. And science in general. And I believe in evolution. And the big bang. I also don't believe in a big guy in the sky watching me all the time. I'm for the strict separation of church and state. I'm for gay marriage. I think that goes for just about everyone at my church, too. My girlfriend is also planning on becoming a priest. We spend a great deal of time working with non-profits working towards social justice, the poor, kids, etc. We plan on spending our lives doing that. We're both college graduates, both pretty smart and could have done just about anything with our lives but we both felt that we should spend our lives trying to make the world a better place for everyone in it: Christian and Atheist, Jew and Buddhist, poor and rich, black and white. We work besides a lot of people who are religious in a variety of ways following many creeds, and a few who aren't. We do a pretty good job not denigrating each others beliefs, we focus on what people do. For some people their faith helps them, for others their faith hinders them. For some they are motivated by a strong desire just to do good, and God may or may not be part of that issue. But clearly, like so many other people for most of human history who've believed in God or something similar and somehow lived good lives despite that terrible lapse of reason, we're just complete idjits. Silly us. Personally, I don't care if a person believes in God or not. I don't think God cares, either. But I also don't believe that God, or the existence of God, is something that can be decided by an argument or set of propositions. If God does exist, we're talking about something that is totally beyond human understanding or experience in our ability to comprehend. If he doesn't.. well, it doesn't really matter. What is clear is that people are capable of all the heights of saintliness and all the monstrousness we can conceive with or without religion. The most brilliant of people and the stupidest. Whatever religion is, whatever God is, it is more than a simple set of propositions that one can acquiesce or disagree with. I'm not trying to convince everyone, but I would suggest that the issue is complicated. It's in the realm of economics and politics - a nearly universal human activity that varies enormously and effects us all greatly and has for all of human history. You can just dismiss it as human silliness, but you might as well be dismissing economics. The basics might be wrong, but that doesn't stop it and its believers from shaping the world. A response of "you're a bunch of idiots" isn't terribly useful or helpful. Religion is subtle, and it's more complicated than simply believing in Zombie Jesus or fearing for your immortal soul.

06-12-2009, 04:49 AM	#22
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Religion is subtle could not have put it better myself ....

06-12-2009, 08:40 AM	#23
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	I want to believe, but I'm probably agnostic.

06-12-2009, 10:29 AM	#24
krisk Wizard Posts: 2,148 Karma: 8229 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: on the road again Device: kindle	what flavor of priest are you going to be Gideon?

06-12-2009, 10:38 AM	#25
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin

06-12-2009, 02:19 PM	#28
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	God, save me from the "Do-gooders".