Why Do You NOT Believe In God?

Ya, and as I tend to say, do you think the bible was a non-bias accounting of events? And Pat, I have to wonder if you really understand what bias is, besides a common theme in all your postings.

"The Greatest Enemy of Knowledge is Not Ignorance, It is the ILLUSION of Knowledge. Stephen Hawking"

here's a possibility about the bible. and of course on one knows for sure. the bible has been interpreted and re-interpreted. and it has been done so by man who may have a slanted view on what the words actually mean, working from a different view on life than god would be, and maybe perhaps even having a hidden agenda, conscious or not. i'm sure there are some things in the bible that could be considered the true word of god but how much of that is left? apparently there are several books that were removed from the bible at one point and they are locked up, safe and secure in the vatican library, maybe that's where the true word resides.

"You have a problem with me? Good luck with your problem."

Not only that there are many scriptures and accounting from many people that were never put in, as well as probably taken out, there is a whole contraversy over mary magdeline, how they actually turned her character into a whore yet she isn't.

And if there are vast documents and records being witheld, why the big secret, if they preach such truth, what do they have to fear, all we need now is to get it all scanned. Don't need to ruin it or keep messing with it, just get it all loged and recorded and sort shit out for our selves, same thing with friggin government shit.

"The Greatest Enemy of Knowledge is Not Ignorance, It is the ILLUSION of Knowledge. Stephen Hawking"

Here's how I see it.

If god speaks through people in an attempt to give us messages on how to love one another and the universe that surrounds us then here's what we as individuals can do, if we want the truth, to determine what that truth is. Pay attention to what every spiritual and religious system, every holy and sacred text has in common. If we listen to the parts that say "we're right and they're wrong", "our messenger is the only messenger", that's where we become divided. If there is a god entity I don't think it wants us divided.

Everyone is equal, everyone deserves forgiveness, compassion and care, including yourself. god goddess allah universe creator creation (whatever we call it) is love, love and respect your neighbour, respect the animals, the plants, the universe... what they all say in common is where the truth lies, in my humble opinion.

"Love everyone, question everything and look up!"

I think Love is the ultimate reality in a social context, otherwise for a point of life, things become conflicted because life feeds on life and being kind to plants and animals is hard when you have to kill them.

But in terms of common bible themes, that making sense talk, and they aren't for it, besides, in terms of god entities wanting to communicate and get points across, well it stands to reason that they could do a better job ya know? Just say, "Hey, cut that out!" or whatever, just something, leaving it to an old book and oh so trustworthy people doesn't work for shit, and he should know this.

So they are all full of shit to begin with, we need to discover for ourselves how this is just a crying out across the ages for people to get along by others who have lived lives surrounded by war. STOP KILLING PEOPLE!!!

"The Greatest Enemy of Knowledge is Not Ignorance, It is the ILLUSION of Knowledge. Stephen Hawking"

You said that god could do a better job. How? By speaking to us, maybe he/she/it already does and we don't listen (obviosly we don't).

So your reasoning (just trying to understand your perspective) is that because we act the way that we do, if there was a god it would be able to straighten us up, and because it can't, there mustn't be a god?

"Love everyone, question everything and look up!"

"being kind to plants and animals is hard when you have to kill them."

Maybe it's hard for some but not impossible. Look at traditional Native ways. They honoured and respected the buffalo (for example), used every bit of it and thanked "creator" for it. It was a necessity.

"Love everyone, question everything and look up!"

"You said that god could do a better job. How? By speaking to us, maybe he/she/it already does and we don't listen (obviosly we don't)."
He hasn't spoken to me. He should have made a world in which GOd wasn't a laughably naive idea.

I mean, you say we should try to find what's in common with all religions. Why? How do you know even one of them is inspired by God? Its more likely they are either founded by men with halucinations or simply it is a method of control and indoctrination. Christianity succesfully controlled and justified dictatorship until only about 300 years ago.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

I'm being quite serious here. I'm not just talking "fluff". It has been mentioned that emotions are what makes us such a messed up society. And I agree. But if it's emotions that messes us up, isn't it possible that similar concepts is what's going to create change?

Do me a favour... find me a "problem" in the world that isn't solved by one or more of the following:

Peace, freedom, respect, appreciation, understanding, acceptance, patience, compassion, care, grace, courage, acceptance, appreciation, forgiveness, truth, trust, awareness, understanding, health, growth.

If there is one then my concept is flawed and I need to know before I waste any more energy.

"Love everyone, question everything and look up!"

"Peace, freedom, respect, appreciation, understanding, acceptance, patience, compassion, care, grace, courage, acceptance, appreciation, forgiveness, truth, trust, awareness, understanding, health, growth."
You are also naive if you think any of those have anything to do with religion.

These concepts are extremely important, and they were develloped during the Enlightenment, independantly or in opposition to religion. The French and American Revolutions (brought about thanks to the Enlightenment) were not religious. They were basically secular, rejecting the rule of King's who ruled by God's mandate.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

I don't doubt that what we now know as "religion" has been misused and the message misunderstood. But the foundation of each and every one of them is all of those concepts. That's what I said about the common thread. That is the common thread. So in that there has to be, in my opinion, some validity. It is not only the common thread of religious and spiritual beliefs but of every single human being on the planet, regardless of whether or not we choose to subsribe to a particular doctrine.

"Love everyone, question everything and look up!"

"But the foundation of each and every one of them is all of those concepts."
That is not true. The Torah, Bible and Koran have numerous passages in which God calls out for the death of indidels. All religions treat heresy as a the highest evil (heresy's meaning at the time was "choice". All of them deny sexual and romantic freedom in terms of oral/anal sex and homosexuality. There are also numerous occasions in which God himself slaughters human beings.

Religion has one core message "GOD is right, admit it, or die"

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

And don't make me get the bible quotes to prove my point.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

That's just your interpretation DT. What you see and find in religion isn't all that's there. I'm not suggesting by any means that everyone needs to subscribe to a categorical faith. I don't and I get along just fine.

Where in Buddhism doees it say that god slaughters human beings? Where in traditional Native traditions does it say that? That's not in every belief system. And even the ones that says that god slaughters human beings it also says that god loves everyone. What is the common thread again?

"Love everyone, question everything and look up!"

First of all native traditions don't say anything specific but tales similar to mythologies.

You will note that Bhuddism is the exception not the rule.

Finally, that doesn't change the fact there really is no reason to believe any religion was divinely inspired. Why should we?

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"