Belief in God(s)?

[Wally Balljacker]

Just wondering what the percentage of believers, and non-believers is around these parts.

I'm atheist, myself.

[greggh]

I'm agnostic. I would like to say I'm an atheist, but then again, I'm rarely 100% sure of anything. I'm culturally Jewish, but as for a lot of secular Jews, being Jewish has very little to do with God or religion. It's more a definition of one's ancestry and ethnicity.

[Tsuroerusu]

In terms of believing in god, I'm an atheist. As I state in my bio on my blog: Honestly, some of the things that’s written in the bible often sounds like the writer, was smoking too much marijuana, or whatever he might have been smoking! Think about it! If you’re sitting there smoking your marijuana, and writing a story, then the concept of a guy walking on water all of a sudden makes a lot of sense.

I think of myself as being spiritual, rather than religious. For example, in terms of the existence of higher powers, I regard the universe, the stars, the planets etc. as higher powers. With the right equipment, you can actually "hear" Jupiter's radiation, yes even from earth, and the various NASA missions have shown that it's magnetic field is ginourmous. If this isn't higher powers, I don't know what it is.

Out of curiosity and interest, I've been reading a bit about Buddhism recently, and it's quite fascinating, and as far as I understand, in Buddhism there is no "supreme deity" or god.

[Wally Balljacker]

In terms of believing in god, I'm an atheist. As I state in my bio on my blog: Honestly, some of the things that’s written in the bible often sounds like the writer, was smoking too much marijuana, or whatever he might have been smoking! Think about it! If you’re sitting there smoking your marijuana, and writing a story, then the concept of a guy walking on water all of a sudden makes a lot of sense.

I think of myself as being spiritual, rather than religious. For example, in terms of the existence of higher powers, I regard the universe, the stars, the planets etc. as higher powers. With the right equipment, you can actually "hear" Jupiter's radiation, yes even from earth, and the various NASA missions have shown that it's magnetic field is ginourmous. If this isn't higher powers, I don't know what it is.

Well, there is cosmic microwave background radiation everywhere in the Universe, which was caused by the Big Bang some 13 or 14 billion years ago. It's not supernatural, it's science.

Out of curiosity and interest, I've been reading a bit about Buddhism recently, and it's quite fascinating, and as far as I understand, in Buddhism there is no "supreme deity" or god.

Yes, Buddhism, as well as Confucianism and Taoism are largely atheistic. They're fine philosophies for the most part IMO, although as with anything, it would be nice if they could demonstrate their claims.

[Tsuroerusu]

In terms of believing in god, I'm an atheist. As I state in my bio on my blog: Honestly, some of the things that’s written in the bible often sounds like the writer, was smoking too much marijuana, or whatever he might have been smoking! Think about it! If you’re sitting there smoking your marijuana, and writing a story, then the concept of a guy walking on water all of a sudden makes a lot of sense.

I think of myself as being spiritual, rather than religious. For example, in terms of the existence of higher powers, I regard the universe, the stars, the planets etc. as higher powers. With the right equipment, you can actually "hear" Jupiter's radiation, yes even from earth, and the various NASA missions have shown that it's magnetic field is ginourmous. If this isn't higher powers, I don't know what it is.

Well, there is cosmic microwave background radiation everywhere in the Universe, which was caused by the Big Bang some 13 or 14 billion years ago. It's not supernatural, it's science.

Well, unlike the big bang which was long ago, Jupiter's huge radiation and magnetic field is actually being generated by an object that we can see, and in any case Jupiter's "powers" (An example would be it's ginourmous thunder storms) are certainly above anything we humans can do. Also, to me, supernatural is a loose term, because something we might consider science fiction, could be reality somewhere else in the universe.

[dann]

Yes, Buddhism, as well as Confucianism and Taoism are largely atheistic. They're fine philosophies for the most part IMO, although as with anything, it would be nice if they could demonstrate their claims.

I would contest that statement. The Taoist or Buddhist would not question whether there is a god. And if you asked a Zen Monk he or she would probably hit you upside the head and tell you to quit wasting time on answers you will never find asking such questions.

Buddhism ascribes to the atman, and while not a personal god, is not an non-god, in as much as the atheist rejects deities. The atman is all and nothing. Which I find similar to the Tao; which could encompass thoughts of a personal deity and the atheist because both could exist or neither do and what does it matter if it promotes harmony?

[CptnObvious999]

Personally I am an athiest. I don't want anyone but my own beliefs projected upon myself. I decide for myself what I consider ethical no matter what any 'god' thinks I should believe in. I believe this quote sums up my thoughts:

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
~ Albert Einstein

[Wally Balljacker]

Personally I am an athiest. I don't want anyone but my own beliefs projected upon myself. I decide for myself what I consider ethical no matter what any 'god' thinks I should believe in. I believe this quote sums up my thoughts:

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
~ Albert Einstein

I concur. Morality based on promises of an eternal reward is hardly morality at all; it's just sucking up. One of my favorite quotes is:

Morality is doing what is right no matter what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told no matter what is right.

[adam]

Agnostic. I mean seriously, no one REALLY knows. You can convince yourself into thinking you know(or your mind tricking you, such as a dream where "God" has spoken to you, which you can't prove was real) but until you can prove it, it's only a belief.

[CptnObvious999]

Agnostic. I mean seriously, no one REALLY knows. You can convince yourself into thinking you know(or your mind tricking you, such as a dream where "God" has spoken to you, which you can't prove was real) but until you can prove it, it's only a belief.

No one is really sure about anything. It is just what people believe based on the facts presented to them. That's why your religion is what you believe in, not what you know is true.

If god does indeed exist and I go to hell for doing what I believe though, then so be it. At least I know what I have done is ethical.

[Wally Balljacker]

Agnostic. I mean seriously, no one REALLY knows. You can convince yourself into thinking you know(or your mind tricking you, such as a dream where "God" has spoken to you, which you can't prove was real) but until you can prove it, it's only a belief.

No one is really sure about anything. It is just what people believe based on the facts presented to them. That's why your religion is what you believe in, not what you know is true.

If god does indeed exist and I go to hell for doing what I believe though, then so be it. At least I know what I have done is ethical.

At least we'll have all the interesting company. :p

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atheists

[snarkout]

Sammy Davis is kicking up the dust in Hell. Good show, I'm sure.

[Vogateer]

Agnostic. I mean seriously, no one REALLY knows. You can convince yourself into thinking you know(or your mind tricking you, such as a dream where "God" has spoken to you, which you can't prove was real) but until you can prove it, it's only a belief.

No one is really sure about anything. It is just what people believe based on the facts presented to them. That's why your religion is what you believe in, not what you know is true.

I imagine he's speaking of how God's existence must be axiomatic. Or at least you can't really debate the existence of God through deductive logic.

Honestly, I rarely see arguments against the existence of God, only against the idea of a Personal God, which, as Einstein said, isn't the same thing.

[KStorm]

I consider myself a believer in God, an ordinary Christian I would suppose.

[allix]

http://www.osogd.org

We are a community of magickal practitioners, mostly of Pagan background, who have gathered to work the Golden Dawn System.

Since most of the original order's material is published, and the world is very different from what it was at the start of the 20th century, we don't operate in secrecy or keep secrets save what is needed for confidentiality or security.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_religion