Do you believe in a (personal) god or gods?

[Breathe]

Pandeism is just nonsense.

Now now, be nice. At least give a reason.
Why is it?

Naturalistic pantheism is just atheism with a fancy name.

True, true. I can't see anything different from atheism, really... unless it's because things are less random and more organized, but if so, what's doing the organizing? But, you're right. It does sound cooler. :beach:

 

[Storm]

I regard pantheism as atheism. I have flirted with the idea myself, but prefer not to use the word "god" - it becomes much clearer then.

I would say you don't understand it, then. Anyway, my point still stands.

 

[logician]

Of the non third world countries, I would hazard a guess that the US has by far the highest percentage of believers.
In Sweden where I currently live, being an atheist is irrelevant.Same in the UK. In the US admitting such can lead to open hostility.

Europeans are generally much more open-minded about other's religios beliefs than Americans. Comes from the Puritanical roots of Americans, partially, and the strong blossoming of many fundamentalist denominations in the U.S. over the years.

 

[frg001]

I would say you don't understand it, then. Anyway, my point still stands.

Don't understand? possibly. But I have felt on occasion that the universe can be regarded almost as a single living organism. In the same way as a tree. Planets and stars and galaxies and nebulas and black holes are leaves, and buds and bark... I figured that was kinda 'pantheistic'...

 

[Storm]

Don't understand? possibly. But I have felt on occasion that the universe can be regarded almost as a single living organism. In the same way as a tree. Planets and stars and galaxies and nebulas and black holes are leaves, and buds and bark... I figured that was kinda 'pantheistic'...

But how is it atheistic?

 

[AllanV]

To me a personal God is actually the indwelling of God. We all have personal power and a belief. There wouldn't be so many people trying to sell programes to make a million dollars with self belief if not. What one believes is what one gets. Let say there is a way of escaping this realm of the mind and instead of personal power a person had the power of God. This would be a personal God. People are unable to comprehend this and water down the true meaning and exciting implications.

 

[frg001]

But how is it atheistic?

Because it doesn't have anything to do with creation, or a divine being. Not for me anyway. The view I put forward is not the view of a god. The universe, even if it is like a giant "tree" has no self-awareness, or power. It simply is. Sounds like atheism to me...

 

[Storm]

Because it doesn't have anything to do with creation, or a divine being. Not for me anyway. The view I put forward is not the view of a god. The universe, even if it is like a giant "tree" has no self-awareness, or power. It simply is. Sounds like atheism to me...

It has nothing to do with a theistic God, but it still sounds like a God to me.

Anyway, I've come to regret telling you you didn't understand pantheism, and I apologize for it. :sorry1:

Agree to disagree?

 

[frg001]

It has nothing to do with a theistic God, but it still sounds like a God to me.

Anyway, I've come to regret telling you you didn't understand pantheism, and I apologize for it. :sorry1:

Agree to disagree?

No need for apologies. Everyone has their own definition. I stand by mine, as to me an atheist can be defined as someone who doesn't believe in a theistic god.

Wikipedia's take...

"Atheism, as an explicit position, can be either the affirmation of the nonexistence of gods,[1] or the rejection of theism.[2] It is also[3] defined more broadly as an absence of belief in deities, or nontheism.[4][5][6][7]"


I agree with that summary, and thus regard pantheism as a type of atheism.
I regard Buddhism as a type of atheism too although that's a more difficult one to argue as most people who call themselves atheists would certainly not believe in re-incarnation.

 

[Breathe]

No need for apologies. Everyone has their own definition. I stand by mine, as to me an atheist can be defined as someone who doesn't believe in a theistic god.

What about a deistic god?

 

[Darkwater]

*crushes frg001 skull under boot,for no particular reason*

Not unknown,perhaps?

 

[frg001]

*crushes frg001 skull under boot,for no particular reason*

Not unknown,perhaps?

Typical jock agression.

 

[AllanV]

Don't understand? possibly. But I have felt on occasion that the universe can be regarded almost as a single living organism. In the same way as a tree. Planets and stars and galaxies and nebulas and black holes are leaves, and buds and bark... I figured that was kinda 'pantheistic'...

I helped Vince, a neigbour who had a cow separated from a calf and was sensitive to the energy coming from her. The softness, gentleness and concern to get back to her calf was very powerful. I live in a quiet environment and the earth has an energy like a life form in its own right and is similar to the cow and calf in regard to wanting to have a close relationship with man. But of course insensitive, hardhearted man is seperated and bent on own destructive behavour.

 

[Muffled]

The 'demons' in meditation are a manifestation of your own subconsciousness. If you didn't believe in demons but believed in evil telepathic aliens you might encounter them instead.

Your view is materialistic. Jesus made it very clear that He believed in spiritual realities. He also did not cast out a persons negative subconscious but actual demon spirits. Parhaps that is why Jesus allowed Legion to enter into the pigs so that people could witness that those demon spirits actually did exist and the results of casting them out were that the crazy man acted sane but the pigs acted crazy.

 

[logician]

Your view is materialistic. Jesus made it very clear that He believed in spiritual realities. He also did not cast out a persons negative subconscious but actual demon spirits. Parhaps that is why Jesus allowed Legion to enter into the pigs so that people could witness that those demon spirits actually did exist and the results of casting them out were that the crazy man acted sane but the pigs acted crazy.

One could also interpret this action of the supposed Jesus as being cruel to pigs.

 

[AllanV]

My understanding of demons is that they are fixtures of the mind. Today we would call them mind sets. From young children to adults there is constant mental interaction and probably indoctrination into a culture. A certain sense of self belief occurs in an individual as life experience occurs and then becomes the driving force in actions and responses. What demons do is prompt a person to fulfill a certain fixed aspect in the make up of the person. They will stop a person being who they really could be. They manifest all manner of disorders, mental and physical as the mind plays a big part in what the brain does and then the body.

Conversations could become volatile and even cause violence and a tendency to depend on opinions becomes a form of Idol worship.

All conversation is actually prompted by demons because the life time of mind sets are used to draw information from. Families argue and are violent over what seems nothing. Man will fight to the death to protect an ideology that is false. What makes them think they are correct and why do they gather so many followers.

I know there is a way to get past this realm of the mind and that is to be energized inwardly. In that sense I experience a personal God as an energizing spirit who is able to keep me unattached. This of course depends on me keeping my self pure by a process that works. I am not perfect but a process can be followed that covers imperfection.