Do You Believe in God?

[JoStories]

Hi JoStories, I was beginning to think my font was invisible, or everyone had me on ignore. I suppose I rubbed some key members empirical fur the wrong way. Anyway, onward to your reply ; with all due respect I partly disagree about the evidence being equal. I agree its difficult to prove Gods existence by producing the one type of evidence most atheists or agnostics will accept. That would be empirical evidence. Likewise its even more difficult to show empirical evidence that God does not exist. So the best thing is that both sides allow all types of evidences in debate within reason, much like the kinds of evidence's allowable in a criminal court trial. If a defendant can receive a death penalty on the weight of allowable evidences those same types of evidence should be allowed and accepted as valid in debate. Of course some types evidences would inherently carry more merit that others. I am sure such an agreement would produce much better and more productive debate.

I disagree with your analogy about a criminal in a court case. For one thing, that evidence has to be irrefutable and based on fact. Provable fact, such as DNA evidence. God, OTOH, has no empirical or factual evidence. There is simply no facts that support the existence of God. That however, does not diminish that some, including me, firmly believe in God.

 

[Silent Screams]

I personally don't believe in God, but if I did I would have the decency to say to you "Because God is a dick" and try to console you.

That just made me laugh! thank you, much needed today. I'm leaning more towards the side of there is no God. And in the end, if there is, then God should be forgiving, right? God should understand my skepticism, doubt, and frustration.

 

[Muffled]

Well I suppose because no one has ever proven there is a God, its all Ok to say there is a god, but you need more than that, its no difference than saying there is a fairy in my garden, its your word against your's.

I have reported evidence in the Post "Experiencing God."

 

[Silent Screams]

Well, I believe that I have come to the conclusion that I do NOT believe in God. There has been nothing that is tangible that could prove anything to me. There are so many versions of the Bible which are to be the word... but each are different versions which leaves me to wonder which one would you actually follow? Maybe my heart is cold, but i do not believe that it is. I just am tired of asking for a God to help and looking to God for answers and there is absolutely nothing. I have cried, begged, pleaded with this God. I have spoken, prayed, etc and there has been absolutely nothing that i see has happened or made sense of. Maybe I seem bitter, maybe I am, but this is what I think, feel, and believe now. and I don't feel that that will ever change.

 

[HarihOm]

Namaste

First maybe define what is considered as belief and then what is considered as God.

I am a theist but i DONT BELIEVE IN GOD

 

[psychoslice]

I have reported evidence in the Post "Experiencing God."

Experiencing what you call god doesn't make it real, its from your own mind that you experience it, we experience that which we give life to, and this also applies to what we experience through believing strongly in whatever.

 

[Neo Deist]

There is no evidence any god exists.

Evidence is in the eye of the beholder. As a deist, my evidence is based on personal experience and observations. YMMV.

 

[ArtieE]

Evidence is in the eye of the beholder. As a deist, my evidence is based on personal experience and observations. YMMV.

In this context you can't base evidence on "personal experience and observations" any more than you can deduce that aliens are abducting people based on the personal experiences and observations by some people. External objective evidence is required.

 

[Neo Deist]

External objective evidence is required.

Says who?

My experience and observations are allowed as testimonial evidence in court all the time. You may not like it or accept it, but that does not change the fact.

 

[ArtieE]

Says who?

My experience and observations are allowed as testimonial evidence in court all the time. You may not like it or accept it, but that does not change the fact.

And do you think your personal experiences and observations would be enough to make the court rule that your god exists?

 

[Neo Deist]

And do you think your personal experiences and observations would be enough to make the court rule that your god exists?

The thing is, no one can refute my experiences and personal observations. All you can do is choose to believe me or not.

 

[ArtieE]

The thing is, no one can refute my experiences and personal observations. All you can do is choose to believe me or not.

I have no reason to believe you unless you can show that your "experiences and personal observations" are based on some objective external reality.

 

[Neo Deist]

I have no reason to believe you unless you can show that your "experiences and personal observations" are based on some objective external reality.

That's the beauty of deism!

As a deist, I don't care if you believe me. It's not about you (meaning anyone else). What I observe and experience doesn't have anything to do with you. In other words, you are completely insignificant when it comes to my spirituality, as deism is very personal. The only thing you can do is choose not to believe me, which is fine as we are all entitled to our beliefs or the lack thereof.

 

[Muffled]

Experiencing what you call god doesn't make it real[/COLOR], its from your own mind that you experience it, we experience that which we give life to, and this also applies to what we experience through believing strongly in whatever.

I believe the experience I had was real.
I believe I have experienced God through the body as well but most of anyone's experience comes through the mind.

I believe my experience did not come from my mind but came to my mind.

I believe that is only half correct. We experience life as it comes to us in addition to what our minds generate.

I believe I am not sure what you think can be experienced by believing.

 

[Muffled]

The thing is, no one can refute my experiences and personal observations. All you can do is choose to believe me or not.

I believe the interpretation can be refuted. For instance when I worked at a mental institution patients would visit my office and talk to me. One of them said I was broadcasting thoughts into his head. I wouldn't argue that he wasn't having some kind of experience but I could definitely refute that I was broadcasting thoughts into his head. I didn't get a chance to see if he were reading my mind. I have heard that some people are able to do that.

 

[Neo Deist]

I believe the interpretation can be refuted. For instance when I worked at a mental institution patients would visit my office and talk to me. One of them said I was broadcasting thoughts into his head. I wouldn't argue that he wasn't having some kind of experience but I could definitely refute that I was broadcasting thoughts into his head. I didn't get a chance to see if he were reading my mind. I have heard that some people are able to do that.

The only way you could refute my interpretation is if you were there and witnessed the event. Even then, it is only your opinion.

 

[psychoslice]

I believe the experience I had was real.
I believe I have experienced God through the body as well but most of anyone's experience comes through the mind.

I believe my experience did not come from my mind but came to my mind.

I believe that is only half correct. We experience life as it comes to us in addition to what our minds generate.

I believe I am not sure what you think can be experienced by believing.

Yes you say you believe, but many people believe in whatever, again, doesn't make it so.

 

[Muffled]

The only way you could refute my interpretation is if you were there and witnessed the event. Even then, it is only your opinion.

I believe an interpretation comes from thinking not from the experience itself and it is eminently possible that your thinking may be incorrect.

I believe in order to verify the interpretation I would need you to relate the event and your interpretation of it.

I believe I base my opinions on information and logic which is far better than basing them on fantasy as some do.

 

[Muffled]

Yes you say you believe, but many people believe in whatever, again, doesn't make it so.

I believe, actually believing in something can make it so. It is called mind over matter. I am not able to do it well but supposedly Mary Baker Eddy was able.

I believe events that have taken place already can't be changed by belief.

I believe many people believe things without a valid basis so you are correct in that assessment but I do have a valid basis for my beliefs.

 

[ArtieE]

I believe, actually believing in something can make it so.

Do you think that if enough people believed a god exists that they can make him exist in reality?