Do you believe in God?

[firedragon]

I have noticed that poll's with this kind of question shows that most in this forum who are active are either Atheists or Agnostics. Actual religious people who believe in a God in a religious forum are the minority. It's not strange.

A belief in God is not absolutely due to a particular religion. It could also be based on reason and logic and it has been discussed for a long long time. Yet, it seems to be ignored and a lot of times the cart is shoved before the horse for whatever anti religious argumentation deemed needed.

Belief in God could stem from logical reasoning. Philosophical argumentation. Religions and scriptures are not absolutely necessary. I believe people should go to fundamentals rather than banking on peripherals to kill God. I think that's exactly what Nietzsche said being an Atheist with nihilistic tendencies.

What do you say??

 

[danieldemol]

There is a spectrum of doubt between being a 100% believer and a 100% atheist in my view.

I assess myself as being about the 51% believer mark and that is enough for me to qualify myself as having faith albeit a shaky one.

That being said I certainly don't believe in the God the OP believes in.

I believe I've also never seen any logical argument for any God except for those who worship material things in which case those material things would not be my God as I don't worship them, but I accept that others do and since I assess those material things as being real I can't deny those gods exist even though they are not gods to me, just to others.

TL : DR I'm a believer but in my view the OPs claim to a faith based in sound reason is BS.

 

[Jimmy]

Why would I believe in God when I don’t believe in 600 pound ants, squirrels with 4 heads or invisible airplanes? Oh, and we can’t forget leprechauns, pixies, and fairies. Hahaha. Just kidding. I do believe in God. Without God and the one human God manifest, there is nothing imo.

 

[sun rise]

My simplistic answer is "yes". But that "yes" does not explicate what I really mean. To write a bit more thought was not involved. God came into my life and my life started down another path.

"The human heart can see what's hidden to the eyes,
and the heart knows things that the mind does not begin to understand."

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I used to believe in God. Over the years, I believed less and less, both through experience and reason. Today, I am entirely off the spectrum of God belief: I neither believe nor disbelieve, but doubt that humans can know or say anything intelligible about deity...that is to say, I'm agnostic about deity.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I have noticed that poll's with this kind of question shows that most in this forum who are active are either Atheists or Agnostics. Actual religious people who believe in a God in a religious forum are the minority. It's not strange.

I agree. I think that most religious people on autopilot when it comes to religion. Forums like this are about comparing and contrasting between religion, which often isn't important to people who are content where they are.

OTOH, most atheists started out religious and went through a process where they investigated different paths.

A belief in God is not absolutely due to a particular religion. It could also be based on reason and logic and it has been discussed for a long long time. Yet, it seems to be ignored and a lot of times the cart is shoved before the horse for whatever anti religious argumentation deemed needed.

I've been looking for a belief in God based on reason and logic for more than 20 years and have never found a single one.

I've seen lots of attempts, but none that were successful.

Belief in God could stem from logical reasoning. Philosophical argumentation. Religions and scriptures are not absolutely necessary. I believe people should go to fundamentals rather than banking on peripherals to kill God. I think that's exactly what Nietzsche said being an Atheist with nihilistic tendencies.

What do you say??

My thought is that theism wouldn't be worth a second thought to me except I interact with a lot of theists.

 

[firedragon]

That being said I certainly don't believe in the God the OP believes in.

What God do you believe in? And what God is the OP positing?

 

[firedragon]

My simplistic answer is "yes". But that "yes" does not explicate what I really mean. To write a bit more thought was not involved. God came into my life and my life started down another path.

"The human heart can see what's hidden to the eyes,
and the heart knows things that the mind does not begin to understand."

Great.

 

[firedragon]

both through experience and reason.

What kind of God concept did you believe earlier?

And what "reason" are you using to negate that concept?

 

[danieldemol]

What God do you believe in? And what God is the OP positing?

I believe in a God that provides salvation to all who desire it for as long as they desire it in the spirit realm after there bodies die. In my belief God does not/has never interacted with the material realm.
(Important Disclaimer: I do not claim my beliefs are strictly logical).

The God of the OP is All-Knowing, Omnipotent, Most Merciful and sends Messengers to intervene in material human affairs in my view. In short it is the Quranist God.

 

[Nakosis]

I have noticed that poll's with this kind of question shows that most in this forum who are active are either Atheists or Agnostics. Actual religious people who believe in a God in a religious forum are the minority. It's not strange.

A belief in God is not absolutely due to a particular religion. It could also be based on reason and logic and it has been discussed for a long long time. Yet, it seems to be ignored and a lot of times the cart is shoved before the horse for whatever anti religious argumentation deemed needed.

Belief in God could stem from logical reasoning. Philosophical argumentation. Religions and scriptures are not absolutely necessary. I believe people should go to fundamentals rather than banking on peripherals to kill God. I think that's exactly what Nietzsche said being an Atheist with nihilistic tendencies.

What do you say??

I say what is it exactly that I'm being asked if I have a belief in?

How can I have a belief in something I don't know anything about?
How could I make a choice based on logic and reason on something which is often described as unknowable?
Should I pretend I know something about God just for the sake of answering that question?

No, I have no beliefs about God since I have no knowledge of a God to base any beliefs on.

 

[LuisDantas]

I have noticed that poll's with this kind of question shows that most in this forum who are active are either Atheists or Agnostics. Actual religious people who believe in a God in a religious forum are the minority. It's not strange.

A belief in God is not absolutely due to a particular religion. It could also be based on reason and logic and it has been discussed for a long long time. Yet, it seems to be ignored and a lot of times the cart is shoved before the horse for whatever anti religious argumentation deemed needed.

Belief in God could stem from logical reasoning. Philosophical argumentation. Religions and scriptures are not absolutely necessary. I believe people should go to fundamentals rather than banking on peripherals to kill God. I think that's exactly what Nietzsche said being an Atheist with nihilistic tendencies.

What do you say??

You are going well off-track if you assume that "actual religious people" will be theists, though.

Theism isn't even helpful to proper religious practice.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I have noticed that poll's with this kind of question shows that most in this forum who are active are either Atheists or Agnostics. Actual religious people who believe in a God in a religious forum are the minority. It's not strange.

A belief in God is not absolutely due to a particular religion. It could also be based on reason and logic and it has been discussed for a long long time. Yet, it seems to be ignored and a lot of times the cart is shoved before the horse for whatever anti religious argumentation deemed needed.

Belief in God could stem from logical reasoning. Philosophical argumentation. Religions and scriptures are not absolutely necessary. I believe people should go to fundamentals rather than banking on peripherals to kill God. I think that's exactly what Nietzsche said being an Atheist with nihilistic tendencies.

What do you say??

No belief whatsoever. There's no practical point in doing so for a concept that is entirely deaf, mute, crippled, and blind and cannot interact with anything.

 

[Koldo]

I have noticed that poll's with this kind of question shows that most in this forum who are active are either Atheists or Agnostics. Actual religious people who believe in a God in a religious forum are the minority. It's not strange.

A belief in God is not absolutely due to a particular religion. It could also be based on reason and logic and it has been discussed for a long long time. Yet, it seems to be ignored and a lot of times the cart is shoved before the horse for whatever anti religious argumentation deemed needed.

Belief in God could stem from logical reasoning. Philosophical argumentation. Religions and scriptures are not absolutely necessary. I believe people should go to fundamentals rather than banking on peripherals to kill God. I think that's exactly what Nietzsche said being an Atheist with nihilistic tendencies.

What do you say??

The problem is that arguments in favor of God's existence are unconvincing if you are not a believer in the first place. And I am not using myself to evaluate this, but rather people in general.

How many people do you personally know that never had a belief in God and became a believer because of a philosophical argument?

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

What kind of God concept did you believe earlier?

And what "reason" are you using to negate that concept?

Started out as a child believing in a universal omnimax creator, rooted in Calvinist Christian theology. Over time, as I learned and experienced more in this life, said deity receded into a Deistic sort remote God.

Primarily, I have abandoned belief in God/gods because such entities are almost or entirely beyond my ability to comprehend, and I'm doubtful of any other human's ability to apprehend or comprehend. I mean, really, can anyone tell the difference between a billion candela spotlight and a trillion candela spotlight, from six inches from your face? Can anyone tell the difference between a deity that only is omnimax over half of the visible cosmos versus one that is omnimax over the entire visible cosmos? Please tell me how. How about one that's omnimax only over the galaxy and immediate environs?

I have had 'spiritual' experiences...but I cannot attribute them to something I can't perceive or conceive.

 

[Balthazzar]

I say it's difficult to not believe in a God and also many other gods, but then I've been part of this multi millennial construct my entire life. It's a new thing to suggest no god or gods in aim to discredit the existence of and paint believers delusional. Delusions are in the eyes of the beholder after all and none are exempt from their prowess or power over life realities. In my opinion, it's a moot point anyway. Good people/decent people/bad people and choices all interconnected into the human psyche. Timing important enough to consider and also application of traits in any given circumstance, but again, the question is moot given the reality of life and variances between definitions.

 

[InChrist]

I've been looking for a belief in God based on reason and logic for more than 20 years and have never found a single one.

Well, the God revealed in the biblical scriptures says,
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool”
Isaiah 1:18

 

[Balthazzar]

I agree. I think that most religious people on autopilot when it comes to religion. Forums like this are about comparing and contrasting between religion, which often isn't important to people who are content where they are.

OTOH, most atheists started out religious and went through a process where they investigated different paths.



I've been looking for a belief in God based on reason and logic for more than 20 years and have never found a single one.

I've seen lots of attempts, but none that were successful.



My thought is that theism wouldn't be worth a second thought to me except I interact with a lot of theists.

People are more apt to accept an accepted teaching than to search matters out for themselves. I enjoy comparative studies and discussion, so long as agnostic and atheist voices are present. I've learned at least as much from atheists as i have theists, although I myself still a theist. Belief in God based on reason and logic? Is there a reason not to? Is it truly more reasonable and logical to reject higher power concepts?

 

[danieldemol]

Is it truly more reasonable and logical to reject higher power concepts?

I would say it depends on what that higher power is and what the evidence for it is.

Elephants or the universe are a higher power than individual humans and we have evidence they exist, so a vague answer to your vague question is no its not logical to reject higher power concepts.

The trouble is when we get more specific higher power concepts such as the concept of an all-knowing, all-powerful, all merciful higher power to which we have contrary evidence such as the existence of suffering in my view. It then becomes logical to reject some of those more specific concepts as I see it.

 

[HonestJoe]

A belief in God is not absolutely due to a particular religion. It could also be based on reason and logic and it has been discussed for a long long time. Yet, it seems to be ignored and a lot of times the cart is shoved before the horse for whatever anti religious argumentation deemed needed.

While it is possible to believe in some form of god without being religious, such people generally aren't going to be arguing, debating or preaching on the topic in the same way that some religious people do (possibly even non-theistic religious people). I think formal religions can even complicate the matter, with followers echoing the religious doctrine about their god without really thinking about any logical reasoning, and sometimes even explicitly rejecting any attempt to present it.

Belief in God could stem from logical reasoning. Philosophical argumentation.

That is certainly technically possible but quite limited in my opinion, on the kind of god that could be proposed, the specificity or detail that could be concluded and the level of certainty that could be achieved. While I think you could come up with a god concept that fits all of the observed evidence, I'm not sure you can lift that above any other possibly explanations that don't require any kind of god.

I believe people should go to fundamentals rather than banking on peripherals to kill God. I think that's exactly what Nietzsche said being an Atheist with nihilistic tendencies.

I'm not sure anyone is really trying to "kill God". Even the most extreme atheists don't look to somehow force people not to believe (if that was even possible), the focus is largely on the consequences of god-beliefs, consequences that are mostly associated with religions of course.

If you come up with a logical argument to believe in a god, I doubt anyone would object (though some may challenge or question your logic). It would only be problematic if you started applying moral rules or behaviours for other people on the basis of your beliefs, which would obviously be moving towards "religion" territory anyway.