Do you think there is a God? If so, why?

[Rachel Rugelach]

I believe in what author, social philosopher, and public speaker Rabbi Manis Friedman had to say on the subject:

"The statement, 'I believe there is a G‑d' is meaningless. Faith is not the ability to imagine that which does not exist. Faith is finding relevance in that which is transcendent. To believe in G‑d, then, means not that you're of the opinion that He exists, but that you have found relevance in Him. When a person says 'I believe in G‑d' what s/he really means is 'G‑d is significant in my life'."

I don't agree with everything that Rabbi Friedman (or anyone else) has had to say on various subjects, but the above is something that I do agree with.

 

[an anarchist]

We only believe in ideas we can't be sure are true or exist. When we interact with things we know they exist as a certainty.

I have had an experience where I feel like I have interacted with a higher power. Can't say how without breaking the rules here, so let that imply what it will.

Sure, my experiences can be rightfully doubted, due to my methods. I do believe it is possible to achieve out of body experiences through meditation, which sages claim to have done. If I can achieve this, then I'll know for sure I think.

If one interacts with god, then they will believe. We agree?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

When we interact with things we KNOW they exist.

...says the guys who doesn't take mushrooms...ahem...

 

[F1fan]

I have had an experience where I feel like I have interacted with a higher power.

Feel like? So could have been imagined? That's different than what you wrote earlier.

Can't say how without breaking the rules here, so let that imply what it will.

Facts and truth aren't against the rules, so perhaps ponder on what you believe.

Sure, my experiences can be rightfully doubted, due to my methods. I do believe it is possible to achieve out of body experiences through meditation, which sages claim to have done. If I can achieve this, then I'll know for sure I think.

I have to wonder why people want to live an imaginary scenario. Clearly many believers perfer this illusionary exverience, but they don't seem aware it's imagined, and I suspect they use dubious language to convince themselves it's more real thatn it is.

If one interacts with god, then they will believe. We agree?

No. If one interacts with their wife the wife exists. If you interact with a wife you believe exists then we have questions about your an imaginary life.

 

[RestlessSoul]

We only believe in ideas we can't be sure are true or exist. When we interact with things we know they exist as a certainty.

How can there be certainty in a world in which nothing is fixed? Even the rock beneath our feet is part of the universal molecular dance; folding and unfolding, endlessly becoming and ceasing to be.

No, there are only probabilities. Even when probability appears close to unity or zero, this is merely the measure of our belief or non belief.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I know this will probably not be accepted by the many who do have personal religious experiences, and as to such believing that these are interactions with God (or similar), but I would surmise that many or even all of these are simply one's inner voice - and as to such providing answers that we (as entities) want to hear. I have had at least one of these experiences, but such not being religious, and where the voice did actually contradict the reality of the situation. The circumstances were a job interview and the voice telling me I had got the job when other things I noticed during the interview should have warned me that there were issues. I did not get the job.

I know this example might not appeal to many as being relevant to religious experiences but it is a fact that our inner voices are not always correct or even relevant to anything we experience, but they often might just be telling us so often what we want to hear - and based upon our desires and needs perhaps. This might explain why so many of us (atheists or agnostics) just don't have religious experiences - because we don't generally believe in such and hence this is not likely to come out as any inner voice.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

So that is the question. Do you think there is a God? Please describe how you envision this God. Thank you.

Well, since I answer no to do you think there is a God, it then follows that I can't describe God.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Well, because you have no reason to. Perhaps others, such as myself, have a reason to.

I might have a reason to believe I have a genie in a bottle who could grant me wishes. That won't make it happen.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I might have a reason to believe I have a genie in a bottle who could grant me wishes. That won't make it happen.

I have a reason to think that other people think in a wrong manner. That won't make it happen.

 

[SalixIncendium]

So that is the question. Do you think there is a God?

I think there are many.

Please describe how you envision this God. Thank you.

I envision these gods as their devotees describe them.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I think there are, and have been, tons of them. None literal though.

What is a 'literal' god?

ETA: Never mind. I see you answered in post #12.

For what it's worth, I think 'objectively evident' might be a more accurate description than 'literal.' And perhaps 'subjectively evident' is preferable to 'abstract.'

 

[SalixIncendium]

Why do you only believe that a God exists when you claim to have interacted with it? Do you only believe your friends exist? Do you only believe your car exists?

When we interact with things we KNOW they exist.

Do we, though?

You interact with things in your dreams. Do these dream things exist?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Do we, though?

You interact with things in your dreams. Do these dream things exist?

The problem is that existence as a concept is a case of rationalism in philosophy and in effect is no different than say God. You can't point to either.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I might have a reason to believe I have a genie in a bottle who could grant me wishes. That won't make it happen.

Irrelevant if you don't make the effort to obtain a bottle.

 

[ratiocinator]

Nothing would exist without god.

Classic case of begging the question.

 

[ratiocinator]

So that is the question. Do you think there is a God?

No. I have never seem a good reason to take the idea (actually, any of the many ideas) seriously.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

No. I have never seem a good reason to take the idea (actually, any of the many ideas) seriously.

But you can't see a reason as see. That is another kind of experience. And you can't see seriously. So you are not observing but doing something else. And you are not a we. You are you making sense to you of how you cope in the world. I just do that differently.

 

[1213]

So that is the question. Do you think there is a God? Please describe how you envision this God. Thank you.

I believe Bible God exists. I believe so because this world exists as told in the Bible and also because I don't believe people could write Bible without God.

And Bible tells God is:

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24

He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8

We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
1 John 4:16

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I believe Bible God exists. I believe so because this world exists as told in the Bible and also because I don't believe people could write Bible without God.

And Bible tells God is:

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24

He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8

We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
1 John 4:16

I believe differently, so by that method there is no God.

 

[Jimmy]

Classic case of begging the question.

Call me Rover. Haha