Does It Matter If God Exists?

[Left Coast]

That's not what I asked, now did I?

If it wasn't, then the question was irrelevant to what I said.

... and you can't decide that for others who say their life is happy, only because God is a part of it, and they would be unhappy without God in their life, can you?

Heavens no. When did I declare that?

Are you one of those people?

 

[Jesster]

Oh good. Explain to me how it works. Thanks.

I said I understand gravity. I never said I was willing to set time aside to explain it to you. Especially when I doubt you'll listen to me. I took several advanced college-level physics and calculus classes to learn all of that. How much time do you think I have for that here? It was hard work.

If you really want to know, and you aren't just pulling my leg, the best place to start learning is right at your fingertips. The internet has all of the information you'd ever need. You just have to do the work of understanding it yourself.

 

[nPeace]

I've read some, but am by no means an expert. How much education in physics do you have?

Please.
As much as anyone with a brain to understand what every person can read has.

Like another user, you misunderstood. The thread isn't about the significance of the belief. The thread is about the significance of the thing itself.

Oh no. I understand quite well.

 

[Left Coast]

Please.
As much as anyone with a brain to understand what every person can read has.

So, you have no formal education in the subject, I take it?

Oh no. I understand quite well.

Oh good. Then you understand why the shape of the Earth is relevant to explaining why cell phones work.

 

[Samael_Khan]

If you read 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2 you will see quite clearly that the divisions are caused by people not following the scriptures.

Yes, all the divisions are caused by people. That is obvious. My point is that God could do a better job, being God, to such an extent that there would be no confusion. Like for instance the sun being so obvious that people know it exists.

If disagreement about something means that the something does not exist, we don't have a constitution in the US because not everybody agrees with what it says.

False equivalence. The constitution is the equivalent of various religious books in this discussion. God would be the equivalent of the authors of the books or someone dictating to someone else what to write. So we do not dispute that the book exists but we can dispute the historicity of the person claiming to have written the book if it was written in ancient times.

On the other hand, while divisions do exist, agreement is far more prevalent.

No it isn't. That is why you only mentioned 2.5 Billion and not the majority of the human population.

Nor really. I tell people something about me all the time, and it would be hard pressed to find two people that would understand exactly what I said. But I still exist!

Yes you tell people about you. But a limitless God is not limited by human limitations. Those people you speak to know that you exist first of all because they see you and can interact with you. That already makes your existence more obvious than God's. What you are talking about is WHO you are, which won't vary as drastically as people's thoughts about God.

It's just nature that different people perceive the same thing in different ways.

Only if they do not have access to all the necessary information and communication isn't clear.

Take care.

You too!

 

[Samael_Khan]

Your comment brings up what has bothered me through out my entire life.

I got my start with God and spiritual matters when just a little child. A toddler. And from then on exploring this great mystery became my way of life. While all around me everyone else was too absorbed in themselves and immersed in the physical pleasures of this world. Or if they did want to understand God or spiritual matters, they went to one of the many man made religions who could only spoon feed them lies about a "god" and gave them placebos in place of true spiritual answers. Never wanting to go out and actually TRY to let God in, seek true spiritual answers, or even understand the workings of the world around them. Happy to just sit there and let other MEN feed them lies instead.

So I never understood why they all found it so hard to follow the old saying of, seek and thee shall find.

It seems that this is a matter of "how do we start investigating anything?". When it comes to God, people really start with no info or little understanding and then have to get it from somewhere or someone, which means that we should explore various avenues. The very idea of TRYING to let God in raises the question of what does "let god in" mean? Do we look internally, externally or both?

It is natural for people to seek guidance from other people because the experiences of others guides us.

 

[nPeace]

If it wasn't, then the question was irrelevant to what I said.



Heavens no. When did I declare that?

Are you one of those people?

One of those people that can read. Yes.

Whether we define a good life as an ethical one, or a hedonistic one, or a financially successful one, or one full of love and happiness, none of the above require a God, so far as I can see.

This statement can be interpreted to mean what I interpreted it to mean.
Or it could be how you meant it

Either way makes no difference really, because you don't know why people are happy. You can't decide that it is without God.
Can you be happy without your life, without sunshine?
No. Assuming that God is not responsible for both, doesn't make it so, does it?

...but sorry, I misinterpreted your words.
Nonetheless what do you say?

 

[Heyo]

Or how does knowing the shape of the earth affect your life, and how you live it?

Every blue water sailor has to know the shape (and radius) of the earth to navigate. Otherwise he may think he is in India when in reality he is in the Caribbean.

 

[blü 2]

There are lots of threads floating around the forums these days arguing for and against God's existence.

God has not made her presence known to me in my life. I see no reason to need to believe in her in order to be happy, to reason, to behave ethically, or to understand how things work.

Perhaps God judges our fate in the afterlife? If there is some life beyond death in which she will judge me, I have no control over my fate, as I don't even know what the nature of such an afterlife would be, or by what criteria I'll be judged. Humans offer lots of opinions on that subject, but none has presented a convincing argument that demonstrates they are any more in the know on the subject than I am. So I have no reason to live my life any differently based on what may or may not happen beyond death.

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

The Buddha said (in the Kalama Sutta) words to the effect that if you behave decently in your life, then if there's an afterlife you should have nothing to fear, and if there isn't, you can die knowing you've left some decency in the world.

It doesn't sound as though he and you are too far apart.

Can't say I disagree much either.

There are versions of the Christian view of the afterlife that think otherwise, of course ─ not least those who think salvation is exclusively for those who believe that Jesus is the sole way. That would imply their version of God was a still a tribal god, rather than the God-for-all notion that was Paul's big contribution.

 

[nPeace]

So, you have no formal education in the subject, I take it?

Could we put aside the strawman. I know man does not understand gravity. If you have any objections. I wouldn't mind if you present your evidence against the statement.

Oh good. Then you understand why the shape of the Earth is relevant to explaining why cell phones work.

Another strawman?
How does knowing the shape of the earth benefit your life?
Here is what you said in response to Artist...

so, if one wants to live a good life, why would it not matter?

Because God is unnecessary for living a good life, so far as I can tell.

That's really the point of my question.
If your objection to God being necessary, is that it has no bearing on a person's life (and this is how your OP is structured), then how does knowing the shape of the earth become necessary for living a good life.

We have to pick up on these subtleties.

 

[nPeace]

I said I understand gravity. I never said I was willing to set time aside to explain it to you. Especially when I doubt you'll listen to me. I took several advanced college-level physics and calculus classes to learn all of that. How much time do you think I have for that here? It was hard work.

If you really want to know, and you aren't just pulling my leg, the best place to start learning is right at your fingertips. The internet has all of the information you'd ever need. You just have to do the work of understanding it yourself.

Actually I meant to say explain what it is, but my mistake let you off. You don't understand it. I know that.

 

[Heyo]

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

Not to those who believe in god(s).
If it would matter to them, they'd care about knowing about it. They'd use similar methods as scientists do to find the objective truth. They'd produce papers and have conferences to find a consensus.
Believers in god(s) don't care about god, they care about their belief.

 

[Jesster]

Actually I meant to say explain what it is, but my mistake let you off. You don't understand it. I know that.

If you've already decided that I don't understand it, then that proves my point that you never would have listened to me. Likewise, I've made the decision that you're not worth wasting any more time on. Ignore list.

 

[nPeace]

If you've already decided that I don't understand it, then that proves my point that you never would have listened to me. Likewise, I've made the decision that you're not worth wasting any more time on. Ignore list.

Good bye. Have a good night. I hope your anger cools off soon.

 

[nPeace]

Every blue water sailor has to know the shape (and radius) of the earth to navigate. Otherwise he may think he is in India when in reality he is in the Caribbean.

All he needs is a good compass... but what does that have to do with Left Coast?

 

[atanu]

There are lots of threads floating around the forums these days arguing for and against God's existence.

God has not made her presence known to me in my life. I see no reason to need to believe in her in order to be happy, to reason, to behave ethically, or to understand how things work.

Perhaps God judges our fate in the afterlife? If there is some life beyond death in which she will judge me, I have no control over my fate, as I don't even know what the nature of such an afterlife would be, or by what criteria I'll be judged. Humans offer lots of opinions on that subject, but none has presented a convincing argument that demonstrates they are any more in the know on the subject than I am. So I have no reason to live my life any differently based on what may or may not happen beyond death.

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

Hello @Left Coast

I have not read a single post other that the OP. So please pardon me if it is a repetition.

It is said that God is like a tree. It does not call anyone or repel anyone. We can obtain benefit of its shade, nonetheless.

Also, since God is omnipresent, it is best to seek refuge in the God that is most evident, namely awareness of your own existence.
...

 

[SeekerOnThePath]

There are lots of threads floating around the forums these days arguing for and against God's existence.

God has not made her presence known to me in my life. I see no reason to need to believe in her in order to be happy, to reason, to behave ethically, or to understand how things work.

Perhaps God judges our fate in the afterlife? If there is some life beyond death in which she will judge me, I have no control over my fate, as I don't even know what the nature of such an afterlife would be, or by what criteria I'll be judged. Humans offer lots of opinions on that subject, but none has presented a convincing argument that demonstrates they are any more in the know on the subject than I am. So I have no reason to live my life any differently based on what may or may not happen beyond death.

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

It's an irrelevant question that involves the assumption that we're talking about anthropomorphism (which is Shirk).

 

[Heyo]

All he needs is a good compass... but what does that have to do with Left Coast?

You don't know much about navigation, do you?
@Left Coast might like sailing and if he does, knowing the earth's shape and size helps a lot.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Oh good. Explain to me how it works.

Gravity is a physical connection between space and matter that is precisely described by Einstein’s geometric theory of gravity. In simple terms, the theory states that matter curves the space around it, and it moves with respect to the curvature of space, including curvature caused by other matter.

Gravity - Wikipedia

 

[Left Coast]

One of those people that can read. Yes.

Whether we define a good life as an ethical one, or a hedonistic one, or a financially successful one, or one full of love and happiness, none of the above require a God, so far as I can see.

This statement can be interpreted to mean what I interpreted it to mean.
Or it could be how you meant it

Either way makes no difference really, because you don't know why people are happy. You can't decide that it is without God.

Actually I can. I see no evidence that any of those lives require a God. Would you like to show me some?

Can you be happy without your life, without sunshine?
No. Assuming that God is not responsible for both, doesn't make it so, does it?

...but sorry, I misinterpreted your words.
Nonetheless what do you say?

Please demonstrate how God is responsible for sunshine.