There are no answers...

[CDWolfe]

I am guilty of it too...asking questions such as:

"What if I do this, will I go to hell"?
"Is there an afterlife"?
"What does it mean..."
"Is God real"?
"Who is right or wrong"?

There are no definitive answers to any of these questions.

Religions across the world disagree on so many points because their version of a holy book says this, whereas some other religion says something different. People get hung up on single words and use them to debate endlessly about a broad topic (ex. Jews vs. Christians and the virgin birth based off the word "almah"). If you strip away all the glam, the so-called experts, the different translations, the different philosophies, the little differences in names, etc., all you are left with is a question about something that can't be proven.

Is there an afterlife? Is there a God? Will I go to hell?

No one can say for sure because once you die, that's it...you're simply dead. You can't do an essay on it, you can't record it in HD, you can't take snapshots with your cellphone. You can't call up your friends and inform them about the experience, you can't post on Facebook or upload to Youtube. There is not a person on the planet who can answer any of those questions beyond a shadow of a doubt.

All we have are varied beliefs. Those beliefs are supported by interpretations, theories, and best guess scenarios. There is no way to discern who is right and who is wrong.

I'm not trying to be the pessimistic weenie of the group, but for those seeking answers...there are no answers.

All you can do is live your life, listen to your heart, make the most of each day, and die fully prepared for the "what ifs" when the lights go out.

Realism really sucks sometimes.

 

[HeatherAnn]

You're right - Who's to tell us 100% objective answers of the Truth?
Nobody!

Yet, there ARE answers.
We cannot help but create answers... constantly, the wheels in our heads are turning, coming up with thoughts that are subjectively limited in awareness - illusional.

The "answer" if you could generalize, is to find the most functional illusions... find the answers that inspire and motivate you in the most healthy and productive ways.

IE: I still go to church every Sunday. I serve in volunteer jobs and I like it, even though the beliefs that so many regurgitate sometimes make me nautious if I think about the inconsistencies too much. I do not fit into any group really - not even on this forum. I'm not liberal - & not 100% conservative. I have adopted beliefs from many different sources & experiences.

There's a lot of healing I still need to do, but overall, I feel that I'm on my way to learning to apply functional illusions - through trial & error - active faith. I have no idea who God is really - I don't know if it's possible to understand. Yet, I do know that when I have thought about people... personifications of spirituality - both people of stories (Jesus, Santa etc.) and people in my life who I love & who love me... I feel good inside. So this is one of the functional illusions for me. For you, it may be different types of functional illusions, depending on what you resonate with.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

I don't think these are questions without answers. I mean yes, on their own they are meaningless, but with added definitions they can be verified or invalidated.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

See my sig.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I don't think these are questions without answers. I mean yes, on their own they are meaningless, but with added definitions they can be verified or invalidated.

Exactly.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

I am guilty of it too...asking questions such as:

"What if I do this, will I go to hell"?
"Is there an afterlife"?
"What does it mean..."
"Is God real"?
"Who is right or wrong"?

There are no definitive answers to any of these questions.

Religions across the world disagree on so many points because their version of a holy book says this, whereas some other religion says something different. People get hung up on single words and use them to debate endlessly about a broad topic (ex. Jews vs. Christians and the virgin birth based off the word "almah"). If you strip away all the glam, the so-called experts, the different translations, the different philosophies, the little differences in names, etc., all you are left with is a question about something that can't be proven.

Is there an afterlife? Is there a God? Will I go to hell?

No one can say for sure because once you die, that's it...you're simply dead. You can't do an essay on it, you can't record it in HD, you can't take snapshots with your cellphone. You can't call up your friends and inform them about the experience, you can't post on Facebook or upload to Youtube. There is not a person on the planet who can answer any of those questions beyond a shadow of a doubt.

All we have are varied beliefs. Those beliefs are supported by interpretations, theories, and best guess scenarios. There is no way to discern who is right and who is wrong.

I'm not trying to be the pessimistic weenie of the group, but for those seeking answers...there are no answers.

All you can do is live your life, listen to your heart, make the most of each day, and die fully prepared for the "what ifs" when the lights go out.

Realism really sucks sometimes.

What if sin is nothing more than asking questions that can't be answered? What if arguing, judging, condemning, and acting based on answers to questions that have no definitive answer is in itself damnation? What if we start asking questions like what is the best way to help? How can I contribute to someone's happiness? What are the consequences of my actions?

What if the 'big' questions, aren't the ones we can't answer?

 

[Sir Doom]

I am guilty of it too...asking questions such as:

"What if I do this, will I go to hell"?
"Is there an afterlife"?
"What does it mean..."
"Is God real"?
"Who is right or wrong"?

There are no definitive answers to any of these questions.

Religions across the world disagree on so many points because their version of a holy book says this, whereas some other religion says something different. People get hung up on single words and use them to debate endlessly about a broad topic (ex. Jews vs. Christians and the virgin birth based off the word "almah"). If you strip away all the glam, the so-called experts, the different translations, the different philosophies, the little differences in names, etc., all you are left with is a question about something that can't be proven.

Is there an afterlife? Is there a God? Will I go to hell?

No one can say for sure because once you die, that's it...you're simply dead. You can't do an essay on it, you can't record it in HD, you can't take snapshots with your cellphone. You can't call up your friends and inform them about the experience, you can't post on Facebook or upload to Youtube. There is not a person on the planet who can answer any of those questions beyond a shadow of a doubt.

All we have are varied beliefs. Those beliefs are supported by interpretations, theories, and best guess scenarios. There is no way to discern who is right and who is wrong.

I'm not trying to be the pessimistic weenie of the group, but for those seeking answers...there are no answers.

All you can do is live your life, listen to your heart, make the most of each day, and die fully prepared for the "what ifs" when the lights go out.

Realism really sucks sometimes.

Try these clever re-written questions!

"If I were to go to Hell for doing this, would I still do it?"
"What would the afterlife be like if I designed it?"
"What do I want out this...?"
"If god were real what would I want it to be like?"
"Is this right for me?"

>.>

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Realism really sucks sometimes.

As does sophistry. :yes:

 

[Quintessence]

Try these clever re-written questions!

"If I were to go to Hell for doing this, would I still do it?"
"What would the afterlife be like if I designed it?"
"What do I want out this...?"
"If god were real what would I want it to be like?"
"Is this right for me?"

>.>

Dang it, I'd give you frubals for that, but I can't. Framing things like this is pretty much how I develop my entire worldview/religion. I'm not interested in "ultimate answers" I'm interested in an answer that works for the time being and serves a useful purpose.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

Try these clever re-written questions!

"If I were to go to Hell for doing this, would I still do it?"
"What would the afterlife be like if I designed it?"
"What do I want out this...?"
"If god were real what would I want it to be like?"
"Is this right for me?"

>.>

I'll be-frubal you!

 

[no-body]

When you admit there are no answers is when you start getting the answers.

 

[Sir Doom]

Dang it, I'd give you frubals for that, but I can't. Framing things like this is pretty much how I develop my entire worldview/religion. I'm not interested in "ultimate answers" I'm interested in an answer that works for the time being and serves a useful purpose.

I'll be-frubal you!

Awww, fankz gaiz!

 

[dgirl1986]

My lack of answers to these questions use to depress me like you wouldnt believe. Now I actually really enjoy exploring different possibilities, theories and beliefs about it.

 

[Muffled]

I am guilty of it too...asking questions such as:

"What if I do this, will I go to hell"?
"Is there an afterlife"?
"What does it mean..."
"Is God real"?
"Who is right or wrong"?

There are no definitive answers to any of these questions.

Religions across the world disagree on so many points because their version of a holy book says this, whereas some other religion says something different. People get hung up on single words and use them to debate endlessly about a broad topic (ex. Jews vs. Christians and the virgin birth based off the word "almah"). If you strip away all the glam, the so-called experts, the different translations, the different philosophies, the little differences in names, etc., all you are left with is a question about something that can't be proven.

Is there an afterlife? Is there a God? Will I go to hell?

No one can say for sure because once you die, that's it...you're simply dead. You can't do an essay on it, you can't record it in HD, you can't take snapshots with your cellphone. You can't call up your friends and inform them about the experience, you can't post on Facebook or upload to Youtube. There is not a person on the planet who can answer any of those questions beyond a shadow of a doubt.

All we have are varied beliefs. Those beliefs are supported by interpretations, theories, and best guess scenarios. There is no way to discern who is right and who is wrong.

I'm not trying to be the pessimistic weenie of the group, but for those seeking answers...there are no answers.

All you can do is live your life, listen to your heart, make the most of each day, and die fully prepared for the "what ifs" when the lights go out.

Realism really sucks sometimes.

God has all the answers and He is real. This world is less real because it will eventaully pass away but God will always exist.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

God has all the answers and He is real. This world is less real because it will eventaully pass away but God will always exist.

God will cease to exist at the instant when the last god-believing human dies.

 

[Quintessence]

God will cease to exist at the instant when the last god-believing human dies.

Are you suggesting reality is contingent upon humans for existing? Really? :sarcastic

 

[chinu]

I am guilty of it too...asking questions such as:

"What if I do this, will I go to hell"?
"Is there an afterlife"?
"What does it mean..."
"Is God real"?
"Who is right or wrong"?

There are no definitive answers to any of these questions.

Religions across the world disagree on so many points because their version of a holy book says this, whereas some other religion says something different. People get hung up on single words and use them to debate endlessly about a broad topic (ex. Jews vs. Christians and the virgin birth based off the word "almah"). If you strip away all the glam, the so-called experts, the different translations, the different philosophies, the little differences in names, etc., all you are left with is a question about something that can't be proven.

Is there an afterlife? Is there a God? Will I go to hell?

No one can say for sure because once you die, that's it...you're simply dead. You can't do an essay on it, you can't record it in HD, you can't take snapshots with your cellphone. You can't call up your friends and inform them about the experience, you can't post on Facebook or upload to Youtube. There is not a person on the planet who can answer any of those questions beyond a shadow of a doubt.

All we have are varied beliefs. Those beliefs are supported by interpretations, theories, and best guess scenarios. There is no way to discern who is right and who is wrong.

I'm not trying to be the pessimistic weenie of the group, but for those seeking answers...there are no answers.

All you can do is live your life, listen to your heart, make the most of each day, and die fully prepared for the "what ifs" when the lights go out.

Realism really sucks sometimes.

If you can tell me.. What made you to ask all these questions about realism, Than definatly i can give you the correct answers, But.. i cannot answer these questions in a condition.. If your motive behind knowing all this is to make this world a better place to live on.. for you and others. Because.. this world was never a better place in history, nor it will be in future. its impossible.

 

[Walkntune]

What if sin is nothing more than asking questions that can't be answered? What if arguing, judging, condemning, and acting based on answers to questions that have no definitive answer is in itself damnation? What if we start asking questions like what is the best way to help? How can I contribute to someone's happiness? What are the consequences of my actions?

What if the 'big' questions, aren't the ones we can't answer?

I agree with a lot of this. Mans ego and desire to control is the fall of man.The ego has a need to know in order to remain in control.It can create a place of hell for someone then to simply enjoy a life of childlike faith.I can't say I would agree that the questioning is a sin but its how we come to the end of ourselves. I like this philosophy.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Are you suggesting reality is contingent upon humans for existing? Really? :sarcastic

No. I'm suggesting that in the matter of 'reality,' God is more like 'justice' than He is like 'that rock over there.'

Would you agree that justice will cease to exist at the moment when the last human dies?

Actually, to focus things, let's talk about 'human justice.' Do you agree that human (in)justice will cease to exist when the penultimate human dies?

 

[Warren Clark]

I am guilty of it too...asking questions such as:

"What if I do this, will I go to hell"?
"Is there an afterlife"?
"What does it mean..."
"Is God real"?
"Who is right or wrong"?

There are no definitive answers to any of these questions.

Religions across the world disagree on so many points because their version of a holy book says this, whereas some other religion says something different. People get hung up on single words and use them to debate endlessly about a broad topic (ex. Jews vs. Christians and the virgin birth based off the word "almah"). If you strip away all the glam, the so-called experts, the different translations, the different philosophies, the little differences in names, etc., all you are left with is a question about something that can't be proven.

Is there an afterlife? Is there a God? Will I go to hell?

No one can say for sure because once you die, that's it...you're simply dead. You can't do an essay on it, you can't record it in HD, you can't take snapshots with your cellphone. You can't call up your friends and inform them about the experience, you can't post on Facebook or upload to Youtube. There is not a person on the planet who can answer any of those questions beyond a shadow of a doubt.

All we have are varied beliefs. Those beliefs are supported by interpretations, theories, and best guess scenarios. There is no way to discern who is right and who is wrong.

I'm not trying to be the pessimistic weenie of the group, but for those seeking answers...there are no answers.

All you can do is live your life, listen to your heart, make the most of each day, and die fully prepared for the "what ifs" when the lights go out.

Realism really sucks sometimes.

So what is the point of religion? Science is the only thing actually seeking for answers and discovering new clues.
What is the point of having religion scaring people that they will burn for eternity because they are natural born "sinners"?