What Does It Matter?

[The Sum of Awe]

We debate the existence of God, and alongside that the nature of God.

But why? What does it matter if God exists or doesn't? The nature of the world, as it is right now, will remain the same no matter if God is a Germanish journalist who is rushin' a Russian to fix his back pain he got from Spain.

We use what we know of the world to learn about what is beyond the world, but do we expect what we know of the world to change? If we did find proof of God do we expect God to communicate more often? If we did find proof that God is omnimax would we expect an abrupt end to disease or war? If we did find proof that prayer works, would we expect to see no more unanswered prayers?

 

[LuisDantas]

God's existence is in and of itself of no consequence.

But the beliefs involving God can be very consequential indeed.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

God's existence is in and of itself of no consequence.

But the beliefs involving God can be very consequential indeed.

Interesting. But do you think it is only beliefs involving God or just as well beliefs involving the absence of God?

Perhaps the entire irrelevant topic is bringing unneeded consequences for unneeded reasons.

 

[Creature]

Because we strive for our opinions to be as close to reality as possible.

More importantly, because if God exists, a lot of atheists are wasting their time, and if God doesn't, a lot of religious people are wasting their time.

Seeing as one's religious belief DOES have repercussions and consequences in this life (let alone the potential next), I think it's natural we debate the existence of God.

Plus it's fun. Or I find it fun. That's the only reason I'm here.

 

[LuisDantas]

Interesting. But do you think it is only beliefs involving God or just as well beliefs involving the absence of God?

Quite frankly, only those involving his existence. They are passive of abuse, while atheism... is not.

One can hardly justify some prejudice or excess by saying that God is not there to look for him, after all.

Perhaps the entire irrelevant topic is bringing unneeded consequences for unneeded reasons.

I'm not following, sorry.

 

[LuisDantas]

Because we strive for our opinions to be as close to reality as possible.

More importantly, because if God exists, a lot of atheists are wasting their time,

Eh? How so?

and if God doesn't, a lot of religious people are wasting their time.

I wish that was all the harm coming from Theism. If only!

 

[Creature]

Eh? How so?

What needs clarifying?

 

[LuisDantas]

Why would the eventual existence of God mean that we atheists are wasting our time?

I'm just not seeing it.

 

[dust1n]

Why would the eventual existence of God mean that we atheists are wasting our time?

I'm just not seeing it.

Seems like we are still winning in the not-wasting-time measure, regardless if he exists or not. Anyone else like to sleep in Sunday morning?

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

We debate the existence of God, and alongside that the nature of God.

But why? What does it matter if God exists or doesn't? The nature of the world, as it is right now, will remain the same no matter if God is a Germanish journalist who is rushin' a Russian to fix his back pain he got from Spain.

We use what we know of the world to learn about what is beyond the world, but do we expect what we know of the world to change? If we did find proof of God do we expect God to communicate more often? If we did find proof that God is omnimax would we expect an abrupt end to disease or war? If we did find proof that prayer works, would we expect to see no more unanswered prayers?

Well, if no one believed in god, then it would be hard to sell flying airplanes into buildings as a way to ensure your place in the afterlife, or to convince millions of germans that you were the sword of god come to set things straight with the jews.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

I should really get around to changing my title on here one day...

God exists, whether you choose to believe He does, or not. So whether anything will change because of belief is non-existent or negligible in the grand scheme of things.

It's like people saying that we must 'reach God' or 'join with God' or 'pray to God'. This implies that we are in some way 'separate' from God and need to re-connect. This is the biggest illusion.

God always is there and we are already 'one with God' we are all divine, it's just that we haven't realised it yet. So there is no 'destination', no 'goal', no 'timeframe'. The only thing we have to do is to become aware of it.

It is through this awareness that we grow and evolve on a spiritual level...so 'nothing matters' universally, but 'everything matters' on a personal level.

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Badran]

We debate the existence of God, and alongside that the nature of God.

But why? What does it matter if God exists or doesn't? The nature of the world, as it is right now, will remain the same no matter if God is a Germanish journalist who is rushin' a Russian to fix his back pain he got from Spain.

We use what we know of the world to learn about what is beyond the world, but do we expect what we know of the world to change? If we did find proof of God do we expect God to communicate more often? If we did find proof that God is omnimax would we expect an abrupt end to disease or war? If we did find proof that prayer works, would we expect to see no more unanswered prayers?

It matters for something that could be described as context.

We know certain things about the world, but we don't know everything, and back in time less was known, so there are attempts at addressing that unknown through science, philosophy and religion. I don't think it's mainly about what's beyond the world, but rather wanting to understand the world more. These attempts offer a lens in most cases from which the world can be viewed, and it can make a lot of differences as to how a person perceives everything. In regards to religion specifically, it doesn't always make a fundamental difference, but it rarely makes a negligible one.

People talk about these topics for the same reasons they talk about anything else, but there are also particular reasons that signify the perceived importance of these ideas. As you already know, what kind of beliefs are embraced in this regard usually entail some things about person's actions, and by extension it entails things on others. So, it's relevant to everyone, and in some cases, where these beliefs dictate morality, and sometimes law, or are mixed in with law, it's obviously extremely relevant to everyone.

 

[bobhikes]

Yes understanding Humans as we have been though out history weather you believe in God or Don't believe in God nothing will change even if God exists or Doesn't.

Humans are human and can only act as such. You can take away colors, deities, countries, politics we will still act the same. The same prejudices, the same wars, the same leaders. We debate to satisfy ourselves. The human condition is to make the self happy. Helping others may make the self happy or killing others it depends on you and your life experiences. Talking it out whether there is any real change seems to always make the self happy.

This is why it matters, it matters to the individuals that want to make their self's happy.

 

[Nooj]

We debate the existence of God, and alongside that the nature of God.

But why? What does it matter if God exists or doesn't? The nature of the world, as it is right now, will remain the same no matter if God is a Germanish journalist who is rushin' a Russian to fix his back pain he got from Spain.

it does not matter if god exists or doesn't.

it does matter if we believe god exists or doesn't. who we are and how we act and in what manner we live on this world, can be deeply shaped by what we believe. the nature of the world-in-itself may not change, but the nature of the world-as-it-is-for-us may change radically depending on if you don't believe in the existence of god or if you do. sometimes it can seem like our world is completely different.

Perhaps the entire irrelevant topic is bringing unneeded consequences for unneeded reasons.

as humans we cannot fail to speak about god, whether it be to affirm or reject his existence. and yet to speak is to fail, because discourse about god is 'unnecessary' in the sense that it will never achieve what we want it to achieve. to speak of god has the force of necessity and yet it is precisely that about which we should not - cannot - speak.

like the buddhist conception of the self, how the drive to be continues to impel us throughout all the ages, all the realms of existence, through every kind of suffering and joy, through everything and everyone, because we just don't want to give up this idea of the self. look at how ridiculous, yet impressive, our attachment to the idea of the self is, even though it is an entirely irrelevant topic bringing unneeded consequences for unneeded reasons.

we continue to suffer, we continue to live out the terrible predictable implications of our basic assumptions, like automatons that were given instructions at the time of construction and now although long past the date that they were built for, continue to act out those instructions into eternity. we move our jaws up and down, parroting the opinions and statements of others we have read and met, about a topic that cannot be reached or settled or proven by moving our jaws up and down.

 

[Yuusif12]

if god exists and we believe in him we wont go to hell.
if we all believed then there would be less war.
disease is a punishment from God, and a test.
if we truly believe then our prayers will be answered.

 

[Nooj]

if god exists and we believe in him we wont go to hell.
if we all believed then there would be less war.
disease is a punishment from God, and a test.
if we truly believe then our prayers will be answered.

your post is very beautiful for reasons that i myself don't know and can't put into words.

the only thing that i am on two minds about are the first three words: if god exists.

that i don't like. i don't think it fits in with the rest of your post. perhaps it shouldn't have been said. to hear the words if god exists from the mouth of a religious person is like hearing a cow say a sentence. incongruous.

 

[Yuusif12]

the only thing that i am on two minds about are the first three words: if god exists.

I only said that because I was answering the OP, and he probably doesnt believe in God

 

[9Westy9]

if god exists and we believe in him we wont go to hell.

Depends on your definition of god and also whether heaven & hell exists

if we all believed then there would be less war.

I somehow doubt it

disease is a punishment from God, and a test.

How kind of him

if we truly believe then our prayers will be answered.

I "truly believed" for several years and never had an answer to prayer that was unlikely to happen anyway. So, again, I doubt it.

 

[Yuusif12]

I somehow doubt it

What? if we all believed in god and followed his instructions?

How kind of him

If God wants good for his slave. He punishes him in this life instead of in hell. so you are right

I "truly believed" for several years and never had an answer to prayer that was unlikely to happen anyway. So, again, I doubt it.

You have to have the conditions of prayer then god will answer it.
he could also stop something bad happening to you or save it for you on the day of judgement.

*edit*

 

[9Westy9]

What? if we all believed in god and followed his instructions?

1. I don't think that's even possible
2. Humans will fight over many things, not just religion. Religion is just often used as an excuse to start a war

If God wants good for his slave. He punishes him in this life instead of in hell. so you are right

Because hell, aka eternal suffering, is kind and just?