What is wrong with those people who don't believe in God?

[sovietchild]

Brahma is a deity in Buddhist cosomology; he is said to possess immense powers, lifespan, vitality, etc. Though he is vastly superior in many ways compared to beings in realms lower than his, he is however only a limited deity among many, in that he will eventually die (after a number of aeons), and there are limits to his power (which cannot affect realms higher than his).

If a being like Brahma appeared before us in all his glory and power and delusionally or maliciously pronounce that he is "God", how would you suggest that we distinguish between him and "Almighty God"?

In Islam we believe, The Pure One is Ever Living Who never dies.

 

[LuisDantas]

In Islam we believe, The Pure One is Ever Living Who never dies.

Then the question should probably be why he saw fit to convince some people of His existence, but not others, don't you think?

 

[sovietchild]

Then the question should probably be why he saw fit to convince some people of His existence, but not others, don't you think?

So what you are asking is why did He convince Jews of his existence but not others?

 

[buddhist]

In Islam we believe, The Pure One is Ever Living Who never dies.

Brahma, because of his extremely and seemingly endless long life, was also said to be under the delusion that he was eternal (before the Lord Buddha corrected him of his delusion), and the deities inferior to him also believed and proclaimed that.

 

[YmirGF]

It is indeed difficult to guess what would be considered a revelation, and therefore how specific atheists would react to it.

Of course there are many who claim that there were already revelations from God - but as expected, those tend not to be atheists to begin with.

So the question in the OP is ultimately a variation of "Is it conceivable that God might reveal Himself in such a way that atheists would have to acknowledge his existence?"

A rather vague question, and of very questionable usefulness. Technically, most atheists recognize that Haile Selassie existed, for instance. But that is not exactly the harbinger of profound changes in our worldview.

Further to the point, Luis, is the fact that if god suddenly revealed him/her/itself on Saturday Night Live for all the world to see, atheists would not simply assume that that makes any particular religion correct. If said god revealed itself it is quite possible that he/she/it could deflate the imaginings of a whole lot of believer's cherished vision of god promoted by their favorite religion. Theists could be in for as much soul-searching as atheists. What happens if the "true god" comes out rejecting Islam? I doubt many Muslims would like that. Given how fragile many Muslims appear, could they even handle it?

 

[sovietchild]

Brahma, because of his extremely and seemingly endless long life, was also said to be under the delusion that he was eternal (before the Lord Buddha corrected him of his delusion), and the deities inferior to him also believed and proclaimed that.

What is wrong those people who pray to statues? I saw them bring baby toys, Pepsi Cola, and bag of rice to a statue, and than either the monkeys or birds eat it. In Russia they bring flowers and candies to a grave, and then the kids collect the candies.

Buddha was a man. Was he not? Did he not eat food like regular people?

 

[LuisDantas]

So what you are asking is why did He convince Jews of his existence but not others?

That would be a logical and necessary prerequisite of your questions, yes.

Also, why He would choose to make atheism at all possible while at the same time disapproving of it (according to the Qur'an, at least).

 

[LuisDantas]

Further to the point, Luis, is the fact that if god suddenly revealed him/her/itself on Saturday Night Live for all the world to see, atheists would not simply assume that that makes any particular religion correct. If said god revealed itself it is quite possible that he/she/it could deflate the imaginings of a whole lot of believer's cherished vision of god promoted by their favorite religion. Theists could be in for as much soul-searching as atheists. What happens if the "true god" comes out rejecting Islam? I doubt many Muslims would like that. Given how fragile many Muslims appear, could they even handle it?

Indeed, that is fair to ask.

 

[Augustus]

And yet, it often seems to work surprisingly well.

This whole 'gods were created as a means of control' of argument is one of my pet hates as it is so vapid yet many 'sceptics' and 'freethinkers' parrot it as pretty much self-evident fact.

Imagining some caveman deciding to create something called a god that he didn't believe in but he reckoned could be a useful tool of control is a preposterous scenario.

Even if we broaden gods into popular religions, they were not created top down by a power figure with nefarious intentions, but evolved bottom-up. It vastly overstates the ability of a ruler to enforce a belief system on their subjects to see them as custom built tools of control.

Also seeing religions as things used cynically as a means of control, rather than something that people really did believe was true is assuming a modern mindset and is people assuming that their way of thinking is universal across time and space.

Of course they have been a means to power by some but they weren't created for that purpose. Even in these cases, it's probably fair to assume that most people believed in what they were doing, people found it pretty easy to believe that god's will was exactly the same as their own.

It's also true that religions have often been subversive to the powers that be and have been tools for empowerment rather than control.

 

[sovietchild]

That would be a logical and necessary prerequisite of your questions, yes.

Also, why He would choose to make atheism at all possible while at the same time disapproving of it (according to the Qur'an, at least).

In Islam they teach us that Allah gave us freedom not to believe.

The duty of every Muslim is only to deliver the message of truth and no more.

“O people, the truth has indeed come to you from your Lord; so whoever goes aright, goes aright only for the good of his own soul; and whoever errs, errs only to its detriment. And I am not a custodian over you.”

 

[buddhist]

What is wrong those people who pray to statues? I saw them bring baby toys, Pepsi Cola, and bag of rice to a statue, and than either the monkeys or birds eat it. In Russia they bring flowers and candies to a grave, and then the kids collect the candies.

Nothing is wrong with those people. They're performing a ritual for personal transformation and personal change. E.g. I bow to and chant by my statue of Buddha because that ritual ultimately helps transforms my mind and uplifts me into becoming a better person; my bowing and chanting does not "give" the Buddha anything.

Buddha was a man. Was he not? Did he not eat food like regular people?

So it was said; he was a man who achieved the highest states of mental and personal development, which made him far superior to a mere deity.

 

[sovietchild]

Nothing is wrong with those people. They're performing a ritual for personal transformation and personal change. E.g. I bow to and chant by my statue of Buddha because that ritual ultimately helps transforms my mind and uplifts me into becoming a better person; bowing and chanting does not "give" the Buddha anything.

So it was said; he was a man who achieved the highest states of mental and personal development, which made him far superior to a mere deity.

Can Buddha harm you? If not, then how can he help you? He ate food like regular people, while God does not eat.

 

[buddhist]

Can Buddha harm you? If not, then how can he help you? He ate food like regular people, while God does not eat.

His teachings helps me to self-transform. What does it matter if he ate or not?

 

[sovietchild]

His teachings helps me to self-transform. What does it matter if he ate or not?

With out food he would of died like a car without gasoline. He was a human and nothing else.

Can Buddha harm you?

 

[buddhist]

With out food he would of died like a car without gasoline. He was a human and nothing else.

Can Buddha harm you?

What's wrong with him being a human? It is said that the Buddha has transcended this universe of hells, earth, and heavens, and gone beyond all of that.

 

[sovietchild]

What's wrong with him being a human? It is said that the Buddha has transcended this universe of hells, earth, and heavens, and gone beyond all of that.

Come on man answer my question!? Can Buddha harm you?

 

[buddhist]

Come on man answer my question!? Can Buddha harm you?

Not to my knowledge.

 

[sovietchild]

Not to my knowledge.

Samething with Jesus. If he can't harm you, then he can't help you. He can't see you or hear you.

 

[buddhist]

Something with Jesus. If he can't harm you, then he can't help you. He can't see you or hear you.

The Teachings which Lord Buddha left behind helps me.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

What is wrong those people who pray to statues? I saw them bring baby toys, Pepsi Cola, and bag of rice to a statue, and than either the monkeys or birds eat it. In Russia they bring flowers and candies to a grave, and then the kids collect the candies.

Buddha was a man. Was he not? Did he not eat food like regular people?

At least statues are visible and therefore their existence can be objectively proven as opposed the deity that you believe in. But, yeah, I agree, it's definitely irrational to pray to inanimate objects as well.