Why do you believe in God?

How about this thread.

 

What is this thread?

 

Well, if you are just genuinely interested why use the word ‘challenge’? I’m sorry if I read too much into that, but you’ll find that this subforum is full of people who’ll happily declare anybody, who dares to hold differing metaphysical views to theirs, close to mentally retarded. Which is why people may not be too happy to share their innermost religious feelings here.

If you really want to know: I believe in God because of religious experiences I’ve had. They’d be hard to describe, but they make it impossible for me to deny the existence of a loving all-encompassing force that gives meaning to this life however dreary and horrible the world may seem at times. And yes, I’m utterly sane and no, I have not been taking drugs much

[video=youtube;8lDlTmJyyGc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lDlTmJyyGc[/video]

[video=youtube;hKIHYjZD-_A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKIHYjZD-_A[/video]

 

I would really like to hear a description of these experiences. We all have many different 'psychic' experiences, so knowing more about how to identify an experience which originates with external agency would be of great interest to many of us.

 

Wow, I've been a Catholic for my whole life, and I never knew all the stuff above. Based on your writings, you must not have been Catholic since sometime in the 1960s. The doily thing has been optional since Vatican II, and there are only a handful of women in each church who still do it. The breakfast rule changed, too. You simply can't eat for an hour before taking communion, and if you're going to a full Mass, that roughly means you can only not eat 15 minutes before Mass. The Catechism isn't studied by kids anymore. They redid it in the 1990s. Priests and nuns have no problem with people having sex--provided the people are married. I've never known a priest with a Cadillac. Confession erases sins, in case you didn't remember. Eating meat on Friday has never sent someone to Hell (and now, it's limited to the 8 or so Fridays in Lent). I understand why you aren't Catholic. You never really understood it.

 

I gotta HAPPILY admit it's been 45 years since I escaped from Catholicism...and all those rules were in place then....but they HAVE been replaced by new rules...and though I thankfully don't know all their current mumbo jumbo I'm sure they still have "roools"....

No. 1 Rule : protect priests who rape children

 

it was my faith is unbreakable now.

 

Hope for your continued health and happiness.

 

Thank you

 

I recently visited a church to see what all the fuss was about; I felt claustrophobic and not really welcomed; it was as though I had infringed on something that they wanted to keep secret.

 

That reads as though you might have visited a church that was Incorporated.

 

That old chestnut? Might as well ask what are the rules for the religions of football, dieting, playing with model trains, having sex, or... well... almost any other thing at all in the histry of everything. I can hardly think of a position less relevant, less meaningful, more deceptive, or more needlessly pedantic than to insist atheism is a religion in the same context as discussing supernatural religions.

Pathetic.

 

Such are opinions... They go for about a penny per dozen.

 

Very true. Particularly true of the opinion that atheism is a religion.

 

Well, my opinion is based on what the US Supreme Court has said, and what they said, complies with the definition I provided.

 

So you admit you posted in ignorance to current practices.

Rule No. 1 now is get rid of pedophile priests. We are past the 1960s idea that pedophile priests can be rehabilitated.

 

"atheism is a 'religion' for First Amendment purposes "
"atheism may be considered, in this specialized sense, a religion"
"The Supreme Court has recognized atheism as equivalent to a 'religion' for purposes of the First Amendment"

Nope, I'm not seeing where they actually said that, in their opinion (and bearing in mind the value you place on opinions) atheism actually IS a religion... for ALL purposes. Feel free to show me the actual words where they specifically say that. And then I can laugh at the court for being idiots.

 

So you're saying that the Catholic Church has no rules??? Just one big free for all? I don't think so ...and please, do NOT tell me what their rules are, (nothing more boring)

Yup, I bet NOW their No. 1 rule is to get rid of pedophile priests now that they've been CAUGHT hiding and supplying these priests....now that the law has stepped in, now that they face lawsuits.....it was hardly their conscience, sense of decency, compassion for the raped children, or commitment to do the right thing, was it?

Their no. 1 rule used to be ""HIDE THEM and pretend it isn't happening or donations might drop".


And you indicate that OTHERS are in "ignorance" ????

I think that issue far surpasses whether they have churchy rules or not...

 

Did I say anything about "ALL purposes"? Nope! Therefore, you are found guilty of moving the goal posts. Quit being so disingenuous.

 

If it is not for all purposes, then it may not be for the purpose of this discussion. So define for which purposes you think atheism is a religion.

 

On the contrary. By it being called a 'religion' and sanctioned as such by the Supreme Court, it also bears all the protections that are afforded to other religions. Which includes the right to hold religious discussions and to be partakers in such discussions. Therefore, it does have a definite purpose in this forum and in this thread.

 

Yes Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.

It never ceases to amaze he length of BS you will go to, to justify your silly religion.

 

You can't have your cake and eat it. Either their opinion is that it is a religion for ALL purposes, or it is only 'equivalent' to religion for certain purposes. Which is it?

 

No! It is you that has the restriction in mind. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 

So you're saying you can eat your cake and still have cake? Riiiiight......