what use do i have for a god?

[Cephus]

Quote by: Inferno Well the first reason i have a use for a God is that when i die i don't want to burn in hell u know and secondly even if u don't belive in a God u could read the bible and study some of its book it has great wisdom from business(thats right business) to social life there is not a single topic that can not be solved form the bible, so i suggest even if u don't belive in God study some of its books

It might be helpful if you figured out that "u" is not a word and there is such a thing as punctuation. This is a text-based environment, learning to be functional in the English language might be a good idea.

Now, as far as the rest, who says there is a hell? I have studied the book in great detail and debated many of the top Christian apologists and haven't lost a debate yet. The Bible is really laughable and every place where it is open to objective examination, it fails miserably.

The only use for a god is to lie to yourself.

[Runa216]

I know, messenger programs and online forums are two completely different things. I realize I suffer from the occasional typo, but it's not like I am typing in leet. I swear, people who type in leet do it to anger people.

Runa

[Prometheus]

It might be helpful if you figured out that "u" is not a word and there is such a thing as punctuation. This is a text-based environment, learning to be functional in the English language might be a good idea. Now, as far as the rest, who says there is a hell? I have studied the book in great detail and debated many of the top Christian apologists and haven't lost a debate yet. The Bible is really laughable and every place where it is open to objective examination, it fails miserably. The only use for a god is to lie to yourself.

My my, are we cocky? Interesting handle... biblical I beleive.

The only use for god is to lie to ourselves? Wouldn't you say more accurately that God might be the lie? God's existance is either fact or not. Asking about his use is only valid once you ask wheather or not he exists. If he does not exist then the question is moot, and if he does the question is moronic. If god exists why would you ask if he is usefull? A better question to ask if god exists is how you can be usefull to god, assuming that by god you mean an all-powerful being who controlls the universe.

[Cephus]

Quote by: Prometheus My my, are we cocky? Interesting handle... biblical I beleive.

No, actually it's not.

The only use for god is to lie to ourselves? Wouldn't you say more accurately that God might be the lie? God's existance is either fact or not. Asking about his use is only valid once you ask wheather or not he exists. If he does not exist then the question is moot, and if he does the question is moronic. If god exists why would you ask if he is usefull? A better question to ask if god exists is how you can be usefull to god, assuming that by god you mean an all-powerful being who controlls the universe.

Ultimately, the only thing a belief in a god is good for is to allay fears that the individual is not strong enough to handle on their own. Man has invented many gods for himself to bow down to because it makes him feel that someone is watching over him. Whenever anything goes right, they thank God. When something goes wrong, it's just God's will. It's a beautiful system because you can't prove it wrong, they have an explanation for everything.

Oh, and by the way, which "all-powerful being who controls the universe" do you feel like worshipping? There have been quite a few and they all have exactly the same evidence: ZERO!

[Prometheus]

I am certainly not here to try to prove that God exists. I will freely admit that I cannot prove it, and will not insult our intellegances by trying. If it interests you, I am Mormon, but if your purpose in asking is to dig up criticisms of my faith, please do it in a Mormon-bashing thread, not in this one which is about God in general.

Since you do not beleive in god, it is intellectually dishonest to ask what god is good for. If I asked you the purpose of a unicorn, there would be no good answer, because no matter what you said I could discredit it becasue I don't beleive unicorns exist (I can't prove they don't exist by the way).

If you want to bash god, just come out and do it, don't try to obscure your purpose with a silly question.

[carlessbiker]

Quote by: RickSp What use do you have for a god? Well, they make very nice gifts, except for the one with the lighting bolts. He keeps setting the curtains on fire. Weather gods should also be avoided unless you have indoor/outdoor carpet. River gods can be very helpful with stubborn plumbing and the fertility gods can be great for plumbing of another sort. The bigger omipotent ones rarely fit inside the house. Some folks like to complain to them alot, which is OK as far as it goes. Others do use them to justify all sorts of rape, murder and plundering of their neighbors, which is reason enough to stick to the smaller household variety. So hard to clean up after Armegedon, after all.

It takes confidence to exude such humor. Bravo.

[carlessbiker]

God(s) have existed and currently exist as a way for the brain to process concepts it does not understand. From the sun moving accross the sky to a spiritual destination after death. There is no right or wrong. If you feel God has left you behind, then make up your own god and have a little tea party of your own. At least you don't live where I do, where God tells his chosen people to choke the rest of us with their rhetoric.

[Prometheus]

At least you don't live where I do, where God tells his chosen people to choke the rest of us with their rhetoric.

I feel your pain there. Of course I guess I'm part of the problem as one of the oppressive mormons you bemoan. Heck, I'm a bloody mormon and i can't stand us. I can't wait to move back to PA. I bet every mormon you know has tried to convert you. For the record though, I have never tried to convert anyone that didn't explicitly ask for info. Now maybe if we got 7 virgins for conversions... the muslims have all the luck.

[carlessbiker]

Quote by: Prometheus I feel your pain there. Of course I guess I'm part of the problem as one of the oppressive mormons you bemoan. Heck, I'm a bloody mormon and i can't stand us. I can't wait to move back to PA. I bet every mormon you know has tried to convert you. For the record though, I have never tried to convert anyone that didn't explicitly ask for info. Now maybe if we got 7 virgins for conversions... the muslims have all the luck.

My hat's off to you. If your religion was dominated by those with your mindset, you might not be seen as so quirky. (And it would be easier for the other 1.3 million that live in Utah.) Seven virgins would be nice.....

[Prometheus]

There's 1.3 million? Whoah. We have work to do!

[Starboy]

Quote by: Downwiththestereotype ...but I must ask, what possible use do I have for believing in a God?

As for me it is none. I have no need of a psychic teddy bear.

Starboy

[CallousGiant]

I believe it is part of the human conscious to have beliefs. I think this as I have yet to come across a society which does not have beliefs in gods, good luck charms or magic. I'm not saying these things or false, just that humans feel it is necessary to have beliefs beyond this world.

[Starboy]

Quote by: CallousGiant I believe it is part of the human conscious to have beliefs. I think this as I have yet to come across a society which does not have beliefs in gods, good luck charms or magic. I'm not saying these things or false, just that humans feel it is necessary to have beliefs beyond this world.

Now look who is generalizing.

Starboy

[MerlinsByte]

Quote:
Quote by: Downwiththestereotype
...but I must ask, what possible use do I have for believing in a God?

STARBOY...As for me it is none. I have no need of a psychic teddy bear. Starboy

Merlin types...What's wrong with a psychic teddy bear? Many scientists that believe in the psychic teddy bear universe because of their Fear of admitting that there is a God or intelligent designer (GID) i. e.

BBC Two 9.00pm Thursday 14 February 2002
Everything you're about to read here seems impossible and insane, beyond science fiction. Yet it's all true.
Scientists now believe there may really be a parallel universe - in fact, there may be an infinite number of parallel universes, and we just happen to live in one of them

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon...alleluni.shtml

I have alluded to this take on superstring theory and starboy and others pooey? Ridiculed me. It was basic common knowledge so I didn't explain my self because I don't have time to explain basic concepts to instigators. Actually its a waste time to explain anything to bitter ,closed minded minded individual.

I've known about this theory for about 9 years, and its the only serious threat to a GID. But I remain convinced that in my universe anyway it has an intelligent designer.

You may believe in whatever you wish including fairies elves and Greek gods as they all exist according to scientists...Hahahhaahhahhaha....oh sorry.....

mb

[Prometheus]

I think I am stlealing this example from someone on this forum - I can't remember. But it fits so I'll use it.

Your rabid denial of god betrays your porported beleifs. Asking the question "what is god usefull for" takes it even further. If you were a true atheist out of an intellectual beleif instead of just looking for something to debate you wouldn't bother ranting about it. I don't bitch and moan about Zues (sic) becuase I neither beleive in him or give a rats ass about it. This is a case of the Shakespeaerean "The woman doeth protest too much".

[Cephus]

Quote by: Prometheus Your rabid denial of god betrays your porported beleifs. Asking the question "what is god usefull for" takes it even further. If you were a true atheist out of an intellectual beleif instead of just looking for something to debate you wouldn't bother ranting about it. I don't bitch and moan about Zues (sic) becuase I neither beleive in him or give a rats ass about it. This is a case of the Shakespeaerean "The woman doeth protest too much".

That's because you don't have Zeus followers trying to force you to believe in Zeus. You don't have Zeus apologists trying to get the teachings of Zeus taught to your kids in public school. You don't have Zeus followers trying to get laws passed that benefit them and harm you. There is no social stigma in not being a Zeus follower. Your president isn't trying to use the teachings of Zeus to run the country.

Now come on back when you can say the same thing about Christianity.

[Prometheus]

That's because you don't have Zeus followers trying to force you to believe in Zeus. You don't have Zeus apologists trying to get the teachings of Zeus taught to your kids in public school. You don't have Zeus followers trying to get laws passed that benefit them and harm you. There is no social stigma in not being a Zeus follower. Your president isn't trying to use the teachings of Zeus to run the country.

Now come on back when you can say the same thing about Christianity.

Yah, that is a good point, but seriously:

(1) When was the last time someone tried to force you to beleive in god?
(2) Were you ever taught creationism in public school? (if so, you are one of the few wierd school districts)
(3) What law harms atheists?
(4) There may be a social stigma from some for being atheist, but in many circles atheism is appplauded and theism disparaged. In many academic settings the tables are turned, and beleiving in god has a stigma attached.


OK - I'll give you the one about our presedent. I wonder if god will fix his social security mess... because he sure isn't doing a very good job. Maybe god will smite Bin Laden. Watch out dems - I hear he has a special commando prayer squad to smite the liberals.

[James]

You do need God. Like everyone, you have sinned. You haven't lived a perfect life, and you should know that. The only way to Heaven is to be perfect, and we can't do it alone. We need Jesus. He lived a perfect life on earth and was the sacrifice for our sins when He died on the cross. So all you must do is ask Him to forgive you; He's already paid the price.

The way is ready. Are you?

[FIFI]

But in my mind I HAVEN'T sinned, and therefore, I have nothing to be forgivin for. I live my life based on the basic principles of good, and I take each test and task laid out before me the only ways I can at the time... If I do them correctly, nice. If not, then I learn my lesson and keep on going. There is no need to grovel on the feet of a imaginitory figure, just because I had lessons to learn in life.
Everyone needs something, some hope or power to believe in, I do agree with that... but I don't have to be "ready" to recieve God, in fact, I will never be ready to have my mind changed so I can conform with everyone else. I know many who are happy without the standard "god" figure in there lives.

I am happy with my self, and have achieved my inner peace. Have you?

[Prometheus]

Quote by: James You do need God. Like everyone, you have sinned. You haven't lived a perfect life, and you should know that. The only way to Heaven is to be perfect, and we can't do it alone. We need Jesus. He lived a perfect life on earth and was the sacrifice for our sins when He died on the cross. So all you must do is ask Him to forgive you; He's already paid the price. The way is ready. Are you?

I agree with you, but it is a ludicris claim to make in a debate. You cannot prove it, so it is basically worthless. Your statement only has any meaning when talking with another christian.