Do you believe in god?

[BigTinz]

Natalie Portman

[Jrecee]

Yahoo is possibly even worse than youtube. Although I think that's because some extremist evangelical group has conspired to take it over. It's really that bad.

I've been collecting quotes from yahoo, and a few other places (although I think I'll stick to yahoo) so here's one relevant to this thread.

"you have to believe there's a God to want to prove there isn't one.....HMM"

AWESOME

Does anyone know if yahoo retains some sort of rights to comments posted there? Because I really want to take all the best quotes and make them into a book.

[AppleQueso]

Yahoo is possibly even worse than youtube. Although I think that's because some extremist evangelical group has conspired to take it over. It's really that bad.

I've been collecting quotes from yahoo, and a few other places (although I think I'll stick to yahoo) so here's one relevant to this thread.

"you have to believe there's a God to want to prove there isn't one.....HMM"

AWESOME

Does anyone know if yahoo retains some sort of rights to comments posted there? Because I really want to take all the best quotes and make them into a book.

http://www.fstdt.com/

the closest thing I can think of to what you're asking. Just a collection of radical fundamentalist quotes. LOTS of downright ignorant gay-bashing, islam-bashing, atheist-bashing, etc in there.

[Gamerforlife]

Ugh.

I don't want to reply to responses to myself, but I guess I have to.

First of all, you don't have a choice over everything in life. You believe what you believe, it's in your brain, you can't change that. If I told you to believe that your legs are gone, the sky is purple, and unicorns exist, you can lie and say you do, but in your brain, you KNOW you don't. You know this by the facts you have and the world around you.

.

It just your statement that we don't control what we believe I didn't agree with. As if to say that a person's religious beliefs are not a choice. Many people make informed choices about what they believe after years of questions, self examination and doing research.

Also, I think that whatever we believe is programmed into us by our upbringing, culture, society etc. Those programmed beliefs affect how we perceive reality. It's all subjective. It's all subconsciouss. However, we can change our beliefs about anything by reprogramming our subconscious. That's what psychology, therapy and psychiatry are all about. There's actually a lot of scientific research that implies that EVERYTHING we perceive is based on whatever we believe subconsciously, which means that what is or isn't real or what is or isn't fact can be based entirely on what a person believes in their subconscious mind, but now I'm getting into complex stuff that goes beyond this topic

I was just trying to get across the idea that I think we have COMPLETE control over what we believe.

[Bradtemple87]

yes i do

[Inazuma]

I am a rational, logical person.

Everyone is free to believe in whatever they want. I choose to believe in the truth.

[jp1]

The problem with the entire debate is that if you want "proof" then it is just as illogical and irrational to say unequivocally that there is no god as it is to say unequivocally that there is. It doesn't make you "smart" or "logical" to take an uninformed stance either way.

The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect.

Bonus points for anyone that can tell me the movie I stole the quote from without google.

[Ack]

You know, I have another question for Octopod: why do you want to know? And really, why does it matter?

Part of me figures you're just curious.

At the same time, I worry that you or someone on either side of the debate who reads this thread will use the results as a justification for forcing their opinion on others.

For instance, what if an atheist member feels that with such a large opposition to God, he can openly begin denouncing and insulting the faith of Christians, Muslims, Jews, or other followers of monotheistic religions? Or conversely, what if someone from said religions sees the numbers opposed to their belief and decides it's time to start the conversions?

Personally, I can't answer your question, as I likely have a different idea of what God is from your target audiences (which considering the mostly American composition of the board is likely between Atheists and Christians beliefs on God). And my beliefs are my own anyway, so the thought of discussing them on an Internet forum doesn't appeal to me.

As a mod, I'm bothered by the topic. I understand that the question itself is the same as any other question on the topic, merely asking for an opinion that isn't really necessary to enjoy the community, but is interesting nonetheless. But considering the likelihood for this to develop into flame wars, the poll makes me nervous. I enjoy the community here at Racketboy.com, and I dislike it when things become...unpleasant. I don't want to have to discipline members, and if I come down on one side or the other in a topic like this, the recipient of my judgment may feel it's merely an attempt to denounce their religious beliefs or lack thereof. At the same time I do have my own opinions on the matter, as do the other moderators, and questions like this can easily sow discomfort among even our ranks.

I will not lock the topic, and I trust Octopod will do his best to keep it civil. I have faith in his civility, intelligence, and reason, enough so to expect him to stamp out any flaming as quickly as he can in his thread. Some of the other moderators may even be interested in the information. But I feel I have to keep a close eye on it, just as I watch the Mosques thread closely or any other thread that I worry has the chance to develop into a flame war.

I am a rational, logical person.

Everyone is free to believe in whatever they want. I choose to believe in the truth.

I will come down on attitudes such as this however. Since Inazuma feels it necessary to criticize those that disagree with him (and considering that labeling his own opinion the sole truth may be taken as an intentional attempt to insult anyone who disagrees), I will now take a moment to criticize Inazuma. In my opinion he represents with this statement everything that is wrong with Atheism: namely that so many of its adherents seem drawn to it for the sole purpose of disagreeing with, rebelling against, and intentionally insulting what others consider the truth. While I feel Christians, Muslims, and other religious groups should take the time to internally examine their beliefs and condemn that part of their religious orders that adhere to violence and succumb to ignorance, I also feel that Atheists should do the same. And nothing smacks of ignorance and arrogance than labeling one's ideas the single and only truth.

Inazuma, I take no issue with your Atheism. I disagree with many of your statements concerning marriage, relationships, religion, and other topics, but they are your opinions to have and I welcome you to them. It's your attitude that I, other mods, and other members have taken repeated offense to.

Shape up or you will be banned. Some of you may consider this ultimatum an abuse of power, but I am sick and tired of his attitude problem.

[GSZX1337]

everybody who said yes, go watch "zeigeist" and "the god who wasn't there" documentaries and get back to me.

Hate to rain on your parade, but Zeigeist is well-documented for being an absolute piece of shit documentary. I don't know about "The God Who Wasn't There", though.

As for my belief:

[AppleQueso]

everybody who said yes, go watch "zeigeist" and "the god who wasn't there" documentaries and get back to me.

Hate to rain on your parade, but Zeigeist is well-documented for being an absolute piece of shit documentary.

Yup!

http://conspiracyscience.com/articles/zeitgeist/