Do You Believe God (However You Define Him/Her/It) Exists?

[DistressedAmerican]

In the current political climate, it is impossible to avoid discussion of religion. It is the cause of wars, a tool of the politicians, and the underlying conflict behind much of the ongoing culture war.

I know there are Christians and those of other faiths here as well as us atheists.

Just an informal poll so I can better understand the DU population...

So, do you believe "God" exists?

(By the way, just wanted to mention: "Die Falwell You Fat, Greedy, Evil, Manipulative, Pig!")

[DistressedAmerican]

1. Just How Much Does It Disturb Those Of You That DO Believe

That George does all this killing and thieving in the Lord's name?

I think that would probably make me madder than it does not believing. I just see him exploiting folk's religious beliefs for personal gain. Repugnant? Yes! But, at least he isn't giving my God a bad name around the world.

[Az]

2. Not quite the issue

Its not that he does these things in the name of god. Its that he convinces people that it is the right thing to do because it is in the name of god.

[blogbear]

3. amen! God remains great not matter what!

[DistressedAmerican]

5. That is a pretty fine distinction to make.

Although if I get you correctly. It is his manipulation of the people with God that upsets you more that his specific policies. Guess that is pretty reasonable.

Personally, I feel like people have individual responsibility for their decisions. Even lied to, it is your responsibility to seek the truth. Those that choose to follow him like the false prophet he is, choose their own fate (and frankly punishment).

[FreedomAngel82]

7. You're right

And sadly a lot of his little followers would never believe any of the bullshit.

[bloom]

8. Seems pretty offensive to me that B**h does the things

in the name of God.


I don't get your distinction.


Convincing people it is right... is also offensive - but it's not like B**h has to do that much convincing.



I also find the whole "God Bless America" quite offensive, also. As someone who was raised in a protestant church who now believes whatever the hell I want to believe.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. It really makes me sick

That he claims to love God and Christ but then turns around and is a greedy oil man. :grr: I just have to know someday he'll have his karma. I wish I could be around to see that though.

[polmaven]

13. * is a "Convenient Christian"...

Christians are Christians all the time...well, at least we are striving to be Cristian all the time...not simply when it will be advantageous for us to be.

Yes...it disturbs me...a lot.

Even his own UM Council of Bishops was snubbed by him before he went into this war. I guess because God put him in the office in the first place, he knows much more about what God wants then a bunch of mere Bishops of the United Methodist Church do.

[Zynx]

31. Hitler did exactly the same things.

Privately, he believed little of it, but was willing to manipulate people's faiths in order to kill people.

[JDPriestly]

4. I believe in God,

but I don't believe I can define or describe God, and I don't believe any of the religions can either. Bush is a total hypocrite a la Billy Graham.

[DistressedAmerican]

12. Was Just discussing Him As My wife And I Grew Up In Wheaton, Ill

Home of the Billy Graham Center.

They have a great museum of evangelism. Good place to hang out. Had a hallway in the shape of a crucifix, a large room that is meant to replicate heaven with walls of mirrors and back lit cloudy sky and a thorough history of evangelism. Also a dark theater where Billy sermonizes while you make out. Hell, the freaking place is deserted. Why not!

Great mastodon reconstructed on a spinning pedestal on the campus of Wheaton Bible College. No mention if the bones were placed there to confuse us or if it was just killed in the flood.

[BigMcLargehuge]

9. Is there an army of "same question asking" androids at DU?

Seriously, this question has been asked at least twice, in two different forms just today.

You want to know who believes in what... check out the group memberships there are at least three religious groups and an atheists and agnostics group.

[DistressedAmerican]

15. 47 votes and counting suggests that some people have not seen those two.

Fell free to hit ignore why the rest of us do our thing.
:wtf:

On Edit: How 'bout some links? I'd like to take a look. If they are really that similar, they could improve my sample size!

[osiristz]

10. According to those in Washington....

it's Mammon. Yes I believe in Mammon - the god of the US. Americans stand idly by while their perceived elected leaders kill untold numbers of people so Americans can feel 'safe'. So they can feel 'free'. They plaster their little ribbons on their SUV's and believe to themselves, 'I'm helping". Their little psychological band-aids on their bumpers convince them their leaders are right. They are convinced that god cares when they sing their ditty -god bless america. They feel vindicated and full of pride.

Mammon is the god of the US. I believe in it because it's obvious Mammon has been working his evil well. He's deluded Americans into thinking their country is great and worthy and free and better than others. Mammon is the god of the US. Washington is it's Vatican.

[libhill]

17. We are brainwashed

from birth, that America is the greatest land on earth, that we do no wrong, that any war or enterprise we engage in is good and Godly and totally selfless , and that any slight criticism of America or it's motives borders on sacrilege, if not treason. When people grow up hearing that crap all their lives, it's easy to understand why less intelligent or poorly educated people buy into it and can't be dissuaded. I'm not making excuses, but I do believe we need to factor that in. I know of no other nation that propagandizes it's young in that way.

[DistressedAmerican]

19. Certainly the church does its part in the brainwashing and predisposing?

When taking a (public) college level class in philosophy I was told that certainly I MUST ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN GOD and that my refusal to admit it was just stubbornness. The comment was met with overwhelming support from the class (prof. included).

In a world where a 19 year old does not even conceive that someone might not believe in God, I'd say MANY MANY Christians in this country are predisposed to believe the lies that these folks wrap in religious references.

(Please bear in mind no offense intended. People can believe as they like. Just my thoughts. Not meant to be an attack on anyone!)

[libhill]

41. Religion

Certainly does play a role in this propagandizing, and your experience is a prime example. I'm convinced that at least one reason the churches go along with the program, is to keep their tax exempt status in good order, stay on Uncle Sam's good side. Very few religious organizations will come right out and criticize the government, with the exception of a few aberrations, like the Branch Davidians in the 90's. And we saw what happened to them.

[mike6640]

11. Disclaimer

My definition of God and your definition may differ greatly.

Also may contain peanuts. Shares equipment with wheat processing.

M

[Spider Jerusalem]

14. Not as defined by most religions.

Personally, I view "god" as being a term which can only have any REAL meaning if taken to mean the sum total of the natural forces and laws which shaped and govern our universe...for me, "god" is mathematics, physics, evolution, and so on.

[Horse with no Name]

16. I believe in God and Jesus

and used to go to church every time the door opened.
I never missed bible study, fellowship or Sunday school.
It is very difficult to put your faith and worship aside but had a bad experience the last time I went (about 6 years ago).
We were in Sunday school and I was told it was the duty of the wife to make sure that her husband remained sexually satisfied. I was told it wasn't appropriate for a man to have to masturbate and those men that did--did so because their wives weren't fullfilling their wifely duties. It was said that the men who strayed from the marital bed and committed infidelities did so because it was the wife's fault for "not taking care of business".
It was said that women didn't have a choice in this nor did they have to enjoy it, because their reward was that they were provided for and God wanted men to be happy.
I gathered my things and left and that was the last time I went to church. I miss it but I don't miss that attitude and I can't imagine going back to find more of the same if not worse.
:(

[libhill]

18. That sounds like something

Out of the 1600's - Jaysus!

[DistressedAmerican]

20. If you don't mind me asking, what denomination?

Just want to make sure I'm mad at the right folks.

Bad social philosophy is bad social philosophy and especially powerful when bound to religious doctrine!

[Horse with no Name]

21. It was First Christian Church--Disciples of Christ

I had thought the church was fairly progressive, but that shook me to the roots.

[DistressedAmerican]

22. That is EXTRA Disturbing. I Consider Progressive Churches To Be

a powerful force for countering Bush's brand of evangelism! Hate to see them wavering!

[Greylyn58]

23. Bush isn't a Christian

because a true Christian doesn't front a "Culture of Death" and spend all his time trying to figure out how many people he can kill.

[Selteri]

24. I'm very very spritual... but haven't got a religious bone in my body.

Why should I folow a religion when they all keep using thier beliefs as an excuse to do naughty things in the name of God.

When I do something, it's my fault, not God's DAMMIT!

[DistressedAmerican]

25. No offense but what does it mean to be spiritual? I hear it a lot but, I

don't really know what it connotes. I would not describe myself as spiritual.

[wadestock]

26. The most important realization you can make....

is that consciousness MUST exist.

There is no such thing as nothing...by the mere fact that nothingness can't "experience" anything.

Therefore....there always has been...and always will be....conscious life in existence....examining it's existence and the question of God.

Eons of time may pass in between our death in this solar system and the creation of a new life order, but that total time in between conscious states flashes by in one instant.

Enjoy your consciousness and use it wisely.

[Beam Me Up]

27. The awareness that "I Am" is the necessary miracle.

How seldom it appears.

[wadestock]

29. That works for me....

It's also a fundamental realization that facititates the process of personal responsibility.

How many USE the concept of God for excuses, a way out, or some escape.
The irony of it all is that Christ actually came into the mix at a time when people were so expecting a saviour and a God to lead them by the hand....and he stepped out and said....hey brother...YOU have the power to do it all by yourself....it's easy.

Therefore, the power of "God" is within all of us.

[foreigncorrespondent]

28. Yes I do...

...however, I do not believe that God is the mean vengeful God the fundamentalists make him/her out to be.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

30. In one of Stephen Hawkings books

he talks about planet Earth and makes the observation that life is not a random phenomenon, but that life as we know it must have been created by a much more complex intelligence than we are capable of understanding.

[drummer55]

32. The differences between religion and spirituality

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3375894&mesg_id=3375894

[murdoch]

33. For myself, God was indoctrinated in me in a negative way

I know people who are Quakers and whatnot who are religious and have a positive view of God and the world. For myself, God was pushed on me in a negative sense. God was kind of the authority figure who could see you were doing something "bad" since the secular authority figures hadn't set up their Patriot Act surveillance cameras and computer facial recognition big brother thing 100% yet. So anything having to do with your penis not involving your wife (which still means nothing but vaginal intercourse, with no contraception including coitus interruptus). On the other hand, killing to fight the evil communists and their plans to end unemployment and whatnot everywhere was fine.

God was basically a supernatural spirit who supposedly could watch me when the government couldn't. God was fear. I don't believe in God anymore. I believe in Cartesian logic, scientific analysis and so forth. I believe in Rousseuan man is good and corrupted by society and all of that (the opposite of traditional Christian teaching). And so forth.

Jesus was probably not a bad guy in his time, but in my opinion "Christianity" stinks. I think Jesus would have hated Christianity.

[kineneb]

34. There wasn't a spot for the Buddhist position

Which tends to be: the existance or non-existance of a deity/ies is irrelevant to enlightenment. One has to do their own work to mitigate the suffering encountered in life and not depend on outside forces.

Peace be with all of you.

[johnaries]

36. None for the Taoist position, either.

Not God, but the Tao. A very different concept.

[DistressedAmerican]

37. I Guess I Think Of Those Two As Philosophies Rather Than

religions. Good points though. Everyone's welcome here!

[DistressedAmerican]

35. Middle Of The Night Kick!

:kick:

[malmapus]

38. No clue here...

Something I have been grappling with for a couple years now. Use to hold still to Christan ideals and beliefs even though I do not count myself among them (thank the Southern Baptists for that) but lately with everything that has been going on in the world, my faith in God has just gone down and down and down.

Actually had a discussion the other day with my finacee about this as I really have been putting deep thought into death lately and what happens after the fact. Kinda scared that I'm not sure, which really made me realize how much faith I have lost.

Before I had always taken solice in Taoism which I got from my ex and her family. But even that hasn't helped me lately.

[notadmblnd]

39. Although I have my doubts

I have less of a problem with a God, than I do religion. There's not any I've found that make any sense to me.

[H2O Man]

40. Why sure.

I think that God is the sum-total of all the laws of the universe, and all of the physical matter and energy contained there-in.