God real or myth?

does god exist? :D

I really dont believe in god so yeah, what do you think? honest opion now.

As ridicules as this whole thing is the bottom line is that NO ONE HAS PROOF EITHER WAY. You can not prove there is no God, you can not prove there is a God. There is no reason for people to try to convert anyone (either direction) because as much as you'd like to be able to prove it YOU CAN'T.

And believing in God is not about brainwashing people, it's about a choice. Normal (and I do agree that some are very strange) Christians actually give their children all the information they have and then let them make their own choices when they are old enough. The same would go for Atheists. What would you do if your child believed there was a God? Would you disown them? Or just tell them they're wrong all the time...wouldn't that also be brainwashing?

As for the burden of proof being on Christians...how is that even remotely true? Why do Christians have to try to prove anything to anybody? Why do Atheist's have to try to prove anything to anybody? Religion and lack of religion is about CHOICE and that's all it will ever be.

As for believing in Scooby Doo...it is different and that's a completely assine statement to make. Scooby Doo is a cartoon character on Tv. At least come up with something like Fairies, at least that is something that people can actually believe in.

You might think your religion or lack of religion is better than someone else's (and that's your choice to think that) but what right do you have to constantly be telling people that they're wrong? I agree if someone asks for your opinion then you should give it but there are so many questions on here that ask things like...My daughter is gay and I believe in God, how can I accept her?...the answers should answer the question not be...There is no God...how does that help the person? Do you honestly think that the person who asked the question is just going to say...Oh yeah, that make since and I'm going to change my lifelong belief because someone told me there is no God? Stick to the question people.

Everyone needs to remember that whatever religion you are or aren't is your own choice and no one has the right to tell you you're wrong. If you can't prove it with100% accuracy then you could be wrong.

As for what I believe...I grew up a Christian and my parents have excepted the choice I have made, maybe the rest of you out there need to accept the choices other people make too without judging them.

no he does not. and none of you believers can prove it.
I suggest you stay atheist.

I 100% believe in god.
I dont go to church, but I still believe strongly

and for you atheist, you have NO PROOF he DOESNT exist ; )

I guess everyone has their opinion, but I believe when I die god will take care of me because I believe

ps: no one can really prove this. so haha!

Unproven.
No one can comment b/c everyone sounds ignoant to say there isnt a god b/c they cant proove there isnt and no one can say there is b/c theres no real proof or evidence that he is real.
Its just in the eye of the believer/ unbeliever

Who knows? The way I see it is NO ONE can prove it either way.

And to merriemac...you can't prove that there is no God either.

You can't prove that he does exist.
Just as you can't prove that he doesn't.
There's no point in trying, because religion = faith, not proof.

GOD vs SCIENCE

This one will keep your attention to the end. It really makes you think.

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, 'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks
one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly.

'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good.'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
'He doesn't, does He? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer,even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says.

He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Errr yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?'

The professor continued,

'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer.

'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet.

'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.

'Who created them?'

There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

'Tell me,'

he continues onto another student.

'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks.

'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing.

'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,'

the student replies.

'I only have my faith. '

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.

'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.

The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.. There is no such
thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest

-458 degrees.' 'Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it?

That's the meaning we use to define the word.'

'In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester.

'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.

'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something
we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be
ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell
me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a
monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,
yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room.

'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?'

The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable,

demonstrable protocol, science ! says tha t you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.

'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with
life,'

the student continues.

'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds,

'Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied,

'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have
God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

Yes I believe in God. And I guess my question to you what would it hurt if you did? I know what it hurts if you don't.

no one can prove it...so its unknown

It would hurt me because that's not what my beliefs are. Why try and believe in something that you don't. That's ridiculous. You can have your beliefs, but don't sit here and try and convert people.

I dont believe. who really knows though.

abbie98, what you're describing in the first part of that story is the Absence Theodicy and it's a flawed line of reasoning. You can't define evil as the the total absence of God, because God by definition is omnipresent. God cannot be more present in some areas and less present in others, with more good and less good being the result. If there are limitations to God's presence in the universe, then he is not God, simply a more powerful life form, and the whole issue goes away. But if he is omnipresent, he is everywhere, in all his 100% fully awesome-goodness...so evil shouldn't even be possible anywhere in the universe. And that's just one problem with the Absence Theodicy...it still doesn't answer the question of why the opposite end of the goodness scale, pure evil, is the way it is. If God determines the universe, he should be able to determine exactly how evil the other side of that scale really is. That he would allow it to involve pain and suffering, instead of just being a little less than awesome is something the Absence Theodicy can't answer.

As for the lack of proof of evolution, that is an issue which will involve you doing some homework. Evolution has an overwhelming body of evidence supporting it, and has actually been observed despite the absurd claims of the student in your anecdote.

and for you atheist, you have NO PROOF he DOESNT exist

Nor do you have any proof that fairies and leprechauns don't exist. Do you believe in them?

I believe God is real

We know how the modern western concept of god evolved from solar/astro-theology. It's absurd to think such a mythical being is actually real.

Belief in a real god is no different than belief in a real Scooby Doo, except that scooby doesn't have legions of priests brainwashing children from birth to believe in him.

I dont believe in God
and even if I did all the things he did I dont think such a vendictive being is worth worship.

and for you atheist, you have NO PROOF he DOESNT exist
In our socity the burden of proof is on you.

There is no reason for people to try to convert anyone (either direction) because as much as you'd like to be able to prove it YOU CAN'T.

Reasonable people may disagree about the existence of gods and the validity of religion, but that doesn't mean the issues aren't worth discussing.

And believing in God is not about brainwashing people, it's about a choice.

Obviously people can choose to believe all kinds of gobbly-gook, but the methods used to convince them are often very sketchy. If a person raises his child to believe the earth is flat, and the child grows up clinging to that belief despite evidence to the contrary, I think you'd agree the child has been brainwashed.

As for the burden of proof being on Christians...how is that even remotely true? Why do Christians have to try to prove anything to anybody?

The Christian message involves conversion of non-believers. If Christians wish to do this, they need to provide reasons for accepting their belief system.

Everyone needs to remember that whatever religion you are or aren't is your own choice and no one has the right to tell you you're wrong. If you can't prove it with100% accuracy then you could be wrong.

I disagree. Obviously, religion and irreligion are matters of choice, but people have the right to tell each other they are wrong, if they want to and if that's what they believe. That's what freedom of speech is.

Never once have I said the issues aren't worth discussing I have said that YOU CAN NOT PROVE IT so to set out to convert someone is completely ridicules.

As for a person teaching their child the earth is flat...well then, that just makes a stupid person not a brainwashed child. And there is no without a doubt proof that God does not exist.

Never once has anyone in my family (or my friends) tried to tell me that I should convert to Christianity...Never. And of course if someone asks them they should provide reasons for other people to accept their belief system...but then the Atheist's, etc. also should provide their reasons for their belief system. And as I've stated that's all it is...Belief.

You totally misunderstood what I said. Obviously there is freedom of speech and I totally agree with it, I do not however agree with people saying that Christians are plain and simple wrong (obviously you can't be wrong about an opinion). The same goes with Atheist's and every other religion out there.

So, anything else?

You totally misunderstood what I said.

lol, apparently. I do think it's interesting you are so against people telling each other they are wrong, and yet you called toadaly's comparison of God's existence to Scooby Doo's existence asinine.

No, I just disagree with you about people telling each other they're wrong. Even with opinions, I have every right to telll someone I think their opinion is wrong, and even to do everything I can to discredit that opinion.

A person who believes the earth is flat may be stupid, but he's quite obviously brainwashing his child if he teaches him that. I feel the same way about religious people and their methods of spreading religion.

Your experience with Christianity is not universal. In fact, it's the exception to the rule. Most Christians try to convert people, if given the chance.

And most Atheists also try to convert people. So why is it wrong for Christians but not for Atheists?

And I also will tell people if they are wrong...but I will not try to over and over prove a point to them when they just will not listen...what's the point? And I'm sorry but that is a completely assine statement about Scooby Doo...

And a person that teaches their child something wrong is not necessarily brainwashing them they are just ignorant to what is actually true.

Most Atheists also try to convert people...do you have any idea how many people on here without knowing what I do or do not believe have told me that God is a fairy tale? Most people (in general) will try to convert someone to their beliefs...That I do believe is wrong...believe whatever you want...

And to totally change the subject...how on earth did you come up with the religionisgood user name? It really does not fit you.

And I'm sorry but that is a completely assine statement about Scooby Doo...

And some atheists think it is a totally ASININE to believe in an omnipotent being that there is not one shred of imperical evidence exists. Toadally used scooby doo to highlight the idiocy in believing in something so silly. Belief in god to many people is silly.

You need to think outside the box once in a while.

how on earth did you come up with the religionisgood user name?

He was drunk...