I don't really think so. I'm sure someone else can put it more eloquently with the quotations and the references, but the concepts behind religion parallel some of the concepts behind science.Both are in essence trying to determine what we are and why we exist, via different avenues of thought. Humans are natural storytellers, so when somebody said "why does the sunrise" the best storyteller would come up with a tale as to why. Some of these tales were passed down and eventually became the basis of their religion. Hence the term 'creation story'.
I've said in this thread before, I think science and faith go hand in hand. I don't think teaching "faith-based" ideas in a science classroom is a good thing at all - ID is just that, a "faith-based" idea.I don't know enough on the subject, but I've said before: if evolution exists - and it certainly appears to - then I see no reason why it couldn't have been used by God. THAT SAID, teaching the God aspect is for the religious studies class, teaching the science aspect is for the science class. The very idea that evolution, as a physical process, doesn't exist simply because "we [ID supporters] believe God created man" is no more than throwing the baby out with the bathwater (to borrow an old saying).
I'm not really talking about religion at all, or even story telling, sorry. I don't really know how to explain it.Like:What about the idea that people can "sense" something out there? If you took a brand new baby, isolated it and let it grow up with absolutely no influence from anything or anyone, would it still grow up and be able to sense that something or someone is out there? People now say they can sense something out there - I would say thats what happened to me, and thats why I am now a Christian person - so would people still sense things if they had nothing that influenced them and nothing to base that sensation on?Like, aborigines, for example, prayed to Gods but they had no influence from western culture. Africans the same. South Americans the same. What if everyone is praying to the same God, but everyone just understands that God differently?
It seems to me that the main argument FOR The existence of a God (not necessarily a Christian God) has been overlooked - the fact that every civilisation - from Europeans to Africans to Aborigines, who were largely undiscovered until a couple hundred years ago - has some kind of God and myths for how He created the world as part of their cultural heritageThis idea that there is something out there seems to have some validity to it - even in a "well, it is odd that every civilisation believed in a God at one point or another" kind of way - does it not?
Those are awesome dude - do you know if they are on t-shirts somewhere?I'd love the one of the guitar-playing robot on a t-shirt
God myths show a pretty clear development alongside the growth in our understanding the universe we live in. God(s) live in the cracks of our understanding. I've been reading and thinking about the implications of quantum theory recently. Gazing into the abyss of what underpins reality can be very unsettling. Strangely enough there's room down there in the probabilistic quantum foam for an intelligence that would easily exceed any current requirements of godhood. I have a suspicion that if such a sentience were actually found, many people will still be looking for a god elsewhere.
Yes. I'd like to agree but can't download the Microsoft Big Word Language add in.
you are in luck my friendhttp://wearscience.com/
So, we have people who don't believe in God because they feel religion is a front for control and for political power. Some people don't believe in God because other ideas enthrall them. Some people don't believe in God, because God allows terrible things to happen.So let me ask this:If you take away the religious organisations.If you take away the other ideas, scientific or otherwise.If you take away the terrible things - murder, disaster, etc.If you take away anything that might influence a persons decision to believe or not.Why then would that person still feel that there is something out there?It seems to me that the main argument FOR The existence of a God (not necessarily a Christian God) has been overlooked - the fact that every civilisation - from Europeans to Africans to Aborigines, who were largely undiscovered until a couple hundred years ago - has some kind of God and myths for how He created the world as part of their cultural heritageThis idea that there is something out there seems to have some validity to it - even in a "well, it is odd that every civilisation believed in a God at one point or another" kind of way - does it not?
It seems you missed the most important reason why people do not believe in god in general, there is no real reason to believe. Man creates a reason.
My question was, why - when any influence, including religion, is absent - does mankind still seem to come to the conclusion that God exists?
Also, don't forget that widespread disbelief in God is a 20th/21st century trend. In centuries past there was an element of it, but for the most part belief in a God was the norm. For some reason, people like yourself seem to believe that science has replaced God, and I sincerely believe that is not the case at all.
Just curious, but why do you hope there is a god?Me, I hope there isn't lol!
I have to agree. If there is a god, he is the biggest fucking troll ever. Honestly, I think most of us have felt a little bit of glee when trolling some moron, but this dude trolls entire fucking nations until they kill each other.That's pretty troll.
I'm not really talking about religion at all, or even story telling, sorry. I don't really know how to explain it.Like:What about the idea that people can "sense" something out there? If you took a brand new baby, isolated it and let it grow up with absolutely no influence from anything or anyone, would it still grow up and be able to sense that something or someone is out there?
"To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull facilities can comprehend only in the most primitive forms--this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness. In this sense, and in this sense only, I belong to the ranks of the devoutly religious men." - Albert Einstein
Again, you're focusing on the influence of religion in creating God.My question was, why - when any influence, including religion, is absent - does mankind still seem to come to the conclusion that God exists?
For some reason, people like yourself seem to believe that science has replaced God, and I sincerely believe that is not the case at all.
I've been reading and thinking about the implications of quantum theory recently. Gazing into the abyss of what underpins reality can be very unsettling. Strangely enough there's room down there in the probabilistic quantum foam for an intelligence that would easily exceed any current requirements of godhood. I have a suspicion that if such a sentience were actually found, many people will still be looking for a god elsewhere.
"God" and gods are two different things. Two separate concepts. A god is a supernatural deity. "God" is an undefined, noncognitism that means nothing. Yahweh is a god, a defined deity with specific characteristics. Yahweh is not "God" - because it has been defined by Judaism. Understand?
Ironically, Max Planck, the founder of quantum theory, was apparently a deeply religious man aswell. Though i'm sure that means nothing to you, as usual.
In terms of our own humanity, "We just are." is a terribly depressing answer to the question of "Why?"
Don't any of you guys believe in anything?Have you completely discounted the existence of anything because of science?(and please don't apply your impressions of any existing religiously-affialiated God or "gods" when answering )In terms of our own humanity, "We just are." is a terribly depressing answer to the question of "Why?"
And therein lies the root of people wanting something "more" . Psyche makes the same kinds of statements. You don't "like" that there's no evidence of some higher purpose or meaning to our existence, therefore there must be one.
Hypothetical question for you, and others who share a firm belief in some supernatural deity.Lets assume physicists make contact with an entity through their investigation of the universe at a quantum level. It turns out that the universe is a physical manifestation of this sentience, and that we are part of and created by this entity. The entity is effectively omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, by virtue of the fact that it IS the universe. The entity makes clear that you do live after death, in that each consciousness that results from its internal processes are absorbed into it once the physical carrier of the consciousness ends.By any criteria you can find in any religious or spiritual tract written by humans, this entity is God with a seriously capital G. Upon learning this, would you think that any search for god and meaning was over? No further need for religion, worship or concerns with the after life and our souls? Do you think all religions would shut up shop? Personally I think we'd still have significant chunks of the population claiming that it's all bullshit because it contradicts the bible, but I'm interested to know how those with religious beliefs think they'd react.
Sorry ape, perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough.What I'm getting at is that civilisations have always felt something was out there. Not necessarily a Christian "God", as I pointed out earlier, but something.I'm kind of disappointed because I was trying to open discussion of the existence of something, without it being tied to a religious definition, but sadly all who have responded have simply gone on the same old anti-religion diatribes as per usual, no offence.Don't any of you guys believe in anything?Have you completely discounted the existence of anything because of science?(and please don't apply your impressions of any existing religiously-affialiated God or "gods" when answering )In terms of our own humanity, "We just are." is a terribly depressing answer to the question of "Why?"
