What would it take to change your beliefs?

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   yenajeonposted 14 years ago

   The only way I would change my belief is if the end of the world came or I died and found out there was no heaven and I was just in a box.

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   hamstersmessiahposted 14 years ago

   a sincere and humble apology from my creator.

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3. 80

   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   Yep! I like the full cycle thing. We start out as a worm and end up worm food. Seems sorta poetic!

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   pylos26posted 14 years ago

   I would enter me horse into that race also...Lineoprogression.

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   china manposted 14 years ago

   The only thread I have actually read all the way through since I have been here is the one on mental illness. I was impressed by the bravery, decency and understanding of the contributors, even moved by the compassion that came through.
   
   The other thing that came from it was how, what we classify as mentally ill, is very often just a person who varies from the average that we like to call normal. Yet normal can happily enslave others, commit genocide and make war on others, recently over oil.
   
   A belief in a deity is surely only a divergence from that same norm? We all have a need to rationalise our environment, and we all make our own reality, or personal universe; 'believers' just choose to paper over what they don't know with a god. Isn't this just the same fear of the unknown that leads others to pile up obscene amounts of wealth.
   
   Religion is populated with people who are clearly suffering from what some describe as mental illness, visions, voices, sacrificing our own children, talking to burning bushes etc etc ad infinitum.
   
   All of it would be as harmless as Hokey if people just lived what they believe, the only real problem is trying to force it on others; and one of the things that keeps that going is talking to them about it. From my very good schizophrenic friend I learned that arguing with it just makes it worse, if he decided that 'something' was going on and wanted to trash the local bar no discussion or reasoning was going to stop him. Ignoring him completely sometimes worked, distracting him to something else, maybe a party back at his house, again, sometimes would work - otherwise we would just go bail him out next morning.

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   2besureposted 14 years ago

   At one time, I was an agnostic.  My brother had been shot in the back and was paralyzed from the waist down.  I woman Evangelist came in and began to talk to us.  I keep one giving her a hard time and asking a bunch of questions, I though she could not answer.  She asked my brother if he wanted her to pray for him and he said yes.  After she prayed from him, his leg began to move.  Later that week he was able to walk again.  That made me begin to change what I believed about God.

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7. 72

   thisisoliposted 14 years ago

   Evidence to the contrary.

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      

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8. 61

   qwarkposted 14 years ago

   If "god" would stop by, take off his shoes, step behind the x ray monitor, pass a luggage and underwear check and provide all the "required" ID, he could pass to the next station.
   I'd do an NCIC check for criminal background and require fingerprints for an FBI clearance.
   I'd then have to have an angel appear for corroboration. The "angel" would be required to pass all the same checks.
   If I was convinced that god was who he said he was, I'd excuse the angel, allow god to dress...arrange a meeting with Dana White, the President of the UFC and setup an octagon fight with me so that I could wreak vengeance upon his holyness for the horrid mess he is responsible for here on this beautiful planet.
   In other words I'd beat the shit outa the inept, heavenly asshole.
   If he could whip my ass, he might gain my respect.
   Other than that, there is no way I'd believe in this mythical screw up...folks call "god."

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      !!!!! You speak without fear, and say what you mean clearly, and on this thread, that is not only amazing, but terribly funny!

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      1. 61

         qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         hahaha..Earn, and written from the heart!  :-)

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9. 0

   Twenty One Daysposted 14 years ago

   just an observation: in the Hebrew perspective, everything everyone is replying coincides with exactly how they 'thought'.
   i find it amazing in 5,770 1/2 years since the introduction of Mosaic principle, the exact same conversations are happening...
   
   perhaps it suggests we step beyond 'our' thinking, knowledge, preconceived ideas, titles and self-indulgent and cynical vices to actually understand what this entire existence is really about.

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10. 81

    Rafiniposted 14 years ago

    what would cause me, a believer, to become a non-believer?
    
    Death.  Because then I would no longer be able to think.

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11. 60

    Hokeyposted 14 years ago

    Believe nothing merely because you have been told it.
    Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher.
    But whatever, after due examination and analysis,
    you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings -
    that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.

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    1. 81

       Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I believe you just described going to Church and studying the Bible! 

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          earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          That is the longest bow I have seen drawn here.

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12. 60

    serenitysheirposted 14 years ago

    The only way for me to believe in god is if the apocalypse happen and god and jesus came to me and told me it was so. And then i went to the hospital and they proved to me that i was not hit by a bus and i am not in a coma (( which i most likely still won't believe)) then god explained to me 4 things.
    1. If satan hates god so much why does satan, ruler of hell, punish us for taking god's name in vain.
    2. If being prideful is a sin why is god allowed to sin and not us is he not perfect? I mean is making people worship you a act of pride? and pride is of the 7 deadly sins right?
    3. The bible says thou shall not kill. . . then why does it also say you should stone people to death. Is stoning someone to death not killing? and why does he kill people. The great flood? Egypt? Sodom and Gomorrah? 
    4. Why, if god knows every thing, would he create people just to punish them in hell.
    
    if god answered those question and told me a good answer not just "because i said so. or, because i am"
    then i may be able to believe . . . but most likely not . . . i will think i'm in a coma

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    1. 70

       Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I like the way you think.

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    earnestshubposted 14 years ago

    You seem to require some evidence. Me too!

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    1. 60

       serenitysheirposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       well people say that they go on faith alone. No i believe that most people only believe because of fear not faith. Fear is what drives them. They can't stand to think they will end up dead in a box with no where to go.

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          lyricsingrayposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          welcome serenity, glad your here

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          earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I thought your post was great! Welcome to hubpages.

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14. 0

    lyricsingrayposted 14 years ago

    five bucks and a pack of smokes
    
    oh, and a lighter too

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    1. 80

       earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I can help you out with a horizon blue. They're bloody orrible, but rolled in to joints they burn just fine.

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          lyricsingrayposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          

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