What's the role of Religion in your life?

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   andycoolposted 14 years ago

   I've heard so much in the forums about believing and not believing in Religion or God, being atheist or religious or agnostic and so forth, I've just got confused that is there anyone out there concerned about the role of Religion in our lives!
   
   I'm inviting you, the believers, here to say something about the role of Religion in your life in particular. Just share your own views... no historical evidence please! Another point to remember is that assume religion in its general term... I mean do not assume religious means only being Christians or Muslims, rather consider religion as a way of life that keeps God in the forefront. (Ref. Oxford English Dictionary)
   
   Atheist or agnostic people are welcome too. Please share specifically why and how not believing in God has helped to move forward in your lives. Share why you do not believe in God by giving specific evidence from your life. Scientific proof of God's existence is not available... is it enough for not believing? Does it sound rational? Is the job of Science complete with respect to the discovery of God’s presence? Why should one assume that our sense-organs are the last Radar in the world... or extensions of our sense-organs like telescopes or microscopes are the ultimate Radar to sense God’s existence? Consider these things in your analysis... no history please!
   
   Let’s enrich ourselves… that’s the spirit. Please don’t be fanatic.

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      andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I posted this question 15 hours ago... yet none of the so called experts has cared to post a reply! This proves that most of the active participants in this forum are fake. They've no job except blaming each others. They're a bunch of extremely arrogant and fanatic people irrespective of being either Christian or Muslim or followers of any other belief. And that's their true religion. Everybody knows that empty vessels sound much!
      
      I posted this question to judge the so called experts' real depth about the subject. I hate fanaticism and I know all the fanatics are arrogant people without knowledge and that's their religion, not Christianity or Islam or something else. Quotes from the Scriptures don't reflect one's understanding about the subject.
      
      I've posted the same question elsewhere outside the forum and quite a few people replied gracefully! That's the trick employed by me to understand the activists' real motive in this forum.

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         Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Well it is clear from this what effect religion has had on your life. Clearly - religion is good for causing conflict and hatred and nothing else. Here in France we recently had riots by young Muslims protesting the ban of one of their religious clothing items.
         
         This pretty much sums up my personal experience with religion as well as my observations of history and mankind. It causes conflicts. Period.
         
         I find it difficult to find anything positive to say about religion as it concerns me personally, unless I were to say that the pain it inflicts through it's followers has allowed me to grow as a person and see religion for the manipulative tool it really is. Sadly, ignorance is bliss. As many believers will attest to.
         
         And - yeah - obviously leading questions designed to elicit the response you expect tend not to get a lot of answers. Especially from a relative newbie.

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            andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            That's fine... but I need proof for non existence! A newbie in HP doesn't mean that a newbie in the subject and people like you contribute a lot too in the riots. Please don't try to be cheeky and avoid the point. Not all of us are fools my dear and please don't keep the phrase incomplete! That's another way of cheating people.
            
            Let me complete it first: "WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS IT'S FOLLY TO BE WISE."
            
            The essence of the saying is completely different from how it's commonly used!

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               Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Please do not tell me what I meant to say. I meant exactly what I said. Only a fool thinks they know what I meant to say better than I actually said.
               
               What point? That you need proof of the non existence of something to not believe in it? Sorry - cannot help. It must be very awkward believing everything that cannot be disproven.

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                  andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  That's the problem with all the atheists... they don't know why they do what they're doing! Completely messed up in the thought process.

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                     Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Ah - you are just here for a fight. Sorry - my mistake - should have spotted that sooner.
                     
                     Dear me.

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                  Merlin Fraserposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Isn't that the whole argument right there?
                  
                  We who say there is no God are bombarded with demands for proof there is No God....
                  
                  
                  We in turn ask Believers to supply proof that he does exist and round and round we go....
                  
                  To me if God was real why did he only speak through the so called Chosen few ?
                  
                  Why not have his own TV Show and cut all the mystery !
                  
                  Why has no one heard from in for Hundreds of years...?

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                     andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     All I can say please try to expand your wave length! Please go through my original post thoroughly. Read Albert Einstein's view about the existence of God if you can collect.

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                        Merlin Fraserposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        If you check out some of my Hubs I try to explain where and when God was invented based upon a study of ancient cultures before any organised religion.
                        
                        Religion does not play any part in my life because I see no need for it.
                        
                        Where it does exist I see only conflict, in fact on my world travels where I have been to many extremely religious countries they always seem to be the most God forsaken places on the planet.

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                           hanging outposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Matthew 9:11   And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? (the lowly of society, crippled, blind, etc)
                           
                           Luke 5:32   I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
                           
                           Matthew 19:23   Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
                           
                           i am not surprised at all. I am surprised that you would be surprised.
                           cheers!

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                              Merlin Fraserposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              Sorry...!  Once more from the top and in English please.
                              
                              How about your own thoughts and perhaps some original ones might help me to understand what point you are attempting to make here.

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                        Merlin Fraserposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it. (Albert Einstein, 1954)

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                           andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           The greatest thinker's observation actually! Somewhere the genius said that the rules of the universe is the God to him. To me God is not necessarily the Almighty but something that's there which controls the universe. May be it's the aliens from another planet. Or may be it's the E=mc^2 but that E (Energy) is yet to be discovered to its fullest extent! I also think we should neither deny nor believe except for academic interest. But there must be something far far superior to the humans! Why... ask yourself.

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            hanging outposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            LOL you equate muslim with christianity and then you call other people.. well muslims are not christians.
            today you have learned something.

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               andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Really! Oh, I didn't know that... God has sent you to save me! Thanks for saving my life.

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      Don Wposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Whoa! What happened there? Thought we were trying to "enrich ourselves". It seems your response to aggressive non-theism is agressive theism! That's exactley how aggressive non theism got started.  In terms of conflict management "offence is the best defence" is often the worst possible stategy and leads only to an escalation of conflict. How?
      
      Because your behaviour affects my attitude, which affects my behaviour, which then affects your attitude, then your behavior, which affects my attitude etc. See the vicious circle? When you behave aggressively, the result is most often further aggression and more conflict. This pattern can be seen everywhere from this forum, to the situation in Gaza. It's formulated in a model called Batri's box:
      
      
      
      One way to diffuse conflict is to break the pattern at some point in the loop. Doesn't matter which point, as long as the pattern is broken. As we only control our behaviour and our attitudes, it makes sense to break the pattern there. So contrary to what you are suggesting, offence is not the best defence. Controlling your attitude and/or behaviour in order to break the cycle of conflict and aggression is actually the best defence. Some of he greatest proponents of peace in history such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and the historical figure of Jesus known by some as 'the Christ' have all understood and demonstrated this simple principle. Perhaps there is something we could learn from them in that regard.

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         andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I agree, don't know why but I got a bit aggressive. I'm really sorry for that. Thanks for pointing out... I've withdrawn that post you see. Thanks!

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      Whispering Nightposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Religion is a invisible barrier created by us to protect individual races from living as one that the goal of religion.

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   aka-djposted 14 years ago

   You draw some very serious conclusions from the NON-response to your question.
   Experts, empty vessels and fanatics, huh?
   
   What effect has religion had in YOUR life?

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      andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Who told you I'm a religious person? Poor thinking!

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         aka-djposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Come on!!!???
         You don't have to BE religious for it affect your life.
         
         My, my, you forgot what your question was?
         
         So, how does this make me a "poor thinker"?

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   kessposted 14 years ago

   for a while i was believing the thread was going somewhere different other than the normal theist antitheist battle.
   
   Maybe someone should remember the original intention and motive for this thread

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   alternate poetposted 14 years ago

   Religion in my life is a whole mess of total plonkers barking bullsh*t at the moon.  Luckily most of the noise comes from those with no argument, an inability to spell, no hubs and book words because they have none of their own. 
   
   Sheeple -  the most apt word I have seen so far, I should quote the source but I was laughing so much I have forgotten.

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      andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not asking the poet only... all the non-believers of the world are my target
      
      I'm challenging you guys! Let's debate... post questions and I'll answer it. But let's start with me... explain me when you can't prove the non-existence of God with your limited resources... what's your right to attack people who by believing in God want to lead a good life?
      
      My question has two parts... first try to prove God's non-existence with logic.
      
      If you can't try to answer the second one... that's about your right to attack the believers.
      
      And then if you believe you don't attack anyone, confess it.

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         alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         First - it is impossible to prove a non-existence.   Existence is nortmally easy to prove for even a teeny weeny microbe - something as big as the god you claim should be a piece of cake to prove.  But you can't prove it CAN YOU !
         
         Second - you are not qualified to answer my questions. If I want the stock answer from the novel I get that opinion direct from the source.
         
         However, I will ask you one question as you are so keen.  Why is it that christians TALK about love and compassion - and yet those without any are attracted to your faith in droves - to use it as the crutch for their hatred and fears ?

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            andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Why asking me then... I humbly say please consult your direct source. I don't like to talk to people with double standards.

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               alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               It was you who put up the debate - if you don't like the answers get out of the kitchen.  Maybe you should go back on your meds for a while and come back a little less arrogant and maybe then we can have a conversation.

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         Texasbetaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Prove He-Man and Smurfs don't exist. That is basically the foundation of your question. That is not how the trail of logic works with regards to working out a hypothesis or seeking the most valid answer to a question. By asking someone to prove God doesn't exist, you essentially asking them to prove to you that Smurfs aren't real, rather than addressing it properly, in that you must objectively seek the answer to a question without any egocentric paradigm involved. So, "does God exist" rather than, "prove to me that God doesn't exist" would be the more proper question.
         With regards to my viewpoint, I present a dichotomy within your apparent paradigm. You appear to ask how religion affects people's lives, and then simply declare, "prove to me that God doesn't exist...", thus linking a belief in God with an acceptance of a religion. I do believe in a God, but do not accept the validity of any religion.

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            andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            What I mean is so simple... if you can't prove the non-existence, please stay away from hurting other people's beliefs; why making it unnecessarily complicated?
            
            This is not related to your reply
            I'm in no mood to mix up the role of church here! I know a lot of priests are criminals but a criminal is a born criminal... that's in their genetic coding.

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               Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               And yet, they became priests. Interesting, isn't it? 

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               Merlin Fraserposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               A couple of quick questions for you,
               
                 If something doesn't exist how is anyone supposed to prove the non existence of that non existant something ?
               
                 According to the Creationists the Earth was called into existence 6,000 odd years ago by this God of theirs.... yet even ancience scientist proved that was a load of old toffee. What's he done since, nobody in your own lobby has even heard from him in hundreds of years.... you give him credit for all sorts of things but cannot simply prove his existence yet you demmand non believers prove his non existence.... Now return to question one ?

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                  andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  About something that doesn’t exist:
                  
                  1. It did exist in the past but ceases to exist.
                  
                  Dinosaurs did exist many years ago in the past but now cease to exist. Albert Einstein did exist in the past but now ceases to exist.
                  
                  How will we prove dinosaurs did exist in the past? Well you’ve to have some clue and then research.
                  
                  How will you prove Albert Einstein did exist in the past… same way! Some clue like his photograph or work and then research.
                  
                  How would you research… using your sense organs or using the extensions of your sense organs like microscope or telescope and incorporating mathematical calculations in your research.
                  
                  Do you believe that our sense organs and their extensions are capable of solving all the mysteries of the universe? If your answer is yes I won’t argue with you. So please don’t proceed any further… thanks for reading, I respect your view too!
                  
                  2. It is yet to be discovered.
                  
                  Electrons were present in an atom always but we didn’t know about its existence until electrons were discovered in 1897 by J. J. Thomson. The fact that “all the spheres revolve about the sun as their mid-point, and therefore the sun is the center of the universe” was true from the very beginning of Big Bang but we didn’t know that until Nicolaus Copernicus discovered it in the 16th century!
                  
                  If you think (I think all rational people should fall in this category, but that’s my assumption… may be I'm wrong) our sense organs or their extensions are not the ultimate devices to solve the mysteries of the universe, you may find this one interesting.
                  
                  We’re so tiny and negligible with respect of this universe! We haven't yet created a human in laboratory! I believe we can do it within 200 years from now. But still that will be a job done by the same mechanism, using sense organs or extensions.
                  
                  So why will I assume that God’s existence won’t be proved one day? By the way God to me is a Super Power which is in control of the universe!
                  
                  Why do I assume this? Is there any clue? Yes.
                  
                  So many of us believe in God for living a good life and they’re successful in doing that! There are many people who don’t live in this way and I don’t have any objection. But by being religious if a lot of us do live a good life how can I or why should I dismiss their belief, especially when I’ve nothing in my store to prove them wrong! And a lot of them are great people who’ve directly helped to grow and enrich human civilization.
                  
                  The existence of the Super Power or God may be proved with the help of our sense organs or their extensions one day and all the mysteries of the universe would be solved. If that happens I definitely shall obey whatever that will be revealed about the nature of the Super Power or God. But I personally think that won't happen with just five sense organs or their extensions! For that science has to take a giant leap... until that happens I can't dismiss the religious people's belief about God.

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                     Beelzedadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     You can say that about anything, leprechauns and unicorns come to mind.

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                     andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     A thread is currently running named "Einstein and Atheism". I opened this thread three months ago. Here I explained how to prove God's existence with the help of logic.

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   Teregirlposted 14 years ago

   Dude, if you believe in God, you aren't helping Him by being antagonistic towards those He is seeking relationship with...all of us! Show a little love...or better yet...soak it up so you can give it out...positively.

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      andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My dear please don't forget the proverb, "Offence is the best defence." And I don't believe in God the way the religious people do! Love...ok, if I talk rudely to someone whose job is to insult a group of people then I'm showing my love to that group of people. It's as simple as that. And that group is much larger in size too!

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   Merlin Fraserposted 14 years ago

   Andycool writes:
   My question  first try to prove God's non existence with logic.
   
   
   You obviously do not read the Hubs on this site, Your question has already been asked and answered many times.  Even I had a stab at it.
     http://hubpages.com/hub/Yep-Im-definately-a-Pagan
   
   Logic dictates that Man invented God or in this case many Gods, the fact that many people deny such logic or simply just can't handle the fact does not deminish that fact or the truth of it.

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   DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years ago

   "The Babel fish is small, yellow, leech-like, and is a universal translator which simultaneously translates from one spoken language to another. It takes the brainwaves of the other body and what they are thinking then transmits the thoughts to the speech centers of the hosts brain, the speech heard by the ear decodes the brainwave matrix. When inserted into the ear, its nutrition processes convert unconcious sound waves into concious brain waves, neatly crossing the language divide between any species.
   
   Meanwhile, the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation.
   
   The book points out that the Babel fish could not possibly have developed naturally, and therefore proves the existence of God. However, it is argued this proves the nonexistence of god as proof denies faith, and without faith, god is nothing. "'My, that was easy', says man, and goes on to prove that black is white, and gets killed on the next zebra crossing"
   (Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy)

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   pisean282311posted 14 years ago

   why and how not believing in religious god has contributed in my life...
   
   first of all not believing in religious god makes me see people not from prisms of hindu or muslim or christian or believer or non believers..this makes me consider human as human which commit mistakes , which love their lives , which wants to do good in life and such things...
   
   secondly since i dont believe in religion ,it gives me space to take holistic views of things rather than considering one book frozen in time as THE thing..
   
   thirdly it makes me admire writers of quran or gita or bible at same time...since they tried there best with best intent ...
   
   finally it fills me with gratitude for our ancestors from .2 million to current because of which we are today where we are..

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      andycoolposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I appreciate your view... it's got logic. See God or no-God is a question of academic interest. But I like people with atleast some logic which is the foundation of their view.

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   xobliamposted 14 years ago

   I hold the right to change my mind on this opinion in a fraction of a second....
   
   Religion at this very moment IMO is explained in the first part of the last book of the Christian Bible.
   
   The Apostolic prophet John had all types of fantastic mind altered experiments that most of us can only hope to experience if we can drug ourselves completely and utterly. ( I sometimes think the high priests of old new something about sacrifices made usually at fire alters usually found hidden on mountains. maybe sometimes including white powder) John had auditory hallucinations and the voices told him to warn the seven churches about ascetic living according to his master balanced against living according to a politically driven christian message.
   
   The churches have expanded into religion of today. Can anyone honestly say that religions carry an ascetic message or are they determined to be politico-ecclesiastics who likely could end up providing the world with one true philosopher. The King Philosopher of Plato's words.....scaryyyyyyyyyy!!
   
   But ask me again tomorrow....

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    paarsurreyposted 14 years ago

    What's the role of Religion in your life?
    
    It give me peace of mind and improves my relations with all the human beings of whatever religion or race or language; it brings me closer to the Creator-God and the natural beauty created around me by Him.

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       paarsurreyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Religion has a much higher role to improve one in ethical, moral and most in the spiritual realms; without it humanity cannot get peace.

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