bearmick:

1985AllOverAgain:

SOUPBOWLorBUST:

1985AllOverAgain:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

I look at it this way:

1.  If I believe in God and:
      a.  He does exist - great, I'll be in Heaven when I die.
      b.  He doesn't exist - oh well, I'll just be dead and won't know the difference anyway.

2.  If I don't believe in God and:
      a.  He doesn't exist - oh well, I'll just be dead and won't know the difference anyway.
      b.  He does exist - I'm in for an eternity of unspeakable Hell.

Bottom line - If God doesn't exist - it won't matter whether I believed in him or not.

HOWEVER, if He does exist - I want to be on the right side of that equation!

if that's your way of thinking...do you really believe??

Don't get me wrong.  I believe in God.  I just try to look at it from the other side's point of view and just don't understand why they wouldn't at least want to hedge their bets, as Ole put it.

But he's right.  God would know anyway, so their thumped no matter what!

How about another way of looking at it .......

Live a good life, be kind to children and help old ladies across the street.  If there's no god, nothing will happen, you'll just be remembered as a good person.  If there is a god, you'll be rewarded for being a good person.

(Of course this is subject to the same logical fallacy as Pascal's wager)

kansascomet:

BearsMod1:

what I always wondered is how big is the universe....and what is the universe? since we are bigger then an atom could it be we are small and other beings can look thru a microscope and see our universe? on any pebble of sand is there a world living that we can't see it???? who is to say we are the right size and there is not some other life forms bigger then us in thier own version of the universe!!!!! do we look like sub atomic particles thru someone's microscope?????/ just saying

Reminds me of that scene in 'Animal House' where Pinto and Bluto were getting stoned at that prof's house.

And don't forget Katy (certainly as fine an argument for a Creator as any):

everest:

Seems to me any decent god would judge you by your behavior and not by mere belief. We all know lots of believers who aren't partularly good people and, on the other hand, non believers who are excellent folks.

that's kind of how i look at things.  this guy wouldn't hurt a fly, but since he didn't accept my son as his personal saviour, pooft, down you go... 

If there is a god, would he judge us based purely on belief, rather than how good a person we were?

Mother Theresa doubted her faith throughout her life and on her death bed.

The 9/11 hijackers believed 100%.

Nah, I don't buy it.

I think it's nothing but clouds, but Zambozo sees something up there all the time.

I'd LAUGH if THIS is what I saw when I die.....

cnobody:

everest:

Seems to me any decent god would judge you by your behavior and not by mere belief. We all know lots of believers who aren't partularly good people and, on the other hand, non believers who are excellent folks.

 

that's kind of how i look at things.  this guy wouldn't hurt a fly, but since he didn't accept my son as his personal saviour, pooft, down you go... 

goalforgould:

i'd tell it to either pay me or stop watching me in the shower

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

Are you holding back on the punchline ? ........ YOUR religeon

I highly recommend Bill Maher's "Religulous" to all who has read this far into the discussion. 

Why can't people be content with realizing that no one has a clue as to whether there is a God or not.  Anyone who tries to persuade you in a different direction has no more wisdom on the subject.  Religion is brainwashing.

Accept the possibility of a god but don't cling to some ancient belief structure that has been scientifically disproven countless times over the past 600 years.

If there is a god, do you really think he has nothing better to do than built a complex universe, fill it with billions of people(who he loves), let them choose to believe in him or act according to a list of      " Rules",  and then, if he disagrees with their choices, sadistically tortures them for all of eternity!

C'mon people, don't be afraid to come up with your own answers. 

jerkyboyz07:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

Are you holding back on the punchline ? ........ YOUR religeon

Spartan:

cnobody:

everest:

Seems to me any decent god would judge you by your behavior and not by mere belief. We all know lots of believers who aren't partularly good people and, on the other hand, non believers who are excellent folks.

 

that's kind of how i look at things.  this guy wouldn't hurt a fly, but since he didn't accept my son as his personal saviour, pooft, down you go... 

Yeah, I don't think that's how most people view it. Many believe God and Jesus to be one and the same. Jesus is God incarnate. He took human form on earth to sacrifice himself and die for the sins of all mankind thus taking power away from the devil. He does not judge by mere belief. He asks not for just belief per se but moreover for people to turn themselves away from evil and toward good

but he does ask for belief and that's the point. 

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

If God knows all, past present and future, then He knew 10,000,000 eons before the universe was created that we would have this conversation.

It also means Charles Manson was doing God's will.

If He does NOT know all these things, he's not much of a God anyway.

That conversation REALLY screws with Mormon missionaries.

Mozart1220:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

 

If God knows all, past present and future, then He knew 10,000,000 eons before the universe was created that we would have this conversation.

It also means Charles Manson was doing God's will.

If He does NOT know all these things, he's not much of a God anyway.

That conversation REALLY screws with Mormon missionaries.

Mozart1220:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

 

If God knows all, past present and future, then He knew 10,000,000 eons before the universe was created that we would have this conversation.

It also means Charles Manson was doing God's will.

If He does NOT know all these things, he's not much of a God anyway.

That conversation REALLY screws with Mormon missionaries.

Ole69:

Mozart1220:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

 

If God knows all, past present and future, then He knew 10,000,000 eons before the universe was created that we would have this conversation.

It also means Charles Manson was doing God's will.

If He does NOT know all these things, he's not much of a God anyway.

That conversation REALLY screws with Mormon missionaries.

When Bible thumpers used to come to our door unsolicited in Oklahoma, we would tell them, "hold on, we gotta finish slaughtering a sheep for Satan." They would just kind of blink, pause, and walk right back down the driveway

Spartan:

Ole69:

Mozart1220:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

 

If God knows all, past present and future, then He knew 10,000,000 eons before the universe was created that we would have this conversation.

It also means Charles Manson was doing God's will.

If He does NOT know all these things, he's not much of a God anyway.

That conversation REALLY screws with Mormon missionaries.

When Bible thumpers used to come to our door unsolicited in Oklahoma, we would tell them, "hold on, we gotta finish slaughtering a sheep for Satan." They would just kind of blink, pause, and walk right back down the driveway

JW's aren't Bible thumpers. They're a cult.

Ole69:

Spartan:

Ole69:

Mozart1220:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

 

If God knows all, past present and future, then He knew 10,000,000 eons before the universe was created that we would have this conversation.

It also means Charles Manson was doing God's will.

If He does NOT know all these things, he's not much of a God anyway.

That conversation REALLY screws with Mormon missionaries.

When Bible thumpers used to come to our door unsolicited in Oklahoma, we would tell them, "hold on, we gotta finish slaughtering a sheep for Satan." They would just kind of blink, pause, and walk right back down the driveway

JW's aren't Bible thumpers. They're a cult.

They weren't JW's. They were Southern Baptists.

Ole69:

jerkyboyz07:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

Are you holding back on the punchline ? ........ YOUR religeon

say what. terminally lapsed Catholic if you're asking

enmorestuff:

Ole69:

jerkyboyz07:

Ole69:

Bear with me; I've had a few. What if there really is a sentient being that has ultimate control of our fates, but it isn't benign? I don't mean the Devil. Like what if there is no Devil, but no God either, but just a higher power who is ambivalent? Maybe we are just the dust mote in the fingernail of a morally impartial entity playing "the Sims" on its keyboard in its mother's basement, and that same basement is yet another dust mote on the fingernail of another who... and so on. Hall of mirrors. If that's the case or even if it isn't, I won't ever know. In the mean time I am going to watch Bears games and.... ...Bear down! Edited for content

Are you holding back on the punchline ? ........ YOUR religeon

say what.

terminally lapsed Catholic if you're asking

is there any other kind?

DR.Metal:

if there is a god and by that I'm not talking about a religious one. why assume he wants us to be good? why would he want any species in the universe to be good? would it be just as ''happy' seeing us destroy each other? I don't assume to know anything outside of what I can't learn. why should any of you?