ONE question to all the atheists out there....

[Lavindathar]

Lol@Johnny.

Yes, it can make people happier. But religion is the main cause of war in the world. Suppose thats just the Chaos theory.

[Dagorion]

LOL, yes I suppose you’re right Johnny.
I'm saddened at the fact that, statistically, Christianity has cause more wars than anything else in the world (besides freedom of course but that doesn’t count [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

[Yorick]

Originally posted by johnny: I never understood why people feel the need to believe in a higher being anyway. 1.Do they think it makes them better persons ? 2.And am i a lesser person because i refuse to pray to a god ?

I can only speak for myself, but my answer to 1 and 2 is no. My faith in Jesus includes the realisation that all of us are imperfect. It gives me an acceptance of my imperfection because I'm made this way, forgiven and loved regardless.

The need to believe? I wouldn't call it that. "What is gained from my faith" may be better. In which case I have gained:

Inner peace.
Inspiration.
Enhanced relationships with others.
Positive perception and outlook.
Love.
Coping mechanisms.
Increased ability to change and grow as an individual.
Psychological balance.
Health.
Increased appreciation of the earth, history, science. nature and art.
Creative energy.
Specific increases in abilities at various times, to meet specific challenges.

Now, I realise someone could gain all those things without God. What I am saying is that my faith in God has given ME those things. Without it I (not speaking for anyone else) would not have gained those things to the level I have.

In my life God has given me everything, so I choose to give it back.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Dagorion: LOL, yes I suppose you’re right Johnny. I'm saddened at the fact that, statistically, Christianity has cause more wars than anything else in the world (besides freedom of course but that doesn’t count [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

Money (gold, silver oil, trade routes etc), food, and lebenstraum are the main causes in my book.

[The Hunter of Jahanna]

I just wanted to say that this is a very dangerous subject to bring up (I made the mistake of bringing it up and making a fool of myself *and* getting a migrane ) Also I have one question (that i may later regret even asking) What makes people think that all the major religions in the world have different gods? Please, I'm very eager to know why. (And if anyone says "Because the muslims worship Alla" then you obviously havent used your brains and figured out that that is the Arabic name for God)

I have my own question allong these same lines. What makes the followers of modern religion so sure that their god is the only one that ever was? I think that the Greeks,Romans,Egyptians,Mayans,Incas,Hindus,and Native Americans all had quite a few diffrent gods long before the first stories of the old testament even hint at takeing place. All of thoes civilizations cant be wrong.

It is also why I dont believe in any form of god. There are far too many contradictions in logic for me to place any faith in that stuff.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by The Hunter of Jahanna: quote: I just wanted to say that this is a very dangerous subject to bring up (I made the mistake of bringing it up and making a fool of myself *and* getting a migrane ) Also I have one question (that i may later regret even asking) What makes people think that all the major religions in the world have different gods? Please, I'm very eager to know why. (And if anyone says "Because the muslims worship Alla" then you obviously havent used your brains and figured out that that is the Arabic name for God)

I have my own question allong these same lines. What makes the followers of modern religion so sure that their god is the only one that ever was? I think that the Greeks,Romans,Egyptians,Mayans,Incas,Hindus,and Native Americans all had quite a few diffrent gods long before the first stories of the old testament even hint at takeing place. All of thoes civilizations cant be wrong.

It is also why I dont believe in any form of god. There are far too many contradictions in logic for me to place any faith in that stuff.[/QUOTE]But they all have a creation myth and a flood myth. They may disagree about the details, but every human culture has a belief in something that created all this.

[Dagorion]

Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Dagorion: LOL, yes I suppose you’re right Johnny. I'm saddened at the fact that, statistically, Christianity has cause more wars than anything else in the world (besides freedom of course but that doesn’t count [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

Money (gold, silver oil, trade routes etc), food, and lebenstraum are the main causes in my book.[/QUOTE]Ok, lets just narrow it down to the last 2000 years, and make it major wars. I'm not saying Christianity is bad or is wrong, I’m just saying that the people in control of it have used it for their own gains or have been too "righteous" for their own - and Christianity's - good. Maybe we could just say *all* religions have cause more wars then anything else.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Dagorion: quote: Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Dagorion: LOL, yes I suppose you’re right Johnny. I'm saddened at the fact that, statistically, Christianity has cause more wars than anything else in the world (besides freedom of course but that doesn’t count [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

Money (gold, silver oil, trade routes etc), food, and lebenstraum are the main causes in my book.[/QUOTE]Ok, lets just narrow it down to the last 2000 years, and make it major wars. I'm not saying Christianity is bad or is wrong, I’m just saying that the people in control of it have used it for their own gains or have been too "righteous" for their own - and Christianity's - good. Maybe we could just say *all* religions have cause more wars then anything else.[/QUOTE]I still disagree. Greed. Love of money. These things cause war and contention. Religions only ever seek to curb these things. People can use religion to motivate others, but what drives the motivator? Money.

If Bush mentions God in a speech do we presume he is going to war with Iraq because of religion? OIL! OIL PIPELINES! Is the detractors cry. SECURITY! is the supporters cry.

How ill history view it? How is it different from a crusade?

TRADE ROUTES a detractor of the time could cry denouncing the crusade. SECURITY! A supporter, fearful of the next Arabic/Turkish/Moorish invasion could cry.

Money.

[Dagorion]

Yes, I see your point Yorick...

[Gammit]

You can't believe something by going "well, I have nothing to lose, so..."! That's just nuts. Secondly, your argument is reminiscent of Pascal's wager argument, in which he argued that it was a better "bet" to believe in God than to not... and that argument has been proven bunk many of times over, even by me.

Yorick, people cause war. (: Money doesn't (imagine thousands of quarters, all hurling insults at each other!). I understand the basic argument that "religion causes war," as many (some would argue most) skirmishes have been fought over religion. I believe that religion can cause both war and peace; it all depends on the person.

[ 01-21-2003, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: Gammit ]