Truth does exist and it is 100% in accordance with science. I find truth in many religions, christian, hindu, Zen budist, tao, american indian, south american, voodoo, science, atheism, etc... There are only misunderstanings in all of the interpetations of these religions.
Get something right about me. I do not say "God does not exist." I say that God in this christian idea of him CANNOT exist. I've often agreed that there is good things to learn from all religions. It is the foundation that has helped humanity advance so far.
A favorite quote of mine, not sure of the writer is "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it". Religous texts, while they may or may not be historically accurate, do reflect humanity at that point in time. There are good things to learn even from the most atrocicous and graphic stories. Regardless of the truthfullness, one can learn a valueble lesson from almost any religous belief. Hence, the purpose of the religion.
If a person is a pure atheist in my opinion this is good. In my opinion what this should mean is they do not "belive in god" this is ok as long as they do not say god does not exist because this would not be logical.
As I said above, I'm not so bold as to say God does not exist. My typical answer is "I don't know if god does or does not exist, none can prove it." This is, IMO, the most honest answer one can give regarding said matters.
Of course, if a person has had some personal expieriance that has swayed them to one belief or another, then they develop a bias. Even if this personal expieriance has left the person empty handed only with a "Big one that got away" story.
I know there is more to life then what we are aware of. I often think of reincarnation as being the most viable afterlife solution. And reincarnation is an afterlife, its just a never ending cycle of life and death, and rebirth. Do you also believe in Karma? If so, does this not make christian "sinning" irrellavent?
Reincarnation, as hindus described it, is an automated type system. It does not require a god type figure to ensure the operation of it. Karma is used as the reward/punishment system. A good person reincarnates into a higher life, while the evil person reincarnates into a lesser lifeform. Reincarnation also agrees more with reality, and the stress in that religion is your present life, not some eternal dream state where all is happy.
A person like this would be no different than one who goes to church and belives but does not understand. There is the possibility that the atheist is actually closer to a real experience of truth than the one who socalled goes to church. Nothing is in stone. (Try the parable about the vineyard owner who is hiring workers).
This I have to disagree on. A person who acknowledges the fact that we, as a whole, have no idea if there is or is not a god, and cannot prove it is in no ways comparable to a person who goes to church, believes in that churches version of god, and uses that churches religous texts as there scientific understanding of the world around them.
A person who goes to church will likely believe in creation over evolution. This person will likely believe there was a great flood that covered the earth, although lacking any true evidence of how this feat was pulled off. This person is also likely to believe a man, just like you and me, was sentanced to death, killed, and come back to life.
You see, a person, atheist, such as you described, or by my response to the "Is there a god" question, is not nearly the same. The person who goes to church already has the answer to all his/her questions, and anything that contradicts those answers is considered wrong and evil, simply because it doesn't agree with what they learned in church.
The problem my friend is that we create paths of action in life. The path humanity is taking is destroying the planet in the name of materialism because they want to defer responsibility to the next generation. If they knew the truth of an after life, would they continue to do what they do? I must try.
This is garbage. I agree that humanity is destroying the earth. In the name of materialism? If anything, I'd think the Earth would be the absolute most precious possesion to a materialist. No, I'd be more inclined to believe that the destruction of this Earth is at the hands of people who believe God will be back at anytime now, and do not see any purpose in striving to protect our planet.
In fact, the bible tells us that we have dominion over the planet, essentially saying it is ours to do with as we please.
In reality, we are the planets possesion, atleast, this much we can both agree to be true, I'd hope.
I was once told something by someone who was told by someone. I said I don't believe in that crap and I am the master of my destiny. There came a day that event happened and I was about to incur the event which was spoken and in a split second realization of memory turned the event into a non event. Sometime life is a razors edge. Good movie you should probably see it the Bill Murray version
Huh?
Megashawn, do me a favor. A little experiment if you would. Blank your mind and then say you were a witness to god. You knew god was real and that a human being had incredible potential and that the afterlife was real. You also had visions or whatever.
Hmm. I can blank my mind. I can not force myself into having some contact, make believe or not, with a supreme being. I should not have to. Such an all powerfull being should be able to snap his fingers and make us all understand his plan for us.
I personally believe all human beings have unlimited potential. That is, unlimited within our bounds of course. But with our newest friend, technology, we are forever more changning the boundries.
I really wish you'd quit contradicting yourself. First you tell me there is no hell, no heaven. Then you say you believe in reincarnation. Now your telling me to convince myself that the afterlife is real. What gives Cletus?
And if this is much the same way you had your meeting with god, then I would say this is merely your innerself, sub-concious, whatever, that has told you exactly what you wanted to hear.
Do please remember that I'm not a stranger to religion. I grew up believe in god, jesus, holy ghost, etc. I've ventured out and tried a few other belief systems. One thing is always true between any religion. If you sit around and wait on your god to get things done for you, you'll sit there till you die.
Well, I think this may very well be my largest post ever.
