<p>^^I would not discredit that interpretation.</p>
<p>Alright trancestorm, I'm here. Now what is it you wanted to tell me.</p>
<p>Arguing about God is like arguing about the taste of salt. POINTLESS.</p>
<p>Mmm... salt.</p>
<p>GoldShadow, do I know you? Have I ever talked with you before?</p>
<p>Only on this forum.</p>
<p>Are you sure. Have you posted anythin on the Muhammed cartoons thread?</p>
<p>Yeah... that thread is part of the whole CC forum.</p>
<p>Do you believe in God?</p>
<p>Very strongly.</p>
<p>do you believe that there is only one interpretation of god?</p>
<p>I love this thread. Every time I think it dies, someone resurrects it. </p>
<p>I absolutely admire people like trancestorm, tetrahedron, s'vrone, UCLAri, IlliniJBravoEcho who inspire me with their logical arguments.</p>
<p>At the same time, I appreciate those on the other side: Justinian, Sevendust, GoldShadow, without which there would be no civil discourse.</p>
<p>There's a minimal chance of persuading the other party, but at least this debate will, at the very least, open up minds. Ignorance, contrary to popular belief, is anything but bliss. Perceive, understand (multiple sides), adapt, and support. That's how you form a belief.</p>
<p>
[quote]
There's a minimal chance of persuading the other party, but at least this debate will, at the very least, open up minds. Ignorance, contrary to popular belief, is anything but bliss. Perceive, understand (multiple sides), adapt, and support. That's how you form a belief.
[/quote]
Well spoken</p>
<p>In fact, it was only after exposure to an eclectic mix of religions that I became atheist. I started off as a RC christian. I then tried hinduism out to sample the eastern perspective. I then went to buddhism. I hopped around religions...All this was on my own conviction. My parents never forced me to attend any religious school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the support, trancestorm.</p>
<p>the concept of a god is to do two things:
1)fill in the blanks in what we do not understand.
as science has helped to fill in many of these 'blanks,' god (at least for me) is becoming less and less credible.
2)to give people a reason to exist. many people need a power higher than themselves to sustain them during hard times, and somebody to thank in the good times.</p>
<p>I have been able to find meaning in my life without a 'power from above,' as I am guessing many of the atheists here have done so as well, but ultimately it is a personal matter.</p>
<p>whatever floats your boat.</p>
<p>I have chosen to be atheist.</p>
<p>Why just atheist? why not go all the way and be nihilist?</p>
<p>Uh... 311Griff, that was the most intellectually dishonest post ever.</p>
<p>Nihilism is a philosophy that some atheists follow, but not nearly all.</p>
<p>In my opinion, God is fully understood once the person accepts Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. My life changed once I made that decision. In all intensive purposes, God is not a "security blanket", nor an answer to the unanswered. He is a loving and benevolent God in all aspects of my life.
When I was young, I attended a Roman Catholic school. I have to say that I found the RC doctrine to be ridiculous and ludicrous.<br>
I want to answer Gatordan's question from a while back about differntiating amongst the gods. I know my God is the one true God separate from the others because human sacrifice is not demanded. Now, I am not saying all of the Gods demanded this, but many did. Also, compare the Greek gods with my God. Indeed, the Greek gods were fickle figments of mans imagination.
If anything, God, Jehovah God, is the most believable.
I really enjoy this thread. I truly appreciate the arguments of both sides here.</p>
<p>
[quote]
do you believe that there is only one interpretation of god?
[/quote]
What exactly do you mean? I'll try to answer as best I can.
I believe that God has no shape, form, limits, or needs. Anything that fits that, I think, is fine.
As for how to get to know God or to enter heaven after death... there are multiple ways of doing so, all similar, but one that is preferred. As you may know, I'm Muslim, and I believe there's a certain hadith that says Muslims will make up about half of the inhabitants of Heaven.</p>