I personally don't believe in organized religion, including attending church and reading the bible. However, I firmly believe in God and Jesus and Heaven, just not in the forms of worship that modern day religion has become. I guess I believe in more of Jesus' original teachings that stated that you didn't have to worship in places of wood and stone to believe and worship God. That being said, I've found that I fit in with neither atheists, nor organized believers. In many cases, I've found myself at odds with both atheists for my belief in God and with organized believers for not going to church in the same forum thread debate. You would think that organized believers would find me closer to their belief system than atheists, but many times I've been singled out for being just as far away from their ideology and accused of being misguided and lazy. One reason I disagree with organized religion's stance that if you don't worship as they do, then you won't be accepted into Heaven by God. I was just wondering if there were others out there with similar beliefs. I was also wondering how many people that just consider themselves spiritual here without necessarily believing in God the way I do. I also wanted to get a discussion going since I see that most threads only are about arguing which is right and/or for only atheists or organized believers. I wanted a thread exclusively for non-organized believers and spiritualists. While although different than non-organized believers, spiritualists I consider closer to my belief system and welcome them as well since there aren't as many threads dedicated to anything other than organized religion or atheism without being told you are wrong in your beliefs and criticized for not worshiping properly. This is an open thread to discuss your views or stances if you are a non-organized religion believer in God or a spiritualist.
Well i am an atheist, i keep out of relgion topics in real life. Or at least i do, i just respect everyone's decision and keep my comments to my self.
I can respect that. Some people really should keep their comments to themselves. I'm not saying you're one of those, just that some people can't help but overly criticize others decisions on their belief systems. I generally respect others views also, unless they're being a d-bag about it. Then I have to question what they're really trying to represent. I've got friends in both other camps as well as similar like myself. I personally like the diversity. While many are only friends with those that they find similar to themselves. I think it limits them as an individual and makes them close minded. I was just curious to see who on here fell between organized religion and atheism. I see posts all the time for both of those areas of belief/disbelief, so I just wanted to make a place for those that felt they didn't fit with either of those.
I am a non-religious believer in God. I believe the bible is a book of tales or old guide to life about a God called I am and everyone in it worships him. I know I am a child of said God and in essence I am one with the very same God. I know I set the stage for my destiny, that if I think bad thoughts then bad things will happen but the opposite works a treat too. I believe that is a big reason for the continuation of a religious society. Many unbelievers agree there is a kharmic force around us and I believe that is the hand of God. He has never left, nor will he, as long as thinkers remain. I believe God is the collector of all our thoughts and constantly acts upon them, depending on the pressure applied. Believing brings new stuff into existence. I believe I can make a chair, so it is. I believe I can fix my car, so I do. If I believe I have no knowledge about cars and therefore can not fix them, yet somehow try the repair then I'm asking for trouble. If I believe McDonalds always misses at least one product from my order then I can't be surprised when it happens. We are all connected. I can think "oh I think I will make a coffee" then keep typing. If I really want that coffee and have true intentions to make it then it will arrive whether I make it or not. Usually, if not me, someone within the room will pick up the 'vibe' and ask if I want a cuppa. This incredible force, I believe, is the I am God.
I don't believe neither do i believe. I think there must be a reason why people say this exist and that doesn't and what not. Maybe we are not alone here and maybe there is another dimension somewhere else. Who knows. As for now, we should all respect one another and accept the religions that a present at the moment.
Why are you so upset about this? i think it's up to everybody: believe or not. Actually i believe in God 'cause felt His arm in my life a lot of times. i just want to say if you even don't believe in God and if you don't want to pray Him the way churches suggest you, just believe He is here and he sees everything and when you will need help, He would help you
Who is upset Erica? No one's posts elude to that interpretation. I was simply trying to find if there were others on this forum similar to my belief system. Maybe you thought that I meant that some religious people have sided against me as anger, but it wasn't. That was to distinguish between them and myself. Good to hear all of the responses. While in the minority, at least there are others out there with similar beliefs.
I think religion is a tool. And yes, I'm with you - I'm a believer. And you don't need go to church to talk to God. Use your heart.
I see no reason to believe that there is something out there for us. I don't see anything special in human's life except that I'm of this species.. But there are other mammals, and even big apes if you absolutely need the same morphology to be meaningful. So of course for me there is no afterlife, so in this life, why should I bother? If mister god wants to play hide and seek, he can play alone. So I can feel you about the organized religions, but on the rest, no. If I had to say something it would be: keep on thinking about it until you reach the conclusion. But honestly you don't annoy me the slightest. The ones from organized religions yes, I guess they all think they're right because they see other people believing the same book when they go to the worship house, but truth is not in numbers of humans, well except if they're armed or threathening
I appreciate your candor on this James. While I disagree with your premise on nothingness, I can respect your decision in that conclusion for yourself. However, I do agree with your view on organized religion and seeing power in numbers.
I believe in God, and I would also like to know some real questions which sometimes forced me to believe that a power exists for sure. questions like Where do we come from were do go after we die what existed before the big bang happened Atheists believe that we are just one form of energy but the real question is how did the energy came into existence at the first place.
It's not because you and I don't know the answer that we can accept an easy explanation, just because some people say "hey look, the answer is all written in this book" (or that book, or that other one, etc.) It's called wishful thinking.. Just think about it, the dolphins don't know the answers anymore than we do, so do they believe in some god? Probably or maybe.. The difference with us is the invention of writing.. before it was all talk, but there already were beliefs and people 'in the know' with stories passing on generations, so perhaps it's the same stage for dolphins tribes.. But anyway, I won't push my own thinking here since the thread was started for a specific audience, so it's my last message here, I hope for sunfyre7896 others will do the same, otherwise it will be just another same thread Good luck.
Yes it may be easy to accept the existence of God for getting all the answers but why it is necessary to deny a concept if we haven't yet got any proof regarding the same. You simply can't deny the fact because you can't prove it. Galileo too was hunted for arguing with the Church but eventually he was proven right... So, you just can't rule out a possibility of a power which people like Jesus, Lord Buddha, Lord Ram and other great historic personalities have been telling us.. May be they too like Galileo, knew about the source of our energy...
Some people believe in God, while others do not. Neither can prove there is a God or there isn't a God at this time, if ever. In the end it comes down to the questions you ask and what you specifically believe. I suppose with all that that's why the call it faith. Search for your own answers and believe what you want to believe. Don't let what others believe or say sway you off your faith for or against a God/s. What they believe shouldn't matter ultimately for you.
I think religion doesn't ,matter. What matter most is that you are wholehearted person, you do things in a good way, your kind and faithful.