(April 5, 2012 at 4:15 pm)Norfolk And Chance Wrote: Why do we need a first cause?

We don't, that's why it's not a strong argument. There's never really a strong argument for god. I believe for many reasons, none of which I can expect you to understand. Not because this is above your understanding, but because our minds are wired differently from each other.

(April 5, 2012 at 10:33 am)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: I feel pretty safe from that. My belief is not a major component of my life, It's just one of those things I believe.
I don't believe god is something you reason yourself to believe. And If I decide I actually need a reason, I'll just stop believing. Simple enough.
I've kept myself at this state of belief for 3 years, so I don't see myself snapping now.

I hope you are referring to your belief in god, because the content of all your beliefs is a major part of your life. Your beliefs are what you live by - whether you consciously acknowledge them or not. However, my question was not specifically about your belief in god per-se, but attributes and characteristics assigned to him.

Let me give you a example. Suppose someone starts telling you about god from the basics - that he is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient etc. and keeps on adding other qualities, likes, dislikes - that he'd like you to be charitable, that he wouldn't want you to kill anyone. You keep on adding that and pretty soon, you would have the Bible. At what point exactly are you going to say - "Hold on. To believe that, I need to see some proof"?

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(April 5, 2012 at 3:01 pm)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: I don't think any belief should be taken seriously.

That's where you are wrong. Your beliefs determine your actions. Which is why they should be taken very, very seriously.

(April 5, 2012 at 8:14 pm)genkaus Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 10:33 am)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: I feel pretty safe from that. My belief is not a major component of my life, It's just one of those things I believe.
I don't believe god is something you reason yourself to believe. And If I decide I actually need a reason, I'll just stop believing. Simple enough.
I've kept myself at this state of belief for 3 years, so I don't see myself snapping now.

I hope you are referring to your belief in god, because the content of all your beliefs is a major part of your life. Your beliefs are what you live by - whether you consciously acknowledge them or not. However, my question was not specifically about your belief in god per-se, but attributes and characteristics assigned to him.

Let me give you a example. Suppose someone starts telling you about god from the basics - that he is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient etc. and keeps on adding other qualities, likes, dislikes - that he'd like you to be charitable, that he wouldn't want you to kill anyone. You keep on adding that and pretty soon, you would have the Bible. At what point exactly are you going to say - "Hold on. To believe that, I need to see some proof"?

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(April 5, 2012 at 3:01 pm)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: I don't think any belief should be taken seriously.

That's where you are wrong. Your beliefs determine your actions. Which is why they should be taken very, very seriously.

Yes I meant my outlandish beliefs.

I stop at the basics. My idea of god lacks perfection and omnibenevolence. Claiming to know his personality is where it gets too ridiculous.

(April 5, 2012 at 8:29 pm)Adjusted Sanity Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 8:14 pm)genkaus Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 10:33 am)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: I feel pretty safe from that. My belief is not a major component of my life, It's just one of those things I believe.
I don't believe god is something you reason yourself to believe. And If I decide I actually need a reason, I'll just stop believing. Simple enough.
I've kept myself at this state of belief for 3 years, so I don't see myself snapping now.

I hope you are referring to your belief in god, because the content of all your beliefs is a major part of your life. Your beliefs are what you live by - whether you consciously acknowledge them or not. However, my question was not specifically about your belief in god per-se, but attributes and characteristics assigned to him.

Let me give you a example. Suppose someone starts telling you about god from the basics - that he is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient etc. and keeps on adding other qualities, likes, dislikes - that he'd like you to be charitable, that he wouldn't want you to kill anyone. You keep on adding that and pretty soon, you would have the Bible. At what point exactly are you going to say - "Hold on. To believe that, I need to see some proof"?

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(April 5, 2012 at 3:01 pm)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: I don't think any belief should be taken seriously.

That's where you are wrong. Your beliefs determine your actions. Which is why they should be taken very, very seriously.

Yes I meant my outlandish beliefs.

I stop at the basics. My idea of god lacks perfection and omnibenevolence. Claiming to know his personality is where it gets too ridiculous.

Huh? How do you know god is a he and not a she or a neuter?

I believe in what Jesus said and testified to.

And how do you know "what Jesus said and testified to"?

I believe C Rod is taking a strong hallucinogen.

(April 5, 2012 at 8:35 pm)Phil Wrote: Huh? How do you know god is a he and not a she or a neuter?

Sorry. Habit from when I viewed god as male. I meant "it".

(April 5, 2012 at 8:46 pm)Stimbo Wrote: And how do you know "what Jesus said and testified to"?

The bible, duh. Where else should i look, maybe a historian that might not have believed him and was simultaneously taking down all events that were happening. The bible might not be the best reason but that's why it is belief and not incontrovertible fact, check the sig.

So you don't know what Jesus said and did, you only know what it says in the bible. Ok, fine. Why should we take the bible's word as an authority?