(October 22, 2013 at 10:23 pm)Drich Wrote: I believe in the God of the bible.

If you call him Jehovah, I'm sure that'll be enough for everyone to figure it out.

I know higher powers in the sense of the individual person. Lol. I mean a higher power for all of humanity to answer to. Something that senses out moods, determines our fates, etc. My boo thang is in the military, we originally enlisted together. So I know all about that.

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(October 22, 2013 at 10:47 pm)Drich Wrote:

(October 22, 2013 at 10:31 pm)Writer Wrote: Okay. So to those who said god of the bible, were you raised to believe this way?

No.

I did not really find God till I was in my late teens early twenties.

What brought you to God? Can you name a specific event?

So you wanted to know if I feel there is a sense of purpose in my life. I don't think there is any pre-destined purpose for my existence, if that's what you mean and the only purpose in my life is the purpose I design for it.

Now that the preamble is out of the way:

No, I don't believe there is any form of higher power to which humanity as a race is answerable. Nor is there any justification for forming that conclusion, whether we're talking advanced alien progenitor race or an actual bona fide full-fledged god (which would be too silly for words).

I don't see how the follow-up question regarding the purpose of life necessarily follows, particularly as I don't "don't believe in anything"; but like others will say I make my own purpose, subject to ability, desire, motivation, opportunity, societal constraints etc. "No fate but which we make ourselves" and all that.

(October 22, 2013 at 10:31 pm)Writer Wrote: Many non believers like to ask for verification of his existence, but we cannot disprove it either.

What's with the "his"? If you want to conduct an impartial survey, you might want to keep an eye on potential biases. Just a tip.

And it's not a requirement that we disprove a claim. That the existence of this entity popularly known as "God" remains unproven is not our problem.

(October 22, 2013 at 9:32 pm)Writer Wrote: I give up. Lol.

Good, good. Welcome to the dark side.

Quote:So I'll post one question at a time and y'all can answer if you want however you want. So for starters, does anyone here believe in a supernatural higher power?

I do not believe in a supernatural higher power, what is 'supernatural' supposed to mean anyway? I do not believe in unfalsifiable ill defined things.

Quote:Any form of higher power.

Yeah, the IRS.

(October 22, 2013 at 10:31 pm)Writer Wrote: Okay. So to those who said god of the bible, were you raised to believe this way?

BTW, I was raised Catholic and believed fervently until about age 30 when the cracks in my faith started opening wider, and then collapsed completely when I realized I was just lying to myself and the universe made better sense if you look at it without some all-powerful deity controlling it.

Quote:To those who said higher powers but not a god, how would you describe the higher powers?

Well, like I said a higher power like the power of nature. Which you'd have to study meteorology to understand it. But I don't believe in any supernatural higher power.

Quote:To those who don't believe in anything, do you feel there is a sense of purpose in your life?

Yes, just like I'm assuming you and everyone else does. I've got a job, a wife, and two kids which are my primary focus in life right now, but aside from work and family, I believe the purpose of life is to not only live life, but to also enjoy it. I live my life just like religious people do, except that I don't take time out to worship or pray.

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(October 22, 2013 at 11:09 pm)Cinjin Wrote: If you call him Jehovah, I'm sure that'll be enough for everyone to figure it out.

You said "Jehovah!"

In before Min:

Okay, so first of all, if everyone can get off my dick real quick. I understand that these questions are worded wrong, that's something I'm gonna have to fix. But I want the book itself to be unbiased, so I'm asking the questions people have asked me as a nonbeliever. God is vague, I mean any form of the word. I'll probably say heaven, him, believers, whatever. I don't necessarily mean only them. I just never reworded these questions. If it bothers you, get out of the Christianity forum. I posted in here because it is more predominant. And I have many questions about the bible and the religion specifically. If my questions seem like they aren't catering to you, simply tell me how I should've worded it instead of jumping on me.

Excuse me? You come in here with terms that everyone decided were less than reasonable and this is how you respond to constructive criticism? Your days in the publishing world are going to rather distressing, I fear. And now you throw your weight around and tell us how to behave in our own forum?

Good luck with your book, because I wish no further part in it.

I don't see how the constructive criticism offered to you is "jumping" on you. Methinks you have a bit of a thin skin. But the issue is that if you want to be totally impartial when it comes to religion, it helps to know that biases you may be unconsciously putting into your work (e.g. "To those who don't believe in anything"). We all do it, we're only human. And to totally honestly answer questions it helps to have the questions to be well-defined.