My naive questions

[fr0d0]

Interesting question. It seems all humans already have some notion of what God is without learning about him or her. (God is not a man). All religious endeavour covers broadly the same ground, so you'd immediately recognise 'God', or expressions of spirituality in line with your thoughts in all of them. I wouldn't chose something that was popular and local just because of those. I'd choose all, some or one depending on how well it gells with my own understanding. How could I not?

The question isn't just for theists either. It's for everyone. Atheism is a choice about God. It's a rejection of every description. You didn't come to an atheist forum because you hadn't thought about the subject. The thoughts you already had drew you here.

I'd imagine your community OP are predominantly atheist and that's why you are too? Mine are but I didn't chose atheism.

[abaris]

The question isn't just for theists either. It's for everyone. Atheism is a choice about God. It's a rejection of every description. You didn't come to an atheist forum because you hadn't thought about the subject. The thoughts you already had drew you here.

In a sense it's what drew me here.

But it's the first time I actively looked for an atheist board and it had more to do with the hope of meeting some interesting people online than with my atheism. See, without giving it much thought, I have been an atheist for the better part of my life. I actually didn't do that much research into different religions. It was mythology that interested me most. And that led to the inevitable conclusion that mankind created all their gods in their image and not the other way round. All the gods presented have inherently human traits, complete with the prejudices of their times and their regions.

[robvalue]

Professor:

If you genuinely are hearing voices in your head, and are not talking metaphorically then:

1) You are deluded to the point of mental illness. I sincerely recommend you seek professional help for the good of yourself and those around you. I'm being serious, this is not an insult but concern.

2) Very few christians make such a claim, even fundamentalists. What makes you special?

3) If god told you to rape children, would you do it?

4) How can you distinguish between the voice of god in your head being truthful, and a lying or evil god deceiving you? Or the devil who killed god long ago and is impersonating him in a way indistinguishable to a mere mortal?

Piscinin: Hiya, yes it's a good point, one I've brought up before. There is a very high correlation between geographical location and religion. If christian X was born in a muslim country, the odds are that he'd be muslim instead with about 99% certainty. Hardly speaks to an "absolute truth". The reverse is also true, with slightly less certainty, due to more freedom of expression in some christian countries. Indeed, for something so important, you should spend your whole life studying absolutely any religion you can find to see which one is correct. Other analogies like you don't date everyone in the world fall flat, because you only have a limited amount of time to live, and the longer you search the less time you have to spend with the person. But with religion, we're talking about the eternity following this life. In that way, it makes this life next to meaningless. So if you're not spending every second you reasonably can researching all religions you can find, then you really don't care enough about your immortal soul. Actions speak louder than words. I hold that probably most religious people don't really believe what they say they believe. Their actions very often give them up.

Why would you take the risk? This life is nothing, it's like not staying until the end of a really important exam. Except infinitely more foolish than that. If I really thought my eternal soul rested on "picking" a religion, I would devote every possible second to the task of making sure I picked the right one. If you think you already know 100%, and that a false god wouldn't be able to deceive you, you're either misguidedly arrogant, infinitely lazy considering what is at stake, or you aren't very convinced that anything is actually at stake, much less infinite future time. You wouldn't believe even trivial claims on the "evidence" that is presented for religion, yet you accept the most important claim on that same scant evidence. Or rather, if you would accept the same standard of evidence for other things, you are an idiot. Analogy: you would hang someone for murder on the same level of evidence that you wouldn't accept to convict someone of petty theft.

[fr0d0]

In a sense it's what drew me here.

But it's the first time I actively looked for an atheist board and it had more to do with the hope of meeting some interesting people online than with my atheism. See, without giving it much thought, I have been an atheist for the better part of my life. I actually didn't do that much research into different religions. It was mythology that interested me most. And that led to the inevitable conclusion that mankind created all their gods in their image and not the other way round. All the gods presented have inherently human traits, complete with the prejudices of their times and their regions.

Thanks for the correction. I agree.

Yes those are your ideas about god, which led you to your position.

[Thumpalumpacus]

The question is, do you need any?

Yes, God's voice is a great comfort and leads me to many decisions and understanding of many things.

GC

Oh, so you need that voice in your head for comfort and guidance?

You couldn't find comfort and guidance anywhere else?

[Godscreated]

Yes, God's voice is a great comfort and leads me to many decisions and understanding of many things.

GC

Oh, so you need that voice in your head for comfort and guidance?

You couldn't find comfort and guidance anywhere else?

Not what I get from an all intelligent being, when you make God part of your life He is there always to help, it's a promise He makes to all believers, if we will just listen. Even if it comes through another person it's God working through them.

GC

[Piscinin]

Professor:

If you genuinely are hearing voices in your head, and are not talking metaphorically then:

1) You are deluded to the point of mental illness. I sincerely recommend you seek professional help for the good of yourself and those around you. I'm being serious, this is not an insult but concern.

2) Very few christians make such a claim, even fundamentalists. What makes you special?

3) If god told you to rape children, would you do it?

4) How can you distinguish between the voice of god in your head being truthful, and a lying or evil god deceiving you? Or the devil who killed god long ago and is impersonating him in a way indistinguishable to a mere mortal?

Piscinin: Hiya, yes it's a good point, one I've brought up before. There is a very high correlation between geographical location and religion. If christian X was born in a muslim country, the odds are that he'd be muslim instead with about 99% certainty. Hardly speaks to an "absolute truth". The reverse is also true, with slightly less certainty, due to more freedom of expression in some christian countries. Indeed, for something so important, you should spend your whole life studying absolutely any religion you can find to see which one is correct. Other analogies like you don't date everyone in the world fall flat, because you only have a limited amount of time to live, and the longer you search the less time you have to spend with the person. But with religion, we're talking about the eternity following this life. In that way, it makes this life next to meaningless. So if you're not spending every second you reasonably can researching all religions you can find, then you really don't care enough about your immortal soul. Actions speak louder than words. I hold that probably most religious people don't really believe what they say they believe. Their actions very often give them up.

Why would you take the risk? This life is nothing, it's like not staying until the end of a really important exam. Except infinitely more foolish than that. If I really thought my eternal soul rested on "picking" a religion, I would devote every possible second to the task of making sure I picked the right one. If you think you already know 100%, and that a false god wouldn't be able to deceive you, you're either misguidedly arrogant, infinitely lazy considering what is at stake, or you aren't very convinced that anything is actually at stake, much less infinite future time. You wouldn't believe even trivial claims on the "evidence" that is presented for religion, yet you accept the most important claim on that same scant evidence. Or rather, if you would accept the same standard of evidence for other things, you are an idiot. Analogy: you would hang someone for murder on the same level of evidence that you wouldn't accept to convict someone of petty theft.

Now that`s exactly my point, thanks for expressing my thoughts way better than i could ever do

I`ll answer tomorrov to the others, can`t do it today, have a nice weekend everyone.

[DeistPaladin]

It seems all humans already have some notion of what God is without learning about him or her. (God is not a man).

Apparently, the authors of the Bible didn't know this.

[Minimalist]

So how do you surmount the issue?

Don't need to, when God speaks to you, you know you've come to the true God. No other God has ever reached out to me.

GC

G-C's brain cramps are legendary.

[The Grand Nudger]

Not what I get from an all intelligent being, when you make God part of your life He is there always to help, it's a promise He makes to all believers, if we will just listen. Even if it comes through another person it's God working through them.

GC

Does laundry? Makes a mean guac? Pumps your gas while you wait?