Why do you believe in God?

[Lek]

[quote='Pyrrho' pid='932605' dateline='1430423352']
It is the story of Abraham and Isaac.  In the story, being willing to kill your child, just because God tells you to do so, is considered to be a good thing.  One either accepts such stories or one does not.  Every Christian, every Jew, and every Muslim, should be willing to do that, as it is part of their heritage.  It is only by rejecting their own sacred scripture that one can consistently refuse to kill one's children when commanded by God to do so.  All of the Christians, Jews, and Muslims who would refuse to kill their children, whenever God tells them to do so, are rejecting the clear message of text sacred to them, and without which, their religions are unsupported and unworthy of belief.

Okay.  But realize that God stopped Abraham and I don't know anybody else who God commanded to kill their child.

[Pyrrho]

It is the story of Abraham and Isaac.  In the story, being willing to kill your child, just because God tells you to do so, is considered to be a good thing.  One either accepts such stories or one does not.  Every Christian, every Jew, and every Muslim, should be willing to do that, as it is part of their heritage.  It is only by rejecting their own sacred scripture that one can consistently refuse to kill one's children when commanded by God to do so.  All of the Christians, Jews, and Muslims who would refuse to kill their children, whenever God tells them to do so, are rejecting the clear message of text sacred to them, and without which, their religions are unsupported and unworthy of belief.

Okay.  But realize that God stopped Abraham and I don't know anybody else who God commanded to kill their child.

Deuteronomy 21 [emphasis is added]:

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.


Since the father is one of the men of the city, he is commanded, by God, to kill his son.  God did not stop the fathers who followed this.


Your lack of knowledge of the Bible is appalling, given your pretense at following it.

[robvalue]

God forgot about the "last minute save" with this guy too...

http://youtu.be/Pt66kbYmXXk

But I'm sure it's fine because God sounds like good or something.

[Thumpalumpacus]

What is your evidence or what is your reason for believing what you believe in?

I think that God just instilled it in me. I believe that the universe needed a creator who is other than, and above, natural things. I feel his presence in my life and I also believe the people, who I deem as trustworthy, when they tell of how God has worked in them in a supernatural way. Any time I feel like I'm on the edge, my question to myself is: "If someone has a gun to my head and tells me to deny God or he'll blow my head off, what would I do"? That really takes it to the defining level. My answer to myself has always been that I'd let him shoot. I figure that if I ever answer that I would deny him, then that's the time when I no longer believe.

Proof positive of faith's irrationality. That's as stupid as dying for a flagpole rag.

---

ITT, martyrdom fantasy meets Walter Mitty.

No one cares enough about your putative faith to stick a gun to your head.

[professor]

Parkers, you may want to consider the murdering Muslims who are currently rampaging in the name of their god,
demanding others bow before Allah or die.
They seem to care about everyone's faith.

I find it interesting that the OP's question on why one believes in God, is nitpicked so quickly and turned on Lek's honest answer.
Reminds me of one of those Nature shows where Darwin's religion is constantly promoted, as a victim is selected by the prey.

[Minimalist]

It is the story of Abraham and Isaac.  In the story, being willing to kill your child, just because God tells you to do so, is considered to be a good thing.  One either accepts such stories or one does not.  Every Christian, every Jew, and every Muslim, should be willing to do that, as it is part of their heritage.  It is only by rejecting their own sacred scripture that one can consistently refuse to kill one's children when commanded by God to do so.  All of the Christians, Jews, and Muslims who would refuse to kill their children, whenever God tells them to do so, are rejecting the clear message of text sacred to them, and without which, their religions are unsupported and unworthy of belief.

Okay.  But realize that God stopped Abraham and I don't know anybody else who God commanded to kill their child.

[Lek]

Deuteronomy 21 [emphasis is added]:

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

What can I say? You got me! Maybe it worked so well that nobody ever had to go that far. Thankfully, we don't come under that law anymore.

[Pyrrho]

Deuteronomy 21 [emphasis is added]:

18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

What can I say?  You got me!  Maybe it worked so well that nobody ever had to go that far.  Thankfully, we don't come under that law anymore.

The words of Jesus himself, according to Matthew 5:

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

[Jenny A]

Why would your life be worth throwing away for the sake of giving the Old Guy a thumbs-up? I'm sure he would forgive you once your time really did come given the circumstances, if he's as loving and fluffy as you say (hint; he isn't).

Jesus died for me, so I'm willing to do the same in return.

* * *

---

 
Is there anything important enough for you to die for?

Yes, Jesus died.  If the Bible is really true, your death will be immediately followed by everlasting life in heaven, and dying is no real sacrifice on your part.  His either if you think about it.  But if not, you just lost you life, and nothing was accomplished for anyone whatsoever.  So the pragmatist in me suggests you deny, and live another day.

As for whether there's anything I'm willing to die for, I hope the answer would be my family, but I can't be sure I really would until I'm faced with the actual choice.  Talk is cheap.  Doing is harder.

[Polaris]

It works for me.