If we all lived our lives in a 'good' way,....helping others....promoting peace....loving our neighbours....looking after the poor, sick or needy....instead of worrying about 'the after life' (which may or may not exist), and the ultimate judgement when (or if) it comes.....then the fact we had lived our lives in a 'good way', would fulfil all the obligations that many religions promote, without taking our eye off the ball and doing the right thing 24/7 instead of worshiping a possible God!?...Surly if he exists he would rather we spent our lives physically endeavouring to continue his work rather than kneeling before him.....something he would certainly consider a total waste of time!
2007-01-07 12:22:59 · 25 answers · asked by THINKER 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many SAD individuals who seem to be afraid to allow e-mails.....I wonder why?
2007-01-07 12:59:45 · update #1
I like your thinking. The whole religion thing is now a nonsense, and has served its (limited) purpose. Religion drains mankind's energy, steering it away from this life and focusing it on the next, which only exists in peoples' heads.
2007-01-07 20:03:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i can only speak for myself, but i'm NOT afraid there is no God, because i KNOW there is! further, a hefty portion of looking after the poor,sick or needy...helping others, promoting peace, loving our neighbors, not to mention things like social justice (study your history, where would the civil rights movement be without people of faith?) are generally left to people of faith to accomplish-Christians don't worry about the afterlife or the 'ultimate judgment', we are assured by accepting in faith the free gift of salvation and redemption through Christ...i find it more than a little amusing that someone who seems to doubt God's existence in the first place is so certain what He would consider a waste of time...
2007-01-07 20:39:30 · answer #2 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps I should have left this to others, since I don't believe in god or gods, but I appreciated your thoughtful, human, cogent question. I'd say that from my experience, god is like--no offense intended--a security blanket for those who don't take responsibility for themselves. A patriarchal god like a father, who is both punishing & rewarding depending on concepts CREATED by humans & imposed on him. As for the last part--no, the god of Christianity DEMANDS worship. Worship & obey. & repent in order to go to heaven, even if you've done nothing harmful to anyone. Such an ego is unacceptable to me. If having "faith" comforts some, let them be. I would never try to convert them as they often do me. I find it presumptuous to project our disparity of morals, judgments & so on, on a "superior being." Truly, is it not? If god is so powerful & beyond comprehension, even to Christians, how could he possibly "think" as we do?
Edit: parrot is so on target. I had (note "had") a friend who Found the Way. He insisted it didn't matter a tad how nice, or giving, or caring I was; if I didn't accept Jesus as my saviour, I would go to hell. Bottom line. Also, Geoz, why would life be "pointless" without believing in god? Life is fascinating & up & down & quite a handful without spending so much time wanting to go to heaven, & fearing hell & assuming the thoughts of--whomever the individual's god may be. I've said this before, & will again: The most divisive thing is to say--I'm on god's side & you're not. The consequences of that single-mindedness have caused the most heinous crimes of man against man.
Edit: I don't think it was fair to say what you did about "afraid to allow e-mails." There are two users on this account, which in itself is confusing, & we simply don't have the time to to go back to the hastily put together 360 page. We don't even know how to get more than one account on IM. You made a not very nice assumption. People HAVE e-mailed the other account, the Capricorn symbol--DRAGON. & we've made good friends.
2007-01-07 20:38:47 · answer #3 · answered by Psychic Cat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its a great Idea I think. But the problem is people no matter what we think one thing is more inportant than another. One deed better than the next, and in some cases some people might think what you think is right is not right at all. So at the end of the day man kind will always have a strugle with one another. The idea behind God is not just how we should live in this wold but what God has planed for the next. Not once in history has one empire lasted and all have gained there glory by the blood of others. It is Mans heart no matter how many good people there are. So if there is a God where is he in all of this and what does he want from us and our naturaly gready nature.
2007-01-07 20:37:10 · answer #4 · answered by Michael P 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
firstly i am telling you i am a christian but hope my opinion/answer is not bias (although im sure you will now look at it AS bias no matter what i say). I do believe in God, and yes God does want us (christians and non christians) to live good lives such as 'loving our neighbours' 'helping others' 'looking after sick & needy' etc as you have already stated. But being our God (or whatever religion you have) he also wants us to be grateful for what he has given us - 'the ability to not hold grudges and love our neighbour', 'being able to help others weather it be through charity, donation or helping an old woman cross a road, or being healthy enough to look after someone else when they are sick or in need. He wants to show us hsi love and blessing in our lives but wants to make sure he is number 1 in our life and loves it when we praise & thank him. Its also an important part of a christian walk to go to church (worshipping) and it is not seen as a chore but instead something that we should WANT to do with this relationship with God. No he doesnt want us to be kneeling beofre him 24/7, he wants us to spread the Good News of him saving people of their sins and the best way to do that, is living a 'good way' so others will say to themselves "why are they so mcuh happier than me?".... i could og on forever but i dont have that much time as my boss is aobut to catch me!!!!
2007-01-07 21:51:41 · answer #5 · answered by WomanSoHeartless 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God does exist, as we who sought Him have come to know.
He wants all people of the earth to be His children now and throughout eternity. There is only one catch; He is perfect and only perfect people can survive being with Him.
He has accomplished a way through the Christ to give us perfection. It is available to all.
To tell people that they needn't seek this way is to take away their chance at receiving God's gift.
Why would you do that? What level of goodness do you think one must attain to have eternal life with God? HE HAS SAID that the "level" is PERFECTION.
But you have a choice to believe Him or not.
2007-01-07 20:54:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is no God...all you do is pointless.
You will die.....your excistance will end.
Your family will die...their excistance will end.
Nothing will remain of them.
Wheather you kill them all now or be good to them to their grave there is only one outcome...and that is the grave.
Have you ever SERIOUSLY thought about death?
Ever SERIOUSLY thought about the reason for life?
Ortodox Christianity tells us that this life is VERY IMPORTANT.
but that we must think about the Aftherlife too.
both being important.
We are afrain of there not being a God...because God is reason for both lives...if you think logical.
If you don't see the logic...then i belive to posses more knowledge on the matter than you. Because I do.
Used to be an Atheist untill the age of 16.
And no...no dramatical things happened in my life.
I was rich, and am still rich. was happy and am still happy.
I just did alot of philosophy and came to the conclusion
that with no God all we do is pointless anyway.
Wheather it is good or bad what we do.
2007-01-07 20:30:56 · answer #7 · answered by Geoz 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Couldn't agree more. In my opinion, if God and Jesus really existed, living BY Jesus should get you to heaven, not living FOR Jesus.
The "unbelievers are going to hell no matter how good they are" thing is the most absurd concept that organized religion tries to sell people, in my opinion. I wonder if theists realize how ridiculous they make God sound to atheists when they say he's going to send a loving, generous, helpful non-believer to burn for an eternity just for that reason.
2007-01-07 20:28:39 · answer #8 · answered by . 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
of course that is an a very respectable sentiment, but the truth is that many christians will foam at the mouth and call you a follower a satan for speaking like that. the way they see it, it doesn't matter if your a "good" person, you have to believe in god.
the thought that just being a good person and not believing in god's existence angers many christians because, as the bible tells them, you can only be with god through believeing in christianity
2007-01-07 20:33:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it would be less scary if there were NOT a god. Why do you think so many people try so hard to get rid of him, or any semblance of him? Why do they think that evolution makes sense, when even without the bible, evolution doesn't stand the test? People don't want to answer to a god. The good news is, God is out for your best interest, and loves you so much.
2007-01-07 20:27:43 · answer #10 · answered by oceansnsunsets 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋