What is your thoughts on the universe? Do you believe in a higher power, are we alone?

Question

People always quote the Bible or this or that, but rarely does it have any true meaning to them. They are only saying what they were taught, but I want know what you believe in your secret heart. If you have quotes or other statements give them to back you up. I just want an honest answer and nobody ridiculing another as they do in R&S. Also how does that affect your thought on the world and what will happen in the future. Do you believe we are the only sentient beings of life?
And I think all of you beforehand for humoring me and helping me find like minded, rational people to have an intelligent discussion with.

Answer 1

Hmm, probably the oldest question ever asked, and answered. It certainly is the question I've had the most answers to---from an innocent I think so, to a curious I'm not sure, to an angry NO WAY!, and ... you know how it goes :).

Right now I think my answer would be I don't know. I've stopped asking myself this question. I only remember it when I have this need, which is rare, to worship. By need to worship, I don't mean a need for serious prayer with props and in full religious regalia. I mean a need to just be alone and pray, to think of my mortality and of unexplained things--good and bad---in my and my family's lives.

I was brought up as a Roman Catholic but in a household where we had a copy of the Koran and books on Buddhism. Which maybe a good or bad thing, I'm not really sure. What I'm sure of is that the Bible is a historical document, not something handed down by God with a flash of light. It is an artifact that can be traced to historians writing them down, making mistakes, translating them and the Roman Catholic Church refusing parts of it and accepting parts of it. As for the God behind it, I like the New Testament God more than the Old one. But not enough to believe. My answer would be: I want to believe in a higher power but haven't found a way to do so.

I agree that religion is something man needs to survive. But I also agree that having this need, as well as having people who, like you say, don't really mean the quotes they lift from the Bible doesn't invalidate the belief that there is a higher power.

I think a great part of what I don't like in "believing" and being a "believer" is the way religion is used and has been used for so many horrible and painful things. The Crusades, the religious wars today. How celebrating one's belief often has to be loud and full of symbolic gestures. At least where I come from.

Answer 2

You have asked three questions, I will deal only with them. There is not enough space here for my thoughts on the universe, I will simply say that the subject is fascinating. I do not believe in a higher power, what I learn ed about the former subject has made that an easy decision. We are not alone, not that it makes the least bit of difference, we are all islands to ourselves, we can not feel an others pain, for this reason we should not add to an others burden.

Answer 3

Yes I believe in a higher power. Not because of the Bible or any other book, but life experiences have led me to that belief.

Of course, I am willing to accept I may be wrong about that. But it would require a belief in thousands of coincidences occurring every day that does stretch my credulity somewhat.

Answer 4

Okay.

Honestly. This is a good question! I mean it. I have yet to be asked what my opinion was.

Ok a little bit of backstory: The universe is vast. It's huge and pretty mush a bunch of rocks flying around in almost no certian order. It is by chance that we were able to become what we are today. For instance, without the Goldylocks Effect we couldn't have survived. Without the atmosphere and conditions of the planet we live on, we wouldn't have became what we are. It is by an off chance almost a one in one billion possibility of us even being here. his were god comes in? If there is one.

So with that, I believe that there is a higher power. I knqw you want to know what I believe based on what is in my heart. But I can't do that. I am a scientific person. I look at hard solid facts. Thats the way my brain thinks.

Now what comes from my heart: I want to believe in a god. I want an explaination to why I am here, I want to know that my life and theu niverse has some sort of meaning and isn't trivial. I want the security in knowing that I willl have some place to go after life. And I want to know that all I have done so far in this life hasn't been for nothing.

Now for my conclusion. Is there a god? Life can be defined as a moving and thinking for itself organisim. But were does life come from? The very DNA in the nucleus of each of the billions of billions of billions of cells in our body? Or from smallbacteris living in pot holes in south montana. Were did we come from. Were did it start. How could something as great as life with it's phenomenons as DNA itself to the elusive Bermuda Triangle in the sea be made? Were did it all start. A answer for this would be the religious concept of god himself. So this is were you ask yourself. For all the reasoning of scientific answers and all the unexplained parts of life. Was it created by a higher power or just a off chance coincedence?

Answer 5

I don't believe in a higher power, except in the case of when people create one (e.g., believing in god) to help them cope with problems. And then, since it's created, it really isn't any higher than our own imaginations/faith/beliefs. That said, it seems erroneous to say that we're "alone," just because there isn't any "higher power" guiding us. We have each other and every other thing in the universe and we have amazing ways to form and maintain connections with others. We can make meaningful relationships with each other and nature that can give enormous meaning to our short lives. And no, I don't think we're the only sentient beings--anything that has to scramble to stay alive (the definition of life, eh?) is sentient, in my opinion.

Answer 6

Intelligent discussing are hard to come by now a days. A higher power, no, as far as i'm concerned we are here by accident. there for we are probably not alone. Accidents can happen more then once. I also believe that science can explain anything, it just hasn't yet. on another philosophical point love is out there. I have had the blessing to met someone so like me i hardly said a word to her and i knew everything about her. not her name which i forget, but the important things. i knew how she ticked. i was at my cousins Bat mitzvah and i was out on the dance floor. i looked into one girls eyes and a burst of happiness erupted from behind my pupils. i then began to dance competitively, at her and without saying a word she danced back. it was on of those "anything you can do i can do better" thing. but what was interesting to me was, "how did i know?" and i assume that she felt the same reaction. what part of the universe allowed me to know who she was. theirs something weird at work that science and humanity has barely even started to understand.

Answer 7

If you go deeply inot the wisdom of the original people of America, the 'Indians', you will find the answer to this question for yourself. No-one will give it to you on a plate, if they do they're either lying or just parroting somethinng the've been told. Do vision quests inder the guidance of Native Americans and the answers will slowly unfold. Best of luck with your quest. Gerry

Answer 8

The universe is a wonderful place;
Yes, there is a higher power;
We are not alone, but I doubt if there is intelligent extraterrestrial life.
True, most people are too lazy to think for themselves or to try to think things through, but that does not invalidate the Bible (or Koran, or whatever). I have never met a Jew, Muslim, or Christian that PRACTICED what their religion teaches. Proof there is a higher power; He realises our shortcomings and encourages us to "forgive" others and to be "forgiven".

Answer 9

why don't you read the first few pages of the Bible for yourself and see what you think?