For People Who Believe In God: A few Questions?

Question

If you're of an organized faith or not.

1. Do you feel you know everything?

2. Does it bother you when you're called "stupid" or without "intelligence" "illogical" for what you believe in?

3. How do feel about the "secular" community claiming the words reason and logic?

4. Do you reject scientific knowledge?

5. What do you say when people blame God for all the bad in the world. The Wars, Darfur all the usual's?

6. And lastly, what are you sick of having to clarify or defend over and over again? A lame argument you're just tired of?

And yes this is a repeat question some of you might recognize it. I got a lot of good answers last time. Hoping for more!

Thanks you very much!!!!

I MEANT (THANK) YOU VERY MUCH!

EXCUSE THE ERROR. . .

Answer 1

1. No, I do not feel that I know everything. About religion, especially, I know very little. I am very open-minded about other people's beliefs. I believe that my religion and beliefs are right, but I also accept that they could be wrong. I am okay with that.

2. Yes, it does bother me when people say things about what I believe. I have my own personal reasons for believing what I do, and I don't feel that a belief can be wrong. It's basically a form of opinion. It can't be proved one way or another, therefore I am not stupid or illogical. I also do not feel the need to put down other people about their beliefs or lack thereof.

3. I don't yet have an opinion on this as I have never given it much thought.

4. No, I do not reject scientific knowledge. I am open to the theory of evolution. In fact, I believe the world was created through both creation and evolution. I believe wholly in a mix of science and religion. I don't see how it could have happened otherwise.

5. I believe that while God is all-knowing, people still have free will. I'm not going to explain how that's possible here because it's complicated. However, God cannot be responsible for everything bad happening. He has left us to make our own choices, and therefore it is the people responsible for the bad things. If my beliefs are correct, we will all be punished in the end, some more so than others.

6. I don't mind clarifying or defending myself. I am tired of Atheists saying "Prove the existence of God." It can't be done, and my answer to them is prove that He doesn't exist. And I want 100% proof without a doubt.


By the way, this line of questioning was interesting, really made me think. I can't wait to read other's responses. I know I'm going to get hate for this, but if it matters I am a Messianic Jew.

Answer 2

1. Do you feel you know everything?

Absolutely not

2. Does it bother you when you're called "stupid" or without "intelligence" "illogical" for what you believe in?

People are entitled to what they want to believe, but I don't understand why logic or intelligence and a belief in God has to mutual exclusive.

3. How do feel about the "secular" community claiming the words reason and logic?

What is a "secular" community? Secular is merely defined as that which does not pertain to religion. We live in a secular society, we don't have religion forced upon us. Most of us don't force our beliefs on others, many of us don't even make any reference to God to even our friends. We're all secular in some way. Secularism doesn't mean that religion has to be pushed out, just kept in the private sphere.

And logic and reason has a place in any community.


4. Do you reject scientific knowledge?

I believe the universe is roughly 14 billion years old, that the Earth is 4 billion, that the theory of natural selection explains a lot. What does that tell you?

5. What do you say when people blame God for all the bad in the world. The Wars, Darfur all the usual's?

God doesn't cause the wars and Darfur, people do, war is an economic phenomenon, a battle for resources. God doesn't have anything to do with it and the most troubling notion, one that is responsible for much brutality is the idea that God stands by a favoured nation in war.

6. And lastly, what are you sick of having to clarify or defend over and over again? A lame argument you're just tired of?

The idea that people who believe in God don't enjoy life. Who says you have to give up the here and now? Not me, that's for sure. I love life.

The idea that you "must accept all texts of your faith in a literal sense, even those you find disagreeable" this is what Christopher Hitchens once said. Why? There are many of us who believe that many scriptures are either not to be taken literally, had some type of other meaning, of in the case of us Christians, no longer apply (i.e. Old Testament formalities). I really don't think God wants us to kill witches, or people who work on the Sabbath, or homosexuals, these are all things Jesus would take a stance against. Why reject the idea that there could be some other explanation? The athests who take these assertions sound much like the fundamentalists who say that we're going to go to hell for not being Biblical absolutists (even though that's basically impossible). I'm not impressed with people, on either side of the argument, that take this dogmatic an approach to such complex matters.

Hope this long answer helps!

Answer 3

1. Do you feel you know everything?
No, no one can know everything. Or even get close enough to.

2. Does it bother you when you're called "stupid" or without "intelligence" "illogical" for what you believe in?
Of course! I don't insult people who believe in the Big Bang.

3. How do feel about the "secular" community claiming the words reason and logic?
Let them believe what they want.

4. Do you reject scientific knowledge?
Nope, some of it is logical.

5. What do you say when people blame God for all the bad in the world. The Wars, Darfur all the usual's?
There's an evil angel named Lucifer.
He is given the ability to let others turn from God and they do with their lives what they want to -- if they succumb to evil.

6. And lastly, what are you sick of having to clarify or defend over and over again? A lame argument you're just tired of?
That everyone has their own opinon.

-matt

Answer 4

1. Do you feel you know everything?

I feel like I know nothing if everyone believes everything the book says and take out what they think is wrong.....what a buncha bull

2. Does it bother you when you're called "stupid" or without "intelligence" "illogical" for what you believe in?

It does...i believe in something that people take for granted.....the catholic religion used it's beliefs for bad than for good...just look at the past and all it's wars it had created......why can't we just believe in our religion in peace and not force others to believe in what we believe and think that everyone is wrong?????

3. How do feel about the "secular" community claiming the words reason and logic?

Nothing wrong with that. If they think we are weird, then let it be. We don't have to right to fight back or dis on them because my religion was suppose to be a peaceful one..

4. Do you reject scientific knowledge?
NO i dont. W/o science we cannot grow. and w/o religion we have no hope for growing.

5. What do you say when people blame God for all the bad in the world. The Wars, Darfur all the usual's?

I can accept that. Why would God cause so much pain???? is it to bring everyone to heaven faster? i dont think so. U can also look at the bright side of it all...but who does that when people like George w bush murders his own people and thousands of others?

6. And lastly, what are you sick of having to clarify or defend over and over again? A lame argument you're just tired of?

I dont even bother. If people believe this way about us. then let it be you know!!! who every said we were perfect? god created us because we were imperfect. we take what they say and try to make it into a positive

Answer 5

1. I don't know even close to everything.

2. It doesn't really bother me if people think I'm stupid for believeing what I believe, because most of them haven't had the experiences I have or don't really have an understanding of what and why I believe.

3. I think anyone who has studied and understands something well can claim reason and logic, if they're secular fine, if they're religious, also fine.

4. I like science. It explains to me how God did the things he did.

5. When people blame God for bad things in the world, I just point out that it's people's bad decisions and hatefulness that cause those problems. It doesn't stop the arguement, but that's my standpoint.

6. I do geta little tired of explaining that the Old Testament law in the bible was replaced by a new Covenant sealed by Christ's sacrifice, which is why Christian's don't follow all the laws of the old testament. That's one that comes up about 50 times a day here on R&S.

Answer 6

1. heck no! in some ways I don't think humans are capable of "knowing everything." I don't think I know everything there is to know about God because he's not there talking to me about himself.

2. Yes and no. It is very rude to say that about anyone, but I'm always willing to listen to other's beliefs. We can usually agree that there is a "being" that is above man. Other than that it's just debate on the details.

3. Unless you're a priest who has dedicated his/her life to God, I consider everyone else secular. Reason and logic are perfect reasons to question religion. That is why we can't seem to agree on one religion.

4. I believe that religious beliefs can also be somewhat scientific. For example, we can agree that "the Big Bang" is a scientific explanation of how the world was created. I could agree that God was the cataclysm that started the whole thing and in essence, proves the scientific evidence of the Big Bang.

5. It really makes me angry when people unknowingly put bad/good results on God or the Devil. God can smite us, but there is no way to prove that God isn't having one thing happen for the greater purpose. It is always best to keep a positive attitude even in the worst of times. People should understand we aren't puppets, and God doesn't control our actions. So blaming him for a person's mistake is not only illogical but immoral.

6. A lame argument...probably whether or not a specific sin is worse than another. Trying to define the grey area.

Answer 7

1. No, I don't know everything, but I do know some things.

2. Yes, it bothers me when people consider me stupid, illogical, or unintelligent. I'm not the least enclined to believe it, but it still bothers me.

3. I'm happy for anybody who embraces reason and logic. That's why I enjoy debating empiricists, and atheists, more than I enjoy debating Taoists, New Agers, and post-modernists.

4. I don't reject scientific knowledge. I just reject the idea that scientfic knowledge is the ONLY kind of knowledge we can have.

5. When people blame God for the bad things that happen, I question them on why they blame God for it. Their answer will determine how I respond.

6. I'm sick of having to clarify that "faith" does not mean "belief in the absense of evidence," and that the moral argument does NOT state that atheists can't be moral.

Answer 8

For People Who Believe In God: A few Questions?
If you're of an organized faith or not.

1. Noooooo, far from it.

2. It does get old after a while. But I just feel sorry for the accuser because they don't have God in their lives and can't grasp the concept of Him.

3. It's understandable because God is so complex, that His existance is difficult to understand with only faith and no evidence.

4. No; I think science is something else to learn about.

5. I reply that God gave everyone free will, and that many people use that freedom to exact terror and evil on others to be in control. God's not to blame. If He controlled us, we would all be Stepford people.

6. I don't really get sick of defending or clarifying God or my beliefs. I do get sick of the (few) non-believers who are like what you describe in #2, or more importantly people who deliberately insult and/or mock God & Jesus. But then I really start to pity those people.

Answer 9

1. Now that I believe in God, I am aware of how little I know.

2. No it doesn't bother me, I am secure in my belief , therefore I am not concerned with the opinions others may have of me because of it.

3. I do not follow the secular community, therefore it's words of reason and logic mean nothing to me.

4. No I do not reject scientific knowledge because it is fact, I do reject scientific speculation where creation and the existence of God are concerned .

5. God has given his people " rules or commandments" but also freedom of choice, the bad in the world is a result of the sin fullness and disobedience of his people.

(example, there are laws and regulations set forth to insure the safety of drivers and pedestrians. So who's fault is it if these rules are broken and someone is hurt, the one who made the rule, or the driver who disobeyed the law?)

6. I wouldn't say 'sick' of it, it can get monotonous , but I never really 'tire' of it because maybe, in one of my 'arguments' someone may start to think about things and make a life changing decision.

Answer 10

1. Absolutely not. My religion is based on self learning and reaching a point of peace. If I knew it all, there would be no place for faith.

2. Yes. But not to the point where I vocalize it. It is my belief that few can say no to this, because as devoted as you are to your religion it is hard to hear someone say your wrong. But i just take what they say and use it as strength toward my meditation and such.

3. I think those words when used are a bit ignorant. Faith relys on faith and saying logic explains it defeats the purpose of the relgion itself.

4. No. Never. My personal religion conflicts with very few known scientific laws, I know many other religions have more of a problem with this. Taking the scriptures literally is not often the best thing to do.

5. I say maybe it is maybe it isnt. Its not something I like to think about, but often times I must think to myself to say no, god can not be responsible, would be a statement of no founding. I hope and believe God is not responsible but saying Absolutely not is an ignorant statement.

6. Sure, it does get repative. Because I follow an eastern religion in a western country, i have to do alot more explaining then others.