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Originally posted by VelvetSplash
So, you consider God to be creator of the Earth (and the Universe?), and this creation was as simple as a magical 'poof', the click of fingers?
I wonder where did this assumption come from? Firstly that God created the world, and secondly that it was an effortless whim?
Originally posted by Rouschkateer
does it really matter? God is God is God.
Originally posted by VelvetSplash
God can be a judgemental bearded old man, sat on a cloud, dishing out entrance to Heaven here, and condemnation to eternal Hell there - or it can be an indefinable higher state of consciousness, of which you are part of, like a drop in an ocean, thus we are all Sons of God.
Which image is right (if any?) - That's upto you. Before you reject or dismiss the notion of higher intelligence, at least give yourself the chance to ponder exactly what properties that intelligence might consist of.
Originally posted by Rouschkateer
I believe that once you are gone, that's it. No soul, no Heaven, no limbo. Just ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Originally posted by Bob LaoTse
Those who "debate" the possibility of the existence of god(s) do so because they have a personal stake in the issue. Atheists and theists are more alike than they are different-- both have chosen an answer to a question for which there is no evidence to support any answer and have defined themselves, at least in part, by the answer they've chosen. If their self-image is to be stable, they must convince themselves of the validity of the answer they've assumed.
Many, on both sides of the issue, simply rely on faith. They "know" they're right, and leave it at that. But there are some who can't just let it go-- for whatever reason, they must continue to try to convince themselves that they're right. The most common ways to do this are to proselytize and to attack opposing beliefs. They appear to believe that if they can get others to believe as they do, or if they can successfully discredit opposing beliefs, it will lend credence to their own beliefs.
Agnostics don't have to go through any of this. Agnosticism is the only viewpoint on the issue that's demonstrably and wholly true. Agnostics KNOW that they don't know if there is/are god(s). They're wholly and completely secure in their absolute certainty that they truly don't know. They never have even a moment's doubt about the complete lack of empirical evidence to support either view, and thus have no need to either attempt to convert others to their view or to discredit the views held by those others. No other view can even begin to pose any threat to the absolute certainty of agnosticism.
Originally posted by Forgiven
While your declairing your Agnosticism, are you not falling into the same thing that atheists and theists are charged with doing? Your posts seem to me like you believe your beliefs or lack there of are the "only" and "true" way to live.
Originally posted by Rouschkateer
I'm going to have to read into that one. I have never heard of such a thing, and I will have to take it slow, as it is quite complex. At least, at first glance it is.
So is that sort of thing what you believe in, VelvetSplash?