To what extent do you choose your (religious) beliefs?

[Kidlicious]

"Alternatively, there is no god, and it is only our free will that makes us good or evil. (Assuming we have free will, the jury is still out on that.)"
-loinburger

How could we have free will if God doesn't exist? Even Spinoza believed that if God is not a separate being that there can be no actual thing, good or evil. How could there be good or evil? Are you saying we could create good or evil? How would they be differentiated. If I feed the hungry, and you shoot up a school yard, which should be good and which should be evil?

[Lorizael]

This thread is yet further proof that religion is false.

Your religion, or at least your starting religion, is an accident of birth. Quite simple as that. End of story.

Yet another reason why religion is bollocks and God/Gods of your choice from literally thousands upon thousands in the history of civilisation, doesn't exist.

Obviously, it stands to reason why Kid is religious.

The language you speak is an accident of birth; therefore no languages are capable of communication.

[loinburger]

When did I ever say anything hateful?

Top three search results of you using the word "idiot" from the past month

What percentage of Muslims hate America?
What percentage of Christians hate America?
You live in a fantasy world. Christian murders don't matter. Christians are not trying to destroy America you idiot liberal!

There's no reason to watch the entire video you idiot. There's no reason to think the clip is taken out of context. You're a very stupid person.

That's the majority you idiot.

I would say that you're giving Christianity a bad name, but I doubt that anybody on this forum considers you to be a particularly competent spokesman for Christianity.

[kentonio]

How could we have free will if God doesn't exist? Even Spinoza believed that if God is not a separate being that there can be no actual thing, good or evil. How could there be good or evil? Are you saying we could create good or evil? How would they be differentiated. If I feed the hungry, and you shoot up a school yard, which should be good and which should be evil?

You could argue that good and evil are meaningless terms without a creator to define that, although as you could equally just define them in terms of actions that benefit society against those that don't, its a bit of a dubious claim. As for free will though, that makes no sense. The only way you DON'T have free will is if you believe fate is pre-determined by a higher power.

[Kidlicious]

Top three search results of you using the word "idiot" from the past month







I would say that you're giving Christianity a bad name, but I doubt that anybody on this forum considers you to be a particularly competent spokesman for Christianity.

Ok, so for calling people idiots? Really? You think that means I hate people? I don't hate you loinburger, and I've called you an idiot probably a million times.

People have their own opinions about what hate is. Muslims believe on thing, Christians believe another, and atheists still another (actually each individual has their own beliefs on what hate is). So, why should I let you judge me? What gives you the right to judge me?

[loinburger]

So you're either a terrible person, or else you're a terrible person who's pretending to be a good person but is doing a really crappy job of it.

Ok, so for calling people idiots? Really? You think that means I hate people?

You're calling people idiots because you love them? How depressing.

So, why should I let you judge me? What gives you the right to judge me?

You're being inconsistent again.

[Kidlicious]

You could argue that good and evil are meaningless terms without a creator to define that, although as you could equally just define them in terms of actions that benefit society against those that don't, its a bit of a dubious claim. As for free will though, that makes no sense. The only way you DON'T have free will is if you believe fate is pre-determined by a higher power.

Can you explain this further?

[Kidlicious]

So you're either a terrible person, or else you're a terrible person who's pretending to be a good person but is doing a really crappy job of it.



You're calling people idiots because you love them? How depressing.



You're being inconsistent again.

???? I'm not PC dude.

[kentonio]

Can you explain this further?

If there is no higher power to pre-determine the future, then how can your will be anything but free? Who or what exercises any control over your actions unless a higher power exists?

[Lorizael]

If there is no higher power to pre-determine the future, then how can your will be anything but free? Who or what exercises any control over your actions unless a higher power exists?

Physics.

[Kidlicious]

If there is no higher power to pre-determine the future, then how can your will be anything but free? Who or what exercises any control over your actions unless a higher power exists?

You can have a constituting power which is beyond our comprehension, which makes good sense to me. Why do you think we were meant to know all of this?

[kentonio]

You can have a constituting power which is beyond our comprehension, which makes good sense to me. Why do you think we were meant to know all of this?

If you do, then its just another phrasing of 'higher power', whether you describe that as god or not. Some of us just don't see the need for that in any form though. Why do you think we were 'meant' to know or do anything? Why should everything need pre-determination?

[rah]

History says, "FEAR"

[loinburger]

???? I'm not PC dude.

I'm sure God will buy that excuse.

And lo, Kidicious stood before the throne of judgment or whatever, and God said "Kidicious, as punishment for being a complete ***** in life, you must felch twenty goats." And Kidicious did spake, "but I'm not PC, dude!" And thenst did the Lord say "Okay, make that thirty goats."

[Kidlicious]

If you do, then its just another phrasing of 'higher power', whether you describe that as god or not. Some of us just don't see the need for that in any form though. Why do you think we were 'meant' to know or do anything? Why should everything need pre-determination?

I believe that we are meant to have a relationship with God. I won't describe that relationship here, but I will say that I believe that human beings have a physical self and a spiritual self. I don't believe that you are reaching your full potential unless you nurture your spiritual self. Or something like that. I don't want to jack the thread.