Is there a God?

[siric]

I'm currently reading the book, The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins. I'm about to start chapter four, and so far it is exceptionally good. Dawkins already refuted one of C. S. Lewis' main arguments in the ridiculous book, Mere Christianity, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and exposed the ignorance of many pro-god-exists arguments.

So now I am curious to hear a discussion among KATG listeners. Do you believe in God (or gods)? If so why (personal religious experience, know someone who had one, parents, fuzzy feeling in your heart when thinking about it, cause there "has to" be a god for the world to work as well as it does, etc.?

Let me start:

No.

Religion was a social necessity in primitive human days, both as a social glue and as the provider of a common goal: making god(s) happy with your people/family. Due to the human population explosion and the telephone game effect (in the vein of purple monkey dishwasher), it mutated into the ridiculous farce that is modern religion.

Also, I am curious about a point Dawkins made in chapter three. What education level do you have? And if you don't mind my answering, what is your IQ?

I am a sophomore in college and I have an IQ around 128 (I'm not sure exactly).

[Malcolm Is Moore]

I don't believe in god per se, but I believe in a higher power. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that the universe just happened.

I'm a soph in hs and I have an IQ of 148. (just got an IQ test not too long ago)

[Sparrow]

Hey! We haven't done this in a little bit.

There is not God, but I'm fine and dandy with the church as a community fixture.

I did the college thing through my sophomore year. As to my IQ, like my weight, I choose to stay blissfully ignorant.

[CuriousKlepto]

I'd like to believe that there's something out there. I guess I fall into the "fuzzy feeling in my gut telling me to" catagory. And I know it sounds like I'm making a mockery of the whole religion thing when I say this, but I've chosen a giant plate of hash browns to be what my deity resembles. I figure it's redundant to expect this higher being (or beings, as my beliefs have my food inspired characters) to look just like human beings. I find it comforting that something is out there helping keep things on track. Reincarnation is also a part of my belief system. And that's why there are people that are just drawn to certain things or get certain feelings. I believe in the power of people, and karma. Whatever you put out in the world WILL come back to you. You put out good, you get good back and vice versa. I'm 21, graduated high school a bucha years ago and never chose to go to college, not clue what my IQ is, and don't really care much for that matter. I also honestly believe pretty much everything in this post.

[archicat]

When I read the title of this thread I thought it was a rhetorical question and that you were going to provide the absolute answer, once and for all... what a shame.

As for believing in God, I was brought up strictly catholic and while I don't follow that stuff anymore it's hard to move past all the years of believing (read: brainwashing). I'd say in another few years I'll be totally done - but for now there's still a small part of me that believes in God.

[Incognito]

Nah.

[1goodI]

I believe in God or higher power or whatever. At least I do today. However, I don't believe in the rules presented by organized religion. Religions are used to control people, as people are sheep. Sheep are led to slaughter. I just tell people I believe in God and everything else works itself out. To me, it is a mystery I will resolve when I'm dead and gone. To each their own, what do I know?

In my short time on this earth my life has been on the line more times than I care to remember. In those times when my back was against the wall I found myself praying for a way out of the situation. Other life experiences have led me to believe in a higher power whether it is within my own subconcious or not. My choices and decisions have always been my own.

I really dont know if God exists. I would like to think so. However the thing which I find disturbing is the intolerance on either side of the argument. An atheist claiming someone is ignorant for believing is just as bad ad the bible thumping christians damning everyone to hell. They are no better.

If a person believes in god or not that's cool with me. It's none of my business and not my place to convince you otherwise. Whatever you have to do to get through this crazy world - go do that.

btw... BS Finance and I don't know my IQ. Your IQ is over rated compared to the actions you take on the dreams you have.

[spuds]

Doubt it, inf fact, I hope not. I enjoy chaos and it would be quite disappointing if all this was planned and not the random mess of my dreams!

[Rhian]

Originally Posted by spuds

Doubt it, inf fact, I hope not. I enjoy chaos and it would be quite disappointing if all this was planned and not the random mess of my dreams!

Fuuuuuuuuckkkkkkkkkkk youuuuuuuu and welcome to the forums.

I am not one for organized religion, but as long as it 'ain't no harm done' to someone else I'm generally respectful. In fact I do find religion very interesting.

You could say I'm polytheist of a pagan variety.

[Jeffyeathatone]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Is Moore

I'm a soph in hs and I have an IQ of 148. (just got an IQ test not too long ago)

Ha!