Lolli

I think there 2 reasons why people believe in God:

1. Security blanket or insurance to cover all basis. If there is a God, they will be protected from ill-will (even though it has been repeatedly been shown not to be the case). They tell themselves it gives them peace or enlightenment, but it's probably more peace of mind instead of not believing. We tell ourselves what we need to in order to get through life.
2. Fear. They have been brainwash and are too afraid/ignorant to explore the idea of there being no God. This group of people are the most deadliest kind because they are usually intolerant and believe their religion is the only way to go so they judge, condemn and/or persecute non-believers.

Sean

What science have you read that backs up the existence of "God?" Energy yes but a God, you have proof? Where is this scientific proof you lead on about?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Which did your God create first the chicken, egg or the atom which lead to the zygote?

Environment Man

Poppycock Lollipop. Logic and science dictate that there HAS to be a God. You can totally eliminate you two reasons and I would still HAVE to conclude scientifically and logically that there HAS to be a God. There is way TOO much design and complex coordinated systems to deny the existence of a designer and builder. So get rid of the crutch you want us to bear as a cross because outside of your flimsy reasons and even the aspect of simple faith (which works fine for many too), the clocks clearly indicate clock makers (God, Jesus, et.al.).

Environment Man

I have read much science but I do not need to look outside of myself to cite some scientific periodical. All I have to do is look at the design of the atom. Your energy. It COULD NOT HAVE SELF DESIGNED AND CREATED ITSELF. It is not sentient. And it could not have occurred by accident. I had to come from a sentient that is eternal and all powerful. There IS NO OTHER LOGICAL EXPLANATION.

The chicken of course. Just as the first tree had rings. And the tree that God created with 30 rings 30 seconds ago is 30 seconds old to him but 30 years old to the scientist that observes it.

Environment Man

Very extremely funny Doc. You are right. The atheists who take off are hypocrites or ad hoc believers.

Lolli

I'm not denying there may be a "existence of a designer and builder" or a higher being of some sort. I don't know the answers, nor do you so therefore it is futile to argue or convince one another on the existence.

I do reject the idea of religion and the the commonly accepted definition and perception of God, particularly the Judeo-Christian God. My previous post speaks specifically to that.

Environment Man

Well you are simply confused aren't you. I pity you when there are answers. But the answers are in the very places you reject. Thus your conundrum.

Lolli

I'm not confused nor am I facing any conundrum. I am content and happy with my journey towards self-peace and enlightenment so I do not need your pity - though is very presumptuous, arrogant, ignorant and judgmental of you - very Christian like though.

Environment Man

Had to get your insults in eh anti Christian? Yet you doubt and wonder and question when there ARE answers. So I will continue to pity you in your inclination for agnosticism. Nay atheism. You my assumptions are neither arrogant nor ignorant nor judgmental. They are accurate for you are lost. When you could be found. There are answers. You simply CHOOSE to reject them because you LIKE to wallow in doubt.

LeisureChrist

Just because there is no explanation that you can understand or accept does not mean that no explanation exists. If the whole of existence was limited to only the things one human mind can comprehend, it would be a tiny universe indeed.

Not if the scientist was observing at the moment when God created the tree. But since nobody has ever observed a tree springing into being from abject nothingness, your silly little notion of a God making a tree with 30 rings is pure conjecture. Why 30? Why not 900,000,000,000? Given the presumed age of the universe, that would be a tree to force some questions... To your specific and direct knowledge, did God ever create a tree with precisely 30 rings? Even assuming there is a God who made trees fully grown, you cannot know that they had rings. It would be akin to saying that God made Adam fully grown with an appropriate number of scars. Or that the rib he stole to craft Eve showed the signs of growth that normal adult human ribs show.

But most of all, you have just proven God does not exist. Do you have any idea how many people, both believers and questioners, have prayed that you would never, ever whip that stupid "30 rings in 30 seconds" nonsense again?