What do you believe?

[flobadob]

I don't believe in God and I don't accept the theory of the big bang. Yet I find it extremely difficult to believe in nothing. What do you believe in? Do you pray to something other than a God? Are you a believer? Our is there nothing but this?

[LazyGun]

@ flob - "Is there nothing but this?" What we have is pretty majestic isnt it? What more could you want? Assurances about some sort of hereafter? Take pleasure in your surroundings, and activities with friends and family - take comfort in loved ones and children if you have any, and revel in doing stuff - I have come to the conclusion, rather later in life than I would have liked, that one should attempt to fill every waking day with activity and learning and conversation - we are not here long enough to waste waking hours on doing nothing - I only regret that I did not arrive at this conclusion earlier in my life :)

It might help to move the conversation along a little if you were to expand a little - you dont believe in god - why not? you dont accept the BBT - why not?what alternative explanation do you think better suits the observations?

For me, I have no belief in anything supernatural. What you see is pretty much what you get I think the exploration of the subatomic will yield a better understanding of the forces that shape our universe, and our exploration of outer space will complement that. I have no belief in any sort of afterlife, or an immortal soul/ energy matrix.

[seadogg]

Like your affirmation of life LG!

I have always regarded organised religion as nothing more than social control
but writings like the Sermon on the Mount are often very relevant to our lives.

[jake-the-peg]

//I don't accept the theory of the big bang//

How very interesting - On what basis?

Do you accept the data that shows the expansion of the Universe?

If so how do you interpret it that brings you to reject it?

Or is this a matter of faith?

[flobadob]

Lazygun I just don't accept the BBT as you call it, no reason offered. As for non God belief, that's because it's preposterous to believe there us some guy in the sky watching everything, in my opinion.

[jake-the-peg]

I believe in empirical observation

If I see galaxies flying away from each other I believe they were once closer together and still closer earlier

When I discover that there is a measurable radiation contant throughout the sky that fits with remarkable accuracy to the calculated values from a big bang.

I tend to believe.

I would say that to doubt the general big bang is pretty much as ridiculous s believing a man in a long beard.

Now that's not to say that the standard interpretation of it is right - such luminaries as Roger Penrose are now challenging this - but to doubt that the Universe started in a very small dimension and expanded, time and space and matter together is frankly religious in that it places an arbitary opinion above observed facts

Now of course people have the right to their religious views - but I wouldn't be making fun of people worshiping guys in the sky if I ignored observations just because it didn't make sense to me

[Answerprancer]

I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be.

[mike11111]

Oh, AP, I almost wept at the beauty of that. Had you but added the words, "... and then smother the little sods" my happiness would have been complete.

[sandyRoe]

This says it so much better than I ever could

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.[17

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I certainly don't believe that. ^^^^

[RATTER15]

I believe in the BBT, I just dont understand it fully. I just could not believe in this God nonsens, that belongs in the fairy story books to scare children.

[mike11111]

I concur Sandy, though I prefer the term in my prayer book, "Holy Ghost", rather than Spirit. But that's just me being old-fashioned.

[Answerprancer]

I believe in a thing called love, just listen to the rhythm of my heart there's a chance we could make it now, we'll be rocking 'til the sun goes down.

[Answerprancer]

Don't be so cynical Mike ;-)

[237SJ]

AP it`s driving me mad trying to think which song your quote comes from (the first one). Can you put me out of my misery? I can hear the song in my head but I just can`t think of the song.

[Answerprancer]

LOL - Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All :-)

[mike11111]

I thought he meant this one:

[237SJ]

Thanks AP. For some reason I heard it in my head being sung by a man.

[mike11111]

"Don't be so cynical Mike ;-)"
Cynical? Moi?

The word does not figure in my lexicon. However I will admit that 30 years as a teacher might possibly have led me to adopt an ever so slightly more jaundiced attitude than one would expect from me at first glance.

[jomifl]

237sj google the first line...

[237SJ]

I couldn`t be bothered jomifl. Much easier (and more pleasant) to ask.