If a person truly has no fear, then they have no need for a higher being. God is a construct based in mankind's fear of their own finite existence. Creation of afterlife / ultimate power / rebirth / reincarnation is the fiction of a mind too afraid to accept their own relative insignificance.
If a person truly has no fear, then they have no need for a higher being.
of course the 'if' and 'truly' are important assumptions....but i do think it can be proven true by logic....but i'm not a logic master and don't know if anyone is...(advanced math majors?)....but maybe no one would argue this....i certainly agree and see it as more than a hypothesis.....
Hypothesis:
God is a construct based in mankind's fear of their own finite existence. Creation of afterlife / ultimate power / rebirth / reincarnation is the fiction of a mind.....
i think this is the hypothesis or so.....not that i for sure agree but its the part that is belief....i just want to separate the two
At the risk of becoming head-spinningly frustrated . . .
Fear is not relevant to a relationship with God. At least, not as I understand God.
Background: raised Roman Catholic, now lapsed.
The Catholic faith of my upbringing utilizes the fear of eternal damnation as a means of keeping it's members from straying . . . one is not to fear God, but rather fear the consequences of an absence of God. In other words, without the absolution of sin, which the Church provides through Confession, the sinful soul is denied Salvation. That is what Catholics are taught to fear . . . at least in my opinion.
Mark, I am quite aware of my own insignificance, juxtaposed with the world at large. This does not keep me from having an abiding faith in God, or whatever you would choose to call this "higher power". There have been a small number of instances in my life, that can only be explained as epiphanies, that lead me to believe that there is a God. I am not so sure of an afterlife (at least, not in the Catholic sense), but I do believe in God.
At the risk of becoming head-spinningly frustrated . . .
Fear is not relevant to a relationship with God. At least, not as I understand God.
Background: raised Roman Catholic, now lapsed.
The Catholic faith of my upbringing utilizes the fear of eternal damnation as a means of keeping it's members from straying . . . one is not to fear God, but rather fear the consequences of an absence of God. In other words, without the absolution of sin, which the Church provides through Confession, the sinful soul is denied Salvation. That is what Catholics are taught to fear . . . at least in my opinion.
Mark, I am quite aware of my own insignificance, juxtaposed with the world at large. This does not keep me from having an abiding faith in God, or whatever you would choose to call this "higher power". There have been a small number of instances in my life, that can only be explained as epiphanies, that lead me to believe that there is a God. I am not so sure of an afterlife (at least, not in the Catholic sense), but I do believe in God.
To me, this is the same reason people believe in Ghosts / Psychics / etc
To ancient man, thunder was the sky people angered, the sun was a mighty chariot drawn by horses across the sky. A little more modern, and we realize that our flat earth has sun revolving around it. Now we know that we're round, and going 'round the sun.....
There is no super natural, just the natural that we understand and that we don't. A "god" if you will is a construct so that we "get it", not unlike a house settling at night will lead a child to believe in a boogeyman.
I would not put God in the same category as ghosts, psychics, etc. . . and I'd like to think you'd give me credit for a few more brain cells than that, regardless. My faith in "God" is not about "getting it", really. It's more about accepting that I will never, entirely, "get it".
Regardless, I am not here to change your mind, nor have mine swayed (though a drunken Salma Hayek might have a shot). Off to look for the beer vats.
I'm afraid to even look.... ow, my virgin ears (and eyes).. If I was you I would have pretended I didn't see this thread... and I now have fear!
I actually thought about that, but knowing Mark, I would be called a coward, still I can turn the other check, I haven't made up my mind how far I will get into it with people who have NO intention of understanding what the OP intentions were in starting the thread in the orginal question.
Have faith Jeff? It will work out ok, Nik and I shock hands at Moose's last week!
Where's the hate-on for me coming from? I've never called you anything Brent. I said I was smarter than the average Canadian, still think so. I've said that HVEE has a history of ignorant postings, that's true. I've never said "Brent you are / Brent is...".
I've disagreed, sure, but never slammed ya brother.
To ancient man, thunder was the sky people angered, the sun was a mighty chariot drawn by horses across the sky. A little more modern, and we realize that our flat earth has sun revolving around it. Now we know that we're round, and going 'round the sun.....
see i can counter this......by saying that the world was flat.......
I believe that anyone can have a relationship with God, be they afraid or not. It just might not be a healthy relationship. Personally, I have more faith in humans.
I believe that anyone can have a relationship with God, be they afraid or not. It just might not be a healthy relationship. Personally, I have more faith in humans.
it could prob be argued there can only be one relationship with the truest sense of god but the question is more can someone embrace god and act in faith to go to heaven or whatever you would get from that.........if they had no fear........
the simpler example would be god says come to my heaven and the man says no thx?
won't you miss your family
not big deal
aren't you worried about hell
naw
but expand it to other religions or what ever.....once a man had absoulutely no fear....could he still embrace god if god existed
see i can counter this......by saying that the world was flat.......
'A' god is.......but god by definition for this question is not....its is the real god not one we define.....
False!
You asked if a person can form a relationship with god, I'm saying "A god", so unless you're discounting everyone's "god" but your own (very exclusive btw, and presumes a stance of being right, rendering the topic moot), you have to give me that.
I believe that anyone can have a relationship with God, be they afraid or not. It just might not be a healthy relationship. Personally, I have more faith in humans.
Hmm...
Choice between fairy-tale construct, or genocidal, psychotics? Tough one!
You asked if a person can form a relationship with god, I'm saying "A god", so unless you're discounting everyone's "god" but your own (very exclusive btw, and presumes a stance of being right, rendering the topic moot), you have to give me that.
Mark
yes but its just an example, i mean otherwise we all have discuss who or what god is or if exists or what religion blah blah......we can relate it to our own god or someone else or whatever gives the question some sort of sense....
Comments
Nope. God rules by fear.
Can you explain 'rules'?
edit: i can think of 3 ways to interpret what you mean is all.....
If a person truly has no fear, then they have no need for a higher being. God is a construct based in mankind's fear of their own finite existence. Creation of afterlife / ultimate power / rebirth / reincarnation is the fiction of a mind too afraid to accept their own relative insignificance.
Mark
of course the 'if' and 'truly' are important assumptions....but i do think it can be proven true by logic....but i'm not a logic master and don't know if anyone is...(advanced math majors?)....but maybe no one would argue this....i certainly agree and see it as more than a hypothesis.....
i think this is the hypothesis or so.....not that i for sure agree but its the part that is belief....i just want to separate the two
this part describes a special relationship
Fear is not relevant to a relationship with God. At least, not as I understand God.
Background: raised Roman Catholic, now lapsed.
The Catholic faith of my upbringing utilizes the fear of eternal damnation as a means of keeping it's members from straying . . . one is not to fear God, but rather fear the consequences of an absence of God. In other words, without the absolution of sin, which the Church provides through Confession, the sinful soul is denied Salvation. That is what Catholics are taught to fear . . . at least in my opinion.
Mark, I am quite aware of my own insignificance, juxtaposed with the world at large. This does not keep me from having an abiding faith in God, or whatever you would choose to call this "higher power". There have been a small number of instances in my life, that can only be explained as epiphanies, that lead me to believe that there is a God. I am not so sure of an afterlife (at least, not in the Catholic sense), but I do believe in God.
To me, this is the same reason people believe in Ghosts / Psychics / etc
To ancient man, thunder was the sky people angered, the sun was a mighty chariot drawn by horses across the sky. A little more modern, and we realize that our flat earth has sun revolving around it. Now we know that we're round, and going 'round the sun.....
There is no super natural, just the natural that we understand and that we don't. A "god" if you will is a construct so that we "get it", not unlike a house settling at night will lead a child to believe in a boogeyman.
Mark
Regardless, I am not here to change your mind, nor have mine swayed (though a drunken Salma Hayek might have a shot). Off to look for the beer vats.
Yes, without question!
Brent
If I was ignorant and unintelligent on capital punishment what will I be called in this thread.
Prophet :2h :2s
I actually thought about that, but knowing Mark, I would be called a coward, still I can turn the other check, I haven't made up my mind how far I will get into it with people who have NO intention of understanding what the OP intentions were in starting the thread in the orginal question.
Have faith Jeff? It will work out ok, Nik and I shock hands at Moose's last week!
Prophet :2h :2s
Where's the hate-on for me coming from? I've never called you anything Brent. I said I was smarter than the average Canadian, still think so. I've said that HVEE has a history of ignorant postings, that's true. I've never said "Brent you are / Brent is...".
I've disagreed, sure, but never slammed ya brother.
Mark
???????????????????????????????
Brent
Oh, and Brent? If anyone calls you a faggot, you can take 'em to the CSBC and have them banned.
Just sayin' . . .
see i can counter this......by saying that the world was flat.......
'A' god is.......but god by definition for this question is not....its is the real god not one we define.....
+1
Originally Posted by DrTyore
I said I was smarter than the average Canadian, still think so.
Mark
yes this was quite relevant to that thread....
^-^ we need a different emoticon for this....msn has a perfect one...
it could prob be argued there can only be one relationship with the truest sense of god but the question is more can someone embrace god and act in faith to go to heaven or whatever you would get from that.........if they had no fear........
the simpler example would be god says come to my heaven and the man says no thx?
won't you miss your family
not big deal
aren't you worried about hell
naw
but expand it to other religions or what ever.....once a man had absoulutely no fear....could he still embrace god if god existed
False!
You asked if a person can form a relationship with god, I'm saying "A god", so unless you're discounting everyone's "god" but your own (very exclusive btw, and presumes a stance of being right, rendering the topic moot), you have to give me that.
Mark
Hmm...
Choice between fairy-tale construct, or genocidal, psychotics? Tough one!
Mark
That's like saying I can counter the "women in the workplace" argument by saying "A woman's place was in the kitchen".
Wasn't true then, isn't true now.
Mark
yes but its just an example, i mean otherwise we all have discuss who or what god is or if exists or what religion blah blah......we can relate it to our own god or someone else or whatever gives the question some sort of sense....