Why do you believe in God/Allah/Budha/Science/etc etc

[Tikker]

I have faith, that is all I need. The End.

That's what I'm getting at tho

WHY do you have faith?

Did you have an epiphany? or was it just the way you were raised?


Hard to explain what I'm getting at


There's no right, or wrong answer, I'm just wondering if people know why they believe in something, whether they have a personal experience with their God, or if they just were taught to believe a certain way

[Darcler]

I believe in God. I do NOT, however, believe in organized religions. I will believe how I wish, you can believe how you do.
I was raised a Christian. Was that way for 18 or 19 years. Just in recent years have I looked at other religions, seen how they all have different beliefs in how things should be done, and what God says about them. I figured there is no right or wrong religion (sorry Mindia, the bible thumping you are doing here is pretty much just to make you feel good and get some brownie points with God to let you in). I figured, I believe in God, there are so many things in this world that have to be the work of God, but I have no set religion to call myself, which is fine with me.

[Narrock]

I believe in God. I do NOT, however, believe in organized religions. I will believe how I wish, you can believe how you do.
I was raised a Christian. Was that way for 18 or 19 years. Just in recent years have I looked at other religions, seen how they all have different beliefs in how things should be done, and what God says about them. I figured there is no right or wrong religion (sorry Mindia, the bible thumping you are doing here is pretty much just to make you feel good and get some brownie points with God to let you in). I figured, I believe in God, there are so many things in this world that have to be the work of God, but I have no set religion to call myself, which is fine with me.

You have no idea why I evangelize here... and the bolded statement proves it. Anyway, yes you can believe what you want. It's your right. And as you can see, I'm not chastising you for your beliefs.

[Narrock]

You are wrong. Stop being so damned pathetic. Some people like Tikker and Rust are underachievers due to their mental capacity. But you have the ability to rise above your pipe dreams and laziness. Go to college, and get a degree. Start now.

Man, my Irony Meter *totally* pegged on this one. What university did Rev. Dingleberry attend, and what degrees did *he* earn?

--R.

So says the village idiot who graduated from great white north university... Or was it university of Toronto, Winnipeg, or whatever. Doesn't matter. Your "degree" is worthless in the states. You might as well wipe your sphincter with that canadian "education" (lol) certificate you call a degree, little boy.

[KaiineTN]

I think it's just a matter of time until we make ourselves Gods to an extent. Create life etc, and I see nothing at all wrong with that. If there is a God, and he created man in his image, then man should be allowed the same desire, passion for, and ability to create anything, including life.

Think about it... All these 3D fantasy simulation worlds keep getting better and better, so, how long until we can produce some real self sustained AI? AI inside of a simulation is a life form. Think bullshit? Consider what the universe itself is... We are in a simulation, what's outside of it? Who knows. Our reality could be God's EQ, and he's probably addicted like woah~

[Narrock]

I think it's just a matter of time until we make ourselves Gods to an extent. Create life etc, and I see nothing at all wrong with that. If there is a God, and he created man in his image, then man should be allowed the same desire, passion for, and ability to create anything, including life.

Think about it... All these 3D fantasy simulation worlds keep getting better and better, so, how long until we can produce some real self sustained AI? AI inside of a simulation is a life form. Think bullshit? Consider what the universe itself is... We are in a simulation, what's outside of it? Who knows. Our reality could be God's EQ, and he's probably addicted like woah~

Yeah, you're probably right. Heck, we kill innocent life every day (Terry Schiavo-type cases, abortions, etc.) we might as well try to create life too. Man, we're on a roll. How proud God must be of us.

[brinstar]

i'm prayin for rain
i'm prayin for tidal waves

[xKALECx]

i guess what I'm wondering, for those that believe in God, is have you had a personal experience with God?

Yes. Multiple times. And not for just myself. Most of you know I am an E.R./Trauma specialist Nurse. Been doing E.R. for 12 years now. I've seen things many times that defied all account of natural occurance.

In fact, 2 weeks ago, I had a middle age woman come in, that arrived with chest pain that evolved into a massive M.I. (heart attack) within 15 minutes of arrival. Her heart fell into Ventricular Fibrillation, and then into P.E.A., and then into asystole as a result of her cardiovascular comprimise. I did chest compressions on her for nearly 10 minutes while running the code, and shocking her multiple times to no avail. Pupils blew, no pulse, no blood pressure, no response for 10 minutes. To add to the hypoxia to the brain, she had a LOT of scar tissue due to some previous surgery in her neck, and stopping for shocks, we were unable to intubate her (this adds to no oxygen to the brain).

I stopped the code as per routine, to reassess for a pulse using a doppler, blood pressure, neurological comprimise etc... (this is routine after you exhaust ACLS protocol), and nothing. Nada. Then as if hitting a switch, her eyes opened. Her pupils went from 8mm unresponsive to 2-3mm responding instantly. Her heart rhythm went from asystole (flatline which it had been for nearly 10 minutes), to a sinus rhytym with large ST elevation (normal but showing signs of heart attack). And within 7 seconds of her opening her gaining her pulse, opening her eyes, she looked straight at me and one of my doctors and smiled. She then said "Wow, that was something!". She could not quit smiling, as if she were totally aware that she had just defied all medical explanation of her "coming back".

I see things like this all the time. Not every day, but many times a year. I am a Catholic. No I don't attend Mass every sunday. Yes I have doubted existance just as most deep thinking people have at some point in their life. I see things such as this and it drives home to me that someone else in there and in control. I am nothing but a pawn, and if it is God's will for that person to live or die, he will guide me to help bring them to that point. Most people have a problem with that statement, because it admits they are not in total control of the events around them.

I believe there is a God. I believe he instilled free will into each and every one of us. I don't believe everything happens for a reason. I believe things happen as a result of our decisions we make due to our free will, and consequences happen as they may. God just steps in time to time, when he feels ready. This life is a test of our souls. It is also a gift, that most people take for granted, and do not use to it's fullest. I wish more people would celebrate their life, and gain everything they can while they are here, before they reach a crossroads that prevents them from achieving it.

[KaiineTN]

For sure! God guided you to make that picture your avatar so that it would reach my eyes. Thanks God.

[Narrock]

i guess what I'm wondering, for those that believe in God, is have you had a personal experience with God?

Yes. Multiple times. And not for just myself. Most of you know I am an E.R./Trauma specialist Nurse. Been doing E.R. for 12 years now. I've seen things many times that defied all account of natural occurance.

In fact, 2 weeks ago, I had a middle age woman come in, that arrived with chest pain that evolved into a massive M.I. (heart attack) within 15 minutes of arrival. Her heart fell into Ventricular Fibrillation, and then into P.E.A., and then into asystole as a result of her cardiovascular comprimise. I did chest compressions on her for nearly 10 minutes while running the code, and shocking her multiple times to no avail. Pupils blew, no pulse, no blood pressure, no response for 10 minutes. To add to the hypoxia to the brain, she had a LOT of scar tissue due to some previous surgery in her neck, and stopping for shocks, we were unable to intubate her (this adds to no oxygen to the brain).

I stopped the code as per routine, to reassess for a pulse using a doppler, blood pressure, neurological comprimise etc... (this is routine after you exhaust ACLS protocol), and nothing. Nada. Then as if hitting a switch, her eyes opened. Her pupils went from 8mm unresponsive to 2-3mm responding instantly. Her heart rhythm went from asystole (flatline which it had been for nearly 10 minutes), to a sinus rhytym with large ST elevation (normal but showing signs of heart attack). And within 7 seconds of her opening her gaining her pulse, opening her eyes, she looked straight at me and one of my doctors and smiled. She then said "Wow, that was something!". She could not quit smiling, as if she were totally aware that she had just defied all medical explanation of her "coming back".

I see things like this all the time. Not every day, but many times a year. I am a Catholic. No I don't attend Mass every sunday. Yes I have doubted existance just as most deep thinking people have at some point in their life. I see things such as this and it drives home to me that someone else in there and in control. I am nothing but a pawn, and if it is God's will for that person to live or die, he will guide me to help bring them to that point. Most people have a problem with that statement, because it admits they are not in total control of the events around them.

I believe there is a God. I believe he instilled free will into each and every one of us. I don't believe everything happens for a reason. I believe things happen as a result of our decisions we make due to our free will, and consequences happen as they may. God just steps in time to time, when he feels ready. This life is a test of our souls. It is also a gift, that most people take for granted, and do not use to it's fullest. I wish more people would celebrate their life, and gain everything they can while they are here, before they reach a crossroads that prevents them from achieving it.

That's awesome Kalec! Grats! I'm just waiting for the "there was no divine intervention" comments to follow, or the "it was just luck or circumstance, etc." comments.

Anyway, are you still playing EQ2? I haven't seen you in there for over 2 weeks now. Also, are your PM's turned off here?

[Antilus]

i'm prayin for rain
i'm prayin for tidal waves

I wanna see the ground give way.
I wanna watch it all go down.




raised without religion myself.. not sure if that makes me athiest or not, i dont really care if there is or isnt a god, evolution vs creation, etc.. dont really give a damn.

although i am learning to hate most christians for there relentless attempts to push there beliefs on people.. i dont mind them having a belief but they shouldnt force it on people, they should let people come to them.. etc etc.

[Mop]

I was raised by a mormon grandfather, a crazy mexican catholic grandmother, my mom who is all fucking hippy chrystal worshiping crap.

Hence why I believe in spirituality and not an organized religion

[10sun]

clockmaker long since gone.

[Tikker]

You are wrong. Stop being so damned pathetic. Some people like Tikker and Rust are underachievers due to their mental capacity. But you have the ability to rise above your pipe dreams and laziness. Go to college, and get a degree. Start now.

Man, my Irony Meter *totally* pegged on this one. What university did Rev. Dingleberry attend, and what degrees did *he* earn?

--R.

So says the village idiot who graduated from great white north university... Or was it university of Toronto, Winnipeg, or whatever. Doesn't matter. Your "degree" is worthless in the states. You might as well wipe your sphincter with that canadian "education" (lol) certificate you call a degree, little boy.

You really are clueless aren't you Mindia

[Eziekial]

I believe in God. No epiphany or profound religious experience. I believe because of a multitude of reasons that range from the harmonious way our natural world functions and the power we wield in it to the simple fact so many of us "believe" in something.

[Ginzburgh]

Because I was raised that way.

[Narrock]

You are wrong. Stop being so damned pathetic. Some people like Tikker and Rust are underachievers due to their mental capacity. But you have the ability to rise above your pipe dreams and laziness. Go to college, and get a degree. Start now.

Man, my Irony Meter *totally* pegged on this one. What university did Rev. Dingleberry attend, and what degrees did *he* earn?

--R.

So says the village idiot who graduated from great white north university... Or was it university of Toronto, Winnipeg, or whatever. Doesn't matter. Your "degree" is worthless in the states. You might as well wipe your sphincter with that canadian "education" (lol) certificate you call a degree, little boy.

You really are clueless aren't you Mindia

Ok let's start the "I know you are but what am I" dialogue for the next 2 weeks. How fun that would be...

btw... did you even graduate high school Tikker?

[Rust]

Again, where is Rev. Dingleberry studying his arts degree that he feels able to criticize others?

--R.

[Harrison]

Not Google I'd be willing to bet.

[Gypsiyee]

How many Canadian schools have you attended, Mindia? How would you know how poor their education system is?

Why does Rust care how "useless" his degree is in the states when he's Canadian?

I don't always agree with Rust, but I will give him that he's an intelligent person. He backs up anything he says and draws out his points as accurately as he can with any knowledge he can acquire. He's far from stupid, so those petty comments to one-up yourself are a smidge ridiculous.

[Harrison]

Why does Rust care how "useless" his degree is in the states when he's Canadian?

He works in the U.S.

Not defending Mindia, but just wanted to point that out.

I don't always agree with Rust, but I will give him that he's an intelligent person. He backs up anything he says and draws out his points as accurately as he can with any knowledge he can acquire. He's far from stupid, so those petty comments to one-up yourself are a smidge ridiculous.

Captain of the Google Copy/Paste Debate Team doesn't make you intelligent.

[Gypsiyee]

He is an intelligent person, though. Even if it's google he uses, he at least has sources to back up his debate 99% of the time.

If he works in the US, doing something he got his degree in, apparently his degree *does* have use in the US, no? That would also make Mindia's argument moot =b

[Narrock]

Again, where is Rev. Dingleberry studying his arts degree that he feels able to criticize others?

--R.

It's a Bachelor of Science, not Arts... fool. And it's from the same Accreditation Association that accredits Harvard and Yale. Charter Oak State College in Connecticut. Um, where is your degree from again?

[Narrock]

He is an intelligent person, though. Even if it's google he uses, he at least has sources to back up his debate 99% of the time.

If he works in the US, doing something he got his degree in, apparently his degree *does* have use in the US, no? That would also make Mindia's argument moot =b

just goes to show you there are desperate companies in the U.S. no?

[Rust]

Why does Rust care how "useless" his degree is in the states when he's Canadian?

He works in the U.S.

Actually I am the worldwide security consulting group for my company, I am simply based in the Americas and my home office is Toronto. Soemtimes I work in the US, sometimes in other countries. I fly around.

Not defending Mindia, but just wanted to point that out.

I don't always agree with Rust, but I will give him that he's an intelligent person. He backs up anything he says and draws out his points as accurately as he can with any knowledge he can acquire. He's far from stupid, so those petty comments to one-up yourself are a smidge ridiculous.

Captain of the Google Copy/Paste Debate Team doesn't make you intelligent.

Yes, you don't seem to have much appreciation for research, we know that. God knows you don't seem to be able to or interested in backing up any of the claims you make here, by and large, so it really must irk you to see someone else doing it. You see, they train you to be able to support your arguments when you study in University. People challenge your clamis and you bvetter be able to support them, or you fail. Maybe if you'd actually managed to avoid flunking out off high school, things might have turned out differently. As it is, you're evidently both lazy and uneducated - the former being the primary cause of the latter.

For someone who didn't have what it takes to even finish high school to criticize anyone else's inteliigence and education is indeed humerous. Next up you'll criticize someone for benig fat or long haired, I suppose?

I can see you arguing with your professor in college why you didn't need to provide footnotes or citations for your term paper - 'Hey man, I'm not gonna dig up references and play Captain Google, dude, I'm FINAWIN!' You'd do as well in College as you did in High School -- a failure and a dropout.

I'm not into playing credentials games, normally, and certainly not with you, since you don't *have* any. I've listed my degrees elsewhere in any event.

--R.