Do you believe in God? by Wulfenstar

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

No. In buddhism we have no "god", each person is responsible for himself and his actions. To have a god is to have some figure to look to, to tell you right from wrong, offer you salvation or damnation, and it usurps the person's ability to learn for themselves, grow and become self-aware.

Gods are comfortable for people in organized religion, often it keeps them from looking at themselves and striving for self-awareness, as well as making it easier to fall into the "us v. them" mentality. It also gives the HUMAN authority figures in religion the ability to prostitute the religion for their own agenda, own purposes...in other words, to exercise power over those who look to them.

Although buddhism is referred to as one of the "religions", it's not; it's a philosophy. Without a god to follow or pray to, and if one abides by the philosophy, one discovers there are no blacks and whites, only greys, and by striving to become self-aware, one discovers that there are no prefect good or bad guys, only human beings with human failings.

Yes, we use depictions of Buddha, but we don't pray to them or him. He's revered as a teacher, nothing more, and the symbols are there to remind us to be conscious and in the moment, nothing more.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 7:10 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Dont forget karma... and reincarnation.

There are consequences for the actions we choose to take.Also, I prefer Zen..

"One day as Manjusri stood outside the gate, the Buddha called to him, "Manjusri, Manjusri, why do you not enter?" Manjusri replied, "I do not see myself as outside. Why enter?" "

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 8:28 AM

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

No gods for me. The greatest thing I can imagine on Earth is all mankind working together. Doesn't seem like there's much we couldn't do if we could manage that...

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 8:32 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

" you're welcome on this boat, your god isn't. "

Mal and I agree here, too.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 8:35 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Questions are like koans... they can lead to enlightenment.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 8:45 AM

WHOZIT

Yes be I not sure he/she likes me, not that I've given him/her much reason too.

Those arn't boobs, they're lies! - Stewie Griffin

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 8:57 AM

I believe in nothing.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:

The greatest thing I can imagine on Earth is all mankind working together.

With an answer like that I just know you're going to do great, maybe even win the title!
I'll be rooting for you.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mincingbeast:
I believe in nothing.

Nothing appreciates your support.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by mincingbeast:
I believe in nothing.

Nothing appreciates your support.

I have this in common with theists.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:21 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

I believe in nothing... someone has watched the Big Lebowski too much...

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:

The greatest thing I can imagine on Earth is all mankind working together.

With an answer like that I just know you're going to do great, maybe even win the title!
I'll be rooting for you.

You supply lulz. More.

I wish that just once, one of those skanky contestants would go super villain and support genocide and faminine.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:35 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

I have no specific belief, no. I'm open to the possibility of some higher life form, whether or not this life form created anyone or anything, or even cares at all about us, who knows.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:38 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Ahh, Mormon I see.

Do you have the underwear?

Do you think that you will ascend to become an alien overlord of your own private world? Will your wife, who cannot be talked about, birth out your spirit children so that they may one day worship you?

Just curious.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mincingbeast:
Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:

The greatest thing I can imagine on Earth is all mankind working together.

With an answer like that I just know you're going to do great, maybe even win the title!
I'll be rooting for you.

You supply lulz. More.

I wish that just once, one of those skanky contestants would go super villain and support genocide and faminine.

Wouldn't that be special? Ignorant redneck question here - what's lulz?

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 9:56 AM

Corrupt, evil lols.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by mincingbeast:
Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:

The greatest thing I can imagine on Earth is all mankind working together.

With an answer like that I just know you're going to do great, maybe even win the title!
I'll be rooting for you.

You supply lulz. More.

I wish that just once, one of those skanky contestants would go super villain and support genocide and faminine.

Wouldn't that be special? Ignorant redneck question here - what's lulz?

'Bout time you admitted to your ignorance, Kaney.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mincingbeast:
Corrupt, evil lols.

Oh you are twisted! I'll try not to disappoint, but I warn, don't expect miracles, especially coming from a knuckle-draggin' death-lovin' cunt, as I've been lovingly called many times by the enlightened progressives here.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by mincingbeast:
Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:

The greatest thing I can imagine on Earth is all mankind working together.

With an answer like that I just know you're going to do great, maybe even win the title!
I'll be rooting for you.

You supply lulz. More.

I wish that just once, one of those skanky contestants would go super villain and support genocide and faminine.

Wouldn't that be special? Ignorant redneck question here - what's lulz?

'Bout time you admitted to your ignorance, Kaney.

Whatever you say Rue. You goin' with the brazen two-piece bathing suit, or the classic one-piece for the contest?

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:11 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

No, I'm fairly certain when I die the electrical impulses in my brain that are what some would call the soul will simply cease to be and the body which carried it around will slowly break down. Unless of course it's burned, which I would prefer. Why waste precious money and real estate putting it in a fancy box and burying it.

Honestly I couldn't tell you the first thing about Mormon beliefs, or most religions for that matter, seems like a waste of time. The main belief of most religions seems to be (from observation, not from study of religion itself) punish those who believe something different, not a good place to start in my opinion.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:13 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

I was told this by a Marine friend of mine.

"When Marines die, they go to guard the gates of Heaven."

I have never forgotten that.

Lets say there is a soul, and heaven afterward. WOuld you want eternity to be nothing but fulfilled wishes? How long till that got old?

No. I prefer the idea that, after you die, you are healthy, happy, strong, and safe.

But still with a job to do.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:38 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Well, it was a nice idea, but I see you just put it up to do some more of your snarking, Wulf. Can't even let a serious answer go by without turning it into something absurd, can you?

These threads devolve so much lately into nastiness, it's very disheartening. Do you people have NOTHING of validity to contribute??

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:44 AM

KIRKULES

I don't see any evidence that there is a supreme being, so until I see a miracle or something I'll be a non-believer. To me it seems just as illogically to deny the existence of god as it does to believe without proof. There was a time when if you had told me that there is a supermassive blackhole at the center of most galaxies I would have been sceptical. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if there's a supreme being out there that retired from active intervention a few billion years ago, but I'll continue to believe in nothing unless god besides to show itself.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:51 AM

KIRKULES

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Gaia

Yahweh

Ganeesh

A clockmaker

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 11:15 AM

FREMDFIRMA

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 11:52 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

and yet... even in this Hollywood farce...

The "star" chooses to shoot himself in the head than be the evil that the devil proscribes.

For the record... "ca-chick". I would have chosen the same

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:01 PM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:01 PM

OPPYH

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Whatever that might be.

A Universal source of light, that balances and fights the dark.

Gaia

Yahweh

Ganeesh

A clockmaker

Whatever

Just curious, cus today I actually AM bored.

Yes, there is a God.

You can believe anything you want, but if you don't believe in God you would be in denial. The intricate nature of our universe, and the complexity of the atom proves this...in spades.
This is my opinion of course, and should be taken as such.

----------------------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 2:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
and yet... even in this Hollywood farce...

The "star" chooses to shoot himself in the head than be the evil that the devil proscribes.

For the record... "ca-chick". I would have chosen the same

No you haven't.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010 5:10 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

To the original question: no.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 4:40 AM

IREMISST

Serious: It's a nice thought, but I dunno...

fun: Depends on what day of the week it is, and whether or not I'm gettin' laid...

OOOOh God!

I guess I've been an atheist for the last couple weeks

While we're on the subject I know someone who got really, really mad because I said I like the song "I pray for you" by Jaron... Zero sense of humor- zero!

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 4:47 AM

OUT2THEBLACK

Quote:
Originally posted by Iremisst:

Serious: It's a nice thought, but I dunno...

fun: Depends on what day of the week it is, and whether or not I'm gettin' laid...

OOOOh God!

I guess I've been an atheist for the last couple weeks

While we're on the subject I know someone who got really, really mad because I said I like the song "I pray for you" by Jaron... Zero sense of humor- zero!

I'll pray for them !

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 4:49 AM

KANEMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by EvilDinosaur:
I have no specific belief, no. I'm open to the possibility of some higher life form, whether or not this life form created anyone or anything, or even cares at all about us, who knows.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

No specific beliefs = No conviction = Cowardice

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 4:56 AM

KANEMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Riverlove:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:

The greatest thing I can imagine on Earth is all mankind working together.

With an answer like that I just know you're going to do great, maybe even win the title!
I'll be rooting for you.

Nope. Sorry Riverlove, Kwicko's baton twirling is not up to snuff. He gets easily distracted because he has a tendency to stop and begin sucking on any shaft put in his hands. So, his "we are the world" phoniness will not carry him very far in the pageant.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 5:05 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

I would call it more humility than cowardice. I don't claim to know things that I couldn't possibly know.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 5:13 AM

KANEMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by EvilDinosaur:
I would call it more humility than cowardice. I don't claim to know things that I couldn't possibly know.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

Don't fret about it, see I know everything you don't know...I've got you covered.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 5:19 AM

SHINYGOODGUY

I'm the Dude, man.

SGG

Tawabawho?

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 5:20 AM

SHINYGOODGUY

Imagine there's no heaven, and no religion too........

SGG

Tawabawho?

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 7:22 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

Shiny: "Aou, wouldn't it be loverly?"

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 7:25 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Its funny to me, how folks are scared to answer the question.

Oh sure, theyll throw out tired cliches, and attempt to bypass and threadjack things... but hey.

Its a very interesting line in the sand, those who realize that maybe they are not the end all be all..

Those that seek to serve the light, those that seek to serve themselves, those that seek to serve the dark... it IS all shades of gray.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 7:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Its funny to me, how folks are scared to answer the question.

Oh sure, theyll throw out tired cliches, and attempt to bypass and threadjack things... but hey.

Its a very interesting line in the sand, those who realize that maybe they are not the end all be all..

Those that seek to serve the light, those that seek to serve themselves, those that seek to serve the dark... it IS all shades of gray.

Are you on LSD? How many folks are YOU seeing in this thread who didn't answer the question?

Do I need to put it into one-syllable words for you to understand it? Fine... I. Have. No. Use. Or. Need. For. A. God; I. Am. A. Man; I. Am. Real; God. Is. Not.

Think you can hold that in your brain for longer than the next time you sleep?

There is no larger group of people on Earth trying to serve "the dark" and serve only themselves, than the group of Americans who call themselves "conservatives". They care nothing for anyone else; their entire operating system consists of nothing more than this: "I got mine. Fuck you." There can be nothing more dark and self-serving than that.

By the way, your sacred Marines are useful for nothing but cannon fodder, and as fertilizer. That's why they're send in first, because they're too stupid to know better.

AURaptor's Greatest Hits:

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 20:32 To AnthonyT:
Go fuck yourself.
On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you.

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 7:40 AM

CHRISISALL

I'm more Buddhist than anything else, yet I believe in some form of Cosmic life force, kind of a Universal battery that powers all things. Not intelligent as we know intelligence, but intricately wired into us all, the high and the low.
Some living memories survive death, that'd be reincarnation in a way.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 7:45 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

Kwick,

That is why you fail.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 7:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:
Kwick,

That is why you fail.

Huh. Anyone who doesn't believe exactly like you "fails", huh? Curious.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:03 AM

http://youtu.be/VUnGTXRxGHg

No, clown.

I doubt anyone believes like anyone else.

But the fact that your belief system does not include something greater than yourself, speaks volumes about you, your chareacter, and your morality.

Typical lib... its only wrong if you get caught, right?

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:14 AM

Again, Wulfie, I have to ask: Are you currently taking LSD? You are definitely hallucinating!

Where did I say I believe in nothing greater than myself?

And what did you imagine I got "caught" at?

I believe in Humanity. I believe that all of us working together can do greater things than any single one of us. Sorry you can't grasp that; it seems to be too great for you.

I think Jesus, Gandhi, or Buddha would understand my concept. Odd that you don't.

AURaptor's Greatest Hits:

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 20:32 To AnthonyT:
Go fuck yourself.
On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you.

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:23 AM

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I'm still confused, Wulf. By my count, eleven people answered your question...in response to most of them, you snarked. So who exactly has been to "scared" to answer the question? Yeah, it's gotten into a back-and-forth, but people we don't even SEE very often have chimed in to answer the question.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
signing off

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:33 AM

CUDA77

Like woman, I am a mystery.

I don't believe in deities but I do believe there are some certain spirits/forces/energies in this 'verse that does help make things happen with none of them being bigger/more important than than any other. But I do not believe it is all one person/thing making it all happen while simultaneously watching all of us at the same time and judging us all at the same time. Or even many things for that matter. I believe that whatever mystical stuff there is around us, it is no better than us and we are no better than it.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:38 AM