Why People Don't Like to TALK About God
 

I dunno I think people get way too offended when the subject of religion comes up. Perhaps you've had a bad experience and you've closed your heart to the subject or perhaps you just don't have the time or maybe your just mad at God. I was talking to my dad this past Easter and he said that all it meant to him was a day off work. When I push the issue he said "If God would just get off his ass and start answering some prayers then he would be more inclined to give religion a chance."

So dose anyone have any thoughts on God, Religion, and Spirituality. For me Jesus is the only thing that keeps me going, I have no reason to live except that I might some how some way full-fill God's purpose for my life which I have no Idea what that purpose is. Right now the only thing that matters to me Is Jesus Christ and doing HIS work. SO if I can be of any help to successfully help someone else make it to heaven I have done my job...

qcc??

I don't mind talking about God, but I do not believe God exists.

So you don't believe in God?? What do you believe in??

beer

Me

I like to talk about God, I hate to talk about religion. Most of the time I can't figure out how the two can possibly be related. Jesus taught a way of living, not a way of being religious. To think that God created all 7 Billion of us, but only cares about people who by an accident of birth are Christians is ludicrous. He gets more credit then that in my book.

Of course, I believe that we, us humans, are more than $100.00 dollars worth of chemicals and that God is. God seems to be so comfortable with himself, that we can go around our little lives saying things like, "Fuck you God, I don't even believe you fucking exist!", and "If you don't do what I think God wants you to do, I'll kill you!"; he doesn't even seem to mind at all, so why should I? Maybe I should try to be that comfortable with myself, and with you.

Well, I believe in God, but I don't believe in religion; and I believe in God my way. OTOH, I also acknowledge the possibility that God may not exist. However, if a supernatural supreme being does exist, He/She wants us to solve our own problems; only getting involved if absolutely necessary.

As the galactic God entity told Bender in the Godfellas episode of Futurama said:

Sure, it was a cartoon character who said it, but a profound quote none-the-less.

Augment: Oh. And if you believe in the God of the Bible, then you believe in a God who condones murder.

I imagine that it's quite easy for one who IS a murderer to condone murder.

The moment you open your mouth to talk about God you are already universes away from God.

Perhaps for the same reason God doesn't like to talk about people.

this emphasized element is by far the most troubling aspect of conversations with people about God, God's will, etc.

How the heck do you know? I know the answer I've been given, Faith. Belief in evidence that is not seen. Unfortunately, and I mean this sincerely, and not mockingly, that's indistinguishable from "make up whatever seems convenient, or cool, or martyr-y, etc". Undistinguishable. And my experience with Occam's Razor has inevitably led me to draw that second conclusion every time. Sorry.

Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.



--Spaceballs

The quote I have always relied on is this "he is God I am man who am I to say anything". The GOD I believe in is All powerful, All knowing, and All loving. The things he dose are not necessarily up to me to completely understand. So why should I even try. Kind of like a Child and his father, "do as he say's if you love him and he will reward your faith."

From http://cellar.org/showthread.php?p=733669#post733669


Me: I don't care if 'god' exists or not.


If 'god' exists then I can only (off the top of my head) conclude...

(1) It's 'all powerful' but (for some reason) chooses not to involve itself in the world (I see no evidence of divine intervention in the world...do you?).

Since 'god' is not involved: I'm on my own. Can't see a good reason to spend a lot of time thinking about, or seeking the attention of, a 'god' who sits back and does nothing but play voyeur (or, maybe, is off doing something else entirely).


(2) It's not 'all powerful' and -- for that reason -- can't do anything in the world.

Since 'god' is limited: I'm on my own. Can't see a good reason to spend a lot of time thinking about, or seeking the attention of, a 'god' who may want to intervene but is incapable.


(3) It's so alien in the way it thinks (in agenda, goal, purpose, etc.) its action in the world is incomprehensible and indistinguishable from natural occurrence.

Since 'god' is an alien: I'm on my own. Can't see a good reason to spend a lot of time thinking about, or seeking the attention of, a 'god' who is so far removed from me I can't hope to frame an entreaty it could even understand.


(4) It's a tricksy, manipulative, prick, playing with the world like my nephew does a June bug.

Since 'god' is a fucker: I'm on my own. Only good reason to spend time thinking about 'god' (in this case) is to figure out how to fly under its radar.


Of course: there may be no 'god'...in which case: I'm on my own...*shrug*

You're not a parent, are you?

The "because I'm the Daddy, that's why" is good, but only for a short time, and only early on. Only until the child grows and matures and develops their own independent ability to reason. I know the analogy is not completely apt, I'm not picking on you for that. A paternalistic God is a very very common illustration. But it does stand up for at least one more comparison.

Like human parents who raise human children, we strive to develop our children's ability to reason and think *so that when we're gone, they can live without our presence protecting them*. According to my religious study, we have been given intelligence, the ability to reason, indeed, free will. Our love and devotion to God is only valid if we've come to our choice on our own, not by coercion. That we've decided to "accept Him". And yet, we're called to suspend the very faculties that make such a gesture of free will even possible. This contradiction is unsurmountable for me. It is self contradictory.

Be my thinking, free willed child, He says; come to me by faith, He says. These two expressions negate each other. This is why I fail to follow those religious apologists. They don't make sense.

Calling things here like I see them, not out to rile anyone today.

Almost all of the Cellar Dwellers as well as most church goers that I've met have no spiritual experience. I mean that 95% of the people I've meet in the world, regardless of professed faith or professed no faith have had no experience with anything spiritual in nature. Quite naturally many people dismiss the idea that there is a spiritual, Godlike, nature to the world or universe based on their own experience in life. Or like most churchgoers who want this experience, they really are just doing what they are told...but they are seeking after a fashion. For myself, my ideas and faith in God are based today on my past experience. It is kind of like me telling someone I've been to a place where the sky is orange. 99.9 percent of the world would say, sorry buba, you may be delusional because I have only experienced the world with a blue sky, always has been this way and as far as I can see it will always be this way. I base my ideas, and faith today about God on my experience and I don't ever expect anyone without the experience to really understand at all. They might could empathize, but that is different.

No I'm not a parent.

co·er·cion   [koh-ur-shuhn] Show IPA
noun
1.
the act of coercing; use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance.
2.
force or the power to use force in gaining compliance, as by a government or police force.


Definition: unsurmountable
Part of Speech Definition
Adjective 1. Not capable of being surmounted or overcome.[Wordnet]
2. Incapable of being surmounted or climbed.[Wordnet]
3. Impossible to surmount or climb.[Wordnet]
4. Insurmountable.[Websters]
5. Being insurmountable, insuperable, impassable or unbridgeable. [Eve - graph theoretic]
6. Being unclimbable. [Eve - graph theoretic]
7. Being invincible, unconquerable, unbeatable or impregnable. [Eve - graph theoretic]
8. Infrequently used base adjective of the adverb unsurmountably.[Eve - graph theoretic]

You can talk about me, or not. I'm like my favorite creation, the honey badger: I don't give a shit.

that's just arrogance right there..

so what exactly do you believe.. me personally I am a firm believer that you should 'share your faith' even if that faith is small...

I believe God exists. I do.

But, on the advice of George Carlin, I've begun praying to Joe Pesci. 'Cause Joe Pesci looks like a guy who can get things done.

My prayer/answer rate has not changed.

Do you think god is not arrogant? Because I proclaim myself god, I am arrogant? Why?

Talking about God is not the problem...it's when people start opining about God that the differences begin making themselves obvious.

Klyde, maybe the people who dont like talking about god are simply really just non-believers. Maybe your Dad is one of them. And he just gave you one of the reasons why.

JBK, you curtly answered my question about you being a parent, thanks. Then you paste definitions of two words I used in my post, and you completely ignore what I've said. I welcome your comments beyond a vocabulary primer.

Perhaps some people get put off or 'offended' because they believe their beliefs are a personal matter, only open for discussion if/when they wish to discuss it. Not all breast cancer survivors want to talk about their mastecomy, not all vasectomy patients want to shout it to the world, not all believers feel Mr. Everyman and Ms. Everywoman needs to know what keeps them hopeful and (in)sane. Believers who believe their relationship with God is between God and them only may or may not want to discuss it with other people, since they have nothing to do with that relationship, even if their faith is in the same thing. If believing in Jesus Christ is all that's keeping you going, then you keep on keepin' on, but don't expect the guy next to you on the bus to want to know/care. If it turns out he does, then bonus but you can't assume.

Or some people believe in the same thing and hold the same faith but have varying ways of expressing it. It's like how some people react to a public toilet seat... person A puts down one of those liners before sitting down as a barrier to whatever yuk is on it, person B may squat over it instead and Person C, whose faith rests in the immune system, sits down regardless. They all believe the toilet seat can be gross but they all deal with it in different ways.

That's one hell of an analogy lol

Still, you have to admit each one passes on an abundance of shit.

baboomshka!

:thumb:

From this great website:
http://www.jhuger.com/kisshank

This morning there was a knock at my door. When I answered the door I found a well groomed, nicely dressed couple. The man spoke first:
John:
"Hi! I'm John, and this is Mary."
Mary:
"Hi! We're here to invite you to come kiss Hank's ass with us."
Me:
"Pardon me?! What are you talking about? Who's Hank, and why would I want to kiss His ass?"
John:
"If you kiss Hank's ass, He'll give you a million dollars; and if you don't, He'll kick the shit out of you."
Me:
"What? Is this some sort of bizarre mob shake-down?"
John:
"Hank is a billionaire philanthropist. Hank built this town. Hank owns this town. He can do whatever He wants, and what He wants is to give you a million dollars, but He can't until you kiss His ass."
Me:
"That doesn't make any sense. Why..."
Mary:
"Who are you to question Hank's gift? Don't you want a million dollars? Isn't it worth a little kiss on the ass?"
Me:
"Well maybe, if it's legit, but..."
John:
"Then come kiss Hank's ass with us."
Me:
"Do you kiss Hank's ass often?"
Mary:
"Oh yes, all the time..."
Me:
"And has He given you a million dollars?"
John:
"Well no. You don't actually get the money until you leave town."
Me:
"So why don't you just leave town now?"
Mary:
"You can't leave until Hank tells you to, or you don't get the money, and He kicks the shit out of you."
Me:
"Do you know anyone who kissed Hank's ass, left town, and got the million dollars?"
John:
"My mother kissed Hank's ass for years. She left town last year, and I'm sure she got the money."
Me:
"Haven't you talked to her since then?"
John:
"Of course not, Hank doesn't allow it."
Me:
"So what makes you think He'll actually give you the money if you've never talked to anyone who got the money?"
Mary:
"Well, He gives you a little bit before you leave. Maybe you'll get a raise, maybe you'll win a small lotto, maybe you'll just find a twenty-dollar bill on the street."
Me:
"What's that got to do with Hank?"
John:
"Hank has certain 'connections.'"
Me:
"I'm sorry, but this sounds like some sort of bizarre con game."
John:
"But it's a million dollars, can you really take the chance? And remember, if you don't kiss Hank's ass He'll kick the shit out of you."
Me:
"Maybe if I could see Hank, talk to Him, get the details straight from Him..."
Mary:
"No one sees Hank, no one talks to Hank."
Me:
"Then how do you kiss His ass?"
John:
"Sometimes we just blow Him a kiss, and think of His ass. Other times we kiss Karl's ass, and he passes it on."
Me:
"Who's Karl?"
Mary:
"A friend of ours. He's the one who taught us all about kissing Hank's ass. All we had to do was take him out to dinner a few times."
Me:
"And you just took his word for it when he said there was a Hank, that Hank wanted you to kiss His ass, and that Hank would reward you?"
John:
"Oh no! Karl has a letter he got from Hank years ago explaining the whole thing. Here's a copy; see for yourself."
From the Desk of Karl
Kiss Hank's ass and He'll give you a million dollars when you leave town.
Use alcohol in moderation.
Kick the shit out of people who aren't like you.
Eat right.
Hank dictated this list Himself.
The moon is made of green cheese.
Everything Hank says is right.
Wash your hands after going to the bathroom.
Don't use alcohol.
Eat your wieners on buns, no condiments.
Kiss Hank's ass or He'll kick the shit out of you.
Me:
"This appears to be written on Karl's letterhead."
Mary:
"Hank didn't have any paper."
Me:
"I have a hunch that if we checked we'd find this is Karl's handwriting."
John:
"Of course, Hank dictated it."
Me:
"I thought you said no one gets to see Hank?"
Mary:
"Not now, but years ago He would talk to some people."
Me:
"I thought you said He was a philanthropist. What sort of philanthropist kicks the shit out of people just because they're different?"
Mary:
"It's what Hank wants, and Hank's always right."
Me:
"How do you figure that?"
Mary:
"Item 7 says 'Everything Hank says is right.' That's good enough for me!"
Me:
"Maybe your friend Karl just made the whole thing up."
John:
"No way! Item 5 says 'Hank dictated this list himself.' Besides, item 2 says 'Use alcohol in moderation,' Item 4 says 'Eat right,' and item 8 says 'Wash your hands after going to the bathroom.' Everyone knows those things are right, so the rest must be true, too."
Me:
"But 9 says 'Don't use alcohol.' which doesn't quite go with item 2, and 6 says 'The moon is made of green cheese,' which is just plain wrong."
John:
"There's no contradiction between 9 and 2, 9 just clarifies 2. As far as 6 goes, you've never been to the moon, so you can't say for sure."
Me:
"Scientists have pretty firmly established that the moon is made of rock..."
Mary:
"But they don't know if the rock came from the Earth, or from out of space, so it could just as easily be green cheese."
Me:
"I'm not really an expert, but I think the theory that the Moon was somehow 'captured' by the Earth has been discounted*. Besides, not knowing where the rock came from doesn't make it cheese."
John:
"Ha! You just admitted that scientists make mistakes, but we know Hank is always right!"
Me:
"We do?"
Mary:
"Of course we do, Item 7 says so."
Me:
"You're saying Hank's always right because the list says so, the list is right because Hank dictated it, and we know that Hank dictated it because the list says so. That's circular logic, no different than saying 'Hank's right because He says He's right.'"
John:
"Now you're getting it! It's so rewarding to see someone come around to Hank's way of thinking."
Me:
"But...oh, never mind. What's the deal with wieners?"
Mary:
She blushes.
John:
"Wieners, in buns, no condiments. It's Hank's way. Anything else is wrong."
Me:
"What if I don't have a bun?"
John:
"No bun, no wiener. A wiener without a bun is wrong."
Me:
"No relish? No Mustard?"
Mary:
She looks positively stricken.
John:
He's shouting. "There's no need for such language! Condiments of any kind are wrong!"
Me:
"So a big pile of sauerkraut with some wieners chopped up in it would be out of the question?"
Mary:
Sticks her fingers in her ears."I am not listening to this. La la la, la la, la la la."
John:
"That's disgusting. Only some sort of evil deviant would eat that..."
Me:
"It's good! I eat it all the time."
Mary:
She faints.
John:
He catches Mary. "Well, if I'd known you were one of those I wouldn't have wasted my time. When Hank kicks the shit out of you I'll be there, counting my money and laughing. I'll kiss Hank's ass for you, you bunless cut-wienered kraut-eater."
With this, John dragged Mary to their waiting car, and sped off.

That is the funniest thing ever! Did you write it?

Oops, forgot the attribute:

http://www.jhuger.com/

Also, check out Pascal's Sucker-Bet http://www.jhuger.com/pascal

Awesome.