Do you believe in God?

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Because there is really no way to know if there is a god.  I can understand why someone would be indecisive.

Also, if we look at this in terms of a logical switch either being on or off, there is no intermediate state.  In other words, a person starts off as an unbeliever and remains an unbeliever until such time they choose to believe.

[Gustaf]

Because there is really no way to know if there is a god.  I can understand why someone would be indecisive.

Someone could reasonably be indecisive IF they expected more info to be forthcoming.  So, until the expected info arrives, the decision is "null".

But, once it becomes clear that all the available info has ALREADY been given - as it is in this case - anything other than "I do believe" is exactly the same as not believing.

Why can't he expect more info? Like a revelation or something...

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Why can't he expect more info? Like a revelation or something...

True (and a pretty good catch).  But he is still an unbeliever until he becomes a believer.

In other words,  the question was "Do you believe in God" or to put in another way: "Is your belief state 'on'?"  

[Gustaf]

Why can't he expect more info? Like a revelation or something...

True (and a pretty good catch).  But he is still an unbeliever until he becomes a believer.

In other words,  the question was "Do you believe in God" or to put in another way: "Is your belief state 'on'?"  

If only the 2 options 'believe' and 'don't believe' had been given, I'd agree with you, but now I would interpret the 'don't believe' option as having made up one's mind never to believe, rather than waiting for more info. Though you're obviously right that someone who doesn't yet believe would be an unbeliever.

[Nym90]

I do believe in God. I believe that Jesus Christ was His son and our savior. However, I know that my beliefs are just that--beliefs. I do not profess to have knowledge which I do not have.

Until I was 19 years old, I did not believe in God, as I am very scientific and logical and thus felt that I needed proof of His existence. I had always been open minded to the possibility. As a result I can completely understand why others would not believe in God without proof, and I cannot bring myself to believe that God would punish people for failing to believe in something without proof. However, I feel that such proof was revealed to me at that time. It was not physical proof, but I feel that He instilled me with faith that He exists.

[JohnFKennedy]

(edited in case offensive)

i am agnostic

[M]

Phew, it's a relief to know that moral relativism successfully restrained Hitler. Just imagine how bad he would have been without moral relativism!

[Michael Z]

Phew, it's a relief to know that moral relativism successfully restrained Hitler. Just imagine how bad he would have been without moral relativism!

I did not say moral relativism restrained Hitler. I said moral determinism made him worse. Besides, moral relativism as many would interpret it did not take shape until the 1950s and therefore takes a wholly retrospective view of the Nazi regime. You're free to disagree with my viewpoint, but acknowledging my basic argument would help before making sarcastic remarks.

[classical liberal]

God is the only point where i am not as far to the right as is possible.

In the absence of proof, I do not believe that there is a god.

[ncjake]

Devout Pre-Vatican II, Latin Mass, old school Catholic here.

[Gustaf]

Devout Pre-Vatican II, Latin Mass, old school Catholic here.

Lol...I didn't know that there was more than one person who actaully called it Vatican II...

[ncjake]

Devout Pre-Vatican II, Latin Mass, old school Catholic here.

Lol...I didn't know that there was more than one person who actaully called it Vatican II...

Who's the one person?

[Gustaf]

Devout Pre-Vatican II, Latin Mass, old school Catholic here.

Lol...I didn't know that there was more than one person who actaully called it Vatican II...

Who's the one person?

Tom Lehrer.

[Nation]

I love Tom Lehrer. Elements song, the Harvard fight song...

"Fight for dear old Harvard, fight fight fight!
Won't it be peachy if we win the game?!?"

[ncjake]

Well, thats what everyone I know calls it

[Gustaf]

I love Tom Lehrer. Elements song, the Harvard fight song...

"Fight for dear old Harvard, fight fight fight!
Won't it be peachy if we win the game?!?"

So do I. I hold your hand in mine, Lobachevsky, the Irish ballad...and of course the Vatican Rag, who prompted bringing him into the discussion.

[CTguy]

I don't think god created man.  I think man created god.

I grew up catholic but I never really bought any of it.  I never could get around the fact that there are hundreds of different religions that each believe there's is the one true God.  Someones got to be wrong.  

Of course I don't care what anyone else believes.  To each his own.  But I do believe VERY strongly in the separation of Church and State.  My opinion is anyone can believe what they want in a dogmatic way if they want but I don't think these bible belt preachers should be allowed to ban abortion or deny gay people from getting married just because THEIR God told them it was the right thing to do.

[Brambila]

Quite honestly, I think it's only possible that God exists, because of time. Time involves being created, gaining age, and eventually leaving existence. Our universe had to have been created- the Big Bang is the most popular theory, but who set the big bang? Our existence couldn't have simply appeared- this is contray to physics. What is the possible answer? Something, created us. Since that something is in a period of non-time, it never had a beginning, end, et cetera. It always was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, as the prayer goes. So basically, the thing that set the big bang is still around because there's no time with that figure.

[© tweed]

I don't think god created man.  I think man created god.

That's what I said, man created god because of the absence of answers.

[Brambila]

God is the only point where i am not as far to the right as is possible.

In the absence of proof, I do not believe that there is a god.

That's a logical fallacy... simply because there's no evidence for something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

You're agnostic, is what you mean

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sedevecantist? Lefievrite?

[Kevinstat]

I believe in God, and I also believe that his son, Jesus Christ, came down to earth and sacrified himself on the cross so that whoever believes in him and accepts him as savior and Lord shall be forgiven for their sins and have everlasting life.

Sincerely,

Kevin Lamoreau

[Siege40]

I am an atheist. I find religion too crazy, even for me. I beleive there was a man named Jesus of Nazereth, and he was an excellent Philosopher, but outside of that, I don't know.

Siege40

[zachman]

Thats pretty rare. An atheist from SC!

As for me I don't believe in religion.

[Siege40]

Ahem, I am NOT from South Carolina, as stated in the line below my name. My Avatar is SC because that was beneficial to the Fantasy voting system, which has few registered Southerners.

Siege40

[dunn]

Thats pretty rare. An atheist from SC!

As for me I don't believe in religion.

you can belive in god or some divine spirit without religion