Does God exist?

[lambdacoug]

ER,

What if we are the product of evolution? What if beings evolved across the universe and learned the process of living forever. It is believed man is but twenty to thirty years from achieving this.

If one lived forever, and began to acquire real knowledge, one might learn to traverse the universe. And if one found planets suitable for life one might plant life or spark life in those places. The creator might revisit from time to time to check up on his creations. But he wouldn't be there all the time.

Is there a soul, or is that a product of evolutionary belief?

This reminds me of Asimov's The Last Question.

[TexTechCoug]

I have believed for so long that I find it very disconcerting to imagine that God does not exist. My whole frame of reference is based on the very traditional LDS set of beliefs.

At times I do question the existence of God and the veracity of our beliefs, but to truly step away from them, I fear, would be catastrophic to the foundation upon which my life has been built.

Maybe not the right thread for this post, but I find that I am limited in my ability to question God's existence.

[Non Sequitur]

The better question is "Does it matter if God exists?" I don't know if God exists, and I don't really care. There is nothing that happens in my life on a day to day basis that a God could possibly impact. If he does exists, I guess that's cute, but it doesn't really matter.

[Topper]

The better question is "Does it matter if God exists?" I don't know if God exists, and I don't really care. There is nothing that happens in my life on a day to day basis that a God could possibly impact. If he does exists, I guess that's cute, but it doesn't really matter.

Do you meditate to calm yourself? Do you meditate to ponder matters? Prayer can provide a believer this relief and can impact a daily life.

[Danimal]

Do you meditate to calm yourself? Do you meditate to ponder matters? Prayer can provide a believer this relief and can impact a daily life.

No belief in god is necessary for meditation.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Hopefully this doesn't make me a belligerent believer, but I hope he does. I have no proof either way (obviously), but I would feel a great sense of loss and sadness if there is no God.

[Babs]

Hopefully this doesn't make me a belligerent believer, but I hope he does. I have no proof either way (obviously), but I would feel a great sense of loss and sadness if there is no God.

You are so annoying!

[UtahDan]

Curious to hear people's reactions--on both sides.

I didn't really get past the first couple sentences before his analysis fell apart for me.

The first thing he asserts is that our current inability to go further back in the causal chain that we currently can is a glaring ommission. He asserts this, but then doesn't tell us why it is so. To me it is like saying, our understanding of subatomic particulas describes a lot and is fine and well, but it doesn't tell us what the smallest partical is, and isn't that a glaring ommission? Uh, no. The whole "glaring ommission" thing is clearly a suggestion that the Laws of Nature are a weak explanationwithout that. But again, why? I can think of dozens of other examples. So as a critique, I mean, I don't even want to call it that. He is anthropomorphizing the cosmos. Is there any good reason to?

But even if you for some reason decide it is a problem, are we then saying that someone who has an idea about a first cause has something more valuable than one who doesn't? Why? What difference does it make?

Finally, if it does make some difference, what exactly is it? If somehow it is an argument for the first cause having a personality, it is not an argument for which personality it is. This argument aids a Catholic and a Pastafarian equally.

[Non Sequitur]

Do you meditate to calm yourself? Do you meditate to ponder matters? Prayer can provide a believer this relief and can impact a daily life.

I take Xanax to calm myself, so I suppose Pfizer is my God.

[UtahDan]

Hopefully this doesn't make me a belligerent believer, but I hope he does. I have no proof either way (obviously), but I would feel a great sense of loss and sadness if there is no God.

I think anyone with a religious background feels exactly that if that is the conclusion they reach. But it passes.

[UtahDan]

I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.

Sagan

[DU Ute]

The better question is "Does it matter if God exists?" I don't know if God exists, and I don't really care. There is nothing that happens in my life on a day to day basis that a God could possibly impact. If he does exists, I guess that's cute, but it doesn't really matter.

I think God probably intervenes regularly in your life without your knowledge, just to mess with you.

[Topper]

No belief in god is necessary for meditation.

Of course not, but trying to explain how it can be beneficial for believers.

[Non Sequitur]

I think God probably intervenes regularly in your life without your knowledge, just to mess with you.

When I become a God and I intervene in someone's life, they're damn well going to know it was Me.

[Danimal]

Of course not, but trying to explain how it can be beneficial for believers.

I agree that there's plenty of room for god to be meaningful in a day to day basis for believers.