Are you an atheist?

[Rich]

I know the answer.

So do I

 

[Mike375]

So do I

Then you better tell Alisa because my answer won't be acceptable to her

By the way, I need faith for my answer. What do you need for your answer. Have you been out in the field collecting evidence again then going to the laboratory or are you still having faith in what you read and picking the article/book that gives the answer you would like.

So far everyone on this thread used faith. However, the supernatural believers also have some basis on their own experiences whereas the non supernatural believers are totally dependent on the written word of others.

 

[Rich]

What do you need for your answer.

Common sense

 

[Mike375]

Common sense

Based on having faith in reading all the contradictory material you read.

 

[Rich]

Based on having faith in reading all the contradictory material you read.

I don't read the bible

 

[Mike375]

I don't read the bible

So how do you know what is in the Bible. I know longer read the Bible as there no updates or changes.

 

[Pauldohert]

Is that a fact? Seems more like a question. Have you a fact you ignored about birth control? I do hope its one I haven't heard before, is it of much relevence, to either the thread in general, or your own posts. Perhaps you are just throwing them in for fun.

I am guessing - I stress its just a guess.

No, yes , no, no , no , yes.

Did you decide it wasn't of much interest before posting, there is a God.

 

[oumahexi]

Reiki Master doesn't know

I selected agnostic because I always thought I was an atheist, until I started to practice Reiki.

At first I thought it was all "mind over matter" stuff, but then I started practicing on animals and plants and they respond just as well to Reiki as humans.

I have had many people walk through my door as a "last resort" for help with chronic problems and finding relief within minutes.

So, here we are, five years down the line. I get a real kick out of practicing and those who come to me for help definitely get a lot out of the practice, at the very least their stress levels reduce greatly.

But is it God? I don't know. I also practice hypnotherapy and am extremely aware of the power of the subconscious mind. It may be that, as past masters believe, we are tapping into the "Universal Life Source", it may be that can be called God, or it may be that it is simply that the practitioner believes so much on a subconscious level that he or she can't fail to help others.

I do, however, wish I could work a "miracle" on the database I am working with .

God or no God, we are all masters of our destiny. I like the ideals preached by great religious leaders like Jesus and Buddha, but I don't like what the always end up becoming. Their followers inevitably lose the plot and end up working against each other, which is not what is being preached. Sad to say, I'm starting to see a very similar trend with Reiki people, but I guess that’s human nature.

 

[Rabbie]

Then you better tell Alisa because my answer won't be acceptable to her

By the way, I need faith for my answer. What do you need for your answer. Have you been out in the field collecting evidence again then going to the laboratory or are you still having faith in what you read and picking the article/book that gives the answer you would like.

So far everyone on this thread used faith. However, the supernatural believers also have some basis on their own experiences whereas the non supernatural believers are totally dependent on the written word of others.

But I don't need faith not to believe in something. I don't need to believe that evolution is correct before not believing in the supernatural. I know there are Christians who believe in evolution so the the two are not incompatible.

 

[Mike375]

But I don't need faith not to believe in something. I don't need to believe that evolution is correct before not believing in the supernatural. I know there are Christians who believe in evolution so the the two are not incompatible.

But you need faith to believe what you don't see for yourself. You need faith in what others have written and faith in the accuracy of their observations.

 

[oumahexi]

But I don't need faith not to believe in something. I don't need to believe that evolution is correct before not believing in the supernatural. I know there are Christians who believe in evolution so the the two are not incompatible.

You're so right. There is no such thing as the "super natural" everything in this life is perfectly natural, including things that go "bump in the night" .

However, it does stand to reason that, given the vastness of the universe, and, if you'll forgive the x-files quote "we are not alone". So, who's to say that the possibilities are not endless? Why would it not be possible to have being from other planet or other dimensions visit and interact with us? And if they do, perhaps it would make sense for them to impart their values to us (the ten commandments etc).

There is rarely smoke without fire. The stories in the bible(s) all came from somewhere and I doubt that our forefathers could have made them up, they may have exagerated them, but not made them up completely. I think you will find that there most definately was a man called Moses who fled from Egypt to Israel, and that Buddha really did exist. Chances are they were very astute teachers. Who knows, maybe in a few hundred years Darwin or Steven Hawkins may be reveared as "enlightened beings".

One way or another, there is no such thing as "super" natural. Nature just is, we don't always see everything and I think that it's very easy to label that which we don't understand as supernatural. It's not, it's just uncharted territory.

 

[Rabbie]

But you need faith to believe what you don't see for yourself. You need faith in what others have written and faith in the accuracy of their observations.

I think we must agree to differ on this. I consider it to be a matter of judging what is most likely and if I see evidence that makes me change my view then so be it.

 

[Rabbie]

There is rarely smoke without fire. The stories in the bible(s) all came from somewhere and I doubt that our forefathers could have made them up, they may have exagerated them, but not made them up completely. I think you will find that there most definately was a man called Moses who fled from Egypt to Israel, and that Buddha really did exist. Chances are they were very astute teachers. Who knows, maybe in a few hundred years Darwin or Steven Hawkins may be reveared as "enlightened beings".

It is just a little strange that there is no evidence from Egypt where there are many written records of their army being destroyed in the red sea. I am not aware of any non-biblical evidence for the existence of Moses so if you have any I would like to see it.

 

[KenHigg]

... Who knows, maybe in a few hundred years Darwin or Steven Hawkins may be reveared as "enlightened beings".

We certainly won't have to worry about anyone 'revearing' Rich as an "enlightened being" -

 

[Rabbie]

We certainly won't have to worry about anyone 'revearing' Rich as an "enlightened being" -

Ken how could you be so unkind about Rich.

 

[Pauldohert]

I am not aware of any non-biblical evidence for the existence of Moses so if you have any I would like to see it.

How about the Koran.

 

[Mike375]

I think we must agree to differ on this. I consider it to be a matter of judging what is most likely and if I see evidence that makes me change my view then so be it.

Rabbie, in the general area of this thread you will have no evidence yourself.

You can read about Access and gain knowledge but you also get to do it yourself. With your own results that allows you to evaluate what you have read. But what about a simple one like the speed of light. When was the last time you measured it

Evolution looks OK but there is no clue as to how even the most simple form of life started. Kind of like the Big Bang.

The bottom line is that you have to place faith in others to form opinions on the sorts of areas up for discussion in this thread.

 

[Mike375]

I am not aware of any non-biblical evidence for the existence of Moses so if you have any I would like to see it.

Well what is wrong with that. It is the only book that does not need to update.

I have had astronomy books going back to before I was a kid and each one becomes a fairy tale.

The Bible says God created life. Then people say there is not one shred of evidence for that being the case.....one would therefore logically expect someone who says that to have a clue about how life started. Is is simple. If you don't have a clue how life started then how can you claim the Bible is all wrong.

 

[oumahexi]

How about the Koran.

The Koran is routed in Judaism, just like the Christian bible, so I think it still counts as a bible.

 

[Mike375]

Charlton Heston with the aid of Cecil B DeMille