need help w/ 100 reasons NOT to believe in God

It makes perfect sense to me.

I suppose I should remove the tack for you, but you'd only ram it back down my throat. This reason alone reinforces the opinions of Lipton, myself and others.

Religion instills the importance of moral values.

There is no reason not to believe in god.

The reasons I gave earlier were a sardonic approach (undoubtedly missed by you cynical teens) to highlight the lack of values todays youth has. If you disagree and want to tell why fine, if you want to bitch and reinforce my opinion also fine.

If you can a good life free of the evils life has to offer without god, that's great but I'm betting every kid who has bitched on about how God is crap, stupid, useless etc. is the stereotypical lout that makes me cringe inside everytime I go into town.

I'm dreading my senior years... you little buggers will be the death of me I'm sure.

Kati.

As for you wanting 100 reasons NOT to believe in God... that's a path you can only find by yourself, love. Nothing that anyone writes here is going to help one little bit.

Actually they are mostly taken from the Talmud.

That doesn't make them fake.

Thanks, Bret. If a few more people had a few more decent values (such as don't kill, don't steal, don't be greedy) the world would be a much happier place, I reckon. :)

Thanks, Karen.

It's there waiting for them, no one can deny that. Unfortunately, for all our hopes and dreams of a decent society, it won't happen until the dregs lift themselves. We can't do it for them.

#1) Freedom to believe in another religion (i.e. Buddism) maybe?

Aken Sol

i believe in one God and the only God.He is the gratest person alive.Yes i said alive cuz he is with you all the time no matter what.He is in my soul right now and he can be in your too if you just ask him to save your life.And you can go to heaven and live with him 4-ever.Jesus loves you!!!!

Mel:

I wasn't using as proof of God, anyway. More as a little bit of thought.

~Ciao Lipton

Justin:

Proof?

Robianna hill:

you cannot tell an atheist to find reasons to believe in God in the bible, because we honestly think that you are all victims of the biggest scam in history. We, or at least many of us, think of the bible as a great collection of lies, and a few historical truths...

one of the reasons not to believe in god is that i'm a buddism.. =) i believe in buddah not god! =) when u wrote god do u read it from left to right or right to left? hihi jk

Enslavement...

Maybe you should look at the Bible as a collection of moral dilemas that contain moral answers. The Bible isn't a history book, it's guide to life.

You're interpreting the Bible in a whole new light if you treat it like it's a journal. History is opinion, morals aren't opinion. Think about it.

Personally I don't care what most kids think because they need a healthy dose of life before they can form an opinion on something as big as life and what is right and wrong. Hell, I wouldn't have even listened to myself on this subject when I was a kid either.

guess you are right, Higgins, but my point was that I won't find the answers robianna is pointing me towards in the bible...

I also think that much of the moral presented in the bible is..well...wrong..

but that's just me...

Theres not a reason not to believe, unless its your choice. I mean, i could tell you all i know and believe, and you wouldnt believe it unless you wanted to. So be your own self.

God bless

-Courtney

Enslavement:

-Thou shalt not have any other gods before Me
-Thou shalt not make any idol, or likeness of earthly, or spiritual beings as which to worship
-Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
-Remember the Sabbath, and keep it Holy
-Honor you father and mother
-Thou shalt not murder
-Thou shalt not commit adultery
-Thou shalt not steal
-Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)
-Thou shalt not covet

Now, some of these pertain to God, who you do not believe in. However, most of these are morals which EVERYONE should include in their lifestyle. If everyone held to at least the last six, that would be super awesome; and guess what? Six is the majority of the morals which God gave to us. So, MOST of the morals laid out in the Bible are NOT bad. There are also a few which are not in the Ten, like the fruits of the Spirit:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

Tell me these are bad things.

~Ciao Lipton

god is just not real at all,its all a "illusion",my opinion...

Oh my God!

There's a kind of assumption in the above posts that without the guidance of 'God' people will become 'yobs'.

Let me say this. if more time was spent educating prospective parents on how to bring up kids both socially and psychologically, we wouldn't need to teach or preach religion. The morals would be instaled into any future society.

Secondly, the kind of people who rant on about God, in my observations, are either: priests/vicars/ (fair enough). The rest are recoverers from nervous breakdowns caused by drugs booze etc and 'they've found God - hallaluja!' or they've been brought up in a God worshipping family.

We have to be careful of these 'Grand narratives' that offer us something bigger than life itself - and I'm not just talking about the bible here! Look around you. The biggest problems in the world have religious foundations. How many examples do you want me to give!

Mel -

A lot of time should already be spent educating prospective parents on how to bring kids up socially and psychologically. That's the sort of thing that your own parents should teach you, by your own experience. It's the sort of thing you should just *know*. Any idiot will tell you that if you allow your kids to go around shoplifting etc. from being 6 years old then you are asking for trouble. Anyone who would need to be taught that in specific prospective parent education as you advocate should be sterilised.

In any case, that's not the point. The point I (and others) am trying to make is that all spiritual beliefs promote high moral standards, and to accept spirituality is also to accept high moral standards. What's so wrong about that?

I also suggest that you widen your observations somewhat, as I don't fit into any of the three categories which you list.

So the biggest problems in the world have religious foundations. Is that a reason not to believe in God? Or is it a reason not to believe in religion? How many examples do I want you to give? A hundred would be nice - that's the title of the thread, after all. As far as these hundred reasons go, the silence has been deafening! So far I've heard one reason repeated time and again, and whether I agree with that reason or not is by the by ... there's still 99 more to get! I also note that the person who started this thread has been conspicuous by their absence just lately - who's the idiot? :D

Lipton -

The bible says much more than just those ten, but I agree, the thought behind them is great, but not anything special. Those laws can be found in every culture.

EVery religion has it's own moral laws, and they are all pretty good. The problem is that few follow them.

And why is that, Enslavement?

Karen:

I find it interesting that you offer 'high moral standards' juxtaposed with forced 'sterilization' in the same post.

Incidentally, you talk of 'high moral standards' akin with religion/spirituality and belief. I wonder, is this the same people with 'high moral standards' that go on to blow up innocent people because of a clash in different beliefs? Is this the same 'high moral standards' that I'm constantly reading about when they're abusing there own people from a young age.......?

In every instance you raise there is an obvious lack of high moral standards so your argument is lacking.

Believe it or not the people you refer to are in the infinite minority.

because people are selfish

Oh, I see Brett. It's the infinite minority effecting the vast majority!! Because that is what happens, isn't it?

A lack of high moral standards in my argument? Ugh. How the fuck can you say that?

Mel:

"Let me say this. if more time was spent educating prospective parents on how to bring up kids both socially and psychologically, we wouldn't need to teach or preach religion. The morals would be instaled into any future society."

You said if more time was spent educating prospective parents on how to bring up kids, then the morals would be installed into and future society. What morals are you speaking of exactly? Considering that different people have a different set of morals. What would be our measuring stick for high moral standards? Perhaps God’s measuring stick? If it weren’t for the morals that he has put in place, we would have no idea of what high morals were from the beginning.

“Incidentally, you talk of 'high moral standards' akin with religion/spirituality and belief. I wonder, is this the same people with 'high moral standards' that go on to blow up innocent people because of a clash in different beliefs? Is this the same 'high moral standards' that I'm constantly reading about when they're abusing there own people from a young age.......?

These people who go around blowing up innocent people because of a clash in beliefs are just ignorant plain and simple. Just because they go around yelling that they are doing it in the name of God doesn’t mean that they are. In actuality they are doing it for themselves. They don’t like how they are being treated, they don’t like their situation, and so they decide to do something about it while hiding behind God’s name. If you look further you will find that these same religions that these people ascribe to, tell them NOT to do what they do. Yet, they choose to follow their own desires. If you choose to base your views of religion and the belief in God on the actions of a bunch of morons, then that makes you look as ignorant as them. The same logic could be applied for marriage. I could say that I don’t believe in marriage because too many women are abused and too many marriages end in divorce. So the whole idea of marriage and all those who get married are wrong, right? Or I could say that I don’t believe in driving because too many people get into accidents on the road. Or I could say that I don’t believe in going to high school, because too many people drop out, or end up falling in with the wrong crowd…

Mel, you mis-read what I said.

I didn't say you lacked moral standards, just the examples you gave.

Amanda explains in detail what I mean (nice post).

Hell, Bret, I'm giving up. I can't even remember what it was i was arguing about...

So i guess you are right...

peace man:P

Mel:

You will take everything I say literally. The point I was trying to make is that prospective parents shouldn't need to attend lessons on how to raise children. It should just be *there*.

Amanda:

All the examples you give above on 'logic' in realtion to religious beliefs are all physical things: driving etc - so your analogy is tenuous. The thread here is about not believing in God (the great invisible).

As for the religious fanatics who will kill because of a belief (morons, you call them), well look at it this way: due to their readings and subsequent beliefs, this world will never be the same again - not for you, not for your kids, not for their kids. Only a hand full of them, hey? How many fingers to blow a whole state/country away, I wonder.

These people have been indoctrinated with the belief that they will become martyrs if they die for the cause. Well, I for one am little teeny weeny bit scared of that religious ideology.

You say, also, that if it wasn't for God in the first place we wouldn't have a measurement for morals.
Jesus. Our morals come from the basic instinct
to protect, provide and survive (I shouldn't need to elaborate anymore) and we wouldn't have needed a voice from the skies for that one.

Look, I'm sorry if I'm pissing on anyones religious parade but I feel (which does not make it right for you) that religion/gods/ worship are all born of fear, and so the neurosis that exists because of this is dangerous for many (not for all) but maybe in the long run.

I agree very much...

Many religions, not only the big ones, made measurements for moral way before christianity came along, so I don't think it has made much of a difference...

i personally find it strange that your friends took the time to write 100 reasons why you should believe in god. sounds like something a cult would do...
-A

i have a good reason-- he doesnt exist. ha-ha

this post in no way represents my own beliefs or opinions, i just thought this would stir up some stuff. enjoy!

Epiphet, everyone knows that the difference between organised religion and a cult is number of followers. That's all.

Christianity, Hinduism, Shintoism, Bhuddism... all religions were cults once.

OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!! Natasha, you're so wrong!!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!

I AM SO ANGRY at you now! You're just trying to stir things up! ANGER!

~Ciao Lipton

PS: This post is not serious.

You want 100 reasons not to believe in this god

First look at the bible, really look at it and think about it,

Then look notice why humans look as we do,

Why do we have a tail bone, why is are genetic stucture so close to the ape family, why is this not in the bible, thought we were from dirt not an ape

but what do i know god has never talked to me,

or anyone ever.........

Maybe God was lazy and used a basic humanoid template for monkeys, apes and humans. But then he saw the tail on a man and realised how silly iy looked.

Dismissive people always make me laugh.

The best reason I can think of is the following.

Okay..christians say that they often talk to god. How they do this beats me. But they say they do.

I honestly think they are hearing voices inside of their head. It does seem likely, if you consider the fact that there are alot of different religions, and in many of them, the followers have contact with God. IT can't be the same God, that's for sure, as some people claim that their God told them to do bad things to the followers of other Gods. In other words, an awful amount of people hear voices inside of their head. Unless, of course, there are many Gods, and they struggle to get followers.

Which seems by far the most likely situation...

so...there are either alot of Gods, or none at all. Or maybe one single religion is right, and the rest are just a bunch of lunatics hearing voices inside their head? SO, for the sake of mankind, go for the first one. NEither is insane, there are just alot of Gods..

I dunno what I believe.

Does this make sense to anyone?

yeah i agree..

*silence*

I don't understand why everyone is arguing about this...when (or IF for those of you who do not believe He will)
Jesus comes again, we will all find out what is right or wrong.
As for God talking to people..He does!! It's not voices in your head, believe me. When He speaks to you ... you KNOW it's Him.
I am not trying to argue with anyone, I just believe what I believe. I believe JESUS IS LORD!!!
Also, the bible tells us it's our duty to preach the gospel... That means EVERY person who believes in God. I don't think anyone is trying to push their beliefs on anyone, they are just doing what they are supposed to do. Y