kraftdinner
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posted on June 29, 2004 09:23:05 PM new
According to most bibles, the premise of God is eternal life in heaven - if you believe in me, I'll give you a big reward for it. If no bible made reference to eternal life or any big pay-off, would you still believe in God? 
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Libra63
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posted on June 29, 2004 09:32:24 PM new
I believe in God and in Eternal Life. There would be no bible if we didn't believe in God. There would have been no reason to write it.
What is the big reward? I guess I don't understand you question.
If you believe in God then you believe he created the earth. If you don't then you believe in evolution.
You asked us a question will you answer this one for me. Are you baptized KD?
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kraftdinner
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posted on June 29, 2004 09:45:39 PM new
The 'big reward' is eternal life in heaven Libra. My question is, would you still believe in God/Jesus/the bible, etc., if there was no eternal life in heaven.
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profe51
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posted on June 29, 2004 09:46:09 PM new
KD, I don't believe in the big rewards or payoff, and my answer is still "yes".
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When a dog howls at the moon, we call it religion. When he barks at strangers, we call it patriotism. - Edward Abbey
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Libra63
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posted on June 29, 2004 10:21:28 PM new
I don't believe that eternal life is a big payoff and yes I still would still believe in God.
Thanks for answering my question KD.
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crowfarm
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posted on June 29, 2004 11:41:06 PM new
Why do you think god exists?
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cblev65252
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posted on June 30, 2004 04:31:33 AM new
I don't believe in the big reward either. But, I still believe in God or a higher power. I believe we come back over and over again until we get it right. What we failed to learn in the former life, we are to learn in this life. I believe in reincarnation. No, not that we can come back as bugs or bunnies. We come back in the same form we left, but not necessarily the same sex. I also don't believe the bible was written by God. It was written by man and is a history and moral lesson book. Most occurrences in the bible can be and have been proven to be natural phenomenon. I have too many odd "flashbacks" to think any other way and have had too many actual conversations with dead loved ones. I also believe there is more than one plane in the universe and that they are separated by only a thin veil. Sometimes that veil can be breached.
IOW, I don't believe there is a heaven as we know it or a hell but I do believe there is a higher power than us. I call him God because that is what I was taught to call Him. For all I know, He may be a she and go by a completely different name.
I hope that explains what some would consider my interminent strange behavior. LOL!
Now, I'm off to commit the ultimate crime - I am cutting our grass at 7:30 a.m. That will teach the neighbors who kept me up until 3:00 a.m. with their fireworks!
Cheryl
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Twelvepole
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posted on June 30, 2004 06:17:47 AM new
Kraft for your simple mind, you either believe or you don't
Read the bible for your answers, people owe you none.
Libra this is nothing but a troll thread... pass it by.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND... 
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replaymedia
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posted on June 30, 2004 06:51:13 AM new
Every society has had Gods from the dawn of history. Some offered eternal life, but MOST DIDN'T.
People still believed in them and worshipped them.
It's a racial/mental/collective unconscious thing. Why do you suppose that is? My bet is that it was "designed into the software" by the original Programmer.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
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Helenjw
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posted on June 30, 2004 07:03:08 AM new
While growing up in Mississippi, the Bible was my first experience with good literature. My first book was a book of Bible stories that I absolutely treasured.
But I have no belief in God. I am an Atheist.
Helen
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replaymedia
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posted on June 30, 2004 07:04:46 AM new
Gosh Helen, I'd have never guessed from reading your other posts.
[ edited by replaymedia on Jun 30, 2004 07:05 AM ]
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neroter12
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posted on June 30, 2004 07:14:53 AM new
lol twelve, you are not on my list of best posters round here (except maybe for the controversy you stir-up), but I have always wondered about krafts seemingly innocent questions. If fact I was going to ask her today directly if she really wants to know about God, or this is just to drop another tear in the bucket? But since you brought it up, I'm sure she'll read it and have her say.
if she does have questions about God, is this the place to find answers? one can only draw their own conclusion, but hey, its still a free board to post to.
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neroter12
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posted on June 30, 2004 07:31:18 AM new
oh sure, now helium of malloid wants to bring up the atheist thing!
(She should have been flattered somebody's been paying attention to her all along.) I still say its her ilk that is going to pull the democratic party down with all the negativity huffing down everyone's neck.
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Helenjw
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posted on June 30, 2004 07:54:17 AM new
Do your unkind words reflect on the teachings of your religion?
Helen
[ edited by Helenjw on Jun 30, 2004 07:56 AM ]
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Reamond
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posted on June 30, 2004 09:40:03 AM new
There would be no bible if we didn't believe in God. There would have been no reason to write it.
So there was/is no reason to write fiction or mythology unless people actually believed what was written ? Surely you jest.
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NearTheSea
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posted on June 30, 2004 09:54:52 AM new
Reamond, everytime God Christianity or the Bible is brought up you call it mythology or a myth.
Is the Torah a myth? Is the Q'uaran a myth?
Thank you
__________________________________
I'm NearTheSea, and I approve this post
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Reamond
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posted on June 30, 2004 10:32:08 AM new
It is all mythology. Modern mythology is no different than what the Greeks, Romans or any of the others practiced.
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kraftdinner
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posted on June 30, 2004 11:34:57 AM new
This question isn't about me, it's about whether people that believe in eternal life would still believe in God if there were no eternal life. I'm not sure how to make the question any simpler for people like you to understand Twelve & Nero.
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fenix03
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posted on June 30, 2004 12:02:02 PM new
Personally I did not see it as a trolling question either. What is the old saying... there are no athiests in a foxhole. The closer people come to death the more likely they are to turn to god and religion. I've always been curious as to whether they are asking god to spare them from death or hedging their bets just in case. People don't want to think that their loved ones simply cease to exist, they don't want to believe that there will come a day when they will simply cease to exist so the promise of everlasting life is a comforting one. Since most people turn to their religion to find comfort I don't think it is a huge stretch to wonder how many people turned to their religion for comfort of the promise of everlasting life specifically.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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neroter12
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posted on June 30, 2004 12:19:30 PM new
Helen, I am not being unkind. Since you so stately stated one have your permission before they address you, I think you are deserving of a title. just trying to throw some around, see which one works. Let me know when one suits your liking. <heh! >
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Helenjw
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posted on June 30, 2004 12:29:15 PM new
"Helen, I am not being unkind. Since you so stately stated one have your permission before they address you, I think you are deserving of a title. just trying to throw some around, see which one works. Let me know when one suits your liking.' <heh! >
Neroter
It's generally considered unkind to make fun of someone's religious beliefs. Frankly, I have difficulty understanding you, neroter. At times you make good sense and then there are times that your remarks are irrational. In addition, you have a personal vendetta against me that I don't understand since I have only known you as neroter for a short period of time. For example you make remarks about me when I'm not even involved in the thread or the conversation. So, to sum up, you are to me a pain in the ass that I would rather not deal with. But since I don't use ignore, I'll respond when I think it's necessary. When I asked you not to address me, it was just an attempt to improve the civility here without having to go off topic repeatedly to answer an asinine remark from you.
Have I offended you personally that you can tell me about?
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Linda_K
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posted on June 30, 2004 12:34:55 PM new
LOL
Yea...neroter...got that? If not..it works this way. SHE can do anything...we cannot.
Re-elect President Bush!!
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Helenjw
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posted on June 30, 2004 12:36:50 PM new
"This question isn't about me, it's about whether people that believe in eternal life would still believe in God if there were no eternal life. I'm not sure how to make the question any simpler for people like you to understand Twelve & Nero."
You know, kraftdinner that I have difficulty following the original question. But I was close. If I did believe in something it would not be a conditional belief. I would believe no matter what I might receive or not in return.
Helen
[ edited by Helenjw on Jun 30, 2004 01:01 PM ]
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Helenjw
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posted on June 30, 2004 12:59:54 PM new
Lindak says, Yea...neroter...got that? If not..it works this way. SHE can do anything...we cannot.
What did I say that I can do that you cannot?
You get sillier every day, lindak.
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kraftdinner
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posted on June 30, 2004 01:10:12 PM new
Fenix, you explained it perfectly. I know it's a difficult question to answer because nobody knows what life would be like if religion wasn't a factor. In most religions, the "pay-off" (a slang term) for living a godly life, is eternal life after you die. If there was no pay-off, I wonder if religion would be as popular as it is, and if people would still act godly. Just a question - no ulterior motives.
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Linda_K
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posted on June 30, 2004 01:17:05 PM new
Assuming that I'm going to get blasted over this....I'm going to say it anyway. It's MY opinion and I'm stickin' to it.
because nobody knows what life would be like if religion wasn't a factor.
I can easily guess just what it would be like....just from looking at the moral decline/decay in America as interest/belief in religions has decreased.
Re-elect President Bush!!
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NearTheSea
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posted on June 30, 2004 01:23:12 PM new
Helen, now I am really confused (other times, I'm just plain confused )
You said:
It's generally considered unkind to make fun of someone's religious beliefs.
Which I took as someone referred to you as an athiest.
So that is my question (seriously) Athiesm is a religion?
Thank you
(I learn stuff here everday)
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I'm NearTheSea, and I approve this post
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kraftdinner
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posted on June 30, 2004 01:30:14 PM new
Linda, do you think a person can believe in God but not religion? Is it possible that a person can have strong beliefs in God but none in religion? Also, is it possible that the people that do believe in God, through religious teachings, only do so because they're afraid of not going to heaven like Fenix explained? When I watch religious people talk, their main goal is eternal life. If you took away the eternal life aspect, would the Jerry Falwell types (people that are really into bible teachings) still be so religious?
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Helenjw
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posted on June 30, 2004 01:32:09 PM new
You know better than that, nearthesea. Athieism is not a religion and if I said so, it was a mistake. Let's see, I'll correct that.
It's generally considered unkind to make fun of someone's religious beliefs or lack thereof.
You are beginning to remind me of neroter.
Helen
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NearTheSea
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posted on June 30, 2004 02:03:31 PM new
I know that athiesm is not a religion, but in the above statement to neroter, it looks as though you are saying that. Correct me if I'm wrong. You said 'It's generally considered unkind to make fun of someone's religious beliefs.'
And she referred to you as an athiest, so yeah it looks like you had referred to athiesm is a religious belief
boy tough crowd here......
(but what am I saying! it always has been! )
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I'm NearTheSea, and I approve this post
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