Who Believes in God?

Good job!

So you are guessing there is a GOD...and that the GOD, not you, is responsible for the "positive changes" you suggest have been made in your life.

Why?

Why are you guessing there is a GOD...and why are you supposing the GOD should get the credit?

I wasted four years of my life on religion before I discovered drugs. The little blue ones are pretty good.

Why is it, do you think, that finding/re-finding religion requires a discussion of the issue ?

A cynic might say you have simply replaced one opiate with another and you are merely seeking social approval and reinforcement for your new habit.

It is merely a re-direction of your addiction. Keep it up, though.
Works a treat!

How--Matt I judge that She will be shown to be a perfectly natural phenom, the Universe Her body and all the activity therein Her thinking. Eventually it will be confirmed that it's perfectly okay to refer to Her (It) using term "God" or not depending entirely on how you define the term

Why--because there's a lot of evidence to indicate that the impossible cannot be done--even by Her. She has existed forever, bound by certain limitations accounting for the necessity of disease, suffering, crime, etc

Faith doesn't ensure goodness. You'll have to rephrase this, Matt

The Porker might disagree with your observations: Though he's friendly and sometimes as intelligent as a 3-year-old humanoid, the perfectly steadfast Christians hangs him by the hind feet and slits his throat so he bleeds to death

Whatever floats your boat.

I always find it funny when a believer talks like this.

I am an atheist, but how come I don't have a drug addiction? How come I am not purchasing prostitutes? How come I'm not raping women and children? How come I'm not stealing from my neighbors?

Shouldn't I be doing these things since I don't believe in a god or hell? After all if there is no god or hell then why worry about being punished for these things right?

You could just say I avoid them because of human based laws and I just avoid them for the fear of going to prison or killed by police. But lets return to the drug habit. How come I don't have a drug habit? Surely if you could hide it from the laws of man, I could. So shouldn't I be an addict? I am not..

I think some people don't know how to empower themselves and they think they need the notion of a god's existence to be that empowerment. I say no. All happiness resides from within your own choices. If you weigh your choices to their uttermost extreme making decisions is easy and you have a firm foundation to rest on. This is why I am not an addict, not because I need the god notion as a crutch when I am feeling weak or lacking self will.

The reason I don't do any of the things I listed earlier is because I have empathy. I can sympathize with other's experiences. But I also understand that these activities, that we consider crimes are horrible methods of obtaining happiness. So I abandon them on that fact as well. My happiness is built from within, not from external supplication of material gain. So I am naturally not inclined to steal, cheat, murder, or take advantage of others to better myself. I don't need a god to give me this ability..

If I am wrong then so be it, but to punish me for using my own will power to find my own happiness without the suffering of others must say something to this god. If not then that god is a prick if he allows me to be punished for eternity simply because I was not convinced it existed in the first place.

Appreciate the views! If you witnessed first hand the changes in my own life and those I know once surrounded by drugs perhaps you would understand. Not all God. No way. The will to live a better life? Yes. Again appreciate your opinion and as to the reason this requires discussion? Well... It doesn't. I'm just curious as to what others may think.

Well parhaps you made better choices, not sure my friend. But all I can say is whatever floats your boat just as the one guy here said. I was ignorant, young, and quite frankly had no idea what it would turn into. Had I been loyal to my family throughout and kind to others as He so suggests, maybe id of had another path. Regardless I hold no ones views against them, simply ask that they would respect my own. Thank you for the well thought out reply!

No but faith suggests such things that could prohibit such goodness, or holiness as some might say. Mother nature as I assume you project your thoughts? And necessity of crime? Come again?

They just don't realize that their 'boat' is sinking.

I know God because I entered the kingdom of God.

KINGDOM OF GOD (INSIDE YOURSELF)

John 6:63
63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Rom 14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 14:22
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
Matt 6:33-34
33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Acts 17:24-25
24 "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
John 4:23-24
23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Luke 17:20-21
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
Mark 10:15
15 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.
Matt 12:25
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Matt 12:28
28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matt 8:12
12 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Mark 1:15
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
James 4:7-8
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Luke 1:50
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
Rev 19:5
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!"
Luke 12:5
5 "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Heb 10:29-31
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people."
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
John 3:5-7
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
2 Cor 3:5-6
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
John 14:26
26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
51 "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
Rom 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
2 Cor 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Rom 8:5-8
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Mark 10:23-25
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Col 1:13-14
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Matt 8:12
12 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
1 Pet 5:10
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
2 Pet 1:10-11
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(NKJ)
xxx The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are different. Many people have as yet not entered the kingdom of God. And yet they still hold to their carnality and try to explain the Word of God with the wisdom of man. One needs to enter the kingdom of God to even be sanctified(the washing of water by the Word). One should understand that the kingdom of God is inside you. Where you will go through all the tests of crucifing the flesh(outer person) with all of its emotions & feelings. You can only enter by being led by the Holy Spirit(verses). But there are those who abide in the milk and worship in the flesh(according to their feelings & emotions) which is a deception in itself. To get into the meat(verses) one has to know the difference between the milk and the meat. And you can only find that in the meat.


Luke 9:62
62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
(NKJ)

Luke 18:17
17 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
(NKJ)


Matt 6:9-13
9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
(NKJ)

Luke 13:18-21
18 Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
19 "It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."
20 And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
(NKJ)

Matt sorry but you'll have to reword that

In order for there to be a Universe with evolving creatures it's impossible there shouldn't be crime also

She can only do what's possible