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What there is not is VERIFIABLE and TESTABLE evidence and that is the sort of evidence that matters.
Here is where I am not completly convinced with this type of logic as much as I look into it.
Can the Rosetta Stone be tested and verified that it was made by humans? How can you test and veryify that?
From my standpoint you reason and use logic and other methods to come up with a conclusion. This conclusion may not be proven 100% correct but it is the best that can be done.
The same with a the existence of a diety or maybe how we came to exist. Logic has no biases. How it is applied can be biased and there is where I think there are atheists and theists that do so. Take care.
I agree and apologize for lumping you in with those I have on ignore. But I will always find suspect any poster who makes the insupportable claim that "there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever" or "no reason whatsoever to believe in God". . . that is patently untrue and definitely NOT open minded. That was why I said in my post:
So to repeat for emphasis:
There may not be ENOUGH evidence to meet your "forward planning" criterion, Arequipa . . . but there IS evidence and reason to believe.
I know there is, Mystic. But there are also alternatives. The rational and indeed scientific position is to say 'Unproven, either way, as yet. And that's where the logical default and burden of proof comes in.
Okay. Now that I see this post (I missed it, sorry.) I think I get what you were talking about. Sorry.
I don't think it matters what name you call God and I'm afraid I haven't read the Qu'ran or Indians texts so fully that I can claim that these words sing in my heart so I'm afraid I can't comment on that. I do know that when I read the Old Testament, that it's the same God, a very loving God, who seemed to work very hard to keep His people from destruction by their own hands, but for whatever reason, people continued to turn to worship things that had no life.
But overall, when I read from the Old Testament to the new, I see an overall evolution of people and the interaction God had with them.
You and Miss Hepburn are looking like the kind of Theists I have no real problem with. You find something that you are happy with and I'm happy for you.
My beef is with the controlling influence or organized religion.
You and Miss Hepburn are looking like the kind
of Theists I have no real problem with.
You find something that you are happy with and I'm happy for you.
My beef is with the controlling influence or organized religion.
You and me both , buddy....I will say again I majorly dislike religions!!!
I am not shy saying it.
ARQ, sorry, I got busy...I told u I would type something out special for you
regarding "forward planning". I thought u would enjoy.
"God is Love. And Love must love. And to love there must be a Beloved.
But since God is Existence infinite and eternal there is no one for Him to love but
Himself as the Beloved whom He as the Lover imagines He loves.
....(much left out)...
To attain union is so impossibly difficult because it is impossible to become what you
already are! Union is nothing other than knowledge of oneself as the
Only One."
~Meher Baba...from "The Everything and the Nothing"
Last edited by Miss Hepburn; 05-20-2013 at 08:41 PM..
You and Miss Hepburn are looking like the kind of Theists I have no real problem with. You find something that you are happy with and I'm happy for you.
My beef is with the controlling influence or organized religion.
I feel you. I tend to surround myself with people who've evolved enough to know that spirituality isn't about controlling or imposing on others or even about demolishing all religions but about learning self-mastery. I'm big on balance and feel best in a neutral place.
My closest connection is to Christianity though. I've met a lot of people trying to set themselves up as authorities in this life and while I think it's good to have someone trusted that you can talk to, most of this stuff I don't think people really understand until it's experienced for themselves. Also, most Christians don't read the Bible for themselves, they just follow a prescribed doctrine. Personally, I don't care so long as it helps you become a better person and allows you to have better relationships with your peers (people). The problem with that though is that there are those who are extremely bitter about Christianity who many times are in the minority and to bolster their claims, they read the Bible for themselves and can put whatever spin on it they want and those who subscribe to Christianity have no CLUE what's in there and just go with what's presented due to the person's passionate response. It's just as brainwashing and annoying as those who try vehemently and violently convert others to Christianity. But I don't feel the personal call to evangelize anyone. lol I'm too laissez faire to do so. It's enough for me to live my faith.
Besides, if I turn out to be wrong (and I don't think I am), the last thing I want is to take others down with me.
Those that take refuge in Me...even if they are of low origin...
they will also go to the highest goal.
~Ch 9 v 32, The Bhagavad Gita
I went to a speech made by the Dalai Lama not too long ago and I really enjoyed his energy. Very light and child-like. Of course, he's controversial to some people and not everyone agrees with his decisions (another thing that I admire). But what I liked was that his message was about treating people as people and not based on their status. And I liked that. He treated the people around him like the equals they were.
Some of the people I enjoyed interacting with the most were those with mental illness getting treated or trying to get treated. I was amazed by their life stories and while I knew it was difficult and painful for many of them and played a huge role in the development of their illnesses, I was amazed by how much...strength we humans have, how much resiliency. In my own words, I saw a lot of God potential there and I kept hoping that at some point they'd learn to function and then go on to lead good lives. Some do!
That's what that quote reminded me of...the depths of human potential...
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I feel you. I tend to surround myself with people who've evolved enough to know that spirituality isn't about controlling or imposing on others or even about demolishing all religions but about learning self-mastery. I'm big on balance and feel best in a neutral place. 
