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cruzanheartInteresting quotes about belief in God


I'm reading Dan Brown's book "Angels & Demons," which is kind of a prequel to "The DaVinci Code," and I'd like to see what you all think of these quotes:

"I did not ask if you believe what MAN says about God.  I asked if you believed in God.  There is a difference.  Holy scripture is stories . . . legends and history of man's quest to understand his own need for meaning.  I am not asking you to pass judgment on literature.  I am asking if you believe in GOD.  When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine?  Do you feel in your gut that you are staaring up at the work of God's hand?"

"Religion is like language or dress.  We gravitate toward the practices with which we were raised.  In the end, though, we are all proclaiming the same thing.  That life has meaning.  That we are grateful for the power that created us. . . . In the end we are all just searching for truth, that which is greater than ourselves."

Do you think this is a valid summary of mankind's need to worship?  I think it's pretty close to what I believe now that I don't have a bunch of manmade rules cluttering up my horizons.  Seems to me to be a very balanced view of the universe around us and within us, and a viewpoint that would allow for a diversity of opinion without the need for fanatical "them & us" attitudes.

Nina

 
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Victorian skyRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God
Nina, I couldn't agree more. I'm on page 97 of Angels and Demons and I agree, with the way Brown puts it. I consider myself a spiritual person, rather than a religious one. I don't like the concept that God will kill you if you don't do X, Y and Z. No matter what a person believes there is something awe inspiring about a sunset or a mountain range. Hope you enjoy the book. - V Sky  
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ElsewhereRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God
When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine?  Do you feel in your gut that you are staaring up at the work of God's hand?"

This is something that has totally eluded and mystified me.  I literally spent years of my life trying to experience this... but is just not in me.  I honestly feel absolutely nothing in regard to the perception of a god.  A lot of people find this very hard to believe because they feel it so strongly. 

I have long suspected that most people have what I call "The God Pod"... a collection of special cells in the brain that allows them to experience such a thing. Whether it is a real perception or an illusion I cannot say with any certainty... but what I can say is that I don't experience it.

Even though I am atheist, I am still "spiritual".  I have discovered that one does not need to believe in deities or the supernatural in order to be spiritual.  For me a spiritual moment can be found in nature or meditation or a tender moment of love. 

I would have to say that I do agree, in part, with what the book is saying... that everyone must find their own path.  Ultimately the goal is to find inner peace and happiness.

 

 
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ValisRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God

Good quote Nina..
When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine?

more like sense the mysteriousness and vastness of the universe.  But divinity?  Nope.

Here's on of my faves...

I observe that a very large portion of the human race does not believe in God and suffers no visible punishment in consequence. And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that he would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt his existence. (W.A.) Betrand Russell

Sincerely,

District Overbeer
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OdradeRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God

Personally, I think that a distinction should be made between "spirituality" and belief if God. I haven't read the book you are referring to...never even heard of it, but it seems that is what he is saying from those two quotes. I'll have to pick up a copy. Sounds like interesting reading.

For myself, I don't really get an impression of "deity" when I look at the stars, but I do feel it sometimes. Like when I am outside, and I take my shoes off, I can feel "something" from the earth. Not dirt in between my toes so much, but a sense of connected-ness-- like energy or vibration. Also, when I am in a stand of trees, I feel a need to put my hands on the trees. It's almost like I want to touch their long lives. For me, that IS spirituality, even if I look pretty silly doing it. It's very centering.

Odrade
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OICU8it2Re: Interesting quotes about belief in God
Similar feelings. The most convnincing evidence for me is the design of the universe. So many books and exposes I've read present odds that are beyond question that the universe was created to harbor intelligent life. The values of the electro-weak, the strong force, and gravity for example. The arrangement of a moon to give stability to the earth's orbit, on and on. This place was created by an intelligent being.
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Double EdgeRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God

Cruzanheart...

Both are great quotes, well articulated... now I want to read the book.... Thanks. I think I must have what Elsewhere calls "The God Pod" .... Even with all of the crap this world dishes out, I am in awe of creation itself and the 'One' who put it all together.
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Vita NuovaRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God

“It is often supposed that when people stop believing in God, they believe in nothing. Alas, it is worse than that.  When they stop believing in God, they believe in anything.” --G.K. Chesterton

“Science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind.” --Albert Einstein.

Any questions?

 

Vita Nuova

 
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talesinRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God

cruzanheart

I'm with the atheists on this one.  I feel no need for g*d or a divine creator, but Odrade expressed my feelings almost exactly.
sense of connected-ness-- like energy or vibration. Also, when I am in a stand of trees, I feel a need to put my hands on the trees

I live in the city and it's sometimes hard to get out to the country.  A couple of weeks ago, I attended a party and went camping for the weekend.  The first thing I did when we got there was literally lie down and hug the ground - so happy to have no concrete within sight!

After examining my own thoughts, and reading tons of stuff like y'all and many others on this forum do, I came to the conclusion that for me, it didn't matter how we got here.  Just that I'm here, and I have to survive it (and, hopefully, have some joy along the way).  I like some of the things Jesus and other 'prophets' say, but I also like some of the things that atheistic philosophers say.

Have you read any of Jean Vanier's stuff?  He just died a year or two ago, and wrote a few books on theology (I think he was a priest, don't quote me on that).  He comes from a Catholic perspective, but is not exclusionary.  You might enjoy his writings.

My favorite secular spritualist is Emerson.  A man truly ahead of his time, imho.  And as for living philosophers - Howard Rollins rocks!

I don't think it's silly to believe in g*d.  I just don't feel the need myself.  Friendship, looking up at the stars, huggin a tree, looking into the eyes of a little child, playing fetch with my friend's dog, makin love, are some of the ways I feel spirituality.

tal
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SixofNineRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God
Do you think this is a valid summary of mankind's need to worship? 

Personally, I'm leaning towards believing that mankind does not need to worship. Instead, I think mankind has a strong inclination to follow tradition. Hell, mankind may even have a "need" to follow tradition.  Traditionally, mankind "needs" to worship.

Plainly put, I think mankind should spend a few years not worshiping; y'know, see how it goes.  I'm sure doing fine, and god seems to be ok too.  Maybe throw out the occasional prayer for the less fortunate, just to keep the ole heart in line.

ps. can I share with you a fascinating book titled "Mankinds Search for God"?

 
When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine?

I used to, of course. Now I don't. 

"more like sense the mysteriousness and vastness of the universe.  But divinity?  Nope."           ditto.  Also the connectedness.

ps. Elsewhere, I like the way you connect atheism with spirituality; fascinating.  Keep it up if you ever want to get laid by anyone who isn't an atheist, lol.
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cruzanheartRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God
Like when I am outside, and I take my shoes off, I can feel "something" from the earth. Not dirt in between my toes so much, but a sense of connected-ness-- like energy or vibration.

Odrade, if you do that in Texas chances are the "connected-ness" you feel is a mound of fire ants -- ouch!!!

Seriously, though, I'm glad to see those quotes touched all of you as they did me.  I like it because each one of us reads the same words and feels different things, yet we are all connected in our feelings.  We are in harmony in our individuality and I think that also sums up this board and its purpose.  We fight like cats and dogs about politics, sex, and various other things, but we are all connected by that damned JW shared experience that brings all of us together in the first place.  And no matter what our politics or lifestyle, if one of us is hurting the majority rally 'round that one to give comfort and support.  Pretty cool.

I highly recommend both "Angels & Demons" and "The DaVinci Code."  The writer is obviously very intelligent and manages to educate while spinning a VERY suspenseful story, full of things to make you think while you're excitedly trying to figure out what happens next.

Enjoy!

Nina
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talesinRe: Re: Interesting quotes about belief in God

Actually, my therapist recommended the DaVinci Code.  Tks for the reminder, Nina.  Will do.

t
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JCanonRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God

Hi Nina! 

Those were nice quotes.  I was touched by them!!!

You know, God understands this and how the world of Satan's propaganda has messed things up.  The people claiming to believe in God are the main culprits that honest people get turned off on.  But God does respond to those searching for him..

Thus in the end, "many from eastern parts and western parts" will be in the kingdom, just because of their own personal "divineness" seen by God, whereas the "sons of the kingdom" (many religionistic Christians and JWs) will be passed by because they missed the point. 

When I look up at the round moon I think:  "Oh ohh!!!  That's not a mistake! Somebody put that there!..."

Thanks, again, for the quotes.

 

BUT....(ahhh, just when I had a nice short post!!!!....)....

While MOST don't have to worry about "temple" and "sacred" issues, some of us do....so "religion" is not necessary for everybody, probably?, but for SOME who had specific details to work out in the greater plan, it's intensively critical, so....I don't blame anyone for dumping religion, but the Bible and all that stuff is "divine" and it has it's purpose, but one that will be specific to a few of those involved with the early phases of God's plan.  So....though I've enjoyed dumping the slavery to the organization, I'm an intense Biblicalist and find joy in scripture as well as nature..and ASTRONOMY!!!  Astrochronology is one of my areas...right?

Have a blessed day....

JCanon

 
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Beans  Re: Interesting quotes about belief in God

Very interesting thread, and some great replies as well.

http://Quotes.JehovahsWitnesses.com
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DanTheManRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God
"I did not ask if you believe what MAN says about God.  I asked if you believed in God.  There is a difference.  Holy scripture is stories . . . legends and history of man's quest to understand his own need for meaning.  I am not asking you to pass judgment on literature.  I am asking if you believe in GOD.  When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine?  Do you feel in your gut that you are staaring up at the work of God's hand?
I don't know of too many people that can look up at the Milky Way on a clear night and not get a chill at the awesome vastness of it all.  If this is "sensing the divine", yes I feel it.  But I have developed an aversion to the word God, because that word has so much anthropomorphism and fanaticism baggage attached to it.
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Room 215Re: Interesting quotes about belief in God
Apart from questions of religion, the Bible, etc, the exquisite yin-yang inter-dependence of all ogranisms on our biosphere, and the staggering complexity of the universe, from the infinite to the infinitesmal, testifies  convincingly of an inderlying creative Intelligence.  All our experience teaches us that order can not be acheived and maintained without outside intervention; and to believe that all we see and experience-- the planetarty movements, the miracle of human and animal reproduction, our bodie's capacity to heal without the application of conscious thought or effort, emerged from chaos and randomly, requires a greater leap of faith than to accept the obvious -- a supremely intelligent Designer.   
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remRe: Interesting quotes about belief in God
Apart from questions of religion, the Bible, etc, the exquisite yin-yang inter-dependence of all ogranisms on our biosphere, and the staggering complexity of the universe, from the infinite to the infinitesmal, testifies  convincingly of an inderlying creative Intelligence.  All our experience teaches us that order can not be acheived and maintained without outside intervention; and to believe that all we see and experience-- the planetarty movements, the miracle of human and animal reproduction, our bodie's capacity to heal without the application of conscious thought or effort, emerged from chaos and randomly, requires a greater leap of faith than to accept the obvious -- a supremely intelligent Designer.   
 
Maybe you are thinking of it backwards?  How could a universe that came from randomness and selective forces acting on that randomness not look like what we have today?  What else would you expect?  On the other hand, I would expect a much different looking universe if it were designed by one or more intelligent beings.
 
rem
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