Interesting quotes about belief in God

by cruzanheart 16 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  cruzanheart

  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 sky

  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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  Elsewhere

  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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  Valis

  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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  Odrade

  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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  OICU8it2

  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 Edge

  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 Nuova

  “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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  talesin

  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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  SixofNine

  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.