Did the Universe always exist or begin to exist? The Universe could have not existed forever because if it did that would imply an infinite past, which means we would never reach the present day right now. Therefore, the Universe began to exist. Anything that begins to exist has a cause. However, this cause needs to be something outside space, time, and matter, because it created space, time and matter. The cause of the universe would therefore be something not bound by these. This would be something outside of it, of supernatural. This points to God.
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Einstein was raised by secular Jewish parents. In his Autobiographical Notes, Einstein wrote that he had gradually lost his faith early in childhood:<cite>. . . I came—though the child of entirely irreligious (Jewish) parents—to a deep religiousness, which, however, reached an abrupt end at the age of twelve. Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached the conviction that much in the stories of the Bible could not be true. The consequence was a positively fanatic orgy of freethinking coupled with the impression that youth is intentionally being deceived by the state through lies; it was a crushing impression. Mistrust of every kind of authority grew out of this experience, a skeptical attitude toward the convictions that were alive in any specific social environment—an attitude that has never again left me, even though, later on, it has been tempered by a better insight into the causal connections. It is quite clear to me that the religious paradise of youth, which was thus lost, was a first attempt to free myself from the chains of the 'merely personal,' from an existence dominated by wishes, hopes, and primitive feelings. Out yonder there was this huge world, which exists independently of us human beings and which stands before us like a great, eternal riddle, at least partially accessible to our inspection and thinking. The contemplation of this world beckoned as a liberation, and I soon noticed that many a man whom I had learned to esteem and to admire had found inner freedom and security in its pursuit. The mental grasp of this extra-personal world within the frame of our capabilities presented itself to my mind, half consciously, half unconsciously, as a supreme goal. Similarly motivated men of the present and of the past, as well as the insights they had achieved, were the friends who could not be lost. The road to this paradise was not as comfortable and alluring as the road to the religious paradise; but it has shown itself reliable, and I have never regretted having chosen it.
as the man himself puts it, religious beliefs are hopes and wishes of primitive minds </cite>
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When asked if he believed in a higher power, Tyson responded:
Every account of a higher power that I've seen described, of all religions that I've seen, include many statements with regard to the benevolence of that power. When I look at the universe and all the ways the universe wants to kill us, I find it hard to reconcile that with statements of beneficence.In an interview with Big Think, Tyson said agnosticism was the best description of his views about truth values of claims pertaining to the existence of God(s), but that "at the end of the day I'd rather not be any category at all
so whats your point? sounds to me like what he is saying is 'i dont believe there is a god out there but i am keeping an open mind'
also Tyson has argued that the concept of intelligent design thwarts the advance of scientific knowledge so he obiously will agree with people that say that the stuff religion claims are a bunch of nonsenseLast edited by SportsMushroom; 12-26-13, 08:33 PM.Comment -
i stopped believing in god when a pastor told me that mass murderers, rapists, child molestors and other evil beings are welcomed into heaven as long as they attend church. yet those who save lives and those who devote their lives to the betterment of mankind arent welcomed if they dont attend.
thats when i realized religion was a farce and the biggest practical joke ever perpetuated on man.Comment -
yes i have more or less the same experieces and opinion
and its not a practical joke, its a well executed plan to control naive people, to put it kindly by not saying idiots
ofcoarse criminals that go to church go to heaven, because they are a source of income for the church, while they have no use for good honest people that dont attend because they dont derive any income from themLast edited by SportsMushroom; 12-26-13, 08:38 PM.Comment -
Pretty sure someone has mentioned the fact that December 25th is unlikely Jesus' birthday. So, the OP's post basically begins and ends there.
I am sure a lot of interesting points have been made that are as equally relevant as the OPs - to very well put by some of our more intelligent posters.
Merry Christmas, from a full blown "atheist" who has a nativity set under his made in china Christmas tree.
The idea of a heaven and hell, is terrifying. People who pray to be part of that system are sociopaths.Comment -
any religious person has lost the argument just by taking part in this thread
go ask a priest if gambling is a sin or not, and if the priest says it is, just come here and apologize
either practice what you preech, or stfu about religion cause obviously you have no respect for gods wishes, you just hoping he lets you into heaven cause you took his side in an arguementComment -
not for nothing but if a math teacher told you 2+2=7 then youd think the math teacher is a fukkin moron....just like this pastor
the current pope has embraced (maybe not a perfect word) atheists who do good...i'll take his word over some fukkin idiot pastor and other sheep who think like him
im not religious but the current pope is a great manComment -
Have a Jewish friend who told me how his grandmother paid a stranger to go and pray for her every Sabbath (I think, maybe Shabbat) for a year since she couldn't trust her family to follow through and pray for her on a regular basis. I always imagined her God looking at the paperwork going "ok..everything seems in order here" like some sort of gate attendant at the airport. No worse than Catholic paying the church after a relative dies to make sure they get into heaven I guess.Comment -
Chillydog intelligently burying the board.Lol......Comment -
Humans are deathly afraid of death so through theyearstime they concocted a life after death belief system known as religion.....
How do we know it was concocted?
This one is simple,religion only differs from what part of the world you are from therefore every religion has a different story of faith which is exactly that,just a story of fiction created by the INTELLIGENT leaders of the EARTH.....
Governments use religion to obtain power over peasants.........
It is 20 fukkin 14 and there are just as many people(by percentage) in the dark as the beginning of the 1st story ever told....Comment -
Belivers vs Non Belivers wonder what the line would be?
I have an atheist parent and many great friends of the same persuasion. Makes for great cigar & whisky chats. I hope I've learned to respect the believes of others as well as stand for what I believe.Comment -
Can we all at least agree that not EVERY religion is right? If every religion isn't right then how do I know which religion is the right one? If I choose the wrong religion will I go to hell? Or will I only go to hell if I don't choose any? Do I get a free ticket to heaven just as long as I believe in god?Last edited by JohnGalt2341; 12-26-13, 11:59 PM.Comment -
So...anyone change their beliefs after another religion debate?
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I'm Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.Comment -
Can one of those who rationalizes that the only logical conclusion is Jesus is the savior of man because the idea that something came from nothing is illogical help me with the numerous holes of the flood myth?
Used to be one my favorites in Sunday school which lead to it being a particularly shitty day when that one got flushed away from me...Comment -
Jesus was the man. He hung out with the sinners and people got pissed. He would definitely hang out with us, especially JJ.Comment -
thats my point about religious people, they say they are religious but only choose to follow those teachings of their religion that suits them, while others they dont want to adhere to they disregard them, especially the priests, the higher you are on the religious totem the more of gods rules you break. bunch of phonies the lot of them. look at your beloved pope, or any high ranking priest of any religion, he, they preach sharing your wealth, and that a rich man cannot get into heaven, yet they live in castles, travel in limousines with personal drivers, wear expensive jewlery and drink out of cups made of gold, not to mention the money in the banks as well as the assets they own
its a scam, if you cant do the math on that then i cant help youComment -
It's times like these where one must look for their guidance through the teachings of George Carlin:
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God bless Joe PesciComment -
Religion is no longer needed as a tool of control over the people......
40+ years of practicing subversion on the masses/peasants is all the control that is needed.......
Religion as it WAS known is being phased out,especially Christianity, in the US....Comment -
It must be a bitch to get a drink in heaven. Sorry all we have left is PBR, it's a bit crowded in here. sweeper at the front of the line.
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