<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8fe7OrkZPNo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8fe7OrkZPNo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> "I dont know why you always have to be judging me... because I believe in science."
Do you know Him? <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MG_Ofeixqb0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MG_Ofeixqb0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Actually no, there are more options. I think many people take comfort in the fact that after death there is a after life, And our excistence doesn't end with death(it make death less scary). Also believing in a god might make it easier to handle the injustice in the world, since god will make it right in the afterlife, and punish the people who did bad things etc. People always want someone to look after then, and keep them save, a fatherfigure so to speak. When we are young it is our father, and for people who believe in God it is God(god is even called Father). As said before in this thread, it might be the save way to believe in God, since if we die, and you are right, you go to heaven, if you are wrong nothing happens. If I'm right nothing happens, but if i'm wong I will go to Hell. So there are many more reasons to believe in God, without having to know or experience anything more than i have. However that being said. I do not believe in a god, but if someone does believe in a god i'm happy for them, I believe it is important to enjoy our life, and be happy, if you are happy by believing in a god than i'm happy for you.
The last spiritual encounter I had was at a Bruce Springsteen concert. Does that mean Bruce Springsteen is God?
No but the last Hendrix concert I went to was a definate spiritual 'Experience' "Are you experienced?"
There doesn't have to be a cycle. I respect that you beleive in God, but I respectfully disagree that you "know" that God exists. Like somebody said above, a willingness to die for something does not imply knowledge of that thing. I don't think you're crazy, but I don't buy that you "know" anything more about God's existence than I do. Also, would you mind describing these "supernatural events" that you speak of? I have to say that I've never had an experience that gave me reason to beleive in a divine entity, so I'm curious as to what constitutes such an experience.
Sorry for the double post. I meant to get this all in above, but I got a little trigger happy on the submit button. In what way does this amount to "complete" knowledge of God's existence? Also, as I asked bchapman, would you mind sharing an example of such an "encounter?" So Jimi is God? But seriously, this is a good example of why citing a "spiritual encounter" without description is useless if you're trying to provide proof that you know that God exists, and don't merely beleive that She does. How can you "know" that something exists simply by having faith in it?
I can't speak for bchapman, but I can speak for myself. I've spoke in tongues. I've heard other people prophesy, and their prophesies came true. My uncle was healed of Hepatitus C. My friend was healed of Crohn's disease. None of these proves the existence of God (that is impossible), but there isn't another good explanation. They sure make it easy for me to believe in Him.
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How can you "know" that something exists simply by having faith in it? i dont know. knowledge is a tricky subject. How do we "know" we are not a brain in a vat being led by an evil genius? but seriously, that is an interesting relationship. People that "know" god have faith in him. So is the "knowing" part just extreme faith? Sort of like how we "know" a water molecule has 2 hydrogen atoms. Now, i've never seen one personally but i trust that i havent been fed lies about that all my life. So you could say that i have faith that i know that to be true. Of course i can prove it by going to a lab w/ an electron microscope and seeing for myself. But with god, the only place to 'see' the truth is after you die. maybe thats not a good example...but i think the general idea is there.
Hello. Beautiful day outside isnt it?? Well I would love to share in great detail with you some amazing exeriences I have had. However, I will have to cut it short because without having you in front of me to tell the tales, you wont be able to see the sincerity or conviction. There is no intonation with type. But I will say this: There are times my friend, when one reaches out to God, that He answers in an unworldly fashion, and I tell you an incredible feeling not from within, not mentally derived, not of one's self, envelopes one in an immense love and purity that can bring one to his knees in tears. It is a feeling of pure love and caring, coming from nowhere, completely unexpected, filling one with a "knowledge" if you will, of His Goodness and Love for us all, right down to the most wretched man on earth. If that sounds silly to you well I guess we will just have to leave it at that, no animosity implied, as I consider you my brother in any case.
All sorts of people of other religions who do not believe in your god also have spiritual experiences such as Native Americans, Hindus, Buddhists, Inuits, and so on. They "know" that their experiences are just as true. Are theirs any less valid than yours?
no, and I never said they were there is salvation and goodness in all religions you misunderstood me somewhere
