*Debate* Should people believe in god(s) or is it fate? Closing 12th Dec

[Jin]

It would appear that we are in need of some debates considering the response the admins are recieving on this forum and its running and while we are trying to conjure a solution.

So I thought I would make a debate myself as the previous staff members running this forum have now left.

The title of this weeks debate is.

Should people believe in god(s) or is it fate?

Relating to the apparent origin of Christmas and the recent discussions on religion in the "religion / philosophy" forum.

Should people believe in god(s)? Is there a god or maybe another higher being? Is our life pre-planned? What about a mixture of both?

From personal experience I must say that I havent seen much change in my life when I used to believe in the idea of a spiritual being in comparison when my more scientific beliefs on life and death have conflicted, but I have been told of stories from other people who do believe in god of the marvels of their beliefs.

I believe that there is a reason why people believe in a god / religion and it is not due to back in the days before science where unexplainable events of life and phenomona was based on the work of an unseeable holy deity, but the modern day aspect that religion gives hope, support and guidance.

A close christian friend once told me that without his beliefs in Christ he didnt feel confident / strong enough to go through a kidney operation 2 years ago. The same friend also was worried about his A-Level results and he seeked support from not only his close friends but also God.

However some athiests believe that life can be based on a scietific basis where as others believe what happens in a lifetime is fate, everything we do has already been planned or has been done.

If this is true how do we explain such things like Deja Vu? 1 in 5 people claim that they often see deja vu scenes which they had seen in their mind or dreamt about in the past.

What do you believe?

Due to the sensitivity of this topic please respect other peoples, opinions and beliefs, NO ONE IS RIGHT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY NO ONE IS WRONG ON THE DECISIONS OF THEIR FAITH AND BELIEFS!


Special thanks to You for sparking the debate idea in my mind based on this thread

[tekni]

People have a right to free speech, so why not free belief?

Some people like red sauce, some people like brown sauce.

Some people support Arsenal, some people support Barnet.

Some people believe in God(s), some people don't.

People have a right to believe what they wish.

[Nick.]

I believe it's upto the person themselves whether they want to believe in anything or not.

I don't believe our life is pre-planned, but I do believe we may be controlled. [:

[Neversoft]

My thread on god and evolution inspired a debate?

I believe that the person has to choose what they believe in themself, no one else has to choose for them or anything. Our lives are not planned out, things just happen. You need to go with the flow.

[dark-as-death]

People have a right to free speech, so why not free belief?

Some people like red sauce, some people like brown sauce.

Some people support Arsenal, some people support Barnet.

Some people believe in God(s), some people don't.

People have a right to believe what they wish.

Agreed

[Kymux]

I believe the term 'God' has been brought around by the media.

People set their default to a god for what I call 'spiritual insurance', if god does exist they will get into heaven!

[Dan2nd]

Religion is a touchy subject in my opinion people who don't have a religion are more touchy about it than people who do

[YoManGo!]

I don't personally believe in a god, but I think religion is a very good thing, generally.

Finding a higher spiritual level is a very beneficial thing and also one thing about religion is that it gives people hope and brings people together. It can keep people going when they need it the most.

Never read the post of replies so that's probably irrelavent, but meh, I think it was worth posting.

[Mentor]

People have a right to free speech, so why not free belief?

Some people like red sauce, some people like brown sauce.

Some people support Arsenal, some people support Barnet.

Some people believe in God(s), some people don't.

People have a right to believe what they wish.

People have the right to belive in god yes, but that doesn't mean that belief is correct, and holding the faith is a good idea. Only that they can choose to hold that opinion if they wish, as i can also choose to refute those claims.

Religion is a touchy subject in my opinion people who don't have a religion are more touchy about it than people who do

Interesting the general concencus is quite the obvious, for example most aithiests are usualy open to debate as opposed to the fundamentalist christans who tell me i shall rot in hell for all eternity for my grave sin of not belive in there chosen deiety? Primary becuse aithism is a lack of belife as opposed to a belief in itself, hence there is nothing to challenge, a true aithiest would indeed accept there was a god if the available evidence pointed towards one, or if maybe there was any scientific basis for a deiety or creator at all, granted this is technically weak aithism, but i believe that is closer to what aithisim should be than the "strong aithism" which is an active refusal to believe in a diety.

---------

Now the question "Should people believe in god(s) or is it fate?" is not asking, whether or not a deity of any sort exists, which is slightly confusing as it does appear to be asking is are existance predetermined, but ignoring that, Should people belive in god is more an issue of whether or not you believe a belief in god is benifical to the person in phiscal terms, not to do with anything metaphysical or spiritual or you moving in to the debate of whether or not a deity exists.

Personally i donnt believe a belief in a god is a negative thing, in many cases it helps people to deal with situations and gets them threw things, this is evident by the obvious regeneration of a religion when ever there is a conflicet or hardship. Although i agree it can be benifical (although i don't agree that its true) there can also be downsides, such as if one holds a belife that god is the answer to all questions it simply breeds ignorance.

Although this is more a danger of "organised" religion, which as opposed to my opion on a theistic belife, i do think is a Negative thing, organized religion will often preach blind faith (a very dagerous thing) and brainwash people in to ignorant mindsets, for exsample we are set back over 200 years technological since sicance was more aless outlawed due to religion in the dark ages "/

The final issue of determinism, i would partly agree with, for example are actions are indeed based on are character, opinions and mind sets, although i do also believe in free will, in terms of positive freedom, hence i believe a consciousness is actually at a higher level than are default character which i also belive is above are basic instincts and impulses, this conscious self is what allows us to choose to ether follow are character or instincts or to do the oppersit.

[FlyingJesus]

Primary becuse aithism is a lack of belife as opposed to a belief in itself, hence there is nothing to challenge, a true aithiest would indeed accept there was a god if the available evidence pointed towards one, or if maybe there was any scientific basis for a deiety or creator at all, granted this is technically weak aithism, but i believe that is closer to what aithisim should be than the "strong aithism" which is an active refusal to believe in a diety.

Atheism is a strong belief that there is no god at all, it's not one open to suggestion. If you're unsure then you're agnostic, which is quite different.

I do agree with you mostly on your other points however, but I don't really fear a religious dark age as such, as we're too far past that for it to happen.