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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
Nearly half of Americans are not sure God exists, according to a poll that also found divisions among the public on whether God is male or female or whether God has a human form and has control over events.
The survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 42 percent of US adults are not "absolutely certain" there is a God compared to 34 percent who felt that way when asked the same question three years ago. Among the various religious groups, 76 percent of Protestants, 64 percent of Catholics and 30 percent of Jews said they are "absolutely certain" there is a God while 93 percent of Christians who describe themselves as "Born Again" feel certain God exists.
30 Comments:
The problem with so many people is that instead of really askinjg that question, they spend most of their time telling others "who God is." We should all take a lesson form our good friend Thomas and remember that all we can know of God is what we know - therefore we know only a small portion.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/01/2006 5:52 PM
Errrrr... anonymous, we don't even know "a small portion" about whether or not there's a deity. Not a single instance of the supernatural has ever been documented or proven in the history of this Earth.
posted by Chris L., at
11/02/2006 8:46 AM
Well, Chris, you my not believe in God. I do. If you need miracles to be proven, filmed and documented - that is fine. Perhaps we have different ideas of how God should exist as well. You may take that up with him/her if you ever see him/her.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/02/2006 11:40 AM
Anonymous, yes, I do need things to be documented and proven, through science and evidence, before I will surrender my mind to any idea.
posted by Chris L., at
11/02/2006 12:04 PM
Chris l, I do need things to be documented and proven, through science and evidence, before I will surrender my mind to any idea.
Ever looked out your window and seen complete Order? or is everything you see, random chance?
why do people have such a problem with random chance?? you can have randomness along with purposefulness. Anyway, it is all moot because according to Einstein, space and time are interconnected and you look up at the stars and you see time past in the present. The reason you can't time travel is because the past, present and future are all happening at the same time. We can control our actions, but we have already taken them and we have yet to decide. It is basically 20th century physics and why we have microwave ovens, cell phones, and computers. You can't deny it, we just have a hard time conceptualizing it. Anyway, if any person invoked Zeus, Thor or Isis in the same way they do God, Jesus or Mohammed, they would be ignored or committed. -- maybe one day.
posted by Steve Talbert, at
11/02/2006 7:36 PM
Ah- lots of people pray to their own image of a diety. You know- reality is NOT what everyone agrees on.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/02/2006 8:10 PM
We all have a right to believe or not believe as we see fit. I believe in God. I also believe in science. I believe that there is more out there than what is tangible. I do not believe in religion. I do not believe that a book that was written thousands of years ago is the making of the God I view as the father of all. But faith is believing in that which we can't see or scientifically prove. But I respect all beliefs. We should all strive to do this. Chris and Steve, you are both right, and so am I. We will all find out in the end. I believe that all good people go to heaven regardless of their beliefs.
posted by jekelhyde, at
11/02/2006 8:50 PM
Exactly! There is a heaven for us all.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/02/2006 11:07 PM
We should respect all religious beliefs? Ummmmm, how about the belief that Allah hates "the Great Satan" (US) and wants us destroyed in "the mother of all battles"? Should that belief be respected? How about the evangelical belief which says that all Jews (and other non-believers) will be tortured for all eternity. Is that entitled to respect?
posted by Chris L., at
11/03/2006 9:14 AM
Where's there evidence that God is losing followers, Wayne?
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2006 10:52 AM
Chris I am with you....nobody has any proof of the existence of a deity. I for one am not a believer. I respect others' right to any belief system, but belief in a deity is not for me and nothing will ever convince me that there is. Science has answered many questions about the planet, the universe, about ourselves and for now, that will do for me. I'm not going to worry about the existence of an after-life either. Death does not scare me nor do I aspire or think about living in another world thereafter, its enough that I expend so much energy to live in the real world let alone waste my time and energy on the futility of what happens after I'm gone. Nobody ever came back to say it was otherwise.
Fundamentalist extremism is not what I refer to when I say Religious beliefs. I'll make sure to spell it out next time
posted by jekelhyde, at
11/03/2006 10:59 AM
But Robert, no one has any proof otherwise. I'm not usually a betting woman but with this one, I'll go with the possibility that there is God and afterlife. If I am wrong - no big deal. But if I bet the other way - and I'm wrong - then it is a big deal. Just a thought.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2006 11:38 AM
People have it the opposite of what it should be. Religious people have the right to keep their beliefs to themselves and not be forced to believe in something else. People of other relgious beliefs and nonreligious people have the right to not be bothered by some wacko's idea of how the universe works. I can picket a church that preaches hate because they are crossing the line once they become public about it.
posted by Steve Talbert, at
11/03/2006 11:41 AM
You can picket. In our county if you enter INTO the church and create a disturbance you can be issued a citation and/or arrested.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2006 12:28 PM
Yeah - but if they don't want me there so what. I'll go to my own church. I don't protest at mosques or temples etc... One should go their repsective house of worship.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/04/2006 12:46 PM
Yes, but coming from a family of activists, I've seen the power presented in getting dragged off by the cops. Furthermore, I would love to see a group of gays walk into the Westboro Baptist Church carrying picket signs, only to be dragged away by the police. I, of course, wouldn't recommend it, since they would probably be shot instead of arrested. but can you imagine the statement that would make.
posted by jekelhyde, at
11/04/2006 1:52 PM
The statement it would make that if you can walk into the (That filthy church - Westboro Baptist Church)is that they can and would walk into yours. Honestly, I want to pray in peace not that. That statement says you don't care - either. And the conflict only escalates.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/04/2006 2:12 PM
I think you shouldnt have to see God to believe in him. Real christians just feel that God is with them, even when bad things happen. There is nothing worng with people wanting to see God, before they believe, but those people are not Gods true followers! Have faith! Believe! God is there! and hes with everyone! some day, everyone will learn this...
posted by Anonymous, at
8/06/2007 1:20 PM
I'll say one thing well not exactly ARK (Act of Random Kindness) I believe god exist so should you, I'm not saying fear him or be forced by him just accept. Respect him for who he is he made you one way or another, people say that god did not make this world and say it was down to the big bang and everything that followed but I say god made that happen so we can exist and live out our lives, you are not fit to live unless you have someone to die for. Please don't question God he is neither male nor female, we call him a man or woman because it's how we identify ourselfs with him. Please accept, Please
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