Why do you believe what you believe?

[MagicForDummies]

To receive, that is possibly the greatest thing for any mortal. It's a ability/spell/skill/whatever that one can have.

Next to that is an amazing filter.

 

[thee_pro]

Personally, another reason I've stopped talking about my spiritual beliefs, is because I'm tired of either Atheists treating me like I'm stupid for having a nature-based spirituality, or Christians thinking I'm a sinner. And sadly, more often than not, I get crap from Atheists. If I so much as mentioned anything vaguely religious or spiritual around my ex, he would interject with 'It's fake". Didn't even let me explain a theory, or an idea. Because if it wasn't what he believed in, it was automatically trash.
Everyone complains that their belief system is the one being oppressed, while belittling and repressing the beliefs of others in turn. It's irritating. I'm going to believe what I want. I am not stupid or ignorant for believing in the balance of nature, and the connection my people have with the earth. I'm continuing my ancestor's ways, and keeping my culture from dying, while practicing something that gives me comfort and strength. I am not forcing my ways on others, or telling people that they're way is wrong, so maybe, just maybe, people should stop riding my ass about it. (No one here is doing that, I just mean in general).

I'm an Atheist, and I don't tell people that they are wrong about what they believe in. Sure I don't believe a word of what they are saying, but I don't tell them that they are stupid for believing it. In fact, I usually try to get them to explain further why they believe what they do just so I can understand better where they are coming from regarding certain topics and situations so that I won't offend them at any given point in time.
As Tbarius said

as an atheist, i apologize for my brethren being complete twats..

 

[DerDo]

I believe the time travel theory of everything that has happened has happened because it already happened. Meaning there is no "going back and changing time" because it's already happened. If you go back in time to say kill hitler anything you did happened already. It's a doomed to fail attempt as anything you do has already happened, therefore it is impossible to change the past and past events. I love this theory because it nullified all need for "alternate timelines" as it simply only applies to this as it would hold true anyways.

I think there's a problem with your conclusion to time traveling. This would only be true if we can be sure that we just travel in one line of time events. Which means, as you said, anything that has happened is going to happen no matter what you do, because, if you travel back in time, the you who traveled back in time is also part of the past. Which would lead us to the point that there is something as fate, that everything that has happened, that happens right now and will happen is predetermined. So, what if you travel back in time to the at the exact time and place where you had the idea to build a time traveling device? It wouldn't be possible because, if you try to do so, it would mean that it would have happened already, which means either that time travel isn't possible at all, or that the idea of time travel in one line of events isn't right.

Maybe it would work if that "time travel device" generates a dimension with a universe with the exact same time line just that you will enter it at a certain event in the past, so that there will be two universes, one where you don't exist anymore where you have "traveled back in time", and a new one, where you exist from that certain time event on.

You could go on with such theories of time travel, but there will always be points to deny which will deny these theories.

Maybe "time travel theories" do or may not work because we have the wrong idea of what time really is.

 

[Skryter]

It's simple, when Humans come to see something as the truth they believe in it. It's this flawed belief that leads to the rejection of other beliefs and so on and so forth.

 

[Serenity595]

I do not believe in a heaven or hell, or any form of afterlife. As it was before you were born (at least to me, i cant claim to have any prior life memories), I will cease conscious existence when I die. My being will snuff out and whoever I am will be gone. My body will be worm food, and I won't know anything about being dead or have being been alive, I will never have another thought. It's not a glorious future, so that's why I'm enjoying my life now.

Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die?

Spoiler

"And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:19-21

Truthfully I don't even understand why someone would wish to exist forever. Those that could even get into a place similar to heaven would eventually go insane simply for existing so long and experiencing so much. ( Or even from getting bored. )

Heaven is a perfect place, and insanity, nor boredom, can exist in a perfect place. The human mind won't be limited anymore either, so there wouldn't be a number for how many wonderful experiences we could have.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:4

This is implying I actually believe, what I supposedly believe.

Very interesting comment. There are a lot of people who will say what they believe, but what they truly believe in their heart is different from the words they speak, especially when it comes to why they believe what they believe (speaking in a general sense, here).

At the rate that we advance our technology, WE will be the gods in this equation.

Exactly. In any way you look at it, there is some form of "god" that people have in their lives. For some, it's their job; for others, it's their money. The list goes could go on almost indefinitely.

i shared my beliefs, thats all .. People can believe in whatever they want, merely was expressing my view of it.

I do however have one gripe.. im sure all religions have warped views of others, but i get a LOT of christians that have thought because im an atheist that I worship satan.. its like

I am sorry that some people have thought that. But not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is, indeed, a true Christian... and no man is perfect.

I agree that religion's view of 'God' or various 'Gods' is ridiculous, and personally I've decided not to believe they exist. However, that's not to say that there isn't any kind of life 'out there' that has similar abilities to what many people think of as 'God.'

But what made these life forms that have abilities similar to those of God?

Personally, another reason I've stopped talking about my spiritual beliefs, is because I'm tired of either Atheists treating me like I'm stupid for having a nature-based spirituality, or Christians thinking I'm a sinner. And sadly, more often than not, I get crap from Atheists. If I so much as mentioned anything vaguely religious or spiritual around my ex, he would interject with 'It's fake". Didn't even let me explain a theory, or an idea. Because if it wasn't what he believed in, it was automatically trash.

Well, we've ALL sinned. Some people tell it the wrong way, saying "Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in [their] own eye? (Mathew 7:4) This means that people will judge without first judging themselves, and we do this because we are human.

Also, it is unfortunate that your ex does not want to talk about spiritual matters. Life is only but a moment. Eternity lasts forever.

as an atheist, i apologize for my brethren being complete twats.. Lots seem to be so pissed off from their religious experience, that not believing in something has made them just as much assholes as the "CAN I TLAK TO YOU ABOUT JESUS?" people.

Why do you dislike people who want to talk to you about Jesus? Pardon my frankness.

It's simple, when Humans come to see something as the truth they believe in it. It's this flawed belief that leads to the rejection of other beliefs and so on and so forth.

it's true, humans will see "truth" in something if they want it to be true. Kind of like "if you believe hard enough, your wishes will come true". However, this does not negate the fact that there is a truth out there that is very real. If everything was simply a delusion, reality itself could not exist.

 

[FaerieInCombatBoots]

I'm an Atheist, and I don't tell people that they are wrong about what they believe in. Sure I don't believe a word of what they are saying, but I don't tell them that they are stupid for believing it. In fact, I usually try to get them to explain further why they believe what they do just so I can understand better where they are coming from regarding certain topics and situations so that I won't offend them at any given point in time.
As Tbarius said

I should have pointed out that not ALL Atheists have been rude. You, have been one of the awesome ones. I recall a conversation we had last year, in Bumpa's living room. We talked about our beliefs, and you listened to me, and were respectful. It was very nice.

 

[FaerieInCombatBoots]

Yes, there are some really nice atheists.

If you take r/atheism as the basis for your view of atheists, then you're gonna have a bad time.

All of that aside, I have had some people change their view about me when I mentioned I'm an atheist. If you're a christian like that, then you're really ruining your life, IMO.

Oh, I'm not a Christian at all. In the debate between Religion and Atheism there seems to be a natural assumption that the religious person is a Christian. I am not, and never have been. I am ultimately a Pagan. I don't adhere to anyone practice of Paganism, I just do what I feel is best. I do not believe in the concept of sin. I believe that if I treat others badly, then it will reflect onto me three times over. So karma. What Christianity considers sin, I believe to be human nature.
And yes, there are nice Atheists. I know there are, but as always, a few bad apples tends to spoil everything.

 

[StTheo]

 

[thee_pro]

I've always enjoyed this video and I feel it is very relevant to the original topic.

 

[ChibaMasato]

"It's faith. You're not supposed to understand it. You just have it."

This sums up my views on things. I choose to not have a religious practice, not even atheism, as I do believe there is something or some things out there, who weave the fabric of Fate together. Whether they be gods or spirits or even ourselves is completely up to the person who believes the same. However, I don't worry over things like worship and whatnot. I've found that I can live happier than most when I'm not worried about retribution from some higher power later on down the road.

 

[Jaffl3]

Every religion has extremists and people who will try to force their views upon others, it's a shame they give everyone a bad impression of their religion. It's also a shame that people judge religions based only on the actions of the extremists. Regardless of religion or belief, some people are dickheads.