God's existence superstitious?

[JimO]

Have you ever read the Bhagavad Gita? Krishna is yet another claimant to be Supreme Being:
rossum

Some Native American tribes also believed in a single Creator. All that proves is that many diverse religions have recognized portions of the Truth. We believe that God has revealed Himself throughout human history and that divine revelation reached its fulfillment in Christ. Not all ancient religions would be consider “false” religions because many were based on the Truth as it had been revealed up to that point in human history.

 

[cpayne]

Have you ever read the Bhagavad Gita? Krishna is yet another claimant to be Supreme Being:“O great one, greater even than Brahma, You are the original creator. Why then should they not offer their respectful obeisances unto You? O limitless one, God of gods, refuge of the universe! You are the invincible source, the cause of all causes, transcendental to this material manifestation.”

“You are the original Personality of Godhead, the oldest, the ultimate sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You are the knower of everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are the supreme refuge, above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You!”

Bhagavad Gita 11:37-38

rossum

Thanks; I will check this out. I thought Krishna was simply another aspect of Brahman-Atman, but I seem to be wrong.

Still, if you just wipe the name of Krishna out of my other post, the point still stands, I think. Atheism is disbelief in the Supreme Being, not disbelief in “a god.”

 

[Newbie2]

What do you say to someone who claims that Christianity is basically nothing but myth? Anotherwords since one can’t “prove” God’s existence or disprove it, then one could just as well say invisible fairies encircle us daily, or that another god created our God. You can’t prove it or disprove it, but then that goes the same for our God’s existence.

I’m in a conversation with one who levels Christianity down to that level. Of course I realize there is no church founded on invisible fairies as there is for Christ, but this doesn’t seem enough since there are numerous religions. What else could one say?

The “invisible fairy” argument is a common one for atheists. Belief is a matter of faith, not a “provable” scientific fact (although there are philosophical/theological “proofs” for God’s existance). That someone accepts or rejects such “proofs” is up to them alone, just as their acceptance or rejection of what we consider evidence of God and his creation all around us.

 

[JimO]

The “invisible fairy” argument is a common one for atheists. Belief is a matter of faith, not a “provable” scientific fact (although there are philosophical/theological “proofs” for God’s existance). That someone accepts or rejects such “proofs” is up to them alone, just as their acceptance or rejection of what we consider evidence of God and his creation all around us.

I also think that we don’t have to get caught up in the “show me the proof” trap. Those who don’t believe in God won’t accept most of what we can offer as “proof”, such as historical data, miracles, reasoning, etc. Besides, those aren’t the things that make us believe, are they? We describe the basis of our belief as “faith”, but it isn’t blind faith. It’s a living faith that is present and grows because of what God does in our lives here and now. It’s not simply a desperate hope that God and heaven exist and that I will find out when I die. It’s an experiential hope that is based on the peace, joy, love, and other spiritual gifts that change us in the present moment. I doubt many people can conjure up even one of these gifts. I know that I have never been able to. My faith is based on a living relationship with a living God and the evidence is expressed in my own experiences. This isn’t sufficient for most atheists, at least in the short term. However, if someone is open to the possibility of God and they see hope in us, then they might be willing to allow the seed of faith that we are all created with to germinate within them. Invisible fairies can’t do this for us, only a living God. But, as I stated above, if I’m wrong, then I will have lived a good life and will die at peace, which isn’t so bad.

 

[FindTruth7]

True, if you are simply hedging your bets and trying to purchase the right “ticket” after you die. However, true Christianity is about a relationship with a living God. It is not simply a matter of believing that a “cosmic Jewish zombie” rose from the dead 2,000 years ago and that was it. It’s about having a relationship with the risen Christ that changes me and makes me reach out to others, be less selfish, experience peace, joy, and a love for others whom I would not otherwise care about.

I don’t believe simply because of a fear that life ends and that’s it, or because I want a “ticket” to heaven, or even because the data is convincing. I believe because of what it does for me. I can’t conjure up the interior peace and joy that I feel in my relationship with Christ. Believe me, in the past I tried and it didn’t work. If I’m wrong, then I have lived a good life and will die at peace.

To the OP - the only thing most people will respond to is seeing a genuine change in someone of faith or seeing something desireable in that person, such as joy, peace, love, etc. (the gifts of the Spirit). People aren’t talked into a relationship with Christ, they are drawn into it.

For the ending, well said!