The Existence of God

[Schizo]

I have heard, and only heard horror stories of communism....  and, I am understanding of what atrocities might have taken place, humans can be ugly.........   


Of course I also believe in societies which are constructed from science and mathematics, completely.  Where every single presence, being human and non, is taken into account; where we see how everything acts and reacts, build it around certain fundamentals....   and experiment till it is more efficient.         

[corwin137]

What's interesting to me at this point, is why it matters.  Am not so curious about presence/absence of 'god' (already noted my sense of this in my first post of the koan... "Do you need proof of 'god'?  Does one light a torch to see the sun?"), as I am in why the question matters.

Am not of the mind that 'god works in my life' so much as the idea that I work for 'god'.  I don't worry so much for me personally if one is atheist, theist, agnostic, whether one of us is right or not.  My focus is on how I behave, think.  As Aquinas says, paraphrasing- my relatedness to the totality of the "universe".  His definition of "spirit", extended to spirituality.  Whether I'm selfless, passionate, soft, wise, behave lovingly, focused on service, accepting, behave with principles.

[Agni]

I do not consider question of religion in psychological demension. I consider religion as something transcendental. Sometimes it is very hard for me to find proper words to decsribe my feelings connected with my religious experience. I believe it is connected with something higher, something not from this world. Psychological demension which I see is that some people have the same values and in due to it they join themselves in the same religion.

[Schizo]

What's interesting to me at this point, is why it matters.  Am not so curious about presence/absence of 'god' (already noted my sense of this in my first post of the koan... "Do you need proof of 'god'?  Does one light a torch to see the sun?"), as I am in why the question matters.

Am not of the mind that 'god works in my life' so much as the idea that I work for 'god'.  I don't worry so much for me personally if one is atheist, theist, agnostic, whether one of us is right or not.  My focus is on how I behave, think.  As Aquinas says, paraphrasing- my relatedness to the totality of the "universe".  His definition of "spirit", extended to spirituality.  Whether I'm selfless, passionate, soft, wise, behave lovingly, focused on service, accepting, behave with principles.

I feel it matters because it effects society... you know there is various types of science; geological, biological, molecular, and atomic, etc. Humans, as a whole, are no different, their mind is no different.  Society and all its parts should be examined under a microscope, and understood.... so we can make it function. 

Religion and God are extremely important in this, if they are manifestations of the mind.     

[SWM]

Religion and God are extremely important in this, if they are manifestations of the mind.     

i think a more acurate way to view this equation of religion, god and mind is not that god and religion are a manifestation of the mind but; the mind is a manifestation of god, religion is a manifestation of the mind.

having written this i realise i may be using "manifestation of" in way that other readers might misinterpret.

for manifestation in the above sentences read "creation of" or "expression of"

the mind is an expression of god, religion is an expression of the mind.

the mind is a creation of god, religion is a creation of the mind.


blah!
i hope i get my meaning across.

[cognitive]

the mind is an expression of god, religion is an expression of the mind.

the mind is a creation of god, religion is a creation of the mind.

i totally agree. lately , i have developed a rejection reaction to any kind of organized religion .although i do consider myself a christian and do believe i have a personal relationship with God, i do not attend anymore a certain church on a regular basis .

[corwin137]

I feel it matters because it effects society... you know there is various types of science; geological, biological, molecular, and atomic, etc. Humans, as a whole, are no different, their mind is no different.  Society and all its parts should be examined under a microscope, and understood.... so we can make it function. 

Religion and God are extremely important in this, if they are manifestations of the mind.     

Certainly.  Was suggesting more simply really, that knowing the presence or absence of 'god' might not change much for some of us.  Whether there is one or not, I hope I would still behave and perceive things the same.