TBradyOwnsYou

I recently had a discussion with a friend who has studied multiple religions, HATES organized religion, yet claims to KNOW that God exists. He can't define what that God is, or why he knows it (and he admits it sounds silly) so I figured I'd throw that out and see if there is anyone else with similar views who could help him describe it.

I personally think that it's just his leftover indoctrination from his upbringing in organized religion and when he cast it off, he kept this small nugget with him to give him comfort. I believe his inability to define or explain it is a psychological defense mechanism to prevent his logical mind from removing that last hook of comfortable delusion that would cast him away into the chasm of the unknown which he was raised to be fearful of.

What say you?

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RI Patriots fan

Like most people who claim to be "spiritual" but don't follow an organized religion, they create a God in their own image who requires nothing of them outside of following their own feelings and desires.

PatsFanLisa

I don't believe people who are spiritual create any image, or at least some of them don't.

But just out of curiosity, what image is there of god? Wouldn't that just be an image that YOU created, much like what you are saying people without religion create an image of themselves

BTW, you needn't put air quotes around spiritual. There is something that is actually called spirituality that doesn't necessarily need religion attached to it.

Rossmci90

There are a number of people who are outside of organised religion who believe in a "non-personal God". A sort of entity who does not effect the daily lives of people, but created the Universe.

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RI Patriots fan

Yup, I understand that....there are lots of belief systems out there.

But the question is, why do they believe what they believe?

everlong

I think you changed the argument of the other poster who said many people don't believe in a personalized god which you stressed.

Answering why do people chose a different religion is very personal and complexed. All Catholics aren't Catholics for the same reason.

To the original poster yes your theory is possible as to why he feels this way but it's also possible he just feels a connection to the universe on a more scientific scale.

Religious views of Albert Einstein - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Baruch Spinoza - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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RI Patriots fan

Please explain to me how someone feels a connection to the universe on a scientific scale?? What exactly does that mean?

Yes, Catholics choose to be Catholics for many different reasons. But if those reasons don't facilitate a true faith initiated by grace, then I dont see the value of such a belief system.

TBradyOwnsYou

I asked if he meant a creator, to which he replied "I don't know."

The more I asked for specifics about this god, he would say no or I don't know to them all, yet still said he KNEW God existed.

I guess it's likely just the semantics that trip me up as everything he says makes him sound like a flavor of agnostic, yet he is steadfast about "knowing" that God exists which I can't understand without a definition of some sort.

He also has extreme trouble viewing atheism as anything but a belief system (which it is exactly not) which again leads me to believe it's a leftover from his prior religiosity.

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PatsFanLisa

So, in other words, if Catholics don't follow the Golden Rules that you follow, then they're really not good Catholics?

Just because someone doesn't believe or follow strictly in the same way that, say, you might does not make them any less of a Catholic. Just because YOU don't see the value of their belief system does not make them any less of a Catholic.

And just so we're clear here, what you don't value as a good enough belief system really doesn't matter. Right? What matters is how that person interprets, adheres to, and believes for his own faith in his Catholicism.

everlong

It means they feel that everything in the universe is connected and many people feel quantum physics and string theory justify this.

You want keep changing the topic. You asked why people chose those paths and I think that's very individual in choice and thus the reasoning is very diversified. I don't think a choice has to be initiated by Grace. That's a very dogmatic way of thinking at least in my interpretation.

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"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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