[fkisjjdhh]

As you might know, I've been walking on a razor's edge for the past year or so, dealing with two separate major [high-risk/low-survivability] cancers--kidney and esophageal. I've been through chemo, radiation, several meat-axe/Jack-The-Ripper surgeries, and have been subjected to intense diagnostic testing every 90 days, hoping to catch any recurrance early.

My next series of tests is coming up next week. I can't adequately explain how I feel as the PET-scan/x-ray/ultrasound date gets nearer... and the intense angst that I feel between the testing session and the meeting with the doctors, when they give me the results.

Most of my friends and acquaintances are aware of this personal stress of mine, and I get an awful lot of comments along the lines of "We're praying for you." and "I've put your name into our church's Prayer Circle." and similar expressions. Understand that I firmly believe that all of them are well-intended and meant to help me... and for that, I'm hugely appreciative.

I believe that there is a Supreme Power that started this entire mess... This Power may not be the God that is defined by any of today's organized religions. Perhaps "intellegent design" is fairly close to what I'm thinking of. I just can't go along with the bunch that believes in the Big Bang that happened a zillion years ago and everything from then to now was a series of accidental/fortituous/calamitous occurrances.

But--

I guess I also just can't internalize and accept the concept of a God who would give "preference" to somebody who has lots of believer-friends praying for them... and some poor friendless wretch in the same condition who has nobody but himself praying for him.

Are favors from God given away American Idol style?

Or is what happens to an individual all "Karma" or simply the roll of the cosmic dice-- totally random?

This might be too deep/sensitive/far-out for this forum, but it seems that we have at least a minimal representative sample of most general belief systems here. [Note the operative word "belief"... no "proof" needed, required, or possible. If you truly believe something, then that's it. No true arguement is necessary or even possible.]

...and, since I'm having a hard time sorting this out, I'd be interested in what you think.

[Navzrrqt]

I don't know. I'm not inclined to believe in God, but then again I'm not arrogant enough to assume I know anything one way or the other.

I think human beings should avoid trying to figure out the "big question", because there's no way they're ever going to figure it out, and it's obvious that the ones who are 100% convinced they have it figured out are, frankly, crazy. Focusing on the big universal issues is futile. Focusing on the small simple things that speak to the heart & really make sense, on the other hand, is more useful. Like the golden rule. Like be good to others. Like having compassion for those who have no one to pray for them.

"Do the right thing" is a great phrase. Also, humility is probably the most noble quality a human being can have.

If there is a God, I think it has left us to fend for ourselves, for whatever reason. But I really doubt there's a God in the conventional sense.

[Zptmsemk]

This is a deep subject and I don't want any arguments or debates about it from the non believers and believers, just state your opinion and that's it.

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[Zptmsemk]

Surpised no replies to this topic. Just a thought.

B--asic
I--nformation
B--efore
L--eaving
E--arth

[Nmoitmzr]

simply.
i dont believe in a "god" tho am open to any evidence u can show me.
i believe in some sort of afterlife (tho dont ask how i can believe in one and not both, coz i dont know)
i dont believe "praying" has any god-like effect, or that anyone listens, but i DO believe it helps in that the person they are prayin for feels loved and supported. so that helps.

cant think of anythin else, so thats about it

MJ

[Nmoitmzr]

this site might be interesting.
u can order free literature
http://www.gnmagazine.org/litreq/index.htm

ive ordered "Creation or Evolution - Does It Really Matter What You Believe?"

MJ

[Nmoitmzr]

so sin and the rest of ya, i hope u aint going to be cellebrationg halloween this yr.
http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn60/halloween.htm

that piece is crap, halloween a pagan holiday in the 1st place. it had nothin to do with ghostes and the likes til early christianity warped it and made it the way it is now. this all came about coz christianity wanted to over throw the pagan religion so christianity could be the main religion and people who are pagan would look like devil worshippers (which is not the case)

if u were to say u were a pagan today, people would look at u like ur about to run around naked chanting and killin goats for the blood. that isnt the case tho.
read this
http://www.spiritualminds.com/articl...?articleid=872

MJ

[Zptmsemk]

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[Nmoitmzr]

idnew, that is the name of the book. i cant help wat its called.

i say god all the time, its jus another word to me like "!!!!". its jus another way to say something.
when i say "!!!! it" it doesnt mean i actually want to "!!!!" something.

MJ

[cafeviahe]

Hmmm.

I've avoided posting here, but I have read it all with interest. While I don't believe in any kind of external god. Like Tig, I can't prove there is no such thing, but I have no real reason to believe there is. I am a practising Pagan. The ongoing battle between Paganism and Christianity doesn't interest me much, although I'm glad that witches aren't murdered by the Church any more. I tend to be very discreet, if not downright secretive, about what I believe - most Pagans don't aim to gather converts, and those who wish to come will come. As MJ pointed out, it has absolutely nothing to do with devil worship!

But the question is: What kind of god do you acknowledge? Similarly to Hindus, the "gods" (I probably don't have a better word) I work with are aspects of my self, my psyche, or

[Nmoitmzr]

wow i never knew u were a pagan.
i used to work with someone who was and until i got speakin to him i used to think the same as most other people, thats it was all about devil worship.

i would love to learn more about it tho, if i was forced to believe in "something" id be more able to believe in an "earth" religion that something like christianity

MJ

[Zptmsemk]

Well MJ we all know what the slang word F is, maybe you should look up the meaning of God and maybe you shouldn't say things you don't actually want to do, and maybe you shouldn't ask somebody you don't even believe in to damn something. Think about it and before you speak.

[Nmoitmzr]

but thats my point, I DONT BELIEVE IN GOD!
the word is just another word to me.
im not asking "god" to "damn" anything, and if i was askin him to i dont believe anything would happen. so thats why i say it, coz its just another word or sentance or watever.
like, when u drop someting or trip over the 1st thing that comes to most peoples mouths is the "S" word. it doesnt mean that we've seen it or smelt it or dropped it or tripped over it, its jus a word.

and U dont say god damn, coz u DO believe. but thats ur choice, those words mean something to u when to me they dont mean a thing. which is why i chooise to say it and u choose not to.

hope that means sense, its late here!

MJ

[Zptmsemk]

Well your judged by the words that come out of your mouth and for a female to use the language that you use.............well...........hmm............not very lady like...........neither does it make anyone(male or female) who talks like that very impressive.........IMO anyway

Interesting to find out your a pagan Dippy. What does a practicing pagan do?

[Nmoitmzr]

lol well obviously if am with someone i dont know or elder people or family i dont use it.
ur judged by wat u say, but u need to take into account who ur sayin it to too.
not very "lady-like" ooh thats very 1930's!

MJ

[Nmoitmzr]

u also have to remember i live in england. u aint gonna be looked on as some sort of major sinner if u say GOD, whereas in america it seems u are. IMO anyway
we arent as religious here compared to u guys.

MJ

[Zptmsemk]

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[fkisjjdhh]

While YOU may not believe in God... **I** certainly believe in f'ing... and I resent your using that term as a catch-all simply because you haven't expended the effort to educate yourself in correct, expository English.

It ain't cool, it ain't "tough," it's simply stupid... and it isn't within the DumbLaws TOS.

While I'm not holding my breath, perhaps it's NOT too late for you to cause somebody to exclaim "I think she's GOT it!!"

[W/a nod and apologies to:
"Pygmalion: A Play in 5 Acts" by George Bernard Shaw (1913).
and
"My Fair Lady" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe (1956).]

"Yes, you squashed cabbage leaf; you disgrace to the noble architecture of these columns; you incarnate insult to the English language! I could pass you off as the Queen of Sheba." --Professor Higgins

[Nmoitmzr]

well, lady-like is one thing i do not wish to be in that case.

dont get me wrong, im not some drunk chav with 5 kids by the age of 15. nor do i act like a yob. infact i think am very polite to people who i hav never met.
but if lady like is not being able to use to word "god" then count me out!

MJ

[Nmoitmzr]

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