A sign of what's coming.    I don't think this movie is too far off....

A sign of what's coming.    I don't think this movie is too far off....

GOD, GUNS,  AND GUTS MADE AMERICA... LET'S KEEP ALL THREE!

I love that!

It's sad because the America we're in today thinks we'll do better without the first one....THE MAIN ONE....

GOD please continue to bless this country the way you've always blessed us, in JESUS name....amen

Oh yeah about the movie, SCARY... I hope it wakes people up...It shows all the same stuff like in this book I read everyday....

GOD, GUNS,  AND GUTS MADE AMERICA... LET'S KEEP ALL THREE!

I love that!

It's sad because the America we're in today thinks we'll do better without the first one....THE MAIN ONE....

GOD please continue to bless this country the way you've always blessed us, in JESUS name....amen

Oh yeah about the movie, SCARY... I hope it wakes people up...It shows all the same stuff like in this book I read everyday....

I am an Atheist so I do not believe. However, I understand the the way this country is based on that belief and I support it because the country also supports my not believing in God. I would rather have the country run by Atheist conservatives like me because I think the country would be better off. However, the people who currently are in power and are not religious also don't respect those who do believe. And they try to push their agenda (ie taxpayers paying for contraception, abortions, etc) which I also don't agree with. I think there is a place in politics for both believers and non-believers as long as the Socialism goes out the window. We must all respect each other's religious rights without insulting one another and pushing a one sided agenda on the others. JMHO.

I am an Atheist so I do not believe. However, I understand the the way this country is based on that belief and I support it because the country also supports my not believing in God. I would rather have the country run by Atheist conservatives like me because I think the country would be better off. However, the people who currently are in power and are not religious also don't respect those who do believe. And they try to push their agenda (ie taxpayers paying for contraception, abortions, etc) which I also don't agree with. I think there is a place in politics for both believers and non-believers as long as the Socialism goes out the window. We must all respect each other's religious rights without insulting one another and pushing a one sided agenda on the others. JMHO.

Nothing but LOVE bro

X2

Nothing but LOVE bro

Absolutely. We all have pretty much the same objectives in mind. And I respect those who want to believe and feel it makes this country stronger. Let's face it, this country was founded on religious beliefs and freedom of and from religion. How can we argue with that?

I would rather live in a tolerant religious country instead of fanatical religious country.

How's the saying go? Discuss anything you want, but don't talk politics or religion.....I would rather believe in something and be wrong about it than believe in nothing and have no hope.

How's the saying go? Discuss anything you want, but don't talk politics or religion.....I would rather believe in something and be wrong about it than believe in nothing and have no hope.

Funny you said this. Because from my point of view the people who believe in God are the ones that believe in something that doesn't exist. Or in other words, they believe in nothing. And again from my point of view I believe the scientific explanations. Which to me is something that can be believed. But I also need to believe that I can be wrong. Because let's face it, no one really knows for sure at this time and date, right? But I also believe that is a huge difference between myself and many religious people such as both of my brothers. I need to believe that I can be wrong. They don't accept the premise they can be wrong. JMHO 

How's the saying go? Discuss anything you want, but don't talk politics or religion.....I would rather believe in something and be wrong about it than believe in nothing and have no hope.

Amen

Wow, awesome civility in this discussion for such a hot topic so far.  I happen to be in the believing camp, but respect Inspector and his world view, even if I do not agree with it.  Thank you guys for keeping this discussion civil and not getting into a fighting match.  You guys are awesome!

Deep down the conscience should be your guide. People know what is right and how they should act. Being accountable for your actions is what its all about. Believing in stories that were written long before my time, helps me live the way I should.

Funny you said this. Because from my point of view the people who believe in God are the ones that believe in something that doesn't exist. Or in other words, they believe in nothing. And again from my point of view I believe the scientific explanations. Which to me is something that can be believed. But I also need to believe that I can be wrong. Because let's face it, no one really knows for sure at this time and date, right? But I also believe that is a huge difference between myself and many religious people such as both of my brothers. I need to believe that I can be wrong. They don't accept the premise they can be wrong. JMHO 

Definitely not trying to question your belief set, Inspector, but based upon the emphasized text from your post, above, might you, perhaps, fall within the agnostic spectrum (rather than categorizing yourself as a straight-up-atheist)?

Also, you've probably already read Siddartha by Hermann Hesse, but if not, give it a whirl... I think you might dig on it!

dubya

I know this subject is touchy, well it is about "What you think happens when you pass".... I dont wish to force this place

heaven on know one... A lot of people dont like to think about death including me... I do know that I cant always be there beside

my family 24-7 so I ask God to watch over them for me while im at work....etc

I believe in God (Jesus) not because of tradition but because I asked him for help in my marriage and he fixed it

and made it stronger than ever.... Good and Bad things are gonna come our way anyway whether we like it or

not so I figured have HIM help me through it... 

As we close this sermon this morning  id like to say that there is a CHOICE...

Ive heard many: Reincarnation
                               The Big Sleep
                               Nothing
                                Heaven
                                Hell
                                etc...
I chose HEAVEN......BUT I wanted to be absolutely sure so researched,
1) I dont wanna come back here
2) I had enough sleep
3) Who wants nothing?
4)No more pain and no more tears
5)Too HOT!
 Out of nothing but LOVE, just be sure...cause once you pass thats it.....
                                                                                                                     

Deep down the conscience should be your guide. People know what is right and how they should act. Being accountable for your actions is what its all about.

I absolutely agree with this statement as it does not matter what your belief system is (or is not).

Believing in stories that were written long before my time, helps me live the way I should.

I personally see them as stories as well. Not as the history of man. Don't get me wrong, I do take something out of the Bible for how I live my life. Do unto others.....

Hit quote instead of modify. 

Definitely not trying to question your belief set, Inspector, but based upon the emphasized text from your post, above, might you, perhaps, fall within the agnostic spectrum (rather than categorizing yourself as a straight-up-atheist)?

Also, you've probably already read Siddartha by Hermann Hesse, but if not, give it a whirl... I think you might dig on it!

dubya

I understand why you suggested my being agnostic instead of Atheist. I can't really explain myself better than this. I honestly feel there is no God. If I die and find out I was wrong, what am I going to do? Say, hey you may be God but I don't believe in you? LOL!!!

I won't get into the details as to my deep feelings and reasons for it. It would probably cause WWIII here. The reason I say that I can be wrong is more of a life statement rather than a specific statement about not believing. It is what separates me from those that believe. In other words, talk to other Atheists and you may find a radical unforgiving attitude almost like your believing in God upsets their entire world. It goes the same for most very religious people. When I tell people I don't believe in God it upsets their world. Also, I did consider myself a particular religion at one time in my life. And I experienced such prejudice from some of the most religious of people of different faiths. Don't get me wrong, these experiences have absolutely no basis for why I decided not to believe. It helped me mold my decisions as to how to live my life. So when I decided to not believe I decided that certain things were important to me in my life. I decided that along with living my life by the "Do unto others..." saying I decided that I need to be as open minded as possible with everyone about every topic. Along with this I feel I need to understand humility and being humble and to not be judgmental. These are traits I admire and try to live my life to. I am not perfect by any means so please don't take these statements as my trying to be better than others. So keep this in mind that my entire life is based on trying to be as open minded as possible. Now, try asking the religious people here if there could ever be the possibility that there is no God. Based on what I have read here so far I know that there is no possibility that that will happen. I have met others that have said things similar to "I never thought about it" and "I suppose I would never know. But at least I would know while I was alive that I lived my life as a decent and good person". And this is the basis of what I believe. No one really knows for sure. And for those who do believe you won't get verification until after you die. The point is no one really knows and won't know until after they die. All you can do is believe or not believe before you die. This is why I won't argue this with anyone. Because none of us have any real proof that God exists or doesn't exist. In the same way a true believer has faith that God exists I have the same faith that God doesn't exist.

So to sum all this up the way I want to separate myself from those most radical on both sides of the belief and non-belief is to accept all peoples premises and just be humble and say "You could be right...." I stop at saying "But you could also be wrong....." because I want to separate myself from those that would want to push their beliefs on me. I don't want to push my beliefs on those who don't. All I can do is to live my life as a decent and good person. I am a very happy and content person. The religious people such as my brothers have said straight to my face that without believing in God that I have no reason for hope and there is no reason for me to want to be a good and decent person. They hate it because I am living proof that you don't have to believe to have hope and to want to be good and decent person and it goes against their belief system. One brother accepts me for who I am. The other doesn't and it is sad. I am a true non-believer. I have no doubts. I accept them as they are even is I feel they are wrong.

Did I make the differences clear enough? It is always so hard to describe the fine line that separates my feelings of non-belief with those of the Agnostic.

Thanks for taking the time to provide the detailed response, Inspector.

Again, I am not questioning your belief set, and my sincere apologies if my previous comment was seen as an attempt to marginalize or over-simplify your beliefs.

dubya

I know this subject is touchy, well it is about "What you think happens when you pass".... I dont wish to force this place

heaven on know one... A lot of people dont like to think about death including me... I do know that I cant always be there beside

my family 24-7 so I ask God to watch over them for me while im at work....etc

I believe in God (Jesus) not because of tradition but because I asked him for help in my marriage and he fixed it

and made it stronger than ever.... Good and Bad things are gonna come our way anyway whether we like it or

not so I figured have HIM help me through it... 

As we close this sermon this morning  id like to say that there is a CHOICE...

Ive heard many: Reincarnation
                               The Big Sleep
                               Nothing
                                Heaven
                                Hell
                                etc...
I chose HEAVEN......BUT I wanted to be absolutely sure so researched,
1) I dont wanna come back here
2) I had enough sleep
3) Who wants nothing?
4)No more pain and no more tears
5)Too HOT!
 Out of nothing but LOVE, just be sure...cause once you pass thats it.....
                                                                                                                     

Hey BananaClip,

You are very much correct when you say it is a touchy subject. I want you to know I appreciate the way you are posting because you state your beliefs and are not trying to tell me I am wrong and I am going to hell if I don't, etc. etc. etc. I would hope all of us are capable of discussing this subject without pushing ones beliefs on the other. On the other side of things I feel in order to discuss this subject one must also have a thick enough skin to not take things the wrong way or take offense if someone does try and push their beliefs on you. Both of my brothers are extremely religious people with different beliefs. They are different religions. I love them both very much and could care less what they believe in. They both try and push their religion on me in their own ways. One brother tries and argues with me and tries to push his beliefs on to me as I can't be this way or that way if I don't believe. And if I think about my life in his way I would agree. But my life is just that, mine. And while he thinks I am wrong he has a hard time accepting my beliefs. My other brother just tries and indoctrinates me with typical ethnic foods and good quality family time and love and acceptance and above all respect.

You show respect in your posts. It is none of my business what you believe in and I honestly don't care what you believe in. For me it is how you treat someone that matters. Show respect and you will get it in return. If one wants religion in their life to be happy, healthy and productive than I say GREAT! I am happy for you. I hope you feel the same way.

Deep down the conscience should be your guide. People know what is right and how they should act. Being accountable for your actions is what its all about. Believing in stories that were written long before my time, helps me live the way I should.

Looks like a great discussion going on.   Great respect for everyone's views. 

I agree with your statement Greenstomper.  Do you think responsible, righteous behavior is learned or subconscious?