Sometimes I wonder why god lets such terrible things happen to good people. I say that because my grandfather was murdered when I was fifteen and I'm 36 now and it still bothers me alot and what makes it worse is that he was killed the day before my birthday> I'm not asking for anyone's sympathy here, just your opinion.

Yes he does exist. Sorry about your grandfather, but I wouldn't allow that incident to cause you to lose faith.

One question though on a more light-hearted matter. Since we are supposed to be discussing other artists in this category what band does God play in?

lovemachine said:

God plays in Prince's band!

"if man is five then the devil six but God is 7"

Paisley said:

Which member is God? I'm putting my money on Rhonda because I've always suspected that God is a female.

I'm very Sorry 4 your grandfather.

And YES I do believe in GOD or what 'we-->>Muslims' call him as [Allah]!

Peace & God bless!

There is a scripture in the Bible that tells u God does not try people with evil things.So,it must be someone else who on the other hand is evil is Satan the devil.He is the one who told the first lie to Eve in Genesis.That then challenged God's right to rule,his Sovereignty.so,God has allowed these terrible things not because he is at all hapy with them himself but,because it gives us time to see what life is like lead by our own actions without God's help.Therefore we could come to the conclusion that we do all really need God in guide us and show us a better way of living.It seems like a long time to prove this point but,our timeline compared to God's is different.It therefore really had been a short time.(There is also a scripture with that info too)So,in the meantime we all sigh and groan together in this system until God sets all matters straight in his due time and when he does people who also desire good things and hate what is bad and desire to do God's will, they will reap the benefits of God's Kingdom which is soon to rule over the Paradise our earth will become where there will be no more death,sorrow,pain,sickness and where there will be plenty food for all.This is hoe god will restore his original purpose he gave to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

Paisley sorry to hear about what happen to
your Grandfather but there is a GOD for sure.

GOD plays thru Prince so I guess you could
say NPGOD. 8)

Sorry for my typo's.And,I do understand you may not believe the same way but,I did want to help by telling what explanation my faith in God and his word of truth has set out for us in the Bible.I hope it helps, reguardless I feel your pain in my heart and am truly sorry.One day he'll make everything all right though Paisely.The beautiful thing is that you yourself may not have to die to go to heaven to see your loved ones again.There are scriptures you can look to in the Bible of your choice that will show you this.Yes, I am a Jehovah's Winess and the sound of that may turn you off but, would it really hurt to ask some of these questions to a Jehovah's witness the next time they come knocking on your door.Our intentions are to start free home Bible studies with people.Nobody will try and baptise you i promise.It was 3 1/2 years of studying and questions before i was baptised and today I am constantly learning and growing with God.

Paisley said:

I wonder about those type of things myself. But I believe there is a God.


Now comes the part where specific predictable posters come to ridicule this thread...

Paisley said:

The answer lies in free will, which God gave to Man. Only by allowing for the possibility of evil can the choice of good be an actual choice. Had He not given us free will, we would all just be playing the harp all day long instead of directing our own lives. True, some terrible people do some terrible things, but in a way it only makes the good that much more precious.

I hope this helps, and I'll see ya when the time comes.

Paisley said:

I AM FEEL SO SORRY FOR U.
BUT GOD DOES EXIST AND I AS A MUSLIM CALL HIM ALLAH!

GOD DOES EXIST. LIFE AIN'T MEANT TO BE FAIR. WE AREN'T LIVING IN HEAVEN. THE DEVIL DOES AWFUL THINGS TO HUMANS. BUT THROUGH GOD, WE CAN FIND WAYS TO STRENGHTEN, AND TO UNDERSTAND. HE GIVES US OPPORTUNITES SO WE CAN DO BETTER. WE AS HUMANS ARE GIVEN LIFE THAT CAN RUIN US IN SO MANY WAYS. BUT IT IS UP TO US TO CONNECT SOMEHOW TO A GUIDE THAT CAN SHOW US BETTER AND PROTECT US.
for ex: how some parents really abuse their children. some children abuse theirs when they grow up. others who know what pain is, decide to train their children in other ways so the child can be helped.

Yes God absolutely does Exist. And he knows all and sees all he is OMNIPRESENT. Then again as Mavis and Prince says God is Alive and Once again God is Alive and he lives in Minneapolis... Thank You Heavenly Father. Prince is very Religious. Rainbow Children. Wonderful Wonderful work. What a beautiful vision Prince has.

sigh...

There is no God.

unremarkable said

How can you be so sure?

yes!


GOD EXIST!


He makes WONDERFUL THINGS!...with me!

If God exists, he's probably checking if he read the Universe Creation Kit instructions correctly.

Of course God exists. Don't be ridiculous.

Next question.

God is everywhere. The reason that people are taken at unexpected times is because they are either God's people, or the enemy's (IMO). Your grandfather, from what you have said, was one of God's chosen, and he is now and will be in a much better life than this. I think that sometimes it can be taken as a test of strength for us as well.


Your friend,

JD

All I can say is...

Most people think there is a God, but no one has ever found a proof of his existence convincing enough to rally people from all religions and convert the atheists. Which is odd, considering the God of the old testament sometimes manisfested his presence very clearly, parting the Red Sea and other miracles. Sure, now and then, we have reports of the virgin mary appearing in the skies and statues that weeps, etc. but nothing really spectacular, eh?

What was going on in the Middle East in those ancient times were minor events compared to WWII. If God was willing to part the Red Sea for the jews, why didn't he turn the nazis into pillars of salt, ending the most evil injustice of all times and proving its existence once and for all?

Of course, the standard answer is "God works in mysterious ways", and christians believe God sent us his son, and that was the ultimate manifestation of its existence for all eternity.. But if you believe that, then what to make of the "miracles" that happened after Christ? Is God willing to intervene and manisfest itself... or not? Those who say he does and cured them of this and that, why did he pick you and not concentration camp victims or starving children in Africa?

Of course, this is just a drop of my scepticism.

On a somewhat related note, remember the Pledge of allegiance thread where some were saying the pledge isn't mandatory? Tell it who the guy who was spanked three times for refusing the recite it...


School 'pledge' protest goes before court
By BARNINI CHAKRABORTY
The Associated Press

Atlanta -- A federal appeals court heard arguments Friday on whether an Alabama school system had the right to discipline a student who stood silently with his fist raised rather than recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

The student, Michael Holloman, a high school senior from Parrish, Ala., who has since graduated, was spanked three times with a wooden paddle and given a written reprimand.

The case was argued before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta only days after another federal appeals court ruled that the pledge is unconstitutional because of the words "under God."

The attorney for the school board in Walker County, Ala., told the judges that Holloman was punished two years ago for disrupting class, not for refusing to say the pledge.

"He acted out, and he has attempted to cloak his behavior in the First Amendment," attorney Russell Robertson said.

Robertson said a teacher sent Holloman to the principal's office after receiving several complaints from other students who said they were unable to say the pledge because of Holloman's actions.

But Holloman's lawyer, Charles Tatum, said his client did not disrupt the class. He said raising a fist in the air was a form of speech, similar to placing a hand over your heart when saying the pledge.

"You've got a right to disagree with things that are seen as morally and politically correct in this country," Tatum said.

Holloman was not present during Friday's arguments.

Court papers said Walker County school board policy requires students to say the pledge and salute the flag during the day's first class. The policy also requires students to sit through "prayer requests" and a moment of silence.

The suit, filed two years ago in federal court, said Walker County's policy of requiring the pledge violated students' rights of free speech, expression and freedom of religion.

Holloman is appealing a federal judge's decision last year to dismiss the case.

Tatum said the case differs from the one considered by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

"This issue in our case is related to whether a student can be punished for refusal to say the pledge more so than the issue of whether the pledge is constitutional," Tatum said.

The 9th Circuit ruling governs only the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

narcotizedmind said:

I'm as sure there is no God as I am there isn't, say, a purple basketball orbiting Neptune, or a double decker bus being driven around the ocean floor by a polar bear.

Can't prove it either way, but I know where my money is.

unremarkable said

Well, that's an entirely different proposition! Personally I wouldn't be quite as extreme in my certainty as you. I simply have no information on the subject, whereas from my everyday experience I can say that your double decker bus driving polar bear is pretty unlikely. In general, I don't think inventing a god to explain the universe actually gets us anywhere, since we still are left with a 'thing' that has no cause. I don't think the human brain is necessarily equipped to answer such questions. I'd rather discuss the merits or otherwise of 'Under the Cherry Moon'. At least that has some practical relevance to my life (one day there'll be a cure for my crippling seriousness!).

Man creates his God instead of God creating man. Believe what you feel is true and not what everyone else says you should.

He exists. That's why it happens, because he allows it to happen (???!!!). I think one of the greatest mysteries is 'if there is life after death'. That's something NO ONE has any proof of. I think God allows some people to die or get murdered for reasons he only knows because He's the one that's in control, and knows that if it didn't happen any other way, then something else that is not supposed to happen, would've, or wouldn't had happened, or had been or be. Sort of like the same way how life goes, and how and why we meet certain people that cross our paths. I don't know, I always thought it was just a part of life also, and couldn't see it any other way, but gonna have to ponder what I think about this some more.
[This message was edited Sat Jul 6 19:28:35 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

Aerogram said:

das beindruckt mich sehr von dir zu hoeren!

Absolutely! All the world's major religions point 2 the same one. On a universal level, we're not understanding that we're all saying the same thing, Y don't we understand? the ignorance caused by the veils of prejudice

we need 2 unite, once united, a firmer vision of God will B there for the viewing

"The Adventures of Atheist Attorney"

Animation...


http://www.salon.com/poli...dex.html?x

EvilWhiteMale said:

Ok Plato!!! I will consult with you the next time Jiddu Krishnamurti isn't around!