Who is God the Father? Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, the great “I AM”, or the man in the moon

Aneeda72 said:
The humane race has had many deities throughout its history so who exactly is the main the God? Who would determine who the main God is? If the human race stops believing in a certain God, such as Zeus, does he cease to exist? Or does he just become a comic book character where his real origin is forgotten?

Is Greek methodology even studied in school anymore? Would comic books or history book be used? Were the Celtic gods christian, as someone brought up in another thread. I would be interested in knowing. Do all the religions believe in the same one god or god the father with different prophets?

I have only heard of God having one child-Jesus Christ. Are there other belief systems that claim a biological reference to a different child? As to Mary the mother of JC, being claimed as a prophet-never heard of this either. Can not even imagine someone would think she was a prophet. Would like to hear more.

So how about a secular conversation about these matters where religions are mentioned but no one gets insulted, or hurt, or tries to prove their beliefs, or shove their believes on anyone. Just a discussion on who God might actually be. Non-believers are welcome as well to discuss that God might not be.

If there is no God, then how do miracles happen? Just asking, lol.
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When I said that there are many different beliefs about how the bible is interpreted I said in another thread that there are some religious groups that believe that Mary was the prophet. It was something my husband told me. He said that a university group discovered old artifacts that suggests this. I personally don’t know anything about it but mentioned it just to show the full diversity of beliefs.

Mythology isn’t something I know anything about so can’t contribute there either no do I really understand the connection so can’t contribute. In fact I’m just more confused. Lol
 

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Olivia said:
I remember reading a book where a woman had her mother die who had a strong faith in Christianity. And this daughter who wanted to be with her mother herself after she herself died, twisted herself into all kind kind of pretzels to make herself into a "believer". And so she asked, if humans were evolved from apes, how come there are still apes?

Study evolution and you will get your answer.
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Thats another area I don’t understand. Religious people can’t or don’t believe in evolution. I very much believe in evolution because it’s science and science is one if my favourite subjects. Evolution is a very interesting topic however evolution and religion clash. They dont seem to both exist together.
 
Keesha said:
Thats another area I don’t understand. Religious people can’t or don’t believe in evolution. I very much believe in evolution because it’s science and science is one if my favourite subjects. Evolution is a very interesting topic however evolution and religion clash. They dont seem to both exist together.
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No, you're talking about Christians, not religious people. There are many kinds of Christian denominations. There are the extreme conservatives and the liberals. They have very different beliefs. Evolution does not discount belief in a creator and how creation happened.
 

Keesha said:
When I said that there are many different beliefs about how the bible is interpreted I said in another thread that there are some religious groups that believe that Mary was the prophet. It was something my husband told me. He said that a university group discovered old artifacts that suggests this. I personally don’t know anything about it but mentioned it just to show the full diversity of beliefs.

Methology isn’t something I know anything about either so can’t contribute there either no do I really understand the connection so can’t contribute in fact I’m just more confused. Lol
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Of course you're confused. That's the whole point of how whole groups of people are taken in. Study and educate yourself. I personally have a ton of skepticism about anything.
 
H
Olivia said:
No, you're talking about Christians, not religious people. There are many kinds of Christian denominations. There are the extreme conservatives and the liberals. They have very different beliefs. Evolution does not discount belief in a creator and how creation happened.
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Yes but Christianity covers many dominations. That would also mean disbelief in dinosaurs.
Another thing my husband said before he left was that they don’t believe in homosexuality. They believe that if someone is homosexual that it’s the devil in them. What happens if one of their children is?
Do they get abandoned? And if that’s the case then what about the golden rule of treat others how you’d like to be treated?
I’m not trying to be difficult. My husband is STILL laughing at me.

Olivia said:
Of course you're confused. That's the whole point of how whole groups of people are taken in. Study and educate yourself. I personally have a ton of skepticism about anything.
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I studied evolution as part of my biology course but I wish I had studied religion at some point. It actually makes sense from things that otherwise didn’t.

You had a Christian mother and Buddhist father. How did they make their marriage work without going into details.

I know one of my BIL’s married a Catholic so switched religions. It worked for them.
I’ve got a lot of skepticism about about most things. I don’t have any blind faith. For myself I HAVE to understand but I DO have faith; it’s at a different level I suppose.
Clearly I need to educate myself more in this area.
 
Keesha. Are you taking me in anyway seriously? Why am I even bothering here? There are homosexual ministers that most of you don't care to know about. I will. be no longer wasting my time on this topic.
 
I’ve decided to study historical Jesus to start with for a different point of view about the sane prophet.
Yes I know many people have a problem with homosexuality. I just didn’t realize how much of a sin it is in the eyes of the bible. That would be a difficult thing to deal with if you came from a very religious family.
 
Keesha said:
I’ve decided to study historical Jesus to start with for a different point of view about the sane prophet.
Yes I know many people have a problem with homosexuality. I just didn’t realize how much of a sin it is in the eyes of the bible. That would be a difficult thing to deal with if you came from a very religious family.
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In that case, you might want to start with Rev.John Shelby Spong.

John Shelby "Jack" Spong is a retired bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000, he was the Bishop of Newark, New Jersey. A liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author, he calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines.

Born: June 16, 1931 (age 87 years), Charlotte, NC
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It’s interesting that I start a thread about god, and the gods over time, and most everyone mentions religion. It’s hard for people to separate the two. Yet, they are separate matters.

Greek mythology included tales of Sinbad. I’m sure you’ve seen the movies, Keesha. If you are going to start from the beginning then, as I said, the Old Testament is the beginning. You could get a child’s/teenagers version of the Bible stories to start from the library. It will give you a sense of the stories. These are the same stories, just written for ease of reading.

The Old and New Testament should, IMO, be read in the original, King James Version. When translated into American English, words change and the meanings seem to be changed. But you do as you like. If you start a thread in the groups thread, I will respond there (if I can find it) and we can have discussions. Lol, I must have a bible around here somewhere.

I just gave my childhood bible to my granddaughter. I can go buy another, no big deal. I am no bible expert, but I’d enjoy the discussions, the questioning of what is written, and the confusion of it all. Others probably would as well. Let us know.
 
It’s interesting that I start a thread about god, and the gods over time, and most everyone mentions religion. It’s hard for people to separate the two. Yet, they are separate matters.
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In Pantheism, the creator and the creation are one. So, there is no separate "God" to worship. So, yes, there is such a thing.
 
I think the first post covered so many topics which included words such as Jesus, Old Testament, God, Zeus, Greek methology, Mary as the prophet that it’s quite easy to assume that it’s about religion and I think if mainstream has been studying this same subject for years which their ‘faith’ is based on then why would they want to have their minds changed? That’s what blind faith is about so I do understand that part. Most people who are into their religion are into it passionately.
Somebody told me I should stick to what I know so I think I will do that. I’m going to read about historical Jesus only because I’m fascinated with him as a good, humble man. I’m sure there must be documented studies of his life without studying the bible.

To be honest this topic as is might be too overwhelming for me to participate in.
I’m sure there will be others who will join in. My spirit soars studying enlightenment.
It’s a gentler, softer study.
 
I believe this forum's ban on politics is a prudent one. I suggest the we add religion to that ban. I don't think a supposedly secular forum is the right arena for members to opine about their religious ideation. It is inevitable in these discussions that one viewpoint is ridiculed by some, As this one already has. No one's religious ideation is any greater than anybody elses. The fact that one fervently believes does not make it so. I resent being told that if I feel offended don't read this thread. I suggest that one does not knowingly post threads, which are disruptive, and do offend others. I would put a ban on religious discussions.
 
Is the answer guaranteed to us all? Idk. There is freedom of choice. A non-believers freedom of choice would/might extend past his death, and, therefore, the answer would not be known to that individual. That individual would be denied an afterlife because he did not believe in an afterlife. Food for thought.

Keesha was JC humble? I don’t think so, he displayed a certain arrogance when his parents, Joseph and Mary, searched for him. Upon asking him where he had been he replies something to the effect that he “was about his father’s business.” Was he our definition of a good man. Perhaps no. He did destroy a church.

When Mary bought oil and, I think Judas objected or whoever, saying the money could be used to feed the poor; JC responded that he should have the comfort of the oil on his feet. Cause there will “always be poor among us.” Well, he nailed that one. I don’t have blind faith. JC was a man. He had the flaws of a man-that was the whole point-the lack of perfection.

When he ascended to heaven, he became the Christian God. One assumes a lesser God since he is not God the father, or the Holy Ghost now known as the Holy Spirit. It’s all speculation. As for sticking with what you know, you know as much as anyone else, and as little. The Bible was written by men, it’s stories of a past time, faded memories, and a leap of faith.

Enjoy your studies.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I believe this forum's ban on politics is a prudent one. I suggest the we add religion to that ban. I don't think a supposedly secular forum is the right arena for members to opine about their religious ideation. It is inevitable in these discussions that one viewpoint is ridiculed by some, As this one already has. No one's religious ideation is any greater than anybody elses. The fact that one fervently believes does not make it so. I resent being told that if I feel offended don't read this thread. I suggest that one does not knowingly post threads, which are disruptive, and do offend others. I would put a ban on religious discussions.
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I will admit at this time I have not had time to read this whole thread...

That being said..I don't understand why you would suggest that a thread YOU don't particularly want to participate in be banned....

If you want to start a forum of your own, then you will have control over what is banned and what is allowed.
 
Fuzzybuddy

The problem is that someone is always going to be offended by something on every single thread that is written. If you tried to have a thread that offended no one, than you couldn’t have a forum. I think you are more offended that someone told you or suggested to you what you should do, than offended by this discussion which is not about religious ideation.

I may not know what you mean by religion ideation anyway. Your comment does remind me of someone who complains about a TV show and how it shouldn’t be on when all they have to do is change the channel. Then it wouldn’t be on for them. It’s a simple fix.

I think this discussion has been and is extremely interesting. I appreciate everyone’s view point, yours included. It’s up to you to continue reading, or not. A ban is not necessary, IMO. Common sense, good manners, and kindergarten rules might be.
 
As far a belief in gods is concerned, do you really believe that Osiris lost his *****? There are texts all over Egypt, which tell of the divine tale. Are we supposed to take it as fact? Or is it merely an immortality ideation? It is strange that most of the world's gods and religions are initially proposed by a human. Is this man's desire to live past death, or his fear of it. Yes, Osiris's lost ***** is figurative of most gods. It is a magical tale of overcoming death. It is amazing that most gods have also a magical birth. Thousands of years ago, magical births were not so infrequent. Virgin births or god inseminated births were common for kings/royalty. Most rulers had some type of magical birth- Caesar , Alexander, kings, prophets and emperors. There is evidence that humans use gods as a source of great magic to change their life's situation. Most areas had a local god, which had great magic, who protected its worshipers. In Greece, gods could be bribed. Again, most gods had very human traits, such as envy, hatred, etc. So, did Osiris lose his *****. I guess that depends if you believe he had one.
 
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