I mean is it love, awe, fear, anger, sadness, hatred, joy...?

For me it has to be "awe." I am amazed at the power and intelligence but there is definitely quite a bit of fear there too about this force that I can not comprehend so "awe" is probably closest.

When I believed (not that I ever did properly) it was confusion. I could never understand why this so-called loving god could be such a hateful maniac.

Now I feel incredulity toward the concept of gods.

My first reaction is "Why bother with me?".

I have believed for 31 years and I wonder what I did to ever get his continued attention.

My second reaction is awe.

I honestly find the God of the Old Testament completely hilarious. A perfect portrait of psychosis, emotional instability, obsession, jealousy, pride and self-righteousness, in addition to a sort of needy loneliness and affection. He is one of the most absorbing and fascinating characters in all fiction.

For me the most disappointing aspect of the New Testament is that God largely takes a back seat, even though the New Testament itself is a much more useful book in terms of doctrine and morality.

It's a bit like comparing Genesis during and after Peter Gabriel. The Phil Collins material probably has more going for it overall but you lose the insane genius of Gabriel.

the biggest lie of the humanity history.

No EE_EE, I'm not one of the chosen few. Nor would I wish to be. Why don't you take a hint and go away?

I'm curious, is it possible to ban someone, while they're already banned?

He keeps creating new names. I'm not sure you'd ever get around it totally. If his IP was banned then he'd use another machine elsewhere.

He isn't bright enough to realise how easily he gives himself away... which is odd considering his professed vastly superior intellect.

My most immediate emotional reaction.....probably a mixture of love and curiosity. I have faith, but I also have many questions, so its an ongoing search for me.

My immediate reaction to God, in spite my shortcomings and how often I fall short and make mistakes, no matter who or what others may think of me...or even how hard I am on myself...he still loves me unconditionally no matter what.

Interesting Matt. I should have added confusion there too because I think a fair number of people experience that. And incredulity too.

I would have to say amusement. Has there ever been a entity out there that has created such strong emotions for and against it. As a complete outsider looking at other people debating on whether they believe in this entity or not always make me laugh to myself.

I can understand confusion especailly if you're a kid. But when we view God in a limited mortal point of view, we tend to judge Him by our extremely limited view of things you will have many llke matt simply seeing God as simply an egostical, vengeful wrathful, jealous entity.

They cannot comprehend the big picture as God sees it.No one can.

Respect, mixed with some uneasiness for the unfairness of everyday life towards those who (try hard to) follow the narrow path of His commandments.

And along with that, unswerving loyalty.

When I was a wee one I felt awe and fear when I heard the word God, feelings that are intended, I suppose.

In my teens, I felt hatred, bitterness and anger at God. As well as hatred at the lack of boner control, all the pussy i wasn't getting and my pimply face, all of which God was supposedly responsible for.

Now I don't feel much. I am an agnostic and think it is only arrogance that would cause one to believe they could pretend to even guess at the origins of all. I do not mind God and his religions sometimes. I have a few friends who are christians and their lives are filled with happiness and they are better people for it. But some use God in anger or to instill fear or to wield power and even to exonerate themselves of wrongdoing in the name of religion. It is more people who misuse religion that cause me to be angry, rather than God.

^^^
the agnostic are the worst, they claim they don't know the truth about "god" existence but spit on the atheists and find the believers better than the others...

When I was younger, it was also confusion. Not towards anything specific in what I had been taught, like in a perceived vengefulness, but the whole concept. I never really formed the intimate connection others seemed to have (one side of my family being quite devout), and no one ever really explained it properly to me. So I don't think I every really believed, despite going to church every sunday, and to a youth group; the Easter service. I just followed along and imitated without really understanding.

I guess then my reaction to the concept, to other believers around me, is too incredulity, and also sadness. It seemed, and seems, to me that believers in general, the ones I have met certainly, are simply going through the motions, except, for some, even they themselves don't know it. It is saddening to see all of these people apparently with what cannot be a true purpose. My reaction, anyway, to believers, and to the concept of God, in the world, but not to God itself. I have never reacted to, or come to an inevitable conclusion of God himself; For I simply cannot understand, God.

As a child, growing up the church, my reaction was to ask lots of questions. I didn't understand how my family and friends could go on believing in something that they couldn't explain to me. I was often told that what I was doing was dangerous, and it was better to just believe. Wanting to fit in, I turned my questions inward. Most people at my church regarded me a model young Christian.

Reaching adulthood, my feelings of confusion/curiosity turned to anger. I had spent nearly my entire life heavily immersed in a culture that I now found to be outrageous and illogical. Almost all of my family members are still heavy believers, so I try to go with the flow, but every now and again the anger at the tripe that was beaten into my head bubbles up to the surface.

Once again, to presume nothing can be understood is as bad as presuming to understand everything. And as you accepted on the other post, you hold a groundless prejudice towards atheists.



I never fully understand the concept of sin, and the older I have become the more I think it the whole sin-Jesus-redemption thing is just a really bad story, bad as in convoluted. It's plain messy, and partly the consequence of trying to shoehorn a new belief into an existing one.

my reaction to god is hatred

to me "god is a absentee landlord, a sick f*cking sadist who's laughing his sick f*cking ass off, worship that never!!" Pacino's quote in Devil's advocate was on the money


god is dead!!!

So he was alive at one time?

I am agnostic. I don't look down on anyone, people can believe what they will, as long as they don't try and push their beliefs on me. I don't believe in organized religion.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agnostic
Main Entry: 1ag·nos·tic
Pronunciation: \ag-ˈnäs-tik, əg-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek agnōstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnōstos known, from gignōskein to know — more at know
Date: 1869

1 : a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
2 : a person unwilling to commit to an opinion about something <political agnostics>

— ag·nos·ti·cism \-t&#601;-&#716;si-z&#601;m\ noun

And how did you come to that limited conclusion? Can you prove that he is dead? For me God is very much alive!

You have little or no faith, you percieve things from a very limited position and perception, even from a mortal's view of things but you obviously have bitterness in your heart.

He might as well be, seeing evil is reigning on the Earth he created and not doing a damn thing. Can you prove he's alive? What has god done for you I ask? Seeing you claim he's very alive to you.

I am not speaking out of bitterness or limited position & perception, it's basically my reaction to god

God is directing a worldwide educational program, using His people to plea to the hearts of men to come and really learn about Him and His purpose before the time He is allowing for this purpose ends.

Those who accept that invitation come to know the reasons why evil rules the earth, and they receive from Him the power to become different, to be separate of the world, it's divisions and hatred.

Then, after that time comes to an end, His presence and might will become far more evident.

I said rollover and he did, brought a tear to my eye...

Well, He has given me eyes to see a beautiful sunrise in the morning when I go to work in the morning or see the beautiful creations in the heavens the stars and the galaxies, even more numerous than all the grains of sand in all the beaches on this planet..., the mighty works of His hands., ears to hear a beautiful melody, like any hymn or a celtic/irish folksong or even a lovely secular musical piece that stirrs one's heart.

He has given me hands to touch, feel, to hug someone whos feeling down, to give him strength, to feel the touch of a furry liitle puppy or a kitten or even a woman's hand or feel her heart beating.

He has given a sense of smell, the cool refreshing smell of an afternoon shower or the aroma of flowers of a nieghbour's garden.

He has given me the gift to taste the sweet taste of a bartlett pear or an apple.

He has certainly given me the gift of daily breath, so I may continue to enjoy all the other gifts.

He has also given my mother's voice back when she lost it during her bout with cancer. He has guided the hands of a skilled surgeon who saved the life of a fellow brethern from a terrible life-threatening disease.

I can certanly give you more but I believe these few examples will suffice.

I think D D that you would apprieciate God a little more, if you begin to look at the positive tings in your life and in your loved ones...

Think about your family, your folks, loved ones and friends and mates you have and you might find that God is not as bad as you might believed.

Maijin, I suggest you clean up your posts or else you might get banned. I can understand you're upset and you do make some good points, but tone it down a bit if you can--if you want to continue to post here, and that's a big IF of course.

Just a suggestion.

to a personal god I have none,
But to a god of the awesome machinery of nature is wonder and a genuine happy feeling of being apart of this amazing cosmos

Sorry juicy juice. I was drunk as p!ss and watching Deadwood. We've all been there, perhaps. I guess I am just grateful the parties I intended to attack did not grace their eyes upon my tawdry post. Shame took me upon waking and I am glad to see my transgressions barred from posterity.

“Who has woe? Who has uneasiness? Who has contentions? Who has concern? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has dullness of eyes? Those staying a long time with the wine, those coming in to search out mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it exhibits a red color, when it gives off its sparkle in the cup [when the wine looks unduly attractive, sparkling], when it goes with a slickness [when it slides down the throat too easily]. At its end it bites just like a serpent, and it secretes poison just like a viper [it can make one sick physically (for example, causing cirrhosis of the liver) and mentally (producing delirium tremens), and it can actually kill]. Your own eyes will see strange things [the alcohol acts on the control centers of the brain, repressing them; attitudes normally repressed come to the fore; hallucinations appear; gaps in memory are filled by the individual’s telling fantastic experiences in a most plausible way; the person exhibits uninhibited behavior], and your own heart will speak perverse things [thoughts and desires normally suppressed will be expressed].” -Proverbs 23: 29 to 33

No problem, I just didn't want you to get in trouble seeing how your views enrichen our debates here.