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January 1st, 2012
03:00 PM ET
15 faith-based predictions for 2012To ring in the New Year, CNN's Belief Blog asked experts in religion, faith leaders, and a secular humanist about how the forces of faith and faithlessness will shape the world in 2012. Here's what they told us: 1. The Republican Party will tap Mitt Romney as its presidential nominee, and America will finally have its "Mormon moment." As evangelicals try to figure out whether they can support a president who practices Mormonism, the rest of us will try to figure out whether Mormonism is a cult, a form of Christianity, or something in between. Meanwhile, visitors to Marriott hotels will finally crack open some of those nightstand copies of The Book of Mormon. 2. Despite all of the lessons that could have been learned from Y2K and Harold Camping, people will still rally around the idea that apocalyptic events are on the calendar for 2012. Some will turn to the end-date of the 5125-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar (closely associated with the Maya civilization) and a handful of folks believe cataclysmic events are awaiting on December 21, 2012. But the dates with will pass with little fanfare — except for those profiting from the sale of gold coins, generators, and dried food that you'd probably rather want to die than eat. 3. Continuing revolutions across the Arab world will raise alarming questions about the fate of the remaining Christians in the region, and will put the issue of religious persecution squarely on the political agenda. Sizable Christian populations now survive in only two Arab countries, Egypt and Syria, both of which could soon be under Islamist rule. At a minimum, expect to see inter-faith violence on the ground. In a worst case scenario, Arab Christians could face large scale persecution, forcing millions to seek new homes overseas. Watch too for religious persecution to be an emotive issue in the U.S. presidential race. 4. The year will see an increase in the number of people "coming out" as nonbelievers. Major events like the Reason Rally in March will be a catalyst for more people to publicly declare their secular worldview. The statements of popular celebrities George Takei and Ricky Gervais as atheists in 2011 are just the tip of the iceberg. 5. "All-American Muslim" will become a bigger hit than "Jersey Shore" ever was. Obsessed fans worldwide, regardless of gender, will begin rocking sassy colorful hijab (veil) and converting en masse. Tim Tebow will choose to fast in solidarity with Muslim football players and Tebowing will be replaced by Teprostrating. President Obama will jump on the bandwagon and replace VP Joe Biden with Keith Ellison as his running mate, guaranteeing his re-election in a landslide victory in November. Peace will reign on earth and pigs will have a new lease on life. 6. There's no question the worldview of most younger Christians already differs from previous generations regarding social justice, cultural engagement and politics. The next issue of probable divergence? The conflict in Israel and Palestine. The American church has largely purported just one theology about the modern state of Israel, but now questions are being asked - especially by younger Christians learning of persecution and human rights issues happening in the region - if the church should have a more active role in peacemaking. Is there a way for the Church to be pro-Israel, pro-Palestine and pro-peace? 7. Significant numbers of millennials (young people born in the 1980s and 1990s) will continue to walk away from socially conservative religious traditions. Bringing them back will be tough, especially for religious organizations deeply invested in brick-and-mortar and bureaucracy. Millennials who are facing the erosion of access to affordable, quality education and meaningful employment and who stand to inherit from their elders a great deal of debt and environmental destruction want to know why and how faith matters. 8. The year 2012 promises to be a time of great spiritual stirring in our nation. People are seeking both practical and spiritual answers to their problems. As a result, churches and media ministries that answer specific needs will grow in unprecedented numbers. We can expect to see the numbers of mega-churches and super mega-churches continue to grow. Culturally there will be marked return to helping the poor (both domestically and internationally) and political and social engagement by a younger/more racially diverse, evangelical people. 9. Sabbath becomes trendy! Fourth Commandment makes a comeback! Sabbath named Time’s person of the year! A new movement sweeps the country. They call themselves 24/6. Worn out by being tethered to the grid 24/7, sick of being accessible all hours of the day, inundated by updates, upgrades, and breaking news, Americans finally rebel, demanding, “We need a day off.” People all over the country go offline for 24 hours every week. The simple break from the frenetic pace results in lowered cholesterol rates, fewer speeding tickets, and a reduction in marital strife. Peace, tranquility and contentment spread like wildfire. 10. Women in the Middle East and around the world will rally in protest about the woman who was beaten, stomped on and stripped down to her blue bra (under her abaya) during a demonstration in Egypt. Women everywhere who have been oppressed by their religions will rise up, as they have already done in Egypt, to join "The Blue Bra Revolution." We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore. 11.“Occu-pew Church" – a movement away from counterfeit "Church-ianity," cult of personality and religion toward authentic grassroots personal faith, based on living and loving like Jesus. More churches will lose the moat dragon mentality, lower the drawbridge and dispatch members beyond the church service to church SERVICE, applying their faith in the community through volunteerism and outreach. A renewed global emphasis on prayer - especially for peace and reconciliation - as individuals and leaders recognize that personal spiritual peace in one's heart provides the only lasting foundation for physical peace among families, friends, neighbors - even nations 12. Hindu Americans will continue to become better advocates for themselves, particularly in the public policy arena. They will play a larger role in defining the manner in which Hinduism is represented in the media, academia, popular culture, and interfaith dialogue. The acknowledgment of the Hindu roots of yoga will continue to spread with more people seeing the connection. And the Hindu ethos of religious pluralism will take on a more prominent role in nurturing not only tolerance, but respect for and between the world's religions. 13. In 2012 the lines between the sacred and the profane will get even more blurry: Scientists will religiously maintain their search for the elusive God particle (they won't find it); evangelical sports superhero and Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow will continue to be both an inspiration to the faithful and an object of scorn to skeptics (he will be watching, not playing in, the Super Bowl); at least one well-known religious leader or leading religious politician will be brought down by a sex scandal (let's hope all our leaders have learned a lesson from former Rep. Anthony Weiner and stay away from sexting); and the "nones" - those who don't identify with one religion - will grow even more numerous and find religious meanings in unexpected places (what TV show will become this season's "Lost"?) 14. America’s evangelical community will have its hands full addressing both a presidential election and offering a biblical response to “end of days” Mayan prophecies surrounding 2012. With the economy emerging as the primary issue for the November election, America’s born-again community will have an opportunity to contextualize an alternative narrative to the polarizing elements from both the right and the left by reconciling the righteousness message of Billy Graham with the justice platform of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. By offering compassionate, truth-filled solutions and focusing on the message of grace, love, reconciliation and healing, evangelicals will demonstrate that the greatest agenda stems neither from the donkey nor the elephant but rather from the lamb. 15. We are seeing the divide between younger generation evangelicals and older generation (baby boom and older) get wider every year both theologically and culturally (lifestyle). 2012 promises to widen the gap even more with Gen X and younger evangelicals having trouble understanding why the traditional lines make sense and/or just outright rejecting those lines. |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Interesting article about proof of a soul:
http://www.snopes.com/religion/soulweight.asp
And b-o-g-u-s.
Not interesting. Totally ridiculous. His measurement was in significant numbers, which scales of that day could not possibly measure. Do you even know what his actual final number really was. When you see it, you WILL laugh. So souls are "material" now ? That's not what ANY theologian I've ever read says...and BTW, a very slippery slope. His sample size was not statistically valid. The causal link from "humans loose weight at the moment of death", (if indeed that is even true), to "the ONLY explanation is the soul departs" has not been established, and the legions of other possible causes have not been ruled out. A perfect example why we are in such a pickle these days. No critical thinking.
These are interesting comments. A great blog site is healthyhappychristians.com Check it out.
Another poster had a better site to look at. This one: http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Prayer changes things
Blessings and miracles proceed from prayer
Earnest prayer is of great value
Prayer has changed the direction of human history
Prayer involves listening to the voice of God
Pray without ceasing in 2012
2 hands working does more than thousands clasp in prayer.
BNB42: wonderful saying. I'll rememer it.
BNB42: wonderful saying. I'll remember it.
BNB42
Can you prove it?
Sure... You pray for a new car and I'll go out and work earn money and buy a new car....
Who get's their car first?
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord does not work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.
I have personally seen prayer provide many cars, usually instantly, sometimes before the need arose,always with the grace of God.Doesn't that negate your "proof"?
Post by 'just wondering' is an Unrepresentative Sample fallacy.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/
I'll still be driving the answer to prayer. This is literally true.
Prayer is a way for an individual to feel attached to a higher being. If it really worked, Earths population would be much higher. What is the first thing that happens upon someone experiencing bad health? Prayer chains are invented. What is requested during this prayer chain? For the stricken to survive and become well. If the person doesn't make it, the prayer was not answered.
@Just Wondering
I have personally seen prayer provide many cars, usually instantly, sometimes before the need arose,always with the grace of God.Doesn't that negate your "proof"?
Nope... just makes you sound stup.d.
There was a sunrise this morning. I stubbed my toe after sunrise. Therefore sunrise caused me to stub my toe.
If you're supposed to be praying without ceasing, Atheism, why are you busy typing on a blog?
God is a jealous god and his people need to fear and love him.
To fear and love someone at the same time makes a person schizophrenic.
I teach my children to never get in a relationship like that.
Jesus said to allow the little children to come to him and not to forbid them because little children are what the Kingdom of Heaven is all about.
A lot of priests seem to like it when kids take that bait.
Anyone who mistakes the Lord Jesus Christ for one who would harm a child is one not worthy of the life God gave him.
Jesus said if anyone harms one of these little ones it would be better if he had a millstone tied around his neck and be cast into the sea.
Untruth, then your god better have killed himself, after all those innocent kids he caused to suffer and die, when he wiped out whole civilizations. At least, that's what your babble says he did.
Seriously, your whole Christian religion is bogus. Get a life and get with the last century, at least.
Sid you write as one without understanding and probably one who will never gain understanding . It would be therefore futile to reply to youwith any measure of common sense.
@AIT: The 'little ones' have been harmed more through religion than not. And, they continue to be harmed. Little ones are completely innocent until humanity deems it necessary to fill their little heads with nonsense.
I'm still stuck on this one.....
Why would 'god' give little children incurable cancers?
"Many children in the United States . . . are severely psychologically, physically, and se-xually traumatized by angry, sadistic parents or other adults . . . The vast majority of [these] were abused by Christians.""Nothing is more simple than 'the devil made them do it' . . . Especially for those raised to religiously believe so, Satanism offers an explanation as to why 'good' people do bad things [and may help to 'explain' bizarre and compulsive se-xual urges . . . The fact is that far more crime and child abuse has been committed by zealots in the name of god, Jesus and Mohammed than has ever been committed in the name of Satan
–Kenneth V Lanning FBI expert on "satanic, occult and ritualistic crime".
The power of god has given men the ability to realize that he does not exist.
You are more to be pitied than listened to then.
Thanks for including the Reason Rally in this
U have to be crazy to be an atheist, like the Jewish Talmud says which normal person would believe that a simple table was created by itself and yet u have atheists that believe that this magnificent world and all the millions of galaxies and the complex human body was created by itself.
Last I checked, most tables are man made. It is true that humans, organisms and any other living thing is a magnificent truth to behold. There is a simple beauty and elegance all over the universe. It is a stretch to believe that "someone" created it all. After all why would a rational "God" place the party district right next to the city district? Evolution is a poor designer sometimes.
Last I checked, most tables are man made. It is true that humans, organisms and any other living thing is a magnificent truth to behold. There are many simple beauties all over the universe. It is a stretch to believe that "someone" created it all. After all why would a rational "God" place the party district right next to the sewer district? Evolution is a poor designer sometimes.
That's where your anthropomorphized God(s) come into the picture ... no one knows how or if the universe started. So what's "crazier", admitting you don't know or making up an omnipotent humanoid being to make yourself feel better?
Who created god?
Boisepoet, man created all the gods, but I suspect you know that.
Religion is just one area where people will never agree 100% on any issues. I cannot wrap my brain around why people try to cram their religious "truths" down anyone else's throat. In the U.S. we are free to choose who, what, where and when we worship. We are lucky. Now, if we could all just agree to disagree and move on with our lives I think we may actually see some progress in this country.
@John, here is a photograph of Abraham Lincoln: http://www.visitingdc.com/images/abraham-lincoln-picture.jpg (You can google more... there are tons of photos of him.)
Here is a list our founding fathers which you can click off of to find living descendents as well as grave sites, where their houses still stand, books they've written, etc., : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States (If you ever watched the TV show Heroes, the guy who plays the character Noah Bennett is a direct descendent of Ben Franklin.)
Sorry Kendra, this is meant for another post.
Please provide evidence that a god or gods exist.
Faith is defined as belief without proof or evidence.
"Religious faith not only lacks evidence, its independence from evidence is its pride and joy, shouted from the rooftops."
Richard Dawkins
In our daily lives, what (other than God) do we believe in totally on faith? The answer for most rational people is nothing. Once that person realizes that the belief is totally unsubstantiated, they usually jettison the belief.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusion
A delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence ...
I don't believe most people are delusional ... they're just afraid to admit they don't really believe this stuff.
Shhhh!!!!!
You are gonna scare all the fundies away..........
please provide evidence that abraham linclon exited please provide evidence that the founding fathers existed? the answer is that every generation millions of people took it as a fact that they existed so miiliions of people witnessed god coming down to give the torah to millions of jewish people and everybody accepted that as truth.
@john: Please do not answer a question with a question.
Please provide any verifiable evidence that your god exists. Also, I think you might want to do a little fact checking on your Torah statement.......
@John, here is a photograph of Abraham Lincoln: http://www.visitingdc.com/images/abraham-lincoln-picture.jpg (You can google more... there are tons of photos of him.)
Here is a list our founding fathers which you can click off of to find living descendents as well as grave sites, where their houses still stand, books they've written, etc., : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States (If you ever watched the TV show Heroes, the guy who plays the character Noah Bennett is a direct descendent of Ben Franklin.)
I hope Feinberg realizes that Y2K wasn't a myth. It took teams of people to correct a potentiially serious problem. (If she just ment the change from one century to the next and all the ill tidings that seems to stir, never mind.)
הנינג'ה חרב
Sum people exist for their friends, but when the steam starts the vapors also begin. Do you think your friends will rescue you? I have seen friends run even after the rain had ceased. A true friend is like a rock planted deep in an ocean floor. Live and explore for your creator with all means as necessary, don't give up or loose hope for the bad times will come. Have passion of true faith to produce real hope. Understand all frequencies, insert them in your mind. All molecules contained in your body, discover and awaken them and remember them before the fog sets in! Humans have invented many things, like a human torch but who can understand the torch of God, which works in mysteries ways. Who is able to envision it and not get sightless. We have a brain but don't perceive the works of it's power and the hearts of Lions but who can perceive it's abilities and engineering, very complex to understand. Don't let the media and friends rob you and bombard you with empty results, live for yourself, spend time alone, understand yourself first, before you try to understand a program. Don't be distracted from your mission, don't live a blinded life. A blind person is not able to see but is able lead himself well beyond one who is able to see.
Live your life as a blind person, because you would be searching for the Lord.
Copyright Finding Myself:
2012-V-1-1
So let me get this straight GOD can create a universe, Fusion, Black Holes, countless galaxies, Time And Space
BUT here on earth he can just part seas and overpopulate a boat with animals ? get Adam and Eves children
to perform incest to populate the earth ? ( I guess god didn't know about genetics back then ) and make people goto a building pay money, wear robes, pray and light candles ?
Seems like Santa Clause for adults to me
You are incorrect. Santa and God are not equals. Santa is much better for the economy.
GOD is a alien and we are his experiments. We were taught about the course to take for peace and happiness many thousands of years ago (Incas, Mayans, Egyptians, Jews) we simply screwed it all up. Makes a lot more sense then the fairy tale book that got all distorted to hell.
Wait a minute are you saying Santa Clause ISN'T real?
You may have missed the memo regarding Noah's Ark–
UPDATE: Animal, insect, and plant life (every species) was accommodated. The more lethal bunch (spiders, snakes, bears, etc.) were secured within ceramic jars and cages. They required no food because they entered into a cryonic state due to a massive temperature drop. This ensured they lived through the 'thin air' zone and could be reanimated by God upon landing.
Unfortunately, I missed the rest of the story because I had to excuse myself to go laugh hysterically.
wickedwackymainer – ALL of the Gods were Aliens. The evidence is in their own texts! Our ancestors just interpreted them as supernatural or magical. As Arthur C. Clarke has said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
@NoMoreLabels, You forgot the part where Noah somehow dislodged his boat from the top of the mountain and then spent the rest of his life transporting all of the animals back to their places of origin. This required his to install and ice-breaker on the front of his ark to get through the Antarctic ice to return the penguins. He also spent time in Australia returning the kangaroos and wombats while making lifetime friends with the Aborigines. You won't find this in the bible, but there was a special, Noah's Great Adventures addendum that wasn't added to the final bible. It's right after he got drunk and slept with his daughter. Hey... the earth isn't going to populate itself!
Have you people ever taken into consideration that events in the book of Revelations in the Bible are beginning to happen. I know some of you are going to say "prove it" or "give an example"... but that isn't my job to pursue your answers, because I already have mine. If you want proof, read the Bible yourself and research it instead of persecuting Christians and questioning us and being ignorant people. Non Christians around the world try to make people like me look crazy, but can I ask you something? What IS crazy? Preaching the truth? Trying to bring people to the light of our Father, Jesus? Is it so crazy to live a righteous life helping others and doing good deeds. It seems as if the world thinks that that is crazy. Let me ask you Non Christians something else. Are you truly happy with your life? Do you ever think that it would kinda suck to just die and rest in the ground for all eternity? Sound like fun to anybody? And when it comes to other religions, you gotta use some logic and think. Guess what? NEWS FLASH! The Bible was written FIRST before the Quran and the Bible warns of false prophets ahead of time, such as Mohammed. The Quran even says that the teachings of the Bible are correct, yet the Quran contradicts itself by teaching things that go COMPLETELY and DIRECTLY AGAINST the Bible. C'mon people, is it really that hard to figure out? The Holy Bible even warns of Christian persecution throughout the ages of the world, especially in the End Times. I know, many people will think I'm crazy, but that just strengthens my faith, because it shows how accurate the Bible really is. It is 100% accurate. C'mon ladies and gentlemen, think. Just think.
You just made a claim that some events in revelations are happening, and then you say it is not your job to prove the claim? Well I say the speghetti monster is real and is watching you right now. However it is not my job to prove it to anybody.
Are you saying that "faith" is a path to "truth"?
Oh no – another deluded zealot/extremist who has all the answers in his magic book handed down by his imaginary friend in the sky and claims he has the truth. Religion has poisoned everything in the past and will continue to do so as long as there are nuts who believe that their's is the righteous and holy path. If Jesus really healed a blind man why didn't he just heal blindness? Amputees anyone? Anyone seen the power of prayer grow a new limb for someone? I could go on....
I think you need to adjust your medication. I also think you need professional help with your delusions.
We don't need to "try to make people like you look crazy". Frankly, you just took care of that yourself. The fact that you seemingly don't even realize how crazy your post makes you sound is truly difficult for me to understand. Try to step back and read what you wrote objectively. If you still don't see how crazy you sound, I'm afraid explaining the logic of why your post is ridiculous would be a waste of our time.
Your are not crazy, you are searching. I also question why are we floating in space, I mean we rotate around a Sun and a Moon rotates around the Earth and in turn rotates within itself just to give us a minute. So No you are not crazy. Keep studying and don't loose hope. Let those want understanding search and those who need help ask. Do your part and wait for results.
First off, both Islam and Christianity are pretty new to the world of religion, so don't be so proud. Furthermore, I wouldn't go around claiming logic when in all truthfulness, religion is pretty damn illogical considering there's the same amount of proof for a dancing gorilla on the dark side of Pluto. As is preaching "truth" of a faith based religion.
This idea that Christians are being persecuted simply because for the first time in your life you're being forced to recognize there are other people of other faiths who deserve the same respect as you do is ridiculous.
And yeah, as a non-believer I'm quite happy. Thanks.
P.S. Other people don't consider you crazy because you're a Christian. We consider you crazy because ..well ..=)
The bible is a book of Hatred. It pushes its readers to berate others. As for revelations coming to pass: Anyone can walk into a library, pull a random fictional book from the shelves, and apply its events to today.
Oh,..... well get lost. BTW, They have the answer to why you are "floating" in space. If you decide to advance to 3rd grade, you may find your answer. But I doubt it. Happy Ground Hog Day in the 2nd Grade.
I would like to add that there have been plenty of divination techniques that by far predate the bible. The Chinese used to read cracks in a turtle's shell to determine the outcome of war some 3k years before christ was said to be born. They also used a complex system of reading cycles and recorded it as the I Ching. Let us not forget the fortune cookie, which is the modern form of divination. People have been predicting the future for over 5k years. People see what they want to see. People believe what they want to believe. They will draw parallels and assumptions of truth where none exist. This is the basic psychological structure of a human being. Revelation talks about scorpion beasts coming from the earth and modern man says, oh, well obviously that's a tank. Revelation talks about a meteorite poisoning the water supply by the name of "wormwood" and modern man says, well obviously that's a rocket weapon of some kind. People perceive what they expect to find. Ask any magician or mentalist.
I got one that beats them all. What if the Mayan calendar which ends 12/21/2012 does not represent the end of the world but instead represents the coming of GOD to visit and REBOOT our screwed up society/religion/governments. So that is my crazy prediction. Now that would be cool if not for mankind but also to see all the fakes out there on the take for big $ in GODs name beg for mercy in shame. What a good year it would be...................imagine.
Yep, sounds very realistic. Uh-huh.
God(s) is/are extraterrestrials. Ancient Alien theory explains more of theology than the supernatural .. and makes more sense to boot!
wickedwackymainer see "Twilight of the Gods" or "Chariots of the Gods" by Erich Von Daniken
First you would have to prove god exists, but you can't all you have is your faith and faith is not evidence, not in 2012! If you want to reboot something – try your own belief system – you'd be surprised how much religion has divided the brothers and sister that inhabit this world.
Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). Not saying that it couldn't happen, but...I wouldn't put too much stock in it.
Hey, what if the guy carving the Mayian Calander just ran out of space and said ..."that's good enough ... Somebody will finish it later..."
According to the candidates themselves, God told Herman Cain, Michele Bachman and Rick Perry to run for President. Assuming that means He wants them to win as well, it looks like is about to strike out 0 for 3 here. Cain dropped out, and Bachmann and Perry are scraping the bottom of most polls.
Great point. Maybe it is time to keep GOD out of politics? I would think a true believer would not want GODs name associated with the show of weakness and indecision displayed by these jabronies
Eric....
When God tells people to do things that doesn't always mean that they will have the outcome as expected. What I am saying is, if God told them to run for president, they would probably think that means that they are going to win, but that is not necessarily true, especially since they cant all win presidency. They may win in something else though. Running for president may show them how America thinks, and, when or if they lose and dont become president, they can change america in other ways. God telling them to run for president doesn't at all necessarily mean that they win, but it can show them other ways in which they can help people. Simple, yet complicated. Besides, God may or may have not told them to run for president, just because they claim that doesnt make it true. Only God knows for sure.
Anti Illuminati –
So lets see....Herman's reason to run was really to expose to the country and his wife that he is a lying cheating psychopath
Perry's must have been to show the world that the Texas governor is on drugs and has a very low IQ
and then Michelle's purpose is to expose her gay husband and his fake reform of changing the way GOD made him.
All 3 are also selling newly released books......hmmmm maybe all this GOD stuff is really just trying to profit using GODs name? SHAMEFULL!!!
Well, how can we "assume" He wanted all three of them to win? Just wondering...
Rick Perry says he talks to God everyday and the conservatives hove him for it.
*IF* he were to say he talks to god through a hair dryer they would think he was crazy.
I fail to see how adding a hair dryer makes it any more/less crazy.
For those that think that God is a myth.
Is there someone in your life that's passed away that you loved very much? Yes?
Prove it.
I have the home movies 🙂
I'm sure there's a death certificate somewhere. Plus, you know, the body being in the grave and all.
c'mon Rick .. waaaay too easy.
I can prove no-one really believes it
Heaven is the end goal of life and a paradise right ?
if everyone believed that 100% they would be happy when someone died, nor would they fear death themselves
( well i guess some psychos believe that way and flew into a building, or drank the wrong fruit juice or stockpile guns )
My parents ashes are in my closet.
Not getting what your point is? Should birth be proven also and after that is proven.... still what is your point???
Better yet Rick – prove that you exist. Where do start and end? As any pre-schooler will tell you the only thing that exists and is in front of us – is the present moment, the rest is concepts, language and maps that we rely on to make sense of our day to day lives. Fortunately, some of us have the sanity to see the failings of believing in an imaginary friend, that can't be proven. We have witnessed the countless act of carnage exacted on our fellow human beings in the name of god, be it christian, muslim, greek, roman etc. I don't know why religious people are so arrogant as to ask us to prove or disprove something they believe in. Use science – prove your god exists and the best of luck with that. I truly don't think you will succeed.
Wow, Rick. That's an amazingly stupid challenge. I have pictures, living witnesses, legal docu.ments and physical evidence to support the existence of my dead loved ones, in this case my parents.
The government issued them Social Security numbers, my father served in the Navy, so his records are in their data base. My father also taught, so there are hundreds, if not thousands of students who can attest to his existence. My mother was active in several organizations and interacted with the public for her job. She also attended a church. Every one of the people she dealt with with any regularity is a witness to her existence.
That's not even mentioning the ample DNA evidence.
That's how I prove the existence of my dead loved ones. What evidence do you have for your god?
“For those that think that God is a myth. Is there someone in your life that's passed away that you loved very much? Yes? Prove it.
There is no reason to try and prove it because unlike Christians I’m not trying to tell anyone what they should do based on that relationship.
No demands for ending stymcell research, or ban abortion or force prayer in schools.
This is why people demand you provide proof of your god, because you insist the he wants us to do some pretty strange things.
Also unlike Christians, I don’t care if you believe me or not
Why should I have to prove anything to you or anyone else?
I am a rational person and educated as well. I also believe in several things I can't see or touch. GOD happens to be one of them. I am no better than anybody and that's why I need GOD and prayer to help me be a better person. I constantly hear there is no proof but if my life I have plenty of proof. GOD has saved me from myself and has made a huge difference in my life. I refuse to be told that I am stupid for believing. As for the athhiests I respect your view that GOD is not real but I remind you that you are in the vast minority. 96% of people on this planet believe so stop telling us that we are dellusional. I don't say that you are dillusional for not believing.
BTW- even the professional community acknowledges the legitimacy of belief in spirituality. In other words, belief in spirituality cannot be used to diagnose mental illness, incapacity or decreased mental ablity so try as you might, all of the insults are a function of their own limited understanding.
Root post by Brian includes a thinly veiled version of the ad populum fallacy.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/
Believing in a God is not delusional, it's a choice. If that choice makes you feel good then it's a good thing, but it doesn't make it fact. Go ahead & choose to believe, just don't tell everyone else they should. I believe that you saved yourself from you, no God(s) needed.
As for your 96% stat, It's my experience that of those 96% the vast majority do not actually believe .. they're just afraid not to or admit that they don't & even if it were a majority, that still doesn't make it real .. remember, the majority used to think the world was flat too!
Go ahead and tell me my ideas are delusional. I'm not afraid to discuss them because I can defend them. Those that say things like "I don't question your beliefs so don't question mine" show a defensive behavior because they know their beliefs are without any foundation. They know their beliefs are really just disguised hopes.
The defensive behavior is because on virtually every one of these stories, there are those that use the same tired insults- "stupid", "delusional", "ignorant" etc. Then, when someone tries to present their own belief system, they are called "nuts" or worse. The idea of tolerance for religious beliefs is called "religious freedom" and something, as I recall, that this country used to be proud of.
You do realize real intelligence is a minority. so the masses will always believe in weird things. example at one time talking about the world being flat was a common thought! Smarter people where burned for saying other wise.
At one time the masses thought the sun was a god.
and the list goes on thru the history of man.
Just like now, lighting candles and praying, it might make you feel better about dying one day, but it in NO way
proves the existence of a GOD that can create a universe but then is reduced to simple tricks that where in the mindset
of the time the bible was written ( imagine that ).
I think some of those labels "stupid", "delusional", "ignorant" would disappear if there only existed rational arguments for these incredable claims.
"ad populum fallacy." I usually refer to it as the Budweiser argument. Budweiser is the #1 beer, therefore it must be the best beer. Let's not forget that NOT being a believer in many parts of the world is a potential death sentence. Being able to profess non-belief without severe consequences (and even in the US there are consequences, good luck being elected to a high office as an openly atheist person) is a modern phenomena.
Which God, Brian? And if you had been born and raised in a part of the world that believes another god, wouldn't you be believing that that one had provided you certain proofs and saved your life according to that god's madates? Real proof is undeniable; hence, all the religious people who disagree on the nature of god or who it is agree on the rules of mathematics. You're not stupid for believing in god because its a popular opinion in the world today. You're stupid if you believe that your god is worthy of everyone's devotion because if he really was, he'd do something to make himself as reliable as the principles of maths. In such a scenario, all god believers would agree on the nature of god, though some would know more and some would know less–just as in maths.
The percentage of people believing a certain idea has no bearing on that idea's validity. Until very recently, germs were unknown and therefore "not believed in" by 100% of the population; yet germs were "true" before anybody believed in them.
Haters, haters, haters.
Just a note from my own experiences. I also was saved from myself. But not from some divine power but through experience. Non believers have their growing pains as well. Are you sure "God" played a role or are you just maturing?
@Brian
Olive leaf here.
Let's discuss the proof you have that god exists. You should be excited about it because proof is objective, and out there for everyone to helplessly follow. So your proof could actually change the world. You have the opportunity to convert billions. What are you waiting for ???
You keep thinking that JOM and stop questioning me on what I believe.
That's a truly ignorant statement go4it. The power of prayer helped me in my life. You can disagree ridicule me all you want. I don't have the answers. I'm just telling you it worked for me.
I was just asking a question. No hate was behind it. I do not believe you are a rational person as you stated. Not because of your belief, but rather that your belief cannot be questioned. You are just going to believe it no questions asked or wanted. That is not a rational person.
For crying out loud Brian, you did say you have proof of god. It's right there. Do you or don't you.
Brian:
Of the 96% you speak of what percentage believes in the same god?
You want proof. When all 30 neonatologists said that my twin boys had 0% chance of living and they said all I had left was prayer and they lived. The respose from all the MD's. Sometimes GOD takes over. We have no scientific, rational explanation for the survival or your children. JERKS!!
Hi Brian
I suspect that any evidence that God is and God is active in the lives of ordinary people would be rejected by the same people who demand such evidence.
Brian, I'm very glad for you and your twins. However your last post really simply says that your definition of God is: I don't have an answer so we call it God.
Well for that "proof" to be more convincing I would suggest next time (tongue in cheek) only pray for one of the twins. There must be a way to verify which one was being prayed for. Repeat this for every 0% survival twins situation hundreds of time and then crunch the data to see if your "hypothesis" is correct.
JOM, That comment just proves how much of a disgusting person you are. Shame on you.
Sorry you were offended Brian. I did state it was tongue in cheek. I am glad your twins survived. I was simply pointing out that your proof falls far short as evidence. Maybe they would have survived without the prayer. How can you be certain ?
By the way. Being a "Jerk" or a "disgusting person" does not disqualify an argument.
Sorry JOM. I ddn't mean to attack you. There is no proof and that's why it is called faith. Maybe someday something will happen that you can't explain. That you don't deserve. Some call it luck, I don't. When my mother passed I used those same prayers but she diedt anyways. It was here time but I still choose to believe. It's my choice.
Recent posts by Brian include the Non Causa Pro Causa fallacy, a common form of the Appeal to Ignorance fallacy, and the Ad Hominem fallacy.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/
The majority of the people on this planet also believed the world was flat until they learned differently. Belief is not the same thing as truth, but if you need a crutch to be a good person, then by all means use that crutch.
99.9 % believed the Earth was flat.
Blah, blah, blah. I would prefer to hear predictions from genuine Psychics.
If it weren't for the fact that CNN derives profit from the belief blog through the controversy it stirs they would be embarrased by it's mere existence on a news site. Web hits = advertising dollars, so don't dilute yourselves into thinking that having this blog gives religion legitimacy. At least we get something out of it .. the religious get to bake brownie points for God & Atheists get to vent frustration.
Excellent point. So everyone here is just part of the pathetic masses worshiping the great god, Greed. I also agree it is an embarassement and would think CNN could find another way to generate revenue.
Looks more like a wish list.
I agree. This is a rather silly article.