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[Poll]

God or ET--which is more likely to exist?

God

38% (14)

extraterrestrials

61% (22)

Total Votes : 36

(last vote on : 3/8/2006 7:37:38 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

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RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 5:20:57 PM

Lordandmaster

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Well, I understand what you mean, but don't exactly agree. Existence or non-existence is not predicated on whether or not it can be proved, nor does existence have to be limited to existence in material form. In fact, saying that God is (merely) a matter of faith could be a way of asserting that he isn't real. Theists wouldn't accept that; they'd say (I assume) that he surely exists, but isn't of the same metaphysical substance as mankind.

I'm struck by the fact that the score right now is 12-8 in favor of ET, but God has had much more vocal supporters in the thread. It's still a small sample size, obviously, but I was expecting God to win the poll handily.

Oh, yeah, and for those who don't know, I'm a devout atheist.

quote:

ORIGINAL: fergus

God is a matter of faith and therefore not even under consideration of "exist" or "does not exist"

such language is set in the head/conscious relam of facts. God is not a fact to be proven true, OR disporven as false .... it is simply not part of that world of black/whit -right/wrong.

so, aliens are more likely to "exist" as they are a matter of fact ... they either are there, or not there.

fergus

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Post #: 21

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 5:57:02 PM

KatyLied

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Well this is bound to turn into a religious discussion, so I'll help it along. The thing that bothers me about religion is that many people need to believe in "punishment" and "hell" in order to be good people, in order to do the right thing.

There are a few things taken from religion that I do like...

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. It's a good, general code of conduct.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.... It's a good reminder that the time may not be right for what you want in life.

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Post #: 22

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 6:39:29 PM

michaelGA

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i agree katy...and what is the deal of the term "God fearing"?

my question is: if God loves us so much...why fear Him?

this don't make any sense to me. either on is true or the other...not both...IMHO

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Post #: 23

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 7:33:32 PM

IrishMist

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KatyLied

Well this is bound to turn into a religious discussion, so I'll help it along. The thing that bothers me about religion is that many people need to believe in "punishment" and "hell" in order to be good people, in order to do the right thing.

There are a few things taken from religion that I do like...

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. It's a good, general code of conduct.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.... It's a good reminder that the time may not be right for what you want in life.

Even though I always found religion to be too confining, there are also concepts that I have adopted to fit my life to date.

there is a higher power at work: whether you want to attribute a name to that higher power is your perogotive.

For ever good or bad you do, it will come back on you at sometime or another.

Reincarnation is possible, in ways that you could not possibly understand

that we can not dictate fate, only try and help it along

that hell is nothing more than what YOU determine it to be

and yes, I have been drinking tonight, and yes...I think I am looking for an argument...but that does not stop me from stating what I believe in anyway.

and also that I love you all. no matter what your beliefs

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Post #: 24

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 8:33:21 PM

Petruchio

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quote:

Maybe God and ET are one and the same...hmmm..

My thoughts exactly. Perhaps God IS an ET.

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Post #: 25

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 8:45:16 PM

Tapestry

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelGA

i agree katy...and what is the deal of the term "God fearing"?

my question is: if God loves us so much...why fear Him?

this don't make any sense to me. either on is true or the other...not both...IMHO

I agree! And I don't fear Him/Her
My God is love,
and like my Master, would never hurt me.
Neither one of them can always protect me from myself
and my own impulses, but both of them love me and
desire to keep me safe, even though it isn't always possible.
I also don't think we want to confuse man-made religion and rules with Spirituality and God.
But that's just my perspective.
ymmv

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Post #: 26

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 8:53:31 PM

Tapestry

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Petruchio

quote:

Maybe God and ET are one and the same...hmmm..

My thoughts exactly. Perhaps God IS an ET.

And why not?
God lives within each of us,
why not within ET too?
I think often times, the problem or stumbling block
is that we have this image of what God is, based on organized
and man-made religion, that teaches about being good (like Katylied said)
and if we don't we'll be punished.
So I think if we stopped referring to the creative force or higher power
as God, and referred to it as something else, it might be easier to understand
that this force or power is present within each one of us already!
We can tap into it whenever we like. And not to tell us we're doing something wrong
but to enrich our lives and help us be more loving and accepting of ourselves and others.

hmmm...no I actually haven't been drinking, but gosh maybe I should start...way too many philosophical and heart-felt posts tonight! Don't want people to get the wrong impression of me! ;)

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Post #: 27

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 8:58:03 PM

michaelGA

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quote:

God lives within each of us,

perhaps not all of us.

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Post #: 28

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 9:52:37 PM

Lordandmaster

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16-9 in favor of ET at this point. I'm genuinely surprised.

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Post #: 29

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 9:54:51 PM

michaelGA

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i'm not...to be quite honest

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Post #: 30

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 9:57:34 PM

veronicaofML

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quote:

God lives within each of us,

perhaps not all of us.
===========

yeah so far 3 of us are non believers that have voiced..
i luv it...the poll has more ET than god..
just like the beatles when john lennon said they were more important than god and he was right..
churches had the lowest attendance in decades at that time

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Post #: 31

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 10:00:50 PM

michaelGA

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for a non-profit organization, i think religion may rival prostitution in per-capita income...but are tax exempt...LOL

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Post #: 32

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/9/2006 10:51:27 PM

veronicaofML

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yeah
according to all the christian believers..only the rich get to their heaven==pass that plate one more time

since when does GOD need money?

its all trash talk..something they invented eons ago to control the people when there was a smaller population on this rock

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Post #: 33

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/10/2006 6:00:46 AM

Littlepita

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelGA

i agree katy...and what is the deal of the term "God fearing"?

my question is: if God loves us so much...why fear Him?

this don't make any sense to me. either on is true or the other...not both...IMHO

When fear is used in the Bible it doesn't always mean to be afraid. It means to respect and to be in awe of the majesty of God.

Much like I am with my Dom. I love him and I know he loves me. But that doesn't mean I can say or do what I want just because he loves me. I have to respect him and know that if I get out of line he will put me back in my place.

Or you can use a parent as an example. We love our kids unconditionally don't we? That doesn't mean we won't punish them if they get out of line. That is good parenting. Why would God treat his children any different?

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Post #: 34

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/10/2006 6:11:02 AM

michaelGA

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quote:

since when does GOD need money?

Like George Carlin has said, "He loves us...and he needs money. He's all seeing, all knowing and all powerful, just can't handle money"

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Post #: 35

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/10/2006 11:46:03 AM

Lordandmaster

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Well, I suppose it's time to explain why I did this poll. As you might have surmised, my answer is ET. Every scientist I know would choose extraterrestrials if the question is framed in this way.

This doesn't mean that they're right, of course; since we don't KNOW that there are any extraterrestrials (by which I mean, essentially, intelligent life forms on a planet other than Earth), no one can be said to be RIGHT. But it's a good indication of how certain people think. Considering the size of the universe, the number of planets in the universe, and the percentage of planets that could harbor life under the right circumstances, it seems, statistically speaking, nearly certain that there are extraterrestrials somewhere in the universe. A few people have tried calculating the likelihood; those sorts of exercises depend heavily on certain untestable assumptions, but basically it has to be way over 99%. Nothing we know about the universe makes much sense if there is no life anywhere other than Earth.

And I don't think it's a coincidence that most scientists are also atheists. There is a radically different way of thinking about the universe, one that I think is more commonplace in American culture, which places the existence of God at Step No. 1 and derives everything else from that first commitment (sometimes according to a peculiar American form of hypocrisy that perceives a divine purpose in anything that is beneficial to oneself--as in the Puritan idea that prosperity in this life is an indication of one's salvation in the next). That way of thinking isn't necessarily incompatible with the belief in extraterrestrials, but that view of the universe would still be coherent even if there were no extraterrestrials. It is quite possible, within that logic, for God to have created mankind and mankind only.

Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone for participating in the poll.

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Post #: 36

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 2/10/2006 1:39:19 PM

KatyLied

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I enjoyed the question you posed.

I've never believed that we are so special that we are the only beings, alone in the broad cosmos.. And I must admit that I've give ET's superior intelligence and mind-reading abilities. I guess it's not a far leap.....if you already think they exist, it's not a big jump to think they've gotta have it more together than we do.

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Post #: 37

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 3/6/2006 9:06:32 PM

RedRedWine

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God does. Simple.

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Post #: 38

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 3/6/2006 10:34:51 PM

RavenMuse

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The way most folks seem to think of god... personaly my vote goes to ET

But then what *I* see out there aint necessaraly what most folks see... but again most folks ain't exactly looking!

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Post #: 39

RE: God or ET--which is more likely to exist? - 3/7/2006 5:11:20 AM

MHOO314

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Interesting question--I believe it is more plausible that ET exists--given the ability to grasp the concept as a real see and touch being. (We see other planets, we have come through knowledge and study to accept the idea that we are possibly not the only derived beings in the universe). Now I do not say that I believe or do not believe in any evidence that has been presented thus far---as with all storyteling or the passing of knowledge from one to another, stories of sightings etc. can get warped, distorted, changed based on the political or emotional climate.

I do not believe in the existence of "god" as people define it--to have one all powerful being looking "down upon the earth"--I find impossible to grasp--however, I do acknowledge that once long ago, many differing prophets walked the earth, who were much admired and revered and ---as with all storyteling or the passing of knowledge from one to another, stories of sightings etc. got warped, distorted, changed based on the political or emotional climate.

And both of these "concepts" at one time or another have been and will be used to drive fear and hysteria in people based on the emotional and political climate of the time(s).

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Post #: 40

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