Why I believe in a Higher Power.

It's simple logic really. I'm not saying i believe in any "specific" Higher Power (I.e. Christian God, Vishnu, w/e), just something greater than us.

My logic goes like this..

Anything Unconcious could no create something concious.
And to me it just makes sense. Why hasn't the tub of peanut butter sitting in my kitchen for 2 years sprouted new, concious life yet, if that's possible?

 

Because the peanut butter has no desire to create, it simply just is. Does the desire to create then imply some form of consciousness? What if we are a part of that which is greater, and are looking at "greater" all wrong....because when all is equal there can be no greater or worse than. No "value" to be subjected upon objects, lifeforms and existence as we know it.

One man's logic can be another man's definition of a fallacy.

 

Maybe the higher power you're talking about is the flying spaghetti monster.

 

Well, I think "desire" implies some form of consciousness. I mean, has your kitchen table ever asked you to buy it a car? And I don't think "greater" necessarily has to mean "superior to"...it could just mean "larger than yourself." I think it's admirable to live for something greater than (outside of) your own conscious awareness. People who only live for themselves tend to be known as narcissists.

 

I have a higher power... REALLY, I have a bong I named higher power.

 

And justifiably so. Nothing makes me feel more like god than blasting off into space and listening to Frampton Comes Alive.

I always thought there must be some sort of energy that set the laws of science in motion. I'm not sure if I'd call it 'god' but some sort of energy. I think that's where consciousness comes from as well.

 

Because its only been there for 2 years... the earth was here for much longer than that. Dont get me wrong however, I also believe in a higher power for a different reason... I think nothing at all would exist if some higher power didnt create it. But the higher power itself is not a "thing" that you can see feel or touch, its just a spirit.

 

That's such a vague description though. Something higher? What is that, why even bother believing in something like that. There's already so much here in the real world, no need to try and think there's something more than what you can already see with your own two eyes.

I don't get why people have to believe in something higher, why? Focus on what's here, the world and universe is beautiful, just embrace it.

 

Most people think,
Great God will come from the skies,
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high.
But if you know what life is worth,
You will look for yours on earth:
And now you see the light,
You stand up for your rights. jah!

 

How do a bunch of minerals, fats, and proteins give you consciousness? The essential building blocks of YOU are the same found in the earth, yet you are "conscious". Is a sea sponge conscious? Is a rock conscious? A plant?

 

We don't know yet, and there's beauty in that mystery, it's a fascinating question, and I'll probably never know, but one day, perhaps, science will find out the answer, and when/if they do, it will be all the more rewarding to actually know how.

For now though, I'm not going to degrade that question by chalking it up to "god", that's just a cop out to me, it provides no answer, no comfort, just a filler answer till man knows better.

 

You don't think there's a point to life? You ever felt love? Divine love? Utter despair? Pain, happiness?

You think these are just evolutionary traits that allow us to simply better survive and reproduce?

 

See there it is, down playing reality, looking for something more. What's wrong with those emotions being in our genetic gene pool, why do they have to be gifts from a God? This is what I'm talking about, you can't see the beauty in real life, always looking for something else, something more. Biology is amazing, DNA, genes, it's all amazing, and we're constantly finding out and learning more about ourselves through it. They didn't have those answers 100 years ago, let alone back In bronze age middle east, why do you still believe what they do, we know better/more now.

But yes, in reality, they are just evolutionary traits, can you explain to me (seriously) what's wrong with that?

 

Im just playing devil's advocate.

I do appreciate the infinitely complex beauty of life. And accrediting to a higher power does not make anything less beautiful or unappreciated like most atheists believe. I can stare at water and ponder its niche in our existence for an entire day.

I never said anything is wrong with that. And I do believe they're parts of our gene pool. Nobody said they're magical gifts from some super power.

But what I'm saying. You just think that all of existence simply exists to "exist". That this whole universal setup is here "just because"? If we're here to simply reproduce, why isn't rape more accepted? What about social darwinism, shouldn't we be making our gene pool a prime candidate for human success into the future?

Do you think happiness and sadness are simply tools that allow us to better set up a mental paradigm of the world and adapt to it? Is love nothing but a bonding mechanism for mating?

I'm just playing devil's advocate like I said =}. But I am honestly curiously what you think the "point of life" is. Accident? Series of chemical reactions bound to happen within the context of infinity? Survival? Reach a goal?

 

I have thought this ever since I was a kid: the question "what is the meaning/point of life" has always been a stupid question to me. I've never once pondered what the point to life is, I just live, and exist, i think it's a vain, and in many ways, stupid question.

Again, in reality, yeah, I think it's all an accident that we're here, mutations, or if you want a brighter outlook, a miracle, but it's still pointless. I mean I'm glad we're all here, but life should be no worse just because it doesn't have a bigger meaning.

and on that note, what meaning does the existence of god give to life? we live, die, then live in heaven with him? that's not a meaning, it's just a process, religion or no religion, there's still no answer, and as such, not meaning. imo of course.

Like I said, ever since I was a kid, I've thought that was a meaningless question. lol, meaningless question about meaning.

 

Ohhh you're talking about Christianity. If that's your benchmark then I don't blame you for deciding it's all meaningless.

What if you experienced, say, a "supernatural state of consciousness". Such as spontaneously losing your sense of identity and erupting with pure bliss/happiness/love/peace/serenity? Or maybe a crazy "one with the universe" experience that was undeniably not a normal or drug-induced state of conscious?

Would that not change your understanding of humans? Our potential, our generally unseen possibilities, etc.? Would you not think differently about how you see life?

 

I don't understand what you mean.

 

Well many atheists become atheists because many of their arguments against God are based on the Christian faith's beliefs. And it saddens me that many people turn that way because Christianity is bunk.

But yah. For example, lets say u were "meditating" and all of a sudden you have this spontaneous conscious experience. Your body goes into a sudden uncontrollable seizure, and all you experience is pure ecstasy, bliss, overwhelming peace, joy, serenity throughout your entire mind and body. You know how people in movies get all "lovely dovey" when they fall in love? What if you were like this for days because of this spontaneous supernatural experience? And if you learned how to "control" it you could experience that during any meditation session you wanted?

Would that not change your views on life at all? About secret potentials of the human mind, how you view life, etc.? Anything? Would your understanding of life or of humanity be any different>

 

Yeah obviously, what's that got to do with religion or god though?

 

I used to be just like you until I've had one of these experiences. Then I researched the experience, and found religion documents describing this experience that I had, EXACTLY. I mean body sensation to sensation, what you have to focus on with your mind, everything.

I used to be hardcore "atheist" / borderline agnostic. Read up on tons of Christian Apologetics, logic and reasoning over flippy emotions, objectivism, all that. It all changed after one night.

I'm just saying that there's more to life than you may understand. Like a prepubescent child who can't possibly understand an orgasm or romantic love.