Now This Is A Scarey Thought - And Question
By terilee79720
@terilee79720 (3621)
United States
January 7, 2008 10:32am CST
After reading a few things earlier and deciding not to respond to their discussion, although it was interesting, I felt it would be better to leave my comment (on this subject) to myself. However, it raised a very scarey thought, one that I wanted to ask those who would seriously think about it.
What if - - - Someone of world renown published work that stated "Proof - There is no God"? Or, what if works were published and made known that Jesus was not who He said He was?
I'm not looking for first thoughts. I'm looking for how you think the world would be now, or how (and if) your life would be different if you read such a thing.
8 people like this
16 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Jan 08
I would not believe him. I believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God, and that HE came to Earth to save us from our sins. I would believe that such a man, if he were powerful enough, would make sure by destroying evidence found in Israel and in museums that Jesus existed, such as the document Augustus Caesar put out for them to take a census of Rome. in other words, I believe that such a man wanted to rewrite history.
So I would regard him as the one they said was the antichrist.
3 people like this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Thanks suspenseful. Do you think world views would change?
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
7 Jan 08
It's hard to say how the world would change. Obviously there are always going to be people whose beliefs won't change, no matter who says what. Even if someone of world renown published a book saying there was no God, or if works said Jesus wasn't who he said he was, there would still be that core of believers. Christianity might be less widespread though, which might make room for people of other religions to be more accepted... which might actually make my life easier. That isn't to say that I want someone to come out with something like this, just that it might have that side effect.
Since I'm already not a Christian, it wouldn't really have any effect on my personal beliefs. People have been writing books calling my religion and similar Pagan religions "cults" or suggesting "spiritual warfare" against us for a long time, and none of that affects my faith. *shrugs* I think if someone's faith could be destroyed by such things, they didn't have much of it in the first place.
2 people like this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
10 Jan 08
I was hesitant to even say that it might benefit me, because I don't want it to sound like I want anyone's faith to be talked about badly or "misproven", but I prize honesty too greatly not to be honest about my thoughts. While I do know some very good Christians, I also spent most of my early life being harmed by the Christians around me for not being one of them, from when I was a very young child. So it was something that came into my mind with this scenario.
You're right that a lot of people's lives would be thrown into turmoil... which is sad in itself to me. If any outside influence could affect a faith so seriously as that, it's sad to me that the people involved aren't stronger in their beliefs. Not because it matters to me what they believe, but because I know the strength my own faith has given me, and I can't imagine what my life would have been like without that faith.
It's interesting to me that when people set out to "disprove religion" they do tend to pick on Christianity and the other Ambrahamic religions. I wonder if Christianity did suffer a blow like this, would the doubters start pursuing non-monotheistic religions as well?
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
10 Jan 08
I guess any and all religions at one point or another have received criticism. I suppose it will always be that way.
I'm right - you're wrong and that's just the way it is.
That's the mindset of so many people I meet, no matter what the religion.
To the laughter, lol, either I'm extremely naive, or some people are just, well,,,,I don't know,,,,
It just left me completely speechless and that's not easy to do........
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Your right lecanis. If your faith can be so easily swayed, then it must not have been faith at all.
I wonder if having a faith or belief suffer like that would make room for any belief to flourish or if it would cause new religions to be born. I wonder if it would open doors to old religions or shut doors altogether.
While some beliefs might think they would prosper in the event something like this happened, I would think the majority of the world (who believe in God) would find their world and lives thrown into complete turmoil.
2 people like this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
9 Jan 08
i think if there was no God this world of ours would be a hot mess. I know that faith for most of us keeps us grounded and doing the right thing. i know that without The Faith of a God, there would be nothing but drama and as my brother loves to say, nothing but MADNESS!!!
1 person likes this
@Springlady (3986)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Hi terilee,
They can publish a book like that all they want. The Bible is God's Holy Word and it cannot be destroyed. So many have tried throughout the ages and failed every single time! God's Word is still the Best Seller, still changing lives and bringing hope to the world! God's Word will never die!
God bless!:)
2 people like this
@Springlady (3986)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I'm glad you are back! I hope things are going well for you!
God bless you:)
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
7 Jan 08
My sentiment exactly Springlady. I agree 100%.
It's been a long time since I've heard from you - but I was gone for about 6 months.
Looks like nothing has changed...
God's Blessing on you too.....
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
7 Jan 08
That is why I haven't run into you before terrilee, I have been a member here for 7 months..:)Welcome back...
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Your response literally left me speechless. I'm happy for you that your life and beliefs fit you so well. I can tell your response was a well thought out one.
1 person likes this
@Galena (9110)
•
7 Jan 08
I hope my tone in that didn't come across as offensive.
I just don't beleive in it, is all.
a bit like I don't beleive that Macdonalds is proper food, so people proving it's full of chemicals and rubbish and is bad for you doesn't rock the foundations of my world.
such revelations wouldn't change my view on the world.
that's all.
2 people like this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I understand Galena. No offense taken. I was taken aback that you would have answered such a question to begin with is all.
I didn't expect an answer from someone who doesn't believe in God. I would have expected the question would have received answers from people who had a belief in God. It just surprised me that people who don't believe in God or who are not Christian based would have bothered to answer such a question.
Please forgive me.
1 person likes this
@TravisE (440)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Whether, or not anything else exists, including God does not alter the fact that I am here. That fact has never changed, no matter what I have learned or unlearned in life. No information I have ever received, or mistake that has ever been cleared up has changed the simple knowledge that I exist one wit.
Personally this is proof enough for me that there is a God, but not in the way most people seem to mean by that.
And, as for Jesus, stories change over time. Just like the Buddha I believe that the legend of Jesus' life grew after he passed on. This was done for both good and bad reasons. Some wanted to use his presence to affirm their long held beliefs, some looked for ways to revitalize old stories, some wanted to leverage his fame for political and temporal power, some just went buck nuts piling on the miraculous. Under it all the simple words of his teachings still remain, and if nothing else at all I believe he was a being who got what it meant to be.
2 people like this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Insightful TravisE. The fact that I am here, like you, is enough for me to know what I think, feel and believe regarding this issue. My belief system (faith) is what I manage my way through life with. Thanks for your in-depth response to such a broad question.
2 people like this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
8 Jan 08
Well terilee you ask and i am going to tell you.First off i do not go by what is scientific, ok? i do not go by what man proves either,I go by what i feel deep inside my inner soul..I have felt the hand of God on my life, in my life and i would feel God rather i had ever read the Bible or not..I have knelt to pray and i have felt the warm touch of Gods devine spirit, and when he touched me i knew without anyone telling me that is was by far the mighty touch of Gods hands..So they could proof whatever they wanted ,they could even prove that the Bible was written by Santa claus is there was one, but I have felt the power of God in my life, and anything man could prove would not take away the feeling of his touch, the healing that he has given to me the warmth of his presence, so that is how I know that God is real, because i feel him in my Soul....
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
8 Jan 08
This has happened many times in recent History. The reason is, there is no proof either way. Nobody has ever proved that God or Jesus do exist. So when someone proves without a doubt that neither God or Jesus has ever existed, its like pulling the plug in the bathtub. The water simply goes down the drain.
So the world would not change one iota, and your life and mine would stay exactly the same.
Now isn't this a comforting thought?
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I think you said it perfectly, it would be scary. Some are kept accountable because of their beliefs, take that away, I don't think I would want to think about that..*shivers*
@EelKat (97)
• United States
8 Jan 08
I think that one of 2 things would happen: either wars would increase 10 fold or wars would vanish all together. Why? Simple: name a single war that was not instigated, started, or fanned by religion?
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
8 Jan 08
thats actually a very interesting thought....I wonder which way it would go though ya know I mean truth be told it really COULD go either way..
@adforme (2114)
•
8 Jan 08
Hi Terilee,
More and more religion is being scrutinized. The who's what's where's and how's of religion are having people look deep into spirituality, but the main ingredient of religion is faith. I do believe in a higher being. I would call him God. I was brought up Baptist and believe in Jesus. That is my belief, a combination of my upbringing and a blessed life. I am very open minded, and reading about God as being nonexistent is not something I choose to accept right now. Jesus, I believe; is a little more mysterious. There are questions about his life that will probably never be fully known. The written word is interpreted by all kinds of minds including closed and fanatical. A book that disputes the existence of God or the way Jesus is characterized is something that interested people will possibly read, but the world is a place where these questions and thoughts have always existed. It is just that I think now more than ever, people are better able to share their thoughts and views on such things. Take Care.
@solutions_nikk (62)
• India
8 Jan 08
i believe in powers & even in religion but not in god because whatever u think u get it .if u doesnt get it we feel it as bad luck but its our inability to not work /have thoughts that we may losse & again we try to do it then we losse .but u may say what r magical powers ,wonders ,miracles ,unexpected things in our life .we all like change but it may in any terms magic is nothing but changewonder unexpected thing happening ,miracle sudden drastic change for good.when say some thing is good we comapare it with bad so we can say one is good other is bad
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
8 Jan 08
For myself My belied would not change. I believe that there is a God and he is in heaven watching us. I believe that he sent his son to the earth to die and save us from our sins. Nothing can shake that belief for me.
When Dan Brown's book "The DeVenci Code" came out it did shake a lot of peoples belief even though it was purly fiction and he was wrong on many of his so called facts listed in the book. I know of some people that simply turned their backs on God and Jesus because of this book. So there will be some that would be swayed by a book written by a peson of world renown. I think that the world would go on pretty much as it does now.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
8 Jan 08
My life wouldnt change at all actually...I dont believe in god or the bible and haven't for a long time....HOWEVER I do think it would send a lot of people into an uproar...So many ppl out there live by the supposed word of god/bible, live life for god etc etc which is fine BUT there are also those out there who have taken it to the far extreme and pretty much havent been able to think for themselves...If it were ever to come out that there was PROOF without a shadow of a doubt that GOD DOES NOT EXIST...I think the Christian extremists would go nutty..
