What do you think is the likelihood that God exists?

[Onlooker]

http://www.bartleby.com/61/21/G0172100.html

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

NOUN: 1. God a. A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions. b. The force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being. 2. A being of supernatural powers or attributes, believed in and worshiped by a people, especially a male deity thought to control some part of nature or reality.

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Rut Roh...

[PeaceNikki]

2. I am firmly in the "agnostic" camp

[Jamastiene]

4. So am I. n/t

[Guava Jelly]

3. I don't believe in faerie tales

It would be a far better world if no one did IMHO.

[Xipe Totec]

84. Do you believe in naked singularities?

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. "You're soaking in it."

:rofl:

[Zavulon]

6. The way we're told about God

with the lines about sacrificing his only son and so on? I don't think there's a chance at all. However, because I haven't ruled out the possibility of a higher power, I checked "very unlikely." I consider it to be a "no chance whatsoever" regarding the gods of the planet's religions - there is nothing coming out of any organized religion that I'm inclined to believe.

[JTG of the PRB]

7. Are we talking about a singular God, or multiple deities?

Because I don't believe in the former, but I do believe in the latter.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. I believe in other people's imaginations

That doesn't mean I believe in what they imagine.

[Grey]

15. Can I quote you?

That sums up my "beliefs" perfectly.

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. Be my guest

After all, none of us own the words we use. We merely have them on a short-term lease. :hi:

[trof]

38. Ooooo...good one!

[undeterred]

9. Does "probably so" make me an agostic?

I think God exists, but I am open to all possibilities.

[old mark]

23. I vote "Probably not". We can split the difference and both be agnostics!

Have a beer on me, send me the bill.

mark

[Ivan Sputnik]

10. It depends on your conception of God

I don't believe in an old man in the sky (i.e., a God who thinks like a human, gets angry, performs magic tricks, etc.). That's all projection, in my opinion.

I do believe in something like this:

"We live in succession, in division, in parts, in particles. Meantime within man is the soul of the whole; the wise silence; the universal beauty, to which every part and particle is equally related, the eternal ONE. And this deep power in which we exist and whose beatitude is all accessible to us, is not only self-sufficing and perfect in every hour, but the act of seeing and the thing seen, the seer and the spectacle, the subject and the object, are one. We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are shining parts, is the soul."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

[MorningGlow]

11. Dude in the clouds? No way.

A giant energetic collective of which we are all a part? Absolutely.

[kentauros]

There ya go!

:D

[MorningGlow]

48. !

:D

[kentauros]

33. dupe

*

[GreenPartyVoter]

44. *high five*

[MorningGlow]

49. Up high!

:hi:

[Taverner]

12. There is certainly no God

If you want to see my show, check in at the Religion and Theology forum...thank you thank you...

I'll be here all week

[Lucian]

13. Strong Agnostic here.

[libodem]

14. I'm going to be a grandmother today

I have a very spiritual feeling. I believe in something greater than ourselves is afoot in the universe and that it may be our collective conscience or something nebulous like that. I'm not to fond of the image of the guy in the long white robes and full shaggy beard, the standard figure of the old testament. I'm not so sure I agree with how he has been portrayed as the sponsor of wars and punisher of mankind. That kind of mean father figure I can send over to the freeper camp.

[Road Scholar]

21. I'm an engineer and for me at least, it's hard for me to believe in

something that I can't see. I have two grandchildren and so I have lived most of my life, I suppose and the reality of God has been something to which I have given as much thought as anything.
I have done the math and checked it twice. I can't tell you all that I have done to assure myself in this thread, but trust me there IS a higher being. He might not even be a he or some stately gentleman with a beard ar anything like that but He or it does exist. I also believe that evolution is proof of creationism. I think Werner von Braun the famous scientist must have some the same thoughts as me. Try googling him.
Congratulations on being a grandmother!!!!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

35. Can you see germs?

Can you see atoms?

[Road Scholar]

40. I sure can. No problem whatsoever. I can weigh a question mark

and build a bridge.
What else can I help you with?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

41. With the help of technology you can do all those things, my friend,

perhaps with help you will be able to see all things that at this moment you are unable to understand.

[pokerfan]

47. ...

http://lakehuron.ca/index.php?page=e-coli">

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080122154357.htm">

[Tuesday Afternoon]

50. Yes...

with help, all is possible. Thanks for helping prove the point. :)

[pokerfan]

52. I suppose that you have a microscope that allows one to see the supernatural

[Tuesday Afternoon]

53. at one time people thought the earth to be flat...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=8448707&mesg_id=8449825

[pokerfan]

57. at one time people thought the sun orbited the earth

until science demonstrated otherwise. If the existence of god could be proved in a similar manner, then there would be no room for faith.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

58. "there" would be no room

however, there is room for all.

[pokerfan]

thank you for the spell check

as far as this thread goes, I think I will be leaving now.

[Road Scholar]

55. I guess you didn't read the text. You totally missed the point that

I was making to the new grandmother to be. At least I thought I was directing it to her.

[pokerfan]

59. My apologies then

I didn't realize it was a PM.

[Road Scholar]

61. No apology necessary. I was just sharing my thoughts to the

lady. I just read a story abour Werner Von Braun.
I have a shitload of preacher freeper inlaws and they are constantly trying to get me to see things their way. It's just my belief along with a whole lot of scientists that it didn't all "just happen". Hell God might be some guy in another dimension in Jordan tennis shoes with his ball cap, sporting a goatee with a really cool computer.

ps: I am a licensed professional engineer, a design consultant and have been for 45 years I am a general contractor. I build bridges and Interstate highways. I don't argue.

[timtom]

54. You must not be a nuclear engineer nor deal in quanta.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

76. "I also believe that evolution is proof of creationism."

I love that sentence!

[RagAss]

17. What is the likelihood that we exist?

[tigereye]

18. I think it's likely that there is some spiritual presence in the universe

but if there isn't, and it's simply a construct, I don't have any problems with people believing, if it helps them to deal with the craziness we call life... :shrug:

[harmonicon]

19. other

God doesn't exist, unless of course it does. That is, it's certain that God doesn't exist, just as I'm quite certain that Giant Pandas aren't upstairs in my bathtub. I mean, it's not a probability thing. It's one or the other. It's Schrodinger's cat, but without the cat or the box.

[crimsonblue]

73. but is God alive, dead, or both?

:P

[elocs]

20. The likelihood that God exists is exactly equal to your faith that God does exist. n/t

[DarkTirade]

22. I'm sitting right here...

:P

[Critters2]

24. What do you think is the likelihood that those who believe God exists

feel free to say so here?

[Onlooker]

26. How's it flamebait?

This forum has some religious intolerance, but for the most part I think people are very respectful of the views of others.

[Critters2]

29. That hasn't been my experience. nt

[SPKrazy]

27. I just said I did

and I am not concerned with any flames, I'm flameproof :D


:hi:

[Critters2]

28. I've been ATTACKED for saying I believe here, which is why

I wish these things would stay in R/T, where I no longer venture.

[SPKrazy]

36. Oh, I've been attacked there....

big time

but not so much here, but I got yer back :D

[Kajsa]

42. I'm with you, Critters.

That's been my experience, also.

I've got your back, too.

:)

[lizziegrace]

62. Remember

it's still acceptable to make fun of and belittle a person's faith. Oh, and appearance is wide open too. :eyes: Very intelligent leaders in history have also been people of great faith. However here on DU, we're considered ignorant, naive and childlike. Whatever.

[Kajsa]

64. My sentiments exactly, Lizzie.

:hi: :pals:

When they complain too much about the clergy,
I remind them that MLK was REVEREND MLK,

:)

[tigereye]

45. I think that the majority of folks on the planet worship some sort of deity, so

those who disagree (here and otherwise) seem to be in the minority.

It's kind of moot, since I don't think this or any other poll is going to stop anyone from expressing their faith overall. I think folks here should feel free to feel comfortable to note their faith.

[emilyg]

70. I'll say it - God exists.

[SPKrazy]

25. I believe but not in the sky god kind of thing

I think God is right here in the midst of EVERYTHING and we just have to tap into that force to thrive in ways we might only imagine.

[Lil Missy]

30. I'm not even going to vote.

[WildEyedLiberal]

31. Me either - this poll doesn't express my beliefs well

No one is "certain" of anything of this nature, regardless of how strong their faith or lack of faith might be. Beliefs != knowledge. As for the other options, how the hell is it possible to express the likelihood of God in terms of probability? No one KNOWS, no one has any way to know.

[Lil Missy]

34. I didn't even take it that seriously.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

43. exactly --

even the most learned, take God on faith. To argue the knowing of God is futile and hilarious in the extreme. Of course, a lot of DU is like this.

[Mojambo]

32. Extraordinarily unlikely. n/t

[begin_within]

37. God is dead

[kentauros]

39. If God is dead

that means it's in the Afterlife which means it's still around and not dead afterall :P

Care for some Afterlife Mints?

[My Good Babushka]

46. what kind of god?

I think is impossible that bible god insists. In fact, I think it would be an insult to the universe if bible god existed.

[Iggo]

51. This poll is shaking out like all the rest of 'em.

Pretty much a split between the two big vote getters.

[XemaSab]

56. Other:

If there is a God, he/she/it is remote from our affairs, and virtually impossible for us to conceptualize.

If you were a bacteria, how would you conceptualize a human? :shrug:

[lunatica]

60. 100% either way. Either She does or She doesn't exist

[MrSlayer]

63. Anyone who claims 100% either way is being ridiculous.

There is no way to know for sure. Faith or lack of faith proves absolutely nothing.

[lunatica]

68. That sure went way over your head didn't it?

I didn't say what I believe other than I don't know. Either God exists or doesn't. Period. My beliefs have absolutely nothing do with what the facts are.

[MrSlayer]

69. I wasn't responding to you at all.

Did I reply to your post? No. I simply stated what I believe to be the case in response to the OP. I didn't even read your post.

[Iggo]

77. You're right.

The truth is the truth, independent of belirf*.

* Or "belief" if you prefer...lol.

[madinmaryland]

65. I have no evidence either way that a God exists.

:shrug:

[skygazer]

66. I don't really see that it matters

I personally don't believe in god. A lot of people do. I hope I am as welcome to not believe as they are to believe. My President seems to feel I am. :)

[lunatica]

67. Same here. As a matter of fact leave me out of your faith or lack of faith

and I'll make sure to keep whatever I believe or not to myself also.

[Radical Activist]

71. The idea that the complexity of life and the universe

could happen completely at random without some organizing force behind it seems unlikely to me. Beyond that I don't know.

[crimsonblue]

72. HMMMM.....

God, in the widely accepted Judeo-Christo-Islam tradition: slim to none.

I believe that a "God" does exist, but not the form we currently believe. I believe that something had to have set off the Big Bang. There had to be something before it. I'm just not sure as to what it is.

On another note, I also believe that at the center of the Universe, there is a gigantic black hole, and it is to account for the slowing in universal expansion. I believe that eventually (probably billions of years), all matter will be sucked into the Blackest hole. Then, we will have another Big Bang. I believe this cycle has been performing itself in perpetuity since the Universe's creation.

[laconicsax]

74. Depends on the god.

The following gods/goddesses don't exist:

Zeus, Marduk, Amaterasu, Enlil, Rudra, Demeter, Odin, Helios, Myesyats, Ra, Teshub, Hephestus, Hanuman, Tian, Sebek, Hermes, Umai, Njord, Al-Uzza, Hazzi, Bishamon, Lakshmi, Vesta, Min, Anubis, Fukurokuju, Mot, Quetzalcoatl, Nut, Tefnut, Nergal, Vajravarahi, Aglaia, The Lu, Hevajra, Balor, Rhiannon, Atlas, Honir, Nusku, Kurukalla, Don, An, Macha, Jurojin, Govannon, Abarta,Hepat, Hahhimas, Apsu, Hyperion, Rhea, Aizen-Myoo, Nephthys, Potrimpo, Mati Syra Zemlya, Eos, Ea, Anu, Men Shen, Ansa, Cybele, Vohu Mano, Lao Jun, Gukurokuju, Yama, Manat, Itchita, The Lah-Dre, Nodens, Ebisu, Jumala, Coeus, Dana, Heimdall, Daksha, Gungnir, Hestia, Jupiter, Mahatala, Kataragama Deviyo, Mitra, Pusan, Perkuno, Epona, Allah (pre-Islam), Ceridwen, Wakahiru-Me, Dumuzi, Forseti, Nammu, Zao Jun, The Gulses, Ahura Mazda, Kwannon, Durga, Inaras, Arianrhod, Lir, Metis, Nga, Ouranos, Cliodhna, Attar, Yuqiang, Reshef, Taranis, Isis, Hannahanna, Teutates, Morrigan, Menulis, Pattini, Mahadevi, The Marutus, Goibhniu, Dylan, Aine, Aphrodite, Coatlicue, Kadaklan, Bragi, Hodr, Izanami, Boru Deak Parudjar, Fjorgyn, Otshirvani, Shamash, Dionysus, Aten, Heruka, Euphrosyne, Adad, Nekhbet, Saturn, Inana, Guanyin, Clotho, Astarte, Inari, Gefion,Yam, Dagda, Shiva, Etain, Wayland, Nechtan, Hera, Men, Bastet, Agni, Svantovit, Aryaman, Poseidon, Hinkon, Hupasiyas, Camulos, Manawydan, Mithra, Hecate, Anat, Tomam, Al-Lat, Surya, Kumarbi, Attis, Taiyi Tianzun, Setesuyara, Tishtrya, Boreas, Aonghus, Shu, Leto, Sif, Santas, Hubal, Anahita, Faunus, Ishtar, Skuld, Veles, Adonis, Atropos, Tapio, Badb, Wadjet, Mandah, Freyr, Nerthus, Dyaus, Asclepius, Athena, Basamum, Amida, Anshar, Sadb, Wadd, Murukan, Kied Kie Jubmel, Uu,Cerdandi, Ereshkigal, Dazhbog, Lelwani, Sin, Ullikummi, Balder, Tsukiyomi, Artemis, Thoth, Tezcatlipoca, Dian Cecht, Utu, Baal, Iskur, Wen Chang, Ame-No-Uzume, Xolotl, The Daevas, Hades, Circe, Telepinu, Thor, Ninlil, Ganesha, Donn, Hachiman, Frigg, Vulcan, Saule, Ec, Nanna, Indra, Nu Gua, Tlaloc, Ninurta, Vidar, Patollo, Madder-Akka, Bhaga, Nemglan, Korrawi, Mnemosyne, Cernunnos, Es, Caer, Grid, Brigid, Perunu, Seth, Cronos, Juno, Lachesis, Tuoni, Tammuz, Khosadam, Prometheus, Persephone, Svarazic, Tyr, Hathor, Cupid, Vishnu, Maat, Moloch, Geb, Ukko, Apollo, Boann, Aglibol, Suku-Na-Bikona, Ruda, Varuna, Ulgan, Dhatr, Brahma, Eros, Anbay, Ninhursaga, Semara, Kishimo-Jin, Ganga, Llyr, Kurunta, Ida-Ten, Benten, Ogma, Freyja, Oceanos, Osiris, Susano-Wo, Horus, Vayu, Kegutsuchi, Vayu, Belenus, Loki, Ki, Nudd, Pan, Aditi, Karttikeya, Thalia, Taru, Minerva, Nasr, Idun, Neptune, Natha, Shou Lao, Gadd, Uke-Mochi, Mars, Leib-Olmai, Lugh, Mac Cecht, Izanagi, The Dagda, Marishi-Ten, Jurojin, Apep, Lei Gong, Khyung-gai, Huitzlopochtli, Eileithya, Taranis,Khnum, Amaethon, Geb, Hotei, Manannan Mac Lir, Prithivi, Shen Nong, Ebisu, El, Bellona, gShen-lha-od-dkar, Batara Kala, Psyche, Venus, Ningal, Urd, Ptah, Zarpanitu, Kuvera, Amon, Num, Searbhan, Shoten, Luonnotar, Neith, Daikoku, Kubaba, Indra, Aegir, Ariniddu, Mimir, Ares, Soma, Shaushka, Lugus, and Janus.

The god of the Bible however, is open to discussion for some reason.

Edit: Spelling

[Tommy_Carcetti]

75. From a strictly personal point of view, I do.

But that is something that is always going to be personal no matter what. No one person can either force someone else to believe or not believe in God.

Personally, from a deistic standpoint, I think there just has to be some sort of creating force in the universe. I have a hard time believing otherwise. As a practicing Christian and Catholic, I do believe in a loving God and the God of Jesus, but that's more of a leap of faith for me. And yeah, I do have my moments of doubt there, as does anyone who follows that faith. I guess I believe in that type of God because I want to believe in that type of God--reading the Gospels, I like the words of Jesus and that, more than anything else, is why I do choose to believe in that type of God. I'm not a big fan of the fire and brimstone vision of God, but I do like the idea of a God who sends a human as an example of how someone should live their life. And that's also why even though I am a Christian, I don't think that someone has to profess to be a Christian or a believer in God for that matter to see heaven--all that matters, that should matter, is that someone lived their life treating their fellow human being with respect. And if I'm wrong about everything, and there is no heaven after I die, I don't see that as a loss because I still lived a good, respectful life to be proud of.

But again, that all is a leap of faith, I can't prove that, and I'm not expecting to prove that. And again, it's all very, very, very, extremely personal to me, which is why I'm surprised I'm even talking about it. But there it is.

[kwassa]

78. and how many different versions of this poll have been seen in DU?

How many times has this question been asked?

I do know that endless repetition is something we do well here on DU, but really.

[Iggo]

79. Really, huh.

They should just kick the old thread if they have something new to add.

[Critters2]

82. They never have anything new to add. nt

[Phillycat]

80. I've been on DU since 2001; I've never seen this poll done quite this way.

Some similar ones, but not exactly like this. I find it really interesting, actually. The results are the opposite of bell curve, which seems to suggest that the ancient scholars were right - God either is, or he is not.

[Marrah_G]

81. Yes definition 2- definitely not definition 1.

[mentalsolstice]

83. I answered probably so

I look around at nature, animals, most humans, fate, and I think there is a higher being. But I don't know for sure, so I'm open-minded and respect other beliefs, and I find it nice if my view is respected back.

[ismnotwasm]

85. Very unlikely

Especially by that first definition. Logically God can't exist since he's fucked up considerably and changes his mind a lot-- according to certain incidents in the bible, and therefore isn't perfect.

[Xipe Totec]

86. Not by that definition, no.

perfect? omnipotent? omniscient?

No.

a ruler of the universe?

No.

An originator of the universe?

Yes

[seemunkee]

87. I don't care

I will lead my life and treat others the same no matter if God exists or not. If it does exist I will be judged on my actions, if not I will become memories to those who knew me.

[elshiva]

88. I have to wait another 100 years before the TARDIS comes. Great.