the question is out there
Most of the time, twitter trending topics are somehow related to current events, but one of the hottest topics on October 20 was the phrase “no god.” Rumor has it the trend began with someone tweeting the phrase, “No God, no peace; know God, know peace.” It was retweeted enough that the phrase “no God” made it on the trending list where it was picked up by atheists, agnostics, humanists, Christians, theists, and people of every other variety of religious/philosophical system.
There were trends within the trend. Some people named the obvious reasons that there is no god, others had no doubt that there is a god and that belief in god is important, while a few felt the need to express that they didn’t think it really mattered and that this trending topic was stupid. What they all had in common was that they were adamant, and for hours the tweets poured in by the thousands.
Those who claimed that there is no god tended to point to the violence and evil instigated in the name of god. They said that they are fully capable of loving and doing good without faith in a deity. The pro-god side usually claimed that real peace and love could only come through god. Unfortunately, many of them also confirmed the claims made by the “no god” side by threatening eternal destruction for those who did not believe.
So the question is, does belief make a difference? Along with the great evil committed in the name of god, great deeds have been inspired by belief in god. Atheists too, though, have also done great deeds for humanity because of their belief in love, goodness, and the value of human life. Does belief in god secure an eternity in heaven? In the Bible the book of James says, “You believe in one God. Good! Even the demons believe that.” (James 2:19) Believing in god doesn’t seem to guarantee a happy eternity.
So the question is still out there. What difference does belief make?
Comments
"Belief" - John Mayer
Is there anyone who
Ever remembers changing there mind from
The paint on a sign?
Is there anyone who really recalls
Ever breaking rank at all
For something someone yelled real loud one time
Everyone believes
In how they think it ought to be
Everyone believes
And they're not going easily
Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching under water
You never can hit who you're trying for
Some need the exhibition
And some have to know they tried
It's the chemical weapon
For the war that's raging on inside
Everyone believes
From emptiness to everything
Everyone believes
And no ones going quietly
We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for
What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand
Belief can
Belief can
Religion is so messy and fragile. Sad to think this is the best we can do for the Creator. Or maybe not. Maybe the Creator expected this. God only knows.
Dagney, I hope you realize that violence commited by officially atheittic governments killed 100 million people in the past century; more than in all the wars of human history by several times.
They have no position of moral superiority to pass judgment from.
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