# Are you sure you know who God is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 13, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422 "2013-07-13T20:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/141 "2013-07-19T16:11:38Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I see no reason to believe in a god who relies on prophets. “God told me to tell you” is very poor business model. If god wanted me to know the truth you believe, he would give me the same divine revelation you had. He hasn’t, so I see no reason to believe. I am no prophet, and I agree with you 100%. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/142 "2013-07-19T16:13:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Raped and bruised are pretty damn far from “safe”. Being able to communicate now means that I was safe and secure in the past? Go talk to a former P.O.W. about that…but you had better wear your running shoes. You can’t see the obvious. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/143 "2013-07-19T16:16:52Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Exactly as if you were praying to a horseshoe. Why bother praying then? > Tell that to the child being molested. > > If I’m doing it myself, why do I need god? > You clearly do not know what the word love means. Or answer. I was about to say the same thing about you, and you beat me to it. Unconditional love is what God gives to you and would like you to give to others. All the rest just doesn’t matter because you are eternal whether you know it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/144 "2013-07-19T16:17:23Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > You can’t see the obvious. I see your totally useless “You are not your body, so you are not really in pain” bullshit. Pain is real. Bruises are real. Rape is real. Death is real. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/145 "2013-07-19T16:19:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Children can love their parents and still get beaten, raped and killed. What prayer is God answering in those cases? “Oh God, don’t let me get caught!”? Yes, children can love while being abused, it is called unconditional love. Adults can also if they work at it. Jesus did when He asked forgiveness for those who were killing Him. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/146 "2013-07-19T16:20:11Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I was about to say the same thing about you, and you beat me to it. > Unconditional love is what God gives to you and would like you to give to others. All the rest just doesn’t matter because you are eternal whether you know it or not. When you supposedly worked in hospice, did you tell patients that they were perfectly safe and that they weren’t _really_ in any pain? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/147 "2013-07-19T16:21:43Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Yes, children can love while being abused, it is called unconditional love. No-it is called brainwashing and abuse. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/148 "2013-07-19T16:23:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I see your totally useless “You are not your body, so you are not really in pain” bullshit. Pain is real. Bruises are real. Rape is real. Death is real. Well you missed on the last one, death does not exist. We are all eternal. I would think you would be pleased with that. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/149 "2013-07-19T16:25:50Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Unconditional love is what God gives to you and would like you to give to others. All the rest just doesn’t matter because you are eternal whether you know it or not. Something about these types of unsubstantiated platitudes, repeated ad nauseum, that makes me feel the opposite of love. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/150 "2013-07-19T16:27:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When you supposedly worked in hospice, did you tell patients that they were perfectly safe and that they weren’t _really_ in any pain? I held their hand until they died. If they asked questions I answered them. I did not find any atheists on their death beds, all believed in a better life to come. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/151 "2013-07-19T16:28:11Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Well you missed on the last one, death does not exist. We are all eternal. > I would think you would be pleased with that. Except that I always consider the source when evaluating information. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/152 "2013-07-19T16:31:07Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Something about these types of unsubstantiated platitudes, repeated ad nauseum, that makes me feel the opposite of love. I believe they have been substantiated. I can understand why you discount religious doctrine, I do also, but why you run away from love I don’t understand. There is nothing to fear. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/153 "2013-07-19T16:34:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Except that I always consider the source when evaluating information. OK, fair enough, I don’t expect you to believe me. But almost 80% of all the people in the world believe they will live after death. It is not exactly something new. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/154 "2013-07-19T16:35:58Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I believe they have been substantiated. You believe a _lot_ of things, most of which cannot be substantiated. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/155 "2013-07-19T16:36:59Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > OK, fair enough, I don’t expect you to believe me. But almost 80% of all the people in the world believe they will live after death. It is not exactly something new. Cite for that statistic? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/156 "2013-07-19T16:41:37Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > OK, fair enough, I don’t expect you to believe me. But almost 80% of all the people in the world believe they will live after death. It is not exactly something new. The majority of people who live in Korea believe that if you let a fan run in a closed room you’re in it will kill you. Fan Death, it’s called. They sell fans with timers on them for it. That means it’s correct right? Cuz a lot of people believe it, it must be correct, right? Just like your thing? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/157 "2013-07-19T16:42:53Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Well you missed on the last one, death does not exist. We are all eternal. > I would think you would be pleased with that. Death exists. Want proof? Just ask Abraham Lincoln. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/158 "2013-07-19T16:43:35Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I can understand why you discount religious doctrine, I do also, but why you run away from love I don’t understand. There is nothing to fear. I discount your doctrine, first and foremost. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/159 "2013-07-19T16:45:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Cite for that statistic? We have been through this many times. > **[Global Poll: Most Believe in God, Afterlife](https://www.christianpost.com/news/global-poll-most-believe-in-god-afterlife-49994/)** > > A new survey shows that 51 percent of people in the world believe in God Only 18 percent don t and 17 percent are undecided More than half believe there is an afterlife while 23 percent believe they People have always believed in an afterlife even the cavemen. But those who have experienced it know even more and there are millions of them. Why is that so hard to believe. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/160 "2013-07-19T16:48:30Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I can understand why you discount religious doctrine, I do also, but why you run away from love I don’t understand. There is nothing to fear. This word you keep using, love, I do not think it means what you think it means. Do you mean agape? Eros? Phileo? Storge? If you understand why we discount religious doctrine, then why don’t you understand why we discount your religious doctrine of love? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422.md?page=9)