# What kind of God would you believe in and follow **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 22, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643 "2013-03-22T15:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/221 "2013-03-27T16:43:50Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > So the belief comes first, and you infer the existence of the God from the fact that you believe in it? With me it was the other way around. I was in the presence of God and then I knew that God existed. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/222 "2013-03-27T16:46:14Z")
Unfortunately many people are turned off by the God of religion and become skeptical. They tend to believe because that God was bad all such Creators must be bad. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/223 "2013-03-27T16:46:29Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Later with my experience I found a good God that required no worship and would never harm me no matter what I did. I am satisfied now. Do you understand the difference between fantasy and reality? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/224 "2013-03-27T17:18:03Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > No, I already did that once. In my youth I was forced to go to church and the idea that God might throw me in hell frightened me so much I quit church and never went back. A mean God is not worthy or worship. > > Later with my experience I found a good God that required no worship and would never harm me no matter what I did. I am satisfied now. Are there lots of gods around, or only one? ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/225 "2013-03-27T17:35:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do you understand the difference between fantasy and reality? Yes ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/226 "2013-03-27T17:36:09Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Yes How many gods are there? ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/227 "2013-03-27T17:40:08Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Are there lots of gods around, or only one? Well, there are ten major religions, and hundreds of minor ones. Each religion has some kind of text that tells them what their God is and how to worship Him. But there is only one All-That-Is. So who knows how many Gods. But logically only one All-That-Is. I guess that is why that name is used. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/228 "2013-03-27T17:41:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How many gods are there? Many ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/229 "2013-03-27T17:42:09Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Many How many realities are there? ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/230 "2013-03-27T17:44:35Z")
Is that All-That-Is, is that All-That-Is If that’s All-That-Is my friends, then let’s keep dancing Let’s break out the booze and have a ball If that’s All-That-Is 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/231 "2013-03-27T18:03:36Z")
You’re saying that people define who their gods are, correct? Do they create these gods? ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/232 "2013-03-27T19:45:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How many realities are there? Einstein said there were nine dimensions, but I know of only four. He was more knowledgeable than I. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/233 "2013-03-27T19:46:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > You’re saying that people define who their gods are, correct? Do they create these gods? That would be a yes. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/234 "2013-03-27T19:49:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Is that All-That-Is, is that All-That-Is > If that’s All-That-Is my friends, then let’s keep dancing > Let’s break out the booze and have a ball > If that’s All-That-Is > > 😃 No need to lose control over it. I tried to shorten that word or make it more easy to say but I failed, maybe you can do it. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/235 "2013-03-27T19:50:35Z")
So what you are actually asking in the Op is: Out of all the gods that actually exist, which one do you follow because it fits you the closest? ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/236 "2013-03-27T19:55:12Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > No need to lose control over it. I tried to shorten that word or make it more easy to say but I failed, maybe you can do it. I don’t have a problem with the word. It just made me think of the song “Is that all there is” by Peggy Lee. Sorry - back to the topic. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/237 "2013-03-27T22:43:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So what you are actually asking in the Op is: Out of all the gods that actually exist, which one do you follow because it fits you the closest? Please don’t second guess me, I say whatever I say I mean. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/238 "2013-03-27T22:49:31Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I don’t have a problem with the word. It just made me think of the song “Is that all there is” by Peggy Lee. > > Sorry - back to the topic. I just listened to it, great song. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/239 "2013-03-27T23:30:59Z")
I was listening to a Bible radio show yesterday – wish I could provide the name, and especially a transcription… The preacher was rhapsodizing over how bad hell was. The gist of it was: “Hell is worse than you can imagine. No human mind, however sick or fevered, can envision the horrors of hell. No diseased imagination, no psychotic, no madman, can dream of one tenth of how bad hell is.” Etc. Went on for over two minutes. What astonished me is that this is supposed to make me admire the “sick mind” that is supposed to have created this kind of hell! ---
**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:** [March 28, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/240 "2013-03-28T00:10:46Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I was listening to a Bible radio show yesterday – wish I could provide the name, and especially a transcription… > > The preacher was rhapsodizing over how bad hell was. The gist of it was: “Hell is worse than you can imagine. No human mind, however sick or fevered, can envision the horrors of hell. No diseased imagination, no psychotic, no madman, can dream of one tenth of how bad hell is.” Etc. Went on for over two minutes. > > What astonished me is that this is supposed to make me admire the “sick mind” that is supposed to have created this kind of hell! My kind of God never harms anyone for anything. I am saddened that this drivel is still taught. Not even the Bible describes hell that bad. In the Bible hell is one of three words. The word for garbage dump, the word for void, the word for purgatory. The hell being preached comes from Dante’s Inferno. It was never Biblical. I studied this in college. All the people who were afraid need not be afraid. How do I know my God does harm anyone, I asked Him. “There is actually no need to punish as people punish themselves.” I know this is a departure from the OP but felt it necessary to clear the air. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643.md?page=13)