# 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:** 5
**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 24, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/81 "2013-03-24T00:56:28Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Faith is not trust. Faith is belief without evidence, or even against evidence. Faith is belief that makes no logical sense, it denies reason as well as truth. Faith is a form of madness, not a protection against madness. > > Trust is justifiable belief; belief backed with with evidence and reason, not against them. Trust and faith are if anything opposites, not the same. Trust in the dictionary is define as believe, faith, etc. If trust was backed by evidence it would be knowledge. I know you don’t like religion but that is not the only place for faith. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/82 "2013-03-24T01:56:37Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Trust in the dictionary is define as believe, faith, etc. > If trust was backed by evidence it would be knowledge. > I know you don’t like religion but that is not the only place for faith. You’re not understanding it what he’s saying. Your best friend has stood by you for a lifetime and never let you down. You can trust, or have faith that they will be there for you when you need him or her. This is based on evidence and is reasonable. Your invisible deity has never done a damn thing for you because It doesn’t exist. Faith or trust that It will see you through a tough time is delusional. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/83 "2013-03-24T02:08:50Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Your best friend has stood by you for a lifetime and never let you down. You can trust, or have faith that they will be there for you when you need him or her. This is based on evidence and is reasonable. > > Your invisible deity has never done a damn thing for you because It doesn’t exist. Faith or trust that It will see you through a tough time is delusional. Exactly. Or for the comparison that so often come up in religious conversations; I don’t have faith in science, I have trust in science, because it is evidence-based, it has a history of logical consistency, of correcting its mistakes, and of providing innumerable real, practical results that demonstrate it is based on facts. Religion has _none_ of that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/84 "2013-03-24T07:25:36Z")
The only god I’d ever accept is the one we have . . . the nonexistent 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 24, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/85 "2013-03-24T12:43:56Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Exactly. Or for the comparison that so often come up in religious conversations; I don’t have faith in science, I have trust in science, because it is evidence-based, it has a history of logical consistency, of correcting its mistakes, and of providing innumerable real, practical results that demonstrate it is based on facts. Religion has _none_ of that. This thread is not about religion. It is about God. ---
**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 24, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/86 "2013-03-24T13:01:52Z")
God is what contains all knowledge. This knowledge enables Him to create the Universe and all things therein. Since He created me He has knowledge of me. He cares about me and for me. When I stumble because of things I don’t know He makes it possible for me to gain that knowledge I need to continue my learning. Everyone is learning all the time and that learning brings them closer to God. There is no magic in the system. One learns how to deal with life and the problems life presents. With the right knowledge all things are possible. Healing the sick. Feeding the hungry. Bringing peace to the world. Jesus who was greater in knowledge than us turned water into wine not by magic but by changing the molecular structure of water. Thought is powerful, changing thought changes your life. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/87 "2013-03-24T13:32:53Z")
Where did you learn all that? Who told you? How do you know these things whereas I do not? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/88 "2013-03-24T14:12:52Z")
Personally I could never follow any God who’d allow someone like me to stipulate his specs. And now, back to _DIY Godbuilders_ on the **lekatt** network! ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/89 "2013-03-24T14:29:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Whether I would _follow_ such a being would definitely depend on it’s traits, however. While I admire this position, I’m confident that I’m craven enough that I’d kowtow to save my skin or immortal soul, were I convinced. I mean, I do what my asshole boss at work wants me to do! (Just joking: I’m lucky to have had a lot of great managers and few bad ones.) I can’t imagine what a righteous God would really be like, but I can pretty easily say what kind of God I do not have the ability to believe in, or even respect. So, I would NOT follow a God who: - fails to communicate effectively with his People - has a “chosen” people, a minority based on birth/race - condemns any soul to eternal punishment (no matter how slight: do the math for God’s sake!) - kills nearly everyone because things didn’t work out like he’d hoped - needs to be worshipped - is jealous - requires blind faith; requires that we refrain from intellectual curiosity, doubt, or criticial judgment - passes the onus of committing an improper act to successive generations - burns bushes OK, the latter I can forgive. Oh heck, I’m sure I’d enjoy the fire! ---
**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 24, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/90 "2013-03-24T15:48:16Z")
> [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](#): > > Where did you learn all that? Who told you? How do you know these things whereas I do not? I learned it during my near death experience. Misnomer on the NDE. ---
**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 24, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/91 "2013-03-24T15:52:33Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > While I admire this position, I’m confident that I’m craven enough that I’d kowtow to save my skin or immortal soul, were I convinced. I mean, I do what my asshole boss at work wants me to do! (Just joking: I’m lucky to have had a lot of great managers and few bad ones.) > > I can’t imagine what a righteous God would really be like, but I can pretty easily say what kind of God I do not have the ability to believe in, or even respect. So, I would NOT follow a God who: > > - fails to communicate effectively with his People > - has a “chosen” people, a minority based on birth/race > - condemns any soul to eternal punishment (no matter how slight: do the math for God’s sake!) > - kills nearly everyone because things didn’t work out like he’d hoped > - needs to be worshipped > - is jealous > - requires blind faith; requires that we refrain from intellectual curiosity, doubt, or criticial judgment > - passes the onus of committing an improper act to successive generations > - burns bushes > > OK, the latter I can forgive. Oh heck, I’m sure I’d enjoy the fire! Would you believe in a God that judges no one, loves everyone, and keeps you safe at all times. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/92 "2013-03-24T15:57:54Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Would you believe in a God that judges no one, loves everyone, and keeps you safe at all times. It is not the god of the bible then… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/93 "2013-03-24T15:57:55Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I learned it during my near death experience. Misnomer on the NDE. Nightmare Deity Encounter? ---
**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 24, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/94 "2013-03-24T16:32:25Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Would you believe in a God that judges no one, loves everyone, and keeps you safe at all times. What do you mean by “believe in”? Do you mean “believe that it exists”, or do you mean “be willing to support and follow it _if_ it existed”? ---
**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 24, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/95 "2013-03-24T16:35:13Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I learned it during my near death experience. Misnomer on the NDE. You didn’t have an NDE. You went to bed at home, had a waking dream, and woke up. You didn’t see a doctor the day before, that day, or the day after. You didn’t see a doctor that told you that you had died or almost died. You are not a doctor qualified to make such a diagnosis. You didn’t have an NDE. ---
**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 24, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/96 "2013-03-24T16:59:26Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > It is not the god of the bible then… Definitely not. ---
**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 24, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/97 "2013-03-24T17:00:26Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Nightmare Deity Encounter? Close without the nightmare. ---
**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 24, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/98 "2013-03-24T17:01:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You didn’t have an NDE. You went to bed at home, had a waking dream, and woke up. You didn’t see a doctor the day before, that day, or the day after. > You didn’t see a doctor that told you that you had died or almost died. > You are not a doctor qualified to make such a diagnosis. > You didn’t have an NDE. My goodness, I didn’t see you 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 24, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/99 "2013-03-24T17:02:46Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Would you believe in a God that judges no one, loves everyone, and keeps you safe at all times. One immediately has to ask, at what cost? And where has he been all this time? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/100 "2013-03-24T17:04:57Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > My goodness, I didn’t see you there. So you DID see a doctor after your “heart attack” then? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643.md?page=6)