Re: Do you believe is God?
No it doesn't, it is not really a philosophical position, much a aunicornist isn't a position. I'll pose to you a few questions to consider. Firstly, why can the universe not have existed forever; why can't it be the final position?
It is commonly accepted in the scientific and broader community that the universe has not existed forever (hence the Big Bang Theory, for example). The evidence for the creation of the universe, is staggering and cannot be ignored. The fact that both religion and science can agree on this post ultimately makes it difficult to reject. I cannot argue on your second point because I don't know whether the universe is the final position or not. Religion may very well be alluding to things such as other realms, rather than the creation of a heaven outside this universe.
Logic dictates that if everything much have a creator, then God respectively must have a creator. You can't argue that a creator is proof for god, because god is subject to it. If god is not subject to it, why is it the exception, and not the universe?
By the logic in your first question, I could also argue that God has existed forever. My belief is derived from the principle that something creates something, and nothing creates nothing. While I will not claim to understand how God has come into existence as much as you cannot understand how the universe came to be, I find it more logical to accept the idea that there is creator who has created everything that has come into existence today. A house, car, boat, computer, textbook, mobile phone, piece of paper, pen, or just about anything that has come into existence cannot be created out of thin air. All these things require a creator. I am merely using this same logic.
Secondly, why is it necessarily a Christian God that created the world? Why not God with the attributes given by Muslims, or the Jews? Or the Hindu gods? Or those of the Norse or Greek.
There are many reasons why I believe the Christian God to be the creator, however I am not going to go through that list and disprove other religions. What I will say however, is that I believe the bible contains an array of scientific facts which were written before they were officially discovered.
Click here for some. In addition to this, the discovery of the dead sea scrolls has further added authenticity to the content within the bible.
Which other book in the history of mankind has been composed by authors hundreds of years apart, yet managed to flow together so smoothly while simultaneously predicting world events? For example, it can be argued that the disintegration and subsequent rise of the state of Israel was foretold in the bible years before it actually happened.
This is true. I support this as well. In Australia the problem isn't too bad. But take a look at America were a large percentage. 40% IIRC, don't believe in evolution. Or the anti-vaccination campaigns propagated by the Christians that has assisted in the death of thousands of children infected with disease. Belief is not a problem; you are entitled to them and I can respect those that have them. But when religion is used a device to spread lies and cultivate fear, that's what I have a problem with.
I agree with you here. I hate batshit insane Christians who manipulate the bible to suit their own purposes. I hate the church and I hate the pope because in my opinion they have gone against what Christianity has stood for. I don't look down on other belief systems and in fact, I believe each has its own merits. Athiesm for example has a significant reliance of science to answer questions, while some religions or at least religious sects, try to avoid this. There is no reason why science and religion have to be mutually exclusive, and the world would be a much better place if people could accept the fact that they do not have all of lifes answers.
The purpose of my post was to not to try and convince you that Christianity is the true religion or brainwash you into accepting what I believe in. The purpose was to merely show you that I have at least *some* basis for my belief, and that it isn't based out of merely following my parents/social situation/seeking comfort/being batshit insane.