The Eternal Question: God, No God, Maybe God

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"Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today" - Lyrics from Song 'Imagine' by John Lennon.

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” - Epicurus, a Greek philosopher.

“You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe.” - Carl Sagan.

"Most of the problems in the world stem from believers in God(s) who thrust their beliefs upon others" - quote by author.

sky

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Belief defies logic. Faith leaps beyond belief or reason. We cherish beliefs because they are indeed irrational. You can't prove a negative in an open system without boundaries. Absence of evidence doesn't provide evidence of absence or non-existence. Even the most rational belief systems rest on untestable or unfalsifiable beliefs, or intuitions. Belief in God or Gods, relies on answers to mental "what if questions", Which defy logic, because the concept of God is neither logical nor rational. For to God and their believers, everything and anything, is possible all at once forever. The problem with the belief in God or Gods lies not within the believers, But when they thrust their beliefs and their consequences upon others. Let it be - respect beliefs for what they are to one selves alone. Imagine- - beliefs that are mutually respectful not mutually disrespectful of others, Believe what you will, and what you want to believe, about God and Gods, I'm totally OK with that, But please respect my beliefs, quandaries, doubts, mind-games and dis-beliefs as well.

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Di11y Da11y

Date: 4/30/2025 1:41:00 PM

Spot on John! Unwanted preaching has the opposite to it's intended effect! The same with some political situations, people like to hold their position. Claiming anything other than personal belief and choice can be counter intuitive as that certainty isn't built on evidenced facts, it's based on stories. Congratulations on your win :)

Crystol Woods

Date: 4/30/2025 12:13:00 PM

Yess! You've written with such respect and intelligence! I actually just wrote a sermon on this subject. If your interested here's a link... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJFUH-TWlce5tKxyRLRvaIouaITWJ7EGnGWhzoPXd_o/edit?usp=drivesdk Congratulations on your win and I thank you for sharing your thoughts! Xo

Crystol Woods
Date: 4/30/2025 12:34:00 PM

I think you did a wonderful job expressing the actual conflict in different beliefs. Your words are very effective! Xo

Daniel Henry Rodgers

Date: 4/30/2025 10:42:00 AM

Hello John, Congrats on 1st Place in my Contest. I thought your poem thoughtfully explored the boundaries between belief, logic, and respect. As philosophy of logic shows, even the most rational systems rest on foundational assumptions or intuitions that can’t themselves be proven or falsified. Faith and belief in God, as you note, often involve unfalsifiable claims-ideas that can’t be tested or disproven by evidence, making them deeply personal and outside the realm of strict logic. Congrats Again! Spring Blessings, My Friend

Tom Woody

Date: 4/30/2025 9:51:00 AM

Jesus, the most effective preacher who ever lived, would respectfully disagree. So do I.

I Am Anaya

Date: 4/30/2025 8:59:00 AM

Congratulations on your tropphy win, John! Favorite line is "Imagine- - beliefs that are mutually respectful not mutually disrespectful of others," and Carl Sagan is the man

John Anderson
Date: 4/30/2025 9:30:00 AM

Thanks very much! Cheers and Best Wishes