Because it is a fundamental part of her philosophy and one of her reasons for denying the existence of god was because that would interfere with the view of government. Ayn Rand believed religion made you weak because it made you dependent upon another individual and said religion makes liberty impossible because religion was inherently collectivist and enforced strict rules that violates the liberty of an individual. Something libertarians are absolutely against. Isn't religion a form of collectivist government?
I am no fan of organized religion, neither was Jesus.
Evil men use religion for their own power, this fact does not have any bearing on God's existence or my belief in Him.
You don't want to believe in God, you choose to believe that government is your savior. You are only bringing up Ayn Rand's lack of faith in an attempt to catch me in a contradiction. That tactic may work on others, but not with me.
By your logic, or at least by the logical trap you attempted to ensnare me in, you should be a capitalist because Ayn Rand is an atheist.
I am agnostic, meaning I don't know if there is a god at all. I think that there is some overriding power in the universe and that power is in each of us as well. Everything that is today, has been forever and will be again. I think we may go back to that power when we die. Maybe we are re-created in some other form later. I don't think any of us have the intelligence/brain function to comprehend infinity and what it really consists of. Everything I need to know, I can find within myself and the creatures and living things around me.
"God" is a universal term that no one religion or cult can lay claim to.
I prefer the term Higher power since everyone cannot be right and most will be wrong.
As long as your God isn't a front for promoting violence, indiscriminate murder, mutilation, maiming, general mayhem and having an attitude that any who don't agree must be exterminated...... I'm good.
No one says you have to believe in God. I believe in him because I don't believe that this world and we were created by "nothing", or as some believe "The Big Bang Theory". I can't see why it would be necessary for "nothing" or "The Big Bang Theory", to give human beings the ability to think, sing, dance, play the piano, build huge cities with technology that we have today, and many other things. How can all those abilities come from "nothing"???? Only a personal God would give us those abilities and talents. It wouldn't make sense for all those things to come out of "nothing".
But the round circle answer I get when I ask "where does God come from " is he has always been. Everything comes from something he/she has to come from some where.? Also i see no reason to believe in one particular God. The Muslim God to angry, the Christian/Jewish God to child like.
You'll get that answer more because it's what they believe. It's based on faith. I've had many prayers in my life answered, and I believe what the bible tells me. Many people say the bible was "written by a bunch of guys". Yes it was, inspired by God. I guarantee you that if it were just men who wrote it, there would have been no such thing as the Ten Commandments, sexual morality or anything right in thought, word or deed. The scientists have "theories" on how the earth began just like we believers have a "theory" or belief in God. God is accepted by faith. Science accepts only science. But a growing number of scientists are beginning to see that something far more intelligent than they or us had a hand in making this world. There are some things science will never be able to duplicate. They've come close, but they will never completely duplicate certain things. Scientists can't prove their beliefs anymore than we can "prove" ours.
I can respect faith. I can't seem to respect thopse that say they have proof in a God no one can prove exists. I like hearing about other religions and faiths thouh.
Well, the scientists can't prove any of their theories either except for a few minor things they have indeed discovered. For me, it's a matter of faith, and I've been repaid for that in terrific ways because of that faith. All I have to do is look around. I see animals, green grass, blue skies, a sun, and that tells me that a wonderful creator made it all. The evidence is all around us.
We don't know. Scientists don't even know because it's not for them TO know. There are things God wants us to know, and other things that are not necessary for us to know. And since some scientists are greedy and power hungry, it's fortunate for us that they DON'T know where everything comes from and how to control it. Many would use it for the wrong ends. That's why I'm glad only God is all knowing, because people are not.
Correct, even the brightest minds have never been able to answer that question and someday we may or may not get that answer. In the mean time, I don't get into religions squabbles but have no problem with blowing someone's ass away if they inflict their beliefs on others by means of violence and/or terrorism.
I don't waste time fighting with people about that. There are far worse things in this life we have to deal with right now. Our rights going down the crapper as we speak is just one of them.
That is very nice! I was shocked when I first checked this website out how people were well ignorant of how "civilized" muslims are. Where did you live?
Some day I would like to go back. I don't agree with everything that happens today. As with everything though the minority can make it worse for everyone.
I am too, not trying to be deliberately confrontational but I haven't found sufficient reason to believe in any of the big religions, Wicca and paganism are the closest I can get.
I don't think you understand Libertarians very well.
Evil men use religion for their own power, this fact does not have any bearing on God's existence or my belief in Him.
You don't want to believe in God, you choose to believe that government is your savior. You are only bringing up Ayn Rand's lack of faith in an attempt to catch me in a contradiction. That tactic may work on others, but not with me.
By your logic, or at least by the logical trap you attempted to ensnare me in, you should be a capitalist because Ayn Rand is an atheist.
I prefer the term Higher power since everyone cannot be right and most will be wrong.
As long as your God isn't a front for promoting violence, indiscriminate murder, mutilation, maiming, general mayhem and having an attitude that any who don't agree must be exterminated...... I'm good.
I have always presented ONE question that non-believers and big-bangers can never answer.
"where did 'matter' come from, or where did open space come from?"
In the mean time, I don't get into religions squabbles but have no problem with blowing someone's ass away if they inflict their beliefs on others by means of violence and/or terrorism.