For the sake of convenience, I'll use the title God. God has no religion. Religion merely uses God as an excuse to con people. A drunk one night a week is a drunk, period. Believing in a divine existence is grossly different than being religious. It also isn't a matter of options since whether or not I believe in that divine existence makes no difference in whether or not their is any afterlife. Afterlife is a tenant of religion. So it is surely not some fear that leaves the question in my mind.

Why? Man has given this potential divine existence the name God, but there are so many different names given to this divine existence. I think mankind lacks the imagination or the intellect to actually think of "God" as being anything other than some manlike creature that is "Up There". The very reason I use nebulous terms like existence is because there is more that I don't understand than I do, which is the universal case for mankind.

Actually that is a good comparison. I think of the existence as "God the Father" and as a father I realize the ideas of hate, fear and anger toward mankind from God the Father is as bogus as hell (literally).

One of the things I like best is a good intellectual challenge! And my mind won't be changed because I have studied this phenomenon for about 50 years and I've made my decisions based on that in depth research.

Thanks! I'm currently writing a book of explanation of my beliefs and theories. It is titled The Third Book of Timothy and hopefully will be our in 2018.

Like all of mankind I have no idea. I don't believe it is some man-figure up in the sky or any other such foolishness. I think we're dealing with some sort of cosmic power source that is probably science personified (kinda). There is some controlling mechanism that makes it all work. I'll continue to research until I can't any more! And will probably never know.

IMO belief is dangerous. I once saw a magician catch a bullet in his teeth fired from a pistol. If I believed this to be true and tried it for myself it would kill me because the magician didn't really do that, he created the myth he did that. Understanding the facts of a matter is the most important mechanism to me. Good luck with your research.

Jeffy, we must always rely on our total lack of ignorance and forever question everything. Catching a metal object travelling at 300 to 600 miles per hour is physically impossible to do without severe damages which might well include death. That one is simple, but the source of all that is isn't quite so straightforward and requires more research. Belief in one's self or in anything else is a positive thing until it is proven one way or the other. All scientific finds were based originally on beliefs. That is where I am at the moment. I have not the proof ... one way or the other.

TimothyIII I would disagree semantically that scientific finds begin with beliefs. A hypothesis comes first and is basically an educated guess. For instance, a scientist observes something happening repeatedly over time and asks : 'Why am I observing this happening?' Scientific theory follows and is based on interpretation of the facts describing the what it is that is happening derived from observation that is repeatable and testable. A theory needs proof. The problem with divine beings or forces is how do you prove something that isn't observable? Accepting something as real which isn't observable or proveable is a belief to me.

I think of that existence as "God the Father" and that all people are "his children" I too am a father. As a father, the last thing I want my children to do is worship me or show me reverence. I want to encourage them and watch them develop and ultimately to excel and enjoy the experience. Even the religious folks don't understand that God is existence and that existence doesn't need or want any of that sort of rubbish.

@TimothyIII You are the first person I have come across who believes in a divine creator but has no religion associated with his belief. In your belief, is the divine one actively interceding in events, just watching it all unfold or created it and forgot about it because he lost interest?

Hunter, I suspect that based on the wording of you question that you are still perceiving that I see this divine existence or 'source' in a format similar to man, as some sort of being. I think of the divine existence as a force, more like science than a specific being. It is all knowing and all powerful and without human handicaps like ego, so no need for the whole worship thingy. I also believe that we, humankind, are a part of this power and all of existence is involved and observing every second, i.e. omnipresent.. I believe that each of us comes from this source and when we end our earthly life, we return to the existence. No heaven, no hell.

@TimothyIII I was asking to compare to how others have perceived this divine force or existence. Your seem somewhat akin to Buddhism attaining enlightenment.

I try to avoid the sorting hat in all these areas. The difficulty I have with any religions is that they don't even know what they believe. Even with Buddhism there are multiple groupings within the broad heading. I'm pretty independent in my thinking and try to do what I do in research and decision making based solely on my own research and rational thinking.

@TimothyIII Yes there is a very broad range of beliefs even within a particular religion. There are often similarities and of course differences between religions. I wish you well in your contemplations.

The key to your comment is that gods is plural. And you're correct in as much as man created that image of a man or woman as god because they lack the ability to see beyond their own existence. I think that picture was taken when I was about 50. I'll fine an updated one for later.