Agnostic here. And I have a question for the Christians. How does the Bible explain the other planets? I've never read it.

Well, I think it is just a chance, basically... and somewhere out in the uber huuuuge Universe, there's gotta be some other planet that just happened to land the right distance away from it's sun-type thing and also has life of some form... Of course I can't prove that there is, but you can't prove that there's not :p

And I don't see it as wasting a 'soul'... Because I don't think there's such thing as a 'soul'... at least if you're saying it's some kind of seperate entity :hmm:

"I notice that most people who think that death is THE END seem unfulfilled with their life"

Maybe it's cuz they're not looking forward to something else... they don't see life as a key to this amazingly uber after-life... Or they're just afraid because they know the end is the end and they don't want it to be that way, whereas religious people have all these other theories that make it more... y'know... nice...

And just cuz they're unfulfilled with their life, it doesn't mean they didn't at least tried to be the best they could ;)

Beat yeah, it's kinda hard to debate these things since the different beliefs change the way people think so yeah and stuff...

Well, of course it's extremely lucky, but on the other hand, your reasoning is somewhat circular. Yeah, we're the correct distance from the sun and all that, but if that wasn't true, we wouldn't know about it. Because we wouldn't exist.

That may be kind of confusing, so let's put it this way. If we were a couple of observers who don't come from any particular place (like angels, maybe) looking around the universe and finding that it just so happens that Earth is situated just right for life, then your reasoning would have some validity. We would be neutral, unbiased observers.

But that's not what we are. Our very existence assures that the conditions are just right, and we can't form any idea of what the probabilities would be. For all we know, we really are the product of an accident. Back when we were created, however that happened, the odds might have been stacked against us by a billion to one or they might have been so favorable to us as to be certain. We have no way of knowing which it is because if the odds had tipped the other way, we would never have known it.

And by the way, the universe is a pretty big place. Nobody can say for certain that there is no intelligent life out there. Sure, there isn't any as far as we know, but how much of the universe do we really know? And the truth is we probably wouldn't recognize intelligent life out there. After all, what would it look like?

My religious beliefs are more or less well known, so I won't go over them.

Think about when the Bible was written and when other planets and/or galaxies were discovered.

I personally, have no specific religion. I suppose I will decide what I shall become later in life... or not.

Think of it this way... in 1,000 years we will have different religions anyway.

In a way I do believe that theres something out there that put us here, but IMO, it's definitely not that Bible stuff. I don't believe in any religions we have, but I do believe in some sort of creator.

And think about what Stu said, it's like everything was set up perfectly for us, it's hard to think that it was just by coincedence.

I converted to Islam for many reasons. One reason is that it has so much depth, it's quite unbelievable. And correct me if I'm wrong, but it's the only Holy book not to have been tampered with, proof of which is in the 100% similarity of Hifz (memorisation) between people who know the Quran.

What really struck me though was all the scientific evidence in the Quran, such as proving that the Earth wasn't a perfect sphere, that all the planets in our solar system orbit the sun, the vivid details of how a fertilised egg grows into a feotus etc, all WAY before these discoveries were made, and clear details chartered. I'm not exaggerating when I say there are hundreds and hundreds of these. Coincidence? Impossible.
One man (Muhammaed (PBUH)), who couldn't read or write, could surely NOT have been able to write, what I think is the most beautiful piece of writing. This was one of the miracles. (If you understand Arabic, you will be able to witness the sheer beauty of the language used in it).

Anyways, there were NUMEROUS reasons other than the ones I stated that converted me to Islam. It's not just a religion, it's a way of life for me and other Muslims.

Yeah. The Angel Gabriel told Muhammod the Qu'ran, and it is a miracle that he passed it on throught so many generations (since he was illiterate). I love reading about Islam... I find it very interesting.

It's not confusing at all. I know exactly what you mean...For all we know, it could be chance. For all we know, it could be a number of things, possibly something of which would be beyong our conprehension.

It's hard to have a reasonable discussion about something SO mysterious and subjective. It's even harder for a group of people to agree completely with each other about such a thing.

And for the record, I said 'frpm our knowledge', there are no signs of intelligent life. Possibly there is intelligent life out there, beyond where man can currently roam in space. Possibly there is intelligent life fairly nearby but we have no means to detect it. Either way, I never ruled out the fact that someone/something could be out there.

Joeiss, that's what I believe.

Hang on... Do you have any friends that are not Christians? so you are saying that they are not going to heaven?

Hmm.. never noticed this thread before. :unsure:

Anyways, for the record, I was baptised as a Lutheran, but I go to United. See, my father was United (his ancestors lived in Regina and folded into the Canadian religion because they were WASPS), and my mother was a strict Lutheran (extreme german. My grandmother still plays organ at a german-english lutheran church). Well, anyways, I was baptized when I was a baby, and when I lived in Ontario until I was Five, I went to a Lutheran Church (my mom played organ there... was featured on the news because it's the biggest pipe organ in Canada :sneaky: ). But, then, when we moved here, there was only one church that needed an organist, and it was united. So, I've gone there. But, due to events when I was in grade.. 7, we stopped going. We tried going to our local United a few times, and my mom still does bible study there, except we don't go. So... I don't know. Call me Lutheran.

Wha? I thought "God" wrote it. Meh, I need to read up on Christianity.

I think god, heaven, hell, and all that religion stuff is pure bull****. It's all one big fairy tale.

I have a few friends yes, and if they do not become Christians, I believe that they will not go to heaven. Depressing yes, but it's what I beleive.

I've been agnostic for quite some time, and of course I'll put my two cents in here, I just don't see how any "man-made" religion could actually have merit. I think religions are fascinating though, in the way that they affect billions of people. Religions are basically a defense mechanism, for people who can't bear the thought of not "going to heaven" when they die. Reincarnation is almost as (if not more) ludicrous, but basically has the same functioning result" Death isn't the end. Well, I think it MOST likely is, and if it isn't, it's not going to be anything anyone recognizes, etc... you aren't going to be reunited with loved ones, and you aren't coming back as an animal, or even being lauded in Valhalla for that matter. Anyway, the point is live for today! LOL