trage>
If you do believe that there can be a higher being than you do believe in some sort of religion. Just not meaning a specific one. So technically you do have a religion just not a specified kind.
I don't agree. To have an open mind for just about every solution has nothing to do with faith...we just use our logic to pick the most believable theory and stick with that until a better one turns up.
I see no reason to make a permanent decision, since we don't have enough facts to properly make one yet.
Lenseth>
Yes, as long as you live a good life without faith you will still have a spot in heaven.
I like this Irish version you have faith in.

Jake>
And the second thing, he asked me, how do I know they were forgiven by God and I said because God said so....make sense now?
Well, no

I understand what you are getting at though, and we probably won't get further than that.
I believe there is evidence all around us of a God. From the complex design of flowers, to the miniature cells that make up our bodies, everything is so well designed and works so perfectly, in my mind, there is no choice but to believe that something designed it...God.
Well, I guess you could see nature as a god.
It just depends on how you want to label it...
God has shown himself once in awhile. He shows it all the time...I don't think anyone's looking. What you're all looking for is a miracle, a Red Sea parting...but have you ever looked at the small things? The little miracles? The changes in people's lives when they come to God? Anyway, again, I got sidetracked.
No, I wouldn't even think a Red Sea parting would be sufficient.
He could give us the courtesy to show himself visually, wave his hand and say "here I am, no stop questioning me and have faith in me".

There is no reason to practically force people to believe in you, and then hide so people start to lose faith...it's not logical.
I mean, it's like if I created 100 robots, and set them in a little world all for there own. They are in every way inferior to me, dumb, stupid robots. Then I smash one. Would you blame me for smashing my own creation?
Yes, I would.
But I think a better comparison would be:
If I had 10 children, and they started to behave badly, would anyone blame me if I killed one of them?
If god created me he has a responsibility for me. He gave me free will, so he has no right to punish me if I use that free will in a way that doesn't suit him. If he does exist and does punish people for their actions in life god is a cruel hypocrite, since those actions would be a result of him making a product that doesn't work properly...