Some people have confidence in God. Others find it difficult to believe in him. How do you feel?

Just to take your illustration - of course the complex things you cite originated with an "intelligent designer". It's called evolution. It is 'intelligent' in the sense that it results in things that work, and 'designed' in the sense that the duff versions are chucked out. To me, this is the whole problem with the "intelligent design" theorists - they seem unable to conceive of forces that are not modelled on their human selves.

I don't believe in any sort of deity that has anything person-like about it. I can sense the divine, the spiritual, but I don't perceive it as anything to do with some form of being. My favoured version of deity derives from a book called "God is a Verb" and the title says it all - the idea that we manifest God by 'godding', doing things that are of benefit to others (human, animals, plants, the planet).

There is nothing remotely contradictory about science and religion, but that is simply because they deal with different ways of understanding. Your notion that the periodic table can't be the result of 'chance' and implies some sort of designer is a complete failing to understand the science. The intricate relationship of the elements derives straightforwardly from the structure of atoms.

I'm agnostic and currently functioning provisionally as a theist. I find 'intelligent design' to be not only one of the weakest, but also one of the most damaging arguments for the existence of something we might call divine.

Science in no way diminishes the existence of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcUUAR5F768

Yes it's me Jesus.....back and still eating the fruits and seeds as God ordered in Genesis, from beginning to end....

and to prove I'm the real deal I explain (in all languages as promised) how I performed 2 miracles feeding the 5000 and the miraculous catch in my key video "the announcement". More will be revealed in due course over the next few months as the world wakes up slowly to the reality I am back. Of course some will say I am an imposter but the reality is no one will wonder how the miracles were performed anymore as my truth will be embedded in the minds of man and everyone will know it's the truth even if they deny me in their hearts. Spread the video (facebook-Jayzus Christo, twitter-@themessiahme, email etc) if you want to speed up the coming of a world free of oppression, violence, paedophilia etc it's going to happen. to doubt is normal but oppose or censor me at your peril. Those who muster faith and pass on the video shall be rewarded (although perhaps despised by many).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p9lwanuh%E2%80%A6

Love Jesus

PS. there is no contradiction between God and science as I explain briefly and succinctly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sV_K-Lsj%E2%80%A6

Plus the new calendar, not so new but the easiest and most universal true celestrial calendar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwYAcU7Z%E2%80%A6

PPS. The Quran is expired. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=did2nF2Za%E2%80%A6

plus one especially for athiests. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EA24K3hE%E2%80%A6

To extend your argument of intelligent design... then every day, every motion every one of us makes is completely controlled, predetermined & managed by ... an intelligent external being, Gd.

You know that's not true. So why do you assume it's true of how the universe came into it's present existence in relationship with Gd, as created by Gd.

Judaism asserts that Gd created a world... of interplay... in which we have free will (Adam ate the apple by choice). A free will to have a *relationship* to Gd, one in which we are to incorporate Gd into this world.

In the same way, all that is around us is from Gd... nature & it's processes are from Gd. That includes how we all came to be here. If you read the texts literally, you miss. I'll say it again, you miss. All the magic, miracles, and wonderous guidance & ideas of *how* to live this life. It's in the layers of meanings.

Gd says it with that entry story -- we have free will. Everything in it's minutia is *not* controlled by Gd. It's a process as we go through life. It's been a process of how life has gotten here.

The descriptions aren't meant to be literal. Gd knows we are more intelligent than that. He designed us to understand allegory and poetic style, and to know that for his word to be meaningful & long lasting, we'd need to hunt for the layers and layers of meaning. When it requires dumbing down and ignoring information about science in order to understand Gd... we've lost Gd. We've lost what that "intelligently-designed" existence is.

Put another way Gd intelligently designed us to intelligently understand this world. To understand that it has a motion of development over time, same as we as individuals have free will to go through the process of our life developing with Gd but not with every aspect controlled & pre-determined.

I love when I read other people's answers that are brilliant (Ambivalent & Angels)... and it leads me to new thoughts on expressing my perspective. (This needs a little work, but some good ideas in here.)

Here's another angle on understanding how Gd matters:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aphc9...

that's a good question. i've got concept approximately that, too. i for my section have not got the "appropriate" answer, yet conversing from my adventure (spanning quite a few years), i've got stepped back a splash to take a injury. issues have been rattling too no longer common whilst i attempted to stay on the music "as asked" by utilising God, yet as quickly as I took a injury (stopped praying, etc.), I felt greater constructive. no longer slightly greater constructive, yet plenty greater constructive. That became into no longer meant to handed off, besides the undeniable fact that it handed off. i might say, "Ah, it is the works by utilising the devil. he's been attempting to push me off the music and might attempt to make me experience greater constructive as quickly as I have been given off so which you ought to steer me to have self belief that it became into no longer worth praying to God". yet i prefer to declare one element, we are mortal. God is immortal, so He should not be shocked to work out if we "fall". I even have plenty to declare right here, yet i'm pressured, frankly, to discover the actuality approximately the different side of religion.

It's not that I find it "difficult" to believe one exists, I find it presumptuous and absurd to believe one exists.

Let me stop you right there, you're begging the question. First explain why you know that cameras, radios, and computers are constructed. Seriously, I'm not joking. You're waving your hands, and I'm not going to let you get away with it in your argument from ignorance. Explain how you know cameras, radios, and computers are constructed.

I have a great deal of confidence that there is no god. It will take more than quotes from Bronze age drivel and cherry picked lines from old journals, and certainly more that the threadbare 'Paley's watch' argument to convince me otherwise!

some people are weak so they need an imaginary friend to help them.

i'm a pretty tough dude, i really don't see a need for an imaginary friend

i have confidence in God and ask for his supervision and guidance before anything