Does God exist?

[Grouse]

I'm going now.

[Grouse]

<sniff>

[Guick Dotto]

I'm with Harry. When I stare at the night sky, I sense the numen in the awe and the wonder. But, for me, the numen is inside my head. It is all a result of amazing coincidences over billions of years, but it's not all that amazing because these are the coincidences that work (in this universe). The other coincidences have failed or died away, leaving the ones that best fit the laws of the universe. A sort of Darwinism of physics.

What if God is not a "sky god" but something utterly more than that. We don't need sky gods maybe. Maybe we don't need any sort of god. We can get along, surviving or not surviving according to the laws of physics and Darwin, just fine. Robust individuals may not need the consolation that faith brings to some believers (ie not all); intellectual independence and their own capacity to endure may be enough. But what if there is a god made up of "universal laws" , a tension within "creation" that stops it from disintegrating, a something, not understood, but there nonetheless, which gives a point to things. In other words, and this is my hope, that things are not absurdly pointless; that there's a reason for me being here.
By the way I can't understand why Darwin and physics are still set up in opposition to God. Surely no one capable of engaging in this level of debate still asserts an old testament version of creation. Christians of my ilk assert that Genesis is a profoundly interesting creation myth. A myth that explains nothing and at the same time, (because it is in the nature of myth), explains it all (of course).

[Brotherton Lad]

Science is looking for a universal theory, you feel a need for a universal god. Perhaps they're the same thing with a different name.
I see no need for a reason to exist, I think Dawkins says there's no point in the 'why' question.
And I agree, plenty of Darwinists and scientists have faith, too. I also agree that all cultures have a creation myth and many (if not all) religions share very similar values and ethics, so that we can all rub along together.
I've said earlier, I don't know whether God exists or not, but I do know that faith and religion exist, and that alot of modern civilisation originated in established religious bodies. Things like the codex of laws, science, astronomy, medicine, education, the printing press, soft cheeses, Trappist beers and Benedictine, fine tapestries, charitable works.

In fact I think you'll find all successful civilisations through history have been based on just two institutions: an established religion (faith) and organised, effective miltary and naval forces (power). Plenty of mistakes on the way and retrograde steps of course, but then we're simple human beings.

[Grouse]

Who put the scent into the
roses?
Who taught the honey bee to
dance?
Who put the tree inside the
acorn?
It surely can’t be chance!

[daz h]

Who put the scent into the
roses?
Who taught the honey bee to
dance?
Who put the tree inside the
acorn?
It surely can’t be chance!

Who put the feathers on the grouse

[Brotherton Lad]

Who ate the porridge?

[Rodders]

Who unleashed the Tsunami?
Who Unleahed the Haiti Earthquake?

[Grouse]

You eyes are filled with dead mens' dust.
Your mind is filled with dirt.

[Rodders]

""If you can't speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that's so unjust," sings Dylan, "Your eyes are filled with dead men's dirt, your mind is filled with dust."

Or my favoutire, when the prophet Elisha kills 42 kids for calling him baldy!
2Kings 2:23-24 [NIV]
"Elisha left Jericho to go to Bethel and on the way some boys came out of a town and made fun of him. "Get out of here, Baldy!" they shouted.Elisha turned around, glared at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys to pieces."