The Ultimate Questions - religion and spirituality

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 32 people | Log in to rate

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Religious debate about essential questions

These are the ultimate philosophy questions we all ask ourselves about religion and spirituality. Vote, get inspired and share.

Part lensography, part hey monkeybrain lens - I hope you all enjoy.

So - what's your ultimate Question? 

What would you like to debate?

Vote for the question you think is most important - and add the ultimate question I forgot. After many people have voted I will create a module for the most popular question(s) (if there isn't one already)

What happens after death?

11 points

Why do people insist on looking outside themselves for a reason for their life?

5 points

What were we before this life, what are we during this life and what will we be after this life?

4 points

What is the nature of our soul?

2 points

Why is there evil?

1 point

Who created us?

1 point

Is there scientific evidence for an intelligent designer

Do you think there is real evidence for an Intelli more...1 point

Why is there a universe?

As I understand the universe emanated from infinit more...1 point

Why is there poverty?

0 points

Where did we all come from?

0 points

Books on the ultimate questions 

Life's Ultimate Questions

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Is there life after death? 

What happens after death?

Is there an afterlife?

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Yes

mulberry says:

Not in the sense of being recreated as another person. I think it's a different state of being, but I firmly believe that there is something, just based on personal experience. Our body decomposes, but we, our spirit, continues.

Alan McDougall says:

I KNOW THERE IS BECAUSE OF A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

Alan

D says:

Yes, a spiritual life first then a resurrected life.

Cumberland says:

Yes. I think the spirit is a conscious energy form and will continue to exist in some form forever.

rstill says:

Absolutely. Life is all there is. Spirit provides life to our physical form for a time and then journeys on.
We put way too much emphasis on this physical existence and "death".

JaguarJulie says:

You know, this has been always a perplexing question to me growing up and being educated in the Catholic Church. I've become such a spiritual person over the years and love connecting with others who are so inclined. I feel there is something more out there -- perhaps an afterlife!

andrasnm says:

after we die we transition for a while and reborn (reincarnate), some 'old souls' reincarnate almost instantly some will take some time...

Audrey Marlene says:

Yes,of course there is life after death, but in what form? According to the law of conservation, energy cannot be created or destroyed but it can change forms. I don't have all the answers but this much I do know. If I do good and be the best I can be in this present life-form, I feel a sense of peace knowing that whatever comes after this life I will be better positioned to receive it.

foreverme says:

Ecclesiates 9:5 states "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead they are conscious of nothing at all" and Acts 24:15 states: "There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous". So the answer to the question is: In and of ourselves, NO; in God's mercy, YES!

keithyoung says:

There is definitely an afterlife!! Without this, our consciousness would stagnate! What's the point of just having one go at a physical existence? There doesn't seem to me to be any point to that!! I don't feel the afterlife has any resemblance as such to a physical life though!!

No

chelsea says:

we just die.

Byrnz says:

There is no life after death.
We decompose, that's all there is to it.
Our heart stops, blood stops flowing to our brains, without the O2 our brain cells die. All the cells in our body die without O2.
Without brain function, we are aware of nothing.

There is no afterlife. There is nothing.

Shindig says:

There is not 'life' per se after death. There is something that I cannot comprehend, because it will be nothing like my 'life' that I experience now. It will be a different state of being, existence in a different way. I'll know it when I get there, but not before.

davekotecki says:

There are things that happen after your life. You just don't get to participate. Look at anything that was once alive that is now dead. Study it as long as you want. There you go.

brendatucker says:

Afterlife doesn't have a specific enough meaning. The reason that some people continue to live and others may not is that during this life the individual was concerned with providing for the life of the "Kingdom of God" which is an intrinsic condition necessary to provide for our future. When we attempt to live in a way that is conducive to their goals, then they agree to provide for us when we leave this body.

Alban says:

Is there life before death? Life is life, it has no before, no after.

kirsty says:

theres no life but i believe that we have a very long dream that we never wake up from and that we control so metally there is an afterlife that u control but not physically.

silkop says:

No, but fairy tales are comforting to some.

78Dave says:

Of course not. Death is the end of all you ever were or will ever be. Everything within your brain dies with it. Belief in an afterlife is used by people to make themselves feel better that they've never done anything they consider to be worthwhile in their lives. It comes with the added benefit that they can blame something else for their failings. "I'm what I was meant to be!"

kephrira says:

Most of what we think of as ourselves - our personality - is focused on material things, desires, ambitions, likes and dislikes, emotional attachments, identification with places patriotism, with a job, with a political party, and so on. If these things survived death they would torment you as they could no longer be fulfilled, and the inability to let go of these things and allow them to become void is one definition of hell. The more enlightened and spiritual a person you are the greater part of you is focussed on non-material concerns and therefore can survive death without become a burning fire which consumes you. So the answer to the question is different depending on who it refers to, but for most people death is pretty much the end, or at least they had better hope it is.

 
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Afterlife lenses 

What's after death? Reincarnation? Karma? Heaven? Hel?

Is there a 'God' behind it all? 

Do you believe in God?

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Yes, there is an ultimate ruler / creator in the universe

rstill says:

Absolutely. I see God as the totality of all that is. That's what makes all of us one. One with God, one with each other - something that Jesus spoke about in John 17.
God isn't the angry bearded guy on a golden throne waiting for you to screw up so He can damn you to hell.

Communicating With God

dustytoes says:

Yes, there is a God. We came from someplace and it wasn't the mud.

Leo9 says:

Yes, but our perception of the nature of that God may be a long way from the reality.

josh says:

if there was not a god who would of made the world

word2_thefather says:

"The fool has said in his heart,'There is no God'" (Psalm 14;1).

Of course there is a God, and to deny His existence is like trying to put your head in the sand to avoid a charging rhino! That is foolish. But we try and convince ourselves that there is none. Why?

Because if we admit that God exists we will have to also come to grips with the fact that we are accountable to Him.

I do admit that I am a fool. I denied God, and convinced myself that He didn't exist only to be utterly slapped in the face by reality. You can read about it at my lens: http://www.squidoo.com/The-Gospel-of-Jesus-Christ/

Alan McDougall says:

The universe is obviously the work of an Inifinite intelligence "The heavens declare the glory of God"

I exist because God exists

Alan

kirsty says:

yes after millions of years ther has been reports of amazing happenings there has been a book full of events that is ancient and in most religions.
its more than just an easy escape to an extraeamlty diffuclut question!!!!

No, there is no God

bluegirl007 says:

No god exist, but I have GOD in my mind.

Shindig says:

"God" in the very specific, human idea does not exist except in our minds. Whatever it is that makes things exist is real, though. Our existence is proof of this. However, the thing that created the universe does not necessarily have any dominance over it.

In other words, something started it, and possibly set the rules and boundaries for existence, but the course the universe runs is not necessarily defined by that entity.

Jessica_Burde says:

Hashem, the creator, Brahman, call it what you will, something exists, but what ever it does has no correspondence with the commonly defined notion of 'God'.

futurmajic says:

Before anyone can say they do beleive or do not beleive in God, that person must first define God.
No I do not beleive in a supreme being. I don't like the God word but God is.........all

The_Homeopath says:

A singular "GOD", no, I don't believe there is because all life encompasses a duality which would be a reflection of more than one supreme being or intelligence.

spirituality says:

I don't believe in a personal God. I do believe in an underlying intelligence - but would hesitate to call it God.

 
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Lenses on God 

I promised you all questions about god - and then I created a Lens about questions about God because I realized that there is no way to transfer your answers to a new lens, once you've given them here.

So I apologize - and please vote over there...

Why is there evil? 

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What's the cause of evil? 

So, what do you think the cause of evil is? 

Should we even ask these questions? 

"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life."


Albert Camus

More spiritual quotes and sayings

So - should the ultimate questions be asked? 

Albert Camus (see the quote above) insists searching for happiness doesn't bring happiness. Living and looking for the meaning of life don't combine.... Do you agree?

Does asking questions about life, enrich life?

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No, asking these questions is useless

Byrnz says:

The don't help. They raise further questions and lead you into believing religion (which, in my opinion, is just a thing humans invented to find comfort in themselves; to fill in the lows of their lives to end up on a "spiritual high").

Shindig says:

Asking questions is NOT useless. But asking questions does not enrich my life - finding meaning through insight does.

Asking questions can lead to answers that give us happiness. However, learning the answers and gaining insight can often come without ever asking the question. Some answers give us sadness or uneasiness, or lead to ever more questions, but overall, answers bring contentment in life.

In the end, we may still have endless questions, but still have happiness because we have come to terms with the insight we have already gained.

0ctavias0fferings says:

Asking questions doesn't enrich your life, finding answers does ... sometimes you find answers to questions you never would have thought of.

kephrira says:

"He shall fall down into the pit called because, and there perish with the dogs of reason" - Aleister Crowley
Nobody had said no and I'm inherently quite contrary (even if my name isn't Mary) so I thought I would play the Necromancer and let Crowley speak from the grave.

Yes, asking these questions is essential to who I am

mulberry says:

Yes, if you don't think consciously and ask questions you don't learn, grow, or experience things deeply. You also frustrate the heck out of those of us who do.

dustytoes says:

Well it's okay to ask these questions and each of us must find the answer, but I don't believe that we were put on this earth to find happiness.

Leo9 says:

Life is a learning experience. If you don't ask questions, you don't learn and grow.

James Vernon says:

it does because it gives us a platform to have the questions answered if we are willing to listen and allow the Creator to talk. Matthew 7:7,8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For evertone who asks receives, and he who seeka finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

sirkeystone says:

One of the primary basis of my beliefs is "all things in moderation" So I think it's good to ask the questions, but don't spend too much time on it...

The_Homeopath says:

Yes. If we didn't question our existance we would not know how to exist.

Joan4 says:

Yes, asking questions about the meaning of life helps us to find meaning in our lives. Asking questions is how we learn -- no matter the subject.

 
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Do you need a spiritual teacher to make spiritual progress? 

Do you need a spiritual teacher to make spiritual progress?

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Yes, you need a teacher

bluegirl007 says:

Good teachers help a lot.

dustytoes says:

Yes, it helps to have someone quide you through your learning, but also look into the facts and information you are given for yourself. No one should blindly follow or believe what they are told. So it's a bit of a combination; starting with a teacher and carrying on yourself.

Shindig says:

Yes, but the teacher does not have to be a person. It could be yourself, a situation, an experience, an animal, or just a simple object. This, of course, expands the idea of teacher to anything that enables you to learn or gain insight.

word2_thefather says:

Man is unable to make any spiritual progress without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit raising a person from their spiritual deadness and into a new life in Christ Jesus.

The only way to ever be resurrected Spiritually one must first respond to the Gospel. You can read about it in my lens: http://www.squidoo.com/The-Gospel-of-Jesus-Christ/

James Vernon says:

the anwser is definely yes!!! How will we know unless some "man of God" teach us and show us the way. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen Matthew 28:18-20

graydove says:

The Bible says two great things on this which I'll paraphrase for sake of time:
1) There is wisdom in a multitude of counsellors
2) The Holy Spirit teaches all things

Tiddledeewinks says:

We are to find our own way by learning while here, BUT I believe we are led to the "teachers" as we need them, whether found in a book, inner voice, or another person, (or angel guide in disguise).

No, you can learn best on your own

mulberry says:

I prefer to read on a variety of topics, talk to a variety of people. I think I'm distrustful of guru's who have ulterior motives or their own slanted view. (sadly)

andrasnm says:

live Gurus were useful once so the aspirant would know the difference between what was "real" and what his imagination would yield. Nowadays there are no Guru's but a bunch of teachers, some good or some bad - hard to discern sometimes who is who.....I say you can do it on your own with some "outside" help....

nightowl says:

In my personal experiences teachers can be a help or a hinderance. Following a group or leader can limit your spiritual growth particurally if the group or leader limits the resources a person is allowed to access. Personally some of my greatest lessons were obtained on my own with God not in a group. Some of my greatest hinderances were when I was involved in a group. A balance of the two seems to work best for me. I welcome those teachers that God places in my path but ultimately my spiritual growth comes from the God of the universes and how this spirit relates to me personally.

0ctavias0fferings says:

Teaching is everywhere and no-one can force you to progress, you do so when you are ready.

futurmajic says:

Only go to a teacher if you can separate the teacher's delusions from their realities. If you can do this you don't need a teacher. (Go straight to the source!)

The_Homeopath says:

No. I feel that we were created as individuals for a reason.

ElizabethJeanAllen says:

No. I can search and learn on my own, but its easy slack off. Having a leader and a group helps keep me focused.

 
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More on the spiritual teacher controversy 

What is essential for happiness? 

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More about happiness 

Do we have free will? 

Do we have freedom of choice?

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Yes, we have freedom of choice

mulberry says:

yes.

Jessica_Burde says:

It is true that who we are has a strong influece on what we do, but who we are is the result of the choices we make, and we can choose to change who we are.

Free will doesn't mean having the ability to choose any option in every situation, it means choosing who to be.

James Vernon says:

the bible has all the answer to all of mankind's question. As a matter of fact it is the B-basic I-instructions B-before L-leaving E-earth = BIBLE. "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord , Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will servre the Lord..." Joshua 24:15 So we all have the freedom of choice to right or wrong, we decide!!!!!!

Margo_Arrowsmith says:

It is not either or, but since we have some, I will have to go on the 'yes' side.

We are more predetermined, by many things--history, the universe, etc--than we care to know, but there are moments, and it may only be moments, where we can break free of the predetermination.

Those are the moments that make us human.

futurmajic says:

If God directs everything, then all would be Gods life. Of which we are a part and we are all.

sirkeystone says:

One of the differentiations in quantum psysics between the dimensions, once you get past height, width, depth, and duration then you have the interaction between these basic dimensions. If you could fold time, you can time travel. If you could time travel, you could see that the choices we make create a new line in the dimension. Yeah, it's that deep. So not only do we have the choice, it moulds our entire world. This is where we contribute to creation and evolution to the point of calling ourselves gods.

The_Homeopath says:

Yes, we have freedom to make decisions, but we may not have control over the outcome.

No, our freedom of choice is an illusion

Shindig says:

Freedom of choice is an illusion. HOWEVER, it does not matter that everything is fated to occur, that I am fated to decide certain things - because I do not KNOW what will happen. I do not have knowledge of fate, except in speculation about the future, and therefore I essentially have freedom of choice. I am an ignorant captive, which means I am the same as free.

kirsty peace out says:

no you brain does you silly mong.

kephrira says:

I could no more choose to be something other than that which I am than a rock could sprout wings and fly. But to be honest the illusion of free will is good enough for me - there's no point doing you own head in over it.

 
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More on Free will 

Do we have a soul? 

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More on the soul and consciousness 

Does life have any purpose? 

Does life have a purpose? (If so, what is it?)

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Yes

mulberry says:

I really don't know! Perhaps not on a personal level such as I was born for a specific, unique purpose. But perhaps in a larger sense such as we exist for a reason, as part of something larger????

andrasnm says:

we are all born (incarnate) with one lesson to work out, stemming from our past life history. Finding this "life lesson" is our dharma, path of achievement...to do so is "following our bliss" and will make one happy and content. Unfortunately they do not teach you in school and career counseling.

ClouDz says:

Yes, but we are responsible for giving its purpose.

James Vernon says:

indeed and it is very simple! "Let us hear the conclusion of matter: Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14 Also Jesus tells us to love God will all our body, mind, and soul plus to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and upon these two commandments hang all the law and prophets of God....

0ctavias0fferings says:

It is only in this form that we can experience so many aspects of life because aspects of our spiritual life are usually hidden from us. As spiritual beings we know the compassion of love / love of compassion but pain and pleasure exist on this plane as our teachers.

graydove says:

If you read and understand the Bible you will now your purpose, because it comes from God Himself. If you want to know more about this I'm willing to answer any question sent to info@gtachurch.com

The_Homeopath says:

I believe that life does hold a purpose, we just don't know what that purpose ultimately is while we're here.

No

isobel says:

There is no purpose, you learn from your own experiences, and
go where life takes you.

silkop says:

Whatever you want it to be.

spirituality says:

Sometimes I think Life doesn't have an implicit purpose - we have to create meaning in our lives.

 
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The purpose of LIFE - Eckhart Tolle 

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61)

Amazon Price: $10.78 (as of 07/04/2009)Buy Now

This book is life-changing. It makes you look within for the central truths in your own life, letting go of the Ego and finding the ability to LOVE right there. As someone said on the Oprah Show: Love is not a to do list. It's there when you let go of your own barriers to love.

More on having a purpose (or not) 

Why do people insist on looking outside themselves for a reason for their life? 

What do you think: Why do people insist on looking outside themselves for a reason for their life?

Is it because there IS a God outside ourselves?
Is it because we really aren't self-sufficiant (and who is)?
Is it because people don't depend on themselves enough?

Should we even look only inside ourselves to find meaning in our lives? How about sharing? How about people being interdependent? Is that such a bad thing?

brendatucker wrote...

Because the whoever wrote the dictionary doesn't know all of the words yet.

ReplyPosted February 01, 2009

Lensmaster

Alan McDougall wrote

THE greatest question is simply the existence of existence

Reply Posted December 20, 2008

Lensmaster

Jessica wrote

I think people look outside themselves for a reason for their life because they want to have something to believe in so they don't feel alone. No one truly likes to feel alone no matter how much they say they do. As long as there is something higher up to believe in they aren't as alone as they thought they were. I think people look outside themselves a lot for that simple reason.

Reply Posted December 07, 2008

ShawnMichel wrote...

Wind up the Plastic Doll, and watch it. You'll get bored, fast. It's the same thing every day: wake up, dress, coffee, work, work, work, kids, soccer practice, home, dinner, television, bed. Sleep is the wind up. "Sound psychological health" is found in "accepting your inner angst" and wiping your troublesome self from existence. (Look on Gaia.com for many, many examples of this.) Because your troublesome self keeps telling you that you're a fraud, a brittle, aging, rusting, gear-driven tin soldier who has, in cowardice and fear, chosen a life not worth living, one that cannot See, and so one that the world cannot See back. White lighties call coating their plastic shells with lubricant "authentic living"; they label the process of capitalizing status, security, cash, power, and fame (Status, Security, Cash, Power, Fame) "finding their purpose"; ...

More at http://thepiertoforever.blogspot.com/

ReplyPosted September 20, 2008

spirituality wrote...

Do people really only look outside themselves for meaning? I think we look inside and outside ourselves. To be useful, helpful: not a bad way to find meaning in your life. Is that inside or outside myself?

ReplyPosted August 23, 2008

Can science and spirituality be combined? 

Can science and religion be combined?

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Yes, truth doesn't fight truth

mulberry says:

mmm, I don't think science contradicts spirituality so yes, I think they can co-exist and not negate each other. To ignore one or the other seems to me a rather "stuck in the box" kind of thinking. I'm thinking of spirituality in a general sense, not the very specific teachings of a given religion.

Cumberland says:

I think science and spirituality are interrelated. I think Quantum Physics will be the bridge that legitimizes the relationship in the future.

foreverme says:

Many believe the Bible contradicts proven science. It does not. But "religion" does not necessarily equate with worship. And all "science" is not proven.

Jessica_Burde says:

Western Science began as a search for God, because men believed that by understanding the rules God used to build the universe, they could gain a greater understanding of God.

The divide between religion and science seems to be a primarily Western (by which we really mean Christian) phenomenon. In Asian traditions it is more commonly accepted that dichotomy leads to higher truth, and so science and religion build on each other.

James Vernon says:

you better believe it because God is the author of science. It's because we as mankind have gotten to the point that we don't want God to have anything to do with our exisitence so we abruptly try to XX Him out of all our affairs... Science is an opportunty for God to tell the life story of our universe!!!

Margo_Arrowsmith says:

I answer this under protest. Not sure which side to go on, but think that yes is the closest. note that I changed this to a yes after finishing my answer-and am still not happy with it)

Some religions are anti science. Some scientists are anti-religion.

However, religion doesn't have to be anti-science and they are not mutually exclusive.

BUT, no, they cannot nor should they be combined. Was it Stephen J. Gold or Einstein who said that if you combine them they both lose.

However, it was Einstein who said, "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."

That is not combing them, but it certainly shows that they need each other.

http://www.squidoo.com/alberteinsteinspeaks

0ctavias0fferings says:

Definitely they can combine and once more scientists get over themselves we may begin to discover great things.

No, my religious tradition has more authority than the scientific community OR Science is the only source of truth

brendatucker says:

How could it possibly ever be combined without religious texts that praise the researcher?

silkop says:

"My religious tradition has more authority than the scientific community?" How about the exactly other way around? This poll is like asking "have you stopped beating your wife?"

AndreaB says:

Science is the search for one universal truth. Religion is the search for an individual truth. Religion is sometimes shared by many but in some way remains unique to the person being touched by that religious thought or belief. For this reason religion and science can not be combined. Science should be true for all while there will never be one religion that everyone will share.

 
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Combining science and spirituality 

Religious pluralism... 

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Religious pluralism information 

So - did I ask the Ultimate Questions? 

What did you think of this ultimate questions lens? Did I ask the right questions? Were you inspired? What questions did I forget? - and anything else you may want to say. Including:
Share your lenses on the ultimate questions - I might just feature them here (if I like them).

And if you liked my lens - don't forget to vote for it!

jaye3000 wrote...

Great work! I love the lenses that make you think on things :) 5 stars

ReplyPosted June 17, 2009

mulberry wrote...

Great questions, now all I need are answers.

ReplyPosted June 17, 2009

Cumberland wrote...

I consider the ultimate question to be: What is the final goal or destination of the human spirit and how does it get there?

I really like this lens and am lens rolling it to my Edgar Cayce lens. 5 Stars and Thanks.

ReplyPosted May 25, 2009

dchmelik wrote...

I see what you mean that Squidoo can be a good place for debate... BTW one of the questions should say 'is there scientific evidence for an intelligent designer,' not '... intellegent designer.'

ReplyPosted May 22, 2009

foreverme wrote...

Good questions. The best source to go to for answers you can trust is God's word, the Bible. After all it's what He wants us to know. Those who believe the answers are not there have not researched it thoroughly. 5*

ReplyPosted April 05, 2009

 
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