Is there a word that describes a situation where you *technically* have free will, but don't REALLY have the option to choose otherwise? [more inside]
posted by jenfullmoon on Nov 18, 2009 - 27 answers

Please give advice on how to accept my atheism, let go of God and the need for one, how to get over the fourth stage of grief/letting go (depression), and how to find my passion for life again! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 18, 2009 - 45 answers

Help me find a quote I have forgotten. [more inside]
posted by Acacia on Oct 24, 2009 - 1 answer

How do I convince [the more liberal] Christians to become atheists? (Issues you have with the wording of this question are likely addressed inside.) [more inside]
posted by LSK on Sep 3, 2009 - 83 answers

A religious war in space, with chits. [more inside]
posted by nomisxid on Apr 30, 2009 - 5 answers

What is the quote about god that goes something like: "Can god intervene but chooses not to? Then he is _____. Can he intervene but is not able? Then he is _____" I can't find the exact quote. [more inside]
posted by virga on Apr 13, 2009 - 9 answers

You may very well recognize this song. It is from this movie. What does it mean? Does the first stanza and/or chorus spell something? Please help! [more inside]
posted by crazyray on Apr 11, 2009 - 9 answers

I am currently writing a paper on where to place humankind on the spectrum between God and animals. Is there a commonly-used name for this philosophical topic? Googling around has failed me. [more inside]
posted by aheckler on Mar 31, 2009 - 25 answers

I vaguely remember a Jewish quip about the questions God asks a Rabbi at the end of his life. It is something like 1. Did you follow my commandments? (yes, all of them) 2. Did you study my Word well? (yes, every day) 3. Did you dance enough? Or something to that effect. Has anyone heard of this or know how it really goes?
posted by brenton on Mar 31, 2009 - 5 answers

Whenever someone says "I turned my life over to God," it seems everyone just nods and acts like they understand, so I just act like I understand, too. But I don't. [more inside]
posted by Piscean on Mar 9, 2009 - 40 answers

Have I transformed an insanely great and clear-cut early relationship into a friendship? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 13, 2009 - 42 answers

Other than Rambam's "Mishnah Torah: Sefer Madah," what other famous book or work begins with the Tetragrammaton? In "hilchot yesode hatorah," the first four words of the chapter begin with the letters yud hay vav hay. Our teacher said there is some other famous book/chapter/text that uses words with the same four letters? Anyone know what it is? Thanks!
posted by andoatnp on Oct 28, 2008 - 5 answers

My dad recently read The Shack and really liked it. Can you recommend other books with a spiritual leaning (not necessarily Christian) that he might also like? [more inside]
posted by Metroid Baby on Aug 25, 2008 - 9 answers

I believe in God. The strange thing is that God does seem to give me everything I ask for. Even stranger, I don't actually believe that a God can exist. The question: If you are a believer in God, do you notice yourself having your requests consistently answered? [more inside]
posted by ChabonJabon on Aug 11, 2008 - 48 answers

StoryresearchFilter: Information needed on relations between superstar Cambridge dons of the 1930s-1950s. i.e. Russell, Wittgenstein, Turing, Keynes. [more inside]
posted by greytape on May 14, 2008 - 9 answers

I would like to sense God in my life. I go to church regularly, pray, and read the Bible to understand Him better but I still have such deep bouts of depression where I either don't trust or sense his presence. There is a wide gap between what I believe with my heart and what I understand in my head. For example, I understand and believe in the sovereignty in God but when hard times come or extremely difficult emotions (despair) arise, that is the first thing I question. I am not looking for an easy life or a perfect life, just one that is able to trust God more. Any opinions on how to do this? I feel a great tension between trying harder, and just letting go but my letting go resembles more closely giving up than "letting God" if you know what i mean. To summarize, I want a stronger faith. Any ideas? Thanks so much for input.
posted by snap_dragon on May 8, 2008 - 58 answers

Why do theists bring up morality when arguing for the existence of god? [more inside]
posted by wigglin on Apr 5, 2008 - 97 answers

Churchfilter: How can i find out which church is for me and my family? [more inside]
posted by flipmiester99 on Jan 16, 2008 - 12 answers

"Matter is Lucifer crawling itself back to God".... what's this mean then? [more inside]
posted by fearfulsymmetry on Dec 13, 2007 - 10 answers

My google-fu only goes so far: I'm looking for succinct summaries, explanations, and justifications of various religions' opinions/support/criticism on human cloning... [more inside]
posted by weaponsgradecarp on Dec 4, 2007 - 2 answers

I am searching for examples of The Infinite, or the immeasurably large, in our mythologies and archetypes. I am also interested in the categories of Truth which came out of the emergence of Western, ontological thought. Does the trust in a rationally conceivable reality deny us the infinity of the mythological realm? By rooting ourselves in the present, and denying atemporal mythologies, do we also deny the infinite origins from where we came? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Nov 28, 2007 - 22 answers

So, my eleven year old daughter has decided she no longer believes in God. Which is fine, because I'm a cool mom like that. [more inside]
posted by obeetaybee on Nov 2, 2007 - 43 answers

Help me find the "best" fundamentalist / evangelical Christian websites geared toward youth. [more inside]
posted by Rykey on Oct 15, 2007 - 13 answers

Help me find: An online comedian’s series. He plays god as an LA/Hollywood-type deal-maker/boss. In one sketch he tries to explain to an employee the benefits of getting crucified in exchange for a promotion. In another [more inside]
posted by dpcoffin on Oct 3, 2007 - 5 answers

Dear GOD what is making that racket in the tree outside my house? [more inside]
posted by geodave on Sep 4, 2007 - 10 answers

I'm working my way through the Bible. At the moment, I'm towards the end of Numbers. The past few books have been very heavy with detailed instructions on the various blood rituals God requires of his people — which animals to sacrifice, what manner to do it in, and lots of blood-splashing on the sides of the tent. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Aug 29, 2007 - 31 answers

Help me get started learning to play the mighty B3, pretty please? [more inside]
posted by waxboy on Aug 10, 2007 - 5 answers

I need a crash course that would help me understand (not a technical, but a "familiar" or "conversational" understanding) the framework and constraints of C++ and/or .NET. I know this is a very difficult/impossible task, but I'm in a bind. [more inside]
posted by lattiboy on Jun 7, 2007 - 17 answers

There is a South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Paris called Krishna-Bhavan (delicious, BTW), that has an image of a flute-playing butt with eyes (and jewellery) on one of their walls. Can anyone help me identify this deity / character? Picture here (scroll down). [more inside]
posted by LMGM on May 30, 2007 - 9 answers

My SO & I were having a conversation yesterday that somehow landed on the topic of alien life. Essentially, I said something to the effect of "even if there is intelligent life somewhere in the universe...". [more inside]
posted by Laura in Canada on Apr 12, 2007 - 61 answers

Pre-marriage Catholic priest consultation - what to expect? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 26, 2007 - 29 answers

I have just watched the Vin Diesel vehicle The Pacifier (don't ask), and in the wrestling scene, one of the students is holding a placard saying John 3:16, which is the verse about God giving his only son as a sacrifice that we might be saved. Does anyone know why? Was the director sending a subliminal message? Is it a common high-school thing being satirised? It just struck me as odd. Thanks.
posted by Hermit on Feb 23, 2007 - 10 answers

Churches in Seattle? [more inside]
posted by bamassippi on Sep 14, 2006 - 12 answers

Has there ever been an atheist civilization\tribe? [more inside]
posted by pantsrobot on Aug 22, 2006 - 15 answers

I once heard a belief, a tale, a myth (not sure which it falls under) that there are a certain fixed number of "pure" or "perfect" souls roaming the earth, and that the existance of these people is the one thing keeping God from throwing the towel in. Where did I hear this? Have any of you heard a tale like this? Can anyone tell me more? [more inside]
posted by Windigo on Aug 3, 2006 - 11 answers

I'm on the hunt for sites and/or blogs about big ideas... Who wants to join me? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jul 9, 2006 - 17 answers

"God is a concept by which we measure our pain." What did John Lennon mean by this? [more inside]
posted by zaebiz on Jul 2, 2006 - 23 answers

Is God perfect? [more inside]
posted by fatbobsmith on Jun 25, 2006 - 32 answers

In the Oingo Boingo song "Cry of the Vatos," Danny Elfman says (backwards): "Accept Jesus into your heart and you will saved! You will receive everlasting life! Listen to me, I've sinned, I know." Has anyone ever seen any interviews about this? Was this just a joke on the supposed backwards masking people were "finding" around that time in heavy metal music? Surely Danny Elfman doesn't really believe in God with all the weird movies and music he's put out?
posted by ostranenie on Jun 1, 2006 - 12 answers

My apologies for this vague description--I used to work in a bookstore where I'd pick up and browse through a number of books. One book included a letter written to God by a Jewish man (maybe a rabbi?) imprisoned during the Holocaust. Part of the letter involved him saying, essentially, "no matter what you do to me, God, or what suffering you send, you can't make me stop loving you. That is the form my free will takes." Does anyone know the author or title?
posted by piers on Mar 30, 2006 - 4 answers

A very dear friend has asked me to be God Father to his young daughter. My friend and I go back 20 years - he's like a brother to me. What is an appropriate gift to give my soon-to-be God Daughter?
posted by stiffpicken on Jan 17, 2006 - 21 answers

Why, throughout history, has mankind always seen the need to worship some kind of higher being? [more inside]
posted by TheDonF on Jan 2, 2006 - 52 answers

MetaFilter landlords: Please help me aquire a lease... [more inside]
posted by cmonkey on Dec 7, 2005 - 11 answers

Are there other countries that mention God / Allah / etc on their currency like the US currency's "In God We Trust" ?
posted by birdherder on Dec 2, 2005 - 8 answers

This question is for people who believe in religious miracles. [more inside]
posted by ab'd al'Hazred on Dec 1, 2005 - 38 answers

Can God change the past? [more inside]
posted by cillit bang on Nov 21, 2005 - 65 answers

If God exists, and if God is good, then why allow all the atrocities that humans are committing against each other? [more inside]
posted by arrowhead on Nov 4, 2005 - 91 answers

I'm unable to come to terms with my mortality. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 2, 2005 - 44 answers

My insomnia is driving me nuts... [more inside]
posted by cmonkey on Oct 12, 2005 - 21 answers

God is pretty clear that the Jews are his chosen people, how do Christians reconcile this with the basic tenet of the faith, namely the acceptance of Christ?
posted by Keith Talent on Feb 22, 2005 - 42 answers