There are 10 choices, 22 votes for DryIce808's debate

God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."

A statement by Voltaire. What does everyone think?


  • Let's clear things up a bit.
    Alright people, this quote is an analogy. Unfortunately, many of you seem to be taking it literally [which is a common error amongst religious folk, but I digress]. Voltaire is not calling God a literal comedian; he is not insinuating that God toys with us for our amusement, is anything less than Almighty, nor is Voltaire trying to belittle God's followers. Voltaire is making a philosophical observation about those who follow God, which ironically presents itself in some of these comments. People are too freaked out about God. They mistake mindless submission for holy reverence. We are called to follow God and His Will, not to live in fear and tiptoe around anything to do with the Almighty. If you don't see the difference, then you are part of the observation that Voltaire was making.

    The quote is a simple metaphor, used to illustrate one man's *opinion* about something he has observed.

    27%  Voted for by NotExactly, TeChNoWC, nanoinfinity, BlueWitch, Chris2far. (6 total)
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  • I think it is interesting

    If God does exist, especially in the way that the Bible presents him, this statement holds very true.

    18%  Voted for by DryIce808, Weydon, Amber Silverhair, Kazrith.
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  • Does God Have a Sense of Humor

    He can laugh joyously. Joy is very different from plain ol' happy feelings and sometimes gets you laughing much more. From my own experiences with laughter; the joyous kind is much more fun to experience. Just the way I feel it, guys. Yes God may have a sense of humor, but He takes His family seriously, just as we do our own families. Being the ultimate superdad, such as God is to us, means being serious about our well-being, being proud of us when we do positive things.

    13%  Voted for by frndofyaweh, Makessenseright, Mairi-Alannah.
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  • I dont think so

    I believe that no matter what we are people of his creation whether we see it or not, and whether scientists can prove it. But if you think about it, God knows everything. Everythought, every person, hope dreams and desires. Then so he is not a comedian. Their is no comedian their is only god and his creations. Which he practicly makes the world work with everything in existance. There for hes the audience, and were the comedians as one. For he is the one speculating and clapping or booing. This is a very complicated debate.

    13%  Voted for by THE-fortunecookie, Makessenseright, frndofyaweh.
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  • *chuckle*

    Possibly sometimes, but he has his reasons. God needs his laughs, nevertheless, He wouldn't hurt us just to get a good chuckle. He'll always have his reason behind it. For God is more clever than we sometimes think.

    Voted for by NovemberRynn.
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  • Does that mean god hates me ?

    The following is the beginning of a conversation which was discouraged but not easily put out in the Allpoetry CB. I am posting it here with hopes of getting the discussion continued (not debate, but calm, intellectual discussion, with mutual respect held by all for all)I suggest that you read this from the bottome up, to get the chronological gist of it:

    Drunken Beauty x is confused (1 second ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: but if your sensitive.. then why would it hurt to talk about it (20 seconds ago)

    AlbaSoul: i don't do that..... (31 seconds ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: ok sorry. i do it, sorry. so .. sry (45 seconds ago)

    cafegroundzero: They sit up all NIGHT wondering does doG exist? (55 seconds ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: nvm (57 seconds ago)

    KGBAsh: drunken beauty: please don't talk about self mutilation... I am extremmelly sensitive (58 seconds ago)

    ... kirbysman: Hey guys, looks that the talk is turning into a debate and that's not what we need in the CB. Take it to IM's if you want to continue, or off-site. Thanks (1 minute ago)

    bumbumbum: hey x-vegan are u goth (1 minute ago)

    AlbaSoul: X, than y worry if he hates u or not (1 minute ago)

    Distilled Gin: God is invincible..and invisible..unless you believe (1 minute ago)

    cafegroundzero: Hey, you know what agnostic dyslexics do when they suffer insomnia? (1 minute ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: woah (1 minute ago) ... KGBAsh: cafe: ok (2 minutes ago)

    X-vegan ex: i killed god (2 minutes ago)

    cafegroundzero: Well, it means you won't see the fullness of G-d all at once, not till after the Second Coming. But you can see something of G-d in anyone. (2 minutes ago)

    Proxy rubs her eyes (2 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: i went to this church. and the night before, i had cut my stomach up really bad [self mutilation. (2 minutes ago)

    Distilled Gin talks to and about God all the time...is a part of her genetic make up (2 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: wow.. (3 minutes ago) bumbumbum: still confused my brainis going (3 minutes ago)

    cafegroundzero: I met G-d by a bench in a park in Memphis. and another time in a bar on Canal Street in New Orleans. (3 minutes ago)

    X-vegan ex: why stop talking about god? (3 minutes ago)

    KGBAsh: cafe: isn't there a line somewhere in the torah that says that nobody will see g-d? (3 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: *i dont know if i've ever really talked to Him.. but i had one experience that made me believe. it was so scary..* (3 minutes ago)

    Distilled Gin lives in the state of confusion (3 minutes ago)

    bumbumbum: im confused (4 minutes ago)

    cafegroundzero: *I've had a few chats with G-d. And He's really notsuch a bad guy.* (4 minutes ago)

    X-vegan ex: why (4 minutes ago)

    Proxy: When somebody asks a stranger if they know them, does that mean they actually think they might know them or just that they'd like to know them? (4 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: how about, "lets stop talking about god" (4 minutes ago)

    bumbumbum: its not hard to guess (4 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: me? (4 minutes ago)

    KGBAsh: bumbumbum: confusionism? (it's a real religion) (4 minutes ago)

    X-vegan ex: who here cares? (4 minutes ago) Distilled Gin lives in the state of confusion (5 minutes ago) bumbumbum: im confused (5 minutes ago) cafegroundzero: I've had a few chats with G-d. And He's really notsuch a bad guy. (5 minutes ago)

    X-vegan ex: why (5 minutes ago) Proxy: When somebody asks a stranger if they know them, does that mean they actually think they might know them or just that they'd like to know them? (5 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: how about, "lets stop talking about god" (5 minutes ago) bumbumbum: its not hard to guess (5 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: me? (5 minutes ago) KGBAsh: bumbumbum: confusionism? (it's a real religion) (5 minutes ago) X-vegan ex: who here cares? (5 minutes ago)

    *AlbaSoul: how about "God Does Not Exist " (5 minutes ago)*

    cafegroundzero: Anyway, there's a thin line between love & hate so I wouldn't worry about it. She'll get over it. (6 minutes ago) bumbumbum: who here can guess my religion (6 minutes ago) Proxy: presumptuous (6 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: he doesnt even hate SATAN. (6 minutes ago) KGBAsh: I dunno, I just think I remember zt saying that once? (6 minutes ago)

    KGBAsh: _guys, I don't think the whole "g-d hates us" thing is within the site's rules..._ (6 minutes ago) Proxy: *I don't like to speak for God. I've never really had an in-depth conversation with the guy. It would be presumptious.* (6 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: he doesnt even hate murderers. he forgives. (6 minutes ago) Dead Black Rose: *falls asleep^ (6 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: god does not hate. (6 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: i've been like so many religions. lol (6 minutes ago)

    bumbumbum: *god hates us really? i didnt think he hated* (6 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: i'm non denominational. (7 minutes ago) KGBAsh wonders who would be first to guess his religion (7 minutes ago) X-vegan ex: instead of god (7 minutes ago) cafegroundzero: I don't think G-d is so humanized as to hate for petty reasons like that. That's some bigots' perverting religion. (7 minutes ago) X-vegan ex: why did you say g-d (7 minutes ago)

    Distilled Gin: *I believe in God...and I'm a Baptist (7 minutes ago)* Drunken Beauty x: yes he is. and he is saying he thinks God hates us ... (7 minutes ago) ... Drunken Beauty x: :] kgba (7 minutes ago) bumbumbum: wow hold up so x-vegan is gay (7 minutes ago)

    Immaterial: *im a catholic and i lt;3 god* (8 minutes ago) KGBAsh: Drunken Beauty: (8 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: vegan. that was rude (8 minutes ago) Proxy: Actually, yes. Most young people don't appreciate growing up here like I do. (8 minutes ago)

    KGBAsh: I don't believe g-d hates anybody, but religious debates are against the CB rules, so we should refraign from it (8 minutes ago)

    Drunken Beauty x: yay KGBA (8 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: He doesnt (8 minutes ago) bumbumbum: wow hold up so x-vegan is gay (8 minutes ago) Immaterial: im a catholic and i lt;3 god (9 minutes ago) KGBAsh: Drunken Beauty: (9 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: vegan. that was rude (9 minutes ago) Proxy: Actually, yes. Most young people don't appreciate growing up here like I do. (9 minutes ago) KGBAsh: I don't believe g-d hates anybody, but religious debates are against the CB rules, so we should refraign from it (9 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: yay KGBA (9 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: He doesnt (9 minutes ago) ... X-vegan ex: i think he does (9 minutes ago) AlbaSoul: i thought god was not supposed to hate (9 minutes ago) KGBAsh hugs drunken beauty (9 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: why would u say that about us? (9 minutes ago)

    KGBAsh: *lol, someone once told me that everybody believes in g-d, they are just afraid to admit it* (10 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: um.. no god doesnt hate us (10 minutes ago)

    ... Drunken Beauty x high 5's KGBAsh (10 minutes ago) X-vegan ex: and everyone here (10 minutes ago) X-vegan ex: i think god does hate me (10 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: i believe in god. (10 minutes ago) ... Distilled Gin is in love with someone but is scared to tell him (10 minutes ago) ....

    AlbaSoul: let's start with, do u believe in god. lol (11 minutes ago) Drunken Beauty x: i think that if god wants you to love everyone, that you can love the same gender too. bc im bi. (11 minutes ago) ... Drunken Beauty x: no god doesnt hate you.' (11 minutes ago) ... (11 minutes ago) X-vegan ex: i guess (11 minutes ago) ... (11 minutes ago) KGBAsh: nice* (11 minutes ago) KGBAsh: nixw... (11 minutes ago) ... bumbumbum: so ur gay x vegan (12 minutes ago)

    X-vegan ex: does that mean god hates me (12 minutes ago)

    Voted for by cafegroundzero.
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  • The audience would laugh to itself

    In order to interpret Voltaire's statement, I belive it is important to point out what the source of laughter is in a comedy - either the personality of a character or his actions. God is an extreme character because it is believed in his perfection. Thus, laughing to the idea of God would mean laughing to human beliefs. God is a creator - he craates imperfect humans and puts them in imperfect situations. Thus, laughing to the acts oh God would mean laughing tho the imperfections of the world and humans. Therefore, in both cases, the idea deduces to humans laughing to themselves. That is why the audiance is too afraid to laugh. Ofcoure, there are people who don't believe in God, but as I interpret it, they woulden't even be the part of the audience to which Voltaire refers.

    Voted for by nikadvise.
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  • I'm Afraid To Laugh

    I love that quote and find it quite hilarious, but at the same time I find it hard to laugh at it because it's about God and making fun of Him. And that basically proves the quote, doesn't it? I'm an audience too afraid to even laugh at that quote.

    Voted for by Dark Red Ink.
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  • God is a kid and we are his dolls
    I've been so confused about God and religion
    Nowadays when i think about God and his power, how he knows and plans our live before we're even born, it makes me think of a kid controlling her dolls in a doll house.

    see, the kid can act out the dolls' lives making them happy, having tea parties and such (for her comical pleasure) OR she can stomp on the doll house and bring saddness to the dolls' live (for her comical pleasure)

    i don't know. sometimes I think of God in that way. if he was such a nice God and had a reason behind killing people, what was the point of it? think of holocaust, natural occurences like floods and tornadoes and hurricanes, and war especially. for what reason are these things happening?? how does this make God such a great God? i don't get it.

    Convince me that i'm wrong for saying this part of my opinion. otherwise i'm agreeing fully to the quote.
    Voted for by ButerfliSpirit.
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  • i dont think its possible for anyone to have comPLETELY understood God by now

    in fact, we may not ever understand him; at times we dont understand ourselves or things around us, and we SURE as hell dont understand each other (war, et cetera). i think its possible that if God exists he is not some conscious creature that is capable of thought, he would merely need to be a powerful one. i think its possible is some type of energy field and not a powerful guy in the clouds.

    and i dont think arguing or door-to-dooring ("have you found jesus" et cetera) will do anything. thatd be like trying to persuade some one what their new favorite color is... its a personal choice and you really cant interfere, despite your sincerest attempts. i think believing in a higher power is a good thing, and if it instills you with faith and trust and makes you a happier person then you are all the better for it

    what i dont like is when religion divides, which is the case (on catastrophic levels) more often than not. christians and muslims have slaughtered each other, if you look in the right countries. also, people have shut them down to modern convention and scientific ingenuity, which is pretty much just ignorant

    anyway, im not bashing religion. i only bash individuals. and i say "rock on" to any one who finds truth in ANY religion

    --rin

    Voted for by potaytotomahto.
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