What's Your Religion?

[pubjoe]

I can't believe this discussion has just gone full circle, especially after some of the non-biased educated posts by Generalnmx, esn etc.

It's all very well pointing out the fact that a lot of the bible isn't literally true. But then, scientific records from long ago are at least as far-fetched. Just look at some of the 19th century medical beliefs.

I read that excellent document that esn linked to and yet I still don't see a 100% ruling out of the existence of God.

Please don't be so narrowminded, especially on a subject as this. It is the insulting comments that make the poster's look stupid, not what belief they have. If someone has to resort to this kind of slagging off, then they obviously don't have any credible foundation to their beliefs.

Personally, I've learn't a lot from this discussion (ignoring the pointless bashing posts). And I'm going to finally tick a box: agnostic

 

[Dozer]

I can't believe this discussion has just gone full circle, especially after some of the non-biased educated posts by Generalnmx, esn etc.

It's all very well pointing out the fact that a lot of the bible isn't literally true. But then, scientific records from long ago are at least as far-fetched. Just look at some of the 19th century medical beliefs.

I read that excellent document that esn linked to and yet I still don't see a 100% ruling out of the existence of God.

Please don't be so narrowminded, especially on a subject as this. It is the insulting comments that make the poster's look stupid, not what belief they have. If someone has to resort to this kind of slagging off, then they obviously don't have any credible foundation to their beliefs.

Personally, I've learn't a lot from this discussion (ignoring the pointless bashing posts). And I'm going to finally tick a box: agnostic

Well said pubjoe .

 

[Twimfy]

I haven't read the last nine pages but here's my 2P. Anyway I've been to church (roman catholic) 100's of times as I used to be catholic and previously I'd never paid much attention I just did my bit and got on with it. Over the last few years though I've gained some intelligence and I've read alot of science material and so I sort of dropped the idea of religion and thought to myself, I don't believe it and left it that ever since my view is its a crazy fucked up universe and we don't have thr brain capacity or the senses to deal with most of it.

However just recently I was in church again, I have to go whenever I visit one of my mates who is highly religious, I'm always staying with him so I felt obliged (this happens often).

While I'm there I often just look at my watch and let my mind drift but this time it was different, I paid attention to some of the wordsand heck did it scare me.

The bit that got me the most was a part where the priest says something along the lines of 'lord graciously here us' and the people have to respond with 'it is right to give him thanks and praise'

I was like, hold on a second here we have a room full or individual brilliant people all tonelessly chanting 'it is right to praise' someone like they're being brainwashed.

So my view of religion is that its a method of mass public control with a bit of money making behind it, sending people on a 2000 year guilt trip because some bloke got nailed to a piece of would when we didn't ask him to and we wouldn't know any different had he not done so is a very well set up plan.

 

[bringoutthegimp]

church sucks

 

[Twimfy]

Oh yeah and by the way that was just my view on one part of religion ( I was interrupted before I could write anything else) Other religions don't bother me as much, just I don't like having issues and ideas forced on me.

I don't think kids should be aligned to anything by their parents when they're young, they should be allowed to explore and discover as they grow up then make their own minds up. There are so many people out there today who are narrowminded and it isn't their fault.

 

[Dozer]

I haven't read the last nine pages but here's my 2P. Anyway I've been to church (roman catholic) 100's of times as I used to be catholic and previously I'd never paid much attention I just did my bit and got on with it. Over the last few years though I've gained some intelligence and I've read alot of science material and so I sort of dropped the idea of religion and thought to myself, I don't believe it and left it that ever since my view is its a crazy fucked up universe and we don't have thr brain capacity or the senses to deal with most of it.

However just recently I was in church again, I have to go whenever I visit one of my mates who is highly religious, I'm always staying with him so I felt obliged (this happens often).

While I'm there I often just look at my watch and let my mind drift but this time it was different, I paid attention to some of the wordsand heck did it scare me.

The bit that got me the most was a part where the priest says something along the lines of 'lord graciously here us' and the people have to respond with 'it is right to give him thanks and praise'

I was like, hold on a second here we have a room full or individual brilliant people all tonelessly chanting 'it is right to praise' someone like they're being brainwashed.

So my view of religion is that its a method of mass public control with a bit of money making behind it, sending people on a 2000 year guilt trip because some bloke got nailed to a piece of would when we didn't ask him to and we wouldn't know any different had he not done so is a very well set up plan.

Lol, I don't agree at all. Just because people are bored when they say it and it sounds monotonous doesn't mean it's brainwashing.

And in the church I go to they don't say that at all. It's only really said in old fashioned churches now I think.

 

[Twimfy]

I haven't read the last nine pages but here's my 2P. Anyway I've been to church (roman catholic) 100's of times as I used to be catholic and previously I'd never paid much attention I just did my bit and got on with it. Over the last few years though I've gained some intelligence and I've read alot of science material and so I sort of dropped the idea of religion and thought to myself, I don't believe it and left it that ever since my view is its a crazy fucked up universe and we don't have thr brain capacity or the senses to deal with most of it.

However just recently I was in church again, I have to go whenever I visit one of my mates who is highly religious, I'm always staying with him so I felt obliged (this happens often).

While I'm there I often just look at my watch and let my mind drift but this time it was different, I paid attention to some of the wordsand heck did it scare me.

The bit that got me the most was a part where the priest says something along the lines of 'lord graciously here us' and the people have to respond with 'it is right to give him thanks and praise'

I was like, hold on a second here we have a room full or individual brilliant people all tonelessly chanting 'it is right to praise' someone like they're being brainwashed.

So my view of religion is that its a method of mass public control with a bit of money making behind it, sending people on a 2000 year guilt trip because some bloke got nailed to a piece of would when we didn't ask him to and we wouldn't know any different had he not done so is a very well set up plan.

Lol, I don't agree at all. Just because people are bored when they say it and it sounds monotonous doesn't mean it's brainwashing.

And in the church I go to they don't say that at all. It's only really said in old fashioned churches now I think.

No I didn't say that it sounded monotonous because I was bored, it was the actual sound of the people's voices, 45mins of your life every sunday is a lot of time to waste in life...the fact that it's called a sunday 'service' also increased the dutiful sound of it.

 

[Dozer]

I haven't read the last nine pages but here's my 2P. Anyway I've been to church (roman catholic) 100's of times as I used to be catholic and previously I'd never paid much attention I just did my bit and got on with it. Over the last few years though I've gained some intelligence and I've read alot of science material and so I sort of dropped the idea of religion and thought to myself, I don't believe it and left it that ever since my view is its a crazy fucked up universe and we don't have thr brain capacity or the senses to deal with most of it.

However just recently I was in church again, I have to go whenever I visit one of my mates who is highly religious, I'm always staying with him so I felt obliged (this happens often).

While I'm there I often just look at my watch and let my mind drift but this time it was different, I paid attention to some of the wordsand heck did it scare me.

The bit that got me the most was a part where the priest says something along the lines of 'lord graciously here us' and the people have to respond with 'it is right to give him thanks and praise'

I was like, hold on a second here we have a room full or individual brilliant people all tonelessly chanting 'it is right to praise' someone like they're being brainwashed.

So my view of religion is that its a method of mass public control with a bit of money making behind it, sending people on a 2000 year guilt trip because some bloke got nailed to a piece of would when we didn't ask him to and we wouldn't know any different had he not done so is a very well set up plan.

Lol, I don't agree at all. Just because people are bored when they say it and it sounds monotonous doesn't mean it's brainwashing.

And in the church I go to they don't say that at all. It's only really said in old fashioned churches now I think.

No I didn't say that it sounded monotonous because I was bored, it was the actual sound of the people's voices, 45mins of your life every sunday is a lot of time to waste in life...the fact that it's called a sunday 'service' also increased the dutiful sound of it.

I mean the people are bored, which is why they sound monotonous . Church is boring most of the time. :rolleyes:

 

[thebluenewt]

I always thought Churches were a bizarre concept. If god is everywhere why does he need a house? I don't think he asked for any to be built in the Bible either.

Still there are some damn nice ones around so it's fair enough.

 

[DaveC]

I can't believe this discussion has just gone full circle, especially after some of the non-biased educated posts by Generalnmx, esn etc.

It's all very well pointing out the fact that a lot of the bible isn't literally true. But then, scientific records from long ago are at least as far-fetched. Just look at some of the 19th century medical beliefs.

I read that excellent document that esn linked to and yet I still don't see a 100% ruling out of the existence of God.

Please don't be so narrowminded, especially on a subject as this. It is the insulting comments that make the poster's look stupid, not what belief they have. If someone has to resort to this kind of slagging off, then they obviously don't have any credible foundation to their beliefs.

Personally, I've learn't a lot from this discussion (ignoring the pointless bashing posts). And I'm going to finally tick a box: agnostic

What do old scientific records an medical beliefs have to do with the accuracy of the Bible? The Bible was supposed to come from the word of God. Medical beliefs came from humans. Of course, in reality, the Bible came from people too which is why it is so inaccurate and contradicts itself so much. If it actually did come fron God I would think God would make sure it was perfectly accurate.


The document doesn't rule out God 100%? Nothing can rule out God 100%, maybe 99.999%. But when you make something up it is real easy to keep making up reasons why you cant disprove it.

 

[DaveC]

I always thought Churches were a bizarre concept. If god is everywhere why does he need a house? I don't think he asked for any to be built in the Bible either.

Still there are some damn nice ones around so it's fair enough.

I always thought it strange that it is said that life is a "test" and God is testing us. Why does he need to "test" us? He is God he should know if you believe or not or are evil or good right? after all God is all knowing.

 

[DaveC]

I havn't been following this thread; but I really dispise the Christian religion and how it's forced down my throat every two minutes. People can obvouisly do what they want, but I mean, when God KILLS someone for 'spilling his seed' on the ground, what kind of God is that?


I'd dare to argue that most Christians are scared of death, and need to believe in an afterlife.

That is the main reason I hate religeon so much (not just Christian, all of it). Because the God believers want to cram it down your throat at every turn. They want it in schools, on our money (USA), in the Pledge, in the courts, everywhere. They want to convert everyone they can and are a bunch of conservative "busy bodies" trying to infiltrate every institution they can think of and fill it with religeon. If they would just go to church and do religeon and keep it to themselves and not try to push it on everyone (including me) I would not really care.

 

[SephirothIce]

And the main reason I hate some non-believers is because they try to take away everything from religions. They bitch about everything if it appeals to a relgion. Well how come no one bitches about getting Christmas off? Well that's because that benifeits them so they keep shut up about it. Anyway I think that Athiest or more controling than Christians. Sure christians bitch but not near as much as wah god's name is on the dollar bill so let's go bitch until it's not. I was really trying to tolerate the people in this forum that were saying stuff about Christians but I have had enough. Anyway I am no where near a devoted christian I just believe that there is a god, but I do not follow the religion because frankly I am like every other teenager I don't give a shit about anything at all. However, my grandparents were both a christian all the way to death and I think they have their places in heaven so why not pipe it because neither what I say or what you say is going to change any of our beliefs.

Awesome Article at http://maddox.xmission.com/pledge.html

Michael Newdow: feel free to exercise your right to blow me.

I've heard arguments from both sides of the Pledge of Allegiance issue, and I have to say that both sides are full of shit. The only person's opinion I agree with 100% on this is mine. That is, I think Michael Newdow is a dumb son-of-a-bitch, and that he should be punched in the face. You'd think that someone as enlightened, rational and "free-thinking" as Newdow would expect an ass kicking or two upon a successful ruling. If his self-righteous agenda was really about his daughter, and he cares so much about her, then why is he willing to rot in a grave for the rest of her life by provoking an assassination by religious zealots? Could it be because Newdow is the kind of guy who finds errors in phone books, masturbates to foot cream commercials, and smells his socks after he takes them off? That may be one of the best arguments I've ever made.

What pisses me off about hippies like Newdow, is that they'll bitch and moan about semantics on currency and government documents, but you never hear them complain that they don't get to work on Christmas. Why? If his whole beef with the Pledge of Allegiance is that the phrase "under God" violates separation of church and state, then why isn't he making a fuss about our government observing Christmas? Christmas is a religious holiday, and since our government observes it, how is that separation of church and state? Why isn't he bitching about that? I'll tell you why. Because Christmas gives him paid vacation, and hippies like Newdow only bitch about "grand sweeping problems with society" as long as it doesn't inconvenience them. Biased hippy assholes should be shot. If he's so eager to save the nation with his stupid bullshit, then why doesn't he go all the way and boycott money while he's at it? This is just a hunch, but I'm guessing because he's a douche bag, a lousy father and a fraud. A stupid beardless black-foot, new-age hippy. I'm so mad, I'm going to toss my neighbor's cat through the window.

 

[Esn]

Michael Newdow: feel free to exercise your right to blow me.

I've heard arguments from both sides of the Pledge of Allegiance issue, and I have to say that both sides are full of shit. The only person's opinion I agree with 100% on this is mine. That is, I think Michael Newdow is a dumb son-of-a-bitch, and that he should be punched in the face. You'd think that someone as enlightened, rational and "free-thinking" as Newdow would expect an ass kicking or two upon a successful ruling. If his self-righteous agenda was really about his daughter, and he cares so much about her, then why is he willing to rot in a grave for the rest of her life by provoking an assassination by religious zealots? Could it be because Newdow is the kind of guy who finds errors in phone books, masturbates to foot cream commercials, and smells his socks after he takes them off? That may be one of the best arguments I've ever made.

What pisses me off about hippies like Newdow, is that they'll bitch and moan about semantics on currency and government documents, but you never hear them complain that they don't get to work on Christmas. Why? If his whole beef with the Pledge of Allegiance is that the phrase "under God" violates separation of church and state, then why isn't he making a fuss about our government observing Christmas? Christmas is a religious holiday, and since our government observes it, how is that separation of church and state? Why isn't he bitching about that? I'll tell you why. Because Christmas gives him paid vacation, and hippies like Newdow only bitch about "grand sweeping problems with society" as long as it doesn't inconvenience them. Biased hippy assholes should be shot. If he's so eager to save the nation with his stupid bullshit, then why doesn't he go all the way and boycott money while he's at it? This is just a hunch, but I'm guessing because he's a douche bag, a lousy father and a fraud. A stupid beardless black-foot, new-age hippy. I'm so mad, I'm going to toss my neighbor's cat through the window.

I stopped reading after "he should be punched in the face".

If this is the quote that you use as an example, then you're obviously not interested in a peaceful, rational discussion about these things. If your argument, whatever it is, isn't strong enough to be made on its own merits without resorting to swearing and violent language, then I consider it marginalized (useless). :angry:

It seems to me that you ARE only interested in forcing your own opinions down people's throats, and are not interested in listening to rational arguments from other people, so why don't you just shut up and leave this thread? It's better off without people like you. :angry:

Do you see ME trying to take everything away from religions? Then don't make stupid generalizations. <_<

so why not pipe it because neither what I say or what you say is going to change any of our beliefs.

yeah? Then why are you here? People like pubjoe apparently learned something from this discussion, so why don't you try as well? OR, if you're determined to never change your mind about anything, you may as well take my earlier suggestion and leave.

P.S. Does anybody here notice that it's always the people from the US, both Christians and Atheists, who are the most intolerant of the other side, while Europeans tend to concede that the other side may have some good points to make as well? Speaks volumes to me about the US psyche: "You're either with us, or against us." --George W. Bush

What complete BS...

 

[finty]

Religion is crap.

Look at what it does in Ireland, its the cause of Bigeoits all over.

 

[Rico]

Heh, SephirothIce quoted Maddox. I daresay this is a good reason to close the thread. It is sort of dying anyway. Once closed it will probably not come back (remember what happened to the politics thread) so keep it clean.

 

[SephirothIce]

Well the article is ment for humor also. Also he does make some valid points. Why do athiest always complain about everything unless it's a convienience for them. Anyway I guess I should shut up now because I'm the evil american. I have noticed this stuff in many posts and it's bull. Assholes aren't breeded in America they spawn from all around the world. Also if anyone asks I'll be the first to admit I can be an asshole. Anyway your a bit racist aren't ya. There's no different classifying an american than their is any other nationality. Also your right George Bush is a bad bad man compared to some of the great rulers from Europe for example Adolf Hitler. Anyway I am not asking for a flame war between nations I am just pointing out that bad people come from everywhere.

Anyway I am going to shut up. I am not benfeiting from this post. The only thing I have gotten from this posts is not only insults on my religion, but also my nationality. Anyway have fun in the discussion I don't want to have a huge flame war. Also Dave C explained why he hated Religion I explained why I hated Non Religious beliefs. What exactly is the difference. So I am trying to cram my beliefs down your throats and he is not trying to cram his beliefs down my throat. Anyway like I said if anyone wants a response from me just send it in PM.

Edit: Originally I was just gonna shut up and let you people say whatever you want to say. However, I noticed that I have the right to freely express my opinion on this board just as much as anyone else. I know the reason why certain people are angered with me. It's because I will not budge with my beliefs. Yet no one else does so why aren't they criticised. Anyway I was wrong to say pipe it in my last thread, but I was a bit angered and I am sure those that I offended will live.

 

[thebluenewt]

America is an odd country, the way it's set up with each state having it's own laws etc seems to breed extremists from all points of view (which of course are a minority).

You don't see any crazy tv (not transvestite, thought that would be more entertaining) evangelists anywhere else.

 

[SephirothIce]

Well it obviously works for America. It's like the youngest country and one of the most powerful. Anyway I am in know way an american supporter. I will take up for the citizens, but I disagree with it's laws. I can't even buy a can of spray paint until I am 18 because it is considered a drug which is fucking retarded. Also I don't agree with the alcohol age limit being 21. They deem me capable of selecting a leader for our country and giving my life up in war, but not yet responsible enough the turn down a bottle of liquor.

 

[pubjoe]

Assholes aren't breeded in America they spawn from all around the world.

...And then they move to America .

*ahem* sorry... keep it clean... keep it clean.

SephirothIce, I can see that you've been hurt by some of the comments here, and you have only stood up for yourself in return to some opposing posts. In some ways, this topic has needed you to keep it balanced.

However, your anger is not going to encourage anyone to respect your beliefs. Try to display a positive viewpoint, rather than just rubbish others. Otherwise it will reflect negatively on your faith.