What's Your Religion & How Into It Are You?

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Generic Spiritualist

Something quite remarkable happened a few thousand years ago, and no one quite knows what it was. The Jewish people already had monotheism figured out, and within 500 years or so ( a very short time by historical standards), Buddha , Christ, and Mohammad were born, preformed 'miracles', and all taught similar beliefs - one God, love not hate, be a child again, a spiritual life is a better life, we are not just animals, You can't bribe God with praise and sacrifices while living immorally, etc.. They were right enough to displace almost all the old religions, but short of time travel, we will never know exactly what they meant, because what is written is only a dim reflection of what they taught.

Peace
 


turbolapp said:
Religion/Atheism and morals should always be seen as mutally exclusive.
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I think looking at them as two separate things isn't right; if you strip the mystical from religion most of them are basically moral frameworks. The problem is that people want to paint everything in absolute, black and white terms when there's spillover everywhere. Religion and morality aren't (entirely) separate ideas, but they aren't (entirely) the same idea either.
 
Baptized Catholic with an aunt who was a nun and an uncle who was a priest (he was even in charge of the Pope's transportation in Chicago one year in the 70's). Consider my self Christian now and believe in the Bible (sadly much is misinterpreted by people, but some great basic stuff on how to live, make money, be healthy, etc in there!). Being a Christian is what keeps me standing and still doing good when bad stuff could've knocked me down and kept me down.

I have seen God's power, leaned on God through my parents death and my son's chemo, and I pray/praise regularly. I do my best to be fair and am honest even when no one is looking or could find out.

I don't go to church much, mostly due to so many hours working. Went to a nice service in the park on Sunday, though. My girls attend regularly by choice. I go whenever I can when my daughters have a special thing going on that they are involved in and attend on holidays with them.
 
Brought up relaxed CofE (Church of England - Protestant),

Now Agnostic when is comes to "God(s)" but influenced by the teachings of the (first) Buddha (the don't worship me and don't value material goods stuff not the big gold temple malarkey!), however I'm too attached to things (like meat!) to be Buddhist.

I think over all the harm religion has done outweighs the good, which is a shame but maybe that's just human nature.

I feel sorry for those who blindly follow books written to advance a particular cause at a particular time (i.e. propaganda) as if they are the word of God.

This makes sense to me:
You are becoming gods.
There's a new master of creation, and it's you!
You've unravelled DNA,
And at the same time you're cultivating bacteria strong enough to kill every living thing.
You think you're ready for that much power?
You Lot,
You Lot!
Cheeky bastards.
You're running around science like kids with guns, creating a new world, while the world you've got is stinking,
But,
Hands up,
Hands up, anyone who thinks you've got it right.
Yeah, there's always one.
I can see you.
If you want the position of God, then take the responsibility!
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-- From The Second Coming (check it out) & Orbital - You Lot :D
 
Lazy Hippie -
I agree that organized religion has certainly done more harm than good. I just finished reading Kurzweil's "the Singularity is Near" (Non-fiction about how God-like computer enhanced humans are the next evolutionary step) and although I don't think it will work out quite so pleasantly as he thinks, when I look at the effects of simple technology like glasses and antibiotics, plows and power tools, I expect that Cyborgs are our most likely near future. And I think that God is probably OK with that.
 
I think im agnostic.. i'm extremely glad my parents didnt force anything on me as a kid and allowed me to grow up and make my own decisions rather than hammer religion into my head when my brain was still a sponge.

Answer me this... if you are religious, how can you be happy in heaven knowing your non-religious friends and family are in what you call 'hell'? doesnt sound like heaven to me.
 
johnmatrix said:
Answer me this... if you are religious, how can you be happy in heaven knowing your non-religious friends and family are in what you call 'hell'? doesnt sound like heaven to me.
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In Islam it isn't as simple as that. The Quran says that all people will be judged according to their own faith. Muslims also believe there are 7 different levels in Heaven, the highest level being for the prophets and great scientists and scholars. The main advantage a follower of Islam has is that they have the 'true' book to follow, so there aren't excuses for them to go astray. This is why Muslims hold those who revert to Islam in such high regard, because people who revert to Islam from not believing haven't been raised with those values yet they have searched and found them.
 
WebGambit said:
That just seems fitting, you do seem to have a way of standing out. :D
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umm, thanks I think...

LazyHippy said:
however I'm too attached to things (like meat!) to be Buddhist.
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ya know lots of Buddhists eat meat :1bluewinky:

ArtDeco said:
Something quite remarkable happened a few thousand years ago, and no one quite knows what it was. The Jewish people already had monotheism figured out, and within 500 years or so ( a very short time by historical standards), Buddha , Christ, and Mohammad were born, preformed 'miracles', and all taught similar beliefs - one God, love not hate, be a child again, a spiritual life is a better life, we are not just animals, You can't bribe God with praise and sacrifices while living immorally, etc.. They were right enough to displace almost all the old religions, but short of time travel, we will never know exactly what they meant, because what is written is only a dim reflection of what they taught.

Peace
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please don't attempt to drag Buddhism into some Judeo-Christian theological hodgepodge... it doesn't belong there...
 
They were right enough to displace almost all the old religions
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If by right you mean strong enough to destroy any opposing thought.
There are reasons why the era when the church ruled is called the dark ages.
 
I was baptized in the Episcople church, attended it in my younger years with my folks. Confirmed in the United Church of Christ, an interdenominational church. Confirmation brought up too many questions for my young mind and I became an atheist for many years, then in my late 20's found Jesus again.

So, now I'm a "Quiet Christian". I know my place with God and have a personal relationship with Him, but it's not something that I push on people nor expect anyone to understand. It's just between me and my Lord.
 
Code: 
"Agriculture?" and "Keep your religion in your pants where it belongs"
ROTF!! Turbolapp you crack me up! How true is THAT!?

Raised Church of Scotland (or the Kirk as my Ma' called it) so that'll be Presbyterian

But now an agnostic....because,....you just never know, right?:bowdown:
 
I was raised Catholic, now just consider myself Christian. My parents call me a Jew though, since the more money I make the tighter I seem to get.
 
Atheist. I was baptised Catholic- but I never really was catholic. it's not like a little baby in a dress can consciously choose to believe a certain religion. I don't think you really "'are" a religion until you are at least old enough to think. For some people this might be around puberty, others it comes around late 20s or not at all. otherwise you are just indocrinated.

Anyone ever noticed those raised Catholic or Jewish seem more likely to endup atheist? well, i guess some types of Christians consider us both Satanists anyway.
 
JohnCJackson said:
Anyone ever noticed those raised Catholic or Jewish seem more likely to endup atheist? .
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I haven't noticed that they are atheists, per se, (most people are afraid to "come out" as an atheist, I read something one time saying it's easier to come out gay than an atheist ) but I have noticed a large amount of "non practicing" Catholics and Jews. I've thought about it a bunch and I think it's because these two religions have a STRONG cultural identity. They've been around along time. They give people that associate with them a sense of unity and family. This is very comforting. There is also a sense of pride. Much like Patriotism. There is also alot of ritualistic dogma that goes along with these religions and that can be very psychologically comforting (for example even as an atheist, I enjoy going to the candle light service on xmas eve because of the singing, the soothing semi- darkness, and the whole ambiance of joy) For some reason (that I haven't quite put my finger on) many people in thsese religions do not feel a dualistic struggle between their family religion and their own personal lack of faith.
 
turbolapp said:
I haven't noticed that they are atheists, per se, (most people are afraid to "come out" as an atheist, I read something one time saying it's easier to come out gay than an atheist ) but I have noticed a large amount of "non practicing" Catholics and Jews. I've thought about it a bunch and I think it's because these two religions have a STRONG cultural identity. They've been around along time. They give people that associate with them a sense of unity and family. This is very comforting. There is also a sense of pride. Much like Patriotism. There is also alot of ritualistic dogma that goes along with these religions and that can be very psychologically comforting (for example even as an atheist, I enjoy going to the candle light service on xmas eve because of the singing, the soothing semi- darkness, and the whole ambiance of joy) For some reason (that I haven't quite put my finger on) many people in thsese religions do not feel a dualistic struggle between their family religion and their own personal lack of faith.
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Many don't "come out" because their mothers will act like this lady.....

YouTube - Catholic Mom Goes Crazy - This Woman Is Insane!

I am sure mine would accept it, but I still haven't "officially" told her at 29 years of age. I know that she has definitely noticed that I will no longer "say grace" at family holiday dinners.
 
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