Religion!!

[Shaggy]

What does everyone think about this topic? What do you believe in, and what do you not.

For one thing, I am some what against organized religion. I just live my life the best way I know how. Follow the ten commandments and live life to what I know is correct - Don't kill, Never mean, I'm the nicest guy you will ever meet, and so on.

Spill the beans, lets see how you feel!

[Arkacia]

I'm an atheist, and have no doubts at all, that no God or Gods exist. That does'nt make me a bad person, or an immoral person, just a person who has a different way of looking at religion.

I'm not however a rabid athiest. These sort of people are the ones who actively fight against religion, and do whatever they can to destroy any mention of it in secular life. I don't like it when Santa clause and nativity displays are banned from pre-schools because some parets complain that they're brainwashing their children with religion, or when merry christmas is changed to happy holidays just in case someone is offended. Tolerating the beliefs of others goes both ways. If atheists expect theists to respect our right not to believe, then atheists have to respect the the right of theists to believe, and practice that belief.

I firmly believe that people should be allowed to believe in whatever they want to, without interference or prejadice, and that includes those who don't want to believe in anything. Religion, or the lack of it, is a private thing, and most religious people keep their beliefs within their own family, and group. About the only things that do annoy me with religion, are the doorknockers who won't take no for an answer, and the religious right trying to force their version of morality on the entire population.

[HinesDaMan]

Quite the contrary, I am a devout Catholic and am absolutely sure that there is a God and the He is ever-present. I guess I simply don't understand the position that Arkacia (and Mick as well, I think) choose to take. How can you not have any beliefs? That is simply sad to me...

[Mick]

I do have beliefs but mine are that I believe in evolution and don't believe there is a god. I like to think of things in a scientific way, ie I like to have proof of something. I know this doesn't always exist and I am open minded because despite the way I think I still believe in ghosts(Whatever name they have or form they may be in) and psychic ability. The reason I believe in these is because I have had personal experiences with both which I cannot explain with science.
So yes I am open to many things but belief in God is not one of them. I had a girlfriend who was religious and she explained it all to me and I did genuinely listen but I just couldn't accept it.

[Arkacia]

Quite the contrary, I am a devout Catholic and am absolutely sure that there is a God and the He is ever-present. I guess I simply don't understand the position that Arkacia (and Mick as well, I think) choose to take. How can you not have any beliefs? That is simply sad to me... Please don't feel sad about it. There is no reason to. I could turn that around, and say I feel sad that some people feel they can't live a good life without believing in mythical beings and fairy tales, but I won't because I respect your right to believe in whatever you want to.

I don't need religious beliefs to survive, and live a good life, nor do I need religious beliefs to be a good person. Who and what you are comes from within yourself, not from a belief system, its churches or books.

[HinesDaMan]

What do you place hope in then? I mean, you can only hope for so much fron yourself or loved ones, but at a certain point there needs to be something more. Now I do not believe that in order to be a good person you need to have religion, but I think that a belief structure far transcends your definition of religion. At least with Agnostics there is at least something to believe in, but with Atheism, what do you have other than yourself? It just seems lonely to me

[Mick]

I couldn't have said it better Arkacia, thats the way I feel. I don't really understand what you mean by "What do you place hope in then". I only hope for a long a happy life and I don't need religion to achieve that.

What I don't understand is why do you believe? Have you always been religious, ie raised that way by religious parents? Or did you "See the light"? How do you feel that your belief benefits you? Why does is seem lonely without religion?

[HinesDaMan]

Parents always say "You can tell me anything." Well, that is so far from true...you really CANNOT tell your parents everything, and the same situation applies to friends. Being only a High School student, I've never had a girlfriend that I actually felt I would spend more than one Saturday or Friday night per week for usually less than 6 months with, so I don't really feel that telling her everything helps. God, on the other hand, is always there to talk to. He doesn't judge like parents or friends do; He forgives. You can tell God anything.

As far as my history with God; I was not baptized until I was 12 years old (which is extremely late, most children are baptized at birth) and I am the most religious in my family; I go to church by myself often and make sure to pray daily. If you are trying to insinuate that I believe merely because I was told to then you are sorely mistaken, it is entirely my choice.

My belief benefits me in too many ways to list here, but the most important is forgiveness. To confess, to tell God that you are aware of your sins, to list off your sins and be absolved of them is one of the most powerful feelings I have ever felt. Without any way to repent, the conscience becomes muddled and dampened...repentance is a necessary part of life IMO.

Sorry for the long post.

[Shaggy]

Well, look what I started.

I feel that religion is what you make of it. If it makes you feel good, then that is great. If you feel you don't need it and that also makes you happy, that is great to. What i don't get is that it sounds like Hines is getting offended on what Mick and Ark have been talking about. Hines, they both are saying that if you feel good on what you believe more power to ya.

Are you offended?

I feel most of the people in this society that believe in a particular religion is from what they were told/taught all their lives. They know no different. If you were born and raised Catholic, your Catholic. If you were raised in a Mormon life, you would be Mormon. Yes at times there are people that do convert, but I think that the majority of people that believe in a religion are born and raised in it.

Just my 2 sents :p

[HinesDaMan]

Naw Shaggy, I'm not offended, I am simply defending my veiwpoint which is that God is real and religion is a great and necessary part of life...

[pollovivo]

I'm christian, although I've lost all track of what I think I am :D, but I feel that there is no real problem in beleiving ( or not ) in whatever you want. Free world, ain't it? So I guess I just sorta support everybody, unless it requires causing others pain.

[Arkacia]

My belief benefits me in too many ways to list here, but the most important is forgiveness. To confess, to tell God that you are aware of your sins, to list off your sins and be absolved of them is one of the most powerful feelings I have ever felt. Without any way to repent, the conscience becomes muddled and dampened...repentance is a necessary part of life IMO.
That depends though on what your definition of the word sin is.

I don't believe wrongdoings are sins, instead I see some of what religious people call sins, as people doing private things within their own lives that affect no-one else (fornication, homosexuality), some as private wrongs that will affect another person in a negative way, (lies, adultry), but are better talked about by the people involved, and sorted out, and in some cases a crime against society. Things such as murder, theft, assult are crimes to me, not sins, and are better delt with by the courts than the church.

You don't need to defend your religion. I'm not trying to destroy your belief in your God in any way, just explain why I don't need a God in my life, and don't need religion.

If having the church in your life is important to you, thats great, I'm glad you have it to fall back on when you need it :).

[phantomullet]

I don't really like to refer to my beliefs as a religion. More like a personal relation with Christ and that is all the evidence I need. Whether I would like to believe he is real or not doesn't affect anything because I know that he is there. There are times when I am tempted to do things the way I want to and live my live based solely on my own desires, but I am without a doubt convinced he exists because of my personal relation. I think it is wrong to say that people just believe what they are raised as. There are more than just a few exceptions. By the time people are adults, most make there own choices and while their childhood obviously has a great influence, I don't think that people just blindly accept what there parents have told them.

[HinesDaMan]

Things such as murder, theft, assult are crimes to me, not sins, and are better delt with by the courts than the church.

Ha...courts...that's a good one. Now, I entirely believe in our justice system and that courts are a necessary part of society, but how can you honestly believe that courts deal with things well when murderers and rapists can live in jail and recieve food, entertainment, and lodging at cost to not the criminals but the taxpayers and then get out in a year or two because they "promise not to do it again?" For the sake of the victims in this world, I hope there is a God to do a little more punishment than that.

Oh yeah, this is kinda funny...Don't thnk I'm an anarchist or anything, or that I hate the Government...I plan on going to Law School and becoming a Lawyer someday. Funny, isn't it? But I'll be in Criminal Prosecution, of course.

[Shaggy]

I think it is wrong to say that people just believe what they are raised as. There are more than just a few exceptions. By the time people are adults, most make there own choices and while their childhood obviously has a great influence, I don't think that people just blindly accept what there parents have told them.Well you said it, their childhood has alot of influence, and if that influence was strong, it will stick with them, even as adults.

[Every1sHero]

I know that my childhood influence didn't stay with me. I was born and raised a Protestant. I fell in love with the tradition and ideals of the Roman Catholic church, and converted in High School. I will admit that moving from my parents raised me as was challenging, but still do-able.

[JsWoman]

I was raised in Roman Catholicism, but I went to straight Christianity, no set denomination.

[yarnellcg17]

I too was raised on Roman Catholic.. But went to Baptist..I have no denomination as well

[JsWoman]

Baptist is a denomination, I thought. *raises eyebrows questioningly*

[HinesDaMan]

Yeah, Baptist is definitely a denomination of the Christian church...

[JsWoman]

I thought it was, too. But he messaged me and explained how he could be Baptist and no denomination at the same time, so I understand better.

[bandgeek]

I'm baptist. I don't know what you all mean by denomination though. But I like being baptist and I like the fact that I believe in God.

[JsWoman]

Baptist is a denomination of Christianity... Denomination is like a specific type of church you go to, like Baptist, Penecostle, Methodist.... So on and so forth. Hope that helps explain what we were talking about.

[the_dude3]

Yeah I go to a Baptist church but I don't like to say that I am a Baptist just because once in a while you'll get those people who have a different denomination that think you're dumb or whatever because you are that specific denomination. So yeah I'm Christian. I was a borderline believer when I was younger and at the same time involved in the Catholic church, then up until about 3 years ago I sincerely thought about my relationship with Christ and decided on whether or not it was true to believe this way. I did some research and came to the conclusion that Christ was the way to life.

[the_dude3]

What Christian bands do you guys listen to if any? Cuz I listen to GRITS, T-Bone, Falling Up, Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, Hawk Nelson, Relient K, Switchfoot, Pillar, Five-Iron Frenzy, there's more i just can't think of them right now, but I was wondering if anyone had any similar tastes in Christian music... ( I know this isn't about the thread, but I don't feel like starting a new one, so yeah...)

[Shaggy]

Isn't P.O.D a christian band?

Out of your list, I like 1000 Foot Krutch, Skillet, Switchfoot, and Pillar. Not sure if I have heard of the other bands.

[JsWoman]

Here are the bands that I have cd's of that are Christian..

Anointed, Audio Adreneline, Steven Curtis Chapman, FFH, Jars of Clay, Sixpence None the Richer, Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Clay Crosse, DC Talk, The Exodus CD, Nichole Nordeman, POD, Sister Hazel (does that one even count?), Michael W Smith, Rebecca St James, and Veggie Tunes. LOL Thinking that's more my daughter's than mine. ;)

[ender1626]

Well well shaggy you did start something didnt you. I attend a non denominational church currently. As far as a religion, dont really have one. I just believe in a personal relationship with God. One band i didnt see mentioned was kutless, there good.

[Mentos Fresh]

I listen to a lot of Christian metal. East West, Demon Hunter, Living Sacrifice, Zao, Stryper (excellent old school band), Extol, Mortification...The list is endless.

[the_dude3]

Yeah Kutless is good too. I've never heard of those metal bands before. Which one's the best?

[f.a.t.a.l]

if there is a god, then good ....
but tbh ive seen no evidence,
im just curious about what happens after death.

[Epona]

Ahh well I am Pagan specifically Irish Traditional Witchcraft, many practitioners of this craft are catholic and see nothing wrong with mixing the two, however I don't believe in the GOA ( god of abraham) and in fact have studied religion for quite some years, I was raised christian but as people are want to do went my own way. I walk my own path, and let others walk theirs.

[zartonis]

I am an atheist.

[Giatros]

I'm a spiritualist. Although technically christian as I believe in God.

However, I have a slightly different outlook on it.

Within a family, there may be several children. If you were to look at their relationships with their mum or dad then they would all be slightly different. They would also call them different things i.e. dad, daddy, father, mum, mother etc.

I see religion with this minimodel in mind. Although it is the same being at the head of the family, everyone acknowledges this in a different way and calls the same person by a different name.

So, as far as I am concerned, there is a being (whom I happen to call God) that everyone worships in their different ways. Therefore, there cannot really be a right or wrong way and so we are free to worship said being in whichever ways we like...

[Caladhiel]

I'm an atheist, and have no doubts at all, that no God or Gods exist. That does'nt make me a bad person, or an immoral person, just a person who has a different way of looking at religion.

I'm not however a rabid athiest. These sort of people are the ones who actively fight against religion, and do whatever they can to destroy any mention of it in secular life. I don't like it when Santa clause and nativity displays are banned from pre-schools because some parets complain that they're brainwashing their children with religion, or when merry christmas is changed to happy holidays just in case someone is offended. Tolerating the beliefs of others goes both ways. If atheists expect theists to respect our right not to believe, then atheists have to respect the the right of theists to believe, and practice that belief.

I firmly believe that people should be allowed to believe in whatever they want to, without interference or prejadice, and that includes those who don't want to believe in anything. Religion, or the lack of it, is a private thing, and most religious people keep their beliefs within their own family, and group. About the only things that do annoy me with religion, are the doorknockers who won't take no for an answer, and the religious right trying to force their version of morality on the entire population.

see, i think i would be classified as a "rabid" atheist because i am against it, because every single time i hear anything related to it it's either "oh, you're athiest? you suck!" or "oh, you're atheist? well, you don't know that..." you get the point. either way, i'm made out to be some kind of idiot or jerk. if there are people out there who don't do that, all i'll say is: you obviously do not live in my area, because i get no respect whatsoever from people. people should totally be allowed to believe in what they believe in, but if that means that just because i have different views i'm a bad person, then i want no part in it. in the case of people who attack i point out that everyone calls Greek beliefs myths, but it's really not that different from modern day, except it's polytheism as opposed to monotheism. i do celebrate christmas, but really just out of respect of a holiday of the religion i'm supposed to be/was raised to be (although i'm not complaining about the presents and the feast and the wonderful holiday glow...ok i think those are the real reasons) anyway i think i went over my character limit but please don't spam it i think i have some valid points here.

[Caladhiel]

Ahh well I am Pagan specifically Irish Traditional Witchcraft, many practitioners of this craft are catholic and see nothing wrong with mixing the two, however I don't believe in the GOA ( god of abraham) and in fact have studied religion for quite some years, I was raised christian but as people are want to do went my own way. I walk my own path, and let others walk theirs.

can you tell me more about it, such as what it means to practice witchcraft? do you have any gods or anything? i don't know very much about witchcraft and am interested in the topic. help me out here?

and please don't attack me i'm just trying to help but isn't it "wont" in that context instead of "want"?

[Caladhiel]

What Christian bands do you guys listen to if any? Cuz I listen to GRITS, T-Bone, Falling Up, Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, Hawk Nelson, Relient K, Switchfoot, Pillar, Five-Iron Frenzy, there's more i just can't think of them right now, but I was wondering if anyone had any similar tastes in Christian music... ( I know this isn't about the thread, but I don't feel like starting a new one, so yeah...)

would love to respond to this but i don't even pay attention to genre i just listen to music. if i hear a song and like it i add it. if i don't like it, i avoid it at all costs (except for some songs which aren't too bad...but i'd probably turn on my iPod to get the song i dislike out of my head) :p

[Caladhiel]

Here are the bands that I have cd's of that are Christian..

Anointed, Audio Adreneline, Steven Curtis Chapman, FFH, Jars of Clay, Sixpence None the Richer, Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Clay Crosse, DC Talk, The Exodus CD, Nichole Nordeman, POD, Sister Hazel (does that one even count?), Michael W Smith, Rebecca St James, and Veggie Tunes. LOL Thinking that's more my daughter's than mine. ;)

P.O.D.'s Christian??? as my mom would say, "well, color me surprised!" my only question is: what color is that? i feel like it's a medium orange, pale but bold. oops sorry off topic...of course, the only song by P.O.D. i listen to is Youth of the Nation

[dcpro9]

well, im....... lol idk.. i dont believe in any god(s) of any form.... i believe that things simply..exist. there was no creation, although the big bang is possible..

and as a response to the christian band thing, i only like flyleaf.