Are you religious?

Alfred · 10-07-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

That's almost as much as I know from before. There's a guy called Smith or something from USA who's a prophet and he wrote the book? That stretches the limits of what I think I might know about mormons.

This video is highly educational.

Inuzuka Skysword · 10-07-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storymilo

We're talking about beliefs here, no one can really be "wrong"

Except you

So if I "believe" (to use the Unfan's example) 1+1=5, then I am not wrong? Don't think that you can just use that word in order to avoid logic and rational speculation.

Dr.Seussicide · 10-07-2009, 04:47 PM

But, 1 + 1 could be equal to 5 though... so you wouldn't be completely wrong once you could prove it.

VeggieLover · 10-07-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inuzuka Skysword

I am a strong atheist. I guess one could call me an anti-theist in that I am against any for of theism. I don't believe theism to be the root of the problem though. Just the fact that theism is irrational. Any belief in a higher deity is idol worship. You should be worshiping the human spirit if anything. Worship yourself, not as if you were a deity, but as if you were a hero. I am one of the atheists who goes out of his way to prove religious people wrong. That is because I would do the same with any Nazi. Nazism is a destructive philosophy just as I believe theism is. Neither are roots of the problem, but they are part of it. I dislike Agnosticism because it is fence sitting. They say that we should just consider the God question beyond positive or negative because we have no proof of existence or nonexistence. However, there is no ultimately positive aspect of spirituality just as there is no ultimately positive aspect of taking 'shrooms or doing acid to "enlighten" yourself.

Two plus two equals four. If someone goes on to say that it equals five he better have a damn good reason for believing what he does. Otherwise, I will do the honor of tearing his argument to pieces so that he won't be deceiving people. I would hope everyone else would do the same.

haha that statement made me think of 1984...

Anyway, on to my beliefs!
I am christian, always have been. Both my dad and my stepdad attended seminary, my mom has always been active in the church. However, while christianity was always present in my home, it was never really imposed on me... we prayed before dinner, but my parents never really talked about God with me.
As I got older, I came to be very thankful for this because I began to form my own beliefs based on not only Christian teachings, but my own experiances and interactions with ideals outside of Christianity.
My biggest issue with the Christian Church isn't its theology, its the way its members handle it. The hypocritical, self-rightious, preachy "you're going to hell," fundamentalist christian stereotype is NOT christian...its religious, and it's human reveling in all of its flaws. Therefore, while I am indeed Christian, and strongly so, I am not relgious.
I believe the Bible was written guided by God's hand, that it does contain the truths it claims to contain...however, i also believe that it was never written to be taken word for word, and as it has been translated so many many times, that is even more true. Can the translations be trusted? yes, God guided their writing, however, they should be read as one would read any other ancient text, in context and with allowances for translation inconsistancies.
I also believe that humanity exists in a continual state of paradox. That we cannot ever know the answers to the "Big Questions" but that we were created with this thirst for knowledge in order to advance ourselfs as humanity. I believe that everything in existance was originally based on love, and that this love is the thread that holds everything together. Pain and suffering result when human (and satanical) interference fray the thread. God set things in place, but it would rip the fabric of time and space (don't take this literally) if He/She was to intervene directly. God probably doesn't exist in a dimension of time and space as we know it, otherwise the Bible-described heaven couldn't exist.
I think the christians of today and the more recent past have worked themselves into little boxes that blind them to the much bigger beauties of God and everything else that Christians are supposed to embrace. There is a lot more out there than we can ever even come close to comprehending.

(for instance, evolution does NOT conflict with creation)

EDIT: oh, and one of my friends considers himself a wiccan if that counts for anything.

Inuzuka Skysword · 10-07-2009, 05:45 PM

I also knew a Wiccan. However, their only reason for practicing it was because they really liked Harry Potter. I am not even joking...

NumberNineDream · 10-07-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inuzuka Skysword

I also knew a Wiccan. However, their only reason for practicing it was because they really liked Harry Potter. I am not even joking...

Harry Potter is never a subject to be joked about.

Dr.Seussicide · 10-07-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NumberNineDream

Harry Potter is never a subject to be joked about.

I was about to say that...

Wrymwood · 10-07-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred

This video is highly educational.

LOL, not quite. As entertaining as that video was only about 5% of it was true. I wouldn't even know where to begin. Joseph Smith was the who restored the gospel after it was taken from the Earth once the apostles were killed. He was a 14 year old boy who was curious as to what church was true and went into the woods to pray about it and was visited by Christ and Heavenly Father, or God. He was told to join none of the churches and that he would make his own. For lack of a better word I use "make" although he was really just restoring it. He was later visited by Moroni as an angel was told about the Golden Plates, the ones Moroni had buried which contained a history of the Nephites/Lamanites. He was told where he would find them, but that he couldn't get them yet because he wasn't ready. Joseph was not known for his tall-tales or really for being very educated. He later got the plates and translated them with the help of a few friends. The plates where written in a form of Egyptian and he used various instruments that were contained with the plates to translate. If you really want to know more just ask. I couldn't really explain everything without going into minute details, so ask if you have questions about specific things.

inb4walloftext

anticipation · 10-07-2009, 05:55 PM

What I don't understand about the Christian religion is how Satan amassed so much power and influence over humanity. Is it because god let it happen or because Satan is some sort of deity? I tend to side with those who believe Satan is the Christian equivelent of Minos, or the great judge of hell in Dante's Commedia. Saitan, from what I've been told, is an archaic Arabic word meaning judge. Is it more likely that god called upon lucifer, one of his most trusted angels, to be a sort of judge, jury, and executioner of those who disobeyed god's commands?

Wrymwood · 10-07-2009, 05:59 PM

Not sure if it's the same of Christians, but Mormons believe that a third of the people in heaven chose to follow Satan. Satan's plan was to force people to be good taking away their free agency. Christ's plan was to give man complete agency and use this life as a probationary period in which they proved if they were worthy to live among God and Christ in the Celestial Kingdom.

View Poll Results: What religion do you follow?
Christianity	38	20.32%
Buddhism	3	1.60%
Hinduism	1	0.53%
Islam	2	1.07%
Judaism	4	2.14%
Wiccanism	1	0.53%
Other established religion (feel free to post about it)	6	3.21%
Self-defined	25	13.37%
Don't follow any religion & don't believe in deities (atheist)	68	36.36%
Not Sure, undecided, don't know or don't care	39	20.86%
Sikhism	0	0%
Voters: 187. You may not vote on this poll

10-07-2009, 04:47 PM	#63 (permalink)
Dr.Seussicide FakingSuicideForApplause Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: I live in a van down by the river Posts: 1,365	But, 1 + 1 could be equal to 5 though... so you wouldn't be completely wrong once you could prove it. __________________ I'll stay if I ever could, and pick up your pieces babe, because there's never a perfect day. Don't fret, baby, we're simply growing And my darling, I wouldn't mind to die like this.

10-07-2009, 05:59 PM	#70 (permalink)
Wrymwood Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 40	Not sure if it's the same of Christians, but Mormons believe that a third of the people in heaven chose to follow Satan. Satan's plan was to force people to be good taking away their free agency. Christ's plan was to give man complete agency and use this life as a probationary period in which they proved if they were worthy to live among God and Christ in the Celestial Kingdom. __________________ When out of valid arguments, criticize the other persons grammar.

10-07-2009, 05:45 PM	#65 (permalink)
Inuzuka Skysword Existential Egoist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,468	I also knew a Wiccan. However, their only reason for practicing it was because they really liked Harry Potter. I am not even joking...

10-07-2009, 05:55 PM	#69 (permalink)
anticipation Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,565	What I don't understand about the Christian religion is how Satan amassed so much power and influence over humanity. Is it because god let it happen or because Satan is some sort of deity? I tend to side with those who believe Satan is the Christian equivelent of Minos, or the great judge of hell in Dante's Commedia. Saitan, from what I've been told, is an archaic Arabic word meaning judge. Is it more likely that god called upon lucifer, one of his most trusted angels, to be a sort of judge, jury, and executioner of those who disobeyed god's commands?