david bowie avatars show a lack of heterosexuality

That is such an ignorant comment. It's funny some people try so hard to fit in. You try your hardest to piss absolutely everyone off. Just because someone is religious doesnt mean they're dumb. I have many relious friends that score higher than most and have more than decent comon sense. Dont sling comments out that you cant back up.

I've got to disagree with you on that. I believe that all religions are mostly incorrect in their explanations for how and why anything exists and that every religion have some stupid ideas and practises coupled with some that are less stupid and a some which are really quite good. The fact that they have both flaws and failures doesn't indicate a lack of intelligence. It indicates that it was chosen, either by society or by the indivdual, from all of the equally flawed religious and non-religious philosophies available.

In my opinion, this assortment of good and band ideas is largely the case with ANYBODYS worldview and ideas for how things come about and what the best way to behave is. We're all pretty stupid and illogical most of the time, religion just gives people a framework for that stupidity.

^ it shows a lack of thinking "outside the box"
it shows that they want to conform to a set of ideas not their own, voiding some of their individuality.

no one said i was

That's just from one perspective, from another one it could be said that they're avoiding having to "reinvent the wheel". If somebody spends less time pontificating about what their own opinions and philosophies are and just uses those which other people have presented to them then in a sense it frees them up a lot to actually get things done.

At the same time, like you said, following somebody elses mantras may cause you to lose some of your individuality. In the end, though, you may well end up following your own mantras so it might not be all that different, except for the time spent developing your own personal dogma. We become pretty set in our ways sometime in our 20's so anticipating the continuation of your own originality and flexibility, and ignoring established frameworks, may not be the best way to go. You may just end up following your own equally useless set of mental rules. I think I've probably started doing that myself by now.

I've seen whats "outside the box".......and I'll stick with the box.


Just because you associate with people with similar beliefs makes you a conformist? No. It means that youve weighed all the options and found the religion that you believe to be true. How is that conforming?

Totally agree.

not a conformist, but you're conforming to that sect.

Am I the only one that finds this statement funny coming from the person who attacks anyone not christian/republican and calls them close-minded conformists who only dislike bush because its popular?

Heres one just made recently:

You see, you're just following the popular train if you dislike bush but if you support him, THEN you're individual!

in a way i tend to agree with this, but in a way disagree. i was raised strict, STRICT prodestant, and i dunno from the get go i never really did buy the whole idea of living by god's laws under threat of eternal damnation. and there are some, probably many, including my parents and most of my family, who refuse to look to anything outside of their faith for answers or inspiration. those are the kinds of christians (or any religion for that matter) that i can't abide. the problem is most of them have money and influence and can really make life hard for the rest of us. but for someone whose seen they're share of the world and not just whats been filtered through the pulpet for them, and still choose to beleive than thats their decision, and at least it was an informed one. i've seen both sides of christianity, and just can't make myself beleive it no matter how hard i try. i'd love for some all-powerful skyman to have everything planned out and not worry about anything. but i think when you make you're own path to wherever you really live life to the fullest.

I only "attacked" people in defense of them attacking me first. And disagreeing with someone or their ideology, while at the same time representing your own beliefs in an equitable way, is not "attacking," it is a discussion. Grow up.

I never said that at all. It is obvious that the latest trend in today's hollywood is to publicly be anti-bush, and individuals do not follow trends, they set them. It is true that there is also a trend of blindly following Bush's lead, but that too is a bad thing. No person or thing (with the exception of the lord) is ALL good. One must weigh the pros and cons of everything before making any decisions.

I find it hard to believe you could have already weighed all the options. I'm 26, and I feel like life is a lifelong spiritual journey. 10 years from now, I could be a Christian, a Muslim, a Wiccan, anything. Hey, if you really have weighed all the options, then that's cool, but somehow I just don't believe it. As much as I've read the Bible and have seen several parts that contradict each other, and have read stories in it that make it sound like it was written by Timothy Leary, I'm OK w/ it, as long as people don't use it as a tool for hate and discrimination, and sadly that's what I see a lot of 'Christians' doing these days.

My religious beliefs are extremely important to me. While I was raised in a pentacostal church, I have also done much research on other religions and ideologies. I have friends that are Muslim, Athiest, Wiccan, etc. While I disagree with their beliefs, they have the right to believe in whatever they choose. And as far as people "using the Bible for hate," I assume that you're referring to the "hate" of homosexuality. While many base their disagreeance, and in some cases hate, of homosexuals on the bible, most do not.

yeah, their disagreeance w/ that; and disagreeance w/ people following any other religion

God is a construct to explain that which man cannot comprehend.

Existence is but a grain of sand on all the beaches of the world, infinitly infintesimal.

Having faith is irrational and a waste of time. Focus on the here and now, not the hereafter.

I like that philosophy, and agree that we would probably be just as well suited to be in wonderment of the fact that we are so incredibly blessed just to be on a planet where conditions are suited for human life. It's really amazing. However, I have noticed the laws of Karma constantly taking effect in my life and the lives of others, and it can be hard to see Karma, because it usually takes a long time to get it payed back, IMO

Protestant

Yes, i'm the one who needs to grow up and you're also correct on it being "attacking" not attacking.

So how do you know the Dixie Chicks or any personal who dislikes bush hasn't done that?

Woh woh, every person is an individual so what you're saying is no one follows trends? Then you go on saying people blindly follow bushes lead...I'm confused.

Also your lord killed a whole city because he thought they were gay, I believe that goes against the "thou shall not murder" thing and breaking those 10 commandments is bad, not good. So really "The Lord" is bad. You fail.

I don't. But seeing as how they only started thier criticisms of the Bush administration when it became popular for Hollywood to do so makes me have my doubts.

Actually, educated people know that God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gamorrha (sp?) because of the violent nature of it's people, not because of their sexual preferences. So you are wrong once again.

I don't think thats a fair critisism. They did it far before it was popular back when Micheal Moore was getting boo-ed off the stage at the oscars for denouncing the presidents plans.

The Dixie chicks should not be faulted for having an opinion, especailly now that it seems to hold a majorities sway.

Thats accurate..really. Its not a trend to have an opinion..or to express..no matter how popular it may be...they vocalized how they felt about Bush's Admin...and the rest of the country was in denial..

Yes, but now that the majority is doing it, they dont seem to be as vocal about their despise for Bush. Weird.

They said all they needed to say...there is no point in repeating what everyone already knows.

First of all, how would you know? I can't imagine you'd have any medium to find out what the dixie chicks have to say. And why is it weird that their not saying anything now? Their not on a mission to get rid of Bush, they just said they were ashamed he was from the same country...why would they keep saying that?

No medium? How about television, radio, internet, newspapers, magazines, need I continue? And I honestly have no reasoning for why the Dixie Chicks do anything they do....No one does.

But the problem with all those types of mediums is that it gets construde in different ways...

I`ve always seen religion as something people use as an excuse to avoid talking about the real issue.

Discuss.........

Whats the real issue?

There are lots of them just pick up any newspaper

Brittany spears shaved her head!

I was thinking about Anna's baby's daddy.

That's getting old really quickly. Frankly I can give a rats arse about anna nicole smith it's a soup opera.

Hey dont make fun of soup!!

:rofl:

I saw the court footage revolving around custody of Anna's kids, or something like that, on the news over here, the judge came to tears, infact everyone was tweaking their sprinkler systems and there were prayers to God and alsorts.

What a bunch of fucking hollywoods.

I heard he's after his own TV series

...only in America! *shakes head*

Did you know that according to CNN, atheists are the most hated minority in America?

Really, I could have sworn it was Celine Dion fans:laughing:

Its CNN, so oojays probably closer to the truth.

is closer*