Any one here religious?

[John_C]

you could follow the Jefferson Bible....

Thomas Jefferson disliked the supernatural parts of the bible... so he wrote his own, by just taking out all the supernatual bits of the scripture and gospels; miracles and divinity and such. you can buy a copy on Amazon, just search "jefferson Bible"

That's cool, I wasn't aware of it. I'll take a look.

However, I still want to know, from the perspective of a religious person, can i be truly good if i follow the MORAL teachings of Jesus only.

 

[Jind]

It's interesting, albeit predictable, that a question such as "Any one here religious?" would stir the kettle in any environment. I think the outcome is a predictable as the moon and sun. I think you will find very few have had their minds changed despite all the good, at times intelligent, debate that has occurred in this thread. I think most feel the same as when they started into this thread. Debate should be welcomed with open arms - not something to be feared. In the end those with conviction of belief, regardless what that belief may be, will likely not be swayed by even intelligent argument. That's the beauty of belief - it transcends the real world, it maintains despite others opinions.

Only the weak-willed would be swayed from whatever side of the spiritual fence they are on because of what any single person says or puts forth as their beliefs. Thus my belief that spiritualism or the lack there off needs to be a personal thing. Something that defines us, something that is the basis of the code we hold ourselves unto. Regardless of your belief, one can hold oneself to a standard that will hold us as our own judge of failure or success. If I fail in my attempts to be the man I have set out to be, it should be me that is disappointed in it, it should be me that suffers loss because of it.

Too many individuals have no center of belief, have no code they hold themselves to - they are simply wondering through life directionless. This is not a religious thing, as even a non-believer can have a code they hold themselves to, have standards they judge themselves by - without one we are open to corruption, to the bastardization of ones values. Regardless of what side of the fence you find yourself on - have conviction in it, spend time understanding how conviction in beliefs regardless what they are define the person you are and will be, how you will interact with others, how failure in your own personal code will impact you and others.

“There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behaviour, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson”

Hopefully we are all striving to be the man we hope to be, we are all striving to benefit those around us by our existence - not only to benefit ourselves. Religion does not make it so, but beliefs do, personal standards we hold ourselves to have a greater impact than any particular set of values bestowed upon us by others. As stated early on - I'm a spiritual man with little use for religion, if I practiced my beliefs with others they would no longer be my own. My code needs purity of self to be maintained and practiced. So instead of "Are any here religious?" I ask "Do any here believe in something?"

 

[amarshism]

You can hang out with prossies!!!

 

[El_Gato]

This really grinds my gears... Just generalizing, by saying "you" religious people, would you then believe that people such as myself, Aaron and the others would burn a witch, kill people etc???

I'm just curious, because I don't feel it's fair to group people like that... I may as well help you along.. All Asians are good at math, black people love watermelon and Italians only eat pizza right...

I actually agree with a lot of wrong existing in oranized religion. I myself don't go to church for such reasons, but I do personally pray to "god" in my own time each and every night. I also do physics, chemistry and other subjects in my schooling and feel at no odds between my faith and my learnings.

So I will say I am
spiritual if that tag suits better, and now I ask... At what are you arguing??? Is it the extremist views and actions from religious groups and how you believe they opress society??? Or religion/ faith/ spiritual beliefs in general??

Because I personaly can't see my actions being negative to anyone ever

You know what geras me? some muslims I knew are gay, alcohol and drugs users. Have they the right? YES. Is it allowed by their religion? NO, but the still continue believing and saying they're muslims WTF

you just take what you want when you like.

Clear up yourselves, at least I have a picture of my beliefs. Saying you're a Christian but not religious and don't believe in bible, genesis, and your pastor when preaches is just as oppsite as saying I'm a vegetarian but I eat cats and dogs only.


If you believe, believe. But when you're calling yourself eg a jehova's witness, you just can't take a break and say "Ok, I'll take this half of the story but not the other half"

Example: Me: I don't believe in ALL the things MARX said, so I'm not calling myself a Marxist


Beliefs are OK but don't put a label on them unless you're completely sure about you're accepting. If you call yourself a Christian, what kind should you be? Orthodox, protestant, adventist, christadelphians ...we can continue till you call them SECTS

 

[John_C]

That's the beauty of belief - it transcends the real world, it maintains despite others opinions.

Only the weak-willed would be swayed from whatever side of the spiritual fence they are on because of what any single person says or puts forth as their beliefs. "

Which i guess is ok, just as long as it remains totally personal and never inflicted on others. Ever.

Only the weak would ever feel the need to have belief, the strongest person is the person who can accept change and uncertainty and doesn't need belief to get them through the day.

 

[El_Gato]

This really grinds my gears... Just generalizing, by saying "you" religious people, would you then believe that people such as myself, Aaron and the others would burn a witch, kill people etc???


Because I personaly can't see my actions being negative to anyone ever

Religious is directly connected to the rightish political wings, so if you vote, and take religion into account, YES, BIG PROBLEM

 

[James Murphy]

This really grinds my gears...

 

[Melb_shredder]

I don't know about that dude, I feel like a pretty strong person on general, And I must say I only feel stronger through faith, funny thing actually, a mate of mine who is essentially on the atheist side of agnostic actually told me he respected how strong I am as a person despite the things I've been through. (uber divorce for my parents, rather not delve into the nitty gritty) and I was really taken back by that, so I'm not sure exactly what that says, would I be weak without faith??? Or does it merely make me stronger!!

Anyways, does anyone have a conclusion for this thread??? I pretty much gained that there's a lot of level headed religious people and agnostics and atheists so ifeel... Oh wait I assumed as much anyways...

Official thread of pointlessness... Although I apologise to the atheists for not relinquishing my faith
I'd ask you to try religion, but it doesn't bother me what you chose

 

[amarshism]

You personally may take part in religion and say it has no effect on the world but you have to understand that you're a part of something that is much larger and is effecting the world in negative ways. This is what offends me as an atheist. My belief isn't part of some grand world scheme, it just is what it is. I believe in myself because I am real. God is not. I feel for those who pray. It rly does nothing. It might do something for yourself, knowing you're concerned and deep in thought about something, but you don't need religion for that. You just need yourself.

 

[reneisgod]

jesus fuck this is turning into 1 epic long ass thread.

 

[Melb_shredder]

Religious is directly connected to the rightish political wings, so if you vote, and take religion into account, YES, BIG PROBLEM

I know, I jus asked would you still feel against it if it was as personal to everyone as having a fap on the pc??? People do it... But it doesn't need to or does impact anothers day does it??

(please dont take that too literally and say something like yes it would if the Misses walked in etc) lol

 

[John_C]

I'm just gonna repeat this, i know it's terribly bad forum etiquette or whatever but it's a question i really do want answered by someone religious:

Can I be a Christian without believing in anything supernatural?

By that I mean follow the moral teachings of Jesus (which I often find myself referring to in moral arguments) without feeling the need to have any God knowing or caring about what I do.

Would that make me a good person? or would I still be heading straight for hell if it turned out that I'd been wrong all along and there actually was a Christian God?

 

[amarshism]

No you can't.

 

[Melb_shredder]

Actually dude I think you are in the ok if you ask it in a religious sense. Jesus taught us etc to be and treat this way, so long as you do, and from my knowledge, the wrongs you have committed, if god exists, you may repent your sins and still be loved and what not in his eyes. But don't quote, i'm sure someone else can give you the low down

 

[Melb_shredder]

I have to ask then.. If I believe Jesus died for our sins and is the son of our father etc. And I'm told despite my personal beliefs and attitude, the group I fall into is harming the world, then what am I??? I believe in what is essentially christianity. Would you say imspiritul but believe in a Christian god???

It's not black and white... Nothing ever is

 

[John_C]

Actually dude I think you are in the ok if you ask it in a religious sense. Jesus taught us etc to be and treat this way, so long as you do, and from my knowledge, the wrongs you have committed, if god exists, you may repent your sins and still be loved and what not in his eyes. But don't quote, i'm sure someone else can give you the low down

Interesting. According to most modern religious thought, would it be considered a sin to not believe in God?

 

[James Murphy]

to be honest, i have a problem with the term atheist.. indeed, i have a problem with calling those who do not believe in the god of abraham, or any other god, by any special name at all.

do you need to have a name for people that don't believe in the Tooth Faerie? are they Afaeriests?

no, not believing in something for which there is no evidence is the rational default position and really needs no special name for it. e.g., i'm sure no one here believes in leprechauns... and yet we feel no need to come up with a label to indicate our non-belief in "the wee folk".... but we certainly have a name for those that do believe in leprechauns: bat-shit crazy .

extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.... those that don't demand such evidence, and just take extraordinary claims purely on faith, are the ones that are diverging from the nominal position, so having a name for them is appropriate.

 

[El_Gato]

I don't know about that dude, I feel like a pretty strong person on general, And I must say I only feel stronger through faith, funny thing actually, a mate of mine who is essentially on the atheist side of agnostic actually told me he respected how strong I am as a person despite the things I've been through. (uber divorce for my parents, rather not delve into the nitty gritty) and I was really taken back by that, so I'm not sure exactly what that says, would I be weak without faith??? Or does it merely make me stronger!!

Official thread of pointlessness... Although I apologise to the atheists for not relinquishing my faith
I'd ask you to try religion, but it doesn't bother me what you chose

yeah, it would be ideal if just religious people just prayed for themselves.

Reality is that Catholic power here and there are continuously pushing through politics to change the order of things. When that sect-company, is telling their followers what to vote, there comes the problem for us all: Conservative laws, chauvinism, anti-gay, pro-life, hate to other religions, etc.

The church here's using the money their followers give though taxes to do pro-life advertising now because of the new law that protects women choice. Isn't that an influence?

In bangladesh, they still throw acid in the women faces if she denys to please the husband. That wouldn't happen if there wasn't a sexist religion that someone malinterpretated allows them to do in the name of god. There's democracy but the religious-based political parties exist so

Religion=Bad

 

[John_C]

yeah, it would be ideal if just religious people just prayed for themselves.

Reality is that Catholic power here and there are continuously pushing through politics to change the order of things. When that sect-company, is telling their followers what to vote, there comes the problem for us all: Conservative laws, chauvinism, anti-gay, pro-life, hate to other religions, etc.

The church here's using the money their followers give though taxes to do pro-life advertising now because of the new law that protects women choice. Isn't that an influence?

In bangladesh, they still throw acid in the women faces if she denys to please the husband. That wouldn't happen if there wasn't a sexist religion that someone malinterpretated allows them to do in the name of god. There's democracy but the religious-based political parties exist so

Religion=Bad

nononono

religion = illogical

people + religion = illogical behaviour

shit people + religion = illogical shit behaviour

There's nothing intrinsically "bad" about most religions, it's only when people start believing in them that stuff goes down the shitter.

 

[Melb_shredder]

^^^^

we don't have it that bad in Australia, it may just be an American thing! We aren't very hard up on religion here. People are and people aren't, but here isn't that huge discernable gap. One of the guys running for prime minister here is a huge Christian, mos people will be voting against him in order to keep religio OUT of government

just a thought!!