Your Religion

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: Starboy Funny but if puddles were alive they would think the exact same thing about the holes they found themselves in. "My this hole fits me perfectly. It must have been made just for me." Starboy

I see it that way as well. The universe fits us mostly because we kind of "grew into" it. It's a great bit of fortune that we oxygen breathers happen to find ourselves on a planet with an O2 atmosphere. Also nice that water doesn't kill us.
Maybe that's why we don't get too many verifiable UFO visits. They might not like air as much as we do.

[tman_ndsu08]

Quote by: Starboy Funny but if puddles were alive they would think the exact same thing about the holes they found themselves in. "My this hole fits me perfectly. It must have been made just for me." Starboy

I don't think they'd say that. It'd probably be more like "god damnit, this hole is too small".

[legallyblonde16]

To the new breed of Christians it is not about what you can do for god, but what god can do for you. It’s all about fear. We have become a species of selfish chikenshits. The humanists are in it for humanity. That is all they get out of it. But the Christians have become a pack of whining, selfish, thoughtless intolerant bastards.

Your right it is about fear.To me hell is a place to be feared.Do me a favor and read Revalation20:10-15(thats the last book in the Bible by the way)

And in a way your right it is about what God can do for me. I will never be worthy enough to enter into the presence of a holy, sinless God, yet he promises me that he will will make it as if I've never sinned if only I'll ask him to forgive and believe that he sent his son Jesus to save me. I still try to serve God though. I try to love my neighbor as myself and be an example but I still make mistakes because i'm not perfect and will only be so when i get to heaven. But even after I've made a big mistake i know that God still loves me and he's waiting for me with open arms.

Everyone says that Christianity is the most limited and exclusive religion in the world,because in Christianity the only way to get to heaven is through Christ. But if you really think about Christianity is the most open form of religion in the whole world because in it you don't have to be so good, or travel to some certain place, reach nirvana, or pray 50 times a day. Anyone (black, white,jew,gentile) can go to heaven if they just ask. What could be more open?

[Starboy]

A good example of the new spiritual me generation.

Starboy

[legallyblonde16]

Quote by: Scribbler1 I see it that way as well. The universe fits us mostly because we kind of "grew into" it. It's a great bit of fortune that we oxygen breathers happen to find ourselves on a planet with an O2 atmosphere. Also nice that water doesn't kill us. Maybe that's why we don't get too many verifiable UFO visits. They might not like air as much as we do.

Hey lets just grow into our planet. Lets just happen to have everthing we need to survive. Lets just happen to have working hearts, lungs,brain, and reproductive organs spring all at the same time without us getting eaten first. :rolleyes:

Sounds kind of unplausible to me.

Imagine your walking through the desert and on the ground you find a watch. This watch actually works by the way. Do you sit there and think hey I bet this watch formed here after millions of years in perfect working conditions. Or maybe it was a rock that looked like a sundial and evolved into a rollex watch. No of course not!!! You think who dropped this and can I keep it.

Apply that same logic to the earth, the universe, and yourself.

[Starboy]

I don't think the blonde gets it.

Starboy

[legallyblonde16]

What don't I get? You have no religion, right? Yet you bash other peoples without truly understanding the facts o fthat religion. Give me real proof that what you say is true. Prove that there is no God, that there is no intelligent design to our universe.

[Starboy]

That you do not know how a puddle works.

Starboy

[tman_ndsu08]

Quote by: legallyblonde16 What don't I get? You have no religion, right? Yet you bash other peoples without truly understanding the facts o fthat religion. Give me real proof that what you say is true. Prove that there is no God, that there is no intelligent design to our universe.

You can't prove that God doesn't exist. He could simply be somewhere we can't detect. Perhaps a higher dimension?

You can't prove that God does exist. The whole point of the religion is that you have to have faith that he does. So, if you were able to prove it, it would make the entire religion false which would make God not exist.

[Zarathustra]

When you get down to it, you cannot prove anything at all. Asking for it is such a waste of breath.

[tman_ndsu08]

You can prove a lot of things.

[legallyblonde16]

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 You can't prove that God does exist. The whole point of the religion is that you have to have faith that he does. So, if you were able to prove it, it would make the entire religion false which would make God not exist.

But the point is it is faith in what you can see what you can feel what you can think.
When i look out my window I see God. When I feel love, joy, or even sorrow I feel God. When I think about anything I know God hears and cares.

The heavens declare the glories of God and the wonders of his love.

[tman_ndsu08]

You have faith that he exists, but no proof.

There can't be proof, that's the point. It's a test. You have to believe sans proof.

[Starboy]

Quote by: legallyblonde16 But the point is it is faith in what you can see what you can feel what you can think. When i look out my window I see IPU [God]. When I feel love, joy, or even sorrow I feel IPU [God]. When I think about anything I know IPU [God] hears and cares. The heavens declare the glories of IPU [God] and the wonders of her [his] love.

You have it all wrong, those things declair the benevolence of the IPU, (Invisible Pink Unicorn) (May IPU have mercy on your soul).

http://www.palmyra.demon.co.uk/humour/ipu.htm

Starboy

[Matt W]

As for my religion...well...I'm not baptised or confirmed...I have a vague belief in a 'supreme being', but that's about it. As far as I'm concerned, religion should be an intensely personal thing.

[eyral]

I believe there is an infinite God who has created the universe out of nothing.
Man was originally created in God’s image and likeness although he chose to sin and this contaminated all of mankind with the sin of nature. So God has gifted man with worth, but our negative behavior is in league with our nature.
I believe that there is no huge cosmic "Christian World View" that causes all Christians to walk in mindless obedience. Instead, Christians, because of a commitment that comes from grace, the Grace of God recognize their need to live according to God's standards. The interesting thing about that is that not all Christians agree on everything. In fact, we often seem to be at odds. You don't have to agree with me, but if you, as a Christian disagrees, I would hope that you could show me why I am wrong Biblically! Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
This is the foundation for my worldview, which I guess I would relate to the Christian worldview in General. Some say it is impossible to prove God's existence. But if that is true, how do they know this? Are there any proofs that prove it is impossible to prove God's existence? The different ideas about God is related to ones world view.

[SlySpy]

I see God as the universal answer for what people don't understand or don't want to take the time to understand. This is why the concept of God is a source of ignorance.

[Taipanus]

With 500 or so posts, I have not read many. But the original poster was baptised Catholic, but does not believe. I was baptised Protestant, was atheist for a while and am now Catholic, which is where I believe the journey will finish.

To argue about religion, one needs to take into account one's personal experience and social background, as well as doctrinal and theological issues. No one makes a religious decision in a vacuum.

Firstly I grew up in Australia and always have lived here. At the time I was born, Australia was a "Christian" country in that it's main social heritage of the time was basically Christian and predominantly English. After WWII there was an influx of mainly European migrants and refugees. Since these groups were mainly "Christian" also, then in effect not much changed, except for perhaps a bit more Orthodox church growth due to Greeks and other Eastern Europeans.

More recently there has been an influx of other nationalities, for example Vietnamese after the Vietnam War, and other Asian races. Generally it is a lot more common today to see Asian, African, Pacific Island and South American faces than in my childhood and youth.

To some extent this means other religions have become more prominent. Nevertheless the society is still "Christian" in its heritage.

However there is a considerable difference between a "Christian" society, and actively believing in Christ. And if one does believe in Christ, then which church is the closest to the truth, since there are so many competing versions, despite there being only one set of Scriptures and one Holy Spirit?

Now obviously if one grows up in a "Christian" environment, then one is going to be more likely to gravitate towards a Christian movement than if one grows in a Moslem, Shinto or Buddhist environment. Thus a society's bent towards one faith or another does not prove the "truth" or otherwise of that religion. What the widespread practice of religion does show is that man has a religious "Need". We also have a need for water, air, food, sex, company and a number of other things. For all these needs we have means of supply ie. air, water, food, sex, company and the other things exist to satisfy them. Moreover we often find a certain pleasure in satisfying that need eg. drinking, eating, breathing (after a prolonged dive for example under water), or maybe an immense relief when we have made it to the toilet without blowing up first. Thus not only do we need them, but we find a certain pleasure in their judicious use. A car needs oil to run, but as far as I know, no car "cares" or not whether you keep the oil up, or feels pleasure when you check it. The motor just seizes if you don't.

Thus we have no "need" without a corresponding means of satisfying that need. The academic has books and other academics to satisfy his need for academia. The car racing fan has likewise car clubs and racing tracks. These things may be man made, but the basic appetites which demand their satisfaction are built-in.

Therefore my fist argument about religion is that we have a built-in need for it, and if we do not "worship" a particular "Deity" we will find something to take His place, whether it is sport, or social success, or financial success, or a family, or twiddly winks. The person who can find no such icon may turn to drugs or alcohol to drown out the despair.

In my next article I will argue on another point.

Taipanus

[SlySpy]

Well, Taipanus, I don't feel I "worship" anything at all, yet I'm completely clean and sober, I've never done drugs or got drunk in my life and I'm never depressed. Would you consider me an anomaly?

[Gorgo]

I have no 'need' for religion. I've also found that I have no 'need' for cigarettes, for overeating, etc. Religion is an error in thinking. Albert Ellis called it a neurosis, but I'm not a doctor, so I don't know about that.