Your beliefs, and thoughts on religion?

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman: Really, cause I think he's an asshat personally. "

What could you possibly find so "asshatty" about him? He's a cool dude. He's funny and makes really good points. He's similar to Jon Stewart in a way. You should check out Real Time with Bill Maher. "

 ... That and his placing of child molestation on a lower tier than childhood bullying astounded me. "

" @Tebbit said:

" @SeriouslyNow said:

" @Tebbit said:

" @SeriouslyNow said:

" I believe in Triangles. "

Whatever man, your triangle is just a false square. 
IT'S MISSING THE POINT, AND SO ARE YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU! "

Oh just go touch yourself in the dodecahedron you atheist. "

The dodecahedron is a rich man's Icosahedron, you zealot. "

We're all polygons, can't we all just get along? :( "

" @HitmanAgent47:  Polls that only took into account forum users who viewed whatever poll you're talking about. I know you love to cite that number but that's a very unscientific poll. "

I'd rather keep that to myself, than post it on a videogame forum.

Religion is for idiots period. Why would you believe in something that does not question itself?

" sky cake is great, i think. "

I say as Christopher Hitchens once said
"What can be asserted without proof can be dissmissed without proof"
 
And I stand by it as an Atheist.

i want to be the first post on the fourth page

" Religion is for idiots period. Why would you believe in something that does not question itself? "

 I think all you'll achieve by making this thread is bring out the elitist atheists. And people who think Bill Maher is a smart man. Now i'm no religious person, if you have to put a label on me, i guess i'm agnostic. And i have disliked plenty of religious extremists in my time, but what the atheists don't seem to realize is that a lot of the time they can be just as bad about forcing their opinions on people. Just leave people be in their respective beliefs. No, you don't have all the answers, even though you'd like to think you do. And if people find some kind of comfort in believing that there is a god, then i see don't anything wrong with that. Once it starts to be used for things such as not allowing two gay men to get married, then it is of course a whole other story. 

I personally do not believe in God, even though I was raised Jewish. However, I feel everyone has the right to believe what they choose to, as long as they don't force it on to others. To me, most religions teach to hate certain groups of people (gays, women, other races, etc) and I find that wrong. If there's anyone or anything worth worshiping, it would be Vinny.  :D

This thread is like a joke that gets funnier with each telling.

I don't believe in anything.

I believe in some kind of higher being-isn't entirely good or evil, but has the power to control. We're like toys to a kid.
 
ITS LIKE A FUCKING GAME
 
Joking aside, it IS what I believe. Yes, I am fucking strange.

Oh noes it's this discussion again!

I am a strange man for I have my own religion.  
 
It borrows much from Christianity, as Jesus Christ and God are existant figures. However, God is not a smiting leader. He is a dude, who runs heaven partying all day and night long. He also snowboards and plays the drums.  
Jesus is his trendy roommate. 
 
In my religion death is not a thing to be afraid of. It means that you will get to go to heaven after being judged. if you have lived your life horribly (murdered people who someone cared about etc) then you will be smitten to hell for a time suitable as a punishment. If you don't go to hell then only heaven and eternal bliss awaits. You have the choice to make your heaven whatever you like. And by whatever I mean fucking whatever the eff you want it to be. There you will be able to stay as long as you want.... 
 
...however you are going to get tired of it. You have the chance to change it however much you want and as many times you want, but still it will feel like something's missing. 
Then, if wished so, you can be reborn as anything you want. On earth, that is. Butterfly, tumbleweed, white whale, human - anything. If you die again you will be reconnected to your spirit and you will regain all your experiences from previous lives. So by some time you will know in heaven what it means to be a cat, a human and an acorn.  
 
The worst thing is that I believe in this stupidity 100%. I know it's hard to believe, but fuck if that doesn't sound logical.  
 
Any questions, then ask ahead.

A lot of times what plaques these discussions (not necessarily on this forum, just in general) is a fundamental misunderstanding of the word atheist.
 
Theist = Beleives that a higher being created the universe, and that the entity interviens in human affairs.  (A personal god, such as the God of Abraham for Christianity, Judaism, and Islam)
Atheist = Not a theist.
 
So technically, if you consider yourself a deist, agnostic, or anything other than a theist...you are an atheist.  Being an atheist entails nothing more than that.  Society likes to throw a lot more baggage onto that word and twist it into somewhat of a pejorative.  
Deism and agnosticism I suppose could just be seen as varying degrees of atheism...but they're still atheism regardless.

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman: Really, cause I think he's an asshat personally. "

What could you possibly find so "asshatty" about him? He's a cool dude. He's funny and makes really good points. He's similar to Jon Stewart in a way. You should check out Real Time with Bill Maher. "

 ... That and his placing of child molestation on a lower tier than childhood bullying astounded me. "

What was his reasoning behind that?  Also, I don't think he's "attacking" anyone. He's just trying to bring a perspective that makes a lot of sense to everyone attention. He's doing it the only way he knows how. Besides, at least movies like Religulous make people pay attention and talk about it. That's really the goal. Try not to take it personally. "

" sky cake is great, i think. "

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman: Really, cause I think he's an asshat personally. "

What could you possibly find so "asshatty" about him? He's a cool dude. He's funny and makes really good points. He's similar to Jon Stewart in a way. You should check out Real Time with Bill Maher. "

 ... That and his placing of child molestation on a lower tier than childhood bullying astounded me. "

What was his reasoning behind that?  Also, I don't think he's "attacking" anyone. He's just trying to bring a perspective that makes a lot of sense to everyone attention. He's doing it the only way he knows how. Besides, at least movies like Religulous make people pay attention and talk about it. That's really the goal. Try not to take it personally. "

I'll link the video where I saw it :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zx2o9C12yo&feature=related  It was sort of said in jest, but that's the duality of having opinions and being a comedian: you get to stand by your comments in certain company and dismiss them as jokes in other.  That being said, I do like John Stewart, but he prefers to attack general stupidity in politics and news media, rather than a certain topic he decrees as stupid (i.e. Bill Maher and all religion). "

Talking about Religion in a forum on the internet, whether you be for or against it, should be illegal in all countries and be punishable by death.

"I believe we should stop making threads about it.

                   

                "

So... I have a family member who is a "Born-Again Christian pastor."  He's one of a handful of family members who seems to find God once every couple/few years.  So I had been getting spammed with all sorts of religious notes on Facebook, and this was how I responded: 
 

To be perfectly honest, I'm getting tired of being tagged in religious note after religious note after religious note.  I realize that some of you may have no idea what I'm talking about, and some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.  For those that have no clue - I had finally, last week, reached a breaking point in seeing my facebook wall spammed with myself being tagged in notes about God and religion, and spammed even more with the wall-to-walls of other people on my friends list getting spammed.

 

I believe the way I believe, and I don't force that upon any of my friends or family, and I expect my friends and family to be just as respectful of me.  But apparently not.  Apparently I'm "lost" or some crap. Lost because I don't go to church.  Lost because I don't randomly find God every few years or so and turn my life over to him for a few months.  I don't know.  But I'm assuming that there must be some damn good reason why I keep getting tagged in all these notes.

 

And just to get things straight, here's the way I believe:

 

First of all, perhaps the Gospel of Thomas shouldn't have been an apocrypha.  There are some things in it that are certainly worth hearing.

 

Gospel of Thomas 3: Jesus said... "the Kingdom is within you and it is outside of you"

Gospel of Thomas 77: Jesus said... "I am the light that shines over all things. I am everything. From me all came forth, and to me all return. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift a stone, and you will find me there."

 

Alternate translation: The Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood… and I am there, lift a stone… and you will find me.  

 

Of course, why would a church want you to believe that you can speak to God anytime, anywhere?  Why would a church want you to believe that you don't really need a church to speak with God?  And yet, if we cannot speak with God directly - if we need a church, what is the point of prayers even for the church-going?  God hears me no better because I stand in a building of marble and stained glass, or because I have someone play go-between who may be ordained by the Holy See or maybe got ordained off the internet.  God hears me from my bed, God hears me from the shower, God hears me from the bus on the way to work.

 

But another very important saying... 

 

God helps those who help themselves.

 

This saying actually came from one of Aesop's fables written in the 6th century BC, and the subject was the Greek mythological gods rather than the single Christian god, but over the years, the saying evolved.  Now true, I have read some things that say that God would have us believe the exact OPPOSITE of that saying.  That we should not trust in man, that we should trust in God alone.  But that just doesn't seem right to me at all.  But this saying has been one that has been important to me for many years of my life.

 

How have I made it this far in my life when I grew up around so much failure and despair?  How is it that my life turned out so much differently?  Some might claim that it's because I'm part white while they're not.  Others may claim that it's because I've always been "nerdy".... apparently that's what it's called when you speak in full and correct sentences.  No, my life turned out differently because I worked my ass off for it, and occasionally, when I wasn't sure if that work would be enough, I asked God for some help along the way.  But I did NOT sit around waiting for others, or even God, to do for me.

 

I don't need to be lectured on religion.  I don't need to be lectured on how I'm lost, or how I should go to church, or how I should join this or that various religious thing of the week.  I think I have a better handle on my own religious beliefs than many others.

" @FlyingRat: Elitist atheists? I sir, worship the flying spaghetti monster. "

I wonder what's up with everyone being so against religious threads here? You can repeat which ever thread you want about a dozen times no worries, but if it's about god, 'oh no!' people might start to feel a little intellectual and philosophical about themselves.
 
I believe god is that it really is the universe. All the laws that create the universe. Not to say that there is a divine plan for everything, it's all just seems chaotic, but still everything absolutely lawful. Everything is acting as a reaction to something else.
 
People being here doesn't mean we're so far from god, but are god. Like we are stardust.
 
My understanding of religion (Christian and Jewish among others) is that angels and devil act as forces of love and un-love (there is no good and evil). All the sins are a result for the lack of love and everything good comes from love. Hell attracts people with no love to a loveless place, while heaven is a place of infinite love, grouping together everyone's combined love. Probably what people think souls are and stuff, I feel they're more emotions.

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman: Really, cause I think he's an asshat personally. "

What could you possibly find so "asshatty" about him? He's a cool dude. He's funny and makes really good points. He's similar to Jon Stewart in a way. You should check out Real Time with Bill Maher. "

 ... That and his placing of child molestation on a lower tier than childhood bullying astounded me. "

What was his reasoning behind that?  Also, I don't think he's "attacking" anyone. He's just trying to bring a perspective that makes a lot of sense to everyone attention. He's doing it the only way he knows how. Besides, at least movies like Religulous make people pay attention and talk about it. That's really the goal. Try not to take it personally. "

I'll link the video where I saw it :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zx2o9C12yo&feature=related  It was sort of said in jest, but that's the duality of having opinions and being a comedian: you get to stand by your comments in certain company and dismiss them as jokes in other.  That being said, I do like John Stewart, but he prefers to attack general stupidity in politics and news media, rather than a certain topic he decrees as stupid (i.e. Bill Maher and all religion). "

I'm sure he was joking in the video. That is what you do on talk shows, after all. That really, really shouldn't be taken seriously in that context.  And there you go using the word attack again. Nobody's attacking anyone. Can't people speak their minds and make points without it being labeled as an attack?  "

I wrote about this earlier, here's a quicky copy-paste:

" I wrote about this earlier, here's a quicky copy-paste:

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

The whole concept of a god came to existence because the human race couldn’t explain natural occurences like lightning and eartquakes. Science wasn’t quite there yet, so humans turned to a greater power. Humans evolved, started figuring this stuff out, but the idea of a god has always been still there.

Here’s my question, why is the idea of a god still there?

Religious people can’t rely on their “BUT HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS?” explanation anymore, because basically everything has a reasonable explanation, or if the explanation isn’t that great, it’s a hell of a lot better than “My invisible friend did it”

Actually sit down with and listen to a religious person and all you’ll hear from them is how you’re unbelievably stupid for not being religious. That’s all, no actual reasonable arguments for their side, just the fact that believing is the right thing to do. Just because they said so.

Arguing with them results in you being called “closed-minded” and whatever else. You are just supposed to try and co-exist with other people without hating them. All the while some other people get straight jackets for talking with their imaginary friends.

LOGIC!

Their supposed ‘God’ is all about doing jack shit all day. He supposedly listens to your prayers, but a quick Google search will reveal you several news stories about a family praying for their child who is close to death, with several hundred commentators on the story also promising to pray for them.

They all of course died due to their serious illnesses.

A religious person would read that and go: “God isn’t for granting wishes, he is just doing what’s right”

Apparently innocent children deserve to die? And serial murderers deserve to kill a bunch of people without getting caught?

Right. This god fellow seems pretty great.

If bad people roam around the world and good people die left and right, what’s the point in trying to justify it and pretending to do something about it, if it’s just going to continue happening anyway? All you’re achieving with that is the simple problem of looking like a madman to every other sane person out there.

 tl:dr version: I am not religious "

Doesn't interest me. 

" @Rockdalf: I'm totally with you on this.  I don't like the guy at all (Maher that is).  For as liberal and openminded as he's supposed to be, he teaches his share of intolerance, much like in the quote you posted above.  Religious and agnostic people seem to be much more accepting and openminded about people's varying beliefs (or nonbeliefs) than athiests.  But then I agree with the person earlier who said something about the athiest elitists coming out in this thread. "

" @Rockdalf: Religious and agnostic people seem to be much more accepting and openminded about people's varying beliefs (or nonbeliefs) than athiests. "

There is only one true god/relgion his name is goku.

" @melcene said:

" @Rockdalf: Religious and agnostic people seem to be much more accepting and openminded about people's varying beliefs (or nonbeliefs) than athiests. "

You must be joking.   Religious groups are among the most intolerant groups in History.  Religious groups have fought every manner of scientific discovery every step of the way, they impede the equal rights and treatment of homosexuals in the United States, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries by the Catholic church, a solution to the war over the "Holy Land" between the Jews and Muslims is made impossible because of religious issues, the discgrace that is the "God Hates Fags" group is motivated solely by intolerance derived from their faith, etc etc etc etc etc etc.  You could go on forever.  And regarding Atheism specifically, just turn on FOX news if you want to watch how tolerant and open minded the religious are of atheistic points of view.  You have a lot of explaining to do to justify a disgusting comment such as that. "

I still believe there's only one true god. And he lives in a lake. And his name is Zorgo. I also believe fire is magic, and it scares me a lot. Call me old fashioned. 

" @bushpusherr said:

" @melcene said:

" @Rockdalf: Religious and agnostic people seem to be much more accepting and openminded about people's varying beliefs (or nonbeliefs) than athiests. "

You must be joking.   Religious groups are among the most intolerant groups in History.  Religious groups have fought every manner of scientific discovery every step of the way, they impede the equal rights and treatment of homosexuals in the United States, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries by the Catholic church, a solution to the war over the "Holy Land" between the Jews and Muslims is made impossible because of religious issues, the discgrace that is the "God Hates Fags" group is motivated solely by intolerance derived from their faith, etc etc etc etc etc etc.  You could go on forever.  And regarding Atheism specifically, just turn on FOX news if you want to watch how tolerant and open minded the religious are of atheistic points of view.  You have a lot of explaining to do to justify a disgusting comment such as that. "

I think we can agree that zealotry in any form is harmful, whether it involves religion or video games. "

"

"

Atheist. Also, I love Bill Maher. So there.

Quite the surprised at the amount of atheists all up in here but then again this thread is most likely just attracting atheists.

  You have a lot of explaining to do to justify a disgusting comment such as that. "

Sure.  But to make the comparison that atheists are less accepting of people's varying beliefs than the religious is ignorant. "

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @Rockdalf said:

" @JJWeatherman: Really, cause I think he's an asshat personally. "

What could you possibly find so "asshatty" about him? He's a cool dude. He's funny and makes really good points. He's similar to Jon Stewart in a way. You should check out Real Time with Bill Maher. "

 ... That and his placing of child molestation on a lower tier than childhood bullying astounded me. "

What was his reasoning behind that?  Also, I don't think he's "attacking" anyone. He's just trying to bring a perspective that makes a lot of sense to everyone attention. He's doing it the only way he knows how. Besides, at least movies like Religulous make people pay attention and talk about it. That's really the goal. Try not to take it personally. "