Religion

[[TeRa]]

Re: Religion

As an atheist also, I kind of believe in a god, if that's really what to call it. I don't believe that god is that person that helps everyone out, and that we pray to, in fact, I think praying is the most stupid thing about religion almost. The universe had to have started at a certain point in time, and I'm nearly positive science has proven this. Therefore something had to have started it all, and whatever that thing was, I refer to as god. So as I see it, god is dead, if it was ever even a living being, and praying to this god is pretty stupid of people.

Now I tolerate everyones religion, as this I live in America, and that was one of the reasons of this country, but I don't understand how so many people can believe in so much BS and live their life by it.

About praying, I watched a video on youtube a while ago called something like "The Greatest Optical Illusion", in the video it was pretty much mainly commentary saying that praying to god has the same value as praying to a milk bottle. The video pretty much says god is fake, and praying has no meaning at all. I agree that praying to god is pointless, you will not benefit anything from that at all, you will just waste some time. However, I don't exactly understand how religion is still so big, and how so many people still believe in whatever they believe in. Why do so many people go to church or temples or various other things I don't know the name of. I see religion sort of as an addiction.

[Izzy]

Re: Religion

Pretty self - explanatory:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_did_religion_start

Not what i meant but ok.

[windsurfer-sp]

Re: Religion

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that anyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

So please ignore Jehovah witnesses if you believe this basic biblical principle.

[Izzy]

Re: Religion

if you believe this basic biblical principle.

Well i guess that about narrows it down to exactly the same thing anyways.

[EAGAMES]

Re: Religion

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that anyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

So please ignore Jehovah witnesses if you believe this basic biblical principle.

Why would John 3:16 make you say to ignore J.W. if you believe in that basic principle?

[Tokzic]

Re: Religion

In theory, I'm agnostic. I don't put any money on anything. I find the premise of adhering to some preexisting religion like flipping through a catalogue completely ridiculous. Religion is supposed to be a personal thing where you found your own conclusions and keep it to yourself - it's individual, not something to drag other people into, or to flock to. If you join one, you're compromising your true beliefs just so you can fit in, which is utterly ridiculous.

As far as my beliefs go, I don't pay much attention to them, but here they are. I find the fact that there is even a plane of existance extremely curious, and furthermore, that I, a collection of inanimate particles that click together just right to make something that breathes and thinks, am conscious on it, but will exit it one day. I know the Big Bang happened, but such an extraordinary event has no science concerning its origin or what occurred before.

I believe that something, be it an entity, an organization, or something completely beyond comprehension, was behind that.

I also have a bunch of very radical beliefs but I keep those to myself.

[windsurfer-sp]

Re: Religion

Why would John 3:16 make you say to ignore J.W. if you believe in that basic principle?

You say that only x amount of people can go to heaven, so that contradicts the "anyone" in John 3:16 as far as im concerned. Im not trying to attack you but I personally dislike some of J.W.'s beliefs and want to clarify that not all Christians believe that.



Anyway heres my summary on Christianity: God created the universe and on Earth he made Adam and Eve. God was with them in the Garden and instructed them not to eat the forbidden fruit. They did and sin entered the world.

As God is purely holy he can't be around sin, so sinners can't enter heaven. So Jesus the "son" of God, who is really God's spirit in human flesh, died on the cross to pay the price of sin. As Jesus never sinned and didn't deserve any punishment his death conquers sin. Jesus then rose again three days later.

Anyone who accepts Jesus as his savior and asks for his forgiveness is saved and will go to Heaven. Hitler himself could've gone to Heaven if he repented his sins.

Christianity from then on is a personal relationship with Jesus, growing to be more like him.

I'm more then happy to try and clarify things or answer questions about anything.

[Villiex]

Re: Religion

Everyone is born an atheist.

Everyone is born agnostic. Atheists specifically believe that there is not a God, and agnostics don't have a belief either way. Therefore, everybody is agnostic at birth because they've been exposed to nothing to believe in or against.

Of course, hardcore religious zealouts will argue against this and say that all people are born with the knowledge of God, because He is our Father and exists within us all, but at that point the conversation is all theory anyway.

Mainly, I am clarifying the distinction between the two, since you seemed to have your terminology a bit wrong from the get-go.

[devonin]

Re: Religion

Not a CT thread. I feel bad for subjecting a reasonable discussion to the hordes of chit-chat though, but a mod's gotta do what a mod's gotta do.

Also, Villiex: Almost but not quite.

Weak atheism is simply a lack of belief about religion at all. Strong atheism is a statement that there -is- no God.

Weak agnosticism says that we can't know for sure, but someday could. Strong agnosticism says we can't know, and never will be able to.

Weak atheism and weak agnosticism are quite similar, but for people who have simply never thought about it and have formed no opinion, it's weak atheism, not agnosticism.

[Izzy]

Re: Religion

I dont even consider myself atheist. I don't feel like religion is even relevant to anything and id rather not even take it into consideration.

[windsurfer-sp]

Re: Religion

Oh and Midday, God gave people free will so people cause these situations that people blame God for. (Or nature does or whatever does.)

God isn't going to do something that people will blame him for, yes this is not black and white true, but for most contexts it is. Im also taking blame to be a negative thing.

[iCeCuBEz v2]

Re: Religion

wasn't there a thread about religion like yesterday

hmmmm

[Villiex]

Re: Religion

@devonin: I was aware that people tend to parse it up like that, but from what I learned, the default position is agnosticism. Anthony Kenny's "Why I Am Not an Atheist" actually argues that point. We are splitting hairs at this point though, and it may be safer to say that it depends on who you ask.

What I was working off of was the solid definitions of atheism and agnosticism. Heezay didn't specify weak atheism, so I assumed he meant standard atheism.

[Tasselfoot]

Re: Religion

wind: stop posting in this thread. so far, only your posts have been out of line. amazingly enough, i'm not going to lock this. yet.

[heezay]

As an atheist also, I kind of believe in a god, if that's really what to call it. I don't believe that god is that person that helps everyone out, and that we pray to, in fact, I think praying is the most stupid thing about religion almost. The universe had to have started at a certain point in time, and I'm nearly positive science has proven this. Therefore something had to have started it all, and whatever that thing was, I refer to as god. So as I see it, god is dead, if it was ever even a living being, and praying to this god is pretty stupid of people.

Now I tolerate everyones religion, as this I live in America, and that was one of the reasons of this country, but I don't understand how so many people can believe in so much BS and live their life by it.

About praying, I watched a video on youtube a while ago called something like "The Greatest Optical Illusion", in the video it was pretty much mainly commentary saying that praying to god has the same value as praying to a milk bottle. The video pretty much says god is fake, and praying has no meaning at all. I agree that praying to god is pointless, you will not benefit anything from that at all, you will just waste some time. However, I don't exactly understand how religion is still so big, and how so many people still believe in whatever they believe in. Why do so many people go to church or temples or various other things I don't know the name of. I see religion sort of as an addiction.

If a religion considered atoms and particles as God, I'd gladly believe in it. Or at least consider it.
I consider prayer more, like, talking to oneself in third person. Trying to look at your life and situation from another point of view.
A placebo effect.

In theory, I'm agnostic. I don't put any money on anything. I find the premise of adhering to some preexisting religion like flipping through a catalogue completely ridiculous. Religion is supposed to be a personal thing where you found your own conclusions and keep it to yourself - it's individual, not something to drag other people into, or to flock to. If you join one, you're compromising your true beliefs just so you can fit in, which is utterly ridiculous.

As far as my beliefs go, I don't pay much attention to them, but here they are. I find the fact that there is even a plane of existance extremely curious, and furthermore, that I, a collection of inanimate particles that click together just right to make something that breathes and thinks, am conscious on it, but will exit it one day. I know the Big Bang happened, but such an extraordinary event has no science concerning its origin or what occurred before.

I believe that something, be it an entity, an organization, or something completely beyond comprehension, was behind that.

I also have a bunch of very radical beliefs but I keep those to myself.

Everyone has radical questions that have no answer, it's just human nature.

I remember listening to a religion that considered oneself as a God. What is bad for you is bad for your God. It's like putting your own ideas in front of another's. It' may be considered polytheist though. Not really because each one only believes in one selves God.

About the Big Bang Theory, I'm pretty open to another theory that might come up in "blah" more years. But it's pretty accepted by me.

Everyone is born agnostic. Atheists specifically believe that there is not a God, and agnostics don't have a belief either way. Therefore, everybody is agnostic at birth because they've been exposed to nothing to believe in or against.

Of course, hardcore religious zealouts will argue against this and say that all people are born with the knowledge of God, because He is our Father and exists within us all, but at that point the conversation is all theory anyway.

Mainly, I am clarifying the distinction between the two, since you seemed to have your terminology a bit wrong from the get-go.

If someone has no knowledge what-so-ever about something, therefore; it does not exist for that person. It's like saying everyone forgets something. If that thing was forgotten then it doesn't exist for that person, since he has had no experience with it. If I say the word "putraca" it didn't exist to you up until the moment I named it. Now you at least have some experience with this word, so it might begin to exist to you.

Many atheist also have an idea. How can I not believe in something that doesn't exist?
Does that make them agnostics?