Religion

[Villiex]

Re: Religion

Heezay, if you are asking how not to believe in something that doesn't exist, then you have stated it doesn't exist. By stating it (or in this case, God) doesn't exist, you have shown yourself to be an atheist. Atheists state God does not exist. Agnostics state god may or may not exist. So, no, you would be atheist.

Also, forgetting and never knowing are not the same thing. It's possible they feel the same, but the difference is its existence in the mind. If somebody knows and forgets, they at least once knew; if they never knew, they never knew. So take your word "putraca". It exists for me now. If I forget about it, it still exists for me. I have just forgotten. If you had never brought it up, then it would not exist for me entirely. I'm still not sure how this ties into the religious discussion though.

[DrugstoreCowboy]

Re: Religion

Since this is a thread about finding out about other religions, I kinda would like EAGAMES to tell more about Jehovah Witnesses.

I mean, who do you think Jesus was/is? I thought I heard somewhere that what you believe doesnt coincide with the bible, but then again I cant remember.

Also are you guys the ones that don't believe in the trinity because "it doesn't say trinity in the bible"? If so, just remember that the word bible doesn't appear in it either. Trinity is just a word that we came up with later on for the whole three-in-one.


Btw, I'm a christian. Non Denominational.

[All_That_Chaz]

Re: Religion

While I agree with Tokzic that religion is a very personal thing, I do not find it ludicrous that people together agree on the existence of one God. It's the practices in which one worships and lives in accordance with how they interpret God's will that is the important individual factor. Forgive me if this offends you, but it really shouldn't. The Bible is a book of stories with good morals. They may have some factual basis to them, but we can't really test that so I'm not going to dispute it. The idea is to live as a good person, help your fellow man, lead a virtuous life, etc., and I think that can be a universal set of ideas that a large amount of people can come together and extol.

Oh, and I guess most would classify me as agnostic. That speck of matter in the Big Bang came from somewhere. If people want to call that God that's fine with me. I just don't feel an omnipresent supernatural being has any dynamic affect on my life (i.e. God won't strike me down for blaspheming but I can still get struck by lightning if I stand under a big tree during a lightning storm).

[devonin]

Re: Religion

The thing about the bible, in terms of reconciling religious people with non religious people, is that things can be "true" without being "factual"

The bible is a collection of true stories. Generally, they describe an event where someone acts a certain way, and has certain consequences as a result, with a strong message that if they'd only acted -this- way, or -because- they acted how they did, good things would happen.

This isn't the same as being "factual" where the events occured literally as described. If I tell you a story about someone who was a shoplifter and thief, who eventually got caught, and went to prison as a means of trying to teach you to not steal things, that can be considered a "true story" without being a "factual account" because generally speaking, when you steal things a lot you -do- get caught, and you -do- go to jail.

And as to the issue of free will. I have to ask, if we have total free will, to do whatever we decide to do, with no interference from God, then what is the purpose of prayer? Ambrose Bierce defined prayer in a really important (though cynical) way:

Prayer: A request that God suspend the rules of the universe on behalf of the petitioner, confessedly unworthy

You're basically -asking God- to please take away your free will, and determine an outcome in direct contravention of His divine plan unfolding the way it was supposed to.

[nev670]

Re: Religion

I think I might be the only Buddhist here but whatever, Buddhism is basically a philosophy to well manners and good karma so you can go to Buddhist Heaven. So Buddhism is kind of. . . a religion . . .

[Zythus]

Re: Religion

Religion is the incarceration of yourself to a divinity given the term "God" in exchange for some sentimental solace or a meaning for existence. Nothing more in my opinion. I won't even bother elaborating the myriads of indulgences and crimes that shadow in religion. There are too many. The only way to justify religion is faith, regardless of the form, defying common science and the aspect of duality.

[All_That_Chaz]

Re: Religion

Zythus, it's possible to tell people your opinion without insulting a ton of people. And in a religion thread of all places! Please don't flame-bait. Religion is a personal decision and there's no reason to put people down for what they truly believe in.

[Zythus]

Re: Religion

Nor did I put anyone down.

Done.

And it is because it is a personal decision that some of the acts of a particular religion are not justified.

[adlp]

Re: Religion

everytime i see a religion thread i automatically think of The Truman Show.

truth.

[irishknight]

Re: Religion

I think I might be the only Buddhist here but whatever, Buddhism is basically a philosophy to well manners and good karma so you can go to Buddhist Heaven. So Buddhism is kind of. . . a religion . . .

I was told first-hand by a Buddhist monk that Buddhism is basically the science of the mind.

[Tokzic]

Re: Religion

Zythus, it's possible to tell people your opinion without insulting a ton of people. And in a religion thread of all places! Please don't flame-bait. Religion is a personal decision and there's no reason to put people down for what they truly believe in.

he's right though

[meno_rocks123]

Re: Religion

You're basically -asking God- to please take away your free will, and determine an outcome in direct contravention of His divine plan unfolding the way it was supposed to.

The way I look at prayer is:
Prayer is a way to talk to God, one-on-one.
Prayer is used in two main situations:
1. To ask God to do something beyond human abilities
(ex. healing, protection, provisions)
2. To ask God to help you overcome something you're dealing with (ex. drinking)

btw I'm a born-again Christian, non denominational.

I mean, who do you think Jesus was/is? I thought I heard somewhere that what you believe doesnt coincide with the bible, but then again I cant remember.

/r/

[GuidoHunter]

Re: Religion

Who's to say your supplication wasn't part of God's divine plan? I don't think anyone here will pretend to know the mind of God, so--

The hell am I doing? I was going to lock this...

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com