Religion

[PhillyRobotics]

www.losingmyreligion.com
some cool arguments
after reading this (forums and other stuff on the net) i have decided to believe in a hybird religion for now, but decided that maybe later, ill go back to hinduism or something else. loving this thread tho. Im also glad that everyone is being respectful of each other. Keep on discussing
shrey

[Greg Ross]

Originally posted by MBiddy

I'm not sure what you're saying, but I'm saying why did they make a version specifically for the country? Why isn't it just THE BIBLE, translated into different languages.

The purpose of any translation is to put a book in the language of a target audience. When the language used by the audience changes over the course of 300 years (or 100 or 50) it becomes necessary to update the translation (or retranslate anew.)

One of my favorite quotes is from Greg Koukl (Sundays 3-5 pm, KBRT 740 AM, Southern California and http://www.str.org) He says he only uses the King James Version when he is speaking to 300 year old English speakers.

[FotoPlasma]

Originally posted by Michael Krass
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Religion is corrupt. (Thanks for the seed, there, Jim.)

No problem, whatsoever... Glad I could help, in fact...

[Judy]

Melissa - I too am from a somewhat paganistic religious belief. I found it hard at first too... I mean, who wouldn't find it hard when no one really understands a religion after hundreds (probably more) of years of oppression and being misunderstood. It all stems from other religions. The pagan religions were the "old ways", some of the first religions in fact were Goddess worshipping. However, when the other religions came along, they were threatened by the hold the old ways had on people, so.. the "new" religions decided to find a way to turn people away, saying that they were worshipping the devil, or what have you. Eventually the "new" ways became the majority, the "old" ways were outcast and as time progressed, we were given the witch trials. Now wasnt that a fun history lesson?

Anywayz, from all that, don't you find it sad that old prejudices are carried into new times? I for one really know it bothers me when people use my religious beliefs to constantly insult me, thinking that it's an insult. Well, it's one of those things where I think back to this one poem I read, "I am a witch with pride say I, for a witch's soul doth never die" anywayz, when someone tries to use my religion against me, it's not an insult.

As for "devil worshipping" oh I know too well how people have associated that with my beliefs. I happen to know a fair bit about magick and the like and so I've found myself to be approached by a few girls in my school interested in it. Now, another thing, I'm very open about my beliefs, after a few years of secrecy, I found it to be a little wrong. Why should anyone have to hide their beliefs? It's absurd! So, as a result, towards the end of the school year, I was called down to guidance. There I had a lovely conversation about religious beliefs with my guidance counsellor. She had it in her mind that i was running a devil worshipping cult.. when really all I had been doing was trading spells and educating friends. I had to prove to her that my beliefs were not that of a cult, and therefore not that of a religion in a way.

The other thing I said, was one thing that may prove useful to you Melissa in your defense.. Pagans don't believe in the devil in the first place!!!!! The Wiccan religion atleast, and that of druids I think, Don't put a place for a devil. "The Goddess is both, because nature is both, loving and cruel." or something like that, it was in a movie a long time ago. Basically, the Goddess consists of the Maiden, Matron(mother) and Crone. There is also the forth part of the Goddess, never really named or spoken about, basically, choas. Pagans don't believe in the devil, because they see evil as a part of their Goddess, they don't see it as a foul being trying to tempt us.. but as a part of life, that we experience and then pay for karmicly.. basically. So there's a lil something to get people to stop that one.. "How can I worship the devil, if I don't believe there is a devil in the first place?"-me

Alright, there's some more pennies to add to my jar..
*hugz to all as alwayz*
Ann-Marie -team 783
Note: Really hoping I haven't offended anyone... I'm trying sooo hard not to.

[Adam Y.]

Hmmm.. Is there a god? No one can really answer that. Though I do believe in reincarnation and the afterlife because of such a odd event that happened in my life. I had to choose a confirmation name for my confirmation. I thought and thought and came up with Alfred Nobel the scientist. Well after a while I got confirmed I went to the history channel website and did one of those this day in history and guess who's name was there Nobel's. It creeped me out.

[asher]

If you want to get in the Bible debate, I actually took classes and learned hebrew so I could read and translate things for myself in the "most raw" form I could. call me crazy... in my younger years I was a hardcore superchristian, then I grew up and learned to think for myself (much to the displeasure of my "parents") If your looking for a good read Mere Christianity or the Screwtape Letters (both by CS Lewis) are quite enjoyable. Through all my searching and thought ect ect its all come down to this

a) what are you passionate about
b) who knows your passionate about it
and c) who else needs to know

sure you can create your own little religion, but being able to share your religion and have people to turn to when you need them is an ultimate situation

I know most of what ive said dosnt make sense, if you want to hear the full version you know how to contact me.

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally posted by asher
...If your looking for a good read Mere Christianity or the Screwtape Letters (both by CS Lewis) are quite enjoyable.

Just wanted to add...
I haven't read Mere Christianity, but I've read The Screwtape Letters and it is excellent. CS Lewis is one of my favorite writers.

- Katie

[MBiddy]

Everyone should read Cain by James Byron Huggins. It's about a CIA agent who dies and is made into a super soldier whose body is possessed by a demon. Is it the coolest book I have ever read.

[Katie_269]

Well lets see. I am catholic...but i don't go to church. I know that in the catholic religion that is so bad. But I don't think that a person needs to be in church to talk to God. As catholics...and christians we are taught that God is everywhere, and we can talk to him whenever. So I don't really believe you have to go to church in order to be a good person, because i know many people that sit in church ever sunday who are not so nice. Personally I turn to my religion more when something bad happens. Recently my grandma passed away, and the only way i could deal with it is through my religion. Realizing that my grandma is in heaven with all the other people that she knew that died before her is a comforting thought. It makes me realize that she is happier up there because she is free from pain. So I guess basically I don't always agree with everything about my religion...but it is nice to know it is always there when i need it. I do not like it when other people try and push their religion on you, and I would never try and push my religion on anyone.

Katelyn

[Jnadke]

Originally posted by Katie_269
Well lets see. I am catholic...but i don't go to church. I know that in the catholic religion that is so bad. But I don't think that a person needs to be in church to talk to God. As catholics...and christians we are taught that God is everywhere, and we can talk to him whenever. So I don't really believe you have to go to church in order to be a good person, because i know many people that sit in church ever sunday who are not so nice. Personally I turn to my religion more when something bad happens. Recently my grandma passed away, and the only way i could deal with it is through my religion. Realizing that my grandma is in heaven with all the other people that she knew that died before her is a comforting thought. It makes me realize that she is happier up there because she is free from pain. So I guess basically I don't always agree with everything about my religion...but it is nice to know it is always there when i need it. I do not like it when other people try and push their religion on you, and I would never try and push my religion on anyone.

Katelyn

Finally, someone who shares my views. That's exactly what I was saying... you don't need to go to church every sunday to have faith. I have faith, and I don't go every sunday.

[MBiddy]

What if Satan is really the all powerful god entity and the good God is like the Oskar Schindler of the netherrealm? Saving people from burning by taking them aside.

[George1902]

whew... this is probably a very bad idea... polotics, religion and abortion are usually my no-no's of conversation. oh well, time to open mouth and insert foot...

Originally posted by wysiswyg
Just a quick thought people have found that we are hardwired in the brain for prayer. Monks who have been monitered have been shown to show more brain activity than normal. It's also been proven that it happens with all people who pray.

i believe i read the same story as you. it said that some activities heighten activity in a certain area the brain. i think they used intense sessions of meditaion as the example for the monks, not everyday prayer. this pattern of brain activity was also found in professional athletes (often called being "in the zone"), tournament chess players, and people who play video games for extended periods of time.

now for a little of my spiritual background. i am italian and irish, so no surprise that i was raised catholic. however, my father also raised me to be very cynical. yeah, i know, i have issues.

i first started questioning my religion when i was still in elementary school. i would ask my sunday school teachers questions, and they would have no answers for me. i was little, so my questions were simple ones. "if noah's family was the only one to survive the flood, does that mean we're all related?" as i got older, i had more questions, most of which remained unanswered. but as my doubt grew, i still went through the motions. i didn't dare voice my doubts to family members... my grandparents and aunts and uncles would have been heartbroken. so i was confirmed. (incidentally, i was confirmed by one of those bishops who got in trouble for diddling little boys... small world, eh?)

so anyway... i dabbled with being an agnostic for a while, 'til i realized that it was indecision that got me into this mess in the first place. so i'm an atheist. i'm pretty sure i'll become worm food when i die. i try to live my life making myself as happy as possible while not screwing up anyone else's happiness in the process. i realize that my actions all have consequences, and i try to weigh them accordingly when i make decisions.

all that being said, i still want my children (but first there's that ever tedious task of finding someone to have children with... *sigh*... but that's for another post) to be raised with some sort of religion. i really like the value system that religions on a whole posess. i also would encourage them, when they were older, to learn more about all religions and see if there's a better one for them then the one i and my hypothetical wife chose for them.

on a totally separate note, in the course of writing this novella, i stumbled across an idea... the notions of fear, respect, and love are very much related.

--we fear because of what someone has done to us. we respect because we know they could do it again. we love because we know they won't.

think about it for a sec... it's really quite profound...... this could apply to a god, a parent, a significant other...

well, if you've managed to read this whole thing, i thank you. i really didn't mean for it to get this long, but it is a sensitive subject, and i really wanted to make sure i got my view across clearly. this is the point where some people might apologize if they offended anyone. well i won't. if i have offended you, then that means you took notice, and that's a good thing as far as i'm concerned. in debates like these, you can't hope to change anyone's mind, you can only hope to get someone to notice something they hadn't noticed before.

please excuse any spelling or gramatical errors i missed in proofreading... i'm no english major =-]

George
S.P.A.M.
Team 180

[George1902]

a quick afterthought...

lets suppose i am wrong and there is a god and a heaven... who's to say i wouldn't be there in the end? if i lead a good life, i shouldn't have anything to worry about. does this omnipotent being really care htat i didn't spend every sunday of my life in a building half asleep comparing my best clothes with everyone else's?


/me drops another $.02 in the bucket on his way out

George
S.P.A.M.
Team 180

[Erin Rapacki]

George.... WOW! Your story is exactly like mine, and I couldn't pick better words to say it with.

[Mark Hamilton]

I'm an aethiest, but I believe everyone's view on religon is personal and their business. I welcome the occasional philosophical debate with the open minded of the religous community, but I've had so many conversations turn ugly just because people discover I am an aethiest (a teacher once called me a "demon child" after she asked what church I attended) so I think its wisest to avoid the whole subject.