need help with religion

[Elbeen]

In regards to the impossible things in the Bible:

Some things aren't really possible.

You really need to read between the lines to understand what those mean.

Heck, no one yet really knows what it mean.

For example:

The story of Adam and Eve, some people interpret it that the two of them populate the world.

That ain't possible and besides, it was said that Adam and Eve's children were boys, so what you gonna do have intercourse with your mom?!

No.

The truth behind it is, the name Adam really meant 'all men' and Eve meant 'all women'.

^ Well that's what my Religion teacher said.

[Lamrock]

EDIT: I believe Lamrock just stood up for me...Shibby

I guess... I should probably get a new name though. For some reason, it seems like the dynasty people always have numbers in their names. And what does Shibby mean? Whenever you say it, I think of Antoine Walker.

As for the actual topic, I really wish I had something to post. But I don't know either. I'm just an agnostic 14 year old.

[Pistol]

Dude Where's my Car...That's where the wonderful word Shibby orginated

[benji]

You're from California though...so you should know it originated from there, and since movies are made out there...

[Pistol]

for the sake of sarcasm...one of my fav movies, I was just giving it credit...

[diddy]

atheistlookingforanswers, man! as a christian man could tell u that it's really don't matter which religion u belong, God is in u! if u trust in him, make some requests to him, and don't forget to credit him - u'll be just fine! and what bout bible... bible was written by the human, and bible was an instrument to make some influence to the human communitu (dorks) at the past times! so bible has many oppositions to itself! and a whole bible's story bout holy graal! that's bol shit. graal meant like a woman, not a cup! did u see painting " the Lord's Supper"? so u might found NO spesial cup (how tells the legend - graal is a cup, and all apostals drinked with it), and more - if u look at the first apostol, that sitting near the Jusis - it is a Girl(his wife maria), and He and She they've got converted clothes - why?? cuz this is a sign!....
there so much to say bout bible, but remember - God is in everyone!

p.s. one comment bout islam: how could u imagine a religion, which god tells to their Men not to work, and only pray all the days and greating {god}??? and women should work! and also - kill other people!

[benji]

Good work, I think that's more what Jae was looking for.

Bonus points for the ignorant attack on Islam.

[JT_55]

You deciphered his text message/MSN writing already? I have no idea what he was talking about.

The first apostle having converted clothes with his wife is a sign? And God tells Islam men to do nothing but the women to kill people? Yes, apparently I need some clearing up here.

[J@3]

Good work, I think that's more what Jae was looking for.

It only took a page and a half but it was inevitable. God told me so.

[Dan's Brain]

Did he just turn the Da Vinci code into a sacred text?

[Eugene]

You're right. He did.

ALFA, I think what Benji is getting at, and a point that I agree with, is that religion is something you have to experience.

There is a difference between "knowing" and "believing." Knowing is when you consider something to be true because it has been proven, i.e. I know gravity exists, I know 1 + 1 equals 2, and I know Kobe Bryant has 3 less rings that Michael Jordan.

Believing, on the other hand, is when you consider something to be true without proof--I believe Kobe Bryant is a better offensive player than Michael Jordan, I believe in true love, et al...

...which is what religion and any belief system is about. You can't "know" a religion, you have to "believe" it. You can't know God, because we can't prove he exists. You believe God exists, for whatever reason personal and sacred to you. That's what we call faith.

I know it says in the Bible (I can't remember where or the specific quote, but I KNOW it's there) that God asks us to believe in him without having proof. The ability to believe something solely because of intrisic motivation is the essence of religion and faith.

From where, then, does the motivation come? Most commonly, I think, it's passed down in the family. The cynic in me says most religious people (people who go to church, mosque, temple, whatever) aren't actually faithful, but if you grow up with parents who believe God exists, chances are you're likely to, too.

Rarely (too, rarely, I think), though, some people actually experience religion. Whether real or imagined, they experience something that compels them to believe. It could be a near death experience or similar life altering events, or even something simple. Those people are different--you can absolutely tell that they understand having faith is a completely unique and personal experience (thus likely not to try to force their religion on you) and they are committed to what they believe. And they are able to commit to living their life according to their belief system, which I personally find to be admirable.

The question now becomes, can a theoretical and theological discourse lead to someone "getting" religion? Maybe. I don't think so. You have to deal with too many inconsistencies in the religious texts, and a lot of semantics, which makes the pros and cons list seem really arbitrary and obtuse. It's not like you're trying to decide on which car to buy...

And it's certainly not smart to ask for help in this forum where you're more likely to get a sarcastic or pseudo-humorous response than something actually helpful.

I do hope that you find what you're looking for. I believe having faith and religion can give you a great deal of mental and emotional strength. On that point, I don't think it matter WHAT you believe, only that you do, in fact, believe in something. But asking around here, in my opinion, is not the best way to go about this. Try to find something real. Go out an get struck by lightning or something. Survive an airplane crash. Fall in love. Whatever. Just experience something real.

[Matthew]

Eugene, believes can and often lead to ignorance if not moderated with honesty though.

[Ty-Land]

Listen to John Lennon. He is God. If you want a list of apostle, I can post them too.

I have learnt more from Lennon than my 13 years of catholic school education, which basically told me that catholicism is a joke IMO.

[Matthew]

Yeah, listen to someone who is dead

[atheist who found answer.]

hmmm... thanks for some of the opinions. diddy, actually, after studying alot of the koran, there is no base for your claims, actually one of the key principles that i love most about islam is that one of the biggest ideas is moderation, so by being an orthodox muslim, you are supposed to be moderate; and it does say that it is men's responsibility to support their families, but women are also encouraged to work, if they are able, or forced to.

i have to say that i am really falling in love with islam, i dont know how to explain it, i just love everything about it; i am only a bit hesitant because i am afraid of what people will say about me if i become muslim, especially in the united states; also, there are some values in other religions that i value, that are in islam as well, but they are in the other religions too, so im not sure if i should leave them behind

[J@3]

It sounded like you already had your mind made up when you first posted the thread.

[atheist who found answer.]

for the most part yeah, but there was some issues i had, and i want to make sure that i get the entire picture before making a decision

[benji]

there are some values in other religions that i value, that are in islam as well, but they are in the other religions too, so im not sure if i should leave them behind

Then don't. Who says you have to adhere 100% to another persons' interpretation of an organized religion instead of developing your own?

[JT_55]

i am only a bit hesitant because i am afraid of what people will say about me if i become muslim, especially in the united states

If you are a serious follower of any religion, you shouldn't care about that. This is not high school, you don't need to care about what others think. If you follow a religion, follow it with your heart, not with a mind that is thinking whether you will be accepted socially or not. "Getting the entire picture" from this forum won't help you any if you are afraid you will get looked down upon.

Now this is not a statement saying that I support their actions, but does the word martyr ring a bell?

[cyanide]

atheistlookingforanswers: Don't let a religion dictate your beliefs or direction (fundamentalism, which is dangerous), but look at the common "universal truths" that all the religions you mentioned share. Also, read up on Buddhism and Taoism if you're going to look at the major religions. It is better to follow your conscience, keep an open mind, and be critical of everything you read, because every religion has its flaws. They do have underlying layers of wisdom that can shape your perspective of the world and of yourself, but I'd be careful about categorizing myself in one religion.

Eugene, believes can and often lead to ignorance if not moderated with honesty though.

One can be honest in a state of ignorance.

Yeah, listen to someone who is dead

Who, Lennon or Jesus?

[Matthew]

Eugene, believes can and often lead to ignorance if not moderated with honesty though.

One can be honest in a state of ignorance.

That really has nothing to do with what I said.

BUT THE STATE IS IGNORANT!

Who, Lennon or Jesus?

Wilt Chamberlain.

[Chaser7]

Honestly I'm not trying to flame, but I really just don't get religion. It seems like an incredible waste to me, and this is kinda weird, but one of the best private middle schools in San Francisco was Episcopalian I was forced to go to Chapel 3 times a week. Just to give you some background, most of the kids at the school aren't even Episcopalian or any other form of Christianity, but the school is very old and traditional. Anyways, my personal belief is that religion is just a way to describe things one can't understand and over time as science becomes more advanced theories are replaced. For instance, the Greeks used to have many, many gods, like Sun gods, rain gods, etc. They would pray to these "gods" for sunshine, rain, etc. Yet, as science as progressed we know what actually causes rain and sunshine to occur. Now the main "God" (for christianity, Judaism, and Islam) is one in the same as everyone knows, I believe he/it is the explanation for how the world was created/how we were put on this earth. Due to not knowing how either of those things came to be, we make up stories and fables, and I believe in the future they will be proven wrong. Like, now we know Evolution took place (seriously if someone comes on here and says "ADAM AND EVE IS REAL" I'm going to smack my head against a wall... ) and thats how humans came to be rather than by one man and woman. So yea, just my 2 cents..

And fuck you Lamrock, how the hell do I have "trouble" posting in other sections? I'm guessing you are probably joking to some extent, but there is always some truth to a joke..

EDIT: THen Matthew I was implying he should stick with the lack thereof a religion because that makes the most sense...

[Matthew]

Off topic. This thread is about him finding a religion, not if religion is real or not.

[benji]

THen Matthew I was implying he should stick with the lack thereof a religion because that makes the most sense...

To you maybe. But clearly not to him.

Due to not knowing how either of those things came to be, we make up stories and fables, and I believe in the future they will be proven wrong.

Oh, and your religions/beliefs will never be?

I never get why so many irreligious people, especially on the internet, desire so much to insult, attack, descredit and destroy religion whenever it is brought up. Stop fearing it so much.

[Chaser7]

A) Who said I feared it?
B) Its not like I haven't been exposed to it, so I'm just talking out of my ass
C) So Benji do you believe in Adam and Eve and not Evolution?