Your stand on religion?

[Kevin]

I'm just curious. Where do you guys stand on the whole religion thing? I was born a christian but never really "got into it" so I can probably call myself an agnostic.

[Mandich]

Never was a religious guy, as I think being a good person is more important than being a religious one, as far as obeying some rules that have no place in modern society.

Pretty much excludes every religion for me, as many of them throw hate at women, gays, and people that don't share their opinion.

I know you should respect every religion, and I do, but if I see a person that says his religion is 100% the best because of some bullshit reasons, and that you are wrong to believe in something else or nothing at all, I'm going to call him an idiot.

Not everyone needs a religion per se.

[mp3]

I believe in God, Iam a Christian, maybe not as good as I should be but I like to think there is more to life than what we see or you could say "we are not alone"

My stance on religion is live and let live so what is going on with ISIS makes me sick.

[[Q]]

Organized religions, some more than others, were created to scare people into being good. The Bible is a great book of stories, but there's no way that stuff really happened.

I think people are smart enough to think for themselves and not have someone else tell them what to believe

Arguing about it is dumb and a waste of time as no one can ever prove that one is more right or wrong than another

[Michael_OS]

I was raised a Christian but in my teenage years, I started questioning everything about that goddamn bible. One thing I really really hated about this priest that I was talking to was when my dad had a stroke and was in the hospital and we were all hopeless but I decided to pray and talk to this priest who said prayer solves everything. Well if praying means seeing your dad lose his heartbeat before your eyes, then I guess it fucking worked.

[Sauru]

i personally dont know what i believe, have not really though about it to be honest. i feel most religious people are too preachy which i wish they would stop. i get annoyed when people feel they are right and everyone else is wrong. i firmly believe in everyone being able to follow what they want which is why i support my children wanting to learn more about jesus even though me and my wife dont follow any religion at all

[[Q]]

i personally dont know what i believe, have not really though about it to be honest. i feel most religious people are too preachy which i wish they would stop. i get annoyed when people feel they are right and everyone else is wrong. i firmly believe in everyone being able to follow what they want which is why i support my children wanting to learn more about jesus even though me and my wife dont follow any religion at all

Kids and religion is something that I've thought about a lot, especially with my exposure (or lack thereof) to it when I was younger. I feel that to bring your kids up into it is not fair as they don't have a choice. I feel you should present them with all the options and they choose when they're older and able to understand it all.

[Sauru]

thats how we have handled it. i have told them what i know about god and religion and told them how there are many different religious beliefs then i just said i would answer whatever they want. at this point i will only talk about it if they ask me a question. about 2 weeks ago my 8 year old asked if i could buy him a picture of jesus to hang over his bed so i went and bought it. never have had one in my house ever before but if he wants it i will not stop him. its his choice not mine

[Kevin]

If only my parents were like that, I would've been a devoted christian. Instead, they decided to force it to me.

[Dramacydal]

Organized religions, some more than others, were created to scare people into being good.

I agree. It's a handy way to control the masses.

To me it just doesn't make much sense. I mean I see how religion provides people with some basic guidelines and structure for their lives and I get that people find comfort in that. But most of those basic priciples are so obvious that you shouldn't need religion to come up with them. Besides I think it's much more fun to look for meanings and explanations yourself instead of just having them handed to you. So when looking to fill some gaps I'd rely on philosophy instead of religion. Religion made and still makes a lot of people stop thinking for themselves, blindly following whatever higher truth is being passed down to them. And I think that's where it gets dangerous. Also when people start ignoring scientifically proven facts and credit that stuff to some god, that's just silly.


Of course I'm not talking about everyone who's more or less religious, but rather about extremists, fundamentalists etc., because that's where the danger comes from. I can respect pretty much anyone's beliefs as long as they include tolerance for people who believe in something different. But when ultra-religious nuts start trying to force their beliefs upon others, that's when the fun stops.

[ThePointForward]

All glory to the hypnotoad!

Jokes aside, I do not believe in higher powers. And I distinguish between religion and church. One is somewhat good for some people, the second is just just a business.

[benji]

Somebody super-religious said I was this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apatheism

[ThePointForward]

Apatheism?

More commonly known as "not-giving-a-fuck... ism"?

[Kevin]

Apatheism?

More commonly known as "not-giving-a-fuck... ism"?

Seems like it

[Dramacydal]

Apatheism?

More commonly known as "not-giving-a-fuck... ism"?

But probably the proper way to go about it when you're certain that religion is not for you. Since you can't prove the non-existance of any type of god you might as well just not give a fuck at all.

[JEDL]

Personally, I am a Christian but I'm not religious myself. Although it can also be learned somewhere else, religion taught me values and lessons I'd never forget in my life.

And despite my religion, I have no issues whatsoever with homosexuals, gay marriage, euthanasia, etc.

[Kenny]

I'm a huge fan of Bad Religion.

[shadowgrin]

My god is better than your god is basically my stand on religion.


That's why Joel Anthony is better than all you cunts.

[dare]

Raised as a Catholic but somehow I'm attending a catholic-christian community group. I think religion could be a good thing, if you're willing to live and let live and respect people and their beliefs. I don't use it to make all my decisions and I don't force my views on others.

[[Q]]

Cool article/video about Arian Foster of the Houston Texans about his beliefs
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13369076/houston-texans-arian-foster-goes-public-not-believing-god

[Jeffx]

I avoid religion like the plague

[Maverick]

Apatheism?

More commonly known as "not-giving-a-fuck... ism"?

But probably the proper way to go about it when you're certain that religion is not for you. Since you can't prove the non-existance of any type of god you might as well just not give a fuck at all.

Exactly. I think I'm Apatheist (right now) but was raised as a Catholic. Or Atheist, I don't really know damn

[Cpt(K)]

Well whatever your source authority in life may be - you've entrusted yourself to it based upon faith either way. I myself identify as a Christian, and no other moniker is really necessary. If you take your faith seriously why should you attach additional labels - as if your faith is needing your intervention. When you depend solely on your own efforts to be "right" where can faith abide?

Imagine playing a basketball game, and someone's like "I can win the game so gimme the ball!" Mister I-can-do-it-all-myself doesn't believe (has zero faith) in his teammates' ability to pull through.

There is no way for you to depend upon such a significant string of decisions of your life 'by yourself.' Verifiable faith is slippery - because of how misconstrued our hopes can be. What do we hope for? Some would say eternal life in a place called heaven where only good people (ironically insinuating they know all what's good, and what's bad), and others would suggest we hope for nothing, but still some others would imagine differently.

To paraphrase some replies to this thread: "Well the Bible has some pretty wacky stuff that couldn't possibly have happened . . ." Well the Bible does introduce an omnipotent, omnipresent, (one more o word I forgot), and sovereign God that is not bound by what He created (insert innumerable natural laws that were thrown aside in the Bible). It makes sense to me that the Creator could not possibly be bound by His creation since the supernatural is . . . not natural (e.g. supernatural > natural). As wild as the accounts in the Bible are - it consistently revolves around one Character, which is the Creator.

"Well some behavior should be obvious . . . people are smart enough to think for themselves . . ." You'd be surprised, and once you observe behavior our innate ability to be stupid, or ignorant (take your pick) will reveal itself. What most know is what others have divulged to us in whatever manners they please (I'm not willing to pedestal myself as an intellectual-I-know-it-all, or wise-willy-would), and faith is something each individual possesses in their own capacity. Some require great leaps of verification, and others do not, however, both of those are subject to change. Faith and religion are often misunderstood (faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see), because of the extensively different tangibles or characteristics involved in each one's understanding of faith and what constitutes truth that validates their faith, because if your faith is correct . . . it will be truth right?

I believe in absolute truth. I do not believe I alone have the capacity to determine what is absolutely right or wrong (I abhor sanctimonious drivel), but I adhere with faith to my source authority with beliefs that I can take Him at His Word. As such I believe there is only one source authority, and have no interest in deceiving others - reassuring them that they're just fine (e.g. there's a party, but I won't tell you that you could miss it) whilst knowing I myself were not, and could not possibly be if left to my own devices. I believe that evangelism is necessary, but is difficult.


I believe in revelation. Whoever is among us has surely revealed His presence in one way or another - seeing the way the world works, and what we make of it, which is not ambiguous if absolute truth exists. Arguing accomplishes nothing, because it is up to the individual person to decide. I could provide the most apologetic Christian message to an unbeliever, but they still can resist. An evolutionist could provide a large amount of their own verifiable evidence, and a Christian won't be moved. Humans don't have the power to compel others to their own singular will (manipulation is not synonymous with compelling), but the God Christians believe in also won't force anyone to believe in him (free will). Discussion is important, and unfortunately civil discourse is not the way it should be nowadays. Funny as my English Professor discussed the pathway to the original 13 colonies rebelling, and how difficult initially the discourse was.

The whole topic of religion is interesting, and for the better part is well received. What we differ on doesn't make us any better than anyone else, and as a Christian a cardinal understanding is that sin is not exclusive to sinners (e.g. Romans chapter 3). Sin being a wedge between the Creator and His creation. I'm not a denominational Christian, but simply a Christian. I wasn't born a Christian (I don't believe that happens), but I was raised in a Baptist Church (I believe Baptism is a ceremony, and nothing more). I don't believe I'm saved through works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but rather by accepting a free gift (I couldn't earn it) that I'm free to receive or reject (I believe everyone must make a decision, which determines their eternal destiny).

I'm feeling rather moved by the thread itself, and I'm willing to discuss here or via private messages about my faith. I cannot guarantee a speedy, correct, or satisfying response, but will try my best. Don't laugh at me I haven't gotten out of my cocoon yet.

EDIT: About rules . . . I find it annoying and now even more difficult to look at my faith as a bunch of rules. Being a Christian by definition in our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth is not begrudgingly stepping around no-no areas, but rather a relationship you take more seriously than anything else. My parents are married, and have 5 children including myself. My parents don't look at the Bible and go "Whelp honey, I crossed this off the list." Neither do I "Well God you ought to be pleased now, because I suffered and denied myself to exalt you." Deeds do not translate to faith, and as a Christian your faith produces deeds - not the other way around. Sure faith can be made evident by deeds, but righteousness, which by faith we hope and know we can attain through God. In other words: works =/= Salvation, and faith =/= Salvation, Salvation = Faith+Works, because faith without works is dead.

[NovU]

Atheism is also a religion. It sucks the most imho.