Religion Poll

[Turf1600]

OK, how about this:

Every living thing has an energy...everything. That energy is shared, unseen, unmeasurable, yet perceived by us simple humans. For lack of a better understanding, or a better word, that energy is God.

Pagan? Sure. Neo-pagan? Sure. Wiccan, even? Sure. Christian? Not a fucking chance.

My whole issue is the collection plate. Real religions do not require money, nor do they "absolve us of our sins", nor do they have property, nor do they use guilt or fear as a primary motivator, especially when the primary purpose is to collect money!

Be good so you go to heaven? Bullshit. Drink and drive, fuck your buddies wife, have sex with a minor, cheat, steal and lie...fuck paying your taxes, just pray and ask "forgiveness"...well fuck that and fuck you, I don't forgive!

What the hell is wrong with being good just for the simple sake of being good?

Try it sometimes. It feels really good.

Amen. I agree with everything but the first part. I think when we die we rot in the ground.

I forget who it was - but someone had a very simple reason not to fear death.

"When you die, you feel as if you had never been born"
My only hangup with not fearing death is the suffering my wife and family members will have to endure. That and my love of life, of course.
I was listening to a very good song this morning on the subject. It's Bright eyes - easy, lucky, free
It almost sums up how I feel about it - and it's a fantastic song to boot.

[scabzzzz]

I voted other. But i do believe in God and his son. I do not agree with some of the Christian doctrines, plus i do not want to be labeled with any other religious group that falls under christianity.

You're cool, man

[Turf1600]

http://makemeamerica.com/religionizer/

[Maluco]

I voted other. But i do believe in God and his son. I do not agree with some of the Christian doctrines, plus i do not want to be labeled with any other religious group that falls under christianity.

sounds more like you are relating to denominations, not religion. How can one believe in God and His son yet not be a Christian?

[uofom3]

I'd be curious to do another poll and see what the mean age is for people who are aetheist... or if they just don't want to be railroaded into the confines of a specific religious doctrine.

I said christian, because i am, but I don't attend church or behave as though i'm in some way more righteous. My relationship with whatever god I believe in is my own business - no one else needs to be told about it, care about it, and it doesn't make me treat anyone else differently regardless of what they believe because I (or any other religeous belief) is possibly wrong anyway!

[Turf1600]

I'd be curious to do another poll and see what the mean age is for people who are aetheist... or if they just don't want to be railroaded into the confines of a specific religious doctrine.

Why?

It's common knowledge that the more educated a person comes (in terms of degrees) the more likely they are to abandon religion. Besides, it's stupid to do any type of age poll on this forum. It's a shit load of young people. The results will be skewed in your favor.

[uofom3]

Why?

It's common knowledge that the more educated a person comes (in terms of degrees) the more likely they are to abandon religion. Besides, it's stupid to do any type of age poll on this forum. It's a shit load of young people. The results will be skewed in your favor.

I don't know about more educated people abandoning religion, but ok. After taking a philosophy of religion class it's a very interesting topic, but you probably have too so you already know all of the different talking points.

Younger people tend to buy into the concept of being "atheist" a lot easier than older people. It's not a matter of things being "Swayed in my favor" it's a fucking question. I don't always have an agenda, sometimes I DO actually just ask a question for my own education or to see if I'm thinking properly.

I think it is highly interesting to watch peoples views on religion shift as they get older...

And I fully agree with Luke... why not just be a good person for the sake of it? Maybe it's the right thing to do just because it is; not because of some religious doctrine.

[Turf1600]

I don't know about more educated people abandoning religion, but ok. After taking a philosophy of religion class it's a very interesting topic, but you probably have too so you already know all of the different talking points.

Younger people tend to buy into the concept of being "atheist" a lot easier than older people. It's not a matter of things being "Swayed in my favor" it's a fucking question. I don't always have an agenda, sometimes I DO actually just ask a question for my own education or to see if I'm thinking properly.

I think it is highly interesting to watch peoples views on religion shift as they get older...

And I fully agree with Luke... why not just be a good person for the sake of it? Maybe it's the right thing to do just because it is; not because of some religious doctrine.

I wasn't trying to be a dick. I was just asking a question in turn. It's funny - because I'm 100% atheist. Everyone at work thinks I'm some mega christian due to my moral viewpoints. Joke's on them eh? Someone said to me once - "since you already act like a good christian, why not become one?" My simple answer was that if there was a god he would see straight through my pretending and I'd go to hell anyways. For me, it's not a matter of changing beliefs - just the realization of my beliefs. I've never believed in god. However, I tried to be a christian a few times because let's face it - it's hard to be an atheist in the bible thumping south. I can't fool myself though. I'm just an atheist at heart.

On a side note, many people need religion. I understand this - the idea of religion is extremely appealing. The group solidarity must be nice.

[DarkWing6]

My whole issue is the collection plate. Real religions do not require money, nor do they "absolve us of our sins", nor do they have property, nor do they use guilt or fear as a primary motivator, especially when the primary purpose is to collect money!

I would agree with you that there are christian churches out there that are driven by money. I do not attend one and having a collection plate or tithe does not mean they are driven by money (obviously some are, but not all). Being money driven as a church is wrong. Receiving tithe to keep the building running, etc is not. It is only right to give if you are called to give. Not called or pressured by a pastor, friend, or anyone else. Giving is something between you and God, and personally I don't think giving should happen unless you are a regular attender or member of the church (unless you are specifically called, but I am more talking on a general sense).

I would encourage you not to look at the bad churches that are doing sinful things under a certain title and generalize that across the entire religion they are "identifying" themselves with. That would be similar to me saying that your shop does hack job work and screws people because some other shop across town that installs stereos does hack work and screwed me in the past.

There are a lot of screwed up churches out there. Some of them even say they believe similar things to what I believe. Them truly believing that is a different story, but in many cases is very obvious.

[uofom3]

I guess my largest issue is the blatant hypocricy (which has been covered here).

Christian people cheating on their wives.

Catholic priests getting the rub on with little boys.

Islamic people blowing up others.

Jewish people be stingy with their money (that as a joke, but maybe the jews are the non-hypocrites!).

It just seems to be a trend; some of the sleeziest people who I have the most disdain for compared to just about anyone else in this world considder themselves "Good Christians".

[Bimmerman325i]

To me fundamentalists of all types use religion as a way to cover extreme bigotry and prejudice in constitutionally protected speech, especially in politics.

I'm definitely an atheist, and cannot stand those who try to be in my face with their beliefs. I have no problem with people believing what they want, I simply don't want to hear about it.

Good quote I found:
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
- Sir Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-1971)

[Turf1600]

Good quote I found:
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
- Sir Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-1971)

Good quote. I think Dawkins has used it before.

Me and my buddy have a running joke about dressing like Mormons and going door to door with the origin of species. Maybe even wrapping our bikes in duct tape. Then there's the good ol "what would zeus do?" bracelets.

[TwoJ's]

...why not just be a good person for the sake of it? Maybe it's the right thing to do just because it is; not because of some religious doctrine.

This is pretty much my entire belief system right here. I believe that I understand what is right and what is wrong, and I live by those beliefs and nothing else.

I believe this was said by Abraham Lincoln, but I'm not positive about that:

"When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion."

And one from Einstein for good measure:

"All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom."

[Maluco]

I guess my largest issue is the blatant hypocricy (which has been covered here).

Christian people cheating on their wives.

Catholic priests getting the rub on with little boys.

Islamic people blowing up others.

Jewish people be stingy with their money (that as a joke, but maybe the jews are the non-hypocrites!).

It just seems to be a trend; some of the sleeziest people who I have the most disdain for compared to just about anyone else in this world considder themselves "Good Christians".

I admit I'm a hypocrite and a sinner and I speak for myself, relating these words to my own belief. Take from it what you will...

Regardless of religion, denomination and/or faith, everyone was born sinners. This includes any and all of the above you mentioned. Why would your largest issue not be where you yourself stand and not that of others? Those people have no affect on where you stand and they will not be the judge of you so why bother to judge them or factor them? As far as I am concerned the only true way to address a situation like that is to be an example yourself. With that being said one should judge themselves.

One of my many favorite scriptures says something along the lines of, how can you remove the speck of sawdust from your friends eye while having a plank in your own.

Furthermore, I've come across many friends who have all these reasons for not attending or wanting to attend church. I don't understand why the reasons are always to the tune of because of that and because of this. Last time I checked the word is spoken and taught regardless. Shouldn't that be the focus? Or instead, should they just say, I don't go or want to go because I don't want to. I'm not interested. Ultimately, I go, when I go, to hear the word and nothing more....

[Farbin Kaiber]

I keep trying to stay out of ANY religion related stuff going on due to it being such a heated topic. I guess the main issue with ANY religion is man's attempt to "decode" and "enforce" the laws which Man feels fit.

I know that Christianity could go another direction if things where understood properly as opposed to explained. There are too many leaders out there telling the members of the church how things go by twisting the scripture to suit their needs (Rolls/Bentley/Mansion).

Like I said I don't want to get deep into these issues, but lets take Christianity and the Bible and run in a direction for a moment. Stay with me.

You sit down in front of you US Market Genesis and pop in Zero Wing. At the same time a Japanese boy sits down in front of his Mega Drive, pops in the JDM copy of the game.
The boy with the Japanese unit will play thru the cut scene without a moment of confusion, it makes sense to the boy. Now you turn on your unit, and lo and behold your sitting there scratching your head about "Are Belong To Us" wondering what this silly words mean.

Now think of the original Koine Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. These languages have up to 300 varitiations for the term "Under". Now as things have been adjusted/translated by KJV and Co. to closely resemble the same type of word in the original text, losing the real meaning. I think if people took the time to translate the text on their own, surprises would be found that would strengthen someones faith.

BTW... The word "faith" in the KJV bible is the most common replacment for the word Believe. Puts a whole new meaning on many passages, no?