My Second Thread: Religion

[SpeareChucker]

When times are bad, people turn to it.
When times are good, people turn on it.
In times of good, some people have it bad.
In times of desperation, some people have it good.
One might ask themselves, what drives my opinion of religion?

 

[dolf]

As a youngster, I looked down on religious types. I put this down to it being thrust down my throat at school, and the most religious people being amongst the worst humanity had to offer.
The first thing that changed my point of view was meeting my ex's father. He is a genuinely good man and I have the utmost respect for him. He doesn't preach (except in church on Sunday), but lives his life as the sort of Christian that Christ would approve of. Kindness, acceptance and love. He feels that his strength and guidance in this comes from his faith.
I think it's nonsense, but I'm ok with agreeing to disagree and respecting belief. I've been to church with him at Xmas, because it matters to him.

He would tell you that his religion just feels true in his heart. As my atheism feels true in mine. When there's no proof one way or another, following what feels true in your heart is the best reason I can think of.

I've researched a lot of faiths. There's a lot to be learned about human nature from religion. None has any evidence, but still many followers seem to use being of the only true faith (in their opinion) as proof of their superiority and reason to berate. Or abuse. Or kill.

Statistically, people follow the prevalent religion of their family and/or area. Most have similar ideals (and susceptibility to be warped).
If there's a god, and if said god is happy to condemn good people to an eternity of suffering for not making a lucky guess, then that god would be a douchebag.

 

[jaF0]

Religions is stupid. All of it. Nothing but a crutch for the weak to fall back on. Or a tool for the self righteous to use against others. Or for the evil to 'justify' their misdeeds.

People can be good to each other without it. Or they can be bad without blaming it.


'Go ahead and hate your neighbor.
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of Heaven
You can justify it in the end.
Won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the Judgment Day
On the bloody morning after
One Tin Soldier rides away.'

-- The Original Caste.

 

[WoundedKnee]

That is well said dolf. I am not a person of faith but I realize that it is not a vehicle to heaven but a pathway on earth. When it helps people it is good. Why it angers people is beyond me. I hold no animus towards the faithful of any religion. Perhaps I will bring it up this afternoon when I meet with my buddies at Denny's and see what they think about it. One of the guys is a Nam vet-Harely type tattooed from here to eternity and wears a large gold cross. He looks like a bad guy, but other than the war, of which he will not speak, I've never known him to do a bad thing.

The best religion that I have ever run across is Bokonism; the writings of Bokonon open with something like all that is written is Foma (lies). But such sweet lies.

 

[WoundedKnee]

Religions is stupid. All of it. Nothing but a crutch for the weak to fall back on. Or a tool for the self righteous to use against others. Or for the evil to 'justify' their misdeeds.

People can be good to each other without it. Or they can be bad without blaming it.


'Go ahead and hate your neighbor.
Go ahead and cheat a friend
Do it in the name of Heaven
You can justify it in the end.
Won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the Judgment Day
On the bloody morning after
One Tin Soldier rides away.'

-- The Original Caste.

I'm sorry but secularism must be just as stupid. Even I (a guy who never got past High School) know that Religions are stupid or Religion is stupid.

 

[FGB]

Only Atheist,Agnostics and Pagans have an "Opinion " on religion.

This is just another Christian /God bashing thread.

In today's culture why are you afraid to admit you are a Hater?

Christians and Jews are the favorite punching bags of the world now.

Tell us what you really think.

We already know anyway.

Grow a pair.

 

[Radiohead]

When times are bad, people turn to it.
When times are good, people turn on it.
In times of good, some people have it bad.
In times of desperation, some people have it good.
One might ask themselves, what drives my opinion of religion?

I didnt think lit was a religion

 

[WoundedKnee]

Only Atheist,Agnostics and Pagans have an "Opinion " on religion.

This is just another Christian /God bashing thread.

In today's culture why are you afraid to admit you are a Hater?

Christians and Jews are the favorite punching bags of the world now.

Tell us what you really think.

We already know anyway.

Grow a pair.

Now, this cranky old SOB would fit right in with my crowd at Denny's. You talk about opinionated and this guy has it in spades.

 

[zipman]

I think it's hysterical that there have been 3,000 - 4,000 religions and everyone is convinced that theirs is the true one.

It would be funny if it weren't so utterly pathetic.

 

[youknownothing]

Only Atheist,Agnostics and Pagans have an "Opinion " on religion.

This is just another Christian /God bashing thread.

In today's culture why are you afraid to admit you are a Hater?

Christians and Jews are the favorite punching bags of the world now.

Tell us what you really think.

We already know anyway.

Grow a pair.

Please tell us why you feel the need to give credit and blame to an imaginary being? Are you incapable of owning your own successes and failures? Sad!

 

[BoyNextDoor]

Religion is like a penis. It's fine to have one and it's fine to be proud of it, but please don't whip it out in public and start waving it around... and don't try to shove it down my child's throat.

- Abraham Lincoln

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I spent a lot of years railing about religion - after having rejected the church I was fetched up in. That was angry childishness, like a lot of what gets tossed about here.


After a few years of searching for something, I have concluded that it is better to act and live like there is a god than it is to do so as though there is not one. Is there a god? Who cares? My approach is 100% scientific. I have tried it both ways, and the god idea works.


Does my life go better because I live as though there is a god? Not always - in fact, probably no difference whatever. What is vastly improved is my ability to handle whatever turds life tosses my way - or whatever "good" things. Nothing is good or bad, or right or wrong. The only question of value is, does it work or does it not work? My god idea works for me.


Kindly do me the Allah-damned courtesy of not telling me what I believe, because you have no fucking idea. Your Tooth Fairy descriptions of a "cloud being" demonstrate nothing but your childsih ignorance, little removed from Neanderthals. If you could comprehend god, then it wouldn't be god, now would it?


People who tell me "I'm Blessed" or "I'm so blessed" get on my last nerve. All that means is, they got what they wanted. I have always found my blessings to be disguised as problems or hard work, and my "blessing", if you will, is getting through them with the support of my belief. And coincidence is just god's way of staying ananymous.


Now, fuck all this silliness and bring on dah tits!!!


https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c2/28/41/c228418d72990fedde39fc640e53190e.jpg

 

[dolf]

I think the aggressively anti feeling is a direct response to the amount of religion being pushed at people, and the degree to which it influences politics and law. That's why these days most Brits never really talk about it, except in relation to terrorism or y'all crazy 'mericans..

If you could comprehend god, then it wouldn't be god, now would it?

All the war, abuse and corruption that could be avoided with this attitude...

 

[WoundedKnee]

I think the aggressively anti feeling is a direct response to the amount of religion being pushed at people, and the degree to which it influences politics and law. That's why these days most Brits never really talk about it, except in relation to terrorism or y'all crazy 'mericans..


All the war, abuse and corruption that could be avoided with this attitude...

No. Disagree. The devout do not go over the deep end (speaking of the near past, maybe not the present) because the secularists were trying to shove Atheism down their throats. People are zealots because they want to be part of something bigger than themselves because they are disappointed in themselves.

As far as what Brits talk about, I have no idea, but people here don't talk much about religion. At Denny's, I don't think we ever talk about it, unless it is an accepted religion to worship old cars.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I think the aggressively anti feeling is a direct response to the amount of religion being pushed at people, and the degree to which it influences politics and law. That's why these days most Brits never really talk about it, except in relation to terrorism or y'all crazy 'mericans..


All the war, abuse and corruption that could be avoided with this attitude...

Thank you. It really seems so painfully obvious.


Perhaps it could be the first sea-changing thought of the third millennium. There seems to be a dearth of any others.


I know, that's an awful great deal to ask for . . . .


So, tits!!!


http://galleries.alltopgirls.com/Stacey-P/images/Stacey-Poole-14.jpg

 

[Wat_Tyler]

. . .unless it is an accepted religion to worship old cars.

Now there's a church I could happily attend!!!


http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1931/factory/1931_chrysler_imperialL.jpg

 

[WoundedKnee]

And now, a word form Reverend Ford Lincoln Mercury to get us all revved up.

 

[Saint Peter]

he's a deacon down at the church
but there's porn in the corn
so there's plenty of work

 

[MagnusRichard]

I think it's hysterical that there have been 3,000 - 4,000 religions and everyone is convinced that theirs is the true one.

It would be funny if it weren't so utterly pathetic.

Most monotheistic religions around the world have similar backstories and belief systems.

For cultures everywhere to have similar belief systems based on common intangibles is evidence perhaps in favour of religion as viable, yes?

Scientists dont know everything. More than this forum of course, as there is far more to know than is known.

 

[jezzilee]

Nature is my religion. When I am at my most stressed nothing recharges my batteries or lifts my spirits like a hike in the woods, a trip to a waterfall, some time on a lake etc. Whether I have my camera with me or not, mother nature fills me with a sense of peace and tranquility that church does not.

I was raised Baptist. I went to Sunday school every week, church services right after, vacation bible school, Wednesday nights we had a bible study rec night etc. I enjoyed the close knit community and I will never forget Pastor Jim. Pastor Jim passed away at 49 from a heart attack, I think I was around 10 or 11 and I was pretty devastated. Enter the asshole sent straight from hell. Our new minister was a fire and brimstone type and screamed at the congregation from the pulpit and this is when I started losing my taste for religion. He was the type to shame the congregation into tything money they could not afford to tythe. He did nothing to encourage the young flock to come to jesus but really alienated more of the congregation than anything.

Since then I have tried other religions, including most recently the one my cousin goes to and my the one my boss goes to. Both of these are televised on local channels and come complete with their own bands for singing hymns. Both are high tech and I wonder where they come up with all the money to be so extravagant.

I was not comfortable in either of these churches.

And then there is the Catholic church. I don't think there is a business in the world that could hold a candle to the greed of the Catholic church.



Do you know anyone who is religious but treats people like shit? Don't worry about their souls, they just confess on Sunday and they are washed away. This way they can be crap human beings all week but feel good about themselves because no matter what they do all sins are absolved by giving them to God.

If having faith gives you comfort and aids in your quest to be a good person then by all means have faith! If being religious means you can be a crap person and look down on everyone feeling you are better than them because you have faith then perhaps you should take another look at your life.

 

[jaF0]

And now, a word form Reverend Ford Lincoln Mercury to get us all revved up.

Or at least Ford Fairlane (think Dice Man).

 

[jaF0]

Isn't there a religion that endorses people humping reach other's brains out?




Oh wait, that's pretty much all of them, isn't it?

 

[FGB]

Now, this cranky old SOB would fit right in with my crowd at Denny's. You talk about opinionated and this guy has it in spades.

Yeah.

Don't recognize the AV in the thread starters Bio I'm guessing.

And you never met my mother...RIP

 

[Rightguide]

When times are bad, people turn to it.
When times are good, people turn on it.
In times of good, some people have it bad.
In times of desperation, some people have it good.
One might ask themselves, what drives my opinion of religion?

A simple faith in the mathematical design of a universal order bigger than yourself.

 

[FGB]

Please tell us why you feel the need to give credit and blame to an imaginary being? Are you incapable of owning your own successes and failures? Sad!

Another person who thinks we are running things down here!

Imaginary beings do not manipulate time, people... places and things to have an effect on individual people or even groups of people.

They also don't give you a great deal of what you ask for...sometimes even when you should not have it.

You really need to learn this! Successes and Failures do not really have a huge impact on me. Success I usually see in the rearward mirror of life and marvel.

Failures well...they build character.

I am told I have plenty of that!