Religion anyone?

[LARGEMAN]

RELIGION-- is MAN's attemt to discover GOD.

CHRISTIANITY-- is GOD's offer to save mankind

Now that I got that off my chest I'll say "believe everything in the holy BIBLE (GOD'S WORD ON EARTH)"and I myself practice the teachings of Jesus Christ my lord and saviour ig CHRISTIANITY. I by my own choice am a CHRISTIAN and believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead after three days proving GODS power over death.

 

[Weinergirl]

ummmm ok

I was raised Bible thumpin Baptist but i don't subscribe or regularly "practice" a specific religion. I believe that there is a spirtual part of myself that needs to be acknowledge and can be in variety of ways even sexually(but probably not actually during a sunday service; see confessions). There are indeed many paths to "self actualization" and/or why we're here. A specific key exists for everyone to unlock that potential inside themselves.

I feel no need to practice religion and in some ways it's harmful and crippling to people in general. As far as what our little ones will be it's their choice-I hope it is something that honors their spirits and true essence of who they are.

We expose them/ have knowledge of a variety of religions-Islam, Christian, Buddhism, Wiccan-beliefs; primarily Christian pillars though. I find that to be the case because of the people with which we interact surround ourselves. We are predominantly a Christian nation. Mainly we try to teach (by example)them to respect themselves and others.

 

[LAVA GODDESSS]

a-men brotha

LARGEMAN YES THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY...!!!!!
i dunno, i think we all think TOO MUCH and as it says in the GOOD BOOK. HAVE FAITH!!! you can't over analyze something to the point that you don't believe. you just have to believe. i believe that religions have gotten a bit off track, i am an avid...let me repeat avid...lutheran...(ahhhhhh, i know im sinning for looking at this stuff, but I CANT HELP IT!) regardless, i believe what the bible says, it and only it. churches are interpretations and GUIDES to help us understand it. we need math teachers, therefore we need bible teachers. all i have to say is faith is a religion in itself. and i bet my panties that on the last day there will be a GOD and heaven and hell. and im even bettin my lucky panties on that one. which, im tellin ya that is high stakes, cause those things are almost a god in themselves.


kisses and licks
lava

 

[Canucklehead922]

As for me, I'm agnostic. Open to the question of God. I haven't come across sufficient evidence for or against to make a proper, informed decision.

However, while I don't think religion is for the feeble-minded, I am opposed to religion, as far as personal tastes go. I see religion as simply a way for one person or group to control another (i.e., "these are the holy rules, and you better damn well follow 'em" type of thing). I don't like the thought of someone telling me what to do, how to think, how to act...in short, I don't want someone to tell me what I should think is moral or immoral. It strikes me as if being too much of a master/slave relationship. (Not necessarily as slave to God, but as slave to the Church/religious leaders.)

(By the way, something that bothers me a lot: if God supposedly gave us free will, then why should we be damned for not following His/Her/It's rules?)

Yes, this is quite cynical. I know. I'm a cynical person.

 

[wolfy]

Pizza worshiper

I belong to the highly secret religion that worships pizza.
We love all pizza but our holiest of holies is NY pizza.
We believe that life revolves around pizza and that if there is a god he created man to make pizza.
A job delivering pizza is a holy mission.
A job making pizza's makes you a saint.

When you eat your pizza you must worship it. Enjoy each bite and savor it like it's the last time you will ever taste pizza. Each pizza is unique and deserves to be cherrished.
Love thy pizza for the pizza is the way and only through the way may you find enlightenment.

Other religions all formed because there was no pizza yet. If we are good and worship our pizza when we die we go to a great pizza parlor in the sky where you never become full and can enjoy pizza for eternity!

Join us in worshiping the pizza. Tip your pizza delivery guys. Show respect and call the restraunt that made your pizza and thank them. That is the beggining of the way.

 

[wolfie69]

religion, "the opiate for the masses"

Hey if you believe, more power to you.

I am more of a spiritualist, believing there is a higher power. I am not sure what that higher power is but tend towards a collective karma or conscience...

 

[Guest]

hmm I'd say we're having one hell of a dinner party LMAO


a big LOL to wolfy and Coach.. I wanna join!!!! I wanna join!!!!

 

[Ramlick]

Most people don't choose a religion. They're born into them. People who choose their religions usually spend their whole lives sampling the latest religious flavor of the day. Better to sample, I guess, than to remain ignorant of religions different from your own.

But in the end I feel that religion doesn't do it for me. I can't seem to overlook the politics inherent in all religious dogmas. I do this at the same time recognizing that the values and laws embodied in religious teaching are indeed a map to good living. Thousands of years of trial and error collected wisdom are rolled into religious law. I respect the vast majority of it because it's proven. It's very important to realize, however, that those laws are integral parts of all mainstream religious traditions.

When it comes to predictions, life after death, hell, heaven, punishment - these ideas have two functions: inducements for social order, and political power. They're made up by man. Make believe.

 

[lala]

long but i think some of you will find it interesting

when i first read this i thought i wouldn't have anything to add, but i find myself separate from you all,... which is ok a couple of points first:

1) i was not raised under any religion, christianity is in the family, but the family i know (not extended) has not practised for more than my whole life

2) i'm alaskan native- shyguy68: i don't know what you think we believe but i'll get to that momentarily (most modern natives i know/have heard of are christian, i have not heard of any pagan natives, at least not in my community)

3) i've been told i'm very closemouthed about my religious beliefs, which is true, and i won't share EVERYTHING here either,...

ON WHAT I KNOW ABOUT MY CULTURE
ok, so, in my teachings of my native (being mine, not all) culture we discussed supernaturals- we did not worship them. we did not pay homage or offer any kind of obeisance. they're just supernaturals,...

the Great Spirit was spoken of, but there was no specific teachings that i've been made aware of as far as rules, morals, etc. the Great Spirit, or the Creator was just that, the Creator, people give thanks to the Creator for Creating.

there was no structured prayer time. there was no central place to worship, or pray that i know of. beyond the basic concept that there are supernaturals and there is a Creator, religious communication was private.


MY BELIEFS
for me, religion is very, very, private.

i believe in god, because i have my proof. not clinical proof, proof that was meant for me only.

i pray all the time, living, walking, experiencing

when i do pray it tends to be in/near water. water is what helps me calm and meditate, it is not part of my religious beliefs, i just really like it.

when i do pray i have a Completely honest relationship with god, you can't pull the wool over god's eyes and why would you? go

i believe that god is perfect and omnipotent- what more do you need? think about the denotation of those two words- it covers everything.

i thinkt hat god is everywhere all the time, so my worship or whatever you want to call it is all the time, god knows i'm a good person and i do my best. god knows everything, and sees everything, for me that is comforting.

thank you for reading, and writing, i like hearing what other people think,...

 

[Mustang Sally]

I am an unbaptised bastard, so if there is a Hell, I'm pretty sure that will be my final resting place. My family is Catholic, though none (except one, and that's a different story in itself) have attended church in my lifetime that I know of.

From what I have seen, religion does more harm than good. Wars are waged for the sake of religion. I believe church is, for the most part, bullshit. Of course there are some truly good church-goers, but I find many are hypocrites who sin freely all week, then act pious for a couple of hours on Sunday and feel A-ok. Spirituality is not found within a church, and it should not be spoon-fed to you by a priest/minister/rabbi or whatever.

My uncle's ex-wife fixated her mental illness on religion and used it as an excuse to abuse and warp her children. The same woman often tried to force God down my throat. I bet that partially explains my opinions.

 

[Unclebill]

Athiest - It's the only rational answer

Originally posted by Happy
... The hypocritic behavior of fanatical church goers (reads: Jerry Falwell, Jim Baker, et al) make me puke. Taking advantage of the feeble minded under the guise of a heavenly design... too much. The ritual, the celebration in any form,... man made. From the earliest times of throwing a virgin into a volcano to promote a prosperous harvest, all of them are man made, and feeble minded.

Hey, a little decorum, please. You omitted my personal alltime favorite, Jimmy Swaggart. Were you trying to offend me by this blatant omission?!

BTW, I was raised Southern Baptist but by the time I was about 15 or 16, I realized I was headed for Athiesm. Too many unanswered questions and too many contradictions.

 

[Xander]

Religion.....well...Foolism.

Pretty much worship the fool in yourself, praise your foolish ways. Realize that you have been played for a fool.

And feel good about it all.