Religion

[K_trina]

Are you religious? Do you believe in anything? If no, then why not?


It's for a project innit.

[K_trina]

I believe in fuckin your arse you fuckwitt, thats all:idea:

Wow, you seem like a deep person!


Back to thread... I used to go to church when I was younger, sometimes the traditional Christitan church, but more often an american church which was full of loud singing etc!! I don't go to church anymore, but still believe in God. I wouldn't say I'm a religious person.

[pno]

Not religious at all, but I do believe that there is an 'afterlife' of some sort.

[Linz]

Hey. Im not religous but theres gotta be something after we die.

I dont believe that anyone can know what until they die and so religions are just guess work i reckon

[General Lighting]

lapsed Catholic. Mass every Sunday, nuns in school, the whole lot.

I reckon this only teaches you how effective religion is as a social control structure, to sin better (and have more fun doing it) and not get caught ;)

If there is an afterlife I am probably barred from it...

[*¬*]

Back to thread... I used to go to church when I was younger, sometimes the traditional Christitan church, but more often an american church which was full of loud singing etc!! I don't go to church anymore, but still believe in God. I wouldn't say I'm a religious person.

same as. i was brought up with a christian background. i still go occassionally. mainly at christmas and easter. it's an important time for jesus

[xX*Kylie*Xx]

Are you religious? Do you believe in anything? If no, then why not?


It's for a project innit.
No No No

Becasue its all a conspiracy

[K_trina]

same as. i was brought up with a christian background. i still go occassionally. mainly at christmas and easter. it's an important time for jesus

Yeah I rarely make it at those times now..there are a few things Im not so sure aout with the church...Im'm not really one for orgainsed religion any more, something not quite right about it in my opinion. :)

[andy ridgeway]

religion is an expression of the inner yearning that all human beings feel at some point, which hints at the existence of something beyond our senses.

amongst other things.

[Raj]

may the force be with you?

i believe in something but not christianity or anything organised for large numbers

i think religion is a personal thing and everyone has to find their own unique path

[*¬*]

obviously the fact i go to raves and do things i shouldn't. sex before marriage ect prooves i'm not a very good one

[xX*Kylie*Xx]

i feel to uncomfatable in churches, it gives me butterflys when i go in

[andy ridgeway]

they asked me not to come to church any more when all the candles went out and the statue of jesus started shitting blood as i crossed the threshold

:(

[K_trina]

why can't i se all the replies??

[globalloon]

why can't i se all the replies??

having a little glitch. it'll be sorted shortly

i've definately had what some people migth call spiritual experinces. certainly some kind of epiphany that changed my life forecer. usually on mushrooms.

i was also telepathic for a few years

i don't believe in any organised religions though. I've lived in the middle east and visited latin america and seen first hand war in the name of god and the spread of aids

in the words of the great, yellow Homer "what if we've picked the wrong religion and we're just making God more and more angry every week?"

[Raj]

why can't i se all the replies??
not sure will get back to you; i am having this problem too

if you change display mode to threaded mode they are all there in a different format;

still cant get other one to work tho'

[titch]

I went to church most sundays when growing up with my friends family. Havn't been in over 10 years, but still the obsessed ones from the local church turn up at my mums house every now and then with new bibles etc, trying to get me back. They just won't except im not interested anymore and don't have the same beliefs as them. I was a kid then, I just went for the free chocolate bars, not to be brainwashed.

[Raj]

i used to get jehovah witnesses at my door until they realised i was married...

work that one out... a new[?] take on getting more congregation members:crazy_fre

[BioTech]

I don't believe in the organised religions with enforced belief systems.

I don't believe there is anything until I get some proof. I also keep an open mind that there might be a greater power out there. I have no idea to be honest, but I'm definitely not about to go around with blind faith in something just because it's the done thing.

[General Lighting]

I just went for the free chocolate bars, not to be brainwashed.

lucky bastard. I just got warned about the price of sin, eternal damnation, burning in hell etc and never got any chocolate, only those communion wafer things which tasted like stale bread...

[globalloon]

i used to be taken to quaker meetings as a child and i still think that quakers are quite cool

there's no hierachy. they meet in a public building (that has other practical uses like a community centre or even someone's house... not focussed on religion), spend an hour or so sitting in silence, reflecting on the week gone by

you don't even have to believe in much to attend, although the concensus is that there is more to life than we can understand and you must be a pacifist

at the end of the hour anyone who wants to can say something, read out something that made them think or moved them in some way or do whatever they like, in the spirit of the meeting...

and then everyone has a coffee and talks to each other

it's rare that most people ever spend as long as an hour silently reflecting on their life

i'm on the concientious objectors register thanks to the quakers :bigsmile:

[Acidfairy]

I was dragged to Church every Sunday for 6 yrs while i was at boarding school and the worst bit was you had to go in school uniform as well...

The minister had the most monotone voice i have ever heard how i managed to stay awake to this day i still don't know..

Had to behave impecibally as the deputy head was one of the church elders and the Head used to come too... i'll never forget the look on her face when someone dropped the bag of aniseed balls we were passing round... the minister was sayin a prayer and they all fell an dropped bounce bounce bounce down the steps... oops :horay:

I think that religion's were created to control people and instill some idea of right an wrong.. i'm not religious however i do believe there is something after all this...

I tend to take bits from different religions on the way i run my life though i have to say that Buddhism makes the most sense to me

[Raj]

i used to be taken to quaker meetings as a child and i still think that quakers are quite cool

there's no hierachy. they meet in a public building (that has other practical uses like a community centre or even someone's house... not focussed on religion), spend an hour or so sitting in silence, reflecting on the week gone by



yep i will second that

quakers are great people; even though i am not a christian they are the church service i am at all likely to attend

in fact despite my different religious views i spent 2 years on and off as the relief part time warden of a meeting house and never once was uncomfortable.:bigsmile:

[Mariasupial]

Not into it at all. I used to go (be made to go) to Sunday School when I was a kid (I started refusing to go at about age 8 I would guess), but I was never into the religion side of it at all.

The good thing about it was that I grew up in the countryside and lived miles from the next kid so it was an opportunity to see other people my own age.

Of course, it gave my mum the opportunity to cook Sunday roast without having me under her feet!!

I guess I probably learnt some good stuff in respect of do not steal etc etc - good morals I guess, but I think I probably learnt that sort of stuff from my parent tbh.

Now I only go to church on Weddings, Christenings and Funerals.

Some of my friends have got married in churches and I know that they don't believe in it and haven't been to a church in years - I find it completely hipocritical.


I don't really believe in religion or afterlife for that matter, although I toyed with the idea of an afterlife for a few years in my teens - just because it seemed like a nice idea more than anything else. I just think we are born, live to procreate and then we die.

One of my friends became a born again christian after years of atheism and it has really helped her - she doesn't preech and it has definately done wonders for her self esteem. Horses for courses I guess, some people need to believe in something, although I do think that the bible, koran etc etc do have many positive messages that people could learn from.

[stax]

control of the masses thru the fear of good :get_you:

religion shud be a personal thing not pushed upon anyone

[funny cat]

i've never felt like i needed religion, i've decided to live my life the way i think is morally right, i don't need to be told what is moral and good. I've always had a feeling that there isn't anything after this life. Religion gets rid of this fear and gives a meaning to life where perhaps i don't think there is any. why does there have to be a meaning to life? I'm a bit of an existentialist myself.......:idea:

[stax]

IT EXPLAINED THE WORLD AROUND US BEFORE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE HELPED EXPLAIN. ALTHOUGH I MIGHT ADD I DONT BELIEVE IN ALL SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE - NOTHING IS FOR SURE - ASK EINSTEIN, BUT ITS MORE CREDIBAL THAN THE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE AROUND THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.. BUT AGAIN THIS IS MY OWN OPINION OF WHICH EVERY ONE IS ENTILTED TO.

[suffolkravas]

Hey. Im not religous but theres gotta be something after we die.


init mate, i couldnt agree more, but i often fear that i suffer from paranoia when i think about this when im :crazy_fre , it just gets me too scared mate, thats why it sort of comforts me to put my full belief into not exactly an afterlife, but some form of re-birth. not religious at all though mate, just a concept which always makes me think...

[Raj]

sort of a tangent but has anyone had experiences [seen ghosts, precognition, etc] which have caused them to question their religion or lack of?

:alien_abd

[Morning Glory]

I was christened which i think is bang out of order because when your that age how are you supposed to know what you believe in it don't seem very fair. Its all a way of making money out of people. CONTROL

I believe in mother earth!!

[General Lighting]

I was christened which i think is bang out of order because when your that age how are you supposed to know what you believe in it don't seem very fair. Its all a way of making money out of people. CONTROL

I believe in mother earth!!

Having moved to Ipswich recently and researched the history of the area it appears that hundreds of years ago the place was somewhat like Iraq is today; stacks of wars between various religions, places of worship being trashed, people getting and burned etc - and you get told that church is all about "peace"...

[Angel]

:crazy_fre 495 WHAT CAN I SAY..:crazy_fre

[missMushed]

when i was younger i was part of this club called the J-team...J standing for jeasus, it was fun for a while then on one camp these teenage christians tried to get me speaking in tounges, they all surrounded me and were chanting this weired language, i was 8 and pretty scared! so i just started repeating whatthey said and they were all like 'she is speaking gods language he has touched her blah blah" and i just freaked and decided that god was bullshit. Since then i have had a fasinbation with religion, why people beleive in it and the relation between different religions. Personally, i believe it doesnt matter what you believe in as 90% of religions all point towards the same thing, all have just different interpretations of it. Years ago when people didnt travel or even know the other side of the world existed, people wouldnt have thought the same thing, but all came up with their own idea of a "god" and a "heaven" and all set morals of how to live your life by. I think that it doesnt matter what u believe, if you beleive in God or allah, its true to you and thats what matters. Religion gives alot of people a reason to live, and if it helps some people gwt through their lives then it cant be all bad. Each religion is just a metaphor for the same thing anyway.

Personally i dont follow a set religion, but i do believe in the power of the mind and the earths energy. for example if you really want something and focus enough on it, you will get it if you are meant to have it Which isnt too dissimilar to praying. i think you can focus your energy to help your self and help others. examples of this are reikki, although i have never had rekki, or given it, i do beleive that you can take someones pain away just by willing it, taking into yourself and then grounding the negative energy to make sure yoiu dont get sick yourself. my friend beleives that this can only be done if your attuned to reikki, i disagree.

the problem with religions are that if you follow one, your are confined to that particular relions boundaries and dont see the wider picture.

I am a beleiver.......a believer of faith.

[andy ridgeway]

interesting points, miss mushed.

it does amuse me when people say that religion is entirely worthless, as they choose to live their lives by their own morals, they can understand the difference between right and wrong etc etc

with no appreciation or respect for where the modern concepts of "right and wrong" even come from.

it should be by no means taken for granted that "thou shalt not kill" for example, is a natural human instinct...

[funny cat]

interesting points, miss mushed.

it does amuse me when people say that religion is entirely worthless, as they choose to live their lives by their own morals, they can understand the difference between right and wrong etc etc

with no appreciation or respect for where the modern concepts of "right and wrong" even come from.

it should be by no means taken for granted that "thou shalt not kill" for example, is a natural human instinct...

hmmmm.....who says morality has to have come from religion, morals are a useful evolutionary tool naturally. and religion has spawned a lot of negative things.....i never said it was worthless if you read it properly, it's just that i personally don't believe as i've never felt it was right for me to do so. if others do, i don't have a problem. it's just when religion starts promoting prejudice or i'm made to feel like a 'sinner' by religious people i then have a problem.

[jakatak]

the is no god
you have no soul
there is absolutely nothin but oblivion beyond death

these are the facts that give me the greatest comfort
surely anything else would just be upsetting?

[globalloon]

sort of a tangent but has anyone had experiences [seen ghosts, precognition, etc] which have caused them to question their religion or lack of?

:alien_abd

i used to have a lot of telepathic experiences, which was pretty disconcerting at times, useful at others

although it didn't make me question my lack of religion; i have my own set of beliefs that don't involve any of the set religions

[B.EA.R]

i don't believe in anything, just through choice, i believe there might be something after we die. maybe, to be honest i really havn't thought about it.

but respect everyones beliefs.

[priv8green]

most of them think they have something to earn from this
they abuse the kindness of the "all mighty"

nobody says "take this!" but "give me!",they pray without doing nothing

could god be something that u can find support when u feel down?!
i think so

[BabyGirlMiza]

I was born a christian.. and used to go to sunday school n scrpture at school.. but as I got older and witnessed more of life.. my opinion began to change. Im still christian and will never change that, I do believe in god but I dont believe everything the christians say is true, I believe in god watching over us and our loved ones keeping an our over us, I dnt believe theres a thing called the devil, satan what ever you want to call it. I dont believe in hell.. If there was a hell.. or is a hell.. I believe we are living in it and our society has created it. But yea.. basically I just believe in God but thats about it.

[JamesBong]

If a clergyman is going to ass-rape a choir boy is it more evil if he wears a condom and if so why? :weee:

[amyberthelet]

I was raised Catholic, then declared myself an atheist, got addicted to drugs, hit rock bottom and got saved in a Christian shelter that was Charismatic/Pentecostal, moved out and attended a non-denominational church, met my husband and got married in a Southern Baptist church, and now attend an Evangelical Bible church! :laugh_at: Confused yet? :wink:

All I know is that if God had not intervened and answered me when I called for help (story coming later) - I'd either be dead or in jail. I personally don't call myself 'religious' - that denotes following traditions...I am a Christian.

[O-D]

I have no patience for religious people, for one thing because if there really is a powerful omnipotent being that looks upon us and casts us to heaven or hell (but still loves you) then he couldn't have just fluffed out of nowhere and was all knowing in the time that a camel spits, so he's obviously been made just like us by the "Big Bang" and thus can still be killed! :yakk:

...but I'll treat them with respect.

[d.r.e.a.m]

Religion...The start of %99 of wars on this planet!

[amyberthelet]

MAN'S idea of organized religion, yes. Man puts God in a box to fit his own ideas of what He should be, and some even think that they need to KILL what they deem 'infidels'! Real Christianity is NOT like that!!! Did Jesus ever say KILL those who are nonbelievers???? True that was in the OT but that was for diff reasons.....

And the thing is - yes God loves us but He is also a righteous judge - would YOU want a murderer getting off scot-free because the judge 'loved him'????

God existed before anything - we didn't make Him up! Do you really think humans could do that???? :crazy:

[O-D]

God existed before anything - we didn't make Him up! Do you really think humans could do that???? :crazy:

Of course, it's called fiction, like how the charateristics of Jesus Christs life has been used before Jesus was even born and the best defense Christians can put up is "the devil made it up".

And there's so many different variations, that it's pointless wasting your time in a church when it stands a good chance of being wrong.

If anything, the bible is a set of moral stories like Aesop's Fables.

[amyberthelet]

Well, ....you don't have to believe in the truth - it is STILL truth. Every word of Scripture is God-breathed....variations not-withstanding. I am talking about The Holy Bible, not denominations. Doesn't matter which version of the Bible (except the one the Jehovah's Witnesses use) - KJV or The Message....and here's the church I attend

www.deliverancebiblechurch.com (http://www.deliverancebiblechurch.com)

I really doubt it's wrong. Sorry to be so hardline, but I am an Evangelical. All the variations of the denom. are just that - as long as they do not detract from what is taught in the Bible, they are VALID. I am not talking about Mormons, Jehovah's W, etc. But from Catholic to Evangelical...we're all Christians.

[O-D]

I really doubt it's wrong. Sorry to be so hardline

According to the Bible, to doubt (even the slightest) the Holy Spirit's existence, is to be punishable by being sent to Hell when you die, there's no forgiveness, game over.

Don't worry about being hardline, I'm not exactly playing the softly softly to you so I expect the same vigilance from you to defend yourself.

[amyberthelet]

FINALLY! I'm glad someone realizes my right to defend my faith! raaa

I didn't say I doubted the Holy Spirit......I meant to say I KNOW it's not wrong, but expected an attack.....was being a bit sarcastic I'm afraid..... :wink:

You are right...the only unpardonable sin is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit - which I don't think means to doubt, but outright MOCK.

[O-D]

You are right...the only unpardonable sin is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit - which I don't think means to doubt, but outright MOCK.

Looks like I'm out of luck of repenting all sins and being very sowwy about all the bad things I've done on my death bed then. :hopeless:

Which pretty much means, I don't have to worry (If I were agnostic/religious) about committing whatever your God would call a sin and being punished for it seeing as I'm screwed already! raaa

I didn't say I doubted the Holy Spirit......I meant to say I KNOW it's not wrong, but expected an attack.....was being a bit sarcastic I'm afraid..... :wink:


Sarcasm on the internet.. I always miss it.

[amyberthelet]

You mean you outright mocked the Holy Spirit? I don't mean mocking religion or Jesus.... this is something different. It's kinda like flat out declaring that the Risen Christ's power could NEVER do ANYTHING in your life, and HAS never done ANYTHING period. Cursing or saying I hate God doesn't count. This is much more serious. Not many have actually done it, that's why there's still hope! And even if you HAD done so, remember that sinning does NOT only affect YOU, but everyone around you as well!!!

[O-D]

Since I do not believe in religion period, it's just as good as saying I do not believe in anything that is in religion, thus that includes not believing in the particular section that this "Holy Spirit" has done anything for me, or others.

Since I don't believe in religion, the logical thought is to believe that everything that has happened is from evolution up to mankinds fumblings.

A magical wisp has had nothing to do with this reality, but only exists in peoples minds who need to find a reason, however fanciful, to grasp onto when there is no answer for their pain, to understand death, famine the general folly of the world around us and everything inbetween.

I believe the universe is a much more wonderful and mystical place then saying some bloke popped out of nowhere and thought it up out of his noggin before going senile.
If there really is a God, he was on this earth tens of thousands of years ago (maybe more) and an author of illegible books.

[GiantMidget]

-------------------------

[O-D]

-------------------------

You wuss.
Stand up and be proud of your blasphemous heathen ways of thinking!

[GiantMidget]

You wuss.
Stand up and be proud of your blasphemous heathen ways of thinking!

Mate i was gonna but the aliens might get me. :hopeless:

[O-D]

Mate i was gonna but the aliens might get me. :hopeless:

That would be true, but aliens don't have "teh internetz" as they can't even afford dial-up.

[GiantMidget]

That would be true, but aliens don't have "teh internetz" as they can't even afford dial-up.

Is that right, so that means i've been wearing this tin foil hat for nothing then? :hopeless:

[O-D]

Is that right, so that means i've been wearing this tin foil hat for nothing then? :hopeless:

I suppose you could recraft it into a tin foil sword and kill the heathens and blasphemers.

[hairygrape]

i think religion is a personal thing and everyone has to find their own unique path

What he said. I think Christianity, particularly Catholicism which I was brought up on, is for the unimaginative lot. And I'm sure it's been said a million times before, but I'm sure the reason many people commit to a religion is because they're hedging they're bets - they're not sure whether there is something more than this life but they'd rather not take the chance on missing out on it if there is...

[amyberthelet]

I was raised Catholic, and I tend to agree......memorizing and endlessly repeating passages is NOT gonna get you saved! :you_crazy And yes, it is sorta hedging you bets......hey I struggle too! And you guys are plain SILLY! :bounce_fl:bounce_g: Sounds like you're stuck in the OT...Jesus never said 'kill the unbelievers'! We're sposed to LOVE em! :love:

[noname]

I think the whole problem with religions in general (and christianity in particular) is this idea that we need saving from something... What do we need saving from?

Add to that the whole idea that this life is some sort of prelude to the main event in which the people who believed this often faintly ridiculous set of fables get to go to the heaven club, and those who questioned it get eternal hellfire and damnation... I mean - really? I find it amazing that people can take the utterly fantastic reality that is the universe we inhabit and believe that it can be explained in terms I would expect to hear in a primary school playground...

If by some inexplicable twist god does actually exist, then he went completely up the pole a long time ago IMO, and spends his time having fun playing twisted tricks on his creation. I mean - Garden of Eden, everything perfect EXCEPT you can't touch this apple tree (but you have free will, and there is not only a big sign saying "forbidden tree here", but also a really persuasive snake who keeps saying "you know you want to")...... Displays either a level of naivety unbecoming in an omnipotent being, or a level of twisted amusement thats somewhat worrying in an omnipotent being....


Sorry - no... God doesn't exist anywhere other than in the minds of people... We made him up in an attempt to explain something that we lack the ability to comprehend - which is why god is seen as a "he", and why he does human things like judging the morality of someone's life, and meteing out rewards and punishments... We made him in our image as a way to try and give meaning to things we don't understand because the lack of understanding scares us (which is why in our fantasy we are the center of his creation, and he has a plan for all of us... Nice simple set of rules - follow them and all will be well....)

Just my tuppence worth :wink:

[GiantMidget]

I think the whole problem with religions in general (and christianity in particular) is this idea that we need saving from something... What do we need saving from?

Add to that the whole idea that this life is some sort of prelude to the main event in which the people who believed this often faintly ridiculous set of fables get to go to the heaven club, and those who questioned it get eternal hellfire and damnation... I mean - really? I find it amazing that people can take the utterly fantastic reality that is the universe we inhabit and believe that it can be explained in terms I would expect to hear in a primary school playground...

If by some inexplicable twist god does actually exist, then he went completely up the pole a long time ago IMO, and spends his time having fun playing twisted tricks on his creation. I mean - Garden of Eden, everything perfect EXCEPT you can't touch this apple tree (but you have free will, and there is not only a big sign saying "forbidden tree here", but also a really persuasive snake who keeps saying "you know you want to")...... Displays either a level of naivety unbecoming in an omnipotent being, or a level of twisted amusement thats somewhat worrying in an omnipotent being....


Sorry - no... God doesn't exist anywhere other than in the minds of people... We made him up in an attempt to explain something that we lack the ability to comprehend - which is why god is seen as a "he", and why he does human things like judging the morality of someone's life, and meteing out rewards and punishments... We made him in our image as a way to try and give meaning to things we don't understand because the lack of understanding scares us (which is why in our fantasy we are the center of his creation, and he has a plan for all of us... Nice simple set of rules - follow them and all will be well....)

Just my tuppence worth :wink:

I wholeheartedly agree with you there mate! My view on this is that God was invented just so the masses could be controlled. I mean you drive through a small village and look at the church. It will be the most impressive and best designed building (in a small village remember) standing taller than anything else and is the centre point of the village.

This is because back in the old old old days, the church demanded that villagers pay a tithe say 20% of their income (sound familar :you_crazy) otherwise they would risk being sent to hell when they died. It's this sort of bullshit that proves the church and most religions are a way of controlling the little man.

I tell ya if the local priest around here tried to get me to give him a tithe, I would say only two words, the second being 'off'!! :wink:

[photographthesun]

God is all seeing, all knowing, and yet he commited genercide and mass murder because he didnt forsee the evil of humanity. Doesnt really add up does it. You could go on for hours like this, but sadly proof denys faith and without faith he is nothing.

(for an oncore man then proves that white is black (and black is white) and gets killed on the next zebra crossing) :wink:

[amyberthelet]

NotReligion - Home (http://www.notreligion.com)

[photographthesun]

NotReligion - Home (http://www.notreligion.com)

that counteracted all those arguments perfectly! you win, im a convert. praise the lord. :p

[amyberthelet]

That was just something that came to my mind...not intended to answer all your questions....that is what the 'Hard Answers' book is for! I will post a topic/question a day....love to stay on here and debate all day long, but there's work to get done.....

[Raj]

I have to say that what I dislike most about organised religions is their endless pontification about why theirs is the only true path. That and the hypocrisy of most of the practioners I have met in my life.

I am not [and never have been] impressed by the 'only we are right' attitude of every organised religion enventually stoops to. The unbearably smug attitude that they know whats better for me than I do and that I am a poor misguided sinner:you_crazy What an amazing arrogance that displays.

I would be a whole lot more bloody impressed if instead of canting and preaching endlessly they went and did something a darned sight more useful and actually physically helped folks. I know some groups do this and those are the ones I will choose to spend time with regardless of denomination. Never mind the next life - lets make this world a better place.

I want to see actions - anyone can talk the talk but most never walk the walk. Its easy to preach and say love thy neighbour and Jesus will save you but I personally think that if Jesus was as switched on as christians all say he was [this kind of people do genuinely exist] he would be out there not talking but doing. Actions speak louder than words ever have. Instead of telling me why my choice is wrong go live your life by the moral code of your religion. Now that would impress me - the whole turn the other cheek and forgiveness thing is easy to spout but hard to live by.

The shallowness of saying the words and then not living your life by the very rules your chosen religion preaches smacks to me of cherry picking the good bits and ignoring the rest - just like an adulterous husband who wants to have his cake and eat it [get the benefits of a marriage and the excitement of an affair]. To pay lip service to the bits which you find convenient and ignore those you dont makes you no better than any other person out there.

I have my own personal moral code - I am not so incapable of seeing the difference between right and wrong that I need to rely on an external source for rules by which to live. I take personal responsibility for myself and make my choices and do not hide from them by pretending that I was led to make poor choices by an external influence [eg the devil]. When I make mistakes I simply admit I have done so and then learn from my mistakes. Nor would I ever allow someone else to dictate to me what is and is not allowed. I am perfectly able to make these choices for myself.

Abdication of personal responsibility is something which I see as a complete cop out - people who arent prepared to stand up and be honest about what they feel or stick to their guns when the going gets tough.
Lets be honest - how much easier is it to let someone else make your choices for you - when it all goes tits up you have someone to blame dont you. :you_crazy:you_crazy Life is to short to be wasted in this kind of bullshit. Be a real person - if you dont think something is right say so - stop being a cardboard cutout and letting other do your thinking for you.

Anyway I shall get off this soapbox and go do something more useful than typing my opinion into a forum. :wink:

[amyberthelet]

Well, Jesus DID say I am the Way the Truth and the Life......not A way

And you are 100% right about disliking the hypocrites - unfortunately there are plenty of those.....Christianity is about faith AND action.

As far as being sinners, we ALL are. NOBODY is perfect, no matter what they claim!

And you can be a 'good' person all you want - still won't get you to heaven.

As far as 'why do I need to be saved'......suppose you are wrong and find out that after death the Christians were right all along......

I'm just saying that as someone who truly believes in a righteous Judge and heaven and hell...I don't want ANYONE to end up in hell!

[Raj]

TBH if there is a heaven I am not sure I would want to go there anyway...

but thanks for caring :wink:

[GiantMidget]

Well, Jesus DID say I am the Way the Truth and the Life......not A way

And you are 100% right about disliking the hypocrites - unfortunately there are plenty of those.....Christianity is about faith AND action.

As far as being sinners, we ALL are. NOBODY is perfect, no matter what they claim!

And you can be a 'good' person all you want - still won't get you to heaven.

As far as 'why do I need to be saved'......suppose you are wrong and find out that after death the Christians were right all along......

I'm just saying that as someone who truly believes in a righteous Judge and heaven and hell...I don't want ANYONE to end up in hell!

You can still be a good person and not believe in God. Thats how i live my life, was baptised an all that but don't believe in any of it. Say i live my life in a good way and die and find out there is a heaven, how can they not let me in?

Just because my allegiance doesn't lie with that particular branch of religion, why will that bar me from entry? :you_crazy

[photographthesun]

You can still be a good person and not believe in God. Thats how i live my life, was baptised an all that but don't believe in any of it. Say i live my life in a good way and die and find out there is a heaven, how can they not let me in?

Just because my allegiance doesn't lie with that particular branch of religion, why will that bar me from entry? :you_crazy

And why on earth would someone all loving and all powerful be as mean to say "ah but if you guess wrong, if you don't believe in me, i will send you to be tortured for eternity". In fact that sounds suspiciously rather like man..

In fact that sounds like a statement designed to give the Church power over its people..

[GiantMidget]

And why on earth would someone all loving and all powerful be as mean to say "ah but if you guess wrong, if you don't believe in me, i will send you to be tortured for eternity". In fact that sounds suspiciously rather like man..

In fact that sounds like a statement designed to give the Church power over its people..

Exactly mate. Religion was designed by the greedy to enslave mankind. Good thing we all know the truth innit! raaa

[General Lighting]

people create their own Hell through lack of self-control. the only thing spirituality or religion (of any denomination) can do positively is to help people learn their self control and discipline. This is why the sub forum has the name "spirituality, morality and religion"

I too am a lapsed Catholic.

I got tired of religion because I learned how arguments between the Protestant Church and the Roman Catholic Church were causing hundreds of lives to be lost. Until 10 years ago, as recently as that, Britain was in a state of actual civil war over the disputed territory of Northern Ireland. Both sides of this war was funded in part by Americans with Irish heritage and it caused more deaths than even Al-Quaeda has in this country. There was bombs and terrorism for most of my lifetime at least 30 years of it, and hundreds of years of warfare before that.

Amy, there are two important things you have to realise about the UK (if you want to learn about our culture).

One is that Church and State are not separate in the UK. Religious groups (particularly the Church of England) actually have the power to make and enforce laws in our Government - we have the "Lords Spiritual" (church spokespeople) as well as the "Lords Temporal" (normal politicians).

Some of these people aren't even elected!

The Church of England works with other denominations to find common ground, but this is a smokescreen for a global conservative backlash against all our freedom of speech and expression the 60s hippies fought for. The same thing is happening in the USA and many other countries, despite the war over resources Muslims and Christian conservatives are finding common ground and their combined power is chilling.

This is why British youths from the alternative scenes are very cynical about religion.

The second thing is that support for drug users as well as all other medical treatment is provided free at source by a body called the NHS (National Health Service) - it provides everything from family doctors to emergency hospital care and mental health/addiction services. This means that faith based groups do not have a stranglehold over addiction treatment services (they are however welcome to support the NHS provided they do not attempt to preach or convert to the patients).

[amyberthelet]

Interesting...thanks for those facts!!!!

Don't you have to wait a loooong time to get helped in socialized health care????? I had a friend in Canada, and she found a lump in her breast and had to wait MONTHS for a mammogram!!!!!! That is the primary reason I do NOT want 'free' health care over here!!!!!!

Do they have any Evangelical churches over there - in other words very informal, no rituals, just freestyle worship?????

I regards to the other posts......why would you not prefer to go to heaven? It certainly is preferable to the other! And yes, I'm afraid to inform you that if you call yourself good but do not Love the Lord, you are doomed. But you can choose your own way..that's what freewill is all about. I guess we'll find out eventually huh?

[Tank Girl]

And yes, I'm afraid to inform you that if you call yourself good but do not Love the Lord, you are doomed.

oh well, I'm sure I'll cope :wink: