Let's talk about religion

[Kuai]

heaven or hell. let's rock!

[SilverBreeze]

I just see that mindset as the beginning of the biggest regret someone can possibly make But maybe it won't be.

'

How can it be a regret if I'm dead, wtf? The only thing i'm scared of is if I come back as a fucking bunny. No one wants to go into labor every 2 weeks.

[Not Kuno]

I just see that mindset as the beginning of the biggest regret someone can possibly make But maybe it won't be.

God: Nope she didn't believe in heaven or hell, lets dump her soul in with the others in hell because I don't care about things like if people were truely good in life.

[Eaglestrike]

I just see that mindset as the beginning of the biggest regret someone can possibly make But maybe it won't be.

'

How can it be a regret if I'm dead, wtf? The only thing i'm scared of is if I come back as a fucking bunny. No one wants to go into labor every 2 weeks.

Because if Heaven and Hell do end up existing and you're stuck in Hell for all of eternity...you might wish you weren't stuck there at some point?

[Kanai]

I just see that mindset as the beginning of the biggest regret someone can possibly make But maybe it won't be.

God: Nope she didn't believe in heaven or hell, lets dump her soul in with the others in hell because I don't care about things like if people were truely good in life.

All paths up the mountian lead to the same end.

[SilverBreeze]

I just see that mindset as the beginning of the biggest regret someone can possibly make But maybe it won't be.

God: Nope she didn't believe in heaven or hell, lets dump her soul in with the others in hell because I don't care about things like if people were truely good in life.

Yeah I'm gonna have to agree with that.

Person at gates of heaven - Okay, here we have Joey Garner, he was a serial killer, killed 48 people, but he atoned for his sins before he died.

God - Okay let him in.

Person at gates of heaven - Okay, here we have Candice Green, she was a doctor for 43 years, was a virgin till she was married, but she didn't believe in heaven or hell, and made a silly but comical joke a long time ago on some FFXI forum about screwing you in the ass with a red horned strap-on.

God - To hell with her!

God wins

[Elcura]

heaven or hell. let's rock!

I got it

Besides, why not let her regret her opinions when she's dead, if she does regret them at all.

Who knows what happens after death, certainly no one I know can tell me, so we'll all find out after we die.

Some of us will be happy, some of us will be sad and some of us still won't give a fuck. That's life for ya.

[Not Kuno]

Personally I'm gunning for reincarnation. There's only so many things to do during in heaven before infinity runs out.

[Eaglestrike]

If God does exist, no one, Christian, Jew, or non-believer, has any idea what He is actually thinking. We think we have a guide but...

Basically if a supreme being does exist, He can do whatever He wants.

But there is fair reason to think people going "Fuck you 'god' I'm better than you." won't be on His good side.

Like I said I wasn't sure if you were joking or not, but my comment wasn't based purely on you. I've heard MANY people who have made comments like that and they were completely serious about it, my comment was more for them if you meant that as a joke

[SilverBreeze]

Was meant as a joke, I really am an atheist so I don't give a crap about god or religion or any of that, and its not just because I was taught that way, or from anyone elses opinion or information, its something I came to myself. (The rest of my family is religious) I just don't believe in it.

Some people say I'm doomed to go to hell, but being an atheist has its perks. I enjoy spending my Sunday mornings and afternoons at home, eating ice cream and cheetos in my underwear with a comb tangled in my hair while playing WoW. If there IS a hell, and I somehow manage to end up there after living a decent life, than I sure the hell would hate to see where some people end up.

I agree with you Kuno. Reincarnation sounds hella fun.

[Sadler]

I think compairing the power of a holy miricle and Santa is quiet a big gap.

Then you have a lot of learning left to do about this.

Sorry if I find it hard to put religious suicide bombers and Santa Clause on the same park bench. But then again... sounds like an extremists wet dream.

This Christmas, I will mostly be blowing up Children in my local Walmart dressed up as Santa.

[DragonCloud64]

Anyone see that one Christmas Boondocks Episode lol? That wins , I Rofl'ed when Riley shot Santa, and then sent him a letter complaining about the upped security he got XD

[Shaede]

you are referring to Allagory of the cave no?

I was hoping someone would recognise it.

Sorry if I find it hard to put religious suicide bombers and Santa Clause on the same park bench. But then again... sounds like an extremists wet dream.

This Christmas, I will mostly be blowing up Children in my local Walmart dressed up as Santa.

You've officially failed at this discussion.

[macbain24]

I find it best not to think about things like god or the afterlife, it's fuckin depressing.

[Keyten]

I just see that mindset as the beginning of the biggest regret someone can possibly make But maybe it won't be.

Thanks for the el oh el. I am an agnostic and think that a god, whether it be the christian god or just a generic god, very well may exist but I also could see where he couldn't. I don't see stong enough evidence for either side so I'm "neutral". Now I know how I feel, I mentally cannot believe in god, that's just how I am. If there is a god, that's his own damn fault for making me think this way, and think it is going to be bullshit if I am punished for feeling this way. Yes I know I have free thought but this is how I am, I can't change that.

I have two parents who are very involved in church so my upbrining was christan, so believe me, I have tried this but it doesn't work for me. Now time to comment on the quote. Let's say there is a god, and when I die I am standing in front of him. Am I going to have regrets that I didn't "confess my life" and all that bullshit jazz to him? "Oh I should have believed. T.T Now I'm off to hell."Here's a hint... NO. Why would I regret my own thoughs and feelings that were sincere. If that's the case then sucks for me, I guess I lose. But really, I have lead a good life. If there is a god, I would think he would judge me by my character other than me bullshitting myself into believing in something I didn't just because someone like Eaglestrike said I should or I "would be sorry". (bit of a runon but oh well)

[Sadler]

Let me get this right... I failed this discussion because I chose not to believe in false stories and fairy tales? And I am willing to confront the stories that have been claimed were real and ask the question… if they were so divine… why lie? Are you telling me that the bible… a so called “Book of God” is factual as a Hollywood fiction film is and should be treasured, taught and even taken as true parts and events in history?

If god was so divine, prophets wouldn’t have to lie for him/her/it.


Also-

You brought up the insult, I ended it.

Get off your high horse... coz you just seem like you have lots of words in your vocab and lil meaning to your stories. Maybe you should write the next bible... I can imagine it now "Its a peice of shit, but its a great read never the less".

[Brien]

watch the movie "What the bleep do we know" and continue this thread

[Krylanna]

Let me get this right... I failed this discussion because I chose not to believe in false stories and fairy tales? And I am willing to confront the stories that have been claimed were real and ask the question… if they were so divine… why lie? Are you telling me that the bible… a so called “Book of God” is factual as a Hollywood fiction film is and should be treasured, taught and even taken as true parts and events in history?

That's not what Shaede or I were telling you at all. We're saying the opposite in fact.

I'm saying Santa is like religion because it's an extremely simplistic example, made to illustrate a point without getting overly complicated. And again, you missed the point. You're looking at the literal facts of what Santa and extremists do (give candy and toys to kids vs. blow them up), rather than catch on to the one way in which their stories are similar like I was trying to get at (illustrating a deeper meaning through metaphor).

The people who tell you religion is literally real don't get it either.

You "failed" not because you don't believe in religion, but because you assumed that all religious people are murderous, bloodthirsty savages. You're looking too closely at specifics and material things rather than looking at what the stories stand for, much like the particular brand of religious people you don't like. You're both the same, basically.

watch the movie "What the bleep do we know" and continue this thread

Great movie

[Sadler]

So I think my own mother and friends are muderous savages? lol

I mearly think that religion was and still is a tool in this world.

It has the perfect scenerio to control people and a blatent use of scare tactics in many respects...

See it how you want, its your opinion.. your view on the world.

[Shaede]

Fine. I will try once more to explain.

Let me get this right... I failed this discussion because I chose not to believe in false stories and fairy tales? And I am willing to confront the stories that have been claimed were real and ask the question… if they were so divine… why lie? Are you telling me that the bible… a so called “Book of God” is factual as a Hollywood fiction film is and should be treasured, taught and even taken as true parts and events in history?

The metaphor I used earlier that was recognised by Kanai was of the cave from Plato's The Republic. Joseph Campbell refers to this as "mistaking the shadows for the substance". It is a common error that he believed is caused because our education system fails to properly teach students how to understand the concept of a metaphor. Instead, students end up confusing a metaphor as a lie.

Are the stories of the Bible any more or less true than the stories in the Quran or the journey of Jesus any more or less true than that of the Buddha? Are you even famliliar with the stories? If not, then that is a good place to begin if you are to have this conversation. If you have read them and do not see the simularities, then instead focus on understanding the concept of symbolism.

If god was so divine, prophets wouldn’t have to lie for him/her/it.

This logic is flawed, and I will explain to you why.

What religion attempts to do is convey that which is beyond us- transcendence. You cannot simply convey that which is transcendent by reciting history or fact. Can I open your eyes to feel happiness by simply telling you to be happy? Can I make you sad by simply stating to you that you should be sad? Can you see the divine in the real world without first having your eyes opened to its source?

What religious metaphor does is convey a much deeper and more important meaning through symbols. These symbols, you could say, are the curtains which block your view from the sun, but at the same time allow the sun to illuminate through. That is the same philosophy of the stained glass window. You can focus on the window itself and on the objects, the people, and the places potrayed there, but then you would be missing what it is that allows you to see the window in all of its radiance. The sun that lies behind it- the transcendence, is the source of the symbol and that which gives it meaning. Without the sun behind the window, the images appear bleak and lifeless.

Is a metaphor a lie? No. A metaphor is a symbol that projects a higher level of thought, and of being.

Also-

You brought up the insult, I ended it.

Get off your high horse... coz you just seem like you have lots of words in your vocab and lil meaning to your stories. Maybe you should write the next bible... I can imagine it now "Its a peice of shit, but its a great read never the less".

You swung the first blow by assuming me a fool. An idiot who had no concept of the discussion he threw himself into and could easily be defeated through inane banter about Santa and suicide bombers. I could easily recognise your pattern of thought and your ideas on the issue. I've seen it before all the time. I had the choice of two paths: Offend you and keep you in the dark or try to be reasonable and show you where you errored. I simply was not in the mood for the latter.

I've attacked your ideas rather directly and with some hostility in this post. You can either choose to think about what I've written or you can assume that I am some random ignorant asshole online who has no idea what they are talking about. It doesn't really bother me either way.