What Religion are you?

[Elvis]

I'm kinda surprised Neo and/or Mini haven't contributed to this thread.

I used to be a Muslim but when I realized all the stupid shit about having plenty of women waiting for you in the next life and shit, I said fuck it and didn't believe in that shit anymore. Aside from the fact that I need visual proof to believe in a higher power, religion is a nice way of starting wars. That, alone for me, is enough to not make be part of it.

Tell us how you really feel though.

Visual proof of a higher power? Well you could always worship the Sun.

I've always wondered about the 72 virgins thing. I've read somewhere that the meaning has been skewed and that it was referring to grapes that were a luxury during the time when the Prophet Mohammad lived and blah blah - so these grapes were a symbol of paradise/etc.

All in all though - I can't think of any religion I'd take literally. As a philosophy (and a work of art) - there could be things to pick and choose from but I wouldn't be religious.

[aalryn]

Because there's no proof there isn't either. There's no definitive proof one way or the other, so its stupid to say that since nothing supports x, it must be y, even in y has no substance either. The only smart thing is to man up and say you don't know, and move on with your life.

It was more of a counterpoint to aalryn's post about needing evidence of the positive in order to discredit the negative, but there's no evidence of the negative either, so I don't see why you'd hold that so dearly, nor do I see shame in saying 'I don't know'.

It doesn't work that way. The burden of proof lies on the ones making the outlandish claims. This is why atheists came up with the 'flying spaghetti monster' It's because you can't prove that god isn't a flying spaghetti monster. It works in every case. I woke up this morning because the sun was rising and I was finished with my sleep cycle, or was it because gnomes came in when I wasn't looking and chanted around me until I was awake then scurried off before I could see them. I can't prove they weren't there!

I don't believe in any religion or god, and I really don't like using the adjective Atheist, so I'll just say none.

Yea, I used to call myself agnostic until I realized I was just being a pussy and didn't want to completely give up what I was told since birth (my father was a pastor of a christian church). It wasn't until I was going through my physics degree that I realized that it was OK to change your views based on new evidence. It's not being wishy-washy like politicians will tell you. It's ok to believe that there is no such thing as a God until there is testable and undeniable proof of there being one.

As Richard Dawkins says, "We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in, some of us just go one god further"

[Elvis]

Without the Sun, we could not survive. So we should worship the Sun again.

Except let's add some bureaucracy, some hierarchical authoritative figures too for good measure. We'll need plenty of donations of course to keep our faith strong. And definitely funny looking hats. No religion is complete w/o funny hats.

[Boyiee]

yeah you're atheist, but thanks for sugar coating it.




i was having lunch with one the other day, and we offered her shrimps, and she said that they don't eat creatures from the sea. Now, what i know is that Jews are forbidden to eat from the sea. whats the deal?

If it hasn't been said in all of the mess.

Jews can eat things from the sea, as long as it has scales and fins. No shirmp lobster crabs etc bugs of the sea, no sharks dolphin whales etc. Salmon tuna all of that stuff they can have. Don't believe they can have it in the same meal with meat though, separate culinary sets must be used I think the same way with dairy and meats but I could be wrong on fish+meat, I know the dairy+meat needs to be separate though.

I guess I'm one of the things on the first page. I believe in science and all that, but when I look back at the big bang I think something started it... and I don't think dust could have turned into our central nervous system no matter how long it took. I don't like going to church, I have nothing against any religions and feel people should believe what they want since there is no proof one way or the other. If you want to have faith in something, good for you, if you don't want to, thats fine. As long as you are a good person and don't hurt people then go for it. I don't generalize religions by the actions of a few or how they formed. Church used to be a place to learn things for me, but not anymore as it's just the same old being recited over and over and being related to everyday life. Bibles changed so much, I don't really know what to believe. I think there is something, all powerful and omniscient... there was that site with the "i met god on a train" that was an interesting way to look at things.

Who knows. Enjoy your life, it's short, if you have views one way or the other than whatever at least you have views. We are all entitled to free will and our own opinions, we should use them. Life is about learning to me, and the more we learn the more we evolve. I like space, I like to believe in evolution (and natural selection lol) I wish we could evolve more in my lifetime so that I could see more of the universe and learn more, but I do think that it didn't just magically appear. I know that some guy snapping his fingers and forming it is just as magical a way of thinking, but whatever.

[noblemountain]

“I'm not an athiest. How can you not believe in something that doesn't exist? That's way too convoluted for me.” - A. Whitney Brown

Pretty much sums up how I feel about it. I don't believe in a god...and I won't ever waste my time arguing with people who do. What is the point? No person can change a man's beliefs through argument. I give you the 9th law in the 48 Laws of Power.


Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

[Elvis]

“I'm not an athiest. How can you not believe in something that doesn't exist? That's way too convoluted for me.” - A. Whitney Brown

Pretty much sums up how I feel about it. I don't believe in a god...and I won't ever waste my time arguing with people who do. What is the point? No person can change a man's beliefs through argument. I give you the 9th law in the 48 Laws of Power.


Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

I always liked reading about that. Makes me feel all tingly inside.

Here's a video with creepy music and 10 of those rules!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_VqEXdvayA

[Trinsie]

I love religion because it is so diabolical. Wikipedia, be it a good or bad source says that there are over 4,000 religions on the planet. Lots of those religions do not have a hell, but of the ones that do (even though I am atheist) I would hope Christianity is the right religion. Christianity is the worlds largest religion by members (2.1 billion or 33% of the earth). That would mean that if it is correct then only 2 out of every 3 people on the planet will go to hell and burn and be tortured and live unspeakable torments for ever and ever and ever. If Sikhism is right then 99.9% of everyone on the earth will go to hell and burn and be tortured and live unspeakable torments for ever and ever and ever.

So yeah; Either way most of us are screwed if there is a god.

[Tyr]

I love religion because it is so diabolical. Wikipedia, be it a good or bad source says that there are over 4,000 religions on the planet. Lots of those religions do not have a hell, but of the ones that do (even though I am atheist) I would hope Christianity is the right religion. Christianity is the worlds largest religion by members (2.1 billion or 33% of the earth). That would mean that if it is correct then only 2 out of every 3 people on the planet will go to hell and burn and be tortured and live unspeakable torments for ever and ever and ever. If Sikhism is right then 99.9% of everyone on the earth will go to hell and burn and be tortured and live unspeakable torments for ever and ever and ever.

So yeah; Either way most of us are screwed if there is a god.

"You will go to hell if you're not a part of x-religion" is a very odd, obfuscated, and (some denominations at least) Christian doctrine.

There are many religions that don't subscribe to that notion.

[Trinsie]

"You will go to hell if you're not a part of x-religion" is a very odd, obfuscated, and (some denominations at least) Christian doctrine.

There are many religions that don't subscribe to that notion.

I said in my post that a lot of religions don't even have a version of hell. I grew up in a Christian home and I cannot speak for all sects, but in mine if you did not accept Jesus as your savior, you will go to hell not matter what else you do and no questions asked.

I was mostly trying to point out the fact that no matter what you believe or don't believe (no matter what), when it come to religion; More people think you are wrong than right.

[Rhinox]

The real winner in this thread.


http://prophesyagain.com/merriamwebster.jpg

[izembo]

actually most religions dont believe that other religions go to hell by default, only a small portion

[Dimmauk]

Everyone posting in this thread is going to Hell.

[Skjie]

Not reading the rest of the thread for fear of the stupid but I'm a discordian, if only because it amuses me. Grew up going to a Catholic church that did service in German so it made no sense to me!

[Restrat]

Jews are told not to eat meat and cheese together due to the line "you shall not boil the kid in its mother's milk," kid as in a baby goat. To me it's a pretty far stretch to say that means no cheeseburgers. The Rabbi's I've spoken to about this generally tell me it's based on old cult practices, and many of the rules were just banning things people did in cults in the area. When that side of it was lost people just extended them to everything. Much like Paul condemning male prostitutes as Paul condemning all homosexuals in the new testament.

Christians can eat whatever they want because when asked about following the old food rules Jesus said "It doesn't matter what goes into your mouth, but what comes out that counts." This is what I was taught.
Many choose not to eat meat on certain days because Paul wrote that eating non-fish meat was a clear sign of being rich, as it was in his day, and you weren't supposed to flaunt how rich you were.

[Trinsie]

actually most religions dont believe that other religions go to hell by default, only a small portion

That is sorta true. I agree most religions don't believe that other religions got to hell by default, if they do not convert or believe a divine truth. But since the two largest religions by population are Christianity and Islam (which together make up over 50% of the people on the planet) and most sects of these particular religions believe it to be true. Then most people in fact do think that if you deny their religion you will go to hell.

I can be possibly wrong about one portion of this. Since I am not, nor have I ever been Muslim, I cannot say for certain if you are guaranteed hell if you are another religion. However reading Q&A sections from Islamic web sites about their religion this is the answer I am given by actual Muslims.

So in short:
Most religions = NO
Most religious people = YES

[zoobernut]

Without the Sun, we could not survive. So we should worship the Sun again.

Except let's add some bureaucracy, some hierarchical authoritative figures too for good measure. We'll need plenty of donations of course to keep our faith strong. And definitely funny looking hats. No religion is complete w/o funny hats.

Just had to quote this because it is awesome.

This thread is awesome so far. I love all the agnostic/theist/atheist crap in the middle. On that note I will not claim myself to be any of those but just describe my beliefs and everyone else can debate what to label it and Firas can just call me an atheist because I don't believe in his god.


I personally do not believe that there is any way we can know if there is a god or know if there is no god.
If there is a god that god does not care about any of the organized religions that humans have made up.

I believe that organized religion does not bring anyone closer to god or gods nor does it successfully force people to live good lives on a grand scale, individually it may work.

So in summary I believe there may be a god or gods but I do not presume to know either way. I also am very against the idea of organized religions and I think that people should be able to be spiritual and good without them.

[Zilong]

Nothing for vikings?

Don't know about you guys, but a massive battle royale from dawn to dusk, along with huge feast and valkyrie consorts at night is my ideal vision of afterlife.

Not to mention I'm all about the burning, pillaging and raping doctrine.

[Gulkeeva]

Mithra religion... worship... the mithras! O_o

[Alleya]

Mithra religion... worship... the mithras! O_o

Fuck yeah Zoroastrianism!

[Demosthenes11]

The real winner in this thread.

Spoiler: show

http://prophesyagain.com/merriamwebster.jpg

pretty much
seno gets butthurt when someone doesn't agree with his definitions