Religion general

@YateTiemeng  
Those books have been written at a time when the world was a much different place than it is now. There is a reason why religions evolve and reform over the ages. God is never wrong. But people, however, make mistakes.
 
I don’t care what they believe in either. But they are going to force me into their fold, they can take a hike.

@SeraphimDawn
 
Gods are first and foremost, a human creation.
 
A flawed creator will always make flawed creations

@QuasarNova  
I have never put things that way before…

@SeraphimDawn  
Yet the books say they are god’s word and the only evidence that the god exists.  
I don’t really believe that gods exist myself. So yeah. I am neutral.

@YateTiemeng  
I may have been brought up as a Christian and still somewhat believe in the religion and God. But I detest those extremist attitudes. Which is why I don’t go to church anymore.

@SeraphimDawn
 
Little reminder. Religion started as a way to explain the world around the person and their place in it. That in turn, separated into different area called science but in the beginning they were one and the same.
 
You didn’t knew the lightning was a product of an exchange in electrical charges and temperature, it was something to stare at in awe and wonder if there wasn’t anything otherworldly behind the scenes.
 
Plus the need for humans to feel connected and having someone that cares for them and the comfort that the pain and suffering they endure will be rewards. These thoughts supercede rationality because deep down, no one can accept that dying is the end and everything in your life will be forgotten with no one remembering those actions, much like how everyone deep down resents being another face in the crowd.

@SeraphimDawn  
If you believe in the Bible you will see that the Church and many of it’s things…  
Jesus never talked about them.
 
Megachurches and millionaire “pastors”?  
Feel good prosperity gospel?
 
The core of basically all religions are self betterment. But I don’t see that in mainstream religion anymore.  
The 10 commandments… you better live them first before preaching about the sin of others. Not to mention, there is no such thing as a “bigger sinner”.
 
I believe in higher beings / ideals myself. Hard to explain. I don’t want to sound retarded. I am ashamed of my views.

@YateTiemeng
 
Have you ever considered Paganism or folk religions?

@Zincy  
To be honest my spirituality is kind of that. I have some animism, some belief in some higher powers.  
But nothing too specific and I’m mostly atheistic.

@SeraphimDawn  
Different commandments for different people at different times. Mormon theology actually believes that God had originally given fifteen commandments and a higher law. Bible mentions Moses dropping the tablets and them breaking when he came down the mountain and saw the Isrealites worshipping a golden calf.
 
It’s like you’re going to teach your kid some higher calculus but you find him struggling with addition. You suddenly realize you’re going to have to start more basic. At least that’s Moses’ experience.
 
Jesus himself said he fulfilled the Mosaic law so they weren’t to live by it any more, though, so basically almost all those laws of the Old Testament are done away and superseded by things like the Sermon on the Mount.
 
 
@QuasarNova  
Preaching atheism, eh? I do hope you don’t get upset if others preach their own beliefs, then.
 

 
@YateTiemeng  
I’m actually pretty sure that it’s just a money making business at this point. Paul the apostle turned down some money saying it’d be priestcraft to accept it; and here these megachurch pastors are just rolling in it.
 
 
@YateTiemeng  
Only evidence - eh, I have plenty of life experiences and stuff that suggest otherwise. I don’t really blame others for being atheist, though, since had I not had these experiences I wouldn’t believe this kind of thing is possible, myself, either. As I’ve written in this thread in the past, I’m technically an agnostic theist.

@Cirrus Light  

 
I am not condemning the concept of religion and god for the shortcomings of man. Deep down I do have some sort of spirituality that is helping me to be a better person. So the concept is fine, the problem for me happens when things are becoming organized and other incentives beside serving god and keeping the herd together.
 
Namely: money, fame and power.
 
Resisting the temptations, is what separates the true believer from the big mouths.
 
 

 
I respect that, in fact I do only have these feelings myself for my own “beliefs.” I am not an anti theist, I won’t get all “offended” and preachy just because somebody is a believer. As far as I know the Abrahamic G-d I should pack some snacks when I’ll die because I’ll be roasted for a long long time.

@Cirrus Light
 
Atheism would imply I reject the notion of something bigger than the universe that has an influence with the people that inhabit it and that there’s nothing waiting for anyone after they die.
 
Looking at religion from the outside and the inside then come to terms as to why it exists and how it came to be used to both improve the life of a person by reassuring them that they’re not alone and there’s a reward for them on the other side is as fascinating as th opposite effect, how that single notion can drive them to the brink of desperation enough that they are willing to throw money at it, how that power managed to hold entire countries just by those basic emotions at all.
 
How it can be used to teach a person patience, charity, compassion. And then pull a 180 degree turn by blinding them into following those conducts with the outmost extremism.
 
Think of it as to why people study the paranormal, regardless of whether you believe or not, denying the impact that it has on the community and how embedded it is to the everyday life is simply inconceivable.

I’ve hit a point in my life that I’ve become so burned out with earthly matters that I can’t even motivate myself to engage in spiritual ones.

@Zincy  
You need something new to believe in  

@Whatevs  
Can’t stump the Trump xp
 
Whatever you have to say about him, you’ve got to admit… He certainly makes a splash. In an age where everyone is politically correct and lives off donations, it’s interesting to see a candidate that does neither. I mean, for him or against him you gotta admit he’s a good bit unusual and has gained an almost disturbingly devoted following (and I say that as someone who kinda likes his deal, but that’s a conversation for another time. We already got religion here. Don’t need to stick politics on top xp )

@Cirrus Light  
He’s certainly not afraid to be himself.

@SeraphimDawn
 
So is a honey badger, doesn’t mean I want him as pres.
 
I’m kinda glad he ran, and Sanders for that matter. It’s a chink in the armor of the establishment that, while currently unexploitable now, will be like the Smaug’s missing scale, a perfect place for a black arrow later.

@Zincy  
But don’t think I can trust Hillary either. She’s being funded by all these big banks and big media groups. Meanwhile Sanders, who I may want as a prez, is being funded by unions. Trumps pays much of his campaign through his pocket.
 
Since Canada has a Liberal majority now. I propose that US would balance the continent out with a right wing government.

@Zincy  

@SeraphimDawn
 
Nothing wrong with unions, as the son of a union president I’ve seen the good they can do. Course I’ve seen the bad they can do as well, such as the union at the VA. They’re like religions, not inherently good or bad, just a social structure.
 
Ol’ Hil is what I call a “status quo” candidate. Nothing would change under her, both Bush and Christie are the same.

@Zincy  
I will always be amazed at how in control you people feel. Maybe I am delusional but I think some shocks are coming.
 
And when your bodies are cast done, our names will be carved in to celebrate the end of your ephemeral reign

@Zincy  
I can say the same for corporations too. I’ve seen corporations do good things as well as scandalous shit.  
Unions, yeah I’m aware how they have a tendency to block out essential changes to employment and stuff, but usually I can sympathize with their concerns.
 
I don’t think Trump would be able to nor would he do everything he said during the campaign. I’m sure he knows very well these things are political and national suicide. Utter insanity. Saying is different from doing. Besides, he WILL be met with stiff resistance from even his own party.

@Zincy
 
Hillary has all the same policies as Obama, but none of his charisma, which is (partially) what got him votes in the first place.
 
She is pretty much a direct downgrade as President.
 
Sadly, nobody seems to care about Martin O’Malley. If I voted Democrat, I’d vote for him.
 
I’m neutral towards Trump; he’s either going to be the best thing to ever happen to the United States, or the worst thing. He’s either going to “make America great again”, a new golden age, or he’s going to crash, burn, and take a large part of the country with him.

@YetAnotherBrony  
I like those odds. Because we need that damn wall. We need his better understanding of trade. We need his frienly disposition towards the second largest nuclear power

@Whatevs
 
His blocking any Muslim from entering the country is a bit too far, in my opinion. Anyone can say they’re not a Muslim, how is that going to stop the extremists?