Religion is the abdication of responsibility.If you believe everything happens for a reason, and that it's god's will,basically you're saying you're not responsible for your own actions;that everything is preordained.You're asking an invisible man to make things better for you because you've lost all hope in yourself, in the one person who truly can change your circumstances.
I get what you mean about the whole Guilt Trip Scenario, step dad tried playing that game for years, and it worked for awhile too. There is more to religion then guilt trips. Real religion is always strongest amongst the poor, third world countries and such because they need something to believe in. In the states I feel that the religious organizations are just worried about image and money which takes away from the whole thing.
Because, as I said,if god allowed these things to happen to prove a point, he's childish and spiteful-a sadist.Would you make a bet on one of your own children against an evil persona which was about to do him harm to prove he could make him angry at you because you didn't step in and help him?I hope not.Does that mean you are more merciful than this god?And if he's omnipotent, he already knew what the outcome would be, so there was no reason for him to make Job go through it.
As for creationism being taught in schools, creationism doesn't hold up to scientific scrutiny.That's why in Kansas they're trying to change the definition of what a scientific theory is.There is a clear separation of church and state, and they are trying to overcome it.They don't want the Egyptian creation beliefs taught;nor Buddhist, Wiccan, Greek...just THEIRS,which is Christian.It's not in the interest of fairness at all.
I still don't agree with your favorites concept. God would let his followers go through all kinds of torments just to prove a point. I think it was Job, correct me if I'm wrong, he had his family, farm, and health all taken away so God could win a bet against the devil to see if Job would still believe. Again, if that's favoritism, I don't want anything to do with it. Where I'm from, creationism is only taught in Private schools not in Public. If they are going to teach how the World began all sides should be represented equally and briefly.
Then it isn't the word of an omnipotent god.It is the word of men, and men of their times.It is contradictory and erroneous.It's like people thousands of years from now unearthing a copy of the wizard of oz and proclaiming that their holy book.
Any Christian with common sense has embraced the fact that not everything in the Bible was without flaw, how can it be, it was written all those years ago before we had the advances in technology and science, what is common knowledge now wasn't back in the day (which was a Wednesday by the way
) they took what information they had and interpreted it to the best of their understanding. The message remains the same when it comes down to fundamentals, and that is the message that Christians embrace.
Right.Join the flock,conform,be like the rest of us.Learn to fear this invisible boogeyman we tell you exists,so we can dictate your actions in this life.
The logical reason for Jesus to be crucified that Christians believe in is, (you're gonna love this
) to rid mankind of Original Sin and unlock the gates of heaven. Here's the catch... in order for original sin to be fully purged one must undergo the sacrament of Baptism.
And if you don't have the capacity to understand an infinite being in regards to why he allows things to happen, how can you believe that those who wrote the bible had any better understanding of him or it?
In regards to God's methods of why he lets bad things happen, you will hear many Christians reply with, "We as humans do not have the capacity to understand God's reasoning." Then you will be told that only he can see the whole picture and that everything happens for a reason. That's the belief/justification for that good ol scenario. That response tends to piss me off (usually only when it comes from my step dad.)
So it's a piecemeal religion?You get to just take what you want and ignore the rest?I've seen that happen;ever heard of the guy from the "God hates fags" website?
It kind of sounds like I'm thrashing my own religion a bit, well I am. I hate hypocrites, and man my sect of Christianity sure has a bunch of em. They are more worried about everything being verbatim instead of realizing the actual importance of the attitude Jesus was taking towards tradition and rules. If your sheep is drowning on sabbath are you not going to go in after it? He pointed out all the flaws of taking everything verbatim and now we completely ignore that.
Let me get this straight...you recognize the logic is faulty.You know the bible contradicts itself.You have never had any physical proof of this God...he's never spoken to you personally,nor has anyone ever proven there was a great flood, that the earth was created in 6000 years,that Jesus was an ACTUAL person...but you still choose to believe.
Their faults still do not change what I believe though, and I do believe in his message and do my best to live my life accordingly.. but I'm not perfect, but that's okay. Hey, It was Jesus that was hanging out with the so called Pagans and Tax collectors, so he'd feel more at home chillin with me then with some self righteous establishment anyway.
Who said there needs to be an alternative religion?Hedging your bets is kinda cowardly, IMO.You don't want to think of the possibility that you are merely an organism,that you're not any more special than any other mammal on this earth, so you choose to take a pill you can't quite swallow all the way just to be safe?
If there must be an alternative...how about logic, and common sense?How about demanding proof instead of accepting tradition?How about thinking for yourself, and thinking critically?
Thereason I don't present my beliefs is because I really have none.I prefer logical, tangible evidence.I know that I AM.That's all I know for certain.I know that I am the one who controls my destiny.I know that one day I will cease to exist in this form, but I will go on...because I will return to the earth, and from my carcass, plants will spring up,and worms,and gases, and things will come along and feed off of those,and continue on in their own life cycle.This I know for certain.Where my consciousness goes,I don't know.My thoughts are possible because of my brain,and the body it resides in.FACT.When my brain is gone, it's likely my thoughts will be, too.Fine.But even though I'm not recognizable as "me",I'll still go on in that I am a part of the natural cycle.That's what I believe, because that is what I KNOW to be true.
I gave you all this background so you know I am not one sided on this issue and despite my name I have thought about all of this a lot. Every question you have asked, every point so far you have brought up, I've fought and argued about for hours on end. You can call bullshit if you like, but you are not putting your stance forward on what you actually believe in. Your trying to discredit Christianity without listing valid alternatives. Where's the benefit in that? I'd rather be lead wrong then lead nowhere.
-blind
good job!!
