Religion Debate

[Unbooked]

I would just like to know who here is religious and what your opinion on non-religious individuals is such as myself? I personally do not believe in "Jesus" or the bible and I do not follow any other religions. There is a specific religion that the first presidents of the United States were and it is called deism. I recently read up on this religion for a project in my U.S. History class and I was pretty interested in some of the beliefs that they follow. A lot of it I can relate and agree with but then again a lot of it I can't. I personally believe that there is a higher power and in that sense there is a "god" but in my opinion it is not "jesus" himself or anyone else. It is simply a superior power, no actual person. Im not sure how I feel on the after life, I just hope that there is one.

[ZackFaire]

I'm a buddhist and I don't believe in a "God".

I have no problems with individuals who doesn't believe in god either, nor do I have any issues with people who does.

I learn that everyone live their life how they want to. Following principles and the teachings set by God is much more important than having a relationship with him.

I believe that God is something humans create to rid themselves of fear and uncertainty. In the end, it is up to each individual to secure their own faith.

[scout swimmer]

From my perception

God is a relational God.
Jesus is the only incarnation of God for the purpose of rebuilding a broken relationship on our part.
Sidestepping the offer of renewed relationship would be the most fundamental error of our lives. Sometimes we take ourselves, our intellect, and reason too seriously. This whole story is so unusual that it can't be made up.

[D-Yes]

i believe in god..
could you imagine, the wonderful world we live on now..various types of human, plants, and animals, this is what I believe as sign of creator...

I believe on the only real supreme being, all-powerful and all knowing Creator, Sustainer, Ordainer, and Judge of the universe. HE is the only one who creating everything..

As a guidance to entire people, HE sent religion all over the world..

[Gene]

I believe in Jesus, I believe in God, I don't believe this thread had an darn thing to do with the economy, war or the government.

[toritcheli]

The fact of the matter is how can you follow the principles and the teaching of God and yet don't beleive in a God. Univers only explain should not only beleive you should also kneel, tremble and humble before that God.

Originally Posted by ZackFaire

I'm a buddhist and I don't believe in a "God".

I have no problems with individuals who doesn't believe in god either, nor do I have any issues with people who does.

I learn that everyone live their life how they want to. Following principles and the teachings set by God is much more important than having a relationship with him.

I believe that God is something humans create to rid themselves of fear and uncertainty. In the end, it is up to each individual to secure their own faith.

[toritcheli]

Please do me a favor and go read revelation 6 the whole chapter and you'll see if they don't have anything to do with that. That's why we christian we don't tremble when those things happen because the bible predicted them in revelation 6 and also Matthew 24 or 25.

Originally Posted by Gene

I believe in Jesus, I believe in God, I don't believe this thread had an darn thing to do with the economy, war or the government.

[toritcheli]

You are talking about the one and only, but that God is so powerful and almighty I thin you should use a capital letter for his name.

Originally Posted by D-Yes

i believe in god..
could you imagine, the wonderful world we live on now..various types of human, plants, and animals, this is what I believe as sign of creator...

I believe on the only real supreme being, all-powerful and all knowing Creator, Sustainer, Ordainer, and Judge of the universe. HE is the only one who creating everything..

As a guidance to entire people, HE sent religion all over the world..

[Gene]

Toritcheli, those Bible references have been used by every generation to predict the end of times since they were written. As a matter of fact, most Biblical scholars think the author was talking about the Roman Empire. The one thing you as a Christian can get out of the book of revelations is that there is hope.

With that said, my point was that starting a thread proclaiming to believe in deism is about as relevant as me starting a thread proclaiming I have a goldfish.

[ksat]

Consider this. Current Republican leadership believes that every life is sacred, and abortion is horrid, even in the most relevant situation, and the mother cannot choose. Then, after say 18 years, these same precious children can be sent away to be maimed or die in a for-profit conflict created by liars, to benefit thieves. So much for religion. To find the God, you must first seek the Good.
ksat

[Ian Elliott]

I am a pagan and have been for forty-four years. I do not believe in one all-powerful, all-knowing, benevolent deity. I think the facts of life refute such a belief. But I believe in spirits and feel the divinity in nature. The presence of imperfect design in nature suggests to me that a multiplicity of intelligences are at work guiding and molding things. It is my opinion that divorcing spirit from matter was a mistake and has led to the current ecological crisis. I have no quarrel with people who believe otherwise or who are secular, but I do have a quarrel with those who assert that this country has a religious identity (their religion, naturally!) and who persecute others who would like a place in the sun. If you look on the internet, there are many thousands of pagans in America and elsewhere, but they are prevented from coming together and building places of worship because government will not protect their civil rights to do so. When churches are fire-bombed, there is a great hue and cry, but how long would a temple for nature worship stand? Pagan fairs and retreats are also suppressed through local zoning (and re-zoning) ordinances, and pagan parents are often deprived of custody in court cases on the strength of their religious beliefs. Tax-exempt status is only extended to religious organizations that designate themselves as "churches". This country should wake up to its hypocrisy on these issues.

[ksat]

Well, I, here's the theory of religion in a thimble. Naked man grouped, the strongest, biggest leading the same. As groups grew, biggy could not oversee his domain. He threatens all with a Higher Being, who knows and sees all, and forgives little. No coincidence that the X Commandments prohibit those without from taking from those with. If a major religion can pay for a thousand carnal violations with money collected from the victims, it makes one pause and become a congregation of one. And as I write, our spiritual R leaders sleep in our House. Near the National Mall, three souls huddle on a heat vent for a fitful night's sleep. Good night to compassionate conservatives everywhere.
ksat

[Gene]

Well golly gosh darn Ksat, we can all sleep better knowing that conservative religion is gone and Obama will leave a residual force in Iraq and expand the war in Afghanistan.

[Ian Elliott]

Dear KSAT,

I agree with your theory of religion so far as the major religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (and before them Zoroastrianism) is concerned, but your grasp of the history of religions, including indigenous religions almost up to the present, is rather narrow. You are also off with respect to Buddhism, which, except for its Tibetan form, has never persecuted anyone, and you show your ignorance of religions that have developed in indigenous cultures are not separable from those cultures as a whole. Your theory applies to monotheisms that arose in the context of the unholy alliance of political and religious power. This can be traced back to the Assyrian kings, who doubled as high priests of Ashur and who justified their murderous raids on neighboring states by the theory that Ashur was the top god and the gods of Assyrians' victims were in rebellion against him. This encouraged the Yahwist party in Jerusalem to promote their national god Yahweh to international status when the Assyrian army, having razed most of the cities of Judah, failed to take Jerusalem itself, owing to King Hezekiah's sealing of the wells outside the city and resulting in the Assyrian soldiers developing severe dysentary. (So much for "the angel of the Lord" massacring them at night.)
The Yahwists, taking a leaf from the Assyrians, declared that the Assyrian king was a rod of punishment in the hands of their god Yahweh, who held sovereignty over all nations. So the supreme being you speak of attained to his office owing to an army coming down with the trots. Now you know.

Ian

[ksat]

Narrow in thought, but wide in ignorance, especially on religion. Here's why. Althought taught to groups, it is truly internal and unique to the individual. It is, in practice, the deadliest of human pursuits. And, after many attempts, I have failed to be acknowleged for my efforts by any feeling of a superior presence. Now it holds no interest for me. So, I.,you must continue to speak eloquently of your perspective. Perhaps it is not too late for some.
ksat

[Ian Elliott]

As Popeye once said, "I doeskn't blames ya a bit."

In my view there is no reason to be anything but an atheist or agnostic, unless one has had some experience of spirits. Whether such entities are 'divine' or not is a further question.

There is an excellent Epicurean group available on Yahoo that provides discussion re an ancient philosophy and way of life for people who do not regard themselves as religious.

I agree that religion as it has evolved in history has become a toxic pursuit.

Ian