OK...Who else thinks religion is total Bullsh!t?

[kc5zom]

PAt Robinson has nothing to do with the bible or religious history.
Again you are interpreting a religion based on its so called fallowers actions.
Also I said "rarely" not "never", it takes something truely unusal to be attributed to god. The flood is a good example where there is evidence of a great flood in that area in which most everything would have been barried in water. Again it takes a truely spectacular natural event to be seen as gods work.

As for fire, which fire? Saddamon and Gamore? Surely you don't think the destruction of an entire city by fire is a everyday event.

But you can't just say that the whole religion of Christianity is a product of the bible, you have to include the followers as well because they make the religion.

And no, thanks to good fire protection, whole cities do not burn down anymore (at least I hope not). But sections of cities larger than Saddamon and Gamore (sp? that doesn't look right) have been destroyed by fires in the past. After the great London fire do you not think there were people wondering why God would do such an awful thing to them, and wondering if it was because they themselves had been so evil.

 

[1sty]

No the religion is not only a product of the bible but again I am not defending christianinty with the post you qouted.
The fallowers also do not make a religion. The religion is the same regardless if Pat exists or not. He has no effect. He can not justify nor negate someones belief in god. A religion is seperate of its fallowers action. Religion and what action man takes in his interpretation of that religion are vastly seperate.

Sure parts of cities burn, espcialy like london that was overcrowded and build mostly of flamable materials. but usualy for a reason. Now being burnt to the ground that took out the entire city killing virtualy everyone and in a place where wood was not the fundamental building materail the city would not easily burn. Also I am yet to hear or read of an excavation of a site found to be S&G. It very existance is not even known so how can you even trivilize its destruction?

 

[Novot]

Wow, what a LONG freakin' post! I think (as all await with baited breath) that a good point is being made. Separating out "religion" from "religious people". The point has been made over and over again (and will be made over and over again) that religious people do bad things. True. No one can argue against that, nor should they. The truth is we all do rotten things. It comes down to the basic nature of man... good, or evil? Even the "good" people I know do bad things. We LIKE doing bad things (I know I do), even when we know there are dire consequences. HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis, high blood pressure, obesity, wrapping your car around a neighborhood entrance sign (of course I didn't mean to, officer!) -- all are a result of people not caring about the consequences of their actions and living their lives accordingly.

So... back to the "religion" post: Religion is an acknowledgemnt by us that we are weak/bad and is an attempt by us to reach "god". "God" fills in the gaps in our life. Whether we believe in talking snakes, multiarmed gods of destruction, or scientific theories revised more times than we can count -- our limitations in religion are as obvious in our beliefs as in our actions.

Is there a true answer? Obviously the universe we live in is finite. IT has a beginning and will have an end. The law of entropy seems to point out that the universe will burn out at some time (unless you believe that the correct quantity of "dark matter" exists and that we have an expanding/contracting universe model.. but i'll skip that for now, my post is way too long already). Something set that in motion. What/Who is That? Obviously it's something much greater than we understand right now. I think there is an answer... but the point of this post was to address the difference in "religion" and "religious people", so I'll stop here

 

[DrummingFrenzy]

I agree. The acts that you were referring to were not everyday happenings. The fires that burned Saddam and Gamora were not just some house fire that raged out of control. It was fire that fell from heaven and no one questioned whether it was an act of God or not. It just was. The flood was something that happened once iun history and will never happen again. God said himself that the earth would never be flooded like that again. You're still equating the definition of religion to what a man has made it out to be. That's why I don't like the word religion. I refer to my belief as a personal relationship with God. I don't live for my religion. I live and serve God not men or doctrines.

 

[Newf]

this whole post reminded of something someone posted here ages ago

http://www.bluehoney.org/Whichone.htm

 

[pingdum]

It has nothing to do about keeping God happy. God created a world, and at first it was a perfect world. It didn't have earthquakes or hurricanes. Then sin came into the world, yes, through Satan. Sin corrupted men and the world. God doesn't necessarily make an earthquake happen when it does. He created a world and it operates on it's own. Water on the earth precipitates, condenses, and eventually falls back to the earth as rain. God doesn't say, "Ok, I think I'll make it rain here today, and snow there." He let's the earth operate as it was created. He didn't create the ten commandments to suit himself. He created them to give us an example of how to live. Which is another reason why he sent Jesus. He was an example in how we should live.

I agree with you 1st MP3. How can you teach or tell people about something that you yourself know nothing about?

You say you don't follow religion, yet you believe all this which is specific to a particular religion. Even the the concept of "one God" is specific to western religions.

These are the kind of stupid stories that made me start this thread to begin with.

 

[DrummingFrenzy]

Look don't call what I believe in stupid. I don't mind you questioning or even not believing in it, but don't criticize just because you don't agree. You don't believe like I do, but I haven't criticized you for what you believe. You've brought up questions that are nothing new and questions that I would fully expect anyone that doesn't believe like I do to ask. However, I'm not calling your questions stupid. I'm only answering them to the best of my ability. Please disagree without disrespecting. This is life to some of us. I wouldn't take lightly something that you believed in that much either.

 

[mypfizzle]

heres is the fizzles view on religion.
i do not believe in god nor do i believe in things from the bible. i think religion was constucted by man as a way to govern and direct people.. it is also a way to answer questions that have no answers.. after all.. as a whole humans are very curious.. and if they can not find an answer to something they grow frusterated. Why did mommy die.. god wanter her there.. where did my goldfish go.. god needed him.. its all a crock.. people can believe what ever they want to make it thru their day.. and if believeing in something that you can never prove helps you wake up and work your bad job more power to you.. but dont try to push your beliefs on me.. i hate when people come to my door to solicite for churches..
I hate those fuckers more than telemarketors.. think about it.. at church they pass the collection plate around and everyone puts money in it.. the priests ALWAYS have a nice house and a nice car.. much nicer than mine mind you.. yet i never see them put s*** in the donation plate.. but i do see the poor husband and wife on welfare with 3 kids putting 10 bux in there every sunday..
Since when do you need a church the size of a small mall to worship your god? if you are worshiping a higher power you should be able to do it from anywhere.. you dont need a 3 million dollar building with 20000 dollar stained glass windows.
People will have their own beliefs. but it is mine that religion is a buisness.. not only to govern people like the police but also to give people a false hope..
think about it.. churches contradict themselves all the time.. sex before marriage is a sin but those sick ****** catholic priests molest little boys and girls and the church hides them.. the best thing that ever happened was when that priest was beaten to death in his cel.. because if they dindt get to him and he got back out.. the church would sprinkle some water onhis head.. tell him hes cured.. put him in another church and give him more little boys and girls..
when i see church goers, priests and even the bible and the stories they follow not contradicting themselves. not looking like they are out to make a buck (churches dont even pay taxes) and when i see a priest that is as broke as me on a bad month scrounging up change to feed himself and his pet cat.. then ill take it more serious.. but as long as they are driving caddies and not practicing what they preach i will never believe.

 

[Natey]

I try to treat the Bible as a kind of "owner's manual" for my life.

If I'm bummed or pissed off, I can always find a scripture that helps me get over my problem; or at least understand my feelings better. When I read the Bible, it makes me feel better about myself and others.

For this reason alone Religion isn't bulls***. IMO, If it helps people to get through tough times, then it's ALL GOOD.


N80's .02cents.

 

[DrummingFrenzy]

Well, I'll tell you from experience that it's not all like that. I'm not catholic so we don't have priests. We have pastors, and my dad happens to be one of them. He doesn't drive a Cadillac. He drives a 95 minivan. One thing he taught us is to always give. The very first thing that comes out of every member of my family's paycheck is our tithes. In other words what belongs to God 10%. Then we give more on top of that. I traveled in the ministry with my family for 7 years straight all year round. 90% of the churches in my denomination are under 250 people. They don't have big buildings with stain glassed windows. They have people and a pastor hungry for the real things of God. I know what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck and not know where your next meal will come from. So don't tell me about how things are. I know how they are. I've lived them. Besides, when does having a lot of money mean a church is insincere in their works? Cannot a great God give great blessings? Because you're in the ministry does that mean you have to live a life of poverty? No, it doesn't. Don't think I'm complaining. God has blessed my life richly. After all, I have a new PR5 that I never thought I would be able to get.

 

[1sty]

You say you don't follow religion, yet you believe all this which is specific to a particular religion. Even the the concept of "one God" is specific to western religions.

These are the kind of stupid stories that made me start this thread to begin with.

Define western religion, you mean non asain religions as most all others at this point are totaly monotheistic.

Christianinty is not the only religion that believes similar things. Check the other religions of that area and you will find MOST invovle a great flood!

As for stupid story I hae one for you about a person that drifts though life believing nothing is greater then themselve while shitting on others believes and religion this person knows dont one damn thing about.

Half assed knowledge of a subject in no way intitles you to trash someones beliefs!

 

[tonkabui]

ok, everyone, let's calm down. take a deep breath and repeat after me...

ooohhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm... repeat three times.

feel better? good.

guess what? that was a mantra in chinese buddhism. cool huh? who said religion was bulls*** again?

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

LOVE is the root of AAAAAAALLLLLLL things. yes even evil. love spelled backwards is evil. sure it's spelled differently but it's the same thing.

 

[Iconoclast]

if it wasnt for religion...

less segragation

less war

less racism

however it keeps a world of assholes out of my hair for 4 hours every sunday.

 

[mypfizzle]

nate said exactly what i wanted to say until i got carried away.. if it helps you.. great.. doesnt mean that i have to believe it. -=)

 

[pingdum]

Look don't call what I believe in stupid. I don't mind you questioning or even not believing in it, but don't criticize just because you don't agree. You don't believe like I do, but I haven't criticized you for what you believe. You've brought up questions that are nothing new and questions that I would fully expect anyone that doesn't believe like I do to ask. However, I'm not calling your questions stupid. I'm only answering them to the best of my ability. Please disagree without disrespecting. This is life to some of us. I wouldn't take lightly something that you believed in that much either.

Look at the title of this thread...it is not for the easily offended.

And I'm sorry, but it is a stupid story...If I said I think a giant llama created man in a fit of diarrhea but the evil mudskipper ruined it all by making the llama eat a pizza, you would call me crazy. Step back and look at the things you believe...parting waters...talking snakes...getting laws from a burning bush...doesn't it seem a bit silly. I'm sure you laugh at the Greek and Roman Myths, but those weren't myths to ancient people. They believed it just as you believe.

And the 10% tithes is one of the main reasons religions exist...to make money.

 

[DrummingFrenzy]

Your opinion on how the church operates and the way tithes works prove that you don't comprehend how this works. I don't give because my church tells me to give. I give because God commanded me to do so, and everything that I have was given to me by him anyway. It's already his. He's the one who blessed me with it. Are there churches out there that are just in it for the money? Yes, I'm sure there are. There are some dishonest people out there that like to take advantage of innocent believers. Just as a farmer plants a seed and receives a harvest, I plant seed and I receive harvest. It's not just about giving money. At one time God told my parents to give away everything they had. Their furniture, their car, their money. Was it a step of faith? Yes. Did it sound crazy to some people? Yes, but they followed what they believed. Within 1 hour of giving away everything, they had a check in their hands for $10,000. Which back then was a lot of money. This is not an isolated incident. I could account hundreds of times when something like that has happened.

You think religion is stupid. Yet, it remains the largest religion in the entire world. An estimated 2 billion people call themselves Christians. That means that 75% of adults in the U.S. and Canada are Christians. Do you really think that all of these people are deceived? Why do you think that 2 billion people believe in something so much? Could it actually be that they've found truth to these so called "stories?" Apparently, it was so important that the founding father's of this country built this nation on the principals found in the word of God. Even including it in the pledge of allegiance. But they were all idiots right? They were able to found a country and establish a free nation, but they were not smart enough to discern fact from fiction?

 

[1sty]

if it wasnt for religion...

less segragation

less war

less racism

however it keeps a world of assholes out of my hair for 4 hours every sunday.

bulls***

bulls***

and bulls***

 

[YellowMP5]

i missed the post by Iconoclast quoted by ..MP3.. but i tend to agree, at least with the war, segregation and racism statements.

 

[1sty]

MOst relgions themselves preach non of that nor support it. Its the 1/2 assed fallowers that do.

Agains Men's actions with the excuse of religion is in no way a measuring stick against that religion.