Religious affiliation (4 Viewers)

[bubz :D]

Originally posted by hipsta_jess
what i hate is religious people acting as if their better than me simply coz they go to church
like, i know one person, and he is so horrible, downright nasty, rude, abusive, etc, and then claims he is a better christian than me coz he goes to church
yeah, i might not go to church, but i still follow the christian rules the best i can; i know i follow more of the commandments than he does; and im pretty sure if there is such a being as God, then i would appear better in his eyes than this other dude (lol that was such an un-christian thing to do )

i know EXACTLY how you feel / what you mean!!!!!!!!!! and i don't particularly feel like elaborating on it, but what you said pretty much describes some people i know -__- they think i'm a bad person because i don't go to church.

 

[+:: $i[Q]u3 ::+]

Originally posted by hipsta_jess
what i hate is religious people acting as if their better than me simply coz they go to church
like, i know one person, and he is so horrible, downright nasty, rude, abusive, etc, and then claims he is a better christian than me coz he goes to church
yeah, i might not go to church, but i still follow the christian rules the best i can; i know i follow more of the commandments than he does; and im pretty sure if there is such a being as God, then i would appear better in his eyes than this other dude (lol that was such an un-christian thing to do )

uh-huh... see that's jus wrong =P
being a christian isn't about being better than everyone else, it's about knowing and being able to admit that u've screwed up and u need God's help...

 

[Lexicographer]

Ok ok I think that we should all settle here.

Believe me, there was a week when even Lazarus and I were having a VERY long session of post tennis in Non-School about the varying moralities and justifications of religion (and religious action). After that, I have a feeling if it's just better to agree that we don't agree. Faith is wonderful thing, but if it's not your thing then that is your choice. I wish you all the best for whatever you believe.

Urbi et Orbi, anyone?

 

[lolzieee]

i'm agnostic.
different to athiest becuase im open to the idea of religion... just wouldnt have a clue which one is the "right" one

 

[ameh]

yeah im agnostic as well, there are too many religions around...why cant they just live life to the full and get over it

 

[freaking_out]

Originally posted by lolzieee
i'm agnostic.
different to athiest becuase im open to the idea of religion... just wouldnt have a clue which one is the "right" one

well u gotta look at each religion, and then decide for yourself which religion is the right one.

 

[Generator]

No, you do not, Freaking_Out, and that is the point of what lolzieee, amoz_lilo, and I were saying.


If I had a choice I would be a pagan, but living in suburbia kind of limits that idea .

 

[freaking_out]

Originally posted by Generator
No, you do not, Freaking_Out, and that is the point of what lolzieee, amoz_lilo, and I were saying.


If I had a choice I would be a pagan, but living in suburbia kind of limits that idea .

well u chose "paganism" bcoz u felt it was right...but in the end u have to make the decision for yourself, by comparing all the religions and stuff- thats what i was talking abt.

 

[Generator]

Actually, I didn't choose (not the ), and in the end you do not have to choose a religion, which is what i was disputing.

 

[hipsta_jess]

Originally posted by Nescient
im not religious at all... what does that make me?

athiest

 

[freaking_out]

Originally posted by Generator
Actually, I didn't choose (not the ), and in the end you do not have to choose a religion, which is what i was disputing.

so ru an aethiest- coz the fact that ur an atheist means- that u basically "chose a religion".

 

[chookyn]

Originally posted by +:: $i[Q]u3 ::+
being a christian isn't about being better than everyone else, it's about knowing and being able to admit that u've screwed up and u need God's help...

amen!

 

[babydoll_]

buddhist.. brought up that way, grew into the religion and now its a part of me

 

[midnight]

I'm a Christian.

I go to a very religious school though, and I can see how that might put some people off. At the end of the day it's not about how many prayers you recited in chapel, it's about your personal relationship with what/whoever you believe in. And it's your choice whether you believe in anything at all.

 

[Lexicographer]

Originally posted by freaking_out
so ru an aethiest- coz the fact that ur an atheist means- that u basically "chose a religion".

Oh here you're saying something very important, but very badly. Get the terminology right.

I think everyone will agree to the statement that to make a valid choice one must weigh the factors of any faith (or lack thereof) against your own values, what you feel to be Good and Right. Choosing Atheism (or Agnosticism - two very different things) are just as valid as choosing a faith, if you believe that it suits your own morality best. They in themselves are not "faith" (atheism is a total lack of faith, in anything - agnosticism is the belief that there may be a higher being without faith in he/she/it) but they are still a system of affirmed beliefs. The point remains that each must CHOOSE which s/he does (or does not) believe. There is no such thing as abstaining in this case.

 

[CHUDYMASTER]

You *can* choose whichever religion is right for you, as long as you are willing to follow its teachings and abide by its laws.

Simply praying for "good things and help" as many people are saying is far from being part of religion. The point of religion isn't to make excuses OR make things more convenient. They give an explanation for our existence and help us cope with suffering or life so we can aim for spiritual enlightenment and move onto a higher plane in the following existence.

Complaining about going to Church because people don't like being "forced religion down their throats" are basically lazy and looking for excuses not to go. I think if you're going to take up a religion, you should pay attention to the teachings and follow them as much as possible.

I'm a Hindu btw, but I'm open to all religions, as I hope everyone else who claims to be religious is.

 

[freaking_out]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
Oh here you're saying something very important, but very badly. Get the terminology right.

I think everyone will agree to the statement that to make a valid choice one must weigh the factors of any faith (or lack thereof) against your own values, what you feel to be Good and Right. Choosing Atheism (or Agnosticism - two very different things) are just as valid as choosing a faith, if you believe that it suits your own morality best. They in themselves are not "faith" (atheism is a total lack of faith, in anything - agnosticism is the belief that there may be a higher being without faith in he/she/it) but they are still a system of affirmed beliefs. The point remains that each must CHOOSE which s/he does (or does not) believe. There is no such thing as abstaining in this case.

yep, thats more or less what i meant....i.e basically everyone has to choose the correct religion (i.e the purpose of life) for them, by weighing up each religion- and comming to your own conclusion. u need to have an open mind to do this though.

 

[Generator]

I still do not agree... There is a difference between following a faith/set of beliefs and following a religion... I may follow my own set of beliefs and be open to all while rejecting nothing out of hand, but that does not mean that I have chosen a religion.

 

[mayhemily]

i consider myself to be spiritual but not at all religious. Theres so many religions and they all believe they are right... this has never made sense to me. I dont believe "God" really cares WHAT religion we are as long as we try to be good people.

 

[Ozz^E]

Im a Muslim (one who submits to God). Islam (submission), therefore, is my way of life.

Why?

Well, ill have to admit that partly it is beacuse (as with the majority of other ppl of all faiths) my parents were such. However, inheritance of faith/beleif is not exactly allowed (or at the least highly discouraged) in Islam (for it can never lead ot true conviction). Allah (God) instructs man to reflect, think, to contemplate and thus to come to the conclusion of there being only one Being worthy of any Recogotion/Worship. Only one Being to whom all submit, who holds all the Power and to Whom all are accountable.

So..Im a Muslim because, quite frankly, its the only way of life (dont like using the word religion, doesnt really fit) that makes any sense to me. Theres no other system/ideology/way of life out there that:

- makes more theological (or general) sense;
- is more in harmony with human nature;
- has more solid evidence of its truthfulness;
- is as comprehensive in covering all aspects of life;
- has resulted in anyhwere near such a progessive (in the true sense of the word), harmonious and peaceful (both within and without) society (as Islam did for many centuries.)

Note that I dont say the above to be confrontational. It's simply what I frankly believe in...

Of course, God Almighty has ordained free will for His servants, so everyone is free to believe, behave in whatever way they wish:

"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error.."

"And Say (O Apostle!): 'The Truth is from your Lord'. Then whosoever wills, let him believe and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve."