The End of Faith

[victoria978]

I'm fine just the way I am bro.

When I was going to church I was made to feel guilty about certain life style choices, like drinking, having sex, even watching certain movies.

Plus church was a big waste of time, I've found many more productive uses for my time, even simple things like just relaxing and doing some self reflection.

You don't need to go to church. There was a scripture that existed - it said basically that you don't have to go to a man-made building to worship the Lord. God is everywhere. 'turn over a rock and I Am there...'. It was rejected by those in power (the Catholic church) and surpressed, but I believe this. I don't go to church, I don't even read the Bible..(A.D.D. - my attention span for reading sucks) My brother is a hard core born again Christian, though. If I have questions, I can go to him, and I do. Many denominations of the Christian religion are very extreme,( even my brother is too extreme, but he is knowledgable - I don't agree with everything he says but most of it is very helpful. Like some of their ideas tend to isolate themselves and their families from everyone who isn't as hard core as they are and I believe that this is wrong). It sounds as if you were a southern baptist. They are hard core bible thumpers.
That either draws a person to a cult-like obsession with religion or it totally pushes you away. I see in your case, you're fed up. It's not meant to be like this. God gives us choice, and you chose. We can talk to you till we're purple in the face, but it's just something you have to find out for yourself. In time I will pray that you do. i just hope it isn't the hard way.

 

[victoria978]

PS - that scripture is called the Gospel Of St. Thomas. You can find it online plus a little help on explaining what it may be trying to say. It was written in Aramaic (Jesus' spoken language) so it's interpreted a little off. They are supposed to be the words Jesus spoke to his deciples at the Last Supper and recorded by Thomas, one of his deciples. It was found in Nah Hamidi in 1945 and dates back to 130 AD I think.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

I fully realize WHY people like religion and adhere to it.

It gives people a sense of security for when they die and more importantly for when their loved ones die (which happens to everyone). You no longer need to worry about it because every person who believes in your faith is going to be going to a better place!

Unfortunately all non believers go to a terrible place, but that is part of the scare tactic.

Also MANY people in this world need someone to tell them their purpose in life, and guess what, if you are religious, you have a purpose, to worship god!! how great!

The same people usually need someone to tell them right from wrong, what to do and not to do.. this baffles me.. I have not been religious since my teens, yet I'd say I am nicer and more ethical now then ever. I don't help people because that's what god tells me to do, help others because I want my life to add something positive to the world, not detract from it. Unfortunately, without all the dos and don't, many people would simply go insane with worry or doubt as to whether or not they were doing the right thing.

This is a childish critique of religion - this is what high school kids use when they resent their parents making them go to church.

did you even read the book? do you really think people are torn with ethical conflict and need religion to resolve it? If you do, you are contradicting yourself: If (as you believe) Man created religion, then where did the ethics come from?

It had to be from Man. So Man was not "going insane" trying to tell right from wrong.

Your entire post can be discredited by substituting "god" or "religion" with "law"; that's our modern world.

You prove nothing with this, in fact, the god nuts are winning this one over you. Everything you wrote has a simple explanation. Buy some more books.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Religion should adapt with the times.
We're learning at a geometric rate, and at approximately 2:49 eastern standard time we will become self awa.....wait forget that; I got sidetracked.

But seriously, we've learned much about many different topics throughout the course of the last few centuries, and much of religion isn't meshing with what is widely accepted and producing good results today, for example in medicine (although there are still a lot of flaws and kinks to be straightened out). What parts of religion should be adjusted it tough to say. There are many invaluable moral teachings through religion, of which if more people followed them the world would be a much better place. A lot of the trash out there would be taken out, so to speak, and there would be a lot less bs going on in the world. Of course, some problems and conflicts are unavoidable as long as there are many different groups of people believing in different gods... But I stand by my word that society would be better off if people had better morals, which religion can teach well. Many people would probably be reluctant to accept this theory, but it makes sense as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Lestat]

This is a childish critique of religion - this is what high school kids use when they resent their parents making them go to church.

did you even read the book? do you really think people are torn with ethical conflict and need religion to resolve it? If you do, you are contradicting yourself: If (as you believe) Man created religion, then where did the ethics come from?

It had to be from Man. So Man was not "going insane" trying to tell right from wrong.

Your entire post can be discredited by substituting "god" or "religion" with "law"; that's our modern world.

You prove nothing with this, in fact, the god nuts are winning this one over you. Everything you wrote has a simple explanation. Buy some more books.

yes, I do believe people are torn.

I was speaking to my brother actually about this. He said that without relgion, people wouldn't know right from wrong, you could go around killing people because you "felt like it."

He also said that there would be no point to living without a relationship with Jesus, because only through him do you know your purpose in life (and after).

To me that all seems childish.. insane even.

 

[javaguru]

yes, I do believe people are torn.

I was speaking to my brother actually about this. He said that without relgion, people wouldn't know right from wrong, you could go around killing people because you "felt like it."

He also said that there would be no point to living without a relationship with Jesus, because only through him do you know your purpose in life (and after).

To me that all seems childish.. insane even.

Social norms enforce compliance; At one time religion served as a policing tool when ancient man had little ability to effectively police their society. Fear of an all knowing sky deity and eventual punishment was a deterance. There is a reason most legal systems tend to mirror the "Ten Commandments." Honestly, if you have to fear eternal damnation to not committ murder you are a sociopath! If that were literally true, atheists would be murdering people left and right. One doesn't need religion to have a "purpose" in life; There are plenty of atheists who lead perfectly happy lives and have discovered their "purpose." BTW, your purpose in life is what you decide, religious people just chose a "canned" option as opposed to actually exploring it like spiritual people; It's just another choice!

 

[Lestat]

Social norms enforce compliance; At one time religion served as a policing tool when ancient man had little ability to effectively police their society. Fear of an all knowing sky deity and eventual punishment was a deterance. There is a reason most legal systems tend to mirror the "Ten Commandments." Honestly, if you have to fear eternal damnation to not committ murder you are a sociopath! If that were literally true, atheists would be murdering people left and right. One doesn't need religion to have a "purpose" in life; There are plenty of atheists who lead perfectly happy lives and have discovered their "purpose." BTW, your purpose in life is what you decide, religious people just chose a "canned" option as opposed to actually exploring it like spiritual people; It's just another choice!

agreed.

 

[biteme]

You don't need to go to church. There was a scripture that existed - it said basically that you don't have to go to a man-made building to worship the Lord. God is everywhere. 'turn over a rock and I Am there...'. It was rejected by those in power (the Catholic church) and surpressed, but I believe this. I don't go to church, I don't even read the Bible..(A.D.D. - my attention span for reading sucks) My brother is a hard core born again Christian, though. If I have questions, I can go to him, and I do. Many denominations of the Christian religion are very extreme,( even my brother is too extreme, but he is knowledgable - I don't agree with everything he says but most of it is very helpful. Like some of their ideas tend to isolate themselves and their families from everyone who isn't as hard core as they are and I believe that this is wrong). It sounds as if you were a southern baptist. They are hard core bible thumpers.
That either draws a person to a cult-like obsession with religion or it totally pushes you away. I see in your case, you're fed up. It's not meant to be like this. God gives us choice, and you chose. We can talk to you till we're purple in the face, but it's just something you have to find out for yourself. In time I will pray that you do. i just hope it isn't the hard way.

I've done a complete 180. Can't ignore the contrary evidence. Organized religion is a sham. With enough info an education, I don't see how anyone could believe that stuff.

 

[Lestat]

I've done a complete 180. Can't ignore the contrary evidence. Organized religion is a sham. With enough info an education, I don't see how anyone could believe that stuff.

agreed

 

[PolfaJelfa]

Lestat you are a fool and moron. Believe what you want. God has scientificaly been proven. You dont have to beleive....but preach your tolerance to someone else...you have none...for others who dont believe what you do....that there is no GOD. Where is your tollerance.....why do you claim i must not beleive in GOD....