okay i'm seeing alot of thread on different religions and opinions on relgion so i thought i should just make one thread where you can talk about all religions/backrounds.
and your thoughts/facts/history/opinions on religion
you could share your religion as well.
and atheists are more then welcomed,

I'm Christian.
Most people assume that were all "goodie-two-shoes" but that's not nessarily true. I have certian beliefs but I don't obsess with them.
I rarely pray before bed unless something's bothering me more than usual. Like when my puppy was dying.

SuperLiz wrote:
I rarely pray before bed unless something's bothering me more than usual. Like when my puppy was dying.

I don't suppose you know me at all but I'm the cold-hearted bastard that really doesn't care whose feelings he hurts, he just wants to get his point across by any means necessary, look through my posts & you'll see what I mean, but this made me a little bit sad.

Is it OK now?

I'm not a fan of organised religion. The only religion I don't have a beef with happens to be Buddhism. This might have something to do with me taking a liking to Carl Rogers theories on humanistic psychology which were, to a great extent, influenced by Buddhism - Rogers travelled a lot in Asia, and it has left a huge dent (for lack of better wording) on his theories.

I used to subscribe to the Christian faith, but I was scared out of it when I realised how prescriptive a faith it was - how I was expected to deny and change parts of me, parts that I liked, in order to become a model of Jesus. The thought of having to submit myself to a higher power was also something that I never took a liking to, nor was the holier-than-thou attitude that I witnessed several Christians, and religious people in general display, something that I welcomed.

It seems religion has been used as a means of instilling morality (true morality or not - this is irrelevent) into people, and acting as the answer to questions of old - questions that could not be answered through science. It has worked as the encyclopaedic compendium - the popular answer to life and the world. It has acted as the universal base of consolation and justification. I believe we have come to a point where we no longer need religion for these very issues.

I, for one, would embrace a secular state with open arms. Remember Karl Marx's words, my peers: "Religion is the opium of the masses". Religion, God and philosophy are things that shouldn't be thrust down peoples throats, or taken verbatim from a book. If you have yet to discover any of these, you simply haven't lived long enough to experience them, or you may have ignored them - voluntarily or otherwise.

well me is muslim, cause i decided hey its a pretty peaceful and
easy.
so thats what my relgion is.i dont pray every day of my life.
but here and there yeah..

What do mean change parts of you?
Christianity doesn't damand any change.
Except no sex before marrage and stuff that should be anyway.
You can do pretty much anything normal people should.
One of my friends Vernon switched from vampire to Christian and all he changed was the fact that he didn't drink blood.

SuperLiz wrote: What do mean change parts of you?

Parts of who I am; what I like; how I think; how I feel.

SuperLiz wrote: Christianity doesn't damand any change.

Quite the contrary, mon ami. In every religion you are expected to confirm to their sets of values, ethics and morals - in the case of Christianity, you are expected to become a model of Jesus. In many cases, were you to refuse to subscribe to some of their ways, you will be looked down upon by those who do, as they see you as someone inferior; someone who is 'immoral', and has 'lost their way'. I am speaking from past experience.

SuperLiz wrote: Except no sex before marrage and stuff that should be anyway.

I know you think this way because in your mind it is immoral. But why? Would you care to elaborate as to why things should be that way, and why you think it is immoral?

SuperLiz wrote: You can do pretty much anything normal people should.

As long as the things you do are approved by the faith you subscribe to. It is very much like 'free speech' - "You have the right to free speech, as long as you ain't dumb enough to actually try it". And, speaking of what normal (going by sociological definition) people do in todays society: a great deal don't practice sexual conservatism, which is not necessarily a bad thing by nature.

SuperLiz wrote: One of my friends Vernon switched from vampire to Christian and all he changed was the fact that he didn't drink blood.

What?

im irish and italian...

emobtowngirl wrote: im irish and italian...

And?

Brought up with strong LDS upbringing. I still believe in it, but I choose to do other things like Drink/Smoke Marijuana etc.

Stregone wrote: my opinion, and you can desagree... is that organized religions are just made to control the populations and most human beings seem to need to believe in religions to just seat and wait their souls will be "saved"
(i am not atheist btw!)

Most religions believe in free will and ability to choose however you want to live your life. So mostly it's the persons conscience and belief in their religion that keeps them believing.

Im Roman Catholic. the only time i get really into is when we have our irish Father McClain..he makes it all seem more really. and hes funny
im also active in the young church readyness program for 3-6 year old as an alternative to mass. its fun to do. i belive in the sacraments, and holy spirit, and all that fun stuff.

I like learning about religous histories and formations..and what they teach..Pagenism is neat(i think)
I dont go around "Spreading the word of god"

Deuce wrote: I used to subscribe to the Christian faith, but I was scared out of it when I realised how prescriptive a faith it was - how I was expected to deny and change parts of me, parts that I liked, in order to become a model of Jesus.

i constantly marvel at how people think that christianity is a stagnant religion. it has a foundation, and it constantly develops. the church did insisted once on emulating jesus, most notably during the inquisition. it was wrong, everybody agrees, but times have changed and lessons have been learned. there is no rule that we catholics should model ourselves in likeness to christ. it is only a guide, pieces of advice to take heart with our daily life. if anything, it is simply pleading us to do what is basic to human goodness, something that is universal and intrinsic in all of us. it simply calls us to satisfy our natural morality.

Deuce wrote: The thought of having to submit myself to a higher power was also something that I never took a liking to, nor was the holier-than-thou attitude that I witnessed several Christians, and religious people in general display, something that I welcomed.

there are presumptuous people and meek people. every religion, every ideology, has one. don't generalize, especially if you're going to use a hackneyed argument.

Deuce wrote: It seems religion has been used as a means of instilling morality (true morality or not - this is irrelevent) into people, and acting as the answer to questions of old - questions that could not be answered through science. It has worked as the encyclopaedic compendium - the popular answer to life and the world. It has acted as the universal base of consolation and justification. I believe we have come to a point where we no longer need religion for these very issues.

do you mean to say that science has finally figured out what is true, what is false and the nuances of morality itself? you cannot create a moral society with nothing but kindness. we also need intolerance. we must promote intolerance of criminality and cheating. we should ensure that natural justice prevails and prevent men to the lure of atrocious acts. religion is a way to catch the attention in order to reinforce the messages of morality.

I am Christian I dont pray by my bed much either...
I believe christ came down for us, and to save us.
I am also an oddball, I am not baised at all and will be friend with anyone no matter there religion.
I also believe not EVERYTHING in the bible is true.
But some things are...