Are you religious?

[GM]

God knows what I believe!

Be excellent to one another and help those in need. It's simple and guilt free.

Exactly my thoughts too!

 

[ComedyPilot]

So greed (masquerading as religious hatred) is the root of war. Greed must be for gain, but who gains if the 'normal people' are bombed/shot/killed?

As others have alluded to, religion has and continues to be a tool to control masses of population. It just might be that the few who actually gain from war might not like a population that thinks outside the box?

 

[ComedyPilot]

Reg, I'm not here to argue with you over religion. I am all for people seeking whatever solace they find in it.

I am against the pain and suffereng that is a result of wars and hate that religion creates. The little old lady going to church, and the man attending Friday prayers aren't hurting (and won't anyone) - but someone along the line is stoking the fire that creates hatred?

If people just chilled out and realised we're only here once (in this body/guise), and actually got on loving and enjoying life instead of hurting/killing others because they're not like them, the world would be a lot nicer a place.

 

[Gary E]

NO (in answer to your original question).

 

[ASC1951]

Quite the contrary. I guess I am just disappointed that the level of debate presented by schoolkids was vastly more sophisticated and profound than what I've seen here.

There is absolutely no point arguing with people about religion - on any level. People believe or disbelieve on the basis of conviction or personal example, not factual evidence. Trying to persuade someone into or out of such a belief is simply childish.

 

[avalon]

Religion, and in particular, Christianity (maybe not Catholicism), has begun to go underground. Many people won't mention their beliefs in their work place or even amongst their friends for fear of ridicule, bullying and accusations of warmongering, being the cause of all the worlds problems, do gooders etc.
Many people say they respect and tolerate other peoples beliefs, but gaining that respect often entails long drawn out debates and enduring a lot of ridicule and criticism.

 

[avalon]

There is absolutely no point arguing with people about religion - on any level. People believe or disbelieve on the basis of conviction or personal example, not factual evidence. Trying to persuade someone into or out of such a belief is simply childish.

Wasn't that ComedyPilot's point when he started this thread. He knew where it would go, it was his way of livening up a cold boring British winter evening.

 

[MontyVeda]

What just happened?

snail racer said discussions like this were more sophisticated and profound at his school than this 'debate' is... so when prompted to be 'sophisticated and profound'... he tried, failed and stropped off in a flounce.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

...we're only here once (in this body/guise), ....

What's that there? More religious mumbo-jumbo?

 

[rich p]

I feel about religion like I did about Lance Armstrong. I 'know' to my own satisfaction that it's all cobblers but others continue to believe despite the 'evidence' suggesting otherwise.
The parallel falls down when I envisage God appearing on Oprah to denounce himself as a fraud though.

 

[Night Train]

In my mind I differentiate between 'a faith in a God' and 'Religion'.

I could see myself having a faith in a God, but I have no time or inclination for Religion.

If God 'talks' to me, and guides my decisions and actions in life, then it would be directly and not via some third party bloke with his own agenda and translation of some text.

 

[Arch]

Religion, and in particular, Christianity (maybe not Catholicism), has begun to go underground. Many people won't mention their beliefs in their work place or even amongst their friends for fear of ridicule, bullying and accusations of warmongering, being the cause of all the worlds problems, do gooders etc.
Many people say they respect and tolerate other peoples beliefs, but gaining that respect often entails long drawn out debates and enduring a lot of ridicule and criticism.

If you have a faith, it shouldn't matter what other people think. I don't mean that to sound derogatory, but I can't think how to phrase it otherwise - I mean you should have the wherewithall to be quietly strong. If everyone just had their point of view and lived by their values (whether religious or not), a lot of aggro would be avoided.

I had (sadly, we lost the funding for her post) a colleague (R) who is a Christian - just quietly. Didn't talk about it, didn't need to. Lovely person. But I have other colleagues who are rather militantly atheist. She'd occasionally make a quiet point against their point of view when they were on a rant, but didn't seem to need to talk her side up as much as they did.

We were all invited to her wedding, and one of the atheists went, and seemed to make a point of feeling uncomfortable in the church. Whereas I can't imagine R having qualms about attending a secular ceremony, or even a ceremony of another faith.

Basically, believe what you like, but don't disparage others for their beliefs.

 

[numbnuts]

I've just come back from church

 

[ASC1951]

Wasn't that ComedyPilot's point when he started this thread. He knew where it would go, it was his way of livening up a cold boring British winter evening.

Wot? CP trolling? As if ....

 

[Arch]

how come everyone of faith, nowadays knows a militant atheist and a quiet, repectful, well meaning christian.

I think you'll note that I'm not of any particular faith, if you read the thread.

Of course, I also know a lot of quiet respectful atheists, but no militant Christians - but that could well be a factor of self selection, since I'm unlikely to hang around those people for long.

I do have a vague feeling that in this thread however, the atheists seem to be more keen to make their point, more aggressively than the believers...