Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
Are you religious?
- Thread starter ComedyPilot
- Start date
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Headgardener
Armchair Cyclist
Right then in answer to the OP am I religious? Well I believe that God exists and that he sent his son to die for my sins. I am a member of Cornerstone Hythe United Reformed Church and attend most Sundays to listen to the minister or speaker and to take the sacrement of Holy Communion. I don't need to be in a church to talk to or listen to God. Also I don't belive in forcing my beliefs on people but if I am asked then I will try my best to answer any questions or find somebody who can. I respect other faiths and also people who who would rather not believe in any faith at all.
...if I can add to my atheist leanings (then I'm butting out of this thread) is that I think it's important to tolerate/appreciate/not denigrate another person's belief system, be that religious or not. I can appreciate what it can do for individuals on a psychological basis (his religion helped my own father greatly when he was on his deathbed, and knew that his time was near...not a deathbed conversion, but a lifelong belief that got stronger towards the end), it's just that I don't share that or want that or need that system myself.
Where I have a problem with religion is when it starts impinging on the lives of others, either personally (in yer face religion) or politically... I really don't think the bishops or whatever they are deserve to be in the Lords, and I detest religion's involvement in our education system. Having said that, I've got close relatives who are either serving or ex priests/nuns/vicars. All are well aware of my views
I'm an atheist, and generally am happy to let everyone else get on with it as individuals. The beef I tend to have is when there is religious influence in the social structure of our society. As Fnaar says above, I object to Bishops in the Lords, who influence our laws. Their only qualification for being there is being in an elevated position in an organisation which appears to entirely owe its origin to myth...
And then there's the influencing of children. Children aren't Catholics, or Jews, or Muslims. It's doubtful they've been given the opportunity to explore and question when brought up within a devout environment.
I had religion forced upon me by my very religious mother from a young age and did the whole bit, Sunday School, sang in the choir, got confirmed etc, and then as soon as I was old enough rebelled against it and became a weddings and funerals only attendee and a confirmed atheist.
After 20 years of living in various different places around the country, we moved back into the area recently to be closer to my aging parents and other family members, but also to get access to the great schools locally, particularly a church school.
Rather cynically we started attending the church I went to as a boy (and where my mother and sister still attend) 2-3 times a month just to qualify my kids for the entrance criteria for this school. Some of the older faces still remembered me, and very quickly we got drawn into some of the church activities such as organising the kids clubs, giving out charity to the needy etc, and do you know it feels pretty good!
I still don’t believe in any of the religious gumpf (and still think that the Creationists are mad or in denial) but reghard these activities as a group of people getting together within a community and acting for the community.
But I am also not blind to some of the horrendous acts carried out in the name of various religions over the centuries, and continue to this day.
Accordingly, you won’t find me bible-bashing and trying to convert people (that would be really disingenuous!) but you might find me working with others to try to help people locally where that help is requested and provided without strings attached, and certainly not forced upon them. I know that such activity is not the exclusive preserve of churches and other faith groups, and other non religious groups do this too!
The only thing that my wife and I are careful about is not applying any pressure on our kids, currently aged 6 and 8. They are not christened, don’t sing in the choir or anything else like this, and nor will they unless they express the desire to do so.
I also enjoy a good drink probably too often, enjoy a cruel prank on occasions and also generally engage in some activities that I’m sure that the vicar wouldn’t condone.
So I’m not sure whether that makes me a complete hypocrite, or a balanced soul! At least being a non-believer I consider that any comeuppance I’ll get will be in this world!
After 20 years of living in various different places around the country, we moved back into the area recently to be closer to my aging parents and other family members, but also to get access to the great schools locally, particularly a church school.
Rather cynically we started attending the church I went to as a boy (and where my mother and sister still attend) 2-3 times a month just to qualify my kids for the entrance criteria for this school. Some of the older faces still remembered me, and very quickly we got drawn into some of the church activities such as organising the kids clubs, giving out charity to the needy etc, and do you know it feels pretty good!
I still don’t believe in any of the religious gumpf (and still think that the Creationists are mad or in denial) but reghard these activities as a group of people getting together within a community and acting for the community.
But I am also not blind to some of the horrendous acts carried out in the name of various religions over the centuries, and continue to this day.
Accordingly, you won’t find me bible-bashing and trying to convert people (that would be really disingenuous!) but you might find me working with others to try to help people locally where that help is requested and provided without strings attached, and certainly not forced upon them. I know that such activity is not the exclusive preserve of churches and other faith groups, and other non religious groups do this too!
The only thing that my wife and I are careful about is not applying any pressure on our kids, currently aged 6 and 8. They are not christened, don’t sing in the choir or anything else like this, and nor will they unless they express the desire to do so.
I also enjoy a good drink probably too often, enjoy a cruel prank on occasions and also generally engage in some activities that I’m sure that the vicar wouldn’t condone.
So I’m not sure whether that makes me a complete hypocrite, or a balanced soul! At least being a non-believer I consider that any comeuppance I’ll get will be in this world!
Stringy Bob
Guest
No, but I have given up cheese for lent. Sucessfully so far.
If I was one of the comedians one sees on TV panel shows, I might say, "What's all that about?".
If I was one of the comedians one sees on TV panel shows, I might say, "What's all that about?".
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
I agree whole heartedly, but sadly too many people, mostly religious, but not all religious people, do not. So we get suicide bombers, crusades, inquisitions and wars. How can you reason with someone who believes you should die for his beliefs, and also believes that, if he dies in the process, he goes to some kind of blissful after-life? Sadly all you can do is send him to his version of paradise/oblivion as quickly and humanely as possible, before he ends your one and only life. In the 20th century we saw Communism, avowedly atheistic, prepared to impose its views with violence, in earlier centuries various religions did the same and now, in the 21st century, the world has another religion with some of its adherents who are similarly prepared to kill and die for their beliefs.
If only everyone believed what ever he wants to believe and let everyone else have the same luxury, the human race would be a happier and more successful species.
swee'pea99
Squire
Apparently, friends of WC Fields - a lifelong, and indeed assertive if not aggressive atheist - were amazed to find him 'nearing the end', reading the bible. Questioned, he apparently growled: "I'm lookin' for a loophole."
Nope couldn't be less religious if I tried, life is a series of random.. sometimes happy... sometimes unhappy events.
A mysterious creature in the sky and various old wives tales in a book do not define humanity.
No offence intended to any person wishing to take solace in religion, I just refuse to be blindly led into a brainwashing.
A mysterious creature in the sky and various old wives tales in a book do not define humanity.
No offence intended to any person wishing to take solace in religion, I just refuse to be blindly led into a brainwashing.
Lee_M
Guru
numbnuts
Squire
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
I don't expect anyone to believe this, but a few years ago I was on a trolley being taken in to theatre to have my appendix removed, as I'm was being pushed into the theatre I said “Lord look after me”
I felt a warm glow which started at my feet and spread though out my body and I felt so secure and very comfortable and safe and this was well before the anaesthetic.
I felt a warm glow which started at my feet and spread though out my body and I felt so secure and very comfortable and safe and this was well before the anaesthetic.
OP
OP
ComedyPilot
Secret Lemonade Drinker
- Location
- The Kingdom of Yorkshire
Did you wet yourself......?
numbnuts
Squire
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
No I had a catheter
OP
OP
ComedyPilot
Secret Lemonade Drinker
- Location
- The Kingdom of Yorkshire
Is that like a protester.......
Thomk
Guru
- Location
- Warwickshire
I don't think that's the way it works. People generally believe in things which have sufficient proof. Even people who believe in one god or another usually require sufficient proof to believe in other things. I mean one might "suspect" or "have an open mind" or "remain on the fence" etc but I don't think people don't believe because they would "rather not believe". For myself not believing in things is my default position until sufficient evidence is forthcoming.
