Are you religious?

[Dave Davenport]

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 believe you, it's amazing what the human mind is capable of.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

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.

And?

 

[Rev]

It's very interesting how lots of posters make a point of saying how they don't care what others believe or respect others beliefs with a BUT a great big BUT. They then go on to denigrate, dismiss or devalue the others beliefs with innuendo, inference, sardonicism etc I am at a little of a loss why it should matter what another believes? When I make friends with someone, when I laugh with someone, when I share something with someone I don't ask them their beliefs. Beliefs do not make a person good or bad, it is their actions that do that!

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'm a Christian. CofE.
I went to a Catherdral school, sang for my supper and am still a regularly infrequent church goer.
I'm not deeply religious though, I can't argue for the prescence of a God in any meaningful way and to be fair I can't be bothered to really think about it. It's not important. My Science brain says no, but in our local congregation I see many Scientists far smarter and more religious than me.
I do like the concept of a framework and teachings though that help me through various situations in life, I like the sense of a community of people with shared beliefs that reinforce humanity and consider man's inhumanity. I like church services as a time of structured reflection and contemplation. I like the good Vicars we have/had, people you can turn to for all manner of things without judgement and who in difficult times have freely offered help, comforted and given alternative perspectives. I always feel better coming out of a church service than I did when I went in. I find it lifts my spirits.
Our local church is bucking the oft quoted trend and growing -particularly with the young. It's not big on pomp formality or ceremony, it's in a school hall with a live band. The congregation are active participants rather than observers. But this church is not staying put, it's moving into all parts of the community, pubs, cafes the workplace, not evangelically, but just to offer support and a sense of belonging in our ward. I wish them well. I've only ever seen good in what they're doing.
It's not for everyone and I don't particularly care if others think it weird.

Can I just add, I love sacred music from Plainsong to Gospel ... but I can't abide modern happy-clappy hymns ... eugh.

Here endeth the lesson.

 

[Maz]

It's very interesting how lots of posters make a point of saying how they don't care what others believe or respect others beliefs with a BUT a great big BUT. They then go on to denigrate, dismiss or devalue the others beliefs with innuendo, inference, sardonicism etc

Well said. I'm glad it wasn't just me who noticed that.

 

[Davidc]

I'm very proud to be an atheist.

Although I hope that religion will die a natural death I wouldn't force those who are still infected by it to leave it. Education and rational evidence are the best way to prove the falsehood of and remove religious faith.

 

[400bhp]

I'm very proud to be an atheist.

Although I hope that religion will die a natural death I wouldn't force those who are still infected by it to leave it. Education and rational evidence are the best way to prove the falsehood of and remove religious faith.

That's particularly rude and offensive.

 

[Maz]

I'm very proud to be an atheist.

Although I hope that religion will die a natural death I wouldn't force those who are still infected by it to leave it. Education and rational evidence are the best way to prove the falsehood of and remove religious faith.

A perfect example of what Rev said a few posts above yours!

 

[Davidc]

Can't say I'm worried about the responses above, typical of the massive arrogance and total intolerance of the religious faithful when trying to defend their views.

 

[Davidc]

[QUOTE 2369575, member: 45"]...and the greatest of these is love......[/quote]
The love that powered the Inquisition, that has burned thousands at the stake, that took children from their parents if the parents weren't catholic, the love that has abused thousands of children.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Did humanity only start being beastly to each other after the point. presumably in pre-history, that organised religion came into being? Before then it was all sweetness and light right?

 

[Davidc]

[QUOTE 2369590, member: 45"]No, none of that was love.[/quote]
My point is that the suggestion that religion has anything to do with love is false.

I don't have the time to get into a long argument on here at present, and it's rather pointless, so I'll conclude by saying that I have been delighted to see how many posters on this thread state that they are non-religious. If that were to be repeated in the general population I'm sure we would be headed for a better, happier, more moral, more equitable society.

 

[Davidc]

Did humanity only start being beastly to each other after the point. presumably in pre-history, that organised religion came into being? Before then it was all sweetness and light right?

Much of religion (see Old Testament) is to do with encouraging members of one tribe to be as beastly as possible (genocide being one form) to people in other tribes.

I doubt that life has ever been all sweetness and light, or ever will be. I am however certain that it contains much more sweetness and much more light in the complete absence of religion and religious faith.

 

[Rev]

I'm very proud to be an atheist.

Although I hope that religion will die a natural death I wouldn't force those who are still infected by it to leave it. Education and rational evidence are the best way to prove the falsehood of and remove religious faith.

I do not hope for the survival of my world view over another's. I am aware that I am neither clever enough, nor wise enough to be qualified to judge what is 'THE TRUTH'. I don't pretend to own 'THE TRUTH' nor am I aware of any belief systems (including sciences, I use the plural as science is not a homogeneous belief structure but many many theories often in direct opposition to each other) worth their salt that do not change and revise their truths over time, including what is therefore taught in education and what is considered rational evidence at any given chronological date in any given location dependent upon which school of truth is in power.
Look at the history of science and it's many revisions and remakes.
Would that make the accepted education and rationality of any given period applicable across the ages?
If I was to say this belief or that belief (including disbelief) was ultimately right or wrong I would by inference claim I had the immutable, intranscient truth. This would be in direct opposition to my education and all rational evidence. It would also suggest that all beliefs and theories in opposition to it are worthless and not to be regarded. In short the death of rational, scientific investigation and plain human expession.
I do not want everyone to believe what I believe, to deduce what I deduce, to consider rational and irrational what I consider the same!
We need difference to challenge, to widen the parameters, to push the envelope and to look at all angles , something that it is very difficult for us to do as individuals caught up in the limiting importance of what we consider to be 'TRUTHS'.
Maybe they are truths but not exclusive, nor immutable nor intranscient truths, just OUR TRUTHS.
I don't consider anyone's belief to be an infection just as I do not consider anyone's disbelief to be an infection. I consider them necessary mutable, transcient stages of experience that we as mutable, transcient humans feel the need to name.

Sorry for babbling

 

[Davidc]

[QUOTE 2369613, member: 45"]That's very interesting. You're choosing an excuse to dismiss a fundamental by listing examples which are the exact opposite of the outliving of the instruction.[/quote] What a stupid response. Try again.