Time for the infamous religous discussion :). Maybe this one will be better than the political thread, who knows?

A bit about myself--I am an atheist, but I don't think that people of faith are stupid or naive for believing what they do. My parents are liberal Christians who respect my beliefs (or lack thereof), and accepted (albeit reluctantly) that I did not want to subscribe to the same religion that they did.

I believe that if religion makes someone a better person because they have faith, then that's the best thing for them. I do not, however, like doctrines that teach people to try to go out and convert other people. I think it is an insulting and useless labor. What do you guys think? :)

While I'm a Roman Catholic, in a way, agree with you Met. I'm not big on relgious convertions and so forth. While it's been a major point of my religion's history, I view religion as more of a personal issue. Everyone should find a religion (or lack of), which suits them the best. Religion should not be advertised as a product or a new growing fad. Religion should be unique to every person. In this view, I'm almost a Deist, but I agree with all of the principles of the religion I subscribe to. Now only if we could get rid of all those priests giving a bad name to Catholicism. We should put all the bad priests in a Pope-mobile and drive them off a cliff.

I've tried many religions. I think i'll just look at myself as the highest power and forget about it. I'll just be an athiest. If I had to choose, I would either choose Wiccan or Buddhism.

I agree with Metallus. I am liberal, but I live in a very conservative area. People often discriminate against me and more my brother who dresses gothic. Even my best friends argue with me and try to get me to become Christian.

Though, there are cases where faith gives people power in themvelves. If believing in something makes you stronger, go right ahead.

I had this friend in high school that became a really, really devout Christian between Sophomore and Junior year. I honestly could not talk to him anymore after that. He wasn't the same person, and he was always trying to get people to go to his church. It was really surprising to see him transform like that in such a short time, and kind of disturbing.

I can't stand Bible-thumpers. Good Book and all, but it's their attitude. Always praying and so forth. Some people drink to excess, others do the same with religion.

I don't really have a religion. I sort of made up my own beliefs, though it's half-reincarnation. It's an odd belief, but it works for me. I'm supposed to be Roman Catholic 'cause I was baptised as one, but I don't believe in all the bull stories in the bible that they (being the writers of the bible) obviously tossed together on lonely drinking nights when their toes got cold and they couldn't sleep. Sorry, but that's the way I see it. Since my Grandma died, I agree with "The Mole" from the South Park Movie.

i think its important for all people to have some sort of set of beliefs to get trough life, but its really up to the individual as to what those beliefs may be.

Religion isn't drummed into people as much as it used to be so many people choose to go their own way and follow the things that they agree with most and those things that agree with who they are.

You couldn't be more correct, tomodachi-san. I may also not believe in my old Catholic religion BECAUSE they forced it on me...Stupid church. I hated that place.

:jawa
people say the Catholic church
has been around for 2000 years.
But I have been to Karnak.
The Temple of Karnak
(Luxor Egypt)
boggles the mind.
The Temple of Karnak
took 2000 years to build.
I wandered through
the pillars and halls,
I fell asleep at night,
by the sacred pool
inside the temple
while sounds and lights
(of the sound and light show)
spoke of it's history
and it's glory.
I have seen temples in jungles
in Central America and Mexico,
and I have walked with my friend
(a school teacher in Laos)
on his way to work
through amazing Buddhist temples
watching small, bald headed smiling
monks do what small, bald headed
smiling monks do so well.
:D

Deities I worship would be:

Lord Frith who protects me
from the Roo Doo Doo's
whenever I cross the road.

Hat the Vulture headed
god of unexpected guests
(egyptian).

and all the Grim Fandango form moderators

RELIGION

Stretching like a giant blanket
of deception,
Religion covers the Earth.
Comprised of intricate strands
each fragile and unique,
yet part of the Tapestry itself.
Woven by one weaver
or perhaps by two;
in some cases more than three.
The weaving was done
in such a way as to create
a translucent shimmer
which makes the cloth invisible,
yet it is all colours.
This blanket is owned
by each Nation,
a gift for all Mankind;
yet each claims
that the gift is theirs
and that all others possess
a cheap reproduction
of the original cloth.
The cloth varies
from tribe to tribe,
not only in size,
but in design and colour.
The Church of Rome has a blanket;
White, Purple and Gold.
While the Stripped Prayer cloth
of the Israelites tosses about
uneasily in the deserts of Sinai.
Hanging majestically in the East,
guarded by Ming Dragons
the Sky Blue cloth drapes
the alters of Buddha;
And unfurled against
the arid desert heat
the banners of Muslim Nomads
praise Allah,
and his Prophet Mohammed.
Yet each cloth shares
the whole picture,
with the other fabrics.
Blankets of Peace they are,
made by divine craftsmen
to ward off evil
to bring Spiritual Harmony;
designed out of Love
to be used for Love,
by all the tribes of the World.

Sad it is to see
this wonderful blanket
scarred and tattered
after such a short time.
Used as a Banner of War,
and Profit:
against itself and its makers
one of the earliest tears
it received was in Rome
during the birth of Christianity.
Yet; Christianity further tore
the breach with the Crusades
and with the Inquisition.
Now Judaism and Christianity
are shredded by the Jihad.
The wounds now are numerous,
too many to count,
too costly to fix.
In America there is no more cloth
for the blanket is gone:
Ask them about the deception,
they'll tell you where
their blanket has gone
even more they will show you;
part of the blanket
is there on Wall Street
they needed more Ticker Tape.
Scanty portions of it
cling in gravity defying
outfits of their Super Model Culture.
And the rest is spread out
along the beaches of both coasts
bearing proudly; Holiday Inn.

Now flung across the Earth
the giant blanket of perfection
is no longer that.
Nations fight over it,
or forget it
nations no longer care
who owns the reproductions,
or the originals.
Many strands are snapped,
some are tangled with others
the weaving has been undone.
What was once translucent
is now black.
Religion lies in the bottom
of black pools
which form words on pages.
Spirituality lives on
in the hearts of some men,
but Religion is Dead.
A Dying Animal;
Religion is Extinct.
:jawa

so many words.

i guess i'm kind of a mix of buddhist/christian. i don't goto church because i don't like how they push their religion on you and i really don't like how some believe that every one who doesn't believe in what they believe will burn in hell. i think every one should be able to choose what they want to believe, and the virtues they believe in should be true to them no matter what any one else says or thinks, and that they should be free to practice their beliefs if they don't harm another living creature.

As far as I know, agnostic doesn't mean "not sure." I believe it means something like, "I believe in a higher power, but as to what it may be, I don't know and I'm not going to pretend to know."
Atleast that's how it is for me. But I'm a dummy-dum-dumb.

When in doubt, look it up :):[list=1]
One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.
[/list=1]Yay Dictionary.com! I honestly didn't mean to offend anyone who is an agnostic. However, it looks like both mxbx and I were correct, judging from the description.

No offense taken here! Thanks for the definitive definition.

Now someone please define "definitive definition". I think I just swallowed my tongue. :eek:

Conundrums such as that define themselves. Or so I think?

:jawa
maybe some of you out there
are Dislexic Aetheists,
staying up late
and praying to dog.
guess that would fall under
other, but it would have been
nice to see it get it's own
category.

also best religion
to belong to yet avoid
religiously is the C of E.

always love that in novels and films
when they say C of E.

(and as far as religion goes
my city is poised on the brink
of a religious pilgramage.
World Youth Day;
and it is now day 10
in our cities garbage strike;
hope all those young christian
solidiers are looking forward
to doing a little community service.)

*Looks around for something to say.*

Um...Oh...I...Uh...Solution to everything...Smile and nod...

*Smiles and nods.*

Originally posted by Isis Kaldara
*Looks around for something to say.*

Um...Oh...I...Uh...Solution to everything...Smile and nod...

*Smiles and nods.*

what if i told you my dog had just died? :p (oh, it didnt btw :D )

Well, it works for all my confused situations.

:jawa
"touchy subject..."
well it is
if you are part of the catholic church
and living in Boston.