Funny analysis of Religion

[mmafiter]

Originally posted by Tboy
satan was not "created". fallen or cast out angel is the word.

God has decided to let man run his course. Wether it be self destruction or good, its our choice.

I know some of you would never admit it, but chrisianity is keeping most of you alive now as I type. Without morals in place and the 10 commandments setting that foundation, it would be "legal" to kill anyone we choose at any time we choose.

The joke, I thought, was less than humorous. But, that's just me.

I'm not saying that religion is a bad thing at all! The ten commandments, loving thy neighbour.....all good stuff! And I agree we certainly have many benefits as a society because of religion.

My problem however is the percieved superiority of many religious people and thier need to convert as many people as possible. Also, the anger at thought provoking questions, leaves something to be desired.

Was the author of this letter at the begining of this thread a callous idiot? Yes, but he did bring up a few interesting questions.

For the record, I do believe in God, but my God doesn't judge others, or get angry when others don't believe in him. I have a friend from work who's quite active in his church, and he's the only one in this whole city who has gotten my family to go to a church function. Why, because he played it cool and didn't try to convert me or make us feel guilty about something. He simply said, "Hey, my church group are going on an outing, do you and your family want to tag along?" We had a great time and I met some very nice people.

 

[Tboy]

Originally posted by mmafiter
We had a great time and I met some very nice people.

Suprised?

 

[mmafiter]

Originally posted by Tboy
Suprised?

No. But I was suprised that they didn't start "the push" when we got there. We enjoyed ourselves and would definately return if asked again.

 

[irontime]

Originally posted by Tboy
I know some of you would never admit it, but chrisianity is keeping most of you alive now as I type. Without morals in place and the 10 commandments setting that foundation, it would be "legal" to kill anyone we choose at any time we choose.

It is because of Christianity that mass murders and tortures have taken place. For example the Salem Witch trials. It was based on the biblical script 'Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.' if it wasn't for that script thousands of people may not have been brutally tortured by 'god-loving christians' for days on end and then burnt at the stake.

Every war that occurs the two sides justify their actions because they are 'doing gods will.' So does christianity really prevent mass murder, or condone it?

 

[ALBOB]

I'm not going to argue against what you've said IT but be careful, don't lay all the blame on Christianity. There are tons of other religions who have been every bit as violent, if not more so, than Christianity. In light of recent events Muslim comes to mind. And while Judaism may seem like the religion of the persecuted over many centuries, they're responsible for their share of death and destruction also. I think we can agree on the bottom line, religion is responsible for more wars, death, destruction and overall suffering than all other causes combined.

 

[craig777]

Well, I guess here is how I look at it.

I'm a Christian and I am going to heaven when I die.

OK, for the people that believe when we die, we die end of story. If you are right and I am wrong I don't lose anything. I still die end of story.

If I am right and you are wrong then I go to heaven for all eternity and you go to hell for all eternity. Eternity is a long time.

If I was a gambling man I would say this is a bad bet, but to each his own.

 

[Arnold]

Do you all relize that there are many, many other religeons that are non-christian?

Let's take Buddhism for an example, there are millions of Asians that follow this belief/religeon and many probably know nothing about Christianity. Do you really think that they are going to "hell" and they are all wrong and you christians are all right?

If you take religeons as a whole the majority of the world is non-christian.

 

[Tboy]

Christianity and religion are 2 different things. Christianity is the belief in Christ (Jesus). Religion besically lumps all beliefs into one deal. The Muslim group is known for it's violence and hatred toward all other religious beliefs.

 

[Tboy]

that was meant for IT

 

[Jodi]

Originally posted by irontime
It is because of Christianity that mass murders and tortures have taken place. For example the Salem Witch trials. It was based on the biblical script 'Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.' if it wasn't for that script thousands of people may not have been brutally tortured by 'god-loving christians' for days on end and then burnt at the stake.

Every war that occurs the two sides justify their actions because they are 'doing gods will.' So does christianity really prevent mass murder, or condone it?

 

[Tboy]

Originally posted by mmafiter
No. But I was suprised that they didn't start "the push" when we got there. We enjoyed ourselves and would definately return if asked again.

Carefull there dude... you might catch what they got.

 

[ALBOB]

I think one of the major problems with organized religions is they're an all or nothing proposition. Using Prince's reply to Craig would imply that EITHER Christians OR Buddhists are going to heaven, why can't it be both? What's wrong with just saying God (or whatever entity you want to acknowledge) wants you to live your life by certain rules and if you do, when you die you'll go to a special place that's really nice. (Heaven, Nirvana, Val Halla, etc.) Some people may/do say that's an overly simplistic view of religion but I don't think so, I think it's VERY simple, be a good person and you'll go to heaven.

 

[craig777]

I guess I would answer that Albob with asking who gets to decide what is good and what is not. Some religions may say that killing 5,000 people by flying a plane into three buildings is a great thing. Some may not see it that way.

What is a good person, and if this is the case then I am good to go. If not then I am still good to go.

Where are these rules that we have to live by.

Just my thoughts and beliefs.

 

[Tboy]

Originally posted by Prince
Do you really think that they are going to "hell" and they are all wrong and you christians are all right?

No. Believe it or not there are a lot of so called christians that may not make it. If you believe the Bible, it says two shall be in the field, one shall be taken and one shall be left. There are good Muslims. There are good buddhists also etc..

Just because you belong to a certain religion doesnt mean your in or out (of heaven).

When the time comes don't look for me, cause I'll be gone

If you are gambling that there is no God and there is no heaven or hell... what if you are wrong? It's not worth it. Not in a million years.

Being in IT you know, you should always have contingency plan.

 

[ALBOB]

Originally posted by craig777 Some religions may say that killing 5,000 people by flying a plane into three buildings is a great thing. Some may not see it that way.

Hmmm, VERY good point. I guess the best way to boil it down is to say "If you agree with ME you're a good person."

(Sorry, when I run out of logic I revert to adolescent humor. )

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by Tboy
The Muslim group is known for it's violence and hatred toward all other religious beliefs.

Really?

Where did you get that information?

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by Tboy
If you are gambling that there is no God and there is no heaven or hell... what if you are wrong? It's not worth it. Not in a million years.

I do not think of it that way. You see believeing in religeon as an insurance policy, you're covered just in case it's true.

I feel that if there is a god he gave me/us the intellect to be skeptical and utilize science, and science tells me/us that the majority of what the bible says is bunk.

 

[Tboy]

Originally posted by Prince
Really?

Where did you get that information?

Hmm.... the Quran basically states that its ok to kill Jews and Christians. Hence the "holy war" on us U.S. that the middle is always talking about. they believe that if you take out a christian or a jew for allah, you'll get 50(?) virgins when you get to heaven.

You've never heard of this?

 

[cornfed]

Originally posted by irontime
But if it is already known to him what is going to happen and he makes us, do we really have a choice, or do we just think we do?

Oh, shiznit here I come....
I'll keep it brief and try not to stir up shtick, but here's your answer.

As for the creation of sin:
God gave man free will, and therefore limitless options on what actions to take. Man perverted or challenged "good" things created by God creating Rape from Sex, Hate from Love, Lust from attraction, Covetiousness from admiration, etc... God did not create sin. It is a product of man not chosing the intended use for something.

Omniscience:
The problem w/ trying to qualify this is that we experience time in a linear fashion w/ past-present-future. To believe in God is to accept that He created everything, including time and is not bound to a linear model of it. So, he actually does see it all at once and not as we do. It is also impossible to understand the mind of God as we will never be able to grasp the vastness of it. We try to determine things how we would understand it and therefore put Him in a box w/ the parameters that we can understand. This is where we ere. As for the chronology of God and Him changing His mind... Though the Word is inspired by God and it is His word, it is also bound to a language and a peopl;e who cannot completely fathom it. So, where Genesis refered to God changing His mind w/ Moses, that is what Moses understood, whereas it could have been God using this as a teaching moment for Moses' benefit.

That's about the best I can do off the top of my head.


Prince,
The main reason Christians...or Religious people (not mutually inclusive) become passionate (and wrongfully angry at times) is that it is an issue that they take passionately and because most Atheistic arguments tend to insult the intelligence of the believer and come across as an attempt to "outwit the mindless followers of a stupid crutch". Anger is wrong, but there's nothing wrong w/ having a passion about something. Especially this. I have no porblem w/ differing opinions, so long as I'm allowed mine.

 

[cornfed]

You'll also find that Intelligent design takes up a very significant faction of scientists these days and when you look at the stats of the probability that evolution successfully occurred and that the world was "created", you'd be rather suprised to see the difference.

 

[ALBOB]

Originally posted by cornfed I have no porblem w/ differing opinions, so long as I'm allowed mine.

THAT'S what I've been trying to say.

Oh crap, did I just agree with cornfed???

 

[craig777]

Well said cornfed

I agree also

 

[cornfed]

Originally posted by irontime
It is because of Christianity that mass murders and tortures have taken place. For example the Salem Witch trials. It was based on the biblical script 'Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.' if it wasn't for that script thousands of people may not have been brutally tortured by 'god-loving christians' for days on end and then burnt at the stake.

Every war that occurs the two sides justify their actions because they are 'doing gods will.' So does christianity really prevent mass murder, or condone it?

The problem here is that "the church"/"Christians" and Christianity aren't mutually inclusive, either. All that crap was done outside of the accordance of Scripture. But you are right about 1 thing. 1 of the biggest turnoffs to Christianity is Christians at times and even more often those that claim to be so under the blanket of piety or religious fervor. Judge a tree by it's fruit, not just it's nametag.

I'll admit that I'm not the best example either

 

[cornfed]

Only 1 more problem... can I still milk the sweet 'lil 5yr-old thing or do y'all not believe it?

Hey, I just kick back during recess and wax philosophically and theologically

 

[ALBOB]

Originally posted by cornfed
Only 1 more problem... can I still milk the sweet 'lil 5yr-old thing or do y'all not believe it?

If you think we EVER believed it your entire philosophical waxings will be instantly discredited.

 

[cornfed]

Dang

 

[craig777]

Originally posted by ALBOB
If you think we EVER believed it your entire philosophical waxings will be instantly discredited.

 

[Tboy]

Originally posted by Prince
I do not think of it that way. You see believeing in religeon as an insurance policy, you're covered just in case it's true.

I feel that if there is a god he gave me/us the intellect to be skeptical and utilize science, and science tells me/us that the majority of what the bible says is bunk.

Im not saying that I use it as a backup plan. Im saying that if YOU do nothing else, use it as a backup plan.

I believe it the other way around. If nothing happens, What have I lost?

 

[ALBOB]

Originally posted by Tboy What have I lost?

Two hours out of every Sunday morning of your life.



OK, ok, bad joke.................sorry.

 

[Tboy]

Originally posted by ALBOB
Two hours out of every Sunday morning of your life.



OK, ok, bad joke.................sorry.

Sunday morning and sunday night. Still nothing lost. A nice time with my family, sitting down, NOT working.