Making a better religion thread

Rather than asking "what religion are you", what I want to know is "how did you come to your current position regarding religious belief?"

No arguing with each other, no trying to impose your views on others, and no implying that your views are superior, please.

If the thread does devolve into that I hope it is quickly locked.


Anyways, I used to be a Roman Catholic. I was raised as one, baptised, went to a Catholic school, all my family on both sides are catholic going way back. I took it fairly seriously. I read most of the Bible (I can still recall quite a bit of it even now, more than many Christians), and went to church regularly.

I started to notice things, though. Most Christians I knew didn't seem to follow what the Bible said much at all. People walked into Church, mouthed the words, made the gestures, and then walked out and acted as if it hadn't had any impact on them at all (a feeling which only increased once I began to learn about history and world events)

Additionally, throughout my whole life and through my struggles with my disability and stuff, I have never once felt the presence or aid of any god, no matter how much I prayed. I became convinced that, if there was a god, he must hate me.

Sometime through grade 11, while studying philosophy and the various theories for why the world must have been created, I came across the notion that the universe need never have been created, something which had simply never occurred to me before. It really opened my mind. I'd found a reason (in my mind anyway) for why God need not exist.

What mattered is that the inclination to hate Christianity was already there for me (I disliked most Christians and believed that God must hate me), this was the catalyst. It is not, of course, absolute proof that God doesn't exist. I think God might very well exist, but then again he might not. The argument about the universe never having been created was my "reasonable doubt" (I have thought of many more reasons, since, of course) and I chose the side of not believing, because I wanted to.

But nonethelesss I found that believing in nothing at all was something I couldn't do very well. I became an agnostic, and over the years I've moved more and more towards paganism of a sort (I revere nature, and tentatively believe in the supernatural), although I don't cleave to any official pagan faith. Being alone among trees at night is the closest to a spiritual experience I have ever had.



So, that's why I believe what I do, religion-wise. What about you? :]

Um I suggest mods to lock this thread very fast before the huge flame comes.

OP should know where this will lead to.


but to answer your question I am Atheist Agnostic.

Atheist that I don't beleive in a god and Agnostic in that by knowledge standards it is impossible to know anything to 100% so there could be a god out there even by the very small percent chance of it actually being true.

The reason I believe what I do is becuase of education and evidence.

Now we have a religious thread and a opinion on gays thread.:D

Anywayz I was also brought up to be a Roman Catholic. Last year I am 15 almost 16 I started to think about what I believed in.I figured out that some of the stuff that the church teaches I just don't agree with. I didn't want to be one of those people who just went to church because the feared going to hell.
What I came up with I kind of think is kinda fudged up. I believe that the Universe always existed and it is kind of a God. The universe bases everything that happens to you off your state of mind and how you go about treating others. Kinda like karma I guess. I believe in an afterlife almost every single society has had some kind of God to look up to. People just probably got the Idea and started screwing with it the they usually do.
Anyways I believe the universe is an all knowing entity and there is and afterlife and there are other thing living out there across the universe.


DON'T JUDGE ME!!! lol

I'm a devout Haruhist. But I'm part Buddhist too.

Why? Because I believe the world was made for the fun of it.

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Originally Posted by Transient

The reason I believe what I do is becuase of education and evidence.

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The whole point of the thread was to explain things like this in detail, not in one line that sounds like it's deliberately trying to offend Christians.

edit: same goes for you chan, pretty much. Detail please.

Actually read the thread before replying, please. I don't care what you believe in, I want to know why, on a personal level.

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Originally Posted by shadowsworn

The whole point of the thread was to explain things like this in detail, not in one line that sounds like it's deliberately trying to offend Christians.

edit: same goes for you chan.

Actually read the thread before replying, please.

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I wasn't trying to be offending it was just the way you interpret it. It's the truth once I started to educate myself in science classes and had discussions with people of various religion I gradually made the change to Atheist Agnostic.

And like I said this thread will attract flame it's really hard for most of the community to give an answer without someone else feeling that it's insulting.

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Originally Posted by Transient

I wasn't trying to be offending it was just the way you interpret it. It's the truth once I started to educate myself in science classes and had discussions with people of various religion I gradually made the change to Atheist Agnostic.

And like I said this thread will attract flame it's really hard for most of the community to give an answer without someone else feeling that it's insulting.

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You're the only one attracting the flame so just stop please. I am interested to read other peoples views

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Originally Posted by xXTraitorXx

You're the only one attracting the flame so just stop please. I am interested to read other peoples views

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I just gave my answer like he asked and responded back to him. He was the one trying to specifically start a flame bait with adding that I insulted christians when I never even brought any one religion up.

And yes I would like to hear others opinions but I can bet you 50 bucks that this thread will eventually turn into a flame match.

Fine. More detail.

I believe in a Haruhist god because well, If I think about it, the thing about God making us humans for a certain reason doesn't quite fit, he's dead now, and I don't think anything we achive physically will affect "Heaven", nor do I believe in Heaven.

As for Buddhism, I do believe in karma and stuff like that, but not that nirvana stuff. Imo, it's impossible to stop all cravings (aka achive nirvana) if you crave nirvana.

Haruhism, imo, is the most "realistic" religion for me. The belief that one person is unaware of himself/herself being god, and what she wants is what she gets. I believe we are part of a dream. If we are un-dreamed, we just dissappear. And "god" will have then another dream to what he/she thinks is the perfect world. The only doubt I have against this religion is that the time that "god" has lived. This world has a recorded 2000 years, and even more. But who knows, maybe "god" wanted this world to have an intresting history.
So right now, I think that this world has satisfied our "god" so far. I know it has for me. Having fun and shit like that. I don't believe in dedicating your time to a dead guy you don't know.
That's what I tell my friends when they tell me shit like "Santa isn't real" and "why do you still believe in magic"
Edit: Plus, I don't believe in a Heaven or Hell, Some people do kind stuff because they want to go to heaven. Other people do kind stuff because of kindness. Don't you think "heaven" is kind of selfish if most people do good deeds because god told them so?

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Originally Posted by shadowsworn

I don't care what you believe in, I want to know why, on a personal level.

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that was the "why"

education and evidence

I usually don't let emotions cloud my judgement so personally it would be, becuase after I lived so many years I found out that there is no such thing as right and wrong or justice. I understood the universe is not here to comfort you, but you do seek comfort from it.

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Originally Posted by Transient

after I lived so many years I found out that there is no such thing as right and wrong or justice. I understood the universe is not here to comfort you, but you do seek comfort from it.

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This is the sort of thing I was trying to provoke. An answer less dependent on dogma and more on personal experience. :]

edit: of course, you could go into detail about how you came to these personal discoveries as well if you wanted. That would be even better.

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Originally Posted by hksmrchan

Fine. More detail.

I believe in a Haruhist god because well, If I think about it, the thing about God making us humans for a certain reason doesn't quite fit, he's dead now, and I don't think anything we achive physically will affect "Heaven", nor do I believe in Heaven.

As for Buddhism, I do believe in karma and stuff like that, but not that nirvana stuff. Imo, it's impossible to stop all cravings (aka achive nirvana) if you crave nirvana.

Haruhism, imo, is the most "realistic" religion for me. The belief that one person is unaware of himself/herself being god, and what she wants is what she gets. I believe we are part of a dream. If we are un-dreamed, we just dissappear. And "god" will have then another dream to what he/she thinks is the perfect world. The only doubt I have against this religion is that the time that "god" has lived. This world has a recorded 2000 years, and even more. But who knows, maybe "god" wanted this world to have an intresting history.
So right now, I think that this world has satisfied our "god" so far. I know it has for me. Having fun and shit like that. I don't believe in dedicating your time to a dead guy you don't know.

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I believe something like that except I think we are all sorta Gods to some extent then there is a big one, and we make small changes based on our attitude toward the world and universe.

I believe what I do because God didn't want us to have knowledge but Satan essentially freed us from a potential life of ignorance by having man eat from the tree of knowledge.
He's the god of forbidden light; giver of eternal sight. He gave us the gift of knowledge.

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Originally Posted by Xeep

I can't tell if you're being serious or not. Either way lol

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me neither, but it does have some religious values.

Edit: the avatar is my god

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Originally Posted by shadowsworn

I've never heard of that film, actually. Sounds interesting.

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It's an anime. The girl in his picture is the god he is talking about.

I don't really think I have many personal reason for believing what I do. I guess it was like Manic I saw how people were being looked down on and treated, and I didn't agree with it. I am still a pretty spiritual person I think about it every day I just don't agree with Christianity. Westboro Baptist Church anyone? Even though they aren't Christian they sicken me.

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Originally Posted by shadowsworn

I've never heard of that film, actually. Sounds interesting.

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I busted a gut on that. Just to clear things up the thing he mentioned is a very weird anime series that is popular for some unknown reason.

back to topic

If I had to give more experience I would have to say that once I was heading towards my choice people who I knew well started to treat me differently. I had students who would call me names, I had threats sent to me. I even knew that my Art teacher was giving me bad grades just after he found out I was an Atheist Agnostic. The friends who didn't mind had parents who wouldn't let me hang out with them and my parents were even insulted. now it always made me wonder most religions teach good things like treating others with respect and kindness but these people certainly didn't follow that.

I also know people who were kicked out of town for their beliefs. I would have to say I don't hate religion at all but I do hate organized religion just like Manic.

I was wary to go into too much detail in my other post, but I figure if I'm going to go at all then I might as well go the whole way. It feels good to get this stuff off the chest anyway.

Someone said something to me that made a lot of sense at a Halloween party, and that was the turning point I had mentioned. Granted this guy (I don't know him well enough to call him a friend) was drunk and wearing nothing more than a towel (stick with me, it sounds like a bad joke but it's just a humorous detail worth mentioning and his no impact on the rest), but in a way that made what he said even more valid. If someone drunk out of their mind can make sense out of something with such simplicity, something that has bothered me so much, then it really does need to be that easy. Besides, the truth is the truth whether it comes from the lips of a drunk man or a magical golden retriever.

Anyway, what had been bothering me was the question of how to live life. It was that simple, yet complex for obvious reasons. This guy, John, pulled a friend and I aside and put an arm around our shoulders and just looked at us. Neither of us had been drinking, partly because we both had long drives home, but mostly because we just weren't interested. John, who is 3 or 4 years older than my friend and I, asked why we weren't joining in the fun. We gave him our reasons and he simply said "No." He doesn't know me much at all, but he described the situation I was in almost to the 't'. "I used to be like you guys," he said, "all wooooo highschool sweetheart, wooo wait till I'm 21, woooo do everything right. **** that." I had just broken up with my girlfriend of 2 years a few weeks before, and I knew what he was talking about because that was me. Truth be told, she represented everything that was bringing me down in life, and upon leaving her I was left questioning a lot of things about myself. Moving on, John said that he wished he had spent his best years enjoying himself, making memories, making mistakes, and taking risks. Instead he wasted a lot of time being the good kid, the reliable one, living for everyone else and not for himself. He looked me in the eye and just said "don't be so uptight man. Go get a drink, find a girl, and enjoy your life like a human being."

There was no earth shattering moment of realization here, no explosion of clarity in my head, I just stood there and thought "you know what? He's right." I grabbed a beer, sat back, and just relaxed. Ever since then I've been mulling the whole night over, and the more I do, the truer it rings. I can honestly say that I changed my life because of the words of a naked drunk. This has led me to a new philosophy in life, one that excludes all higher powers and impossible standards. Live life like every day is your last. Live life only for yourself and those you love.

There you go OnRPG, a little insight into the life and mind of Manic.

I believe in God, but I am by no means a Christian and do not attend an organized church. My beliefs are basically that God created me, he loves me, and I want to return the favor of given life by reading and listening to his insight and teachings on the certain things that he created with his own hands. I also read the Tanakh because I find King James to be a hideous person.

I thought I noticed a change in you lately, Manic.

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Originally Posted by AbysmalGuilt

I thought I noticed a change in you lately, Manic.

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The change is still coming, you could say. I'm changing my whole life around, and I'm feeling much happier than I ever have before.

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Originally Posted by Manic

The change is still coming, you could say. I'm changing my whole life around, and I'm feeling much happier than I ever have before.

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Be careful. Just know, I had respect for you. Probably the only onRPG member I could say that to.

Im just atheist and i believe in sience(evolution, quantum physics, etc...)

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Originally Posted by shadowsworn

Rather than asking "what religion are you", what I want to know is "why do you believe whatever you do/ how did you come to that position?"

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Funny as it sounds the thread has turned into one. Luckily there are a few who are actually answering the question.

As far as religion goes most people like to view it one sided. Rather than talk or even worry about the proof of existence maybe we could learn from their 'Teachings.' The Bible is still open to interpretation so one finds out the meanings of the readings.

The real problem with religion is conflict. What's worse is it all comes down to Personal interests. This needs to be addressed quickly, yet lightly.

Well im Atheist, i see no point in religion and it wouldnt bring me more happiness.

Hmmm. I've been thinking a lot on this recently.

I've been listening to a lot of Rasta music, so I decided I'd check out the "religion" that goes along with the music. (not religion, its a way of life). Turns out, you DON'T have to be black at all!

I agree with most of what they are saying to be honest. They say that Jesus was indeed God's son, but he was corrupted by Babylon (government, etc) so he started out with pure intentions, but lost them a long the way.

I could totally relate to that.

They also look at herb as more than just something to do on the weekend, they see it as a way to cleanse the body and soul of all its troubles; to meditate and come closer to Zion (heaven on earth).

They believe that God is a living man, because God is inside of every person on earth, which is why we must all respect eachother and try to live without hate.

The last thing they believe is what is going to take a little more research on my part. They believe that Jah Rastafari was Jesus' second coming. I don't know much about Jah just yet, but you can bet I'll be reading into it.

So, thats about as close as I come to a religion. Depending upon what Jah did during his life time, this might be the one for me. If its not something I agree with, I'll keep looking, or just stick with the "I made my own shit up" religion.

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Originally Posted by Popsai

Well im Atheist, i see no point in religion and it wouldnt bring me more happiness.

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Thats what all religion comes down to, now isn't it? Who cares what your fellow man believes in, as long as his or her belief is making them feel OK. "Religion" is all about finding security in the shitty place we live in. Its having hope when everything seems hopeless. Be it a false sense of security or whatever, who cares what Joe Schmo over there believes? As long as HE is happy with it, **** everyone elses opinions.

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Originally Posted by Oisterboy

Thats what all religion comes down to, now isn't it? Who cares what your fellow man believes in, as long as his or her belief is making them feel OK. "Religion" is all about finding security in the shitty place we live in. Its having hope when everything seems hopeless. Be it a false sense of security or whatever, who cares what Joe Schmo over there believes? As long as HE is happy with it, **** everyone elses opinions.

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Amen


;)

I was born and still am a Roman Catholic. I never used to read the Bible but started at about 13. The whole God making the world in 7 days is a little sketchy to me so I feel the world must have already had most of the stuff it has today. Also like some people enjoy quoting movies or tv shows I quote the Bible if it fits in. It just makes me different and that is how I am. All other beliefs that the Bible shows have a lot of information backing it so I will believe it.

educated people know better than religion

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Originally Posted by Nogardreyals

educated people know better than religion

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Now heres a good comment that adds to the conversation and isn't just trolling and trying to piss people off.


Its ignorant comments like this that make people look like assholes.

I'm atheist.

Anyways, when this thread goes to hell.

use this weapon

*Grants shadow sworn the anti flame weapon*

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/output...tor7175959.jpg

Copy+Paste to use it's amazing powers.

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Originally Posted by Transient

well it seems like alot of people dislike oragnized religion. I am definately in that boat. I mean just imagine how far our technology would have gone if they didn't have organized religion oppressing it.

it's great to be able to express your beliefs, but I just hate it when some person takes advantage of those others of faith and milks them for everything including money. Like it's been said if you want to be rich create a religion.

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Can you please stop posting? >_>

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Originally Posted by shadowsworn

Can you please stop posting? >_>

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REMEMBER. The Anti Flame war weapon I posted.

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Originally Posted by Ronin

Well, if you ever imagined the situation of standing in front of you possibly new hirer in a job interview and get asked, what exactly it means to you personally that you were lector in your community and how you would think that it would affect your work-ethics;

That might not give you more than a little of an idea how you would feel right there.

That is why some questions are personal in a way, that you would rather decline instead of pushing it to that level, had you learned to think before you talk.

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Okay wise-one?

To put it shortly (don't have a lot of time)

I was a very serious Christian, but then realized that it wasn't based on a very logical premise, and decided that I didn't want to believe in something irrational. So I became an atheist, and I'm just as serious about that as I was about Christianity.