Your religious views and positions on matters such as God and the meaning of life?

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by Foombamaroom

But if you tell someone you hate them because your religion, more specifically your parent(s), commands you to, well, then I'm talking about you.

^^ #allreligionsareguiltyofthis

Sorry about Santa.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by Foombamaroom

But I think the worst part is that there's not a scintilla of doubt in my mind that religion, more specifically someone's views on it, will never stop being a weapon. There's always going to be someone who won't accept another person's beliefs, and then take it to the next step. It's just a horrifying thought.

This is always the case, this has always been the case, this will always be the case. Even if you remove religion from the equation this will still be true. There are atheists who do this exact same thing, have the exact same level of intolerance, and are willing to have other people pay the ultimate price.

We should not Overlook the fact that much of secular culture is still flavored buy religious culture. Even if the people who live in that secular culture are not religious or are atheist. American culture, whether we want to admit it or not, is flavored Christian.

There's not a doubt in my mind that much of the violence we chalk up to being religious in nature elsewhere, is really secular violence that exists within that flavored culture.

[Foombamaroom]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

This is always the case, this has always been the case, this will always be the case. Even if you remove religion from the equation this will still be true. There are atheists who do this exact same thing, have the exact same level of intolerance, and are willing to have other people pay the ultimate price.

We should not Overlook the fact that much of secular culture is still flavored buy religious culture. Even if the people who live in that secular culture are not religious or are atheist. American culture, whether we want to admit it or not, is flavored Christian.

There's not a doubt in my mind that much of the violence we chalk up to being religious in nature elsewhere, is really secular violence that exists within that flavored culture.

Oh, atheists do this without a doubt, too. The problem with religious debates is that usually the person who initiates a debate only wants to have their side listened to, and quite frankly doesn't give a damn about what the other side has to say.

Now, if you want to have an exchange of ideologies where you try to understand the other person's beliefs while trying to make them understand yours, more power to you. But if you're entering it with the sole purpose of making sure that they see that you're correct, and they're 100% wrong, then you shouldn't be participating in it at all.

Another problem is just how uneducated people are in these debates. If you have research and evidence to back your claims up, then you're doing something right. One of my biggest pieces of evidence in debates against religion is the Bible. Too many inconsistencies to follow. But a lot of people say, "Yeah, the Bible's inconsistent." and haven't read the Bible cover to cover.

If you're going to debate someone, make sure you actually know what you're talking about so you don't make yourself look like an idiot or an a-hole.

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

^^ #allreligionsareguiltyofthis

Sorry about Santa.

Shhhhhhh. The only thing that keeps me sane is the thought of a jolly fat man delivering presents one night a year.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by Foombamaroom

Oh, atheists do this without a doubt, too. The problem with religious debates is that usually the person who initiates a debate only wants to have their side listened to, and quite frankly doesn't give a damn about what the other side has to say.

Now, if you want to have an exchange of ideologies where you try to understand the other person's beliefs while trying to make them understand yours, more power to you. But if you're entering it with the sole purpose of making sure that they see that you're correct, and they're 100% wrong, then you shouldn't be participating in it at all.

Another problem is just how uneducated people are in these debates. If you have research and evidence to back your claims up, then you're doing something right. One of my biggest pieces of evidence in debates against religion is the Bible. Too many inconsistencies to follow. But a lot of people say, "Yeah, the Bible's inconsistent." and haven't read the Bible cover to cover.

If you're going to debate someone, make sure you actually know what you're talking about so you don't make yourself look like an idiot or an a-hole.

To this end I would highly recommend the book, "Religious Literacy."

[Commenter 42]

Respect genital mutilation. it's perfectly normal.

Respect molestation. again, totally normal.

Respect me and drink this kool-aid, you'll be with us in the afterlife.

We all have a right to 72 virgins, if you blow yourself up for Allah.

Anyone who doesn't follow these rules is damned. Better be good.

Sex is wrong, until you get married, then figure it out.

Gays are going to hell.

No such thing as Global warming.

The day the red heifer is born will bring about the end times.

Fighting the infidels on our own land, will bring judgement day.

Pay your penance, and all sins are forgiven.

The path to good intentions, is always paved in gold:






But Plastron is right, secular folks are guilty too.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

And yet religion of ALL kinds has also given us some of history's most magnificent works of art, not to mention great works of charity, and wasn't this country FOUNDED on freedom of religion? It's truly a double-edged sword to speak of it as simply dangerous or "bad" because then you also discount all the GOOD that can come of it. Like the Sistine ceiling. Commissioned by the Pope, no less. (And Michelangelo's feelings toward DOING it notwithstanding, it WAS a labor of love, and his greatest masterpiece.) And there are countless other examples. Walk through any museum of art or culture, and I guarantee that half (if not more) of what is there will have religious themes, or have been created for or by a member of a particular faith. Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, Islamic, etc.....

Our greatest cultural achievements have always walked hand-in-hand with our beliefs. As it should be, for such works are inspiring to others to make such achievements themselves. How many aspiring artists first picked up a paintbrush or chisel because they saw the depictions of ancient gods, or of biblical figures, and were awed? Or how many humanitarians were inspired to their deeds by their faith? One can't just say faith is dangerous without also looking at the OTHER side of that coin. At the good it can do when used properly.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

Respect genital mutilation. it's perfectly normal.

Respect molestation. again, totally normal.

Respect me and drink this kool-aid, you'll be with us in the afterlife.

We all have a right to 72 virgins, if you blow yourself up for Allah.

Anyone who doesn't follow these rules is damned. Better be good.

Sex is wrong, until you get married, then figure it out.

Gays are going to hell.

No such thing as Global warming.

The day the red heifer is born will bring about the end times.

Fighting the infidels on our own land, will bring judgement day.

Pay your penance, and all sins are forgiven.

The path to good intentions, is always paved in gold:

http://d28septx7rf3dp.cloudfront.net...714843_m_0.jpg

https://thestockandpillory.files.wor...ld-pearls1.jpg


But Plastron is right, secular folks are guilty too.

I love you, man.

[Commenter 42]

Proof of Irony, nothing more.

Still I'm sure the deists in the room will pin it on Sky Dad's sense of humor.

[BubblyShell22]

Duckie, yes, I tend to see things from both a logical and karmic point of view in why things happen for a reason and it seems to work out pretty well for me. I also strongly believe that bad things come in threes because it has happened more than once in my life so I definitely don't dismiss it though I do believe good things come in threes as well.

Commenter, life definitely isn't fair, but we just have to roll with the punches the best we can and do what we feel is best and karma will reward us in the end. That's how I feel anyway and thanks for the sympathies as this definitely isn't easy for us to deal with.

I do feel that even if you take away religion, there are still political wars that can happen in life and that's never a good thing so think about that for a minute.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Commenter 42

Proof of Irony, nothing more.

Still I'm sure the deists in the room will pin it on Sky Dad's sense of humor.

Lol, what a knucklef*ck. He probably beat one of his kids since surely one of them was the homo responsible for that.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

My apologies for bumping this thread.

Recently, there's been alot of off topic religious discussion in other threads and while there's nothing wrong with it as long as it is done in a civilized way, there is a time and place for everything.

So if you wanna have a religious discussion here (no bashing of course), then this is the place to do it rather than clogging up other threads.

[IndigoErth]

I'm impressed that a thread of this topic managed to get to 10 pages and still remains unlocked.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

This thread was dead for more than three days.

Oh, and I'm sorry I thought you were C42, FWL.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

I'm impressed that a thread of this topic managed to get to 10 pages and still remains unlocked.

And got Machias' approval

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

This thread was dead for more than three days.

Oh, and I'm sorry I thought you were C42, FWL.

So I debated myself extensively for 5 pages?

[Machias Banshee]

Well, the first ten pages were actual discussion and not mud slinging and arguments. If it continues that way, we can keep it going. After what I just saw happen in a couple other threads, I'm not so sure...


It's up to you, people...

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

And got Machias' approval

So I debated myself extensively for 5 pages?

Imagine how much more paranoid I'd be if I ever smoked weed.

In my defense, we HAD been going through a rash of bogus accounts...

But yeah, you seem to be on the up and up and I owed you a "sorry" earlier. So, sorry.

[Coola Yagami]

I'm Catholic, and I do believe in God and that He is the ultimate in all that is good. I belief all the crimes and violence caused 'in the name of God' is due to humans being... well... stupid humans that choose to interpret the Bible as they see fit.

I don't think any of us knows the meaning of life until we meet our maker, but for the time being, the meaning is just to live it because you truly only get one chance to live it.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

I'm Catholic, and I do believe in God and that He is the ultimate in all that is good. I belief all the crimes and violence caused 'in the name of God' is due to humans being... well... stupid humans that choose to interpret the Bible as they see fit.

During the Middle Ages, it was wealth and money (Crusades). Today's there's inter-Christian violence, usually Protestants against Roman Catholic.

[turtle1237]

Originally Posted by MsMarvelDuckie

And yet religion of ALL kinds has also given us some of history's most magnificent works of art, not to mention great works of charity, and wasn't this country FOUNDED on freedom of religion? It's truly a double-edged sword to speak of it as simply dangerous or "bad" because then you also discount all the GOOD that can come of it. Like the Sistine ceiling. Commissioned by the Pope, no less. (And Michelangelo's feelings toward DOING it notwithstanding, it WAS a labor of love, and his greatest masterpiece.) And there are countless other examples. Walk through any museum of art or culture, and I guarantee that half (if not more) of what is there will have religious themes, or have been created for or by a member of a particular faith. Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, Islamic, etc.....

Our greatest cultural achievements have always walked hand-in-hand with our beliefs. As it should be, for such works are inspiring to others to make such achievements themselves. How many aspiring artists first picked up a paintbrush or chisel because they saw the depictions of ancient gods, or of biblical figures, and were awed? Or how many humanitarians were inspired to their deeds by their faith? One can't just say faith is dangerous without also looking at the OTHER side of that coin. At the good it can do when used properly.

Yeah I collect a lot of Greek statues. Zeus, Athena, Hercules, Venus, Apollo, even dying Achilles. Niko was my lateness. Today we look at the ancient Greek status as art, but back in the day these status were pretty much the Roman Greek bible so to speak.
The Greeks believe Man was made in the image of the Gods hench why most Greek Gods have human form, not Dogs on the bodies of man, or Bulls on the bodies of Lions or something like that. But the Gods were Human like beings and thus had human flaws which I find impressive. Zeus and his women, Hera and her rage. ETE. Not even the Heroes were perfect, all had a human flaw.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Yup and some people still do! (Like me.) Religious images are among some of the most inspiring and beautiful artworks ever created. Who could see Da Vinci's Last Supper or Michelangelo's David or Pieta and not be awed and moved? Or the Venus de Milo (it was Aphrodite after all) or the triptychs (sp?) of the Middle Ages?