[Aq]

I'm depressed, I'm angry. Raging depression. Bad combination.

It's not like anyone is gonna read this. Life sucks. Life has no point. It's not like after you die you can take your earnings and experiences with you. And if you believe in an afterlife or any crap like that then you're blinded by your religion, which is the point of a religion though right? Religons exist because thousands of years ago they had nothing to live for anyway. So people came up with these stories they'd tell their children, and over time these stories came together and expanded. And the point of all this was to make people believe there was a reason to live. Now look at yourselves, wasting time and money praying and going to church and believeing that there is a higher being and that if you don't do what these things say you're going to spend eternity burning in hell or some shit. By the way, I'm only using christianity as an example. In the eyes of any person who is religious, their religion is right, and all others are wrong, and the catholic religon even tells you that \'god is a jealous god\' and you aren't allowed to honor any other or you will go to hell. Theres a few people who will convert to other religions because they believe that the other is more valid then the first. Even worse! So they leave one because they think it's bullshit, and go start believing in another. Whats wrong with the world you ask??? Religions. Thats my point of view anyway. So whats the point of life? Either to believe in what your religion tells you to, or absolutely nothing. I can't believe in a religion. Therefore life has no point. And if you do believe in a religion I laugh at you.

Flame me.
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[Freeverse]

Ok. The Bible IS just a bunch of made up stories. However the catholic faith never calimed they were true, they're only supposed to be taken contextually. It may be easier for you not to beleive in a higher power because you like to be in control of your own life, but some of us don't have to see things to beleive in them, and that's an admireable trait I think, not a laughable one. You also said "In the eyes of any person who is religious, their religion is right, and all others are wrong." You seem to have a problem with that, however you have the exact attitude that YOU are right and I am wrong for what I beleive in. You are being hypocritical. Religion is a part of who we are. I honestly beleive that there is something more up there, another name for that is just God. That brings menaing to my life, that is all I need to know.
Who are you to say whether or not life has a point, when neither of us know for sure?
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[Aq]

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However the catholic faith never calimed they were true, they're only supposed to be taken contextually.

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So why are there so many people believeing it?? Thats just sad.

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It may be easier for you not to beleive in a higher power because you like to be in control of your own life, but some of us don't have to see things to beleive in them, and that's an admireable trait I think, not a laughable one.

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No thats very laughable. If people can't control their own life I find it very sad and laughable. If you can fall for something easily, have fun with life, it's full of tricks.

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You also said "In the eyes of any person who is religious, their religion is right, and all others are wrong." You seem to have a problem with that, however you have the exact attitude that YOU are right and I am wrong for what I beleive in.

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The problem with that is that everyone will tihnk theyare right and others are wrong, a perfect example right now. I have no religion, they are all wrong. All the religions have the same morals and logic laws that humans know anyway. You don't learn that shit from honoring a god. You are wrong if you believe in god. You waste your life. You waste your time.

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You are being hypocritical. Religion is a part of who we are.

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We? Who's we? The only part religion ahs in my life is the fuckign course I'm forced to take because I have to go to a catholic school and the fact that since everyone else has their religions their lives can't be ignorred. How am I being hypocritical? Imagine a world without any religions. WOW!! WHAT A WORLD!! One can dream. Religions can be traced back to a reason for every war and conflict between large groups of people. Religions are what are preventing humans from making peace with one another and uniting. I don't know when people are going to see that.

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I honestly beleive that there is something more up there, another name for that is just God. That brings menaing to my life, that is all I need to know.

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No, another name for that is believing in a god. "God" as a proper noun refers to the name of that god the catholic faith honors. It's a fairy tale. You don't see people honouring Neo form Matrix. It's a made up story. It could be true though, maybe we are living in a dream, in reality just batteries to power these robots that have taken control. Do you believe that? It's more valid then believing in a god. So why isn't Matrixism a religion?

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Who are you to say whether or not life has a point, when neither of us know for sure?

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See above. Sounds like your being hypocritical now. So you don't know for sure either? No one does. So why are you believing in it if your not even sure?? Living your life in a lie, in doubt, believing in something you don't even know is real.

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Good argument, better luck next time. Next.
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[Gomeza54]

Um, this topic really interests me. I do agree with Aq that religion has been the cause of many wars throught eons and eons. To tell the truth, right now, there's an underlying sentiment between Muslims and the Western World.

Now, forgive me if my thoughts are unorganized, but a lot of things are brainstorming to mind and I am just typing them as they come up. Also, forgive if my writing isn't "stylish" like Freeverse's . I am the product of 3 months of horrendous education by Mrs. Craig [xx(]

First point I'd like to make is that we are all going through a faith journey. Right now, most of us are at the point of adolescence (some have matured past it). It is normal for us to question our faith at this point. It is how we question it that can make the difference between a positive outcome and a negative one of distrust. Aq, I believe that you should be using constructive questioning instead of your paranoid methods. To say that anyone who believes in a religion is wrong is a very crude statement. First of all, you are not in a position to tell us who is right and who is wrong, let alone in a position to presuade us to change the beliefs we have been brought up with.

Quite honestly, at this point of our lives we're either very religious or not religious at all. It also depends on how we were brought up, and what kind of personalities we have developed. In your case, I can see that you have become a very left-brained person. You like to find out why things are the way the are. Which brings me to science. I'm sure that science has had a lot to do with your aethiest attitudes. However science is mostly a flaw and a hypothesis all on it's own. Scientists try to find explanations about the workings of the world and the universe, but they only come up with theories - hypotheses with credible evidence. Do you not believe me? Well, consider this: in science, a law becomes a law after 100's of years... when someone has not come up with a better explanation. Yet, we see it all the time. Scientists come up with new theories that abolish these laws. Conclusion? Scientists aren't 100% right, either. For all YOU know, the theories that have remained for millions of years could be just as wrong as this religion you bash.

On the Catholic Bible, neither of you two are correct. Well, I take back that statement. See, the other thing about religion is that there isn't only one RIGHT belief. To me, the Bible was meant to be read contextually. Unlike Freeverse, I do believe these stories did occur, although not word-for-word. In my opinion, there was a man named Jesus, and there is a God. However, because I'm a contextual reader, I do acknowledge that there might be brief metaphorical differences with what did actually happen. Why? For message-transferring purposes. For example, the Genesis. Do I believe that God created the universe? Yes, I do. However, do not attack me by saying that he didn't do it all in seven days. Because, really, what was seven days at the time? The Gregorian calendar that we follow now was introduced in the late 1500's, and it was switched from the Julian calendar. What evidence do you have that in the span of thousands of years other calendars might have been used? None. The denotation of a "day" at the time the scriptures were written may be very different from what we denote a day as now. Also, remember that these scriptures were passed down verbally, until they were imprinted by the prophets, millions of years after happened.

Again, give constructive questioning a shot. It's where you try to prove that something is right, but not by bashing it with scientifical evidence. The realms of science and religion are parallel, albeit they dont belong on the same "road", per se.

While you may not take any of my advice, I do say this: Respect the beliefs of others. I respect your beliefs and everybody's beliefs. It is not OK to laugh at them, or shove an idea down their throat. It is VERY rude. I think that if everyone respected others\' religion and beliefs in no religion at all, we would live in a much better world.

Your thoughts...
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[Aq]

quote:

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First point I'd like to make is that we are all going through a faith journey. Right now, most of us are at the point of adolescence (some have matured past it). It is normal for us to question our faith at this point. It is how we question it that can make the difference between a positive outcome and a negative one of distrust.

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I've past that. I've gone to church, ben through 8 years of a catholic school, had first commuinion, was baptized, went to a catholic summer camp every year in my childhood until I was too old all about christians and God and at the same time participated in childrens bible studies every wednesday night for an hour and a half until I was old enough to enter the youth group. I've probably done more god stuff then most of you guys/girls. I just haven't been confirmed. I have nothing to confirm. I'm past the adolescent stage. Nothing new.

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Aq, I believe that you should be using constructive questioning instead of your paranoid methods.

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Examples of my "paranoid methods" please. I've used constructive qwuestioning. This topic wasn't started because I have questions. It was started because I want to speak out about my belief and oppinion.

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To say that anyone who believes in a religion is wrong is a very crude statement. First of all, you are not in a position to tell us who is right and who is wrong, let alone in a position to presuade us to change the beliefs we have been brought up with

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Once again, give me some examples. I didn't straight out say religions are wrong, but I can see how you got that vibe from reading. I'm not saying whats right or wrong, I'm expressing my oppinion and standing up for it. And I'm not trying to pursuade, I'm stating my oppinion for some good debating. It's working.

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Quite honestly, at this point of our lives we're either very religious or not religious at all. It also depends on how we were brought up, and what kind of personalities we have developed.

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No, people are questioning so they don't quite know what to do. It's the adolescent stage. Many people don't know their place and are doing things just to fit in to the cool crowd or whatever.

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In your case, I can see that you have become a very left-brained person. You like to find out why things are the way the are.

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I'm 50/50 Left/Right. My cousin has been studying neurology at the U of W and my sister and I have participated in tests that they try to understand the way a brain works etc. They compare my brain operations with others. And of course, my mom gets stuff on paper since I'm taking the time to do this stuff and it turns out I'm Right in the middle for both left/right brain, and Audio/visual learning. I'm serious, it was very shocking to me.

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I'm sure that science has had a lot to do with your aethiest attitudes.

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Nope. I've seen no real proof in science either. But I can see how a lot of scientific things can contribute to how things form and develop. I'm not going to even get started on that.

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For all YOU know, the theories that have remained for millions of years could be just as wrong as this religion you bash.

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? Hey, I'm using catholicism as an example cause I know it better then others. But all religions have the same general idea of a higher being and an after life.

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See, the other thing about religion is that there isn't only one RIGHT belief. To me, the Bible was meant to be read contextually. Unlike Freeverse, I do believe these stories did occur, although not word-for-word. Also, remember that these scriptures were passed down verbally, until they were imprinted by the prophets, millions of years after happened.

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Like I said, I tihnk they were made up stories and over the course of those millions of years the idea spread. As children, ideas are imposed upon you. Few children will say "Thats bullshit, your lieing" if you know what I mean. If a small village of people teach their children the idea that there is a god and an after life etc etc they will grow up believeing that, and they make the stories convincing enough that even now it's difficult to prove it wrong and challenge it. Even if they grow up and don't believe it later, they'll tell their children a similar story. Endless cycle begins now. Through out the cycle ideas are added, refined, improved, misinterpreted...Think about your early life. I don't know about you people but I have faint memories from when I was 2 years old and knowing nothing. You could almost say you're scared into believing. My parents would tell me that the reason theres a thunderstorm was because I was bad and god was punishing us or something aorund those lines. Of course when you're older and you look back on things like that you know that obciously your parents made that up, science contributes to that too. But there are other things that you can't really challenge and that science can't answer. Being brought up to believe in a god, and with everyone else around you feeling the same way, people I guess fall into it.

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Again, give constructive questioning a shot. It's where you try to prove that something is right, but not by bashing it with scientifical evidence.

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I haven't said much in the way of scientific evidence. Again I'm going to need examples to defend myself.

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While you may not take any of my advice, I do say this: Respect the beliefs of others.

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I do. While others pray I sit silently, or stand silently. That kind of thing. Again I say I use catholicism as an example because I know it better then any other religion. Also it seems that \'everyone\' is catholic so it's not like people are in the dark.

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It is not OK to laugh at them, or shove an idea down their throat. It is VERY rude.

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I laugh at how everyone call fall to believe something like this. I can't laugh at other religions because I don't know them well. When someone tells me their catholic I don't laugh at them, I would usually sigh and shake my head silently.

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I think that if everyone respected others\' religion and beliefs in no religion at all, we would live in a much better world.

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I don't, if everyone believes in a common thing, there is unity. The bible even says that "God is a jealous god" and that you shouldn't honor any other gods. Isn't it one of the commandments?
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[josh]

STOP COMPLAINING! you act as if you are being asked to sacrifice your computers for religion!

[Stalphanx]

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Whats wrong with the world you ask??? Religions. Thats my point of view anyway.

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Well that being said Aq, and by you, why don't we just make it a rule on these forums to not discuss religions period. That way nothing will be wrong. No arguments or fights will happen and everyone will be happy.
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[Aq]

Why would I do that? I want to hear opinions and ideas, not stop them.

And I started this!
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[Freeverse]

In all this disagreement about religion I'd just like to point out something we can call agree on: Brian makes no sense.
Brian Peter started this topic why would he want to stop it -_-.
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[kLuTz]

waa waa waa, be a man and quit all ur bitchin
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The Darkness Is So Comforting... So Beautifully Intoxicating...

[Lopi]

i agree with freeverse brain makes no sense... might i add brian is a fag? yeah thnx

[Stalphanx]

might i add Jen is a fucked up anorexic whore who doesn't know jack shit about anything. KTHNX
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[Aq]

Might I add if you ever say KTHNX again Sholin and I will have to do some damage.

Can we PLEASE get back on topic?
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[Sholin]

^-- what he said

(ps: brian is stupid gay)
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I didn't know she was only 12

[Sen]

Yeah, back to the fucking topic. No offense to anyone, but everyone arguing against Peter sounds like they are typing the fucking religion text book on the screen, with all this faith journey stuff and contextual reader crap. However, I do disagree with Peter. I do think that there is God, but I think he abandoned the world to its own problems years ago. The Bible just tells us what he did before that and sections of it may have been mawde up by people who forgot what they were going to say. For all we know, this great flood could've have just been a sewage problem, when sewers couldn't ump out all the water from seasonal rains. I also don't beleive ina so-called pre-destined fate that God set out for me. I like to think that I will die on my own terms some day from my own choices, not some other beings choice.
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[Aq]

Well you could get shot, thats not under yuour control really, but it's not another \'being\' the way you mean it
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[Freeverse]

I think the most important thing is to live life to the fullest and to be the best person you can be tho. Sometimes I guess I just don't understand how people can have NO religion, cause if you don't...then what's the point of living? If you beleive in no life after death then what's stopping people from just killing themselves when they're sad, or angry?
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[Sen]

Nothing, they already kill themselves now. Thats why we have a suicide statistic.
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[Freeverse]

Not everyone kills themselves when they get sad.
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[Aq]

yeah look at me, I want it to be effective but I don't have a gun
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[Duckee]

... I live life with no religion at all, and i dont have suicidal thoughts or anything. You guys are way off
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Duckee's Gone Quackers

[Sen]

Probably. Alcholol relieves sadness without the need to pray, so religion doesn't really help to relieve sadness, but a bottle of Scotch and some aspirin does.
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[Duckee]

lol what a solution
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Duckee's Gone Quackers

[Sen]

Its a solution with a group to help you if you take too much of the solution
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[Duckee]

haha AA "hello my name is bob, and i am an alcoholic"
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Duckee's Gone Quackers

[Sen]

"I've been sober since walking up here from the cafeteria."
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[Duckee]

then bob takes a swig from his flask
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Duckee's Gone Quackers

[Sen]

and hits on the woman beside him
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[Duckee]

haha! I could totally see that happening too
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Duckee's Gone Quackers

[Sen]

Seen it happen, done it....
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