Religion.. a dangerous topic

[Catty1]

I was "saved" once....just to spare my friend the grief of thinking I was going to hell.

She was SO upset!

She felt better, and we went our merry ways.

I was a teenager in the late 60's and 70's and 'getting saved' was quite trendy. Some pop religious songs even made it onto the Top 10.

Live and let live...JMO

[ylrebmik]

We just try not to bring up religion anymore but she finally realizes why i hate how people push religion on some people. But she is still very firm in it all.. her uncle is a pastor so whatever she learned.. its firm. I just don't get if she is Christian.. why does she think that all branches are bad.. they work towards the same beliefs except a few minor differences.

[Laura's Babies]

Does it really matter? No matter what religion you are.. they all teach you almost the same things

I am with you ylrebmik on that. There is but 1 God, 1 Creator and no matter what religion you are, you are worshiping the same God that the rest of us worship. So WHY is there a problem?

I do have a problem with the person that tell's the Jew or Catholic that they are going to hell because of their religion. As long as you worship and pray in your own way, that is all that matters. I have lost respect for many people over that one thing. I do not push my beliefs on anyone and I don't want someone elses pushed on me.

[CathyBogart]

I am with you ylrebmik on that. There is but 1 God, 1 Creator and no matter what religion you are, you are worshiping the same God that the rest of us worship. So WHY is there a problem?

I don't worship, and I work with many deities, not just one...

[Miss Z]

I came across this thread, which I think displays perfectly why people are sometimes turned away from religion.

I have been an atheist for some time, but I have the utmost respect for religious beliefs of any religion. I think perhaps, as an atheist, you can take in a few more of the origins and reasons for different beliefs without thinking whether it's wrong or right.

What I do hate though, are the people that try to ram religion down your throat with threats of going to hell, or those who think they are 'god's elite' because they attend religious places of worship on a regular basis. Of course, that is not directed to anyone here, people like that are in a tiny minority, but these people do exist. I have been to church about 3 times in my life, and I have to say I found it extremely depressing and in a way, a little offensive. You could tell the 'regulars' were looking at us as though we didn't deserve to be there, and they never once spoke to us or passed us a hymn book or anything. They are the sort of people that have put me off having any faith in religion.

Just in my humble opinion

[JenBKR]

I am a Christian. Religion is something that is very important to me. I certainly hope that I have never come across as trying to push my beliefs on anyone, and if I have then I apologize. I know I have gotten a bit hot over some debates before about religion, not just here, but I think that's usually when people tell me I am wrong for what I believe. I would NEVER tell someone else that they are going to hell, because, to me, that is between them and God. I know people who seem to practice religion for show, or look down on others for whatever reason, and I believe that's wrong too. Personally, I am fascinated by other religions and beliefs.

[ylrebmik]

me too, i love hearing about what others' practice. I am almost obsessed with Star Wars so i bought a book Star Wars and Philosophy and it is amazing. There is so many different religions and practices that were made into that movie. I believe a ramble of different things so I'm trying to find a religion that works for me. I don't want to call myself A_______ if i don't believe everything or almost everything. I love philosophy and "people watching"- along with traditions and cultures. We had an entire class on it last year and it was absolutly amazing reading about everyone elses' religon.

[VTJess03]

I have been to church about 3 times in my life, and I have to say I found it extremely depressing and in a way, a little offensive. You could tell the 'regulars' were looking at us as though we didn't deserve to be there, and they never once spoke to us or passed us a hymn book or anything. They are the sort of people that have put me off having any faith in religion.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience...it's never easy to feel like you're being singled out...I don't have faith in any religion either...I just have faith in God. My experiences have led me to accept the Christian viewpoint as my own, but my faith is not in the 'religion' (i.e. the routines, ceremonies, rituals, hymns, etc.). In short, I worship Christ, not Christianity. Everything I hear in church, I question and research for myself before I adopt it into my own beliefs; if I find that my beliefs were wrong, according to Biblical truth (taken in context), then I change my opinion. If I can find no written support for a claim, I retain my old opinion.

The thing with a belief system, whether it's religious or not, is that we each think we're right. If we thought we were wrong, wouldn't we believe something else? We would not go on believing we are wrong about something. That's against human nature. If you have a different belief system from mine, I would expect you to uphold the values of your system, not mine. I would also hope you would hold me up to the standards of my system, and not yours. I do try to hold myself accountable to my own standards, but I admit that I fail at it a lot of the time. I'm just happy that my belief system has a component to it that involves forgiveness when I mess up, and I try not to abuse that privelege.

Oh, and thanks CathyBogart for clarifying the pagan origins of those Christian holiday symbols

[ylrebmik]

One thing i do love from one religion is in Buddism. I love the whole selflessness part of it.

[ramanth]

Hi Kimberly,

We share the same name and the love of Star Wars. The book you described sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out.

As far as religion goes, I too don't have a problem with what people believe in as long as it doesn't harm others.

Personally I'm just a spiritual type Pagan. Earth lovin' tree hugger.

[ylrebmik]

hehe thats awesome. For a while i called star wars my religion :P On an interview with George lucus (christain) he said a lot of it was based off of Christianity and other religions. In that book i was reading, there is a section on Stoics. There way of life is exacly how Yoda lives. It was very facinating. Even though i was already obsessed with star wars- it made get even deeper into the anatomy in it. I really do believe in a lot of things from Star Wars- but those ideas are from other religions so it isn't as crazy as it seems Yup, I don't have a problem- until people start having wars over it saying "their god wanted it". Almost every God was asking for peace. "love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek"