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Post by Brighitta on Jul 22, 2006 15:15:44 GMT -5
Here, discuss anything to do with religion.
What religon are you? What do you like/dislike about religions?
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Post by Catherine on Jul 22, 2006 18:29:39 GMT -5
Yay! I'm Catholic, and it's a big part of my life. I think it's amazing to know that there's Someone out there, who is completely powerful and is watching out for you, and if you pay attention, everything can remind you of that. In a way, that's part of why I love trees so much. ;D
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 23, 2006 4:31:24 GMT -5
I have a few pagan friends, who actually infected me (unknowingly) with a reverence for all nature and the love for earth itself...
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Post by Katrina on Jul 23, 2006 10:27:22 GMT -5
I am Christian. My mom says there's something in common about every religion, and I believe she's right. Most religions are about love, for God or man or nature, and we can learn from each other. Here's a Buddhist prayer I heard, I think it can apply to other religions too. It's so beautiful.
May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression and prejudice. May they be happy, and have the causes for happiness. May they be free from suffering and causes for suffering. May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering.
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Post by subtlecollision on Jul 23, 2006 10:38:37 GMT -5
I am also Christian. Religion has helped me through my troubles. It gives me hope.
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Post by kim on Jul 23, 2006 14:57:19 GMT -5
im not religous but i like the thought that theres something after death, but to be honest i just dont like religion. its been the cause of every war i know, even now people are killing because of their beliefs. well except buddism, if i were to join a religion i would be a buddhist. i dont want to offend anyone, these are just my thoughts. its just those few people that spoil everything for everyone else, but i do find relgion interesting, im doing philosophy at school so i learn alot about some religions. but like i said, i do like the sound of an after life, and God gives people comfort in hard times, which is a good thing to have.
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 23, 2006 15:23:46 GMT -5
Kim - I agree heartily. There is quite a few things I dislike about Christians (notice I do not say Christianity). Christians (at least some) are very close minded, refusing to accent any other belief. Many of them feel the need to constantly try and 'convert' others by saying they will go to hell. Excuse me, have those people enver heard of the fact that their God said 'Do Not Judge?' Other thigns are - some Christians constantly bash homosexuals, pagans, or pretty much anything that they don't l ike. I mean, the battles over 'Da Vinci Code' is one example. These are my two cents, based on my own experience.
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Post by subtlecollision on Jul 23, 2006 15:35:35 GMT -5
Hmm, I have to agree with some Christian's being closed-minded, but that happens with any religion.
To them, they think they are doing the people they are trying to convert a favor. I understand that it does get exceedingly out of hands sometimes, but it seems, in their opinion, that they are doing something good.
I don't understand how people cannot believe in an afterlife. People dying and thinking that they will be "completely" dead must be terrible to them.
I have to believe in God. It's something I feel, and something I have come to believe in through experiences.
I really don't mean to get into an argument.. these are just my opinions.
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Post by Catherine on Jul 23, 2006 16:26:44 GMT -5
It sounds to me like most of the things you don't like aren't so much about the religion or the people as the Catholic Church. (Although some of the things you mention are definitely just some people) At times, I find myself disagreeing with the Church, too, especially the part about people who aren't baptized going to hell. I always hated that idea, and it was explained to me once in a way that made it clear that it's not so simple and cruel as "You're going to hell." Unfortunately, I don't actually remember the explanation in full, just that there was one and it made sense. I'm just saying that there's more to it than that. At different points in my life, I actually agreed with many of the things you posted about, but since then I have learned more about them. Many of the things you mention either have deep reasons for them or else are popular misconceptions (if not both). Learning about them can make all the difference, but I'm going to stop now before I start talking too much. It's just something you might consider. ;D
Sorry if anything I've said has been offensive in any way.
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 24, 2006 3:29:06 GMT -5
Catherine - don't worry, no offense taken. subtlecollision - I don't intend to go into an argument, either, but we can have an intelligent and peaceful discussion. I don't hate Christianity, not at all. I believe we have to respect all religions. The thing is, I never felt like Christianity offered me what I needed as a human being. Never gave me the chance to grow and develop - it seemed to me like it was a strict confinement of mostly archaic rules. Maybe that's fine for some people, but for me as an individual, this was not what I needed at all.
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Post by kim on Jul 24, 2006 9:20:39 GMT -5
all religions are like that, thats another reason i dont like religion. it constricts you, you have to follow certain rules and i like being free. i dont like the fact that if you dont do something your going to be punished, which happens in alot of religion.
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 24, 2006 9:25:01 GMT -5
Yeah. But what's currently looking very attractive is Wicca - the main law of which is 'An Harm Ye None, Do Waht Thou Will.'
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Post by subtlecollision on Jul 24, 2006 9:58:21 GMT -5
I can't say I agree with that. At my church, we are told that you can believe whatever you want. Even as I was getting confirmed, I had to write a truth statement to show what I personally believed. For me, I'm not at all constricted. If one believes just a little of what the reverend says, one can go to church and be benefitted from it.
And even if you don't go to church, you can believe whatever you want. There are different interpretations in the Bible, so you can't really say everyone believes the same thing.
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Post by Brighitta on Jul 24, 2006 10:12:26 GMT -5
I agree that faith is something so intimate and personal that one simply cannot be caged in a set of rules- it is something that has to be individula, to fit every person's need.
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Post by subtlecollision on Jul 24, 2006 11:32:10 GMT -5
I'm just wondering, what, if you look for a religion, would you want, then?
That's not really what I meant. In religion, one supposses that there is a god who rules everything and that he did thing in certain ways (like creating the earth etc.) and he wants people to live a certain way. Since religious people are striving to understand what really happened and how they should live, then shouldn't their faith all be the same (if they, indeed, reach the ultimate conclusion)?
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