What is it?

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Religious Discussions, Debate, and Comparisons at Religious Forums

No.

I'm not going to explain why, because it would be merely my humble opinion.

Btw: This would have been a cool poll to have. Either yes, no or not sure.

I am an Orthodox Christian, and for those of you who dont know, we are the original church before the Catholic church; they actually split from us. A little description to those of you who dont know, Orthodoxy isn't as "added to" as catholicism, and isnt as "stripped down" like protestants.

Yes im a christian and believe in god and jesus

I am not going to even pretend to believe for one second that humans are big enough and important enough to understand the meaning of the universe if there is one.

If there is some kind of higher power, doesn't mean we are going to live on after death. And likewise even if there is nothing there for us after death, doesn't mean there is no "god"....

To die, will be an awfully great adventure. Or... not.

I FEEL/ would like to believe there is something beyond our understanding, that is magical and amazing and Jodi Foster in Contact type thinggy but don't KNOW it.

I also think that religion is a way of controlling people, and is the cause of many wars, and serves a purpose only for people who need a gap to be filled in their lives, need to be part of a strong community, and is mainly supported by those who can't accept that life on earth may not mean anything and that they may not have a "purpose" and I believe that you can be spiritual, perhaps even more so, without religion.

I guess I am borderline atheist. Just as you can't prove the existence of God, you can't disprove it.

I think faith is BS, and is just a way of scaring people into following religion. I'm sick of so many people I know telling me if I don't make the giant leap of faith I'll burn in hell.

There is nothing wrong with confessing that you don't know what to believe in, in my opinion. In fact I think it a very humble conclusion to come to.

L.

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"They misunderestimated me."
--George W Bush

Hi, i can understand your point of veiw, but i dont think you've got it quite together yet.
I don't get controlled by anyone, its quite the contrary.
I don't like to do anything my youthminister says, teachers say, government say or anyone says, including mum and dad, nan and grandad, King, Queen, Bully, friend. you get the point anyway.
I'm a christian. Which means i love God and put HIM before everyone else.
Of course it involves control, we christians give our all to God, so he can be glorified in us.
I don't care what God does to me or with me, because I trust God so completely.
Its only HIM that i let direct me. And where ever he wants to go, i will follow. Whether it means losing my whole family, my pride, my selfishness, and everything that i hold close.
Its simply the fact that i love him, and there is nothing else to it.

I don't let people tell me to do things unless it says in the bible that god wants me to do it. Or if i know that God doesn't like it. I don't care what happens to me, its Gods wish that i want done.

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"Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the
same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."
- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Well good for you. You are entitlied to believe nobody controls you, (except of course all the people who wrote and translated the Bible)....but I am not going to tell you "I don't think you've got it together" though... that's just not polite.

Anyway, trust me. I've read the Bible, gone to church, learned about different religions. I was a confirmed Church of England Christian but rejected all forms of religion after the age of 20. But I am not going to make you feel like you have lost the plot because you don't share my beliefs.

The Bible says you should worship on Saturday. Do you?

Historically religion was used to controll the masses and some would say it still does. Think how much control GWB has over the US every time he mentions God. It is scarey.

I admire you for the faith that God exists the way you think he does, and that you have volunteered your services for his glorification, but how jipped would you be to find that he does not exist. I suppose you will never find out, so having faith and a fullfilling life placing all your bets on God is not really going to have a downfall. If it makes you happy, then that is good I guess. But the US president is using Christianity as an excuse to invade nations and gain support for his evil deeds. That's not good.

I can't have faith in or devote my life to a God that (if he exists the way you believe) is so unfair in his actions, letting thousands die of AIDS and starvation and war for example and so mean as to make me go to hell if I am not sure of him, even if I am a really good person. No, I don't even WANT that kind of God to be real.

I would rather worship the natural world (the greatest gift to mankind) and devote myself to that and to people who are suffering, something that needs help, is really there, and actually benefits from my efforts. If I go to hell for that, then so be it. I probably appreciatte the earth a lot more than most Christians, who think everything was put there for them to treat as poorly as they wish, encage, over harvest, and destroy. Newsflash, animals suffer and factory farming cannot be a kind act. Yet how many Christians do you know, are concerned for animals and their suffering so that they will not eat meat that has been factory farmed. I have yet to meet one.

I know Jesus was real and I think he was cool dude. but I don't buy the rest of it. And if that means I've missed the ticket to the heaven you're going to, that'll be your (cruel) God's loss and not mine.


L.

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"They misunderestimated me."
--George W Bush

Well, to be honest, I can really understand your reasons... I HAVE had these thoughts. I don't ignore these things and i hope one day i will understand why they are there.

Yes, religion has been used to control, and personally, i feel sick about it.
How can George Bush go to war and say it is God's will? It says in the bible that Peace was to be primary. 'Turn the cheek' sorta thing.

Well, i no its petty, but no, i don't worship on saturday because im a christian... Jews worship on saturdays... christians worship everyday. The day of rest no longer counts. Jesus expressed his views on this when he constantly healed on the sabbath.

Well, i wouldn't have so much faith in God, unless he had somehow proved himself to me. I'm human... i can't completely believe in something unless i know the facts... otherwise i doubt it... and i have. At first i was questioning everything. I kept testing God. But there are too many situations that i have experienced, that God has been a part of. And i just cannot deny his existance...

And, if you imagine what you have been taught... if you really sit back and think that this God is a God of Love, Justice, mercy and tenderness. A God of Hate... who hates the injustices of people... and a God of Jealousy... who is jealous for his Children... If he is these things, then he must have some sort of reason. I know he is much more powerful, much more intelligent and much wiser than me, so i have no problem trusting in him... and there is also the fact that Satan does all he can to turn us away from the relationship we can have with God. He creates stuff that will cause us to stray... and im not sure if its him that creates diseases etc... but its my best bet so far...

Also, you're right about nature... but worshipping it?

And yep! Jesus is COOL MAN!


AND, if a child, who would have the most questions, can get into heaven because of belief... then im sure you can...
its your heart that hes after... and if you're a good person... and you do it for the simple fact you want to be good... then i think you already believe to a certain degree...?

But you're right...
We ARE all entitled to our opinions... so...

__________________
"Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the
same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."
- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

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The last time this country mixed politics with religion, people got burned at the stake.

That reminded me of Dogma's Buddy Jesus.

Ahh...Great movie.