Religious Discussion 101 (See page 7)

When it comes to religion, I believe that there are miracles that happen on this Earth that are unexplainable and those such miracles can be seen as whatever anyone wants them to be either through divine interference or just plain dumb luck.  Because of those things, I can\'t say that God doesn\'t exist.  In fact, I\'m sure there is something out there beyond our comprehension that does exist, but what it is and how it came to be is anybody\'s guess.  I can accept and appreciate that and I can wholeheartidly throw myself behind that and say "hey, it\'s possible and I\'d love to meet them."  I can stand, agree, and believe that those things are possible.

As for the followers, they\'re the reasons why I don\'t practice religion, why I don\'t go to church, why I don\'t spend every waking moment doing good deeds, and why I don\'t care for most of mankind who choose to be so extreme with their choices in life.  I don\'t need religion shoved down my throat and I don\'t need some jerk telling me that I should "repent and be saved."  Why should I have to listen to this crap?  Is it insecurity on their part?  Why do I have to wake up every morning and have it rubbed in my face that I am not Mormon or Christian, or Jewish, or... take your pick.  People have beliefs, that\'s fine, but why do we need a church?  Why do I have to visit it?  Why do I need to pray?  Doesn\'t God know everything?  Doesn\'t God know how I feel or what I would like?  If he knows such things, he doesn\'t need to have them repeated for cripes sakes.

Let\'s face it -- God is watching while you masturbate.  I hope you cleanse yourself everytime at confession.  :rolleyes:

Masturbation is not a sin Ryu, you can breath easy...

Christianty is not meant to be a chore. Its simply a belief that one holds, to believe that Jesus is the messiah, the son of God, and that he died for your sins. Its as simple as that.

God wanted man to live, to explore, and to fulfill their destiny that he has created for you.

Sure, if God says not to do something, then you sure as hell don\'t do it, I mean, he is God, but if you choose to disobey God, then you have to suffer your choice. God gave as a will for a reason. He didn\'t want us to be robots.

Masturbation is not a sin Ryu, you can breath easy...

Tell that to the right wing extremists who believe it is.  Racer, you seem to think that the only religion I am referring to is Christianity.. How simple minded of you.

Sure, if God says not to do something, then you sure as hell don\'t do it, I mean, he is God, but if you choose to disobey God, then you have to suffer your choice. God gave as a will for a reason. He didn\'t want us to be robots.

I like that quote.  Do as I say or suffer for all eternity.  It kind of sounds like some exclusive club where a bunch of people get together to believe certain things in a certain way can not be compromised or changed when change is exactly what humans bring about every day for centuries.  It\'d be pretty funny how God would deal with cloning or how he has delt with war veterans who have passed on.  Because MAN feels the cause is just, does God?  The freedoms we take for granted were fought for and won by people who are potential sinners and because we live off of their labor, what does that make us?  It\'s ironic.  We send men to war, to kill for a just cause in man\'s eyes, under the guise that God is with us as we shoot, as we bomb, and as we eliminate.  Killing is killing, but we have the choice to throw our weapons down and stand up in the middle of a fire fight, but it\'s man\'s strongest will to survive.  How perplexing indeed.

Originally posted by Ryu
Do as I say or suffer for all eternity.  

i say that to Daisy all the time.


ahem


as for the topic at hand, i dont believe in god. at least not right now. i would like to think that maybe, just maybe there is some higher power, but i just cant get myself to actually believe it, or have faith that it exists. maybe down the road something will happen and make me believe, but thats pretty damn unlikely.

Ryu, Christianity is the faith I believe, so naturally I dissregard other \'religions\' as inferior.

Have you ever heard of \'an eye for an eye\'? Of course God knows that war veterans followed their hearts for the sake of their countries. God knows everyones heart individually.

Have you ever heard of \'an eye for an eye\'? Of course God knows that war veterans followed their hearts for the sake of their countries. God knows everyones heart individually.

Then what\'s the point of praying, trying to convert others, and buildings places of worship?  If God knows, then what\'s the point?  He doesn\'t need to be reminded, especially on a Sunday.  He would probably rather just kick back, watch some football, and have a little party with moses and friends.

I\'ve read Shox first post, and Vids first two, that is all...

So I will just say that in my opinion religion is nothing but a saftey blanket to help those who are affraid of being alone in life, get through their days..  it is also a crutch and a scape goat for underachivers, ie; "Yeah I could have gone to that job interview, but if Jesus wants me to be succesful than he will make me so..."  Quite frankly I loath religion, however I respect peoples beliefs and as long as they don\'t try to force their religion on me, I will not force my views upon them.

God knows everyones heart individually.

So what if a person chose not to believe in the Christian god or hold the Christian faith, but performs good deeds?  This person volunteers one day out of the week to visit the homeless shelter, signed up for a youth mentor program, and knits scarfs from the beginning of winter until the end.  Would this person still end up in hell anyway because of the lack of belief?

Originally posted by ##RaCeR##
Well, as everyone knows, I am a Christian, and not just one of those dicky ones that goes to church on Christmas day.

I do not classify Christianity as a relgion, more so a way of life. God never intended humans to be bound by laws and traditions, but to have a free will to make their own decisions, otherwise, why would have God given us a will? Gods laws, such as the ten commandments etc are their to protect us. God did not create laws to bind us.

You have interpretted that scripture entirely wrong. Man is not judged by works, but by his heart. God knows we are not perfect, and that we make mistakes. Not everyone has been given the personality/ability to be able to go and preach the gospel on city streets like Jesus did. God has given each and everyone of us gifts that make us unique. I believe as long as we use these gifts to glorify God, then thats all that matters. If you can only lead one person to the Lord in your life, maybe because your shy and timmid, then I believe you are just as high regarded as someone like Billy Graeme etc, who has led thousand to the Lord because thats his calling. Its the way you use you gifts to glorify the Lord that counts.

Exactly how I feel if I were ever to put my beliefs into words, Racer just spoke for me!!!

Originally posted by Rya


So what if a person chose not to believe in the Christian god or hold the Christian faith, but performs good deeds?  This person volunteers one day out of the week to visit the homeless shelter, signed up for a youth mentor program, and knits scarfs from the beginning of winter until the end.  Would this person still end up in hell anyway because of the lack of belief?

Hehehehe, one of my favorite arguements to use in a religion discussion.  well done.

And another question:
When Christians convert others into the faith, is it for the good of god or is it for the good of the person who\'s trying to convert others?  What if it\'s Jehovah\'s plan for people who don\'t believe to continue to be non-believers?

Originally posted by Rya


So what if a person chose not to believe in the Christian god or hold the Christian faith, but performs good deeds?  This person volunteers one day out of the week to visit the homeless shelter, signed up for a youth mentor program, and knits scarfs from the beginning of winter until the end.  Would this person still end up in hell anyway because of the lack of belief?

Where in the Bible does God ask you to go to homeless shelters and feed the needy? Does God ask you to knit scarfs?

NO WHERE.

He asks that you love him and believe that Jesus is the messiah, his son, the saviour. Works are irrelivant to God. Sure, God wants you to use your gifts for the good of man kind, but thats not first priority. By using your gifts, kniting scarfs, feeding the homeless, whatever, you share to them about Jesus, and how he died for them, then you are obeying Gods commands. God wants as little people going to hell as possible. It pains him that people have to suffer, but that choice was made by Adam and Eve in the garden.

To answer your question, yes, the person would go to hell.

Where in the Bible does God ask you to go to homeless shelters and feed the needy?
NO WHERE.

So you\'re saying that he doesn\'t want us to help out our fellow humankind from the goodness of our own hearts.  O_o

?  In that case, would be ok if I just stayed in bed all day doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and being a drain on society along with believing that "Jesus is the messiah," I\'m going to Heaven?  Nice deal.

The figure of GOD exists since the beggining of our intelligence. The fear to the death is so big that Man cannot believe everything is end after dying. Every human group, every society in the Earth has the believe of a superior creature in order to open a window to the existence of another life.

However, we are now in 21th Century and it\'s a little dummy to believe there \'s something after death. God nor life after deadth exist. Sad but true.