The "Souls" thread got me thinking

Missouri Synod Lutheran, 18 years...

Scary, I know.

I think I'm going to split with that denomination within the next few years... too much female oppression for me... not that it has anything to do with my Christianity, but I'm tired and rambling. So sue me.

yes.. but dont parctice it.. i dont follow a religion

*Christian here* I was baptised at a First Christian church (I went back to the church my family went to when I was really little to be baptised), attended a Methodist church (when we moved, there wasn't a First Christian church nearby), and when I go to church now (which isn't very often), I go to a Baptist church... lol

hehe. believe it or not, yes i am. non-denomonational. i'm a youth praise leader, i'm on the worship team on sunday mornings, i do volunteer work at the church. and i love every minute of it. hehe.

for a long time i considered myself to be of no religion......but recently i've been reading a lot of stuff about wicca....and i agree w/ so much of it....that is what i now consider myself.

almost all of my really good friends have been christian though. i love them all dearly, but their faith just isn't for me. i tried reading the bible once (i own one, yes..it was given to me as a high school graduation present by a local family....i keep it next to my tarot cards on the bookcase ) and i ended up throwing it across the room...lol not a good sign there. why i threw it had to do with there being a helping index that had been added by the family.....and it said something about "christianity being better than judaism in every way".....and i hate that. no religion is better than another! it's a personal thing. and meh there was other stuff in there that irked my nerves as well, but i don't remember any of it. i'd have to look through it again to find it.

Pagan...own religion

No. I study the principles of Hinduism.

basicly i got sick of what i like to call "the christian bullsh*t land" and now i dont really know what i am

No I am not, and I do not want to be. Now, with what I'm about to say I am NOT saying Christianity is a lie or that it is bad in ANY WAY. I'm simply saying this as a viewpoint from my perspective.

Anywho, no I am not a Christian. It was slightly expected of me from my family to participate and I tried but I just didn't get into it. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Everybody needs something different and one thing is not going to make everybody happy, regardless of it's "real" or not. I use that term there very loosely. I'm really not trying to offend anyone here, and I apologize if I have. I perfectly respect a lot of what Christianity stands for. What I have a problem with are the type of people who DO try and force their beliefs on others. The kind of people, that in high school, tormented me in a lot of ways and called me "satanist" and "witch" simply because I listened to certain bands or wore a black tshirt every now and then. THAT type of religious follower that believes that if someone is different they should be smited with much furvor.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but does the Bible not teach peace and understanding and patience and acceptance? Just my theory.

</inane rant>

I nulled my vote basically because I think its good to believe in something, but there's nothing out there that suits me. Not as of yet anyway.

I'm an atheist, and have been for years. I study and practice some basic tenents of Buddhism and Paganism, but purely because they agree with my own principles and ideas of spirituality, morality, whatever you want to call it. I do have issues with some aspects of Christianity, but then I also have issues with some aspects of Judaism, Hinduism, and most other religions. I think at the end of the day it comes down to what works best for you, whether it be organised religion, your own practices or nothing at all.

Isn't an atheist someone who doesn't practice any form of worship?

I'm a Pagan through and through In fact I am going to celebrate Lammas (Pagan harvest type festival) tonight/tomorrow in the Yorkshire Dales I shall be baking a poppy seed cake and, if it's edible , I shall be eating that and meditating outside somewhere. Probably a Druidic temple type place if I can find it on the OS map. Should be nice and chilled out

I used to be a Christian (brought up as one) but I encountered so much hypocrisy that I just decided it just wasn't for me. I'm NOT saying that all Christians are hypocrites as some of my nearest and dearest are Christians. My Mum firmly believes it helped her get through her cancer and quite frankly that's OK by me! It's horse for courses. It just didn't sit right with me. Like Aries said they are supposed to teach understanding and peace but there are a sad minority who are quite happy to smite those who don't follow their way of doing things, like me for example It's a shame for Christianity in general that a few have to spoil it for the masses who are perfectly normal, sensible, generous, kind spirited Christians! But then I guess that's the way of the world

Sam
x

No, an atheist can practice a form of worship, they just don't believe in a god or gods (or goddesses), which I don't. A quote from www.infidels.org:



So it's possible to have Christian atheists, Hindu atheists and pagan atheists. It's fine to believe in the practices, just don't believe in the deity.

Strong atheist (as opposed to passive atheism). I've read the Bible, the Bagavad Gita (sp?) and parts of the Torah, and quite apart from disbelieving them, have some big moral and ethical issues with some of the things they say. I'd be happy to debate it (debating religion is one of my favourite things to do, religion is one of my biggest interests) but I don't think this is the thread for it.

I went through a short interest in Christianity when I was small...then I realised how boring it is...
If the Church of England was to take on a Gospel kind of attitude, I'm sure more people would take notice.
If God (if there is a god) is sitting up there on a big fluffy cloud, I'm sure he wouldn't want us singing dirge in a dead language (Latin) as the Church of England seems very fond of doing. We sould celibrate life, not mourn for it.

No, not a christian, nor do I want to be. I was raised mormon until I was nine and my religious rebellion started and I stopped going to church. Religion fascinates me though and I read books on different kinds of religions to try to find what suits me best, and I kind of pick and choose here and there. What I'm studying though totally depends on my current fascination. My first religion that I was obsessed with was jeudism (sp? i'm tired) following that came druids, then wicca, etc.

I am an athiest. Sometimes I think I would like to be religious, I'd like to have something to believe in, but I've just become so anti religion after growing up like this I don't think I could ever go into a religion. So many times it's felt like god hates me and so many times I have questioned whether or not there even is a god I don't think it would work. So basically I'm an atiest who isn't all that sure of herself who only wished she was religious.

Oooh debating things is fun! :D

I am an aethist but if i had a religion it would be pagan. Too much of my life is screwed up atm to have a real religion though. I practise witchcraft with my friend KT and thats enough for me

Just remember, God loves you all


And I do too!

I was raised in a Catholic/Baptist/Evangelist home(?), long story, and as I've grown I have begun to treat it as Santa Clause...it was cool when you were little, but as you grow you realize who does all the work... it's dissapointing at times, but there are a lot of beliefs and practices that I don't subscribe to in Chritianity.

First, the laughable intolerance to people that don't follow the ways of that particular "branch" of christianity because everyone else is "wrong".

Second, that anyone who doesn't know of JC, is doomed to hell.

Three, that our whole purpose is to live on this Earth to gain "points" to die and go to heaven and just be there praising this being for all eternity??? That doesn't sound too enticing to me at all!

But, if you want to believe thats cool with me, just don't try to drag me into church please

gain points eh? i never saw it that way......i see it as god needs companionship. we all need someone to talk to. hrmm.....well, i dunno wes. at least you're happy.

I like that statement.... lol

A lot of people have said that Christians are judgemental of others and make it sound like Christians are intolerable of other people and beliefs besides their own. I know that there are some Christians who are like that, but I think that there are people of many other religions like that too... Not all Christians are like that either. I believe in God and the Bible, but I don't think less of anyone else who doesn't... it isn't my place to say what is right and wrong for anyone else.

That's very true... all ya need to do is look at places like Ireland or Algeria... very nasty stuff goin on, all in the name of "religion"...

I dun follow any religion, an regardless of what's been said about the term "atheist", I still prefer to use "agnostic", as I feel that sums me up more. I always felt that atheism was more about choosing not to follow, whereas I've chosen not to choose at all...

I'm an athiest, although I USED to be Christian.

Mind sharing your deconversion story with us?

Well... honestly, I thought about it really hard and wondered why must we need a higher being to depend on? Why can't we just depend on ourselves? Do we really need someone else to help us through everything?

And I guess... I just decided I didn't need God anymore.

Fair enough.

People should think more. So many people go through their lives believing what they were brought up to believe, and never questioning it. I think everything should be questioned. If your faith (or lack thereof) can stand up to your questioning, fair enough, but it annoys me when people believe something they've never really thought about.

Actually, my parents were Christian, until my mother almost died in a car accident and they lost faith. I stayed Christian, though, until now. It's weird how ever since I was 4 my parents encouraged me to be athiests but now I have gone that way myself... o_0

I'm a Jonmanist.

It's a minority religion that holds much in common with many of the more common religions (be generally nice to people, don't murder or steal, and definitely don't covet any asses, your neighbours or otherwise), but with the main and overriding principle being to love yourself and those dear to you, and to do everything to can to make those people (including yourself) happy.

Now, if I can get all this down into a book, fill up the rest of the pages with some mumbo jumbo, I could have a bona fide religion going on here.

Ha ha.

Well, I think it's a nice religion, except it may be too conceited to name it after yourself, eh?

Hello? Christianity? Jesus CHRIST?
Buddism?





P.S. before anyone flames me, take a close look at my cheek, and see the tongue placed firmly and irrevocably in there.

True... but what about Catholicism? (sp?)

Yeah, invented by Jeff O'Lick (an Irish guy), who named it after his wife, Catherine.

/me must try harder to stop spamming Issues Forum with irreverant nonsense.

I'm a devout Christian. My beliefs are rather simple. God is omnipotent, all knowing and everloving. Jesus Christ was the Son of God who was born of Immaculate Conception, taught, was crucified, died, was buried and rose three days later. I believe we are saved by Grace which is a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and dedication to living in a godly manner.

I'm kind of iffy on churches because I feel that a lot of them stray from the message of God that is love. I also don't like dealing with a lot of the dgma that seems to come with church, for example, I want to have sex before I'm married, smoke weed and get tatoos so long as they don't interfere with my relationship with God.

I also have a lengthy though simple theory about the Will of God that is very basic yet hard to understand and even harder to explain. This comes from years of study, meditation, thought and reserch of Christianity as well as other philosophies, especially Taoism. I would attempt to explain it, but I have work in the morning.

Here are some random thoughts about my beliefs:

The difference between a religeous man and spiritual man is that a religeous man doesn't want to go to Hell while a spiritual man's already been there and doesn't want to go back.

God is love. Christianity is a cult.

The most important things we as Christians can do is 1) love, 2) be loved and 3) not judge.

God doesn't hate you for who you are. He loves you for what you can be.

The people who love to tell everyone else how wrong they are are the exact kind of people Jesus was sent to denounce.

If the bible was inspired by the Holy Ghost, shouldn't we be focusing more on that than the book?

My allegence, first and foremost, is to God. I am a part of the Church Universal at my discrescion.

Baptism doesn't make a person holy. Atheists have a similar ritual. It's called bathing.

Just because it says "Chirstian," it doesn't mean it's godly.

Amen, Rightous. christains who focus on the flaws of others are JUST LIKE the Pharisees of Christ's time. Though, as difficult as it may be at times, we have to love them too. Even if they make a mockery and spectacle out of christianity.

I don't think I could have said it any better, Espresso.

okay, that has to be the most amusing, yet true, thing i've read all day. thank you for your comments, and the smile you've just provided.

I find it interesting that you, me and many others here are not textbook Christians. I'd like to be a minister one day and that's what I want to focus on, the people that Christianity forgot like gays, tatooed people, alternatives/goths and basically anyone who needs some good love.

Maybe I'm wrong on this one, but It seems to me (where I live, at least) that Peganism, Druidism and Wicca seem to be the fastest-growing "fad" religeons. It seems like every time I turn around, someone is joining one of these three religeons just for the hell of it, not seeking any real spiritual benefit. Buddism gets a bad rap because of all these people becoming Buddists out of attention. Stuff like that really sickens me.

i was raised a christian, given all the talks of what not to do and what not... but now i consider myself an atheist...

I was absolutely NOT raised Christain. I had little exposure to the Christain faith, and just "converted" (i hate that word for some reason) 6 years ago. Best decision i ever made.

Rightous, you press on and do what you want to do. If Christains focused all their time on "holy" people, what happens to the rest of the world who we never take the time to even smile at?

Seriously. Jesus hung around whores, Gentiles and tax collectors, the lowest of the low. Isn't that a good model for the rest of us?

As for me, my mom is a little church lady, but she never forced her beliefs on me. I was, however, exposed to Christianity all my life and it laid a lot of foundation for my Faith.

If only there were more Righteous's and less Jerry Falwells in the world...

I'm an athiest, I've never believed in a God in any sense. I don't like the fact that some people depend on a "higher being" and live their lives in a way that he/she would see fit. I believe I am a moral person, some of my actions may have a basis in religion, such as don't kill etc, etc but I don't follow these because they are the rules set out in a paticular faith...I follow them because I believe that all people deserve to be treated equally. I believe that morality is a fundamental rule that does not originate from Christianity or any other religion...it's an individual perception on life that some people have and others haven't eg, some people believe stealing is wrong, others don't care.

What really annoys me is people who try to convert you to their religion...I don't think religion is something that can be forced, it is a decision that can only be made through personal belief and experience.

Amen to that one brother.

"Love thy fellow man. Unless he's gay, black, short, a bit smelly, poor or not from around here"
Not a very Christian outlook in my book, but one that I've come across from self-proclaimed 'Christians'.

I read something Falwell said once in which he managed to blame gays, atheists, abortionists, Pagans and feminists for September 11th. That really pissed me off - not just for the sheer stupidity, but because it seemed an insult to the memories of the 3000 people who died.

*looks for speech*

Here it is:

"[...]throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the Pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"

That, sadly, is true for some. I don't think they are the majority, however. As for myself, I thought long and hard on this, as I have never considered myself a member of any religion. It was several months before I made my decision (I'd been thinking about it since winter semester of this past school year). I think anyone thinking of following a religion should spend a long time thinking about it, to make sure it is right for them. It is, after all, a very personal choice. Or at least it should be.

I think it's also easy to tell apart those that are serious and those that are doing it just to be part of a "fad." It's just in their demeanor and the way they speak about it, you know?

But, the same could be said for Christianity, you know. A lot of people go to church, but don't follow any of the things that are preached to them (I mean main ones, like oh, not committing adultery). I'd say they are just going along with it to be part of a crowd, especially if they feel no remorse for their actions. I don't think, however, that they are the majority in that case either.

I read something recently that George W. Bush said that sort of connects to this topic (well, it did for me, anyhow). It was when he was still Govenor of Texas and some law was passed about Wiccans and the military (I can't remember the exact details, but I think it was something about them being able to object to serving for religious reasons). He said something to the effect of: "I can't believe anyone would consider a cult like that a religion. I seriously hope this is repealed." I find it funny that he would call Wicca a cult when Christianity was seen as one when it was first formed. People who still adhered to older religions thought Christians were rather...nutso. Plus what Wicca (not to mention Paganism and Druidism) is based on is older than Christianity anyhow.

I personally don't see why some people have to tear down other religions in order to make theirs seem better. I've never understood the whole idea of one religion being better than all the rest. It should be a personal choice, nothing more. "Let every person be free to worship whatever God s/he best likes." (loosely quoted from The Mists Of Avalon...I changed man to person and he to s/he, but I think that's all I changed).

You're right, candice, Bush said that. He didn't say "cult" though, he said "I don't believe witchcraft is a religion." Which it isn't, but Wicca isn't just witchcraft. He also said, and I quote, "[...]I don't believe atheists should be considered citizens or patriots. This is one nation under God." Paving the way for a future free of prejudice, that man.

Hmm. I would disagree, Commie. Why do you think it isn't a religion?

I got Bush's quote mixed up with someone else's though. You're right about that, he didn't call it a cult.