Religion

[B8]

If you vote you must post your opinion here. For Any who vote but do not post I ask admin to remove your vote. Poster who do not vote will be left alone.

[Chu-Chu]

Religion, like so many other organizations, groups, and syndacits that exist in this world are all meant for one thing, and one thing only. To feel like you belong. Religion is just an advanced, hyper-active form of this in action in the world today. Go to any city in the world and run into at least 2 churches. There could be 20 people in the town, and there will be more than one church. Why? Because, we are built on a foundation of freedom, the freedom to do what we want, and choose. What do the masses do when given the ability to choose for themselves? Studies show that they tend to form groups and follow others, conform. So, given the freedom of choice, humans choose to conform.

Why religion? Okay, well, religion does several things:

1) It is highly debatable. There are too many different religions to count accurately, no two are identical, all contradict eachother, and all contradict themselves. No religion, that has a 'holy book' is clear cut. They all have holes, or gaps, and have many events that are nearly impossible to have happened without devine intervention or without the possession of faith.

2) Faith. People want something to believe in. Why are we on this planet? Anybody know? For sure? No, nobody has any clue why we exist on this planet and for what reason. We can guess, we can make hypothesis and theorize, but nobody can know for sure. So, as human beings, we tend to seek out an illogical, but rational reason for the unknown. Why? Humans do not like things that they do not understand, or cannot control.

3) Conformity. People like to be a part of a group. Want proof? Go to a party. Who is having the most fun? Those that are mingling and having fun. Why? Because they are part of the social group that can maybe dance, can play games, what not. You take what everybody does at a bar, and throw in an individual that cannot do that stuff and watch them all night. They stick to themselves, and will only talk to those they came with. Why? because they don't belong to that group. They want to be with their group, where ever that may be.

4) Hope. People want something to give them a reason to keep going, a reason to change, a reason to live. What in this material world is there to cling to, if you take away religion? Money? There is no driving factor in this world greater than religion and money. Would you want to continue living if you were poor, living on the streets and religion didn't exist? How many people do you know of that had a religious experience, or didnt' commit suicide because of their belief in a higher power? I know several. Hope is what keeps us alive, hope is what drives us, hope is what binds us together. We hope to be rescued from the deserted island in the middle of the ocean, so we try to survive as long as possible. If we lost all hope, we'd die in the very spot we landed. Hope drives us to do things. Work for that raise, or promotion, that one day you will find a soul mate. Hope is what binds people into groups, makes them be there for eachother, makes us work together as a team. You hope to find the individual trapped under the snow, so you work as a team, hoping that your combined efforts will work better than everyone fending for themselves in the search.

I could go on, but I will stop now, before my post takes up multiple pages.

~Chu

[Kami]

i myself am a muslim, follower of islam. But im not as conservative as most are, and thats another thing i dont get *but ill dive into islam extremist bashing some other time* ... *not that im saying all terrorist factions are extremist for islams, and terrorists arent that bad of people really, they're kinda nice*

But anyways. i belive people should do whatever they please. as long as they're not trying to impose they're religion into their actions, or on other people im fine.

[UrbStylee]

I'm totally into Satan... (I wish I was Jack Black)

Happy devils day! 06/06/06

On a more real note I think Christianity is cool when you don't abuse it.

Ps. Jesus is an aimbot wallhacker (He used to be in this clan I rolled with).

[Caboose]

I find myself unable to escape the ineluctable grasp that this thread has created. Before I thrust myself into a defensive rage against what Chu posted, and somewhat UrbStylee, I will inform you all that this is my most sensitive subject. I do not take kindly to naysayers that attempt to make me believe that there is no God. I also do not take kindly to those that speak badly, in any way or form, about God, Jesus, or any other figure of importance in the Bible. Satanists should all die and bask in the Hell that they deserve. I am what you could call a passive extremist (if there is such a thing). I could not bring myself to watch "The Passion of the Christ." Now that I've told you all how I feel, I hope that none of you hate me or are mad.

btw, if you couldn't tell, I'm Christian. The denomination doesn't really matter, since I'm not able to attend its services anyway.

[Chu-Chu]

I do not believe my views are 'correct' or that they should be observered Caboose. I do respect religion and what it does for people, but I personally don't believe in it. It is my choice to practice religion in whatever way I see fit, even if that way is not practicing at all. This post is about what you believe, not what is right. Do not be offended by my post or go into a defensive rage against it. It is my personal opinion and I will defend it to the death. Personal Opinions is what makes us who we are, and I therefore will allow and respect anybody to have their own personal opinions, no matter how contrary they are to mine. As I said Caboose, don't be offended by my views, just accept it as my view, not necessarily the truth.

~Chu

[drizzt]

all religions have their flaws and most likely none are correct if there is a correct one that is why i voted i will find out when i die "if i die"(insert evil laugh).

[UrbStylee]

I'm Christian, and I think I've lived long enough to figure out that God has a sense of humor (a damn good one). Thus my earlier post... Although I do really wish I was Jack Black

ROCKETSAUCE!

Urbing

[Moe]

Death to all non believers! Cause when they die all their questions will be answered.

P.S. I fall under the same religion as Kami.

[agentx]

Atheist here... go me?

I actually have to agree with all the reasons that chu posted... people are afraid of the unexplainable. I actually love the unexplainable, it is awesome to not understand something. It makes me actually THINK about something. If everyone believed in god, where would our innovation be? Nothing could develop without doubt or the willingness to change something for the better. I believe in what is actually here, nothing more. If anything goes unexplained then I can only assume we are either not advanced enough to comprehend it (what started the big bang?) or noone has yet come across the solution.

But chu, we dont need faith. faith in ourselves, yes. But theories are actually held in the highest esteem in the scientific community- take the big bang or EVOLUTION. So when we have a theory that holds up, it is actually just a fact that can be changed when new information arises. The best kind of fact.

Conformity- hit that nail on the head. we are social creatures, you and I. We choose a group over the solitary scenario. Some people don't conform (the best people). However, I admit to want to be a part of a group as well.

Hope. This is the biggest one. We are the only animals on the planet earth that are conscious of death. In order to explain this (i have spent many a sleepless night over this one, i cant explain it), we created an afterlife. Then it just evolved from there. A lack of hope can drive people to extremes (take terrorists, for example).

But, long story short, I never wanted to be spoonfed what I consider mindless. I feel that we are past the point in which we need a crutch like "god" to keep us going.

I know that this will piss so many people off, dont care:

Religion is for the weak.

[Jonus]

I am a Christian. I agree with little bits of much that has been said. To me religion is a strong word. It takes the beliefs of millions and tries to sum it all up. I like to think of religion more as three things. Faith, hope, and love. The greatest of which is love. I believe that we all have faith in some kind of higher power. This is seen mostly in cases of danger or crisis. I can't tell you how many guys I served with in Iraq would pray or ask "someone up there" to let me make it back alive. Some of these guys had called themselves athetiests or non-religous. I can also say on the flip side that I questioned my faith and the exsistence of God when I had to see the things I saw for so many days. I still cry sometimes and have nights that haunt me and on days like Memorial Day I have a slideshow of faces of friends and what I thought were enemies. My whole point is that I believe we all believe in something, even if it's subconcious. Some people have to go the brink of death to find out, others don't. I'm not going to start a sermon here or tell anyone I'm better than they are. I will let you all know that if you have any questions for me, ask away. Ok, I've said my peace.

[Caboose]

agentx said:

Religion is for the weak.

i strongly disagree with your opinion.

[Chu-Chu]

Warning. If this stars getting even close to a flame war, I'm locking it down. Do not put down other religions or others views. This thread is asking 'What are your views' not, why are you right and others wrong. Tread lightly peoples.

~Chu

[Kami]

caboose said:

agentx said:

Religion is for the weak.

i strongly disagree with your opinion.

calm down, his opinion is his own.


*sigh* these things like religion shouldnt be talked about on forums, its too touchy.

[drizzt]

touchey smuchey that's the problem with americans these days well in my day (wich is actually now adays seeing as i'm 19 but bare with me) parents could beat their kids say in most cases what they wanted b/c if the person wanted to do something about what you said they better be able to fight you it's just that people werent as touchey feely as they are now look at the people who wont say under god b/c they dont "beleive" in religion (i knew i'd find a way to tie this to religion) this isnt really against their religion as far as i can figure they just want to be individualists and try to stir up trouple or in some cases sue people for money <--- the previous was a drizzt do urden statement dont hold anything he said about anything against anyone etc... See wut i mean Sigh