The One True Religion

[Brianwarnock]

I just know that christianity is practised by hypocrits who hide behind the religion to make themselves appear superior.
Col

This is a bit strong as it suggests that it applies to all christians, but I'm sure that we have all met some who are not like that.
I personally would not dismiss a religion because of the behaviour of some of its followers, anymore than i wou;d blindly follow one.

Brian

 

[Mile-O]

I would say that a religion is chosen to make someone appear moral, but there is no link between religion and morals.

 

[ColinEssex]

Col if there is a god then I'm more inclined to the Greek/Roman view of many bickering gpds with us caught up in the middle,

Thats a good point.

The christian god so say gave us a free will and washed his/her hands of it after that, so natural disasters etc we're left to cope with ourselves.

I will say in seriousness, that the Americans are really quick to respond with help if there is a big disaster in the world. They're not so quick on home soil (like Katrina) but credit still due in my book.

Anyway, my wording was a bit strong, I should have said "christianity is practised by many hypocrits"

Many christians and non-christians do excellent work for others. It makes you wonder though if its in their nature anyway to do it - and nothing to do with religion. Take Mother Teresa - its natural for her to have done what she did, I doubt she would have done differently if she wasn't a nun.

Col

 

[Brianwarnock]

Take Mother Teresa - its natural for her to have done what she did, I doubt she would have done differently if she wasn't a nun.

Col

My bet is that she would say that her faith gave her the strength to do the work, and i am sure that if one does have a deeply held faith it would help in many circumstances, I know my mother's faith gave her comfort in her later days, pity they were such bastards during the rest of her life.

Brian

 

[ColinEssex]

My bet is that she would say that her faith gave her the strength to do the work, and i am sure that if one does have a deeply held faith it would help in many circumstances, I know my mother's faith gave her comfort in her later days, pity they were such bastards during the rest of her life.

Believing in something does help, but the main drive has to be seeing the results of ones labours and how it benefits others.

Sorry about your Mum, mine was the same.

Col

 

[Brianwarnock]

Col
I noticed some of our friends across the pond signed in and read this thread , but have now gone!!, as I must do to pick up the boss

Have fun

Brian

 

[ColinEssex]

Col
I noticed some of our friends across the pond signed in and read this thread , but have now gone!!, as I must do to pick up the boss

Have fun

Brian

I'm off out to a meeting soon anyway

Catch you later

 

[KalelGmoon]

As I was trying to say, I don't think it's important which one is chosen. As the saying goes "All roads lead to Rome"

It is perhaps only our failing to believe in ourselves, that gives us cause to crucify others.

My personal opinion and yes my opinion and no one elses, is that all religions are correct. look at Judaism and Islam and Christianity. The basic teachings are all the same. be a good person, dont kill etc etc. I like to thin of it as something like the way you teach children. no one way is the right way to teach everyone. some kids are a little slower or they need to be taught a different way than these kids over here.

but again that is only my opinion take it as you will

 

[ShaneMan]

Surely any religion teaches on how to live your life to the benefit of mankind, being a good nice person etc etc whilst you're alive. The heaven bit is the reward for living that good life - not killing, stealing etc etc

Too many people think they can go to church once a week and then be a complete bastard the rest of the week, but surely it doesn't work like that does it?
Col

Col, we've gone over this before and I'll still say the same thing. Sad but true. There are way too many people who use "Christianity" and God as a magic wand and believe if they do something then they are alright or if they go to church, say their prayers, then they can live how they want after that and start the process all over again. I disagree with that life style and believe it is not what the Bible teaches. I not going to dive too deep into this subject because it is not my place to change someones mind or win a debate. I believe that I know there are many things stated about christianity, here, that are so far from the truth and certainly are not my experiences. I am one of those folks who's life was in partying, drug, drinking and did not care too much about God and anything He could have done for me, but when I was around 20 years old, I had someone take the time to introduce me to the God of the Bible and now I am one of those simple minded, can't reason for myself, blind christians. What I do know is that my life is not the same and that I would not trade it for anything anyone else could offer me. I believe that many things stated here are misrepresented but I'm not going to spent time debating them because in the end it really doesn't accomplish anything. Hope this makes at least some sense to you.

 

[KenHigg]

Yes, I did. Why would you think I'm wasting my time here?

Just that you have a talent with words. I didn't mean anything personal.

 

[KenHigg]

Thats a good point.

The christian god so say gave us a free will and washed his/her hands of it after that, so natural disasters etc we're left to cope with ourselves.

I will say in seriousness, that the Americans are really quick to respond with help if there is a big disaster in the world. They're not so quick on home soil (like Katrina) but credit still due in my book.

Anyway, my wording was a bit strong, I should have said "christianity is practised by many hypocrits"

Many christians and non-christians do excellent work for others. It makes you wonder though if its in their nature anyway to do it - and nothing to do with religion. Take Mother Teresa - its natural for her to have done what she did, I doubt she would have done differently if she wasn't a nun.

Col

Why can't you be more like this all the time? If I try to stop being a butt will you?

 

[jsanders]

I don't believe anyone is going overboard. It would seem your illustration doesn't exist.

Really? then why even care at all?

I can tell you, I could care less about what you believe and I don't make statements saying it’s ridiculous.

The very act of trying to persuade someone that their beliefs are flawed is fanatical.

I’m merely pointing out, that it seams to me, that atheist are a pretty fundamentalist group.

 

[Bodisathva]

I’m merely pointing out, that it seams to me, that atheist are a pretty fundamentalist group.

(Just trying to continue that train of thought, so bear with me.)
How many "athiests" do you personally know? Perhaps, as with all things, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. You perceive "fanatacism" because the "fanatacism" is what brings it onto your personal radar. Much like many in rural America perceive all Muslims to be extremist because they simply do not know any.

 

[jsanders]

Thats a good point.


I will say in seriousness, that the Americans are really quick to respond with help if there is a big disaster in the world. They're not so quick on home soil (like Katrina) but credit still due in my book.

Col

Actually Col,

We were “willing” to come to the aid of Louisiana, but the idiot and his programs demoralized FEMA. Between his political appointments to his obsessive fervor over terrorism, FEMA was left with most of the career administrators and mangers taking early retirement.

So much for less government, it’s a bit like Napoleon, whacking the heads off his best sea captains, and starting a navel war with the British.

 

[jsanders]

(Just trying to continue that train of thought, so bear with me.)
How many "athiests" do you personally know? Perhaps, as with all things, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. You perceive "fanatacism" because the "fanatacism" is what brings it onto your personal radar. Much like many in rural America perceive all Muslims to be extremist because they simply do not know any.

You're exactly correct.

Mostly the only ones I know, post on this forum.

 

[jsanders]

Why can't you be more like this all the time? If I try to stop being a butt will you?

Is that within ya'lls Charter? I thought it was an edict that the line was drawn here.

 

[Matt Greatorex]

The very act of trying to persuade someone that their beliefs are flawed is fanatical.

This isn't right. If I believe wholeheartedly that fire can't hurt me and constantly try to walk into burning buildings as a result, you calmly trying to convince me that I'll be hurt by doing so isn't fanaticism. You're looking out for my well-being.

By the same token, if someone joins a cult where they are at risk of mental or physical harm, another person trying to point this out isn't fanatical.

Applied to religion as whole, if I believed something or other to be true because I'd been taught that it was. Somebody else pointing out inconsistencies in the teachings isn't a fanatic, they're allowing me to make a more informed decision (which may well still mean my believing in the same things, but for a different reason).

For the sake of argument, if I believed totally that it was wrong to kill/murder, based on one part of a holy text, what would be wrong with someone pointing out that another part of the same text instructs me to allow the men of my city to stone my son to death if he's rebellious?

One is a direct instructon not to kill - no exceptions, no explanation, very clear cut. The other seems to be an exemption to the rule. Surely, if one accepts either as being true, it automatically precludes the other? That said, if at least one area of the text is incorrect, who's to say others aren't? Other areas that I may have based my life decisions around. By having inconsistencies pointed out, I am better able to decide for myself what to believe in or reject.

 

[Rich]

Mostly the only ones I know, post on this forum.

Such as ?

 

[KenHigg]

Is that within ya'lls Charter? I thought it was an edict that the line was drawn here.

I'm flexible. I guess we'll see if he's game when he checks in -

 

[Rich]

If I try to stop being a butt will you?

Why do you need to try to stop, can't you just be constructive like Col and me?