Religious Views

[Rose]

Wait, no, I like our Northern Ireland conversation. I was actually going to make a seperate thread before I saw the opportunity in here to make a comment . It's my thread, and I don't really mind. I actually like it.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by Rose

It's my thread, and I don't really mind.

But I do. Don´t hijack threads. Ever.

[The Avon Lady]

Oh oh.

[NEON DEON]

My dad was Protestant.

My Mom Catholic.

My wife is Jewish.

And I live in the U.S. where there is freedom of religion.

I work for a faith based Non profit organization called the Volunteers of America. This orginization does not seek to impose a specific religious belief just as I do not.

As for my view, I am intolerable of religious intolerance and I believe in god and not religion is my god.

[CCIP]

The term I recently invented is "Rabid Anti-Dogmatic Deist". It actually gets the gist of it quite well, although my understanding of Deism is even slightly unreligious. I do have my own (perhaps subjective) concepts of god, soul and other such things; calling me an atheist or agnostic would be incorrect. Deist is at least closest available.

The anti-dogmatic part comes from my inherent distrust of religious organizations and especially religious scripture (and the institute behind interpreting it). The rabid part is that yes, well, offensive as it may sound but I do literally think that when someone thinks it's truth and the only proof available for it is a quote from a questionably-sourced book or saying by a questionable authority, I consider that person an idiot at least to some part. And to me, no authority is unquestionable. To me nothing in general is unquestionable and I take no pleasure in having the answers handed to me when I can look for them perfectly well myself. Easy answers impress me only when they capture the essence of what I have reasonable proof for.

To me, morals, goodwill and good faith only come from free logic. I tend to snicker and make other unpleasant noises at those who say a person without religion or a faith in god (as a sentient being or entity) can't have morals.

I respect certain teachings. I most certainly respect the core morals of Christ and much of the Buddhist world view, but I by no means subscribe to either absolutely.

[cobalt]

athiest

[Immacolata]

Not sure if it would be nontheist or agnostic. Doesn't mean Im not a baptised protestant. I see nothing of gods so why can people claim they exist?

[Iceman]

John 3

[1] There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
[2] The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
[3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
[4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
[8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
[9] Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
[10] Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
[11] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
[12] If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
[13] And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
[20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
[21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
[22] After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
[23] And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
[24] For John was not yet cast into prison.
[25] Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
[26] And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
[27] John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
[28] Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
[29] He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
[30] He must increase, but I must decrease.
[31] He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
[32] And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
[33] He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
[34] For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
[35] The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
[36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.


Born Again at age 16...made it to 37...whew. Never thought I'd make it to 20...Doh!

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Tá an ceart agat, Madra Mire Seasca 's a seacht! Ach, a lá atá inniu ann, níl sé ró-tábhachtach san Tuaisceart.

Gaelic, maybe? Ah, where is my Corrs-CD, "Home"... Love the sound of that language.

[Rose]

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

But I do. Don´t hijack threads. Ever.

Whoops, sorry Gizzmoe.

[SkvyWvr]

Roman Catholic. Until my head butting run in with a young priest over my 1st son's Baptism (long story) .

[madDdog67]

man..didn't know a little of the Irish would provoke a s*******. I will only say this...I hope everyone in the 6 counties will learn to live in peace at some point. My hope is that it will be under the banner of a united Ireland. We'll see how *that* turns out. Tchocky, I'm embarrased to say you've overwhelmed my Irish capabilities lol...one of these days I'll have to get serious about it.

As for the original topic, I'm amazed at the amount of Christian bashing (not necessarily here) I see in the U.S....and anti Catholicism as well, these days. Once the priest molestation scandal broke, they were coming out of the woodwork...and the enmity between the left and the right in this country now is palpable, with religion being a focal point of that.

There are plenty of folks who seem to think the phrase "freedom of religion" means that religion should be erased from the collective memory banks, it seems.

[HunterICX]

:hmm:I,m an Non-believer.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Im pretty much anti religous in terms of having beleifs forced upon me. I beleive that everyone is free to beleive what they want and should respect others right to do the same.

Growing up as a kid i had christian doctrine and church ram rodded down my throat, and was dragged to chuch kicking and screaming. Now, as an adult, i can't stand the site of any of it. I intend to go to church only twice more in my life. My marriage and my funerial. Open display of christian rehtoric like Harvest bumper stickers, NOTW, jesus this that or the other thing, makes me irrate.

If i ever have a kid, i will not allow dogma to be ramrodded down his/her' throat like it was mine. He or she will make her own decision and i will respect it. Such curtisey was never afforded to me.

Don't live in the UK - you might not have a choice of it being ram rodded down your kids throat!

-S

[madDdog67]

[quote=SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Don't live in the UK - you might not have a choice of it being ram rodded down your kids throat!

-S

Actually, I did live in England for 4 years, quite some time ago. I haven't been back for 20 years, but I'm guessing I wouldn't recognize the place at this point, if even half of what I read is true these days.