[dawgXdenta]

thats the question I always ask myself

[Judas]

Quite a number of people... nearly everyone, force run their lives in either strick service of god for the sake of it, or due to fear of him.

This is baffling.... beyond all reason.... It's just far to conflicting. How can you serve something, that according to the bibles... can't make up it's own mind on anything, or to allow for something so confusing and so utterly misinterpreted.

Some people get it in a good way and some in a bad. Obviously there are some that simply don't beleive and feel they've got complete and utter control over their own lives and then for whatever reason, purposely take the hard road.

99% of it all due where/when/how/what/why/who @ birth.

What is considered tradition, Cultureal, taken for granted, as well as the accepted norms, is actually more counter productive and the cause, then it could ever been a solution.

[dawgXdenta]

Judas sometimes you make absolute good sense sometimes you are just stabbing in the dark "chuckle chuckle", but i agree with you on this one

[OmegaRED]

Originally Posted by Judas

Quite a number of people... nearly everyone, force run their lives in either strick service of god for the sake of it, or due to fear of him.

This is baffling.... beyond all reason.... It's just far to conflicting. How can you serve something, that according to the bibles... can't make up it's own mind on anything, or to allow for something so confusing and so utterly misinterpreted.

Some people get it in a good way and some in a bad. Obviously there are some that simply don't beleive and feel they've got complete and utter control over their own lives and then for whatever reason, purposely take the hard road.

99% of it all due where/when/how/what/why/who @ birth.

What is considered tradition, Cultureal, taken for granted, as well as the accepted norms, is actually more counter productive and the cause, then it could ever been a solution.

I'd like to see more people have the courage to believe in a God but rejecting all present and/or known Gods exactly for the reasons you mentioned.

This just doesn't happen that often...teenagers spend more time in a week writing an paper or an adult working extra hours on the weekends than they do thinking about something infinitely more meaningful: the basis of their faith. The majority of "believers" invest themselves in the first faith they are introduced to and pretend all the inconsistencies don't matter. Whenever I've pushed this time of person on the subject they give me the typical "I just believe" response...painfully unaware how stupid that makes them sound.

I bet most people would be more upset over the fine print in a cell phone contract than some of the absurdities in the Bible.

[Judas]

personally i would be much happier if their responce wasn't "I beleive" to "I hope".... it wouldn't be as rediculious

[dawgXdenta]

all must choose their gods whether science self or whatever, time shall reveal truth, undoubtedly

[Judas]

for some.... truth doesn't reveal themselves...... they unfortunately slip away...

And i can make a choice not to choose any gods....

[jandarsun8]

I've seen to many things that are "religion" based screw more things up then not so I tend to stay away from it. Case in point, the Irish Church link I posted. Religion makes people turn a blind eye to things that don't work and gives them a reason to not take responsibility for them selves by thinking that going to church once a week on Sunday will clear everything up.

I live by a few simple rules, common sense, respect and responsibility. It's not all that hard, and I'm not worrying about the fact that if I mess up along the way, I may end up in "hell" because of it. You treat everyone else like you want to be treated and it goes along with way.

And that's my short answer.

[dawgXdenta]

Originally Posted by Judas

for some.... truth doesn't reveal themselves...... they unfortunately slip away...

And i can make a choice not to choose any gods....

haha!! we think of gods too literally in the post Christain world(i wonder why that is) i think anything can be a god, wife, kids, church, faith,Allah, God ,Jehova, money, its just another way of saying "My lifes phylosophy "

So yes Juda's methinks you have a God at that centre or temple is YOURSELF MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[RE III - Frankie]

I have always believed in God. If I ever turned I always found my way back. That was how I was am and probably will be. I have made a deal with my Father that when I die he can make my passing easier because I have suffered like an animal my whole life even though I have sinned somewhat also like an animal at times. thanks Father I am looking forward to it. Can you make me rich as an oil billionaire?

[Odinarius]

Pheeew, religion has been my subject of choice for many years now and there is so much to say... But I would have to read the thread first.

I`ll just say that I`m an agnostic, former catholic.

Despite not being able to believe in any theistic teachings, I recognize the value of religion, even though I don`t approve with all of it or it`s methods.

Believing in something gives you hope, and that`s immensely important in life. Suicide rates are highest with atheists.

Did you know that every religion out there has a confession? It`s therefore the universal value, being able to tell everything that troubles you, and every religion cares to that.

It goes on and on... I`d like to finish with a quote from Discworld:

"No man should become a god, because then he would have no one to pray to."

[OmegaRED]

Originally Posted by Odinarius

Believing in something gives you hope, and that`s immensely important in life. Suicide rates are highest with atheists.

That is incorrect, the suicide rate is high in countries which don't promote religious freedom (such as China) but all it takes is a look at the country itself to see why the suicide rate is so high. Among North Americans I doubt the suicide rate of atheists is higher than the rest of the population (although divorce and prison populations are lower for atheists so who knows).

I honestly don't see what people need "hope" for. Hope for what? Everlasting life beyond death? Meaning of existence? Why is this important? People should just try and make the best out of life and not hope for all this magic stuff to happen when they die; if there's no God and no afterlife you won't be bothered one bit. If there is...He has some explaining to do.

Personally, as an Agnostic Atheist, I'd never consider suicide as an option because I believe we only get one chance at life and you'd best not waste it. Once, you're dead you're gone forever. Blackness. No more existence. I like to think this is sort of what most atheists believe.

[Neshi]

but if this chance at life didn't work out, suicide might be an option. As there is no afterlife, there is no 'Hell' to be scared of or anything

Not that I promote suicide, I too try to make the best of this life as I think there are no do-overs, or an afterlife were you can gloat over the perfect life you've led...
But there were times in my life that I thought, if I'd get hit by a truck right now, I wouldn't care.

[RE III - Frankie]

Originally Posted by OmegaRED

That is incorrect, the suicide rate is high in countries which don't promote religious freedom (such as China) but all it takes is a look at the country itself to see why the suicide rate is so high. Among North Americans I doubt the suicide rate of atheists is higher than the rest of the population (although divorce and prison populations are lower for atheists so who knows).

I honestly don't see what people need "hope" for. Hope for what? Everlasting life beyond death? Meaning of existence? Why is this important? People should just try and make the best out of life and not hope for all this magic stuff to happen when they die; if there's no God and no afterlife you won't be bothered one bit. If there is...He has some explaining to do.

Personally, as an Agnostic Atheist, I'd never consider suicide as an option because I believe we only get one chance at life and you'd best not waste it. Once, you're dead you're gone forever. Blackness. No more existence. I like to think this is sort of what most atheists believe.

I have seen into this blackness that you talk about. It certainly is not a place I would like to adventure to any time soon. As for Afterlife? I think when we die that we become like ghosts and leave behind our old form in search of a new one to inhabit.

[OmegaRED]

Originally Posted by RE III - Frankie

I have seen into this blackness that you talk about. It certainly is not a place I would like to adventure to any time soon.

I've seen it too! Then I open my eyes and the blackness is gone.

[RE III - Frankie]

Originally Posted by OmegaRED

I've seen it too! Then I open my eyes and the blackness is gone.

You look outside to the sun shining down on the newly trimmed lawn and the plants glissen with a morning dew. Your mom passes by your room to tail off to work while leaving a faithful old and sick put by your side to watch as you rise to a new and better day full of life and surprises that you couldn't imagine would have even existed before you went to sleep the night before and dreamt about it.