What religon/belief...... - Page 7

sodascouts · #91 04-02-2005, 12:32 PM

I am a Baptist. And the condescending attitudes of the self-proclaimed "enlightened" don't shake my faith one bit.

GateandGarden · #92 04-02-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I try to be respectful of all people's views..but a lot of times that respect is not reciprocated (ie - saying people who follow a faith are weak or ignorant.) I am not weak or ignorant - I know that my faith may not be absolute truth - but I CHOOSE to follow it because it gives me strength and comfort - and it feels good knowing that someone is watching out for me.

Last night was exhausting for me and I'm sure it's nightmarish to others to read through all the posts we made, but I hope you got far enough to see that I was by no means talking about you and your beliefs when I was talking about weakness.

Lux, on the other hand, well she did kind of strike down faith entirely.

DrummerDeanna · #93 04-02-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Last night was exhausting for me and I'm sure it's nightmarish to others to read through all the posts we made, but I hope you got far enough to see that I was by no means talking about you and your beliefs when I was talking about weakness.

Lux, on the other hand, well she did kind of strike down faith entirely.

Right. Which is something I don't understand. I hear people of no faith all the time saying they hate it when people try to shove religion down their throats - or belittle or berate them for not having a religion or faith....

Why then is it okay for those same people to belittle and berate people who do have faith and religion?

I'm just sayin'

eidt: And I'm not pointing any fingers here as I, too, am guilty of saying bad things about religious fundamentalists and Evengalicals...I was more just trying to raise a point

sodascouts · #94 04-02-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

well, no one would know if most people died, really. If they live by themselves. I'm thinking, just make sure you clean your house before you die...

but I guess Marissa would find you. It's fine to be insignificant. I take comfort in the fact that very few people would care if I died. It makes me feel free....

and? If you still have the cat? I don't think they can be counted on to alert people...

Very true. I've actually thought about this myself. If I died today, who would know?

Sunday: "Gee, Nancy's not online. Must be out doing stuff."

Monday: "I wonder why our teacher didn't come to class today? Who cares? YAY!!!"

"I wonder why Nancy didn't come to Latin class? Must be skipping again."

"I wonder why Nancy didn't come to tutor today? Maybe she forgot."

Tuesday: (different set of classes, different people notice I'm missing). "Wonder why Nancy didn't come to tutoring? Must have forgotten again."

"Wonder why Nancy didn't come to mentoring/Milton class? Must be skipping."

"Nancy's still offline? Wow, she must be REALLY busy!"

Wednesday: "Hmm, MAYBE we should check on her."

Thursday: "Hmm, MAYBE we shoud check on her."

Friday: Dead body found... probably. Along with my starving cat.

dissention · #95 04-02-2005, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Lux, on the other hand, well she did kind of strike down faith entirely.

And how are her beliefs any more rolling-eye emoticon worthy than the beliefs of those who put stock in faith?

DrummerDeanna · #96 04-02-2005, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

And how are her beliefs any more rolling-eye emoticon worthy than the beliefs of those who put stock in faith?

I don't think she was saying her beliefs in themselves are eyerolle-worthy.

It's the putting down of people who do put stock in faith that we were discussing - or so I thought....

golddustwoman77 · #97 04-02-2005, 01:39 PM

I have been Methodist all my life. I like the Methodist faith, because they are quite liberal which matches up with my idea of faith. The only problem I have with my faith (Christian) is that I see all the problems that organized religion of all types has created throughout history. I hate how religion has divided people and nations, because I don't think that is what religion is supposed to be about. Therefore, I have to seperate myself and speak out against that part of the religious experience. I take away from it the spiritual, love and respect everything and everyone, do not judge, and be excepting of all, because that is what I think religion/Christianity is supposed to be about. Truly that is what religion is---your relationship with your spiritual being and the kind of person you are/how you live your life, not the "circus" that can go along with faith.

skcin · #98 04-02-2005, 01:44 PM

My mom's Catholic, my dad's Bulgarian Orthodox. Me & bro were baptised Orthodox. My brother was actually baptised in our living room!

When my mom & dad were getting married in the 60's, her church didn't want to marry them due to the fact that my dad had been married before (at age 16 in Bulgaria) & had a child. They went to Precaina (big spelling error, I'm sure) but they still refused. What really killed her was finding out later that another wealthier couple in the same situation were able to marry around the same time.

My mom basically left the Catholic church at that time, although she still follows some traditions (no meat on Good Friday is one.) It hurt her so badly that the cornerstone of her upbringing - her faith - was turning her away because she fell in love with the "wrong" person.

We are non-practicing, our Bulgarian church is over an hour away & we haven't gone in years. It's nice & everything, but I don't speak Bulgarian so I don't understand what they're saying anyway.

I am not religious, but I think I'm pretty spiritual. I believe in God, and I have literally been brought to tears by the beauty God has created. I see things (a baby's birth, natural wonders) that make me think "God is great." But I do not go to any church, nor do I feel the need to. If God is everywhere, then I can talk to or see God anywhere, right?

skcin · #99 04-02-2005, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux

Oh wait I forgot to mention, I do believe in one thing. I just believe in me, Yoko and me.

I just spit out my drink.

dissention · #**100** 04-02-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

It's the putting down of people who do put stock in faith that we were discussing - or so I thought....

I'm of the belief that people cling to religion and things like God because they'd feel scared, uninformed, and alone without it. I consider that a sign of weakness. From what I've gathered, Lux has expressed the same belief that people who cling to religion are weak. And then I read a post in this very thread where someone said that people who don't have any faith are weak, too.

GateandGarden · #**101** 04-02-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

And how are her beliefs any more rolling-eye emoticon worthy than the beliefs of those who put stock in faith?

You mean such as Deanna? I see Deanna as open-minded. I see Lux as being narrow-minded like the fundies because she won't consider that there could be more than what she sees.

I'm rolling my eyes at extremism in general, on both sides.

I don't know. Perhaps I'm being a prick. Maybe there's a lot that I'm not seeing.

I don't want to tell other people what to believe and it doesn't affect me personally, so I could just keep my mouth shut and not post about this and such, but I honestly feel that I have something of a point.

Maybe I'm being too hard on Lux, as she has said before that she realizes she doesn't know everything, and sometimes I think that's all we all need to realize, and just take it from there.

Uh, now it seems that I've launched into my pseudo-pseudo philosophical meanderings. Time to stop, I guess.

GateandGarden · #**102** 04-02-2005, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

It's the putting down of people who do put stock in faith that we were discussing - or so I thought....

And I see your point here, to. To say that everyone who has any faith at all is weak is make a painfully unfair general statement, IMO. But maybe I interpreted Lux wrongly, again.

GateandGarden · #**103** 04-02-2005, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux

Oh wait I forgot to mention, I do believe in one thing. I just believe in me, Yoko and me.

All the debating/bickering aside, that was pretty funny.

DrummerDeanna · #**104** 04-02-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I'm of the belief that people cling to religion and things like God because they'd feel scared, uninformed, and alone without it. I consider that a sign of weakness. From what I've gathered, Lux has expressed the same belief that people who cling to religion are weak. And then I read a post in this very thread where someone said that people who don't have any faith are weak, too.

And that in itself is a very narrow-minded view. I don't "Cling" to religion - nor would I feel scared or uninformed without it. I have gone through periods in my life without religion - I just choose to practice a faith. Why? Because I like to think that ultimately there is a bigger purpose to life.

One doesn't need to have a religion/faith to believe that - it's just the way I am. I have questioned, I continue to question daily - but my association with a religion - or my belief structure do not make me weak - it's quite opposite actually - they make me stronger.

It's what I choose to believe - I have never called anyone who does not believe "weak" in fact I've never put anyone on this board down for not believing

I just would like the same respect in return. You cannot lump all religious or spiritual people into one group - same as you can't lump all non-believers into one group....

GateandGarden · #**105** 04-02-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I'm of the belief that people cling to religion and things like God because they'd feel scared, uninformed, and alone without it. I consider that a sign of weakness. From what I've gathered, Lux has expressed the same belief that people who cling to religion are weak. And then I read a post in this very thread where someone said that people who don't have any faith are weak, too.

I think you're simplifiying it. There is a way to look at the Bible and say, Hey, there's some value in this. There could be some truth to this" and on and on. (The Bible is just my example; the same applies to any book of its kind). But you don't allow your whole life to depend on it. You're able to say, "Yes, there could be other ways. There are other answers. Because we don't know for sure" and on and on. You can still think for yourself. The Bible does not think for you, but you consider what it has to say. (Again, the Bible is just an example). I think it's called being open-minded.