POLL: Do you believe in one true religion? Or do you believe that any religion (within reason) is acceptable to God?

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: CRXican
No God, no religion.

I can be a good person without either.

The point of religion might to be a good person. That's not the point of a personal relationship with him, which is different than religion. Religion is just a set of rules and legalistic rituals. If you're looking for religion, you could technically call the world of computers a religion. If you want spirituality and the rest of what the Bible is *really* trying to teach (won't speak for other "religious" books), then read it and see for yourself.

 

[preslove]

"God" is the often anthropomorphized transcendent, universal plane that has been accessed for most of human history by various cultures using their own proprietary language and semiotic tools. Not every tradition needs religion to know and experience this plane. In a sense, this makes your use of the term "serve" sloppy in your question.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: preslove
"God" is the often anthropomorphized transcendent, universal plane that has been accessed for most of human history by various cultures using their own proprietary language and semiotic tools. Not every tradition needs religion to know and experience this plane. In a sense, this makes your use of the term "serve" sloppy in your question.

Interesting theory.

 

[WhiteKnight]

If there is a God, I don't believe that he/she/it is going to send me to hell for living my life as a good person even if I don't adhere to one particular set of religious tenets.

 

[Injury]

I believe that God judges you on your actions, not what religion you follow. Organized religion is a means of helping people in times of need. They are not a requirement of God's love and by no means is anyone religion more correct than others. If a person feels the need to pray seven times a day to be the best person they can, and lead the best life they can, then all that matters is that they feel that way. If a person feels that you don't have to be in church every Sunday to follow your heart, then so be it.

I go to church and follow a certian religion because I believe that in my times of confusion and need that my church can help me, not because I think everyone else is wrong.

If in the end I find the truth about God, then either way I know I will be satisfied with the way I lived my life.

Being religious does not mean being closed-minded.

 

[upsciLLion]

I don't really think about it.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
If there is a God, I don't believe that he/she/it is going to send me to hell for living my life as a good person even if I don't adhere to one particular set of religious tenets.

Do you think that the life of those who follow God's teachings are absolutely free of transgression against those tenets? If you do, you're misled.

 

[dderidex]

POLL SUGGESTION

Change 'god' to 'god or gods'.

Totally crapping on the polytheists, here.

 

[yllus]

No ominpotent, compassionate god(s) is/are going to be pissed because I called him Allah instead of God for a couple of decades.

If anything I bet he'd apologize with a self-effacing "My bad, shoulda got diz-zown with da miracles to drop the hint," slap my five up high and point me in the direction of the insatiable virgins. I mean, jeez, it's my fault that he isn't making his existence obvious enough? I'm only human!

 

[gigapet]

vote for new forum category for religious threads and discussion.

all in favor say I

 

[Electric Amish]

I definitely don't believe in religion.

God(s)? I don't know.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: yllus
No ominpotent, compassionate god(s) is/are going to be pissed because I called him Allah instead of God for a couple of decades.

If anything I bet he'd apologize with a self-effacing "My bad, shoulda got diz-zown with da miracles to drop the hint," slap my five up high and point me in the direction of the insatiable virgins. I mean, jeez, it's my fault that he isn't making his existence obvious enough? I'm only human!

Wow. Interesting imagination you have.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: pyonir
*grabs popcorn*

*Pulls up a chair, taps keg and pours a cold one*

 

[Yossarian]

I believe that all religions are false, i.e. constructs of a fragile human mind unwilling or unable to grasp that we serve no special function in the universe, and when we die there is nothing.

 

[cosine17]

here we go again... :x

 

[Vic]

All the major religions are as equally true as they are equally false.

The differnce between saying "God" or "Allah" is the same as the difference between "God" and "Dios". "Allah" is simply Arabic for "the God" (unlike the English word "god", the word "Allah" in Arabic is singular non-gender only and cannot made otherwise). Do the French worship a different god simply because they call Him "Dieu"? Of course not.

At no point in the Bible is the intervention of priest or church mentioned as a requirement for salvation.

The greatest commandment in Christianity is "Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and Love thy Neighbor as thyself." All else is secondary. At no point in the Bible does it say that weekly church attendence or that choosing a particular sect of belief is required. All that is required is that one live a righteous life, something that any good, honest individual would want to do anyway, and would see nothing wrong with.

 

[DainBramaged]

I am a Universalist. There is a God and there is right and wrong.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Vaerilis
The real question is:
Why do you start a thread that will 100% surely turn into a blazing flamefest?

I'm sure there other people besides myself who have questions about God and religion and would like to discuss them. Its not about starting a flamefest its just wanting to discuss certain issues.

Yes, and an athiest-filled computer forum is the perfect place to ask.

:roll:

I don't understand the backlash on religion threads, I mean if you don't like to talk about cars then why jump into a thread about it. Same applies here.

You have a great point. However, KNOWING what is going to happen, why bother posting here about religion anyway? The thread is just going to get FUBAR and you know it.

If you have some serious questions, call your local churches. Talk to someone who actually knows WTF they're talking about.

How about this, why don't people like you AVOID these threads? Then we would'nt need to have this cheery little exchange.

Besides I've spoken with ministers at local churches.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Vaerilis
The real question is:
Why do you start a thread that will 100% surely turn into a blazing flamefest?

I'm sure there other people besides myself who have questions about God and religion and would like to discuss them. Its not about starting a flamefest its just wanting to discuss certain issues.

Yes, and an athiest-filled computer forum is the perfect place to ask.

:roll:

I don't understand the backlash on religion threads, I mean if you don't like to talk about cars then why jump into a thread about it. Same applies here.

You have a great point. However, KNOWING what is going to happen, why bother posting here about religion anyway? The thread is just going to get FUBAR and you know it.

If you have some serious questions, call your local churches. Talk to someone who actually knows WTF they're talking about.

How about this, why don't people like you AVOID these threads? Then we would'nt need to have this cheery little exchange.

Besides I've spoken with ministers at local churches.

"People like me" are here defending religion when it gets blindly attacked by ATers. "OMG, A RELIGION THREAD!! MUST GO THREAD CRAP AND BASH CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM (but bash no other religion) REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT!!"

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
LOL jjones...

I believe that man has a need for a God or god to attribute all things which he cannot comprehend with his feeble mind. It's just so nice to categorize and organize things incomprehensible under "God". Isn't it our nature to categorize everything in our mind so we know where to find it when we need it? I digress.

I believe not only in my religion (I'm a semi-practicing Catholic) but I also accept certain tenets from other religions. I'm of the persuasion that if there is a God or god that it/he/she is a unifying force if you will. That is, there are many different interpretations of one being. There are many differences between many religions but I find there are more similarities.

There is undoubtedly something to learn from everyone and every stance which is why it is folly to dismiss any of them. You could even take the pragmatist's view and say, "I'm going to believe in religion X *just in case* it happens to be true". I think most religions and persuasions of a certain G/god inherently profess and teach a way of life that is conducive to peace and well-being. If one finds a path or template that enables him/her to live an amazing life and be an amazing person, why not follow it? These are all just random blabbles. Spirituality is something you either have in you or you don't - it can't be taught and those who would look down on it are denying others the freedom of choice which they are so proud of.

I kind of agree with that statement to a certain degree. Even though I grew up as a church going person I can't honestly say that I felt spritually connected through most of those years. I kind of just went along with it because it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: meltdown75
LOL jjones...

I believe that man has a need for a God or god to attribute all things which he cannot comprehend with his feeble mind. It's just so nice to categorize and organize things incomprehensible under "God". Isn't it our nature to categorize everything in our mind so we know where to find it when we need it? I digress.

I believe not only in my religion (I'm a semi-practicing Catholic) but I also accept certain tenets from other religions. I'm of the persuasion that if there is a God or god that it/he/she is a unifying force if you will. That is, there are many different interpretations of one being. There are many differences between many religions but I find there are more similarities.

There is undoubtedly something to learn from everyone and every stance which is why it is folly to dismiss any of them. You could even take the pragmatist's view and say, "I'm going to believe in religion X *just in case* it happens to be true". I think most religions and persuasions of a certain G/god inherently profess and teach a way of life that is conducive to peace and well-being. If one finds a path or template that enables him/her to live an amazing life and be an amazing person, why not follow it? These are all just random blabbles. Spirituality is something you either have in you or you don't - it can't be taught and those who would look down on it are denying others the freedom of choice which they are so proud of.

I kind of agree with that statement to a certain degree. Even though I grew up as a church going person I can't honestly say that I felt spritually connected through most of those years. I kind of just went along with it because it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

Have you ever, at any point, felt spiritually connected to anything? I'm not just talking religion.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Nik

"People like me" are here defending religion when it gets blindly attacked by ATers. "OMG, A RELIGION THREAD!! MUST GO THREAD CRAP AND BASH CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM (but bash no other religion) REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT!!"

Good for you, but your previous replies were slanted against my right to post a valid topic.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: CRXican
No God, no religion.

I can be a good person without either.

That's how I feel these days, it's absolutely possible to be a decent person who contributes to the community without being religious or spiritual.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Injury
I believe that God judges you on your actions, not what religion you follow. Organized religion is a means of helping people in times of need. They are not a requirement of God's love and by no means is anyone religion more correct than others. If a person feels the need to pray seven times a day to be the best person they can, and lead the best life they can, then all that matters is that they feel that way. If a person feels that you don't have to be in church every Sunday to follow your heart, then so be it.

I go to church and follow a certian religion because I believe that in my times of confusion and need that my church can help me, not because I think everyone else is wrong.

If in the end I find the truth about God, then either way I know I will be satisfied with the way I lived my life.

Being religious does not mean being closed-minded.

In the end that's all that should really matter, unfortunately it seems like most people don't get it. Thus the birth of terms infidel and unbeliever.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: meltdown75
LOL jjones...

I believe that man has a need for a God or god to attribute all things which he cannot comprehend with his feeble mind. It's just so nice to categorize and organize things incomprehensible under "God". Isn't it our nature to categorize everything in our mind so we know where to find it when we need it? I digress.

I believe not only in my religion (I'm a semi-practicing Catholic) but I also accept certain tenets from other religions. I'm of the persuasion that if there is a God or god that it/he/she is a unifying force if you will. That is, there are many different interpretations of one being. There are many differences between many religions but I find there are more similarities.

There is undoubtedly something to learn from everyone and every stance which is why it is folly to dismiss any of them. You could even take the pragmatist's view and say, "I'm going to believe in religion X *just in case* it happens to be true". I think most religions and persuasions of a certain G/god inherently profess and teach a way of life that is conducive to peace and well-being. If one finds a path or template that enables him/her to live an amazing life and be an amazing person, why not follow it? These are all just random blabbles. Spirituality is something you either have in you or you don't - it can't be taught and those who would look down on it are denying others the freedom of choice which they are so proud of.

I kind of agree with that statement to a certain degree. Even though I grew up as a church going person I can't honestly say that I felt spritually connected through most of those years. I kind of just went along with it because it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

Have you ever, at any point, felt spiritually connected to anything? I'm not just talking religion.

Honestly not really. I do believe God exists but I don't feel any spiritual connection to him or anything else. (well maybe music)