Questions

What are the questions you want real answers to? I'm particularly talking to the skeptics here, but I want anyone to feel free to post a question. I'm not suggesting that there will be answers - as a matter of fact, I'd prefer if no one tries to answer these questions - I'm just curious what questions people have about "religion".

I'll start with some I have.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why do the three religions who war against each other the most worship the same God and even recognize the same prophets?

Why does God allow hurricanes? Genocides? Famine? Terrorists? Mosquitos?

 

Because we live in a world that is broken, and subject to the free will of billions of messed up people.

Pride and power. Has nothing to do with the God they claim to worship.

For genocides, famine, and terrorists, see the answer to question 1.

For natural disasters, the most solid answer I've been able to come up with from the Bible is that the introduction of rebellion (i.e. sin) into the world also ushered in a manifestation of natural chaos. In other words, when man's free will chose to disconnect from God, the earth followed suit to some degree, and His ideal was lost. To be honest, I don't know how legitimate that is from a spiritual point of view, regardless of how ridiculous it sounds from a scientific point of view. But like I said before, that's the best answer I've been able to come up with so far.

 

Question #1. How do I get out of this mess?

 

Because God is a fantasy and Nature does not care about your individual life. Human assessments of "good" and "bad" have next to zero universal meaning and thus aren't rewarded or punished objectively.

Is this the part where I hold my tongue on my opinion on the shortsighted irrationality of emotional religious people so I don't get temp-banned from R&S again?

Cause and effect. Nothing mystical or supernatural whatsoever. The universe is amazingly complex and unpredictable enough all on its own without the need for vengeful old men in clouds.

Also, see the answer to question one.

 

tharan, you don't have any questions of your own about religion? even if it's something a simple as "why do they do what they do?"

 

I did at one time, my friend. But it is water under the bridge. You must learn to sit cross legged.

Why ask why, grasshopper?

 

fair enough.

 

I asked my question in another thread.

 

#1. Good and bad are merely perspectives of a point of view. When I was 8, it was bad to be kissed by a girl. What is a scar to an amputee? What is losing a bid on a job to someone who is unemployed? It is all perspective. What is physical death when you believe in eternal life? How many times have bad things that have happened to us in life made us stronger or taught us a lesson?

#2. Religion and spirituality are two different things. Organized Religion is often about power or organization. Spirituality is having a relationship with God.

#3 Natural disasters are forces of nature. Asking why God allows them is like asking why God allows it to be dark for part of the day or why God allows us to fall when we lose our balance. The others items are products of men. God allows men to make choices and terrorism and genocide are products of those decisions. If you allow the argument that God allows them, it might also be argued that God brings the right men to forefront to end them.

 

i really don't have any questions about our existence. it is what it is.

consciousness in general is an interesting thing to consider, but i don't think there are any real answers so why ask questions?