Religion

Vito, that's not even close to the worst case scenario. Worst case is that there is a God, but there is no Savior -- be it anyone's version. I have not and do not live up to the standards of the Book of Mormon, the Qur'an, the Talmud, or even the Bible. I'm not good enough.

If there is no God and we all just die, I've lived a pretty good life and helped some people, but I've also lived the vast majority of my life in restriction and denial, and Ecilam would tell you there isn't a much worse way to live.

Thank you very much for your kind words.

I try to live what I believe, and I'm not much on false fronts anymore. It just makes life too complicated, and life is complicated enough. To be devil's advocate with you though, if the purpose for living the life I do is false (i.e. there is no God), how meaningful is my life really?

 

Ok I will grant you that. And maybe even revel in it, sort of like a black panther for athiests. If I convert a few, or cast a few doubts....hooray for the secular humanist front. What I meant was that I do not get physically or financially hurt by expressing my views on the internet, which would happen if I did so publicly. It is about time we had a method to strike back at the fundies without those sort of repercussions.

 

Then you're screwed. One of the reasons I personally have a problem with most organized religions from a belief standpoint is they seem to limit God to a omnipresent overseer with a checklist for passing into the afterlife. It seems that we as humans prefer an anthropomorphic God. From the earliest myths to modern religion, we seem to give to the higher power qualities that we have, both good and bad. If that is what God truly is, then you aren't the only one who is screwed.

Yep, even we of the agnostic/athiestic stripe are guilty of the same. I hope that everyone could find the answer to escape that type of life. For many, religion is the answer. For many, it isn't. My personal belief is that there are as many paths as there are people. That's just me.

Just calling it like I see it.

To you, it may seem to be less meaningful. To those you touch, you help, it has great meaning. How meaningful is it to do good only in the hope of a reward either here or in the hereafter?

 

>>Ok I will grant you that. And maybe even revel in it, sort of like a black panther for athiests. If I convert a few, or cast a few doubts....hooray for the secular humanist front. What I meant was that I do not get physically or financially hurt by expressing my views on the internet, which would happen if I did so publicly. It is about time we had a method to strike back at the fundies without those sort of repercussions.


So basically, it's not a matter of right or wrong at all. It's about trying to hurt others because you feel hurt? A second wrong, more broad than the first, makes a right.

 

Big Vito

 

Close....the religious folks have been persecuting the unreligious for so long it is refreshing to have an opportunity to tell them what a bunch of assholes they have been.

 

Taking the actions of the few and grouping them with them all, so as to not learn from the lessons you'd want them to learn.

 

Try taking the actions of the many. I have never engaged in a civil conversation with a "religious" person and not been reviled.
Edit...that is in NC.

 

Listen. It's not that I'm trying to be the pain in the ass to you, that you're trying to be to any Christian who'll listen from behind the safety of a computer.
I don't hold ill will toward you for having your religious opinions. My personal feeling is that anybody who is rude to you because of that isn't a good person, and yes, that has absolutely nothing to do with their religious belief. It should, but it hasn't. That shouldn't condemn the religion.

I also think that chances are, your hate and disgust for people who you deem Christian probably aren't heavy about their faith, nor have you talked with them about it, most likely. So you're certainly being unfair to people you hold ill will toward, at least a strong portion of them.

I don't find it right that you can preach (intentionally used) the things you do, find it right in your heart, and then act the way you do as well. So while all along, before now as well, I know you're just trying to piss people off, I also know you're not being true to yourself.

And if you're not in belief - honestly, without the bias of hatred for Christians - of a higher power, you must be true to yourself. I think you've said so yourself. But you're not. You're contradictory. And I think you can be better than that. I think you can find honest peace in yourself, including about your religion, and you're not seeking that. That has nothing to do with religion, just with you being honest with yourself and finding out exactly what you do believe. I don't think you're there. I'm not, but I don't profess to have the answers.

 

You should know better than to generalize.