And its because of this, I will never set foot in a church

[funboy6942]

Nailed my feeling spot on.

But do not get me too wrong, I do believe there is a "god", I just believe what the church stands for and is trying push down my throat that is their version of their "god" I am to believe, is not the one that made us and all around us as we wake up each morning, but just their little personal ATM and washing machine for the masses. My version on god requires no money be given to it, or have to go to a special place, made by man, to worship it, and loves me no matter what I do, and if I do wrong by my fellow man slaps my hand hard, but doesnt send me to a place where I will be torched for the rest of my everlasting soul. When I screwed up I get a glob of bad luck, and when Im good, I get good luck, thats my god telling me and showing me the right and wrong was, and punishing me from falling off the good path.

But this is MY opinion, and not meant to be taken as I am pushing you to believe what I just wrote, so do not take it that way.

 

[RapidSnail]

I don't like modern churches. When you hve $30,000,000,000 worth of budget and lawyers to back you up in court, something's not right.

 

[Bumrush99]

This is my favorite George Carlin monologue.. I'm going to miss Carlin, he was so brilliant.

I'm sure he is rotting in hell now after the invisible man found out he spoke with such blasphemy!

 

[EagleKeeper]

Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

You act as though children that are forced by their parents into these churches at a young age have a choice to believe.

 

[XZeroII]

I've never been to a church that required you to give money. Granted, I haven't been to many, but I've never seen it forced upon people. People give because they want to give in most cases. If you go to a church that audits you and forces you to give, then it's not a real church.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
People give because they want to give in most cases.

people give because they believe they have to or they wont get "blessed" or may get on god's bad side
/went to church til i was 21 or 22

and seriously....myspace? carlin is all over youtube. bah to myspace!

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

But dont you think that is what happens though? Your parents get suckered into a church, and your born into it thinking its right, and bam, the church wins. I cannot tell you how many people of all different churches that have come to my door, when I moved here, trying to get us to come to their church, and how their church was the best, it felt like I moved to cult land it was so bad for about 6 months, the door never stopped knocking. And even still you cannot go anywhere being asked what church you go to, then when you tell them none, omg, its as if I and my kids are going to die, and they are ready to send dcfs to my home because we dont go to a man made building to sing songs, be told to be good, but if your not prepare for the most pain and hate you have ever seen by a guy who loves you, and btw, give 10% to me, I need some gas to get home, ill bless you for it and allow you into heaven when you die, if not, no big deal, rot in limbo.

Im serious, if their god loves me, or them, soo much, why will he do the horrible stuff to you if your bad, and were talking stuff your parents wouldnt do, or if they did would rot in prison for the rest of their life because if your parents did it, youd be dead, and meant they didnt love you, and would be punished for it. But if god does it to you its in the name of god and his love for you he did it to you. Have abusive parents stand up in court and tell the judge they beat the shit out of their kid, or killed them, all their life, in the name of love for them and see how long that will hold up, yet its cool for a "god" to do it to you when you die, with no end in site.
I mean come on, and it doesnt matter which church you go to its all the same, he loves you, but font fuck up or he will hurt you like a red headed step child, and though hes a spirit, and flies around watching over you, is always broke, but his deciles drink out of gold cups, have the best robes, glass slippers, and bullet proof bubble cars. RIGHT THERE is proof enough there is no "god" of theirs. Why do you need a bullet proof car, afraid of going and seeing "god"? When you got the people of "god" driving around in a bullet proof car, that says something. They preach all day that "god" does what he does for its "gods" will if you should live or die, then why you cheating your death if he wants you to get shot or killed one Sunday morning after church in your $200,000 car, paid for by the sheeple?

What kind of "god" says he has a reason for taking people when HE wants them, but loves you none the less when he takes both parents away form 2 children, in the process making them live a REAL life of hell trying to figure out how to get by without family or parents? Hows that love for one? What did a child do to "god" to piss him off enough to make both parents die, leaving a 18 year old and a 15 year old have t figure out how to live without their parents, or having no other family at all because they were always moving around 3-4 times a year, not knowing who anyone is, supposed to be love for them?? Its because there is no "god" as spoken in ANY church, for if there was a "god" like one spoken in a church, maybe he would of taken their parents, but would of given someone else to care for them and look after them so they wouldnt go through what the fuck they did end up going through, and still are. What was that a "gods" "MY BAD" situation?

But anyway, its any church, maybe your not being "forced" into it, but your sure being suckered, and then born into it. But if you just sit back and go hmmmm, wait a tick, or have some life alternating shit go down, and ask where the fuck were you? You may see the light.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

But dont you think that is what happens though? Your parents get suckered into a church, and your born into it thinking its right, and bam, the church wins. I cannot tell you how many people of all different churches that have come to my door, when I moved here, trying to get us to come to their church, and how their church was the best, it felt like I moved to cult land it was so bad for about 6 months, the door never stopped knocking. And even still you cannot go anywhere being asked what church you go to, then when you tell them none, omg, its as if I and my kids are going to die, and they are ready to send dcfs to my home because we dont go to a man made building to sing songs, be told to be good, but if your not prepare for the most pain and hate you have ever seen by a guy who loves you, and btw, give 10% to me, I need some gas to get home, ill bless you for it and allow you into heaven when you die, if not, no big deal, rot in limbo.

Im serious, if their god loves me, or them, soo much, why will he do the horrible stuff to you if your bad, and were talking stuff your parents wouldnt do, or if they did would rot in prison for the rest of their life because if your parents did it, youd be dead, and meant they didnt love you, and would be punished for it. But if god does it to you its in the name of god and his love for you he did it to you. Have abusive parents stand up in court and tell the judge they beat the shit out of their kid, or killed them all their life, in the name of love for them and see how long that will hold up, yet its cool for a "god" to do it to you when you die, with no end in site.
I mean come on, and it doesnt matter which church you go to its all the same, he loves you, but font fuck up or he will hurt you like a red headed step child, and though hes a spirit, and flies around watching over you, is always broke, but his deciles drink out of gold cups, have the best robes, glass slippers, and bullet proof bubble cars. RIGHT THERE is proof enough there is no "god" of theirs. Why do you need a bullet proof car, afraid of going and seeing "god"? When you got the people of "god" driving around in a bullet proof car, that says something. They preach all day that "god" does what he does for its "gods" will if you should live or die, then why you cheating your death if he wants you to get shot or killed one Sunday morning after church in your $200,000 car, paid for by the sheeple?

What kind of "god" says he has a reason for taking people when HE wants them, but loves you none the less when he takes both parents away form 2 children, in the process making them live a REAL life of hell trying to figure out how to get by without family or parents? Hows that love for one? What did a child do to "god" to piss him off enough to make both parents die, leaving a 18 year old and a 15 year old have t figure out how to live without their parents, or having no other family at all because they were always moving around 3-4 times a year, not knowing who anyone is, supposed to be love for them?? Its because there is no "god" as spoken in ANY church, for if there was a "god" like one spoken in a church, maybe he would of taken their parents, but would of given someone else to care for them and look after them so they wouldnt go through what the fuck they did end up going through, and still are. What was that a "gods" "MY BAD" situation?

But anyway, its any church, maybe your not being "forced" into it, but your sure being suckered, and then born into it. But if you just sit back and go hmmmm, wait a tick, or have some life alternating shit go down, and ask where the fuck were you? You may see the light.

Good points. The problem with many churches is that they are in the religion game for money or power. It's not hard to figure out what their motives are, just look at their actions.

 

[Saga]

The most amusing misconception about religion to me is that they claim you choose it. Sure - if by choosing it you mean it was a product of your environment because your parents went to church and you went with them and it simply became habitual behavior, then yes, you sure did choose.

I mean lets face it. Take an atmosphere where you have been sheltered from religion your entire young life. Then, if you were to line up a priest with all the major religions and put them in line and then at the age of 16 or something you sat down and talked to all of them on an individual basis and had to make a mature and educated decision on which one you would follow, do you still think you would blindly follow the same religion as your parents?

Shit, I'd venture to bet the majority of people would simply ignore them all for practicality reasons alone. Living your life the way YOU want to, based on your OWN morals, would lead you to question why you suddenly need to abide by the book of other. The best part about his skit is when he states quite seriously; "But he loves you! ..and he always needs more MONEY".

 

[db]

And then you have the popular and growing extreme fundamentalists group who, as Shane Botwin (Weeds) said: "Are two clicks away from being the Taliban".

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

You act as though children that are forced by their parents into these churches at a young age have a choice to believe.

When you are a child you believe whatever your parents tell you. By your tone, we can assume that your children will not have a choice either, since they will cling to whatever example you put forward. But part of growing up is learning to think for yourself. If all you can say in defense of your beliefs is "my parents taught me so," then you are a fool whichever way you split it.

 

[Illusio]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

You act as though children that are forced by their parents into these churches at a young age have a choice to believe.

Everyone gets a choice. The parents have a right to raise thier children according to their beliefs. But when the children are old enough to make their own decisions, they can choose what religion they want.

I was raised catholic, i left that faith while in college, despite what I was raised as. Everyone in America has a choice. It's the people in the mid east and Africa that I feel sorry for. People who are killed for threatening to leave their religion, or who have no access to the internet/information and have no way to even know about other religions.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

But anyway, its any church, maybe your not being "forced" into it, but your sure being suckered, and then born into it. But if you just sit back and go hmmmm, wait a tick, or have some life alternating shit go down, and ask where the fuck were you? You may see the light.

Good points. The problem with many churches is that they are in the religion game for money or power. It's not hard to figure out what their motives are, just look at their actions.

its not always that some are in it for money or power. i believe its all hokey-pokey garbage but some people think its the real deal. i dont have a problem with that, believe whatever you like, just keep it to yourself.

but kids are taken as kids and made to believe it without choice or option so they get essentially brainwashed, in some cases, because dissenting opinion is withheld, or when its discussed, the absolute lack of critical thinking skills makes the argument a waste of time as it is entirely biased to the religion, no matter what.

ill spare you the details, but i believe the influence of my religious upbringing held me back in a number of ways, and im still paying for it.

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: xSauronxill spare you the details, but i believe the influence of my religious upbringing held me back in a number of ways, and im still paying for it.

Please don't spare the details.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi
It's the people in the mid east and Africa that I feel sorry for. People who are killed for threatening to leave their religion, or who have no access to the internet/information and have no way to even know about other religions.

In regards to Africa, I think freedom of religion is pretty far down the list of priorities. Food. Water. Shelter. If you want to feel sorry about something, feel sorry about the fact that they can't go into a kitchen and open a fridge when they're hungry.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

You act as though children that are forced by their parents into these churches at a young age have a choice to believe.

Everyone gets a choice. The parents have a right to raise thier children according to their beliefs. But when the children are old enough to make their own decisions, they can choose what religion they want.

if only it worked that way. i would have chosen at 14 or so to stop attending. i voiced that and was told "tough"

but when youre raised under it for years and years, the pressure becomes serious to stay in, or go back if you leave, and it can be difficult to deal with.

i remember when i stopped going some old lady from my church started coming by work trying to get me to come back. i made it clear i wouldnt, yet she persisted. my dad went to the same place, and i worked for him, so he was no help. most of my social circle was people from church, i never liked many of them, but i see my parents friends on a regular basis and for a long, long time they always tried to get me to come back.

its annoying, to say the absolute least.

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: xSauronxill spare you the details, but i believe the influence of my religious upbringing held me back in a number of ways, and im still paying for it.

Please don't spare the details.

im long-winded and 25 years old with 2 kids and no college education (yet. im working on it now) who was (poorly) educated in a christian school.

anything else will either be too long to read, or a threadjack. im not interested in either.

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi
It's the people in the mid east and Africa that I feel sorry for. People who are killed for threatening to leave their religion, or who have no access to the internet/information and have no way to even know about other religions.

In regards to Africa, I think freedom of religion is pretty far down the list of priorities. Food. Water. Shelter. If you want to feel sorry about something, feel sorry about the fact that they can't go into a kitchen and open a fridge when they're hungry.

Because he somehow can't feel sorry in more than one case...😕

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

You act as though children that are forced by their parents into these churches at a young age have a choice to believe.

It's the people in the mid east and Africa that I feel sorry for. People who are killed for threatening to leave their religion, or who have no access to the internet/information and have no way to even know about other religions.

Aside from the death part, doesn't this kind of seclusion already happen in the US? Evangelicals supposedly make up somewhere around 25% of the US population, and religious groups generally live in clusters. If you move to a small town where the majority are evangelicals, you can expect to be a social outcast very quickly if you're not part of their cult. Maybe you're ok with that as an adult, but some kid growing up in that town won't dare lose all of their friends and the respect of their family by leaving the cult. The rules change when those kids leave town and go to college, where they can find new friends outside of the cult, but the people who never leave that town will never leave that religion.

 

[Illusio]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi
It's the people in the mid east and Africa that I feel sorry for. People who are killed for threatening to leave their religion, or who have no access to the internet/information and have no way to even know about other religions.

In regards to Africa, I think freedom of religion is pretty far down the list of priorities. Food. Water. Shelter. If you want to feel sorry about something, feel sorry about the fact that they can't go into a kitchen and open a fridge when they're hungry.

Because he somehow can't feel sorry in more than one case...😕

I'm fairly certain I'm only allowed to feel sorry for one thing. Darn! wished I wouldn't have used it up already. 😱

 

[Modelworks]

Churches are like any other group activity, it varies with the group.
I have been to churches that ask for money with every breath and I have also been to ones where you can tell the people actually are caring and are there for you.
I don't know how to put it into words, but there is something different about people that truly try to live by things like the ten commandments. It is almost like they are calmer and more understanding when you need help.

I don't believe in keeping a child in the parents religion until they leave the home. I think it is okay when the child is little , but once they reach the point where they can better understand things I think the child should be allowed to make their own choice.

I was raised southern baptist , but I am not that now. I'm more agnostic.
Once I got old enough I started reading about all religions and made my own choices.

To lump all churches together and say they are all the same is being just like the people that claim their religion is the only one.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

You act as though children that are forced by their parents into these churches at a young age have a choice to believe.

So it is better to force atheism on them? What makes that any better?

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Realize there are many types of churches.

Anyone that is weak enough to be forcefed in what they should believe, deserves what they get/suffer.

But anyway, its any church, maybe your not being "forced" into it, but your sure being suckered, and then born into it. But if you just sit back and go hmmmm, wait a tick, or have some life alternating shit go down, and ask where the fuck were you? You may see the light.

Good points. The problem with many churches is that they are in the religion game for money or power. It's not hard to figure out what their motives are, just look at their actions.

its not always that some are in it for money or power. i believe its all hokey-pokey garbage but some people think its the real deal. i dont have a problem with that, believe whatever you like, just keep it to yourself.

but kids are taken as kids and made to believe it without choice or option so they get essentially brainwashed, in some cases, because dissenting opinion is withheld, or when its discussed, the absolute lack of critical thinking skills makes the argument a waste of time as it is entirely biased to the religion, no matter what.

ill spare you the details, but i believe the influence of my religious upbringing held me back in a number of ways, and im still paying for it.

What religion were you raised in?

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Please don't spare the details.

im long-winded and 25 years old with 2 kids and no college education (yet. im working on it now) who was (poorly) educated in a christian school.

anything else will either be too long to read, or a threadjack. im not interested in either.

I definitely know how you feel. I have first hand experience with literalist, strict, fundamental Christian groups; and I realize that they treat "the World" as something to be afraid of. However, while noone can change their past, I still believe that with the right attitude anyone can change their future. It sucks that life isn't fair, but sometimes you have to use those experiences to help make yourself better, and in a way, they can be the most valuable things in life. 🙂

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: db
And then you have the popular and growing extreme fundamentalists group who, as Shane Botwin (Weeds) said: "Are two clicks away from being the Taliban".

Shane needs to smoke less dope and redo his math. It's more like half a click.