Is it time to pass religion? Is it holding us back now?

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: joshw10
I say its time to make up some new, more interesting religions with a modern twist

1st commandment: Get laid as much as possible.
2nd commandment: Wear a rubber.

Maybe we can work on the order later....😀

3rd commandment: Make sure he gets to finish
4th commandment: Make DAMN sure she does, or you might end up breaking commandment #1😛

 

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: sonz70
Religion, at one point, was usefull to humans, and civilization as a whole. We gained valuable steps and advancements in art, literature, music, poetry, as well as had someone we could unify under. ( Yes, it was the cause of wars, but people still unfied under it). As everything comes and goes, it seem now that religion is causing more of a stagnant society than vibrant one. It seems to be stepping in the way of advancement in other fields, namely science, and anything that might seem to be religiously wrong. So the question is, is it time to pass by religion as what dictates what we do? I am not saying it is wrong to be religious, or not religious, but sort of like some things do not belong in the office, so does religion not belong when making decisions that affect the advancement of society.

More like time for more Christianity, or your religion of choice, and less of the oxymoronic Conservative Christianity which is neither.

 

[johnnobts]

So long as man feels guilt, there will always be religion. Man needs religion to try and solve the answer to the question, "How can I have my guilt taken away? How can I have peace with God? How can I be right with God?" Job asked this very question in Job 9, "How can a man be right before God?"

The problem of guilt is real b/c the problem of our sinfulness is real. Man feels guilty b./c he is guilty. And we all have a sense of this deep down. We've all done hurtful things to others, haven't we? Guilt reminds us of the bad stuff we've done in the past and clues us in on the important truth that we may not be quite as good as we'd like to think we are.

So enter religion. Religion's purpose is for man to find a way to be right with God, or with the divine. But really, in my mind, there are only two religions in the world today. There are all of the religions made by man that basically teach man can be right with God (by his own self-righteousness, his own piety, his own human work), and the one religion that says man can never be right with God by his own power, and that is what truly makes the gospel message proclaimed in the Bible unique. Contrary to all the other religions out there, Christianity teaches that in order for man to be right with God, he must receive the righteousness of God through faith in JEsus Christ. Its not our righteousness we are covered with, its not my self-righteousness, its God's righteousness, and he offers it to us.

Sorry. I know I got off topic. But that's my answer to the question about religion. We won't be able to let it go, so long as man struggles with the problem of guilt. By the way, secular regimes have tried to do away with religion, and haven't been any more moral for it, now have they?

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: joshw10
I say its time to make up some new, more interesting religions with a modern twist

1st commandment: Get laid as much as possible.
2nd commandment: Wear a rubber.

Maybe we can work on the order later....😀

3rd commandment: Make sure he gets to finish
4th commandment: Make DAMN sure she does, or you might end up breaking commandment #1😛

Haha
:thumbsup:
...i should really plan a trip to waterloo, need some dumb laurier chicks...hehe 😀

 

[MicroChrome]

I think Bush has taken this nation back 10 years... Maybe more... In the name of science.

I am hoping that other nations will rise up to the task. Maybe our next prez won't be looking to god for answers.

 

[Steeplerot]

Originally posted by: johnnobts

Sorry. I know I got off topic. But that's my answer to the question about religion. We won't be able to let it go, so long as man struggles with the problem of guilt. By the way, secular regimes have tried to do away with religion, and haven't been any more moral for it, now have they?

Solution: Don't be a christian, no christian guilt/sin, make your own choices and use your head to make rational fair decisions about life..amazing! (Unless your a sociopath, then I WOULD recommend a artificial source of morals.)

What is with the guilt complex and lack of decision making thing about how to live your life as a good person? Why would you limit yourself to someone elses views...yuck.
Nothing more sad than a perfectly good mind gone to waste, use it. Just becasue your a christian doesent mean you need to be a robot taking orders and waiting for your next guilt fix.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: albatross
i`m talking about long term.
without transcendence we are just evolutionary accidents and sooner or later we will disappear(as a human species).

What does that have to do with any god but yourself?

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: albatross
,the human race is much too weak and stupid to think we will not screw things up at one moment or another

Please define screwing up, wars are a big "screwup" and most of the bigger wars are over religion itself to some extent, is the human race stupid and weak or is it the religious wars and strife that have weakened us?

nuclear annihilation.

We're working on it. The Middle East is a good testing ground (DU). Even if that doesn't work, the pollution and overfishing will let us wipe ourselves out.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
That's fine but I find your lack of confidence in the independence and self-determination for survival of our species saddening, it sounds like a self imposed slavery, no offense.

once again,without god there is nothing to hope.

In that case, we're far better off without a god. Hope is empty. It offers nothing meaningful, much like pity and guilt.

Your hand down the end without reason for a beginning. Very apt for your username.

 

[sonz70]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: albatross
,the human race is much too weak and stupid to think we will not screw things up at one moment or another

Please define screwing up, wars are a big "screwup" and most of the bigger wars are over religion itself to some extent, is the human race stupid and weak or is it the religious wars and strife that have weakened us?

nuclear annihilation.

We're working on it. The Middle East is a good testing ground (DU). Even if that doesn't work, the pollution and overfishing will let us wipe ourselves out.

I have yet to see a mushroom cloud from DU

 

[johnnobts]

Soloution: Don't be a christian, no christian guilt/sin, make your own choices and use your head to make rational fair decisions about life..amazing! (Unless your a sociopath, then I WOULD recommend a artificial source of morals.)


i was talking about the existential feeling of guilt. guilt is a reality we all experience, we all struggle with it (unless, as you said, you are a sociopath), and guilt is a consequence of our actions (Christians call it "sin"). religion is man's attempt to solve the guilt problem. I believe Christianity (as articulated in the Gospels and in Paul's epistles) to be the only solution to that problem, to deal with guilt in a real way....

 

[Albatross]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
That's fine but I find your lack of confidence in the independence and self-determination for survival of our species saddening, it sounds like a self imposed slavery, no offense.

once again,without god there is nothing to hope.

In that case, we're far better off without a god. Hope is empty. It offers nothing meaningful, much like pity and guilt.

Your hand down the end without reason for a beginning. Very apt for your username.

i don`t understand you.

 

[sonz70]

Originally posted by: johnnobts
Soloution: Don't be a christian, no christian guilt/sin, make your own choices and use your head to make rational fair decisions about life..amazing! (Unless your a sociopath, then I WOULD recommend a artificial source of morals.)


i was talking about the existential feeling of guilt. guilt is a reality we all experience, we all struggle with it (unless, as you said, you are a sociopath), and guilt is a consequence of our actions (Christians call it "sin"). religion is man's attempt to solve the guilt problem. I believe Christianity (as articulated in the Gospels and in Paul's epistles) to be the only solution to that problem, to deal with guilt in a real way....

It is your way to deal with guilt, others have different ways. It is like stress, each person deals with it in a different way.

 

[Steeplerot]

Hmm, I just don't see the guilt thing being very important, if I feel guilty about something I learn from it, apologize to the person wronged and move on.

Why feel guilty? Taking responsibility for your own actions is the best way to live a guilt-free life I have found.

I don't have time to torture myself over things I cannot control. This life is it. (unless your a buddist)

Granted if your into self-imposed guilt, more power to you I guess.

*shrug* I knew a girl who cut herself with razorblades, I just didn't see the appeal myself.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: sonz70

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: albatross
,the human race is much too weak and stupid to think we will not screw things up at one moment or another

Please define screwing up, wars are a big "screwup" and most of the bigger wars are over religion itself to some extent, is the human race stupid and weak or is it the religious wars and strife that have weakened us?

nuclear annihilation.

We're working on it. The Middle East is a good testing ground (DU). Even if that doesn't work, the pollution and overfishing will let us wipe ourselves out.

I have yet to see a mushroom cloud from DU

I have yet to see anything big enough for one hit anything. I also didn't know a mushroom cloud was needed for radioactive materials to cause damage.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: albatross
the advancement of society isn`t worth much if there is a god.

Why? Does "God" want us crawling in the mud?

The problem with Religion has little to do with whether "God" exists or not IMO. The problem is that Religion insists that "God" associates with them and them alone. This leads to Religions thinking that their way is the only way, others and even "God" be damned if they disagree.

look, i`m not american,so i`m not very knowledgeable with what happens in the usa.
but the fact of killing babies for stem cells to cure, let`s say, cancer it`s not such a wonderful thing if humans have immortal souls.you are delaying the inevitable.

even if science will bring us immortality(in theory),its meaningless without a spiritual dimension to human existence.

Religion is not the only path to a "spirtual dimension to human existence". In fact, IMHO, it is not even the best path in many cases. I do not follow any specific religion (although I am interested in the good parts of many of them), most of my spiritual depth is uniquely mine. But I'd argue I have enough spiritual depth to make earthly immortality a fascinating exerience. Just because I (or another else for that matter) don't go to church on Sunday doesn't mean there is a void needing to be filled. Try thinking outside the box sometime.

you are putting words in my mouth.without god the whole universe is ashes(meaningless),even if there are plenty of people satisfied with indefinite earthly existence.
this world can only be justified by something outside of it,namely god.

And THIS is the problem with religion, or more appropriately, with many religious people. My spiritual beliefs do not have the same standards as yours apparently do, I require nothing outside of this world in order to feel there is meaning and justification in my life. Now disagreeing on this is fine, spirituality is a personal thing, but while my statements started with "I feel", yours are broad generalities that you seem to think affect everyone.

This may seem trivial, but I believe ALL the negative affects of religion stem from this simple difference. Religion is good, until it transforms from something that you think is perfect for YOU into something you think is perfect for ME.

 

[sonz70]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: sonz70

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: albatross
,the human race is much too weak and stupid to think we will not screw things up at one moment or another

Please define screwing up, wars are a big "screwup" and most of the bigger wars are over religion itself to some extent, is the human race stupid and weak or is it the religious wars and strife that have weakened us?

nuclear annihilation.

We're working on it. The Middle East is a good testing ground (DU). Even if that doesn't work, the pollution and overfishing will let us wipe ourselves out.

I have yet to see a mushroom cloud from DU

I have yet to see anything big enough for one hit anything. I also didn't know a mushroom cloud was needed for radioactive materials to cause damage.

For nuclear annihilation? a few DU rounds? yep were on our way to it huh. :roll: The point is, Albatross compared using DU rounds to nuclear annihilation.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot
That's fine but I find your lack of confidence in the independence and self-determination for survival of our species saddening, it sounds like a self imposed slavery, no offense.

once again,without god there is nothing to hope.

In that case, we're far better off without a god. Hope is empty. It offers nothing meaningful, much like pity and guilt.

Your hand down the end without reason for a beginning. Very apt for your username.

i don`t understand you.

You say god is needed to justify the universe.
You say something outside of the universe needs to justify it, and keep it from falling apart.
You then say without god there is no hope.

Hope is empty. It is a rationalization of suffering.

I say an external god is not needed.
I say we keep our world from falling apart, or we turn it to dust.
I say hope is a bad thing to try to feel. If you work to make what you want, then you do not need to hope for it, whether you suceed or fail.

Why does our world need an external god to be justified?

 

[TheSlamma]

I would LOVE to see it go away.

The world would have so many less wars and people in general would experience so much less passive aggressiveness.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: sonz70

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: sonz70

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: albatross

Originally posted by: Steeplerot

Originally posted by: albatross
,the human race is much too weak and stupid to think we will not screw things up at one moment or another

Please define screwing up, wars are a big "screwup" and most of the bigger wars are over religion itself to some extent, is the human race stupid and weak or is it the religious wars and strife that have weakened us?

nuclear annihilation.

We're working on it. The Middle East is a good testing ground (DU). Even if that doesn't work, the pollution and overfishing will let us wipe ourselves out.

I have yet to see a mushroom cloud from DU

I have yet to see anything big enough for one hit anything. I also didn't know a mushroom cloud was needed for radioactive materials to cause damage.

For nuclear annihilation? a few DU rounds? yep were on our way to it huh. :roll: The point is, Albatross compared using DU rounds to nuclear annihilation.

Matter of degree. More and more tons go down.
But even so, it takes a lot more. But don't worry, we're working on our extinction through many different ways.

 

[rickn]

sons70 is just looking for validation so he can continue dating dudes 😀

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: albatross
without god,society will turn to dust sooner or later.you might as well argue that the purpose of human existence is eating and drinking.

The fact that you need God to exist to justify existence doesn't mean God exists. And the fact you need God to exist to justify existence doesn't mean that others require the same thing.

What if existence has no meaning? What if humans live and die, and there's nothing else?

Snap your fingers: God does not exist. Snap your fingers: God does exist. Why does the universe seem the same regardless?

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: sonz70
Religion, at one point, was usefull to humans, and civilization as a whole. We gained valuable steps and advancements in art, literature, music, poetry, as well as had someone we could unify under. ( Yes, it was the cause of wars, but people still unfied under it). As everything comes and goes, it seem now that religion is causing more of a stagnant society than vibrant one. It seems to be stepping in the way of advancement in other fields, namely science, and anything that might seem to be religiously wrong. So the question is, is it time to pass by religion as what dictates what we do? I am not saying it is wrong to be religious, or not religious, but sort of like some things do not belong in the office, so does religion not belong when making decisions that affect the advancement of society.

Well after reading through most of the posts....I'd say you want to see a valuable role of religion go work in a hospital. I had a patient die on me today, and I'll tell you what, at that moment suddenly it's much easier to believe in God and find out that religion can still be useful. I mean just the fact that I went into the room and told the family they would be in my prayers tonight(and I meant it) was such an incredible boost to them.

On the flip side there are certain places religion doesnt belond, politics comes to mind.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

there is nothing fundamentally wrong with any of the major religions. they all essentially preach the same basic concepts of loving your fellow man. the problem is our religious institutions and leaders.

 

[piasabird]

I dont understand why people assume religion = ignorance. I have met plenty of educated people who think only of themsleves and are the most hateful selfish people you would ever meet. If that is what some people consider what life is all about then they need to take a step back and see if they are becoming something they want to be. Technology is neither good nor evil. In the bible it says everything good comes from God. Even the concept of religion has been used for good and evil. It can be used to control people for evil purposes or it can convice people to be compassionate, caring, honest, and wholesome.

I would be more worried about belonging to the devil and your spending an eternity in hell in a lake of fire and brimstone. The opposite being living an eternity in joy and peace and the rest of the Lord.

Or you can hope for the best and just live for today.

Do whatever you want to do.