Please reconsider using the word "faith" or "religion"

[raildogg]

I hear these words used so much that it's really ridiculous. Wearing a hijab doesn't make one a muslim. Wearing a cross doesn't make one a christian. Having a Shiva tattoo doesn't make on a Hindu. But apparently it does in our society. Everyone is a christian, muslim, hindu or whatever. It's as easy as pie.

Just go to your local church, accept Christ and wham, your a Christian. Easy as pie.

But really, where is the effort? Where is the personal growth? Just supposedly accepting Christ into your life is a piece of cake. Any Joe can do that (and apparently they have).

Where is the requirement for the so-called followers to actually PRACTICE their religion?

I should not have created this thread but people throw the terms faith and religion around here so much that I feel compelled. Sorry.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I should not have created this thread

I agree with this.

 

[raildogg]

I agree with this.

Then why post in it? Bored? I mean, by not posting you could have done more to prove your point.

I would appreciate if only serious people post in this thread. Is that asking too much for this forum?

 

[mrjminer]

You need to narrow the scope of your OP or explain better. Can't really pinpoint the problem you are trying to address

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Then why post in it? Bored? I mean, by not posting you could have done more to prove your point.

Primarily boredom, sure, but you also could have taken more care in presenting a compelling argument in your OP. It sounds like a bizarre rambling argument that I would hear from some drunk in a bar, and doesn't really merit much in the way of a coherent response. I'll just smile, nod, give you a friendly thumbs up and be on my way.

 

[Retro Rob]

You need to narrow the scope of your OP or explain better. Can't really pinpoint the problem you are trying to address

Agreed, and OP, move this to the DC if you want seriousness. Oh yeah, you'd likely get hardly any reaction, so you put it the P&N, and start complaining.

You knew what you were doing!!!!:sneaky:

 

[Oldgamer]

I hear these words used so much that it's really ridiculous. Wearing a hijab doesn't make one a muslim. Wearing a cross doesn't make one a christian. Having a Shiva tattoo doesn't make on a Hindu. But apparently it does in our society. Everyone is a christian, muslim, hindu or whatever. It's as easy as pie.

Just go to your local church, accept Christ and wham, your a Christian. Easy as pie.

But really, where is the effort? Where is the personal growth? Just supposedly accepting Christ into your life is a piece of cake. Any Joe can do that (and apparently they have).

Where is the requirement for the so-called followers to actually PRACTICE their religion?

I should not have created this thread but people throw the terms faith and religion around here so much that I feel compelled. Sorry.

Well, I am an atheist so I think all religions are nutso..lol

 

[raildogg]

You need to narrow the scope of your OP or explain better. Can't really pinpoint the problem you are trying to address

Sure. I just feel that the term religion and faith are overused and have no meaning. In our society, there actually is no religion when you look at it. It's all a bunch of games and traditions. Strip them down and it's all lies. People use religion as a means for something. To some its to gain power, to some its to achieve fame, to some its something else. For instance, a religious society would not have created nuclear weapons or have annihilated much of the species of this world. Just a small sample of what I'm trying to say.

 

[raildogg]

Agreed, and OP, move this to the DC if you want seriousness. Oh yeah, you'd likely get hardly any reaction, so you put it the P&N, and start complaining.

You knew what you were doing!!!!:sneaky:

Yes sir

(But I do think that this religion thing should be looked at carefully. Religion does not belong in a Church or in a Mosque. It really belongs in one's actions and in one's heart.)

Let us hold hands and sing songs now

 

[Orignal Earl]

I hear these words used so much that it's really ridiculous. Wearing a hijab doesn't make one a muslim. Wearing a cross doesn't make one a christian. Having a Shiva tattoo doesn't make on a Hindu. But apparently it does in our society. Everyone is a christian, muslim, hindu or whatever. It's as easy as pie.

Just go to your local church, accept Christ and wham, your a Christian. Easy as pie.

But really, where is the effort? Where is the personal growth? Just supposedly accepting Christ into your life is a piece of cake. Any Joe can do that (and apparently they have).

Where is the requirement for the so-called followers to actually PRACTICE their religion?

I should not have created this thread but people throw the terms faith and religion around here so much that I feel compelled. Sorry.

I'm sure we can find something you would be comfortable in, and tailored to your needs

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I'm not religious nor an atheist, I find both to be different sides of the same coin and can be equally annoying. The later seems to like using the shit on a cake method to ensure no one can enjoy the cake.

 

[Retro Rob]

I'm not religious nor an atheist, I find both to be different sides of the same coin and can be equally annoying. The later seems to like using the shit on a cake method to ensure no one can enjoy the cake.

Lol

 

[Retro Rob]

Just go to your local church, accept Christ and wham, your a Christian. Easy as pie.

But really, where is the effort? Where is the personal growth? Just supposedly accepting Christ into your life is a piece of cake. Any Joe can do that (and apparently they have).

Where is the requirement for the so-called followers to actually PRACTICE their religion?

This is something I've asked people for years. A guy can come off the street, after murdering 500 people, accept the Christ into his heart, and now he's got a get out of jail free card.

In my opinion, the Church used "Hell" to get people into their religion, now they preach last-minute salvation....anything to get a buck, I guess....

 

[IronWing]

It really belongs in one's actions and in one's heart.)

What fun would that be?

 

[Retro Rob]

Yes sir

(But I do think that this religion thing should be looked at carefully. Religion does not belong in a Church or in a Mosque. It really belongs in one's actions and in one's heart.)

Let us hold hands and sing songs now

Then, religion means nothing if it's "in your heart" as anyone can be good and moral without God.

Religion, for it to be of any real use, must be larger than the world we see -- that's why people think they're all going to heaven. Religion can be a scam, if you aren't careful.

Really, if I'm a man of God and both me and an atheist have the exact same thing to look forward to after death (which is a permanent "sleep"), then I have no purpose, and no reason to be religious.

Just a thought.

 

[raildogg]

Then, religion means nothing if it's "in your heart" as anyone can be good and moral without God.

Religion, for it to be of any real use, must be larger than the world we see -- that's why people think they're all going to heaven. Religion can be a scam, if you aren't careful.

Really, if I'm a man of God and both me and an atheist have the exact same thing to look forward to after death (which is a permanent "sleep"), then I have no purpose, and no reason to be religious.

Just a thought.

You are correct and I should be more careful when using terms such as "in your heart."

But please consider if people are good and moral. On the surface it would appear so but lets dig deeper. Everyone wears a mask but lets penetrate behind that mask. Penetrate your mask.

Also, religion to most people is blind faith, blind trust and blind worship. They do not understand a single thing what they are doing. They do it based on tradition and what they've been taught.

As to God, that is a very difficult thing to discuss. For most people, God is something they have "faith" in and that's it. But maybe God is something of a convenience for the vast majority of the humans. Terms such as "God Help Me" or "God Give me This" or "God Bless This" etc.

This must not be real religion, right? Wearing costumes and dresses, wearing different scents and dancing and all that. Is there any substance to it?

 

[IronWing]

This must not be real religion, right? Wearing costumes and dresses, wearing different scents and dancing and all that. Is there any substance to it?

Ritual is extremely important, more so than any underlying faith IMHO. Remove ritual and you have ripped the soul out of faith. Look at post-Vatican II Catholicism.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Religion and faith are two different things. The purpose of all religions is brotherhood and affirmation. Religion is not needed for faith or communing with God. Many athiests seem to believe the inconsistencies and occasional bad practices of some religions means God isn't worth believing in or spending time educating themselves about. In effect they blame God for the actions of his followers. Which is kind of inconsistent with not believing God exists in the first place.

 

[raildogg]

Ritual is extremely important, more so than any underlying faith IMHO. Remove ritual and you have ripped the soul out of faith. Look at post-Vatican II Catholicism.

What is this soul you speak of? If rituals are truly and deeply understand then maybe they may have some purpose. But do you believe that people understand the meaning of these things? I doubt priests and church leaders know this stuff let alone the average church going person.

Does anyone actually practice any of the stuff once they walk out that church door? I haven't met one yet. Not from any religion.

They talk about loving and caring and generosity yet this world is totally not loving, totally not caring and totally ungenerous. Yet these so-called religious people are unaware of this (and so are the vast majority of us). So basically, religion is used for some purpose but is not actually practiced. (Please don't give the stuff about how we cannot practice religion due to the impossibility of it. If this is the case, then it is a pure waste of time going to these places of worship.)

 

[Oldgamer]

I will consider replacing the words faith and religion with "make believe".. or heck "fairytales"..lol

 

[MongGrel]

Just driving by, won't get in this one.

 

[Retro Rob]

Religion and faith are two different things. The purpose of all religions is brotherhood and affirmation. Religion is not needed for faith or communing with God. Many athiests seem to believe the inconsistencies and occasional bad practices of some religions means God isn't worth believing in or spending time educating themselves about. In effect they blame God for the actions of his followers. Which is kind of inconsistent with not believing God exists in the first place.

Actually for a Christian, religion is needed as the Bible states that Jesus is with two or more who pray in his name, and Jesus went to the synagogues to teach.

People who worship on their own an pray on their won make Christianity fit whatever mode they want it to fit.

If 10,000 people stopped going to church, you'd have 10,000 additional versions of Christianity, which is precisely the reason why Christianity is so dang fragmented.

Plus Jesus said the narrow road leads to life. Do you not think those people on that road have to worship together?

 

[bradly1101]

Religion is just a morality lesson for those who can't figure those things out. I'll never forget my conversation about atheism with a super-religious lady. She said, "But what's to keep you from murdering someone?" {sigh}

I have faith in reason.

 

[MasterOfUsers]

I hear these words used so much that it's really ridiculous. Wearing a hijab doesn't make one a muslim. Wearing a cross doesn't make one a christian. Having a Shiva tattoo doesn't make on a Hindu. But apparently it does in our society. Everyone is a christian, muslim, hindu or whatever. It's as easy as pie.

Just go to your local church, accept Christ and wham, your a Christian. Easy as pie.

But really, where is the effort? Where is the personal growth? Just supposedly accepting Christ into your life is a piece of cake. Any Joe can do that (and apparently they have).

Where is the requirement for the so-called followers to actually PRACTICE their religion?

I should not have created this thread but people throw the terms faith and religion around here so much that I feel compelled. Sorry.

If you believe in the central tenets of Christianity you are a Christian period.

it's as simple as that.

There is no other authority (and no, you are not the authority that deems who is Christian or not) that decides this.

IME, if it was a requirement to PRACTICE their religion (as per the words of Jesus, not Paul) then there are perhaps 100 or less Christians in the entire world.

However, Paul did away with that and since he is the central figure and because he needed to be forgiven for being the persecutor of Christians he made up the forgiveness stuff. You can do whatever you want at all times, rape, murder, whatever you please as long as you are real fucking sorry about it and ask God for forgiveness, you can repeat this forever.

Paul did.

 

[MasterOfUsers]

I'm not religious nor an atheist, I find both to be different sides of the same coin and can be equally annoying. The later seems to like using the shit on a cake method to ensure no one can enjoy the cake.

The important part is that you found a way to feel superior to both.

Good for you.