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Opinion based. You, me, and not Dupree.

That poll shows what most already know, that America is majority religious. Now that number would drop fast if you look at each of those religious people. The majority don't follow that religion of theirs the way they should. Most religious people use that religion as a safe blanket. They don't actually follow the text and script. Teenagers definitely rebel against religion. why? becuase its a stop in their freedom. Another reason why religion will dissipate. Along as the BS thing of forgiveness exist, it makes religion powerful. Becuase all you do is say sorry I did all these bad things and didn't follow a single word and you go to the bean factory in the sky.
 
That poll shows what most already know, that America is majority religious. Now that number would drop fast if you look at each of those religious people. The majority don't follow that religion of theirs the way they should. Most religious people use that religion as a safe blanket. They don't actually follow the text and script. Teenagers definitely rebel against religion. why? becuase its a stop in their freedom. Another reason why religion will dissipate. Along as the BS thing of forgiveness exist, it makes religion powerful. Becuase all you do is say sorry I did all these bad things and didn't follow a single word and you go to the bean factory in the sky.

I don't think you can really say how people "should" follow their religion. Also the forgiveness thing doesn't apply to many religions.
 
That poll is also bias. No true athiest believes in a spirit or a god, if they do then they aren't atheist.
the spirit the guy talks about is a soul. the god inside us. All he is saying is that we are our own destiny choosers, our own moral compass. ghosts.
most cases our "spirit" can't handle the fear of death and the unknown when it comes to that.
However, that poll only shows a specific area, it doesn't show the youth of America. Who don't all follow main stream religion.
 
That poll shows what most already know, that America is majority religious. Now that number would drop fast if you look at each of those religious people. The majority don't follow that religion of theirs the way they should. Most religious people use that religion as a safe blanket. They don't actually follow the text and script. Teenagers definitely rebel against religion. why? becuase its a stop in their freedom. Another reason why religion will dissipate. Along as the BS thing of forgiveness exist, it makes religion powerful. Becuase all you do is say sorry I did all these bad things and didn't follow a single word and you go to the bean factory in the sky.

I don't think you can really say how people "should" follow their religion. Also the forgiveness thing doesn't apply to many religions.

No I can, you have a book, you have tablets that tell you your moral compass and how you live your life. Thats the way it is for the majority religion in the U.S
You don't follow it for atleast the majority all your using it for is a safety blanket. the forgiveness thing does apply for the majority religion in that poll, in America.

I can say that as an Atheist, that has a title, it has a definition and a clear one at that, you don't follow along the simple guidelines, your not an atheist.
 
Being an atheist isn't about guidelines. It's lack of a belief in god, but that's about it. And I strongly disagree that a religious person must follow religious texts completely.
 
That poll shows what most already know, that America is majority religious. Now that number would drop fast if you look at each of those religious people. The majority don't follow that religion of theirs the way they should. Most religious people use that religion as a safe blanket. They don't actually follow the text and script. Teenagers definitely rebel against religion. why? becuase its a stop in their freedom. Another reason why religion will dissipate. Along as the BS thing of forgiveness exist, it makes religion powerful. Becuase all you do is say sorry I did all these bad things and didn't follow a single word and you go to the bean factory in the sky.

I don't think you can really say how people "should" follow their religion. Also the forgiveness thing doesn't apply to many religions.

No I can, you have a book, you have tablets that tell you your moral compass and how you live your life. Thats the way it is for the majority religion in the U.S
You don't follow it for atleast the majority all your using it for is a safety blanket. the forgiveness thing does apply for the majority religion in that poll, in America.

I can say that as an Atheist, that has a title, it has a definition and a clear one at that, you don't follow along the simple guidelines, your not an atheist.

Total BS. Atheism is not comparable to any religion because it isn't one. It has no doctrine or dogma, it is simply the absence of any religious beliefs.

Contrast this with any religious system. I dare you to find me a religion where there is no contention over what the core beliefs are and what's necessary to be considered adherent to the religion. Christianity alone is broken up into a few large sects and hundreds of smaller ones. If it was totally clear how people should follow any given religion there would be no fracturing and sectarianism within them.
 
That poll shows what most already know, that America is majority religious. Now that number would drop fast if you look at each of those religious people. The majority don't follow that religion of theirs the way they should. Most religious people use that religion as a safe blanket. They don't actually follow the text and script. Teenagers definitely rebel against religion. why? becuase its a stop in their freedom. Another reason why religion will dissipate. Along as the BS thing of forgiveness exist, it makes religion powerful. Becuase all you do is say sorry I did all these bad things and didn't follow a single word and you go to the bean factory in the sky.

Fine, they don't strictly follow the ancient texts, but that doesn't change the fact that most people believe in God, pray a lot, believe in miracles, etc. Most are religious. They may not be really strict about the way they practice, which the article actually highlights, but the majority are religious.

Teens have rebelled for as long as there have been teens. That hasn't put a dent in religion yet.

Religion isn't for me personally, but it does appear that the human pysche, overall, is built to desire religion. Probably due to the fear of death thing.

Additionally, religion also tries to create more order/meaning in an otherwise cold, uncaring, and chaotic universe. If bad things happen to good people, well, it's all part of God's plan that is unknowable to mere humans. There's many reasons that religion will be around for a long, long time.

Mr Awe
 
That poll is also bias. No true athiest believes in a spirit or a god, if they do then they aren't atheist.
the spirit the guy talks about is a soul. the god inside us. All he is saying is that we are our own destiny choosers, our own moral compass. ghosts.
most cases our "spirit" can't handle the fear of death and the unknown when it comes to that.
However, that poll only shows a specific area, it doesn't show the youth of America. Who don't all follow main stream religion.

If you'd actually read the article rather than trying to bend it to fit your world view you might actually learn something.

The article suggests that the people may identify with a term, such as athiest, without fully understanding what it means. No big deal.

The fact is that most people in the US are religious. They may not be strict followers of their religion but they are religious. And, again, read more closely, the survey does not limit it to mainstream religion. They also ask if they believe in god, how often they pray, etc.

There's nothing wrong with someone being religious, so let them be. No one is forcing you to join them!

Mr Awe
 
. So you believe in something thats meant to be good and led a right life, you should follow that life atleast 80%. if you don't then your not religious. Just my opinion, not trying to take anything away.

Trust me as an actual atheist seeing anyone who says the are atheist but they believe in a spirit, I am not alone to say they aren't then a true atheist. The term atheist is throughly explained, lack in a believe of a higher power or the supernatural. Just an opinion.
I am just saying that the poll is just showing one area, willl it is common that people who are religious about the religion pray, different places, difference in population, would change that chart.

That thing of no-one is forcing me to join them is complete bull. I know, I am me. I was told in 3rd grade that I was going to hell, but if I changed sides I would gain all the friends in the world.
Mainstream religion, Chrisitanity,(branches of that) are known for forcefully pushing their religion on others, in the past have even executed people for not going to church. so are atheist, they are known for trying to push their lack of religion on others.
This just an opinion thread, I am not saying someone who is religious is wrong. I have actually said, that the texts say lead a good life, follow them.

I am not going to even touch the whole religion creates order and good. Thats not even true, I could write and give examples, two pages worth.
 
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then they can't claim their religious. So you believe in something thats meant to be good and led a right life, you should follow that life atleast 80%. if you don't then your not religious.

Trust me as an actual atheist seeing anyone who says the are atheist but they believe in a spirit, I am not alone to say they aren't then a true atheist.

Being that you're an atheist, exactly who the hell are you to tell anyone how they should follow their religion? Seems to me like that's none of your damn business.
 
KJBushway, give me a break, someone who believes in god, attends church, prays, etc, is religious!!

If you cannot see that, there's no point continuing this discussion.

Mr Awe
 
I just said that in my opinion if it says follow a good life try to lead one. If you do, great.

Robert I have had people all my life tell me how I should run it and that it should be religious. Trust me I am saying an opinion in a lot nicer way then I recieved mine, by religious people. I have been bullied by religious people, not everyone who says they are religious aren't the nicest people, so if heaven is real why do they get to go where you go?

Right someone who does all those things prays, chruch, and believes likely follow the word, yes those people are religious. The people who don't do any of that and claim it for a safety blankey aren't right, they should do what everyone of those people do before they claim that they are the same as you, who has put in hours of hard work learning and studying it to learn from it. Do you understand my position better now?
 
I just said that in my opinion if it says follow a good life try to lead one. If you do, great.

Robert I have had people all my life tell me how I should run it and that it should be religious. Trust me I am saying an opinion in a lot nicer way then I recieved mine, by religious people. I have been bullied by religious people, not everyone who says they are religious aren't the nicest people, so if heaven is real why do they get to go where you go?

So two wrongs make a right? What religion taught you that one?
 
I just said I am expressing an opinion, I was forcefully told as if where truth, and in not the nicest ways.
I was hurt with more than just words, so that being said I am not doing something bad.
 
I just said I am expressing an opinion, I was forcefully told as if where truth, and in not the nicest ways.
I was hurt with more than just words, so that being said I am not doing something bad.

Well, some people are pricks. That's life. I don't see how that leads you to telling other people how they should follow their religion, though.
 
Mr Awe said:
By what measure is religion declining? Please be specific rather than throwing out an unsupported generality. I think that's a myth. This 2008 poll is very interesting.

First, America != western society, second belief in god or frequency of prayer != religiosity. What myself and I suspect others were referring to is the fall of theocratic government in western society. Many western countries still have state religions, but the degree to which they have influence has declined tremendously. By way of example, the Pope used to be able to depose European rulers, right up until about 500 years ago and Henry VIII. The idea of the Pope or any other religious leader having that kind of power now is ludicrous. Further, while Christianity remains the dominant belief system, things that the Bible is categorically against such as divorce have become acceptable practice after being illegal for centuries. Society has absolutely changed, and it's moving away from intense religiosity into something more amorphous, as the more pluralistic view reflected in that poll demonstrates.
 
It was opinion based. And Actually I just saying that someone who doesn't put in the hard work shouldn't be able to accept the gifts that the people who do put in the hard work get.
Now truly read this time, because I can't simplify it anymore. that should clear up my opinion. which is just was this is. A discussion and opinion based on where poeple can put polls if they want. You get offended by opinion based response, that just thin skin i guess.
 
It was opinion based. And Actually I just saying that someone who doesn't put in the hard work shouldn't be able to accept the gifts that the people who do put in the hard work get.
Now truly read this time, because I can't simplify it anymore. that should clear up my opinion. which is just was this is. A discussion and opinion based on where poeple can put polls if they want. You get offended by opinion based response, that just thin skin i guess.

You are not the arbiter of whether or not someone has "put in the hard work" to earn their reward in the afterlife, whatever it may be. Neither am I.

I haven't misread or misunderstood anything you've said, I just think your opinion is utterly absurd. You're clearly the one with the thin skin here. I'm the one who doesn't give a shit how people choose to practice their religion, so long as they aren't bothering me with it.
 
Mr Awe said:
By what measure is religion declining? Please be specific rather than throwing out an unsupported generality. I think that's a myth. This 2008 poll is very interesting.

First, America != western society, second belief in god or frequency of prayer != religiosity. What myself and I suspect others were referring to is the fall of theocratic government in western society. Many western countries still have state religions, but the degree to which they have influence has declined tremendously. By way of example, the Pope used to be able to depose European rulers, right up until about 500 years ago and Henry VIII. The idea of the Pope or any other religious leader having that kind of power now is ludicrous. Further, while Christianity remains the dominant belief system, things that the Bible is categorically against such as divorce have become acceptable practice after being illegal for centuries. Society has absolutely changed, and it's moving away from intense religiosity into something more amorphous, as the more pluralistic view reflected in that poll demonstrates.

You're talking about something else completely, the separation of church and state. That was always the case here in the US, it's not new.

And, I never equated the US to western society. I was discussing religion in the US. The survey was quite appropriate, thanks.

Mr Awe
 
It was opinion based. And Actually I just saying that someone who doesn't put in the hard work shouldn't be able to accept the gifts that the people who do put in the hard work get.

Dude, if you are truly an athiest, then you must think that no religious person will "be able to accept the gifts" no matter how hard they work at it!! At least be logically consistent with your own argument!

Why would you even worry about people calling themselves religous but "not doing the work" inappropriately getting these "gifts"? Just doesn't make sense if you're an athiest.


Personally I think people should practice the religion, or spiritual way, of their choice as they see fit as long as it doesn't hurt others. Or, practice none if that's their choice.
Mr Awe
 
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