Faith/Religion/Spirituality - Self-Denial? And Philosophy

[tomalak301]

Well, I'm a Catholic, and really do like the message of the Catholic faith even though I don't really agree with all of what the Church want's me to agree with.

I do think Mr. Laser Beam summarized why I feel this way better than I could. There is a lot of good stuff in the faith, such as teaching forgiveness, or that Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and that we all have eternal life. I just wish our faith wasn't taken over by religious nutjobs that think it's only their way or the highway. Jesus had love for all, no matter who you were. That should be significantly opposite than persecuting a certain type of person or inflicting them with your own beliefs.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well, I'm a Catholic, and really do like the message of the Catholic faith even though I don't really agree with all of what the Church want's me to agree with.

I do think Mr. Laser Beam summarized why I feel this way better than I could. There is a lot of good stuff in the faith, such as teaching forgiveness, or that Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and that we all have eternal life. I just wish our faith wasn't taken over by religious nutjobs that think it's only their way or the highway. Jesus had love for all, no matter who you were. That should be significantly opposite than persecuting a certain type of person or inflicting them with your own beliefs.

See I get all the "good stuff" in religious beliefs but I have pretty much slipped over the side of the religion boat because I find I need to know if the other stuff, the ultimate answers to ultimate questions is true. I can no longer participate in christian services etc.. because the "good stuff" is only one element of it.

I didn't vote in the poll because I have no effing idea.

 

[tomalak301]

Well, I'm a Catholic, and really do like the message of the Catholic faith even though I don't really agree with all of what the Church want's me to agree with.

I do think Mr. Laser Beam summarized why I feel this way better than I could. There is a lot of good stuff in the faith, such as teaching forgiveness, or that Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and that we all have eternal life. I just wish our faith wasn't taken over by religious nutjobs that think it's only their way or the highway. Jesus had love for all, no matter who you were. That should be significantly opposite than persecuting a certain type of person or inflicting them with your own beliefs.

See I get all the "good stuff" in religious beliefs but I have pretty much slipped over the side of the religion boat because I find I need to know if the other stuff, the ultimate answers to ultimate questions is true. I can no longer participate in christian services etc.. because the "good stuff" is only one element of it.

I didn't vote in the poll because I have no effing idea.

That's your prerogative. I always thought part of the whole concept of "faith" was kind of a suspension of belief and not really needing to ask those questions. Of course there are some questions I ask too, like why Jesus, when he was raised from the dead, didn't reveal himself to the people that crucified him (Pilot and the high priests) but that doesn't deter me from the overall message of the faith. I think it's that message, for me, that is the most important thing and, like I said, it's a shame that message seems to be changing for the worse.

 

[gturner]

Well, doubts about the existence of God or gods arose as we started discovering rational, naturalistic explanations for phenomenon and existence, understanding why planets, rocks, and animals formed the way they did.

However, some elements of our world are undeniably the work of God, such as Sundays. Man can't "create" a day of the week, and neither can any act of orbital mechanics, or knotted space-time loops in the big bang. If Sundays exist, God must exist, because nothing else can explain their existence.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well, I'm a Catholic, and really do like the message of the Catholic faith even though I don't really agree with all of what the Church want's me to agree with.

I do think Mr. Laser Beam summarized why I feel this way better than I could. There is a lot of good stuff in the faith, such as teaching forgiveness, or that Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and that we all have eternal life. I just wish our faith wasn't taken over by religious nutjobs that think it's only their way or the highway. Jesus had love for all, no matter who you were. That should be significantly opposite than persecuting a certain type of person or inflicting them with your own beliefs.

See I get all the "good stuff" in religious beliefs but I have pretty much slipped over the side of the religion boat because I find I need to know if the other stuff, the ultimate answers to ultimate questions is true. I can no longer participate in christian services etc.. because the "good stuff" is only one element of it.

I didn't vote in the poll because I have no effing idea.

That's your prerogative. I always thought part of the whole concept of "faith" was kind of a suspension of belief and not really needing to ask those questions. Of course there are some questions I ask too, like why Jesus, when he was raised from the dead, didn't reveal himself to the people that crucified him (Pilot and the high priests) but that doesn't deter me from the overall message of the faith. I think it's that message, for me, that is the most important thing and, like I said, it's a shame that message seems to be changing for the worse.

That's the fault of the messengers though. It's not like the original texts have changed.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well, doubts about the existence of God or gods arose as we started discovering rational, naturalistic explanations for phenomenon and existence, understanding why planets, rocks, and animals formed the way they did.

However, some elements of our world are undeniably the work of God, such as Sundays. Man can't "create" a day of the week, and neither can any act of orbital mechanics, or knotted space-time loops in the big bang. If Sundays exist, God must exist, because nothing else can explain their existence.

I just have two Saturdays in a row.

You should try it, you'll be amazed at how free you feel.

 

[Gaith]

Now you've really got me confused.

Read it again.

But I do believe in puppies.

You should - they believe in you.

If Sundays exist, God must exist, because nothing else can explain their existence.

"This must be a Thursday," said Jesus.
"I could never get the hang of Thursdays."
​

 

[gturner]

Well, doubts about the existence of God or gods arose as we started discovering rational, naturalistic explanations for phenomenon and existence, understanding why planets, rocks, and animals formed the way they did.

However, some elements of our world are undeniably the work of God, such as Sundays. Man can't "create" a day of the week, and neither can any act of orbital mechanics, or knotted space-time loops in the big bang. If Sundays exist, God must exist, because nothing else can explain their existence.

I just have two Saturdays in a row.

You should try it, you'll be amazed at how free you feel.

I tried that once and just felt double ultra orthodox, which surprisingly is a religious experience and not a new type of Oreo cookie.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well, doubts about the existence of God or gods arose as we started discovering rational, naturalistic explanations for phenomenon and existence, understanding why planets, rocks, and animals formed the way they did.

However, some elements of our world are undeniably the work of God, such as Sundays. Man can't "create" a day of the week, and neither can any act of orbital mechanics, or knotted space-time loops in the big bang. If Sundays exist, God must exist, because nothing else can explain their existence.

I just have two Saturdays in a row.

You should try it, you'll be amazed at how free you feel.

I tried that once and just felt double ultra orthodox, which surprisingly is a religious experience and not a new type of Oreo cookie.

The way Americans go on about Oreos they are a religious experience.

 

[tomalak301]

See I get all the "good stuff" in religious beliefs but I have pretty much slipped over the side of the religion boat because I find I need to know if the other stuff, the ultimate answers to ultimate questions is true. I can no longer participate in christian services etc.. because the "good stuff" is only one element of it.

I didn't vote in the poll because I have no effing idea.

That's your prerogative. I always thought part of the whole concept of "faith" was kind of a suspension of belief and not really needing to ask those questions. Of course there are some questions I ask too, like why Jesus, when he was raised from the dead, didn't reveal himself to the people that crucified him (Pilot and the high priests) but that doesn't deter me from the overall message of the faith. I think it's that message, for me, that is the most important thing and, like I said, it's a shame that message seems to be changing for the worse.

That's the fault of the messengers though. It's not like the original texts have changed.

Yeah, like the religious right wing nut jobs that have almost hijacked the religion and given it a bad name. The Christianity that I see in the news and internet isn't the same Christianity that I know in my heart and what I experience at Church every week. That's pitiful.

 

[horatio83]

^That is ridiculous. I don't believe my soul is eternal. I am perfectly content with mortality. Just because you cannot reconcile non belief and sanity doesn't mean other people can't. I am crazy for completely different reasons.

This is not some personal bullshit, it is fundamental human paradox which has of course to be repressed in order to enable us to actually function.
Everybody who claims that he is perfectly fine with the biological fact of our mortality lacks the ability to at least notice what he has repressed.

 

[M'Sharak]

I just have two Saturdays in a row.

You should try it, you'll be amazed at how free you feel.

I tried that once and just felt double ultra orthodox, which surprisingly is a religious experience and not a new type of Oreo cookie.

The way Americans go on about Oreos they are a religious experience.

Perhaps it was actually double ultra Hydrox gturner was feeling. Take two of those, and call Harlan Ellison in the morning.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I tried that once and just felt double ultra orthodox, which surprisingly is a religious experience and not a new type of Oreo cookie.

The way Americans go on about Oreos they are a religious experience.

Perhaps it was actually double ultra Hydrox gturner was feeling. Take two of those, and call Harlan Ellison in the morning.

This is why the names and words you choose are so important. If McCoy hadn't been on drugs but instead had been on.. spores, or some other sci fi thingie that script would have been much more acceptable.

 

[Tiberius]

I'm an atheist. There is no God. And it pains me no end to see people on religious discussion boards who are deeply concerned about what God thinks of them for masturbating, or are terrified that they will be sent to hell for using God's name in vain, or who break up with someone who loves them dearly because they are of a different denomination of Christianity.

Man that's depressing.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Why are you reading religious discussion boards?

 

[Amaris]

Why are you reading religious discussion boards?

I don't know about Tiberius, but I still visit religious discussion boards. I'm still a minister, so I remain familiar with many religious faiths, and the general mindsets of their practitioners. Plus, it's always nice to catch assholes in their own doctrine.

 

[Tiberius]

Why are you reading religious discussion boards?

Because I like debating religion with people. everyone needs a hobby.

Indeed, I;d love to see a "Does God Exist" thread here on TBBS.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Wait a bit and this will morph that way. Or give it a push yourself.

 

[Mr Silver]

Indeed, I;d love to see a "Does God Exist" thread here on TBBS.

There are many interpretations of "God". Some posters in the thread have brought up a couple of them already.

See, what it comes down to, is the early tribal religious beliefs. Ancient man looked to the sky and saw a golden orb, an orb that brought light into the sky and provided warmth. The ancient humans began to worship the orb as a god, after all, the orb was indistinguishable from magic. Maybe it wasn't even that, perhaps they worshipped it out of fear. That fear being, that the orb would go away, and leave behind eternal darkness.

Through fear, we created the concepts of black and white. Anything that was good, we associated with white, or the light, and anything that was bad, we associated with black, or the darkness. In the dark, we were susceptible to nocturnal predators and other unseen dangers. These dangers, would not be dangers during the period of light.

It's all evolved since then. We created concepts such as yin/yang from this idea. Our experiences with good and evil, spawned the idea of God and Satan. Hell, maybe the moon eventually spawned the idea of Jesus. The moon (Jesus) reflecting the light that the sun (God) sends during darkness.

 

[JarodRussell]

I am a Christian. Why, you may ask? I was taught about Christ back in the day, and I continue to believe in Him. I know there's no proof for this. But as has been pointed out, there's no proof AGAINST it either. That's why it's not even close to the 'imaginary friend' angle. In that case, a child creates a character that he/she KNOWS is false. The same is not the case here. The very essence of faith is the belief in things not seen. I realize that's not enough for some people. I'd be lying if I said I was happy with that, but don't worry, I won't go waving it in anyone's face or anything like that.

Some people ask me why I accept the Bible, and my Christian faith, while there are so many others out there. I admit I don't have an answer for this. It just happens to be how I was raised, and even though I use my brain in my life, I still accept it. But that reminds me - part of my personal identity as a Christian is that I'm not afraid to admit I don't have all the answers, and that I'm not expected to. You want me to tell you why I believe in God even though there's so much evil in the world? I can't explain that discrepancy. I don't know why evil exists. But I will be sure to ask God about that when I meet Him.

Have you ever tried to prove that a child's imaginary friend doesn't exist? Good luck with that one.