Faith

[Johnwaluigi]

Oi! Roman Catholic present!!
No, I understand the insecurities people have with my religion, so I'm not on a crusade to convert ye all. But I love science, and the two can coexist, I believe.

 

[NintenDan]

Revised Commandments that I found when reading a weird as hell comic drawn by some seven year old or something:

I. Thou shalt not put science over religion
II. Thou shalt not put religion over science

Good times, that comic was. Good times.

 

[Audacity]

I was raised Christian. I used to ask a lot of questions in Sunday school and I was never really satisfied with the answers. I'd ask what do you have to do to get into heaven? I was told that Jesus had said that the only way to the Father was through the Son. In otherwords you have to accept Jesus as your saviour and believe he is the son of God. You gotta have faith.

Now I liked Jesus from the stories, but this always seemed almost too easy, and yet a bit unreasonable to me. The test was about faith. It seemed kinda harsh to send someone to eternal damnation just because they didn't know if something was true or not.

I always figured if there was a god that created everything, he'd come up with something better than that. I also figured that if he wrote the bible, maybe he was just messing with us about some of that stuff. If I was god, that's what I'd do. I didn't understand the insecurity about worshipping other idols, or the need to be worshipped in the first place.

Eventually I drifted away. I couldn't find anything about it that had any particular relevance to me.

For me the greater question of faith is in humanity itself. Are people basically good? Do they basically want to do the right thing? I like to think so, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary.

Oh, what did my brother put on facebook....oh right. not suitable for a place like this. :X

But anyways, No I don't believe in a god and i doubt I ever will. I just can't grasp the fact that a god created everything we know, even people...and [acronym=DEAD dinosaur fossils. )-)]Dinosaur Fossils[/acronym].....So yea, i don't think i'll be joining a religious group anytime.

I love Dinosaurs and prehistory, but I still have faith and trust in Jesus. I take a more creationist approach on things. Yes I do know about Darwin and his theory of Evolution, and it is very interesting. I just don't see how all life that is or was here, could be a result of a roll of the dice, metaphorically speaking. But you are all free to believe what you wish.

Okay. But please tell me you're not a young-earth creationist.

 

[JBrewer]

I'm an atheist.

But I believe in aliens... They are real man.

 

[Super Leaf]

I just can't find myself to believe there is a god.
It just makes no sense.
So I don't have a religion.
However, I do worship Waddle Dees

 

[AegisReflector]

The problem with the Christian God is that he seems like such an ass.

I've never liked the story of Adam & Eve because I think it makes God seem like a dick. He purposely tried to trick them into doing something wrong. Yeah they shouldn't have done it, but its kind of like the crazy girlfriend who makes up a hot facebook girl to flirt with her boyfriend & then gets mad when he takes the bait: both people are in the wrong.

Stuff like that is why I don't believe in God. I mostly just don't think the God represented in the bible seems like a nice one I'd want to worship.

 

[Cobra King]

I was raised Christian. I used to ask a lot of questions in Sunday school and I was never really satisfied with the answers. I'd ask what do you have to do to get into heaven? I was told that Jesus had said that the only way to the Father was through the Son. In otherwords you have to accept Jesus as your saviour and believe he is the son of God. You gotta have faith.

Now I liked Jesus from the stories, but this always seemed almost too easy, and yet a bit unreasonable to me. The test was about faith. It seemed kinda harsh to send someone to eternal damnation just because they didn't know if something was true or not.

I always figured if there was a god that created everything, he'd come up with something better than that. I also figured that if he wrote the bible, maybe he was just messing with us about some of that stuff. If I was god, that's what I'd do. I didn't understand the insecurity about worshipping other idols, or the need to be worshipped in the first place.

Eventually I drifted away. I couldn't find anything about it that had any particular relevance to me.

For me the greater question of faith is in humanity itself. Are people basically good? Do they basically want to do the right thing? I like to think so, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary.

Oh, what did my brother put on facebook....oh right. not suitable for a place like this. :X

But anyways, No I don't believe in a god and i doubt I ever will. I just can't grasp the fact that a god created everything we know, even people...and [acronym=DEAD dinosaur fossils. )-)]Dinosaur Fossils[/acronym].....So yea, i don't think i'll be joining a religious group anytime.

I love Dinosaurs and prehistory, but I still have faith and trust in Jesus. I take a more creationist approach on things. Yes I do know about Darwin and his theory of Evolution, and it is very interesting. I just don't see how all life that is or was here, could be a result of a roll of the dice, metaphorically speaking. But you are all free to believe what you wish.

Okay. But please tell me you're not a young-earth creationist.

If by "young-earth creationist" you mean I believe that the world is only 6000 years old, then no. The civilization of Ancient Egypt started around 5000 years ago, give or take a few years. And the earth was made long before Egypt arose. I am not gonna lie, I am not sure how old the earth is. I am still shaping my theory.

 

[Zexis]

It's always awkward for me being around people who are religious and expect me to be religious as well.

I once volunteered at a retirement home near my house. While working there, one of the caregivers there asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I said I wasn't sure. She told me that as long as I held my faith in Jesus, everything would be okay.

Well...I just sort of nodded and kept on working.

Then there's one of my grandmothers. She's always pushing Christianity on me, I even suspect that she's sending me a book for Christmas that's supposed to reinstate my faith or something. But I was never really religious in the first place...

Then there's saying grace at the table. It's not like I'm offended by it, it's just an alien ritual to me. My parents don't do it, but my grandparents do, and may the lord help me every time I have to hold back snickering when grace is said. I'm not laughing at Christianity, just at how awkward I feel in the situation, how out of place I am.

"What is it Zexis, do you have the giggles?"

"Uhh, um, yes, yes I do."

 

[//L]

I'm not laughing at Christianity, just at how awkward I feel in the situation, how out of place I am.

Oh God, dat feel. That's the weirdest feeling ever. And then someone like looks up at you with disgust in their eyes. And you're just "I... I... *blank face*" Well, that's a good summary for me, anyway.

 

[Lord Regal]

I was brought up Lutheran (LCMS to be precise) and I will say for a while that I was falling away from it. However, several events brought me back around to it, and now I can't imagine life without my faith. I'm not one to try to preach and convert others though, unless I feel that they want me to (which has only happened once or twice). I respect the fact that people have their own opinions and theological views, so I do my best to respect that.

 

[Magikarp Ownd]

Being one to respect those who can entertain an idea but not accept it, I myself have questioned my own faith in a "higher deity." My own question is, "How could the universe be so harmonious and encourage human prosperity as much as it does if it is only random occurrences?" My ideals about this subject aren't based on science, or what a sacred script tells us; My belief is attributed to philosophical reasons. Why is there life in the first place? Why do laws of the universe seem to favor the growth of life? Why do laws in the universe not contradict each other?

Simply put, how could everything be so fruitful for a random creation as us, or be so harmonious as this universe?

Also, as for most people on the internet not having a religion...

Indeed, I agree, extremist Christians are the easiest fools to ridicule. Especially when we have the likes of the West Boro Baptist church running around. Extremist Christians remind me of those home schooled kids with parents who have no idea of discipline so the kids run around rampant and disrespectful and ignorant. Extremists of any kind are pretty damn annoying. Seriously, everything in moderation.

 

[UnknownToaster]

No. I'm non-religious / agnostic. I don't know if I'd call myself atheist, because there always seems to be a negative connotation with that word.

By the way, this thread will be shut down at the first sign of flames.

You're what would be referred to as an Agnostic Atheist. I'm a Gnostic Atheist.
The fact that it has a negative connotation is all the more reason to refer to yourself as one.
The first step to being accepted is displaying your existence.

 

[Steve M.]

Oi! Roman Catholic present!!
No, I understand the insecurities people have with my religion, so I'm not on a crusade to convert ye all. But I love science, and the two can coexist, I believe.

No actually they can not, due to one being faith with no evidence or critical thinking while the other is skepticism, evidence supported, interpretations, critical thinking and analysis

 

[UnknownToaster]

Oi! Roman Catholic present!!
No, I understand the insecurities people have with my religion, so I'm not on a crusade to convert ye all. But I love science, and the two can coexist, I believe.

No actually they can not, due to one being faith with no evidence or critical thinking while the other is skepticism, evidence supported, interpretations, critical thinking and analysis

Since science doesn't disprove god, if he accepts the facts that science does prove and adjust his beliefs accordingly, yes, the two can co-exist, as it doesn't go against the facts that we do have.

No one is being harmed by that.

 

[Steve M.]

Being one to respect those who can entertain an idea but not accept it, I myself have questioned my own faith in a "higher deity." My own question is, "How could the universe be so harmonious and encourage human prosperity as much as it does if it is only random occurrences?" My ideals about this subject aren't based on science, or what a sacred script tells us; My belief is attributed to philosophical reasons. Why is there life in the first place? Why do laws of the universe seem to favor the growth of life? Why do laws in the universe not contradict each other?

Simply put, how could everything be so fruitful for a random creation as us, or be so harmonious as this universe?

Also, as for most people on the internet not having a religion...

Indeed, I agree, extremist Christians are the easiest fools to ridicule. Especially when we have the likes of the West Boro Baptist church running around. Extremist Christians remind me of those home schooled kids with parents who have no idea of discipline so the kids run around rampant and disrespectful and ignorant. Extremists of any kind are pretty damn annoying. Seriously, everything in moderation.

There are no "laws" that dictate/favor whether or not life can exist. Life is a blip a side effect of the formation of the planets whether they be carbon, arsenic or any other atom based life form. These "laws" you are referring are misinterpretations done by the public that do not have any kind of understanding in the matter. oh and ya WBC sucks *punches fred phelps and family with MEGA PUNCH* lol

 

[Zexis]

Scientifically speaking, there most certainly are laws that dictate whether or not life can form.

Religiously speaking, I'd say there aren't.

 

[Steve M.]

Oi! Roman Catholic present!!
No, I understand the insecurities people have with my religion, so I'm not on a crusade to convert ye all. But I love science, and the two can coexist, I believe.

No actually they can not, due to one being faith with no evidence or critical thinking while the other is skepticism, evidence supported, interpretations, critical thinking and analysis

Since science doesn't disprove god, if he accepts the facts that science does prove and adjust his beliefs accordingly, yes, the two can co-exist, as it doesn't go against the facts that we do have.

No one is being harmed by that.

Nor does it support it...actually ...oh never mind I see this going on and and on and on lol *using foresight*

 

[Steve M.]

Scientifically speaking, there most certainly are laws that dictate whether or not life can form.

Religiously speaking, I'd say there isn't.

actually no arsenic loving bacteria were found and they are carbon based ....case in point extremophiles...

 

[Zexis]

Scientifically speaking, there most certainly are laws that dictate whether or not life can form.

Religiously speaking, I'd say there isn't.

actually no arsenic loving bacteria were found and they are carbon based ....case in point extremophiles...

The laws can be revised, but they still exist.

See that toaster over there? Yeah. No matter what you do, that'll always be a toaster. Can't come to life, because it doesn't obey the laws. It's just a sad, lonely, inanimate toaster.

 

[UnknownToaster]

Oi! Roman Catholic present!!
No, I understand the insecurities people have with my religion, so I'm not on a crusade to convert ye all. But I love science, and the two can coexist, I believe.

No actually they can not, due to one being faith with no evidence or critical thinking while the other is skepticism, evidence supported, interpretations, critical thinking and analysis

Since science doesn't disprove god, if he accepts the facts that science does prove and adjust his beliefs accordingly, yes, the two can co-exist, as it doesn't go against the facts that we do have.

No one is being harmed by that.

Nor does it support it...actually ...oh never mind I see this going on and and on and on lol *using foresight*

Fine, but my only point was that if he's not using it to support his beliefs and does not try to say science is the cause or the support of his beliefs, just accepting scientific fact and has beliefs that support these, but branch off from their, separate from it, I don't really see a problem. This isn't to suggest that just because it accepts the scientific ideas that it would make his beliefs as factual as science, but just doesn't go against it. If that makes any sense. If not, don't worry about it.

See that toaster over there? Yeah. No matter what you do, that'll always be a toaster. Can't come to life, because it doesn't obey the laws. It's just a sad, lonely, inanimate toaster.

No matter how hard you try, you'll never be as toasty as said toaster. Have fun warming up in blankets, toasters have built in warming devices.