Do you believe in God?

[Tyrion]

I don't believe in the Christian God, but I do believe in a spiritual, divine type of existence. I don't see it as some big entity up in the clouds looking down and making rules.. but more of a type of natural force. As far as an afterlife and what not goes, I have no real opinion. There could be something, there might not. I don't believe anyone really knows until they're dead.

[Pix]

I remember in high school I once attended Youth Pride in Boston with my school and like at any pride there were protestors. I remember turning to my girlfriend in full view of this man and kissing her just to spite him. Looking back on that day, on those actions I am filled with so much regret and I will be for the rest of my life. If I saw that man today I would beg him for his forgiveness. He was a very nice man, and only wished to share his views on the world; and though I do not agree with him, I do respect him. He was not the ignorant one that day, I was. And so I apologize today to the gay community for making us look terrible in the eyes of the world.

No need to apologize, and he was the one who needed to apologize to and for Christians, not you to and for the gay community. Especially as you were a kid.

Now...if you had instead walked into his church or a religious picnic of his church and did a gay kiss, or picketed it (as you're nice and just want to share your views) THEN I'd see you as the obnoxious one. But in what you described he was the obnoxious one.

What you don't seem to understand is that respect has to go both ways. And it's ironic that Jesus is the one who said turn the other cheek and yet Christians think they can smite us on our cheeks but claim persecution and abuse if we don't instantly buckle under and do what they want.

Btw, here's an apology a Christian like what you described gave to me recently:

An Apology I Got From a Christian

So maybe the Christian who's forgiveness you'd beg for would also beg you for YOUR forgiveness as well.

[Kiid]

Do I believe in god. Yes.
Do I believe that the bible is gods word. Sometimes.
Are you going to tell me that my god is wrong. Probably.
How many fucks do I give. None.

I have my own faith. I don't go to church or read the bible I believe that people should try there best to be good and the best person they can be.

[dfiant]

I believe that people should try there best to be good and the best person they can be.

And that is the key to life. Not religious beliefs, not social status, heck not even sexuality rates a hoot when it comes to plainly and simply being the best person you can, doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.

[Counselor]

On a forum where people from all over the world come together to embrace their differences and common beliefs about sexual orientation; who support each other when life deals them a hard blow and homophobia inevitably knocks on their door, I must say I am...hurt I guess? To find threads such as these. When I came here only last night I came to offer help to any I could when it came to finding who they are; because like many of us I know how difficult it can be. It always seems to be that the most down trodden groups of people, the ones you would think would say "I know how it feels to not find acceptance, so even though I do not agree with you good sir. I respect you, and I welcome you with open arms." I always find this not to be true. Like I said it hurts to have my beliefs looked down upon by strangers who assume I'm ignorant for my belief, or simply view the idea as ignorant in general. I have to say that this hurt is far worse when it comes to my religious views than when it comes to my sexual orientation as my love of a god, any god, in any form, is so much more a part of my life than the gender of my lover. I remember in high school I once attended Youth Pride in Boston with my school and like at any pride there were protestors. I remember turning to my girlfriend in full view of this man and kissing her just to spite him. Looking back on that day, on those actions I am filled with so much regret and I will be for the rest of my life. If I saw that man today I would beg him for his forgiveness. He was a very nice man, and only wished to share his views on the world; and though I do not agree with him, I do respect him. He was not the ignorant one that day, I was. And so I apologize today to the gay community for making us look terrible in the eyes of the world. The point of this I guess is to ask you not to believe what I do, but to have the decency and respect for me, and others who believe, to not look down upon me or my views. After all you've all been on the receiving end of the words 'disgusting' 'unnatural' 'freak', and you know how it feels. Thank you.

You felt regret for showing people that you love someone? I am confused and concerned.

[MTG]

No I do and did need to apologize, and at 18 (at the time) I knew right from wrong. And yes respect does go both ways. And I didn't show him respect. I because i did not kiss someone out of love, I did it because I wanted him to feel uncomfortable. Not only is that wrong to purposefully make someone feel uncomfortable, I also used someone I truly do care about for my own sick, twisted, personal agenda. And before you tell me that he was making every homosexual feel uncomfortable, he had every right to be there. Just as much as I did. Not only did I do something wrong, I then later witnessed someone pushing and throwing the poor guys sign, when he wasn't the least bit hostile. I won't lie that I was ashamed to be associated with that display of cruelty. In fact I've not returned to a pride since. I am not however ashamed of who I am in fact I thoroughly enjoy it. So no, I do not regret loving someone, I regret my actions. Regardless, you've missed the point of the post completely. I specifically asked for everyone here to look past their views of Christians or Jews, or Muslims, or religion and faith in general and have respect for your fellow man instead of putting down their ideas; even if they don't show you the same common courtesy.

[SolemnBoy]

I'm an agnostic ahteist so while I don't claim to know for sure, I still don't believe in any kind of divine entity.

Also, the argument that you need religion as a moral compass is ridiculous. That's just common sense to me and I don't need the words of any God in order to be the nice and friendly person I want to be.

[quixote87]

I am not a religious person and I don't believe in a god or organized religion for that matter. But I do believe that there has to be some type of karma system.

[Hayden]

I don't believe in god. Not believing in god is not the same thing as declaring for a fact that there is no god, but it seems like the universe operates much in the same way as it would if there is no god.

I don't see the point. If there is a god and all that, then that's cool. But I'd rather not waste my time believing in something for which there is no reason to believe.

(This is something I'm actually very passionate about and I could talk all day about this subject, but I know I'll end up sounding like a dick. I can't help it. I do respect other people's decision to believe in something.)

[Kiid]

I believe that when I die I will get eaten by other things and this makes me happy to know the things go round and round and round. Things eat thing which eat things that eat things. Life happens so dose death. I look forward to becoming apart of the soil again n.n