I was a Christian. I experienced what they call the "baptism of the holy spirit." I know how real and how beautiful and true a thing faith can be. I didn't nurture my own faith and have therefore drifted back to atheism. But I understand and respect faith.
The problem is that the bad believers are often the most vocal and receive the most attention. Christianity should not be judged on a whole based on the words and acts of the lowest representatives of the faith. There are plenty of thoughtless bigoted atheists out there too. I judge a person on an individual basis. Not according to their religious beliefs.
Brendan Wrote:The problem is that the bad believers are often the most vocal and receive the most attention. Christianity should not be judged on a whole based on the words and acts of the lowest representatives of the faith. There are plenty of thoughtless bigoted atheists out there too. I judge a person on an individual basis. Not according to their religious beliefs.
It wouldn't be save that it's so common. Common enough that their stations are big money makers, books are best sellers, they're pandered to by major politicians, grassroots action against gays often successful (at least until the courts throw it out), and so on.
Now Westboro is different, not because they hate on gays (as enough of a majority of Christians do so that the above is true), but because they hate America, crash soldier funerals (but were ignored when they used to restrict themselves to gay funerals, perhaps why they found new funerals to crash), and thank God for 9/11. Thing is Christianity has risen up and said, "They're not with us." And as a result no one of any significance think of Westboro as "typical Christians." So when Christendom does the same to the evangelicals and other toxic members THEN they'll no longer be judged by them either, just as they aren't by Westboro.
I too have seen things that would melt your face, curl your hair, and fry your brain, but ALL of them could be explained logically.
But to the minds of the religious, logic has no place, as it is always inconceivable to them that there are such things as coincidences, flukes, freak accidents, freaks of nature, con artists falsifications, fakes, phonies, and just plain stupid people doing stupid things.
This does not make it "the hand of god" or a "miracle". It is just an unplanned, unexpected, unlikely event that has occurred...not something some invisible being has created.
And the biggest hypocrisy issue I have....that has been constant in EVERY religion Ive seen....is that they blame their god for EVERYTHING that happens to them, as well as worship the same god for the good things that happen to them.
So wheres the "devil" in all of this? I have NEVER heard of anyone blaming the "devil" for a baby dying, or someone getting murdered. Its always "gods will"! If your god loves you so much, then WHY is he doing this to you? I would think that if your going to preach that your god loves all and is benevolent, then dont back it up with hypocrisy telling me that your god killed your baby (or any other ludicrous story).
What I see is people who cant be bothered to take responsibility for their own actions or stupidity, so they blame it on their god.
Now dont get mad....
For all the evil I have constantly and consistently seen and heard from the religious, there are those few who try to be good humans, doing good things. And I appreciate that very much. And I can appreciate their belief that there is possibly something better out there.
But its the other 99.99% of the religious dips out there I have problems with.
I dont have a problem with anyone believing in something better, or hopeful that theres got to be some supernatural explanation for everything.....I have the problem with those who force it on others, who rape, torture, steal, and kill those who refuse to involve themselves with these fantasy beings.
To tell you the truth, Id love to have a boyfriend who is religious and loves to argue the point. Im not hating the person, Im hating what religion does TO those people.
If you are all for teaching and preaching goodness and light and happiness and love, without having to demean, belittle, rape, torture, and kill others to try and achieve it, then more power to you. Im all for that, regardless of if it is considered religious or not.
I have just seem more true, real evil and hate from religious people than anything else.
There may be "one good apple" out there who is practicing religion for all the correct reasons, but its all the other ones who are doing it for evil and selfish means that people like me cannot abide by.
I feel sorry for those few people who are doing it for the right reasons..... they have a huge battle they can never win, ahead of them.
I will stand behind anyone who wants to do what they do for the REAL right and true reasons. Not some agenda or because they were brainwashed into it.
As my Aunt told me once......."God isnt in some million dollar building or some fancy tv network...god is in here" (she pointed to her chest) . Even though I dont beleive in it, I DO understand what she said.
And one of my issues with the religious, is the same one this guy had who was asking his religious friend these questions......
They have no answers. They ARE robots when it comes to facing people such as this man who made the video and myself. Its all "standardized" answers. Answers which are usually vague and have nothing to do with the question asked.
I have yet to ever get a plausible, real answer from any religious person I have asked questions too.
Good Lord, religion, what a topic. But I do want to contribute.
I was raised by DEVOUT Christians, went to church growing up, the whole bit.
Don't go to church anymore. In my experience, most organized religions are run by hypocrites, that's why I don't like organized religion.
I believe in God, and I do consider myself a Christian, but I feel like I don't need to go to a room for an hour on Sunday and listen to some guy drone on about the Bible to be one.
As for the Bible, I think people forget that it's not a historical document. It's a collection of writings written by people who were trying to interpret the world around them. It can't be taken literally. We don't take ancient greek, or roman, or chinese books literally, but somehow people think we should take a collection of books that spans the whole time frame of ancient civilization as a historical record? Let's all calm down, take a breath, and think logically on this.
I think it has value as a guide to living a good life, that's the way I interpret it.
ardus Wrote:(Dips toe in the water, AND FALLS IN....lol)
As for the Bible, I think people forget that it's not a historical document. It's a collection of writings written by people who were trying to interpret the world around them. It can't be taken literally. We don't take ancient greek, or roman, or chinese books literally, but somehow people think we should take a collection of books that spans the whole time frame of ancient civilization as a historical record? Let's all calm down, take a breath, and think logically on this.
Richard
And look at that! A new spin on the topic!
Ive never thought of people using the bible and religion in that way. Makes a lot of sense.
Not a historical document.....I will DEFINATELY have to remember that!!!
MisterTinkles Wrote:And look at that! A new spin on the topic!
Ive never thought of people using the bible and religion in that way. Makes a lot of sense.
Not a historical document.....I will DEFINATELY have to remember that!!!
Thanks!!!
If it wasn't for that avatar of a cat with a crown which just screams sincerity, I'd think you were being a tad sarcastic here, Mr. Tinkles.
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