Meaning of life???
01-20-2009, 04:19 AM
Right, much as i want to just leave it and not post anything and maybe just LOL at a post count of 69 (such an intellgent and discerning mind as mine is hard to find...) I'm gonna throw in my own little commentary:
Dunno whether you meant this in jest or not but it raises a very serious point. The best way to earn the respect you demand of those who oppose you is to show it to them, irrespective of how petty their arguments and jibes may be. This is a rather vitriolic aside for one as intelligent and level headed as you.
Nowhere in the Bible or in any other piece of Catholic (adressing your comment more directly) literature does it expressly say, 'And ye shall go out and molest young boys, for they are what has been given unto you as men of the cloth.' Just because the Church is a powerhouse does not mean that its core values are evil.
I'm not unsympathetic to your view, nor disdainful of your right to express it. Especially on a place such as this, which is designed, after all, to be a platform for Gays and whomsoever else wants to tag along. I don't know what you have experienced and don't want to sound as though i am in any way dismissive of what you say or have been through. I want to emphasise that totally.
However, as far as i can see, it is not Christianity, or Judaism, or Islam or any other major organised religion which is itself a source of problems and evils, rather its misappropriation. Religion is a source of faith, and those who lead that faith carry a massive power and responsibility. And where there is a source of power there will also be a source of corruption. Is it really surprising, given the power that any Church has to influence the minds of tis followers that not only the truly zealous are attracted to it?? That power hungry individuals achieve high ranks within such orders and abuse their position and their duty to those to whom they preach?? It expressly says in the bible, as one of the ten commandments, 'thou shalt not kill'. Yet during the crusades educated ministers, who could read, told peasants, could not read, to go to the holy land and reclaim it, that God was with them and used this as a justification for the slaughter of so many. This is an extreme example of the abuse of power, but nonetheless demonstrative of my point.
Corruption exists within any religion becuase of what it means to people. People who believe 'know' (placed in inverted commas to avoid giving the wrong impression) that those who are ordained are learned and are there to help lead them on the path of righteousness, to guide them in life. So of course some are going to seek to abuse that influence for their own agenda.
Also Christianity is by its very nature evangelical to a degree. What kind of person would one be if one didn't at least try to convert those one knows and cares about so that they too might go to heaven instead of facing an eternity of punishment??* Some see their venomous tirades as nothing more than their attempt to do their Christian duty to bring others on to the path of God so that they too might go to heaven. Others are just filled with hatred for whatever reason and religion acts as a convenient framework from which they can operate.
As for you, what EXACTLY do you mean by that comment??
SHOW me a section of the bible where it explicity says 'Homosexuality is bad/wrong'. Oh, wait. There isn't one. I'm not even going to dignify your commentary with a lengthy response.
He who is without sin and all that...
Next point...
I stand to get a lot of stick from both sides for blancing being a homo with believing in God. Go figure, as the yanks say. It doesn't expressly say in the Bible that gays are bad. And it isn't, in my humble view. But there ARE a whole load of issues i don't know the answer to how we balance out. But i try, and i'm sure that the honesty of my intentions and what good i can do will be enough.
What i do know is the way i feel knowing He IS out there and everything that comes with that is indescribable. And feeling a light in the darkness is worth everything and anything.
He doesn't. He's not really asking a lot when you think about it, is he?? He made this world with all its wonders and marvels and put us on it and all he's asking is for you to accept His love and apologise for our sins and in return we get eternal life. He even sent His only son down to earth, to suffer as we have, and to die so that we might one day join Him.
God doesn't NEED you affirmation. But i don't think it's a lot to ask that we accept His love (do we really count that as affirmation??) given what we're being offered. I really think that's as far as that PARTICULAR needs breaking down, feel free to disagree.
I've got so much more to say on this topic and i know that most on here won't agree with me. What's more i respect that. Everyone has an equally valid viewpoint on this, as noone can conclusively prove otherwise, no??
I'm not speaking in favour of or defending the accusatory tones of Fromgenesis for one single second. I want to make it categorically clear that our viewpoints are different. I would never judge any of you.
We seem to have deviated somewhat from the original topic of what the meaning of life is. I'd love to type more but it's 3am and i have an exam in eight hours. So im offski for a light sleepski. Sincerely hoping that nothing i've said can be misconstrued and that i've not worded anything TOO poorly...
Maybe a seperate thread would be a better place to discuss this on??
Quote:maybe you believe in confessing to a pedophile in a white collar and no matter what crimes against humanity just walk thru to the love of THE GOD?
Dunno whether you meant this in jest or not but it raises a very serious point. The best way to earn the respect you demand of those who oppose you is to show it to them, irrespective of how petty their arguments and jibes may be. This is a rather vitriolic aside for one as intelligent and level headed as you.
Nowhere in the Bible or in any other piece of Catholic (adressing your comment more directly) literature does it expressly say, 'And ye shall go out and molest young boys, for they are what has been given unto you as men of the cloth.' Just because the Church is a powerhouse does not mean that its core values are evil.
I'm not unsympathetic to your view, nor disdainful of your right to express it. Especially on a place such as this, which is designed, after all, to be a platform for Gays and whomsoever else wants to tag along. I don't know what you have experienced and don't want to sound as though i am in any way dismissive of what you say or have been through. I want to emphasise that totally.
However, as far as i can see, it is not Christianity, or Judaism, or Islam or any other major organised religion which is itself a source of problems and evils, rather its misappropriation. Religion is a source of faith, and those who lead that faith carry a massive power and responsibility. And where there is a source of power there will also be a source of corruption. Is it really surprising, given the power that any Church has to influence the minds of tis followers that not only the truly zealous are attracted to it?? That power hungry individuals achieve high ranks within such orders and abuse their position and their duty to those to whom they preach?? It expressly says in the bible, as one of the ten commandments, 'thou shalt not kill'. Yet during the crusades educated ministers, who could read, told peasants, could not read, to go to the holy land and reclaim it, that God was with them and used this as a justification for the slaughter of so many. This is an extreme example of the abuse of power, but nonetheless demonstrative of my point.
Corruption exists within any religion becuase of what it means to people. People who believe 'know' (placed in inverted commas to avoid giving the wrong impression) that those who are ordained are learned and are there to help lead them on the path of righteousness, to guide them in life. So of course some are going to seek to abuse that influence for their own agenda.
Also Christianity is by its very nature evangelical to a degree. What kind of person would one be if one didn't at least try to convert those one knows and cares about so that they too might go to heaven instead of facing an eternity of punishment??* Some see their venomous tirades as nothing more than their attempt to do their Christian duty to bring others on to the path of God so that they too might go to heaven. Others are just filled with hatred for whatever reason and religion acts as a convenient framework from which they can operate.
Quote:Looking at the replies above, it would seem that this life is the only life that most are concerned with - getting the most of it. Should one not consider the possibility that God exists, and that we are all responsible to Him, will be judged on our lives and thus living a life that meets his standards?
As for you, what EXACTLY do you mean by that comment??
SHOW me a section of the bible where it explicity says 'Homosexuality is bad/wrong'. Oh, wait. There isn't one. I'm not even going to dignify your commentary with a lengthy response.
He who is without sin and all that...
Next point...
I stand to get a lot of stick from both sides for blancing being a homo with believing in God. Go figure, as the yanks say. It doesn't expressly say in the Bible that gays are bad. And it isn't, in my humble view. But there ARE a whole load of issues i don't know the answer to how we balance out. But i try, and i'm sure that the honesty of my intentions and what good i can do will be enough.
What i do know is the way i feel knowing He IS out there and everything that comes with that is indescribable. And feeling a light in the darkness is worth everything and anything.
Quote:It makes no sense at all that an all-powerful being needs affirmation from me.
He doesn't. He's not really asking a lot when you think about it, is he?? He made this world with all its wonders and marvels and put us on it and all he's asking is for you to accept His love and apologise for our sins and in return we get eternal life. He even sent His only son down to earth, to suffer as we have, and to die so that we might one day join Him.
God doesn't NEED you affirmation. But i don't think it's a lot to ask that we accept His love (do we really count that as affirmation??) given what we're being offered. I really think that's as far as that PARTICULAR needs breaking down, feel free to disagree.
I've got so much more to say on this topic and i know that most on here won't agree with me. What's more i respect that. Everyone has an equally valid viewpoint on this, as noone can conclusively prove otherwise, no??
I'm not speaking in favour of or defending the accusatory tones of Fromgenesis for one single second. I want to make it categorically clear that our viewpoints are different. I would never judge any of you.
We seem to have deviated somewhat from the original topic of what the meaning of life is. I'd love to type more but it's 3am and i have an exam in eight hours. So im offski for a light sleepski. Sincerely hoping that nothing i've said can be misconstrued and that i've not worded anything TOO poorly...
Maybe a seperate thread would be a better place to discuss this on??
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