I love religion!

Uncle Leo

humanlight wrote:

Don't get me started on that bull shit! I went to my husband's baptist church about a month ago. ( i am catholic) and they had some really awful things to say about Catholics. I was shocked! People of god making fun of other people. I was totally appauled!!!!!!

I find it comical. They are essentially the same religion.

I am going to poorly paraphrase a Simpsons episode that had Bart and Homer toying with converting to Catholicism--Marge and Rev. Lovejoy were upset.

Bart: "People, we need to stop focusing on the little stupid differences and focus more on the big stupid similarities."

Flanders: "Yeah, Catholics and Protestants should work together to combat our real enemies: Monogamous gays and (damn can't remember the other one)."

norm

"He doesn't think very differently from the Taliban, does he?" independent Kinky Friedman said.

Mr. Friedman, a Jew, said Mr. Perry's comment "hits pretty close to home."

"Being obsessed with who's going to heaven and who's going to hell is kind of a pathetic waste of time," he said.

Mr. Friedman, who often expresses admiration for Jesus and calls himself "a Judeo-Christian," declined to say whether he believes that accepting Jesus as one's savior is the only path to salvation.

I love Kinky!

Byrnzie

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

keith isn't dead yet. (he cannot be killed by conventional weaponry)

neither is jenna...

that's confusing! talk about the present dead.

No, but if I die before Keith and Jenna then I'll at least have something to look forward to.

humanlight

soulsinging wrote:

what sorts of things? im curious.

We were setting there in a small West Virginia baptist church. There were probably 30 people there. So, they new I was not a regular. They all shook my hand when I came in, and said "God bless you" during the serive. Then the Preacher began dicussing a man who was in NY talking about something. It is kind of blurry at the moment, but I know there was a thread here about the same man. Anyway, I believe it was about religions in different countries or mexico, I am not sure. From what I can remember it was a good man, trying to spread the word of "Jesus," but maybe not in the most traditional way.

Anyway....the preacher said...."Yea, I would not suprised if he was Catholic. I was just waiting for him to do all of that crazy stuff (now he is mocking the sign of the cross that we do with our hands). Don't get me started on Catholics, boy we could go on forever about them!"

At which point, other members of the congrigation began to mumble words about MY faith. The next few minutes I don't remember because I was furious! My husband is hearing impared, so he did not hear any of this.

Once we got in the car, I asked him what his church thought about caltholics...and he replied very quickly...."Oh, they go to hell." So, I ask, "do you belive that?" My husband said. "Well until I married you, I thought that. See baptist and catholics have a rivalry, they don't get along." I said, "well, it is on your side then, b/c I have NEVER heard a catholic preast talk badly about ANY other religion."

humanlight

It is one thing not to like or approve of someone's religion, but it is a totally different thing to make fun of it, and when they were mocking the sign that we do, I was outraged! I am a VERY friendly, forgiving, understanding person, I feel that I treat everyone with respect and dignity. The last place I thought I would feel unconfortable, unwelcome, humilated, made fun of was in a church! You may as well put me back in middle school being bullied by the local redneck and stuffed in a locker.

I don't even advocate organized religion. I think every one of them has it wrong, but Damn it!!!! Please, I would like one, just one, church not disappoint me. I haven't seen one yet!!!!

Maybe the Mormans got it right?!?!?!?!?!

Cosmo

ledvedderman wrote:

If Jesus were around today, he wouldn't be in these mega churches, he probably wouldn't even be anywhere close to America and the way we twisted his preachings.

I'm sure he would be in Africa with the poor and those who have AIDS.

...
To me... the the way Americans believe Jesus would come here to save us... I mean, we are the Rome of today... was Jesus there to help Rome? Maybe if we took His teachings to heart and practiced what He preached... sharing our wealth with those less fortunate than us, then... yeah... I can see that. But, we are more concerned with keeping our 'Hard earned pay' and yelling at the poor to 'Get a job'... I'm thinkin'... Jesus no like that.
...
My guess, if He did come to America... First of all, He would be placed on the 'No-Fly List' so He'd have to cross into this country without the proper paper work, giving Him 'illegal' status, then have His phone tapped and His bank account scrutinized and eventually end up at Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
I think you called it right about Africa and the poor... Jesus seems like more of that kind of dude.

Uncle Leo

humanlight wrote:

... See baptist and catholics have a rivalry, they don't get along." ...

I'll stick with Michigan/Ohio State.

humanlight

Cosmo wrote:

...
To me... the the way Americans believe Jesus would come here to save us... I mean, we are the Rome of today... was Jesus there to help Rome? Maybe if we took His teachings to heart and practiced what He preached... sharing our wealth with those less fortunate than us, then... yeah... I can see that. But, we are more concerned with keeping our 'Hard earned pay' and yelling at the poor to 'Get a job'... I'm thinkin'... Jesus no like that.
...
My guess, if He did come to America... First of all, He would be placed on the 'No-Fly List' so He'd have to cross into this country without the proper paper work, giving Him 'illegal' status, then have His phone tapped and His bank account scrutinized and eventually end up at Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
I think you called it right about Africa and the poor... Jesus seems like more of that kind of dude.

I agree too, all of us have it wrong. It is probably wondering how we got 10 very simple rules, so screwed up!

Sonja_S

humanlight wrote:

We were setting there in a small West Virginia baptist church. There were probably 30 people there. So, they new I was not a regular. They all shook my hand when I came in, and said "God bless you" during the serive. Then the Preacher began dicussing a man who was in NY talking about something. It is kind of blurry at the moment, but I know there was a thread here about the same man. Anyway, I believe it was about religions in different countries or mexico, I am not sure. From what I can remember it was a good man, trying to spread the word of "Jesus," but maybe not in the most traditional way.

Anyway....the preacher said...."Yea, I would not suprised if he was Catholic. I was just waiting for him to do all of that crazy stuff (now he is mocking the sign of the cross that we do with our hands). Don't get me started on Catholics, boy we could go on forever about them!"

At which point, other members of the congrigation began to mumble words about MY faith. The next few minutes I don't remember because I was furious! My husband is hearing impared, so he did not hear any of this.

Once we got in the car, I asked him what his church thought about caltholics...and he replied very quickly...."Oh, they go to hell." So, I ask, "do you belive that?" My husband said. "Well until I married you, I thought that. See baptist and catholics have a rivalry, they don't get along." I said, "well, it is on your side then, b/c I have NEVER heard a catholic preast talk badly about ANY other religion."

Wow that's low. Even more so for a priest. I was brought up catholic but asked to be excommunicated when I was 14. I would never say anything bad about any religion though. Personally I respect every religion and I expect people to respect my decision not to belong to one.

humanlight

Sonja_S wrote:

Wow that's low. Even more so for a priest. I was brought up catholic but asked to be excommunicated when I was 14. I would never say anything bad about any religion though. Personally I respect every religion and I expect people to respect my decision not to belong to one.

No, the Priest did not do anything. Well, let me say the Catholic Priest did not, it was the Baptist minister who said all of this. All catholic priests I have ever listened to have never talked poorly about anyones choice of religion.

Sonja_S

Sorry, vocabulary problem. I meant the minister.

humanlight

Uncle Leo wrote:

I'll stick with Michigan/Ohio State.

I know! At least that one makes sense!

hippiemom

Uncle Leo wrote:

I'll stick with Michigan/Ohio State.

GO BLUE!!!

edgarcamp

Sonja_S wrote:

Personally I respect every religion and I expect people to respect my decision not to belong to one.

Exactly. When all these religious groups can have a mutual respect for one another, then we can accomplish something in the world.

Religions WILL cause the end of the world.

Ahnimus

How does anyone know God isn't Satan and vise versa.

Think about it, Satan is the king of temptation. God's whole plan is to tempt you with Heaven and Eternal life, never providing you with any proof, just extracting your blind soul from faith. You believe simply because not doing so is a ticket to hell. Is that the work of God or the work of Satan?

It would seem the line between good and evil is very thin. Pehaps not even straight, such that the will of good sometimes crosses the line into evil. Acceptable losses and all that. The goal justifies the means.

Would it not be Satan's greatest trick to convince people he is god?

Religion is so distorted and influenced by men that what was truth are now lies. God's will? or Satan's influence?

How do we know God isn't the kid on the ant hill with the magnifying glass, and perhaps Satan had justification for challenging God. Perhaps "The Lord" so repeated in the Bible is not Good, perhaps Satan is not Evil.

It's all a mystery shrouded in distortion. I put my faith in mystery. That one day it will be understood, or upon my death I will become one with nothingness and not exist happily ever after.

If I do go to hell, I just hope the good ol' Sanders is cooking up some fried chicken when I get there. I bet the parties in hell are da bomb.

Cosmo

The thing I don't understand... and will NEVER understand... is the arrogance of those who believe Heaven is theirs, simply because they believe it is theirs. I would tend to think that one would be humble in their beliefs... and towards God.
It's not the teachings of religion that turn me away from religion... it's mostly because of the people. I want to be more inclusive, than exclusive. And i don't believe that Heaven is one of those exclusive Country Clubs or Nightclubs where the bouncers keep you on the outside of the velvet rope. If it turns out that it IS that way... then, point me towards the Down escalator because I don't want to be a part of that crowd.

humanlight

Cosmo wrote:

The thing I don't understand... and will NEVER understand... is the arrogance of those who believe Heaven is theirs, simply because they believe it is theirs. I would tend to think that one would be humble in their beliefs... and towards God.
It's not the teachings of religion that turn me away from religion... it's mostly because of the people. I want to be more inclusive, than exclusive. And i don't believe that Heaven is one of those exclusive Country Clubs or Nightclubs where the bouncers keep you on the outside of the velvet rope. If it turns out that it IS that way... then, point me towards the Down escalator because I don't want to be a part of that crowd.

I totally agree. If there is a heaven and a hell, I doubt God judges it by how many times you entered a building to pray...it is what you pray for. It is really hard for me to believe that good people go to hell. I know many many good gay people, jewish people, or people who use curse words or drink a beer. Do you really think God cares that you have a beer while you watch a football game. How arogent. If there is a god, and I believe there is...then being saved won't save you. How many souls you move to the "christain world" won't save you. It is the work you do for people. It is the kidness you show.

norm

hippiemom wrote:

GO BLUE!!!

Damn straight!!:D

humanlight

Ahnimus wrote:

How does anyone know God isn't Satan and vise versa.

Think about it, Satan is the king of temptation. God's whole plan is to tempt you with Heaven and Eternal life, never providing you with any proof, just extracting your blind soul from faith. You believe simply because not doing so is a ticket to hell. Is that the work of God or the work of Satan?

It would seem the line between good and evil is very thin. Pehaps not even straight, such that the will of good sometimes crosses the line into evil. Acceptable losses and all that. The goal justifies the means.

Would it not be Satan's greatest trick to convince people he is god?

Religion is so distorted and influenced by men that what was truth are now lies. God's will? or Satan's influence?

How do we know God isn't the kid on the ant hill with the magnifying glass, and perhaps Satan had justification for challenging God. Perhaps "The Lord" so repeated in the Bible is not Good, perhaps Satan is not Evil.

It's all a mystery shrouded in distortion. I put my faith in mystery. That one day it will be understood, or upon my death I will become one with nothingness and not exist happily ever after.

If I do go to hell, I just hope the good ol' Sanders is cooking up some fried chicken when I get there. I bet the parties in hell are da bomb.

I think about religion every day...and every day I think I get more confused. Maybe you have it right. Maybe there is not even 2 different beings. May there is just God, and he is everything good and bad. Maybe,He just created the world, and humans have developed what is good and bad. Who knows?

Ahnimus

humanlight wrote:

I think about religion every day...and every day I think I get more confused. Maybe you have it right. Maybe there is not even 2 different beings. May there is just God, and he is everything good and bad. Maybe,He just created the world, and humans have developed what is good and bad. Who knows?

That's my point, who knows?

Who can say that they know? Preachers claim to know and the blind follow. Usually just to scam money.

I'm technically not an Atheist because I don't deny the possibility of a creator. I'm not Agnostic because I have no faith in religion.

I typically follow darwinism in my thoughts, at least it's empiracle. Doesn't mean it's the answer to the universe either.

It's funny because a guy I work with thinks if he can disprove "Big Bang" theory that God must exist.

Well, "Big Bang" is just a theory based on only two pieces of empiracle evidence. I don't fully believe it myself. Although Fermilab has observed "Big Bang" like occurrances when smashing protons together.

I read before a theory on this board about the universe being holographic and perhaps that is the truth, our "Big Bang" was just two protons smashing together in the higher dimensional universe as predicted by string theory.