The Big Big Thread of Religious Discussion

[Shugok]

Yeah, so I just picked up the Bible. Pretty good read. I can actually see why people would give their lives to this, in the hope of an eternal happiness when you abandon this world. See, I was kind of the child of renounced faiths, and I never really looked at religion by myself. But seriously, it would be lovely if I could believe it.

[42PETUNIAS]

Originally Posted by Angellus

Yeah, so I just picked up the Bible. Pretty good read. I can actually see why people would give their lives to this, in the hope of an eternal happiness when you abandon this world. See, I was kind of the child of renounced faiths, and I never really looked at religion by myself. But seriously, it would be lovely if I could believe it.

Wow, it all makes sense now... Off I go to worship Rand, the dragon reborn.

[Elminster_Amaur]

Originally Posted by Oedy

Wow, it all makes sense now... Off I go to worship Rand, the dragon reborn.

What....what in the Creator's name does Rand have to do with the bloody Bible? Sheep swallop! Sheep swallop and bloody buttered onions!

Originally Posted by Angellus

Yeah, so I just picked up the Bible. Pretty good read. I can actually see why people would give their lives to this, in the hope of an eternal happiness when you abandon this world. See, I was kind of the child of renounced faiths, and I never really looked at religion by myself. But seriously, it would be lovely if I could believe it.

That's bolded text there ^ that's the problem portion of Christian and Islamic Extremist beliefs that causes things like 9/11 and the Crusades to happen.

Much of the Old Testament is practical (sometimes outdated) information on how to live a better life ON EARTH. You follow the rules set down (except the whole stoning people and blood sacrifices thing) and you'll live a long and healthy life (barring accidental death). The Old Testament is fairly accurate and hasn't been alterred much. The New Testament, however, is a completely different story. Of the four gospels, two of them were copied down from the first-hand accounts of two of the twelve. The other two of the gospels were copied off of, and slightly altered from, one of the two originals.

Everything AFTER the gospels is very likely to be complete fabrications by Saint Augustine and his Bible Congress, or whatever he called it. There are several other problems with the Bible, one of which being that Jesus' closest follower was not one of the twelve, and her gospel was completely removed by Augustine.

It is my firm belief that the Romans took a great man with a very good message, and perverted it to keep themselves in power.

[ZAKtheGeek]

It is my firm belief that the Romans took a great man with a very good message, and perverted it to keep themselves in power.

I agree, Christianity is indeed a religion.

[Fifthfiend]

Okay so here's something I'll just throw out there about fundamentalist religious beliefs regarding sex (which are really just fundamentalist beliefs regarding sex, since the particular religion involved typically has fuck-all to do with the beliefs being espoused), which is: They are fucking retarded and insane.

I mean yeah maybe it made sense to have a bunch of restrictive rules about sex, like, three thousand years ago when there were countless life-threatening harms that went along with sexual activity, it's just that at this point it seems most major religions are mainly dedicated to preserving all the life-threatening harms that go along with sex, so they have an excuse to go on having the restrictive rules. Ostensibly because the Invisible Sky-Man wants it that way, but mainly because they're just terminally pissed off at the idea that somebody might have an orgasm without feeling guilty about it.

[Ryanderman]

Here's something I'll throw out about the modern view of sex (which isn't really "modern" seeing as how it's been around since sex was invented, it's just more accepted now than in many previous generations) which is, it's freaking retarded and insane.

I can see how it would have been fine to have sex with whoever you want, whenever you want in a tribal village in the jungle somewhere, where everyone knows each other, and no one has exotic STD's that'll spread through the population like wild fire, and where you can't rape someone without the whole village knowing about it, and taking appropriate action, and where any children left without a father or mother due to the breakup of a family would be cared for by the rest of the village with no trouble.

But in modern times it doesn't make sense to be so free about sex, where free sex has in quite a large part caused the epidemics of Aids, HPV, etc. Where we don't yet have cures for many of them. Where you can rape another person anoymously. Where families are destroyed all the time due to adultery and the like, and children are left without fathers. Where 1 million + abortions happen each year in the United States alone (even if you don't believe that each one of these abortions is a murder of an innocent child, you have to agree that such an invasive medical procedure isn't all that healthy for the 1 million + women that get it each year) All in the name of free choice, because they want to have an orgasm without the responsibility that comes with it.

[42PETUNIAS]

Originally Posted by Ryanderman

But in modern times it doesn't make sense to be so free about sex, where free sex has in quite a large part caused the epidemics of Aids, HPV, etc. Where we don't yet have cures for many of them. Where you can rape another person anoymously. Where families are destroyed all the time due to adultery and the like, and children are left without fathers. Where 1 million + abortions happen each year in the United States alone (even if you don't believe that each one of these abortions is a murder of an innocent child, you have to agree that such an invasive medical procedure isn't all that healthy for the 1 million + women that get it each year) All in the name of free choice, because they want to have an orgasm without the responsibility that comes with it.

So we should just abolish sex, rather than work on making it safer (Increased use of condoms, birth control, etc. most of which the church has a problem with) That doesn't make any sense. Sex isn't just going away, especially in todays society. What we can do is make it much more safer, so instead of preaching futily, we could actually make things safer. Also, you say that the million + abortions every year are a bad thing? What about all those women who no longer have to take on an extra child that they can't afford? Yes, a lot of abortions happen, but it has also lowered the crime rate (as argued in freakonomics) made many fewer children and families live in poverty, and has lead to giving women more freedom in today's society.

[Ryanderman]

Originally Posted by 42PETUNIAS

Also, you say that the million + abortions every year are a bad thing? What about all those women who no longer have to take on an extra child that they can't afford? Yes, a lot of abortions happen, but it has also lowered the crime rate (as argued in freakonomics) made many fewer children and families live in poverty, and has lead to giving women more freedom in today's society.

It's also killed over 1 million people every year. In my mind, that outweighs any good it's done.

But honestly, you missed entirely my point. I was not trying to convince anyone of my viewpoint, or agure for the abolishment of sex (I mean, seriously, WTF?). I was trying to illustrate the absolue absurdidty of Fifthfiend's statement. Yah know, show that all us fundies aren't "fucking retarded and insane." But that our views are reasoned, and well thought out, even though they disagree with other reasoned and well thought out beliefs. They may ultimately be based on what the Invisible Sky-Man says, but we also use reason and logic to find the validity. We don't always operate on blind faith.

[42PETUNIAS]

Originally Posted by Ryanderman

It's also killed over 1 million people every year. In my mind, that outweighs any good it's done.

But honestly, you missed entirely my point. I was not trying to convince anyone of my viewpoint, or agure for the abolishment of sex (I mean, seriously, WTF?). I was trying to illustrate the absolue absurdidty of Fifthfiend's statement. Yah know, show that all us fundies aren't "fucking retarded and insane." But that our views are reasoned, and well thought out, even though they disagree with other reasoned and well thought out beliefs. They may ultimately be based on what the Invisible Sky-Man says, but we also use reason and logic to find the validity. We don't always operate on blind faith.

Then maybe it would be nice if you supported your statements with reason and logic, instead of just stating what the Invisible Sky-Man says.

[Ryanderman]

Originally Posted by 42PETUNIAS

Then maybe it would be nice if you supported your statements with reason and logic, instead of just stating what the Invisible Sky-Man says.

Nowhere, in either of these posts ,have I quoted the Bible. Nowhere have I used anything but examples from the real world. Not once did I tell you what God says.