Biting the bullet here. :giggle. I am a lurker more than a poster, but this came to my attention.

There are several questions raised about Islam lately in my school and all the fundamentalists got all huffy and basically bashed the religion saying that it was a religion of terror ands other bs like that. :irked

What are your opinions on religion itself? I am an agnostic. I believe that there is a higher being, but I'm afraid of all of them. I'm afraid that if I choose one, that it will be the wrong one and I'll be punished by the real one.. :screwy

Well, there you go. Have fun!

I think that religion is a personal thing and no one can rightly tell you what you believe is wrong.

I don't think it is any better or worse than any other religion. I am Atheist, so that should give a pretty good idea of my thoughts on religion in general. :lol

I believe in my religion and believe it is the right way. How could you not believe that about your own religion?

I am also aware of other religions and respect that. You dont worry about me and I wont worry about you!:wink

Sweet. But do people honestly really believe stuff like that about Islam?? :puzz If so, why??

My old houseparent and I had a huge argument about why she refused to vote for Obama, and that was simply because she thought he was Muslim.

I was raised in a strict Catholic family, but now I'm much more spiritual. I still consider myself Catholic, I'm just a lot more liberal about it now.

As for other religions, I think every religion has something to offer that can be learned from. I think it's interesting to look at different beliefs.

Some people will believe anything that is forwarded to them in an email. You should see some of the ridiculous stuff that my sister sends me sometimes. Her boyfriends family forwards her these completely ridiculous and blatantly hateful emails all the time and we both just sit there reading them in complete disbelief because they actually believe every single word of it. It seems like some people just LOVE to hate others, it makes them feel better about themselves I guess, and so it is easy for them to believe that kind of stuff.

Let me first say that I am an Atheist.

But, I think that there are parts of religious belief structures that are very beautiful. I think a lot can be learned from religion. Take Christianity for example, I actually, even though I don't believe in any god, think that some of the lessons taught are very helpful to people in general, like the 10 commandments (Well most of them, 5-10). Do I think that I will be struck down if I don't follow them, no. But that doesn't mean I don't think they are good guidelines for living a good life. Or Buddhism, the eight paths are AMAZING rules to live by. Those are just two examples, of good things I think can be taken from religion, but there are many more.

To me, it's certain individuals that give particular religions a bad name. For example Muslim people in general being seen as bad, because of the actions of a few. When people do things that are taken as bad by the rest of society, in the name of any certain religion, even though it may not have been done along the guidelines of that religion, people are going to associate the action with the religion in whose name it was done in. I think it's a horrible way to look at it, but seems that more often than not, it happens. I wish people would look at the core beliefs, instead of the few actions, of a few extremists.

My biggest problem with certain religious people, is the judgment of others who do not believe the same thing that they do. I have encountered WAY too many people who, for some reason, think because I don't believe in any sort of god, that I must not be a good and decent human being. I have morals, ethics, and live a good, honest life. I don't do it for any other reason than I feel it's the right thing to do. Does that make me lesser than someone who does it for God? I certainly don't think so. And, I don't look down on others who have religion, because they don't think the way that I do. It's about respecting others for everything that they choose to be, and even what they choose not to be. :)

I was raised Catholic and then when I went to a Home, it was a Christian one. We had to get baptized and go to church three times a week.

Instead of growing into a religion, I grew to hate the god they were pedalling because if you did something the houseparent didn't like, they'd say that god didn't like it. It was dreadful.

Religion is a personal thing.

A lot of religions hold the same values when you get down to the bare-bones of them.

People who try to push their beliefs on people IMO are ignorant and are the reason for so many wars.

Let me first say that I am an Atheist.

But, I think that there are parts of religious belief structures that are very beautiful. I think a lot can be learned from religion. Take Christianity for example, I actually, even though I don't believe in any god, think that some of the lessons taught are very helpful to people in general, like the 10 commandments (Well most of them, 5-10). Do I think that I will be struck down if I don't follow them, no. But that doesn't mean I don't think they are good guidelines for living a good life. Or Buddhism, the eight paths are AMAZING rules to live by. Those are just two examples, of good things I think can be taken from religion, but there are many more.

To me, it's certain individuals that give particular religions a bad name. For example Muslim people in general being seen as bad, because of the actions of a few. When people do things that are taken as bad by the rest of society, in the name of any certain religion, even though it may not have been done along the guidelines of that religion, people are going to associate the action with the religion in whose name it was done in. I think it's a horrible way to look at it, but seems that more often than not, it happens. I wish people would look at the core beliefs, instead of the few actions, of a few extremists.

My biggest problem with certain religious people, is the judgment of others who do not believe the same thing that they do. I have encountered WAY too many people who, for some reason, think because I don't believe in any sort of god, that I must not be a good and decent human being. I have morals, ethics, and live a good, honest life. I don't do it for any other reason than I feel it's the right thing to do. Does that make me lesser than someone who does it for God? I certainly don't think so. And, I don't look down on others who have religion, because they don't think the way that I do. It's about respecting others for everything that they choose to be, and even what they choose not to be. :)

:tu

I encountered A LOT of prejudice and hatred when I was in NC-State simply because I was Jewish.

There were a lot of kids who were Southern Baptists and who didn't like me because they thought "the Jews killed Jesus" :whatever

You just learn to distance yourself from some people. I personally felt bad for them that they were so ignorant.

They do know that it was Romans who drove the nails in, right? :wow

:tu

I encountered A LOT of prejudice and hatred when I was in NC-State simply because I was Jewish.

There were a lot of kids who were Southern Baptists and who didn't like me because they thought "the Jews killed Jesus" :whatever

You just learn to distance yourself from some people. I personally felt bad for them that they were so ignorant.


I totally agree. It seems even more prevalent in the south. While in the north-west, we never have any issues with it, but here, I am pure evil because I am an Atheist. :rolleyes

My biggest problem with certain religious people, is the judgment of others who do not believe the same thing that they do. I have encountered WAY too many people who, for some reason, think because I don't believe in any sort of god, that I must not be a good and decent human being. I have morals, ethics, and live a good, honest life. I don't do it for any other reason than I feel it's the right thing to do. Does that make me lesser than someone who does it for God? I certainly don't think so. And, I don't look down on others who have religion, because they don't think the way that I do. It's about respecting others for everything that they choose to be, and even what they choose not to be. :)

This is EXACTLY how I feel. I have gotten the same thing, and it always makes no sense to me. The fact that I am Atheist could just as easily make me MORE moral than someone with religion. I don't have a god to repent to and who will forgive me and make me pure again when I do something cruel to someone else. If I am an asshole to someone or hurt them, there is no undoing of that. There is no washing myself clean from that action. I don't have any excuse to judge other people as wrong, bad, or unworthy and myself as holy, pure, or righteous. I get this life, right now, and I want to live it the best way I can.

This is EXACTLY how I feel. I have gotten the same thing, and it always makes no sense to me. The fact that I am Atheist could just as easily make me MORE moral than someone with religion. I don't have a god to repent to and who will forgive me and make me pure again when I do something cruel to someone else. If I am an asshole to someone or hurt them, there is no undoing of that. There is no washing myself clean from that action. I don't have any excuse to judge other people as wrong, bad, or unworthy and myself as holy, pure, or righteous. I get this life, right now, and I want to live it the best way I can.

Get out of my head! :)

I have said this very same thing recently to my husband. We were talking about after death, an Atheist thinks that nothing happens, so in all reality, we probably fear death more than someone who believes they have some sort of afterlife. Basically, when you are done, you're done.

In the same conversation we came to the conclusion that we both, my husband and I, live our lives to the best of our ability because of only believing in now, and no thereafter.

I think religion can be a wonderful thing for people. People often NEED a purpose, a guideline for living.. something to believe in. Religion offers that. It offers answers to creation, to what happens when you die... It can be so helpful for those who need SOMETHING to have come from... to go to.

Whether or not any particular religion is 'right,' I love that religion can make people HAPPY... I love how so much GOOD can come from religion... yeah, there is plenty of bad... but I don't blame religion for that... I blame those incorrectly using power for that. Religion teaches people to be kind, to do the best for yourself and your family and neighbors. Christianity isn't the only religion that has firm beliefs for how a person should behave and treat others.

I personally do not feel the need to be a member of any one religion. I am perfectly content with not having answers... with not knowing what is going to happen... with not knowing who/if someone is guiding my life or just watching.

I just do my best TODAY to be kind, helpful, and understanding of all people... and hope that my investment in GOOD will help me later should I need it to.

:tu



There were a lot of kids who were Southern Baptists and who didn't like me because they thought "the Jews killed Jesus" :whatever

.


I consider myself southern baptist but I will let in you on a little secret. Jesus was Jewish!! :giggle Some people amaze me

I consider myself southern baptist but I will let in you on a little secret. Jesus was Jewish!! :giggle Some people amaze me

I know! :lol

I had to tell that to one kid, and he was like "you're lying"

NO lol I'm not!

Most of my friends, those who were Baptist were really really open to me being Jewish. They even got me a little menorah for Chanukah. We never lit it though because of the rules in the dorm :lol

I just learned that some people were extremely non-accepting of me. And I figured that out when I wore my star of david. I just distanced myself from them! But I did find a good group of kids who were extremely interested in the Judaic religion :yes

I'd also like to add there was a ridiculous preacher that used to stand in our common area (the brickyard) and preach about how homosexuals, Jews, Blacks, everyone was going to hell.

But we couldn't do anything about him because it was a public campus and he had freedom of speech.

My friend Megan almost got into a fight with him. :giggle

Get out of my head! :)

I have said this very same thing recently to my husband. We were talking about after death, an Atheist thinks that nothing happens, so in all reality, we probably fear death more than someone who believes they have some sort of afterlife. Basically, when you are done, you're done.

In the same conversation we came to the conclusion that we both, my husband and I, live our lives to the best of our ability because of only believing in now, and no thereafter.

Exactly. Apparently we are in each others heads. :D

To go a step further (this is me rambling :P), it's not even that I don't believe in an afterlife, it's that I don't believe that my consciousness lives on. I am SUCH a scientific minded person, and knowing that matter can not be destroyed, only changed, that means to me that I will live on forever. It will not be in this form, my consciousness will probably not stay in tact, but all of the energy and matter that makes me has to go somewhere. The universe is all connected and all works in cohesion, therefore nothing ever dies. This life, this consciousness, is limited and I want to take advantage of it while I have it, but nothing ever ceases to exist, it just changes form.

Wow. These are some awesome theories!

I am agnostic. I don't know if there is a higher power, or an afterlife, etc. I'm not a follower of any religion, but I do love to study them and read about them. Religion intrigues me. As a pp said, religion, while it has done some bad in the world, has done a LOT of good.

Biting the bullet here. :giggle. I am a lurker more than a poster, but this came to my attention.

There are several questions raised about Islam lately in my school and all the fundamentalists got all huffy and basically bashed the religion saying that it was a religion of terror ands other bs like that. :irked

What are your opinions on religion itself? I am an agnostic. I believe that there is a higher being, but I'm afraid of all of them. I'm afraid that if I choose one, that it will be the wrong one and I'll be punished by the real one.. :screwy

Well, there you go. Have fun!

I believe there are extremes out there. The Islams that state they are to go kill everyone because it is of the faith or the "religion of terror." Just like David Keresh who claimed to be Jesus and killed all those people, Jonestown, ect.

I do believe that there are those that worship in the true "Islam" are very peaceful and do what is right according to their religion.

Remember, Jewish, Christians, and Islam all have a simalar base of Abraham. They just have a different interpetation on what happened.

Exactly. Apparently we are in each others heads. :D

To go a step further (this is me rambling :P), it's not even that I don't believe in an afterlife, it's that I don't believe that my consciousness lives on. I am SUCH a scientific minded person, and knowing that matter can not be destroyed, only changed, that means to me that I will live on forever. It will not be in this form, my consciousness will probably not stay in tact, but all of the energy and matter that makes me has to go somewhere. The universe is all connected and all works in cohesion, therefore nothing ever dies. This life, this consciousness, is limited and I want to take advantage of it while I have it, but nothing ever ceases to exist, it just changes form.

Consciousness. Exactly the word I couldn't look for to replace "life." I agree. Isn't that the first law of Thermodynamics? That Energy never dies? I can't exactly remember. I love science myself, just wasn't able to get back into school until the age of 25. I am so excited to be getting back now, but feel a little behind. Hopefully I can catch up soon. (totally side tracked.) Anywho, I completely agree. :D

I'm just a Christian nothing more or less, I don't push my friends, but if they become curious and want to know more, then they are more then welcome to join me.
I was a Catholic, but I always felt like I was being put down all the time.
I hated myself, and I also didn't understand why we would pray to the virgin Mary all the time. It just made more sense to pray directly to God, or Jesus ya know?
anyways!
not Bashing Catholics, I just didn't get it.

My opinions on religion in general:

I believe that anything that urges and inspires mankind to be better, more charitable, more loving people or to live with more integrity, is a good thing.