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Post by shadowoutcast on Aug 23, 2005 13:48:11 GMT 11
Yep I have my church is full steam ahead with that one. I what to get a top but thats just me.
Although the TV ads seem crummy it has the idea there and that the idea I like to get across. I don't have a religion I have faith in what I believe and ideas that I hold very strongly I say I'm a Christain to say my aim is to become Christ like (Flit Matthew 3:17 if you will) and forfill the two greatest comandments.
For those who have the reason for 'I don't believe because it not scientifically sound' well most of the largest discoveries where found with the inclusion of the Bible in research plus I'm a science nut and love theoretical physics and space yet I have experienced and don't doubt. It get up my skin when people use science as a defence.
Yes it is a fact that the Roman Catholics disallowed these discoveries but they also disallowed the puplic to read the Bible until Martin Luther translated it from the origanal manuscripts it is a fact that translations lose the effect of the work but not much has been change in the fact of what is written.
(As you may tell I'm very on top of the subject with this I love theology its so interesting)
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Post by Min on Aug 23, 2005 16:58:05 GMT 11
I don't know if I made myself clear earlier...I wasn't saying I entirely didn't believe in God/s...I was just saying that if there is one, I don't believe he/she/it/they would have gone to all the trouble of making a bunch of species for the purpose of worshipping them. It seems a bit silly really...
And, that if there is a god and we are supposed to worship him/her/it/them for protection and the like, well...I'm mighty POed at god and I want some answers.
Might sound bad to those who have relationships with god but I can't respect someone who expects everything good to be 'his work' and everything bad to be the 'devils work', turn a blind eye when people all over are aching for intervention, or for reasoning behind something happening, and there just is none. Fact is, the people who take what they want, do what they want, and hurt whoever they want, almost ALWAYS win. For instance - mine and my brother's car getting stolen and burnt out. What's the reason for that happening? Sure, god might have had nothing to do wtih it, but isn't god supposed to have a plan for all of us? What if I don't want to believe in predestiny - that I actually have control over my future? What if - for instance - in god's great scheme of things, I'm meant to be a housewife. But in my dreams, I want to be a games designer. Does that mean that every step I try to take, every bit of skill I earn in the area, will get me nowhere because someone else decided my future for me? And if so, why bother trying to do anything in life - because if you just sit back and ride life out, god's wonderful plan will come into play for you? It doesn't give me hope to believe there is a god, it p!sses me off.
It just seems odd.
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Post by shadowoutcast on Aug 23, 2005 17:13:05 GMT 11
Hmm valid but a little the left (in my mind). When it's is said that God has placed out our path before us it is basical (I believe) where we are born, who we are born to and whom we are at the end. Life it's self is of our chosing we have the chose to do what we want with the life we have been given and the time we have to experience it. I've been doing a thing called The 40 Days of Purpous and the book of the same name discribes life as a character building exercise.
What you do in life is only predestined by you. What you do with yourself and your character (or personallity) is what God wants to be involed in. If you have dreams for you life now go chases them. I'm chasing mine (Multimedia Developer) Because it seams like the 'doors' are all opening in that direction.
Oh and he wont strike you down if you do tell him that you hate him. Read Psalms King David did it all the time (but if you wont just sream in to the sunset)
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Post by Swallow on Aug 23, 2005 17:13:33 GMT 11
Ever read Small Gods by Terry Pratchett... most people find it very strange when i say this, but that was a defining book for me.  After reading that it put a lot of perspective on the way i saw religion. Then again, i did read it at a time when i was going to Merici, and well.... Catholic school system is just wrong for all of those outside their religion. in fact, i think it's wrong even for Catholics....
EDIT: and you know what, i don't think it's possible for someone to be that attached to a religion and not be preachy. I suppose in that respect JWs and Mormons are okay, they at least wear their conversion and 'your the devil' glares on their sleeves.....
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Post by Seagull Fred on Aug 23, 2005 17:58:32 GMT 11
Flit> Is that 'Small Gods' the one which starts with some reference to a turle or an eagle or summat...? Or maybe I'm getting confused... And Min> I like thinking I'm in control of my life, too  But methinks the Almighty Universe has other plans  And, hey, you never know. In your dreams you may want to be a decent-income-earning games designer, but God may wish you to be a multimillionaire-relaxing-on-the-beach-with-spunky-up-to-the-minute-technology-as-ober.netter. So, in that case, which path would you prefer to choose after all...? And SO> Methinks we'll just have to agree to disagree on the scince/religion issue. It just comes down to personality types. Although, I'm also taken by the idea that God might actually be a mad scientist, and he created us for the lack of anything else to do. Like, he woke up one morning - "Hmmm, wot shall I do today? Maybe if I mix this species with this one, add a meteorite or two..." Isn't it strange, that everyone has different levels of faith? No-one's is ever exactly the same level as another person's. I always admire people with a lot of faith, coz tis just something I'm not. FtS |
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Post by Emerald on Aug 23, 2005 18:24:39 GMT 11
Although, I'm also taken by the idea that God might actually be a mad scientist, and he created us for the lack of anything else to do. Like, he woke up one morning - "Hmmm, wot shall I do today? Maybe if I mix this species with this one, add a meteorite or two..." Lol! Thats so funny!!! Well, I'm a Catholic. hehe, now you have me scared Flit. I'm going to be a Catholic primary school teacher you know...  I went to a Catholic Primary and High school. I used to go to church all the time when I was little, then we all got bored of it I think… Now I just go of the special days with my Grandmother. I never felt that during my education that certain beliefs were enforced upon me. And as a teacher, I in no way would try and ram Catholicism down the throats of any of my students! We do teach about other religions, but it is a Catholic school, so umm, yeah, teaching Catholic beliefs is the focus… Anyways, my beliefs? I believe in God. I believe that the earth is a product of the big bang and that we evolved from microscopic organisms or whatever it is that we are supposed to have evolved from. I do believe that God guided this creation process however. And that’s all ok by the Catholic church as far as I’m aware. I’m not the hugest fan of the bible. I think that most of it is just a bunch of stories, and as cool as it is to think that some crater in some mountain is where Noahs arc finally came to a rest. Wishful thinking if you ask me… Although, I’m not counting anything out… I believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, and who’s to say who’s wrong or right. No one I say! Ohh, and I love that quote you found Lauren about Generation Y. Thats me as well... Umm, yeah, so that’s a little about me that most of you didn’t know! Yay for you! ;D Em |
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Post by shadowoutcast on Aug 23, 2005 19:41:35 GMT 11
Ouch I had to say it, being a large part anti-big bang. Mainly because of scientific bases (since the start of Genius is a pome and time wasn't defined as 1 day = 24 hrs .etc) I'm a String Theory trusty and have done quite a bit of self research into it. The thing I have with the Big Bang is that is creater made it to spite creation and then time past and he became a believe in it. Beings from single celled orgainisums... just don't know, one cell to create over time into something complex like us... possible in theory but yet to be seen in nature. I'll just agree to disagree then.  |
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Lauren Hedgehog
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Post by Lauren Hedgehog on Aug 23, 2005 19:55:56 GMT 11
Yep - I'm anti big-bang too. First there was nothing, which exploded and created everything hmmmm.....  though I do believe in evolution - the wonders of mutation and I'm a Catholic/agnostic although there are a few things in the Catholic doctrine that I don't believe in, like I don't believe in the infallicy of the Pope - he's just as human as the rest of us and so he can make mistakes |
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Post by Dark One on Aug 24, 2005 2:15:10 GMT 11
SO> Its interesting to meet someone with a foot in both worlds. Most people either seem to have religion, or science, but not both. I will try and find a scientific answer for most things, and i love ancient mysterys (such as what exactly was in the Ark of the Covenant besides the stone tablets). However, i also know that there are some things that science can't explain and possibly never will. Its not good to have everything explained for you, as its takes all the fun out of life! On another note, has anyone read Chariots of the Gods? It's another interesting take on where the gods came from (and also the book The Sirius Connection which talks about Egyptian deities). However, most fans of Stargate should be familiar with these theories. Edit: Just found a list of deities for most (if not all) the worlds religions: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deities |
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Post by Min on Aug 24, 2005 9:11:12 GMT 11
And Min> I like thinking I'm in control of my life, too But methinks the Almighty Universe has other plans And, hey, you never know. In your dreams you may want to be a decent-income-earning games designer, but God may wish you to be a multimillionaire-relaxing-on-the-beach-with-spunky-up-to-the-minute-technology-as-ober.netter. So, in that case, which path would you prefer to choose after all...? The point is that is's my decision PMSL!! I love that!!  Maybe that's what I'll believe in!! |
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Post by brydie on Aug 24, 2005 15:27:24 GMT 11
teehee, i like that too!
ah, the good ol' bible. well...in primary school my teacher librarian read us this story about a girl who used metaphors all the time and...well, it was really sad  every since then i've loved the way metaphors are used, and when i come across say an author or someone who uses them to their best effect then its likely i'll like that story  the bible is one whole big metaphor to me, and thats what i like about it - it's open to interpretation. but then, of course, when people interpret it differently it can cause problems...
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Post by Stephen on Aug 24, 2005 18:44:39 GMT 11
Might sound bad to those who have relationships with god but I can't respect someone who expects everything good to be 'his work' and everything bad to be the 'devils work', turn a blind eye when people all over are aching for intervention, or for reasoning behind something happening, and there just is none. Fact is, the people who take what they want, do what they want, and hurt whoever they want, almost ALWAYS win. For instance - mine and my brother's car getting stolen and burnt out. What's the reason for that happening? Sure, god might have had nothing to do wtih it, but isn't god supposed to have a plan for all of us? What if I don't want to believe in predestiny - that I actually have control over my future? What if - for instance - in god's great scheme of things, I'm meant to be a housewife. But in my dreams, I want to be a games designer. Does that mean that every step I try to take, every bit of skill I earn in the area, will get me nowhere because someone else decided my future for me? And if so, why bother trying to do anything in life - because if you just sit back and ride life out, god's wonderful plan will come into play for you? It doesn't give me hope to believe there is a god, it p!sses me off. It just seems odd. Firstly, it not the devils work when things god bad, well not entirely. Its because of our sin that we allow the devil to work through us/influence our behaivours. Second, god doesn't just turn a blind eye. People are constantly telling him to stay out of their lives, so he does, and when something goes wrong, they blame him for not being there. Doesn't quite add up in my head. Third, with the whole predestiny thing, its not just laid out on a platter for us 'you have to take it you have no choice' sorta thing. It's more like theres a path god would like us to take for our best interests, but we have the choice not to follow it. And fourth, even in some bad situation (eg, the car), something good can come out of it (even if its not so easy to see at first, although it doesn't always happen). Maybe if you still had the car you might have sped in it or something and been hurt or killed that day/night/week. And Emerald- you were saying how you believe in evolution. Well, it has been proven (i have numerous books on this) that creatures do evolve, but rather than gaining cells (like from a single celled organism to a bacteria), they actually lose cells. So they can't have evolved from those single celled organisms. If you want I can try and find an article. |
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Post by shadowoutcast on Aug 24, 2005 19:53:26 GMT 11
not the whole bible is a metaphor, some of it has really good points it just us that twist it and downgrade it's orginal meaning. The stories in the Bible are to show the grace and love of God, main miss the point we talking about God's so called judgement. The only time that he wanted to 'strike' his 'fear' (Note: the hebrew word fear was translated from also can mean adaration or 'to be in awe of') was mainly found to were a nation that said they would trust good were doing something unloving and therefore dispising God.
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Post by Ashta on Aug 25, 2005 10:45:07 GMT 11
SO> the Wicca tradition is very new... the ideas are very old. it's exceptionally eccletic and emcompasing. Besides, i don't trust wikkipedia for any accurate information.
Um, as far as god, I think i'm in a very Nietzche state of mind, "God doesn't exist" in a philosophical sense... but that has a lot to do with the fact that I'm researching a paper on existentialism.... gah, this argument is going nowhere.
I was baptised Church of England... but I don't in anyway see how that should act as a denomonating factor in how I label myself religiously... You either believe or you don't.
As far as the christian Bible is concerned. I get thingy about translation errors... don't get me started on that rant, it just proves how superficial and fickle I am about it.
At the moment I almost feel like placing myself in an Absurdist Existentialist camp! I'm almost willing to admit that I'm an exitentialist, that's quite a turn around from last semester where I was anti-existentalism. But the philosophy of Albert Camus is something that really makes me think. I understand the sort of anxiety he is describing according to the absurd. Satre and Hiedegger used to just annoy me with their 'authentic existence in the face of death' stuff... Camus makes sense especially when it comes to the topic of suicide.
weh hey, I'm ranting!
-Ashta
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Lauren Hedgehog
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You can get more with a kind word and a 2 x 4, than you can with just a kind word :)
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Post by Lauren Hedgehog on Aug 25, 2005 20:38:27 GMT 11
And Emerald- you were saying how you believe in evolution. Well, it has been proven (i have numerous books on this) that creatures do evolve, but rather than gaining cells (like from a single celled organism to a bacteria), they actually lose cells. So they can't have evolved from those single celled organisms. If you want I can try and find an article. I'm really really sorry but I'm a total science nerd  New genes and thereby occasionally new cells are inserted all the time from viruses, transposons, mutations and in bacteria also from plasmids. Haemoglobin (used in red blood cells) is actually a doubled (possibly by transposons) and then mutated myoglobin (used in muscle cells), which is the usual process new genes/cells come about in animals. Bacteria are single celled organisms which lack the nifty little compartments for storing and doing different reactions in, that us eukaryotes have. And the fossil record shows that first came the componants that make up a cell, then single cell organisms, then colonies of single cell organisms, then the inbetween stage ( I think it's something like coral possibly? where they are mostly colony-like but there are specialised cells for reproduction) then simple multi-cellular and then complex multi-cellular organisms. |
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Post by Rushton on Aug 25, 2005 21:41:16 GMT 11
I come from a blended family; My father is Catholic and My mother's family is Jewish so I was raised in both religions. I went to catholic schools though, although they didn't quite like me because I was always asking questions. After a while I found that I couldn't quite believe in the central tenets of the catholic faith - mainly transubstantiation (where the the host and the wine really do become the body and bllod of christ in the eucharist) So I decided that being a jew was the way to go, although being jewish is more about being jewish than the religion I am progressive with a dash of reform. That is probably the best way to describe my beliefs. I believe in God as a divine presence and architect of the universe. But I'm not at all into Kabbalah that's for men, and besides the hollywood version is extremely watered down and more about profits than mysticism. |
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Post by shadowoutcast on Aug 25, 2005 23:38:42 GMT 11
What bugs me the most about Christainity is the label and how people who supposivly believe it act as they do. They fall into two extrems usually. The ones that think when they start acting it out everything will become easy, hardship will disappear and no pain will come to them. Alas this is not true hardship, pain and suffering are all our doing, all we do is blam it on someone else. These are the people that are part of the building and complain about what they have been given. The other is the extrem evengistic that seeks to turn everyone to their way no one but them has it right, they put all their energy in trying to do works and bring people in. Then leave them and forget to follow up as they look for the next. Anyone watch a series called Nooma number 4 goes through what I'm trying to say. And the bible says it itself, Ritual Religon sucks and it like filth in the eyes of God, but when a follower aims to become Christ like , which is what being a christain is ment to be it's not about Christainity it about the 'Body' (Church which are the family of God ) it not about being superfical about it it to live for it. |
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Post by lunicatcalledelf on Aug 26, 2005 23:03:37 GMT 11
well, well, well... is all i can say.  i just wanted to use that face. so... continuing on referring people to other books/series/movies. The one movie you HAVE TO WATCH is the cutest movie called.... THE GOD'S MUST BE CRAZY! It's a movie from the eighties but a very worth while watch and i mean for everybody coz its not specified to one religion except that it is based in South Africa. And it is the sweetest and funniest movie ever!!! If u can actually get ur hands on this movie, dont get freaked out when it starts out like a documentary. It has a sequel as well (The Gods Must Be Crazy! II) but its not as good but still very heart warming. *goes off to watch movie* |
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Post by Seagull Fred on Aug 27, 2005 11:49:27 GMT 11
LOL! YES!! I used to LOVE that movie!! I can't remember a lot of it, but I remember how the characters were talking by clicking their tongues and stuff Have you seen the third of the movies? It's sooooo dodgy, it's set in Asia and totally dubbed wrongly! There are scenes when the characters don't even move their lips, and the dub-voices say something like "Hello!" But, yes, the first is definitely the best... FtS |
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Ceirwan
Gypsy
Yay for Wanderers!
Posts: 693
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Post by Ceirwan on Aug 28, 2005 22:17:44 GMT 11
Hey, I'm really glad that people haven't got nasty or anything in this thread... bit of a touchy subject... but it's interesting we have such a wide representation of people.
I've picked up on a bit of a theme of people who were brought up in "religion" of some kind and decided not to go with it. I suppose there's a big difference between "religion" and "faith".
Also, I'm one of those people who doesn't think that christianity means you throw science out the window.
Min, I think you've made a really excellent point. I think a lot of people don't want to believe in god etc coz of bad stuff that's happened to them. It's a big problem for lots of people. Bad stuff happens everywhere. The whole world is full of bad stuff. But that doesn't convince me that God doesn't exist. I mean, a lot of bad stuff is the result of people's choices... it's like in bruce almighty... god doesn't mess with free will. And then earthquakes and things... I guess that's just part of science, part of the framework of how the world works. If there weren't earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, there wouldn't be beautiful mountains either...
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Post by shadowoutcast on Aug 29, 2005 12:33:31 GMT 11
large difference, I was one of those people that were brought up with "religion" but in the last 7 years I've come around to having faith and trust in what I believe. It all with the support and what you think you'll find. The fact is the public idea of Church is you must be perfect to enter, where what I've realised is that the Church is not perfect it is made up of people who are human and make mistakes small and large. Even people within the Church find it hard to say that they make mistakes because of the fear of being labeled and ejected.
Most of this is caused by people shouting from a peistal "You are not a Christain if you don't do [add guilt building comment here]" The teaching of Jesus call this being like a hipocrit to the fellings of people just adding more to what everyone gets from a job, school, life on to a persons sholders. It not good I don't like it and but I'm ranting so I'll stop.
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Post by Cat-Eyes on Aug 30, 2005 15:33:19 GMT 11
I used to be very religious when I was in primary school but i'm not really anymore. I like some of the ideas, and I like some of the stories, but I don't know what I bleieve in. But hey, I'm a teenager, I'm sposed to question everything One thing that annoys me is people who are exceedinly narrow-minded. The ones who preach about how every other religion is wrong, like i met this woman who was going on about how only Catholics are right. not even the other Christian denominations were allowed to be right to her, and ever other religions that are so closely linked, like Jewdaism, were all wrong. They weren't even a little right to her, or even on the right path. I mean, the differences between Christian denominations is minimal. We're doing assignments on them right now in RE, and while Baptists lack of history on the net frustrates the hell out of me (if I read another website that basically says "We're the original Christians, we don't need a histroy" I'm going to scream) the differences in beliefs is so tiny. Baptists baptise at adulthood, Catholics at infancy and then reaffirm when the person can make their own decision. It's not that big a deal. They have the same God! Don't you think if the God REALLY wanted praise from a whole pile of people, he would be happy that they worked out a way of doing it so that it suited them? Another thing that annoys me is people who go "The Old Testament isn't true so therefore everything's a farce" Obviously the Old Testament isn't a documentary on it, there are two Creation Stroies! And unless Adam and Eve worked out how to read and write a lot sooner than we've given them credit for (and what was the point, there was only the two of them, until they had sons who magically found wives and then oine of them killed the other one) the best possible creation story we could get (assuming that really did happen) would be like a REALLY LONG game of Chinese whispers. And groups of ten people can completely mangle a sentence, image what generations can do to a whole story. The bible is a story that was made to show people the meaning, not be read literally. (And while we're at it, "the bible says being gay is wrong" irks me too. The Bible also says wearing glasses is wrong, gonna protests that one too?) But anyway, returning to my point, i'm quite happy for people to believe what they want, and I really love reading some of the stories from different religions etc. People who are so narrow minded about religion bug me, and so do people who spend all their time trying to convert me. And while we're at it, if I hear one more "All Muslims are terrorists" theory I'm going to punch someone. Hello?! One of their key beliefs is that all living things are precious! They're not even sposed to hurt a fly! Arrghh! I wish people would get some education before judging! Oh, and one last hate, the Catholic Education Board of Melbourne. To Know, Worship and Love is one of the most pointless books I've ever seen (basically it's written in a way that says "Here is an exceedingly short overview of all the bad stuff we used to do, we won't go into detail in case you actually have a mind of your own, and aren't we good look how nice we are now" ) and they're stupid policies ARRGGHHHH!!! Anyway, I'll stop ranting in a derranged I'm-really-sick-and-this-probabl-doesn't-make-sense way now... Cat |
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Post by Dark One on Aug 31, 2005 0:56:51 GMT 11
well, well, well... is all i can say. i just wanted to use that face. so... continuing on referring people to other books/series/movies. The one movie you HAVE TO WATCH is the cutest movie called.... THE GOD'S MUST BE CRAZY! It's a movie from the eighties but a very worth while watch and i mean for everybody coz its not specified to one religion except that it is based in South Africa. And it is the sweetest and funniest movie ever!!! If u can actually get ur hands on this movie, dont get freaked out when it starts out like a documentary. It has a sequel as well (The Gods Must Be Crazy! II) but its not as good but still very heart warming. *goes off to watch movie* You can buy the DVD with both films on it from Amazon.com for US$22.46 www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JKU7/104-6755583-0747964?v=glanceEdit: I've just remembered a line from Red Dwarf. There was this news reader who said that the first page of the bible had just been found. On it was written something like 'This tale is fictitious. Any relation to any persons living or dead is coincidental.' |
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Post by shadowoutcast on Aug 31, 2005 1:25:44 GMT 11
One thing that annoys me is people who are exceedinly narrow-minded. The ones who preach about how every other religion is wrong, like i met this woman who was going on about how only Catholics are right. not even the other Christian denominations were allowed to be right to her, and ever other religions that are so closely linked, like Jewdaism, were all wrong. They weren't even a little right to her, or even on the right path. I mean, the differences between Christian denominations is minimal. We're doing assignments on them right now in RE, and while Baptists lack of history on the net frustrates the hell out of me (if I read another website that basically says "We're the original Christians, we don't need a histroy" I'm going to scream) the differences in beliefs is so tiny. Yep you will get people like that. Also with the denomiations started with many other reasons (most is their version of how they inturpited the Bible is different). The Lutheran Church was started my a german monk who believe that everyone should have free access to the Bible (which is diference to what The Catholic Church believes). Also the place where people wait to get into heaven (I've lost me marble on this one). It complete against scripture to what this monk read he believed in grace of christ and the he as alread made the state clean (although we still have free will to deside good and bad). Baptists baptise at adulthood, Catholics at infancy and then reaffirm when the person can make their own decision. It's not that big a deal. They have the same God! Don't you think if the God REALLY wanted praise from a whole pile of people, he would be happy that they worked out a way of doing it so that it suited them? God IS NOT in control of thoughts and as I've said above it more a human thing than a God thing people just miss the point because it was lost in history somewhere. Another thing that annoys me is people who go "The Old Testament isn't true so therefore everything's a farce" Obviously the Old Testament isn't a documentary on it, there are two Creation Stroies! And unless Adam and Eve worked out how to read and write a lot sooner than we've given them credit for (and what was the point, there was only the two of them, until they had sons who magically found wives and then oine of them killed the other one) the best possible creation story we could get (assuming that really did happen) would be like a REALLY LONG game of Chinese whispers. And groups of ten people can completely mangle a sentence, image what generations can do to a whole story. The bible is a story that was made to show people the meaning, not be read literally. (And while we're at it, "the bible says being gay is wrong" irks me too. The Bible also says wearing glasses is wrong, gonna protests that one too?) 2 creation stories? Give a reference and I'll help you understand. The Old testerment is a collection of in most cases name to the people who created them but some this the books are collections in themselves. The frist books, Gensis is part of the Five Books of Moses (which includes the next four after it) there was no chinese wispers involed read up on the history of the books it around somewhere. Also it may suprise you to think of the frist books as a prelude to the Ansestors and desendents of Abraham an that is its main focus (also the reason we don't know where or who the women of Cain or Abel are because women where not as 'considered' as they are today. Even big theologist have trouble answering what the Bible says on being gay, but I have many friend who are (not Christain) and they are wounderful people to know. Glass? I'll need a direct quote for that one But anyway, returning to my point, i'm quite happy for people to believe what they want, and I really love reading some of the stories from different religions etc. People who are so narrow minded about religion bug me, and so do people who spend all their time trying to convert me. And while we're at it, if I hear one more "All Muslims are terrorists" theory I'm going to punch someone. Hello?! One of their key beliefs is that all living things are precious! They're not even sposed to hurt a fly! Arrghh! I wish people would get some education before judging! Lets just say I agree |
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Post by Ashta on Aug 31, 2005 12:58:44 GMT 11
One thing that annoys me is people who are exceedinly narrow-minded. The ones who preach about how every other religion is wrong, like i met this woman who was going on about how only Catholics are right. not even the other Christian denominations were allowed to be right to her, and ever other religions that are so closely linked, like Jewdaism, were all wrong. They weren't even a little right to her, or even on the right path. I mean, the differences between Christian denominations is minimal. We're doing assignments on them right now in RE, and while Baptists lack of history on the net frustrates the hell out of me (if I read another website that basically says "We're the original Christians, we don't need a histroy" I'm going to scream) the differences in beliefs is so tiny. Baptists baptise at adulthood, Catholics at infancy and then reaffirm when the person can make their own decision. It's not that big a deal. They have the same God! Don't you think if the God REALLY wanted praise from a whole pile of people, he would be happy that they worked out a way of doing it so that it suited them? I'm replying to this sociologically because I have my sociology lecture notes in front of me. Some religious groups are total instituiotns and have inensive interatcion. These tend to be fundamentalist groups which are quite a modern movement and are adverse to religious puralism. I believe that religious pluralism and diversity and acceptance and peace between religions will ultimately create a better society... maybe I'm hoping for too much here. Another thing that annoys me is people who go "The Old Testament isn't true so therefore everything's a farce" Obviously the Old Testament isn't a documentary on it, there are two Creation Stroies! And unless Adam and Eve worked out how to read and write a lot sooner than we've given them credit for (and what was the point, there was only the two of them, until they had sons who magically found wives and then oine of them killed the other one) the best possible creation story we could get (assuming that really did happen) would be like a REALLY LONG game of Chinese whispers. And groups of ten people can completely mangle a sentence, image what generations can do to a whole story. The bible is a story that was made to show people the meaning, not be read literally. (And while we're at it, "the bible says being gay is wrong" irks me too. The Bible also says wearing glasses is wrong, gonna protests that one too?) The Old Testament is a great read any old time! it's full of tons of fun stuff. lol. I believe the term for the fact that there are two accounts of creation and two versions of the flood (If I remember rightly) is call redaction. It has to be remembered that these traditions were kept orally until the Jewish babbylonian exile where the Rabbinical practise began to arise and they started to write down their beliefs... (I think it was 586BCE that nebudcunezzar (sp?) destroyed the first Temple.... that could be incorrect) And while we're at it, if I hear one more "All Muslims are terrorists" theory I'm going to punch someone. Hello?! One of their key beliefs is that all living things are precious! They're not even sposed to hurt a fly! Arrghh! I wish people would get some education before judging! People should take time out to read the Quran and stop villifying people based on ethnic and religious misconceptions. Little side note: Islam was the first culture to give women legal right. So bah to the western world for being so fracking ignorant. Anyway, I'll stop ranting in a derranged I'm-really-sick-and-this-probabl-doesn't-make-sense way now... Cat I guess I concur, after all that! |
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After reading that it put a lot of perspective on the way i saw religion. Then again, i did read it at a time when i was going to Merici, and well.... Catholic school system is just wrong for all of those outside their religion. in fact, i think it's wrong even for Catholics....
But methinks the Almighty Universe has other plans 
And, hey, you never know. In your dreams you may want to be a decent-income-earning games designer, but God may wish you to be a multimillionaire-relaxing-on-the-beach-with-spunky-up-to-the-minute-technology-as-ober.netter. So, in that case, which path would you prefer to choose after all...? 
every since then i've loved the way metaphors are used, and when i come across say an author or someone who uses them to their best effect then its likely i'll like that story 
the bible is one whole big metaphor to me, and thats what i like about it - it's open to interpretation. but then, of course, when people interpret it differently it can cause problems...
