Religious beliefs

[YfirBaggari]

Skillet summed it up nicely. Morality has nothing to do with there being a deity. Sure, there are some good things to follow in the Christian bible, as there are in the Torah, or in Buddhist sutras, or Sanskrit verses, and so on... But that alone doesn't prove a deity.

Word.

I'm a Atheist,and a man of science.

[muddyfunkstar]

The only superstition I subscribe to is counting magpies. My parents did it, and so do I. I know it's ridiculous and means nothing, but it's sort of ingrained in my psyche.

I don't walk under ladders either, but that's just common sense.

[OregonNative]

I was born & raised Christian (Lutheranism) and I follow that same belief system today.

I don't care what anyone believes. I don't shove my religion or values down anyone's throat. If they want to believe in Islam, Judism, Buddhism, Atheism, FSM, Scientology, and whatever else anyone wants to believe. It's not my place to insult others for their choice, as it is not their place to insult me or other religious people for their choice. The simple fact is, if you don't want to believe, don't believe. No one is forcing anyone to convert.

I come from a family that is mostly Christian, but the family that emigrated from Germany to Egypt, the younger generation is beginning to follow Islam. We have Athiests as well, and we don't seem to argue about it.

Cheers all, enjoy whatever it is that you believe.

[texastorm]

Umm, no offense, but that was an ignorant statement. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, are extremely different, both in doctrine and theology.

Wow no offense but that was an ignorant statement, a simple google search turned up pages of similarities.

No one said they did not have their differences too.

[CzechCzar]

Umm, no offense, but that was an ignorant statement. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, are extremely different, both in doctrine and theology.

I'm focusing more on (quasi)Christianity, of which I combine Judaism, Islam, Mormonism and so on. There isn't enough of a difference between them to make a distinction. The names are changed, but it's the same old bullshit. Paganism? Much of that is lost to time, especially as it relates to the day to day life of the people. Imo you're largely correct in that they weren't originally created to enslave populations, but that power was recognized early on, and exploited.

[lxskllr]

OK well at points it was. But then again by saying that all belief systems are a system of control. So where does that put "pagan" religions that often have no central authority?

In the modern world not so much, fact is not enough people believe to make it so. In antiquity it is debatable, I mean was it designed as such or happenstance due to most of the few educated and literate people where in the monastic service.

Ken

I'm focusing more on (quasi)Christianity, of which I combine Judaism, Islam, Mormonism and so on. There isn't enough of a difference between them to make a distinction. The names are changed, but it's the same old bullshit. Paganism? Much of that is lost to time, especially as it relates to the day to day life of the people. Imo you're largely correct in that they weren't originally created to enslave populations, but that power was recognized early on, and exploited.

[devilock76]

OK well at points it was. But then again by saying that all belief systems are a system of control. So where does that put "pagan" religions that often have no central authority?

In the modern world not so much, fact is not enough people believe to make it so. In antiquity it is debatable, I mean was it designed as such or happenstance due to most of the few educated and literate people where in the monastic service.

Ken

[Skell18]

I'm with Extreme on this. What better way to control the population than through supernatural fear? You may get some bad asses that'll tell you to shove your laws up your ass, and then do the shoving at the point of a sword. Telling someone they'll be miserable for eternity if they don't follow your rules, or could be struck down without intervention raises the stakes substantially.

Agreed!

[lxskllr]

I'm with Extreme on this. What better way to control the population than through supernatural fear? You may get some bad asses that'll tell you to shove your laws up your ass, and then do the shoving at the point of a sword. Telling someone they'll be miserable for eternity if they don't follow your rules, or could be struck down without intervention raises the stakes substantially.

[Frosted]

Yes.

[devilock76]

So you are saying that the entire history of all of the religions of the world is a massive conspiracy to centralize control of the populous? I just want to make sure I understand you correctly before I respond.

Ken

[Frosted]

The word I used was contributed, not inspired. That can be in the form of patronage, commission, or inspiration. Like say for example the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Fact is a great deal of Rennaisance art was inspired by, on the subject of, or directly commissioned by the church. And that is just talking Christianity, we could go on to discuss the art of eastern religions as well, mandalas and such.

Ken

But that was all part of the churches conspiracy to make it look and feel grand so that people would submit to it's power. Vatican city is a prime example. It's all about control and getting people to do what you want them to do. Nowadays it's the government. I'm not saying that the art isn't good, it's what's behind it all I don't find so good. All religious groups make up religion to suit their own needs and agendas. The end product of that agenda twists the original concepts of eg. Jesus, Mohammed etc. into an unrecognisable concept. The frightening thing about this control is that the people involved (not the artists btw) believe that what they did was right.

[devilock76]

True but the dark ages also put us hundreds of years behind where we could be now in advancement

Maybe...maybe it was a necessity to go through those times...

Ken

[wa3zrm]

THE GODLESS DEMOCRATS

But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:33)
Are you a believer? I’m not asking if you’re a Democrat, a Republican or an independent. I’m asking if you believe in God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God of the living, not the dead. The great “I Am.”
If so, here’s something to seriously consider in the voting booth on Nov. 6. In its official 2012 version, the Democratic Party finally scrubbed all recognition of God from its party platform. This was intentional. It was by design. No one should have been surprised. It was a long time coming.
In just the last decade or so, extremist elements within the Democratic establishment have lodged a successful secular-socialist coup. The alarming consequences of this “progressive” triumph have become manifest throughout the pages of the DNC’s 2012 platform. They were also on display at the recent Democratic convention.
Slippery was the slope into Democrats’ anti-theist primordial bog. In 2004, there were seven mentions of God in the platform. In 2008, there was but one.
And in 2012?
None.
Zip, zero, nada.
Godless.

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...

[Thunder_Snus]

Not to disagree with your point. But religion has also greatly contributed to our arts and culture throughout antiquity to current times.

Ken

True but the dark ages also put us hundreds of years behind where we could be now in advancement