Marijuana.com

sticky

Thoughts on paper (er.. not technically paper but you get the point):

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The transition from lazy highschool graduate to hard working college student is gradually taking place. My teenage years are about over and thousands of questions weigh heavily on my mind.

I have recently been exposed to some of the most generous, giving, caring, and good natured people one could ever meet. They all happen to be dedicated, honest Christians. I have known quite a few Christians in my life, and unfortunately the majority that I have known up to this point do not live what they preach. Some of them are hipocrits, and some of them claim to be Christian merely because they were told that they were Christian as children. However, that is just not the case with this recent group I have met and interacted with.

After participating in several bible studies and being exposed to the every day lives of these wonderful people, I can truly see what having an honest relationship with God (according to the bible) is all about. These individuals have an amazing air of confidence about them. Their contributions to the community, children, and environment are very respectable and filled with positive energy.

I came to college with an open mind, willing to try anything and everything (not reffering to sex and drugs). The thought of pursuing an honest relationship with God seems appealing and uplifting.

One basic concept that I have picked up from these bible studies is that becoming a disciple of Christ is about giving up yourself (greed, lust, immorality, etc) for a better cause. If we work for Jesus, denying thy self of "selfish desires", we get everything in the end. (Luke 9:23-26).

Certain things come to mind. For example, it talks about sexual immorality in the bible. I asked what sexual immorality really was... the reply was "anything you would not feel comfortable doing with your girlfriend in front of her father" until marriage.... this would definately change my relationship with my girlfriend ...

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If this post seems unorganized and messy, it's probably because im stoned.

I am not asking any specific questions here like "Should I become Christian?"... I would much rather listen to what some of the more experienced individuals have to say about Christianity/relationships with God.. or anyone else who has been in my situation in some way.

 

TheCleric

Im sorry but you sound like another one of their little programmed puppets, sure they dont seem that bad to you, cause they have been working hard on not sounding like the god crazed bunch that they are.

If you are looking for inner peace im not so sure you will find it by what some religious group tells you is "the way".

I understand your need for something greater in your life though but, i really wish you wouldnt do this. Next they will start adding more bible passages in there, ones that deal with smoking, or some other everyday thing that you do that they dont feel is right.

Its like conditioning, only it deals with establishing and playing with ones morals.

Call me jaded but i have yet to see a benefit from any religion, ESPECIALLY christianity.

Think of this, this religion was made when mankind was just a baby, 2000 years ago bro. And now they want you to just blindly follow this idea in the 20th century? Why? What benefit would a way of life from so long ago play on yours now?

Ya dont have to buy into religion to find god and have a personal relationship with him/her. Contrary to popular belief god requires no membership card or monetary donation

Im probably sounding like an anti religious nut here but dont you think these people would try anything to get you to believe what hey believe? Why is your salvation such a big thing to them? If they really had inner peace with their "jesus" wouldnt it not matter to them what you believe or not?

Religion to me has far too many flaws.

Please think about this and give a reply back. I am always here to discuss religion

Cleric

PokeSmot

Let me explain my situation. I was raised under fairly strict Christian beliefs. My parents always believed strongly in God, and forced it upon me. My dad is a major bible thumper, that's for sure. So I grew up FORCED to believe in God, forced to say prayers, read the bible, etc. I realized one day that I don't necessarily believe in all of the things that Christians stand for. However, I still have their foundation of beliefs. I basically live by the 10 commandments, not because I believe I will go to hell if I don't, but because I feel that it is a good foundation for my morality. I don't lie, cheat, or steal, and for the most part I live a good clean lifestyle. I may drink and smoke weed, but as long as I'm a good person, I think that's ok. I'm only human, and I make mistakes just like anybody else! But I know in my heart that I'm a good person, and I care about people. Religion really has little to do with living a good clean lifestyle. If the lifestyle is all you seek, then why add religion into it? You CAN be a good person, with good, strong morals, without having to believe in God or practicing a certain religion.

__________________
If Ignorance is bliss... why aren't more people happy?

blue21

I've read studies saying religion helps people live longer and get over diseases quicker. I don't know if that's true or not. If it is, then there is some benefit to religion. But even if it is true, I think this benefit is more due to the power of positive thought and a positive attitude, which sure, religion helps you accomplish. But there are better ways to harness your mental powers than through brainwashing. If you're really intent on helping yourself and exploring this new horizon, maybe you should consider doing it on your own, or maybe with a less oppressive religion.

The only problem I have with religions is that they tell you not to do things. Things that give pleasure are automatically "bad" or "sinful". You should sacrifice yourself, etc, etc. You shouldn't have to give up the things you life for your religion. And all this depends on there being an afterlife, which we really can't depend on. It would suck spending your whole life starving yourself of pleasure just to find out that all your effort was wasted and there is no afterlife. Of course, you could also say, it would suck indulging all your life and then finding out that there is an afterlife and you're going to hell, but I think that's really really really unlikely and I'm willing to take my chances.

So I think that religions are a useful way to harness your inner power, but only because they help guide you to do things you could otherwise do on your own. And when religions come at the cost of sacrificing things you like there's really no point.

And you should always beware of people trying to "save" you!

sticky

Thanks for your input! This is exactly what I was looking for.

One thing I have noticed is that some of them come from a background of chaos/hard drugs/sleepingaround/alcoholism/etc. Personally, I have never really participated in those types of activities (besdies a couple natural drugs I won't mention).

It's like they get this natural high from worshipping God. I'm almost certain that this is what appeals to me about them, not studying the bible.

After I got to know them a little bit better, I asked about marijuana and if it was a sin. Ofcourse the first response was yes, it is a sin, but after explaining what marijuana does for me and how there are references in the bible having to do with a sacred burning incence/herb, they seemed to be open to the idea that marijuana is not as bad as it has been made out to be.

I would like to pursue a relationship with God, but I am still uncertain about becoming a "disciple of Christ".

Just some more random things running through my head... more to come soon.

Thanks again for the input

 

frep45

TheCleric, you sum up all of my opinions on religion perfectly. Good job on condensing it into a concise and meaningful post =)

ncj

if god does exist then i cleric is goin to hell

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Instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.

-R.I.P. Tupac Shakur

Roy

Beware of the paper god. When someone tells you they speak the word of God they are speaking lies. The time will come when you will meet God. Until then enjoy your life while respecting the lives of others. Remember this; God is not a punisher.
Below I have listed some thoughts in the form of questions. I'm not looking for answers to these questions. They are just an example of an alternate way of looking at things.
Ask yourself when you do the "work of Jesus" are you not doing it "to get everything in the end"? Isn't that a selfish goal? Who can do Gods work better than God Himself? If you pray together aren't you ignoring what Jesus said about praying in public?
As for prayer what is it? Are you telling God what to do because you know better than He? Are you trying to get on his good side by telling Him how great He is? Is it a popularity contest... whoever gets the most votes get their fate changed? Is is a magic spell to change reality by invoking the supernatural?

PokeSmot

Preach on, my brutha

sticky

you're all satanists!