Sallad

My personal feelings is that most reigions are a farce. Money making scams of old traditions that don't apply in todays world.

This is mostly the tradional religions, see the size of some of those chruches?!? They're huge, expensive buildings. You can't tell me someone isn't getting very rich off that.

I don't think that "God", if there is one, would want people to be stuffed in a building praying. Wouldn't you think it's more fitting to be outside in the woods or by a nice waterfall, out in nature enjoying what "God" has provided and created?

Granted there are newer types that are very non-traditional.

Anyone see that South Park when they crapped out of their mouths? That episode makes a good point about religion and it's use in todays world.

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"Pot's Grrrrrreat!"

Kibbatoz

First off it's all about what you consider religios people. I mean I think those over the top religios people are nuts. and need a reality check.They all seem a little weird in my opinion.But there are religios people I respect with good decent religions.

I belive every one has there own "religion" in a way.Everything you do and the way you act is part of your religion.The way you think and what you belive in life.
Not all religion is about going to church beliving in good and after life and whatnot.

I guess all I can really say now is there's no religion better than just taking life in while it's here and not worrying about who made as and where were going after.We arn't here for that reason we should be here to enjoy and be happy.

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Time is the master.
Time can be a disaster.

ManMulcahey

I was and am still being raised to bealive that we came from God and all that mumbo jumbo, it doesn't fit. So i bealive religion was created by man beacause they don't understand what we are and where we came from. Man always wants to understand so he created 'God'. I also bealive religion is for people who want something to bealive in because they are confused or scared

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Sallad

Very very well put.

Kibbatoz

Sometimes it seems that way that man created god which he kind of did, but somtimes doesn't it seem everything natural worked out to perfect for it not to have been created by some other living creater,god or energy?

Man just decided to call that energy god.

I mean there is so much to have just turned out naturaly even though it took so long it just seems like maybe somthing is helping this chain of evelution.

Organized religion sucks though.

EeJay

^The way I look at that is, even if it seems like a damn miracle that we are here in our form, that it had to happen somewhere, sometime, and the fact that you have the ability to wonder about it means that we are in that place and time. Damn that sounds so redundant, but I don't know how else to put it. What I mean is um....the fact that we are such intelligent beings means it's inevitable that we'll wonder at the chances of our existance. I'm not sure if that was any better than my first explanation, but that's the best I can do.

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Experience is an honest teacher.

GonzoGarbonzo

God is dead.

Aren't you glad I contribute so much to this discussion?

Ovathinker

I think in some ways religion in all srts of forms is very compatible to law authority. It keeps people 'in line' to prevent anarchy. Would you live your life differently if we defintely knew we just went blank when we died, i know i would. Job, no sorry, why work when you can just steal the money, but, if everyone did that, would there be money to steal?

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manny

I agree (with just about everyone else here) that spirituality doesn't necessarily involve belief in a single supreme being or set of divine legislation. I also believe that, given all the different faiths over the ages, finding the right one (if a valid one even exists) is a task next to impossible.

If God or any other spiritual entity exists, they created all the religious bigots and fire-and-brimstone preachers so that rational people WON'T worship.

I speculate that religion was ancient humankind's attempt at explaining the world around them. What science is to modern humans, religion was to our ancestors (and some of their modern-day descendants). But then, couldn't you also say that science is a religion? Science relies on empirical evidence, whereas religion is based on faith. But have you ever seen an atom split right before your eyes? Have you ever taken a sample of gases from a star and analyzed it and found out it was hydrogen and helium? Do you know how your keyboard works?

All of the above information (except for how a keyboard works), and most of my knowledge of science, was gleaned from either reading or listening to people talk. Think for a second: bibles and preachers. Schools in the Middle Ages up until about a century ago frequently used the bible for lessons, and teachers taught their students the ideals of living a graceful, God-fearing life. Today, we use textbooks for lessons, and teach our students the ideals of living a graceful, germ-fearing life. The cast of characters has changed, but the plot remains the same.

And all of this still cannot answer one particular, pesky question: is there any real spiritual force in the world at all? I don't know for sure, but I don't see any signs of one.

And so with that, I place myself somewhere between atheist and agnostic (closer to atheist). I doubt that a Supreme Being exists, and if s/he does, s/he sure is obscuring him/herself behind a curtain of radical preachers, strange and freaky cults, and the like. But I don't doubt it absolutely, and if a Supreme Being does exist after all, then thank you God, Jah, Y-hw-h, Allah, Buddha, Zeus, Bob, Eris, Bastet, or whatever I should call you, for everything, and glory be to Thy Name. Oh, and can I have a girlfriend?

There is a LOT that I didn't go over in here. But it's now 5:25 a.m. and I'm tired.

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Plainsman1963

I believe organized religon was created by man to help keep the masses in control, myself.

Several points have always bothered me...

Why is God always an old white man? Why would he be old, white, or a man?

God is omnipotent, right? So why is it that the religous zeolots are always claiming they are doing the work of God when they start killing people? Don't you think God could smite someone on his/her own, if wanted? No need to call in the second string.

Until God tells me I should listen to guys in robes who fondle children him/herself, I am not buying that these guys (priests, ministers, rabbi's, etc.) have better communication with God than I do. Just cause they say they speak the word of God doesn't mean they really do.

God is love. Yet if you don't do/live as "he" says, he will banish you into eternal damnation. Doesn't sound very lovable, in fact sounds like a real spoiled prick to me. Either do exactly as I say or burn in hell. Yep, all wise and knowing.

I'm not an athiest by the way. I believe in something, just not organized religon. Color me agnostic, I guess.

Just my 2 cents,
Plains