TylerDurden

Personally, I was raised in some warped, cultish version of Christianity - they showed us a series of movies in Sunday school where all who werent "saved" got left behind to be dramatically hunted down and beheaded by all the "evil", Satan-worshipping folk who were still on Earth, so i had an extremely poor opinion of religion ANYWAY...

But when i was a little older and wiser, i decided to do some research and to make an informed decision for myself regarding religion. I came to the conclusion that EVERYONE was full of crap, and that I didn't need the threat of eternal damnation to keep me in line. It took me awhile, but nowadays I can say that I'm a good person, and I remain so for my own reasons.

I sometimes think back and wish for the comfort I felt when i was younger and i trusted blindly in religion, that feeling that I was part of something that lasted forever...that feeling of absolutely knowing that a God existed was wonderful...

The truth (what i believe to be true, anyway) is lonely, my friends. We are what we make of ourselves, here and now, and it sucks to know that this is all we've got. But I take that as license to go make the most of everything, because life is short, people...

But I'll tell you, i enjoy my life.

__________________
I recently quit smoking cigarettes...

you know why?

The thought of someone else raising my son, some other man being his role model, that REALLY rubs me the wrong way.

and THAT, friends and neighbors, THAT is my anti-cigarette.

SmokerForPeace

Not all religions believe in superior powers. I feel the same way you do about organiuzed religion but don't skip over the spirtual world just because of your experience with it so far.

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Cosmic Charley how do you do?
Truckin' in style along the avenue
Dumdeedumdee doodley doo
Go on home, your mama's calling you

ikari

To spiritual aspects

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we barely remember who or what came before this precious moment,
we are choosing to be here right now. hold on, stay inside...

teufelfisch

My opinion is that everybody needs structure of some sort. There are some people who find their structure in religion, while others find it in the system, and still others find it some other way.

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Crazy Horse

I agree with you Tyler. By the way, "His name is Robert Paulson"... sorry if I spelled that wrong, "sir". LMMFAO.

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My lands are where my dead lie buried.

Chiksic

I was raised Mormon. At 13 I began questioning little things. By 16 I'd left the religion. I looked into Wicca and really connected with it. I don't follow Wicca right now, but a lot of my beliefs stem from Wicca. I'm spiritual, but organized religion pisses me off. I think if you want to get close to God(s), put yourself in something he/she/they created, not some stuffy church. But that's just my view. I also think that if organized religion or churches get you closer to God, go for it and don't let anyone tell you to stop. Everyone is on their own path of progression, and if church makes you a better person, by all means, go to church. But it doesn't work for me.

TylerDurden

just to see if i can get any more opinions off of it..

Higher Logic

I think the problem is people fail to grasp that there are two sides to a human, the spiritual side and the physical side. If people would spend more time on the spiritual side, the phsyical side of it all would benefit, making a "heaven on earth" type scenario.

You'll never know what it's like when time stops until you take the "I" out of the picture.

EeJay

There's a couple of things people have said that I don't understand clearly.

teufelfisch: What do you mean by "structure"? I don't think teufelfisch posts here anymore though, maybe someone else can try to answer for him.

Red: How do you define "spiritual side"?

Now about the topic, I feel religion is necessary in humans. I define religion in it's broadest sense, which is simply "a set of beliefs, values and/or practices".

As for me, I am my own religion. I don't really agree with Tyler that the truth is lonely, and I don't necessarily wish there was a Utopian afterlife. Could you define Utopia as being free of woe? Then what I believe might also be considered Utopia.

My perspectives (religion) are constantly evolving, and have especially evolved over the last year or so. I believe i'm a better person because of it, and i'm definitely happier and more content with my life than I have ever been. And whether for direct or indirect reasons, I can honestly attribute marijuana to getting me where I am now.

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Experience is an honest teacher.

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!"