<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>I realize this isn’t the best way to get accepted to a community, but I’m going to share a view and ask a few questions about religion that I really can’t understand. How is it even possible that people believe in organized religion and going to church? It is the biggest shenanigan in the history of mankind. Christians do you honestly believe that the son of God took human form and spread magic? Do you really believe that it rained for 40 days or however long that fictional story said it did because God got angry at us but he decided to save one man and some cattle? Do you really feel that other humans can talk to God and that they should be telling you what to do with your life? Catholics are the worst if they honestly believe that the only people who go to heaven are those who accept Jesus as their savior, WTF. What if you are uninformed and never knew of the catholic religion and were a giver all your life but were Buddhist you go to hell. Good theory. Don’t eat meat on Fridays or you’re a sinner and may go to hell, Fuck that. In a way I am jealous of some of my friends ignorance to the world around them that they believe in it, in the same way I am jealous of mentally handicapped for being so amused and happy all the time. You cannot just throw out science like that.

The question I really want answered is do you honestly believe in all this stuff or are you just scared about dieing? I am pretty sure using simple logic that you could figure out that its all phony. Why are there not more atheists? Are people just secretely scepticle of religion or are they that much of followers? And if you are able to block out the fact that nothing sensational has happened since recorded history like the stuff in the bible because of concidence than congratulations you are very lucky.
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Thats a really clever player bio you have.

If there were such thing as Jesus he would bless me with a time machine to go back to 1970 and give your mom the 2 dollars for a coat hanger so she could abort you. You should end yourself you are not unigue nor funny, a good combo. Worthless.

we've already had a religion thread today

please go away

I'm not sure why it matters. But here is what I think:

- Most people on here are liberitarians with a "live and let live" attitude (myself included).

- Just like I don't think people should be criticized for smoking pot or gambling (personal decisions that affect no one else), people should also not be criticized for their religious beliefs (personal decisions that affect no one else).

- You can talk about religion as it interferes with public policy all you want, because that actually does affect other people, but just let everyone who quietly believes something alone. Not everyone is part of some crazy religious cult. In fact, probably under 5% could be considered "fanatics." The rest are just normal people who go to work and enjoy taking their family to church on sunday.

- Not everyone that believes in chrisitianity is as dumb as you make them sound.

- People who need to be up on a high horse (you) and talk down to others sound incredibly arrogant. In fact, you sound more arrogant than those 'crazy ignorant jesus-lovers' you speak about.

- No matter what side you are on (believer or non-believer), there is absolutely NO need to talk down to the other side about their personal decision. Just respect the beliefs on the opposite side and we will all be better off.

It sounds to me like your a spiritual person...

one who believes there is something out there greater than ourselves..

Many people who have gone exactly through what i have gone through are dead right now...

some call me lucky...

i dont...i truly believe i have been watched out for....2x when my wife was pregnant i should of died...but i believe it was god or a higher power that kept me alive..

it would be really lonely if you considered yourself the end all of living....

Church can teach and enforce good values on your kids...something our schools used to do, now only private ones do....this is a positive...

but church cannot force you to believe in a God, that belief comes from a peace developed within yourself....ok, i will shut up now...

i dont really want to get into a huge religious debate, but there is definately a problem in the mere fact that christianity, islam and to a lesser extent judaism even exist. it'd be like if all of a sudden greek mythology was to come back in high demand, except one of the central doctrines of the mythology was to spread their mythology in order to save the rest of mankind from eternal damnation and results in the murder of countless people in the process, sadly all ascribed to the name of the Divine. this is some seriously fucked up shit thats been going on for far too long and it hasnt even seemed to have peaked yet.

if mankind needs the bible in order to understand and develop sound moral and ethical values than i fear for our future as a species. have you actually read the bible? it is one of the most perverse and detestable collections of horror stories, rape, murder, the slaughter of innocent women and children, the unjust invasion of neighboring countries, and all of this is said to be done with the authority of the Creator of the time, space, unchangeable mathematical principles(all of which i believe to be of Divine origin)

the whole thing is packed to the brim with myths and folk tales, and most of the ascribed authors were actually dead centuries before the books written in their name were even written. there are all but two or three good people in the entire thing.

To OP: 'Religion' means Christianity? Seriously, are you that fucking dumb?

<H1>What will happen to the people who have never heard of Jesus Christ?
<SPAN class=author>by Rich Deem</SPAN></H1> <H3 class=intro id=intro><SPAN>Introduction</SPAN> </H3>
Will all those people who have never heard of Jesus Christ be sent to hell? First we must note that the Bible says God will judge all people righteously.<SUP>1</SUP> It seems there will be a stricter judgment for those who have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ than those who have never heard.<SUP>2</SUP> Paul tells us that those who have never heard of the law are not imputed sin under the law.<SUP>3</SUP> Paul also tells us that those who follow the law (e.g., practicing Jews) will be judged by the law.<SUP>4</SUP> The people who have never heard of the law are judged by the law of God which He has placed into their hearts:
<DIR>
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:14-16)
</DIR> <H3>Judgment</H3>
A further indication that the judgment of God is based upon what we know and what we have been given can be seen in a warning by James:
<DIR>
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)
</DIR>
In other words, those who know the gospel, study it, and teach it will be under stricter judgment, since they have the ability of guide others, or lead them astray. Jesus, in the parable of the Master and the slaves (Luke 12:41-48) talked about the difference in judgment between those who know the will of God vs. those who do not know:
<DIR>
"And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. (Luke 12:47-48)
</DIR> <H3> </H3> <H3 class=intro id=conc><SPAN>Conclusion</SPAN> </H3>
I know there are many Christians who say that all those who die without faith in Christ will be relegated to spend eternity in Hell - even if they have never heard the gospel. I think scripture suggests otherwise - that we are judged on the basis of what we know and how we act upon it. This is not any sort of ecumenical theology or "all ways lead to God." Those who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and have refused to believe have rejected Him, and, as such, will fall under the condemnation of God, because they have rejected His provision for our disobedience.<SUP>2</SUP> Therefore, atheists are still without excuse<SUP>8</SUP> in rejecting God. Those who perpetrate evil, even without the knowledge of the gospel, will likewise be condemned, since they have violated their God-given conscience. In the same way, those who play the "religion game" of going to church on Sunday, but living apart from a relationship with God, will be condemned.<SUP>9</SUP>

For when Gentiles who do nothave the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not havingthe Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Lawwritten in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and theirthoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when,according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men throughChrist Jesus. (Romans 2:14-16)

this passage by itself essentially says that the bible is unnecessary.

brainyut:

- Just like I don't think people should be criticized for smoking pot or gambling (personal decisions that affect no one else), people should also not be criticized for their religious beliefs (personal decisions that affect no one else).

Could not disagree with this statement more. Religious people have long had a history of trying to 'convert' others to their religion from christian missionaries to those fuckers who knock on your door.

I have never been accosted in the street by someone trying to convince me to smoke weed or start gambling, yet I have been stopped and preached to in the street, or even in my own home by religious people of many denominations many times over. NZ is not even a religious country, I can only imagine how bad this would be overseas.

I have also found many religious people (but not all) to be very judgemental of those outside of their religion who 'sin' and are also very hypocritical with their own behaviour. Don't even make me bring up the catholic priests.

In the blood and holy grail book (the one that inspired Dan Kings book) there is a great little story about the church attacking a city of 30,000 people in Europe, and the general says to the head priest "How do you know who to spare?". The priest answers, "Swing your sword at them all and God will save the ones he wants to".

So they slaughter the entire village.

Fuck Religion.

dum da dum dum dum

Dude U live in the USA, no one gives a fuck what U believe & saying that you can choose to believe what the fuck you want. There's a thing in the bibble they talk about called freewill, regardless if you believe or not I recommend you use this.
Nude pics of wife or sister (or a good storey) or GTFO.

where in the bible does it talk about free will? the bible actually supports the idea of predestination, which is the opposite of free will. in fact, free will will land you in hell, because your will is supposed to mirror the will of god, which is explained in the so called word of god, the bible.