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[Lord Krump]

Before we get this thing going, I'm going to lay down a few rules for posting here.

1. This is a topic for intellectual and deep discussion. Not for simple "I agree"s or similiar posts. Posting here indicates that you understand that you must state your own opinion, and state why you hold that opinion. A full sentence is the minimum requirement; a paragraph would be nice, though.

2. Even though your opinions may differ, you must respect eachother here. Do not flame someone for holding a particular view on religion that differs from yours in this thread; instead, present evidence supporting your own view. Mindless arguing just makes everyone look silly.

If you do not follow these rules, you'll be feeling the good old crump-a-bomb. Cool? Cool.

So, what do you believe in, religion-wise, and why do you believe it? Here's something that I posted a while ago on another forum; I believe it accurately shows how I feel.

[BAMFing ARCHER]

In my opinion: Religion, schmeligion. I actually couldn't care less about what God/gods you pray too, 'cause come end of the day, we're all human. And after all, religion is one of the factors that actually separates us and prevents us from unity. And this is not one of those "divide-and-conquer" sort of thing. Hence, I really am non-religious.

[SynysterGirl]

I'm not in any religion.
Like you, all these different ideas and beliefs did support my while "no religion" thing, but I also came to realize that people say angels are watching over us, yet there is always death, chaos, destruction, and so on. Hell, I even believed it myself, that I was being watched over. But my life isn't the good that I've always wanted it to be, and neither is basically every person's life on this planet.

[Zelnor]

I'm a sort of self-styled Christian - I believe in God, Jesus, that stuff, but I don't follow the bible to the world and don't go to church much. For me, Angels are dead people with a job. I don't think only Christianity is right; maybe there's more then one afterlife. I often think about it and imagine how I'd like it to be, and who knows... Maybe I'll get what I wish for.

[Steve]

I was forced into being a Catholic, I had no say. You're not even allowed to mention the word "Evolution" in my house. (Which makes it pretty damn hard to play Pokemon)

In short, I'm an Atheist, but not the kind that randomly spoonfeeds their opinion to others.

[MsDevin92]

Wow, you summed up my opinion perfectly, Crump.

I don't want to sound bitter, but I'm fed up with physically-organized religion. You know, a set of commandments, the certain things you have to do, etc. It just ends up inviting corruption into the beliefs that started it anyway, because the beliefs are pretty much thrust into bad situations. For example, one thing that has me furious is that, with the stocks (I don't think you should be able to buy stock in a religion, really) that the main churches of America possess, together, they could pretty much end third-world poverty. However, they don't do anything, but still preach the idea of helping others.

And most religious people I know- I'm not saying all of them- don't accept people who aren't of their religion. It just adds to all the hatred we have to bear...

[Sumakima Josindu]

[Sam]

[Fink rat!]

I'm an agnostic, mainly because I have found that Spiritual beliefs have nothing to do with the universe, or in that sense, reality, as most religion is based on earthly things. I mean, would an Alien be able to atone for his sins if he hasn't heard of Jesus? I was ounce Christian I deeply admit, but I came out of it due to it's horrid sexism and violence, as well as it's somewhat anarchistic views on Politics.

[Black Yoshi]

[Sumakima Josindu]

[Francis]

Many people confuse religion with belief/faith in God. I think they are two very different things.

Religion is a man made tool for organizing like-minded beliefs and cultures. God did not create religion. There is nothing inherintly wrong with religion, but yes, if two people of different beliefs (doesnt matter what the blief is... could be politics or whatever) get together, there is bound to be trouble.

Faith in God. Believing in God, and more importantly, knowing God, is personal. Sure your view of God may be influenced by religion or your parents, none of that is a requirement, and it is better that you seek God seperate from outside influences. Faith is beliving and trusting in something that you can not see. But, having faith is not being stupid. Faith is not blind. There is so much that points to there being a Creator, even though God will not appear in front of you like in Bruce Almighty.

Jesus. When people discuss religion or God... they always leave out Jesus. Jesus is the key to it all. He is all the proof you need that there is a God, and that He is worth having faith in. It is fact that Jesus lived, taught, was killed, and was seen alive again. He was God on Earth, who came to clear things up and set things straight. Unlike religion, He did not tell us how to reach God, instead he showed how God wanted to reach us.

So, if you are confused about religion and what to believe, just try to find the truth. Look past the silly traditions. Look at what people really believe and look at where it came from. If someone quotes parts of the Bible, make sure you read it yourself and understand the context. Don't discount an entire belief system because some people are idiodic bigots. They lost the plot and got caught up in "religion".

[Pure-???]

[Super Cyber Mario]

I myself go to a catholic school, and my high school is also catholic. The only reason I go there is because the education itself is good. I am agnostic, and recently have debated the theory of atheism. I do believe that there is some type of higher power, not necessarily a God, but some type of "power" that is greater than us. I don't really know what it is or could be, but I do believe. recently atheism has seemed closer to me. I do believe in the theory of evolution for sure. There is no way humans just showed up. The closest religion I have ever found to what I believe is Buddhism. Which believes in higher power, but most of our lives are determined by our own actions. I wish I could believe in something but I don't.

[Zelnor]

I just think the overtly religious people should shut up. Religion is a personal thing. I don't have anything against being introduced to it or getting a sort ov overview in school, and that the overview also looks at the inner religion is only better as it avoids misunderstanding, but I think there have been too many atrocities been committed in the name of God or any other deity of choice.

You Americans just have the misfortune of having the biggest concentration of crazy zealots in your country.

BTW, ever since my history teacher told me, it keeps bugging me that they are always "islamistic terrorists". Have you ever heard of "Christian terrorists" or "Judaistic terrorists" ?

No ?

No wonder the Islam is considered to be violent - it's puclicity is an outright scapegoating. They may have some really stupid views on the rights of women, but it was us who did the crusaded and murdered, *cragged* and stole whatever we pleased.

I consider God to be a lot more relaxed then the chruch says. I mean, yes, you should follow the Commandements as best as you can, but I don't think disobeying them or not being Christian is a smiting offense in His eyes. If they weren't there, people would just randomly do whatever they wanted, but if you follow them to the letter you'll spned your life sitting in a cave.

First of all, the commandments were given to people in a
society that is about as similar to ours as a pickle to a screwdriver.

Second, I think people made a few additions to whatever God told them to write in the Bible, with the best intentions, but those additions are still wrong for today. (The road to hell is paved with good intentions.) If God would be all "KILL TEH GAY PEOPLE !!!!111oneoneeleven" then that'd go pretty much against the whole "God loves everyone." message Jesus gave us.

Third, people who believe in following everything to the word even if it goes against any ethics we have learned today or gets discriminating and tiny-minded dorksticks.

To another theme - I find the God of the Old Testament really, really scary. He seems... kinda evil. I mean, death sentences, smiting of the unbelieving, letting them just disappear after death or something...


I'll stick to the New Testament. Much, much nicer God. And I don't think that an universe with such a capacity for beauty in the most unlikely places has been created by a single-minded, stern God.

Church, cut us some slack. If God wanted us to be sin-free, he'd've made us that way. Sinfree would be kind of boring to watch, wouldn't it ?


... I wonder what God does on Saturday nights.