|
Post by Dominique on Feb 3, 2007 17:28:01 GMT -5
"Blake Heuston used to say that there was god, which was the real god, and then there was this other person called noba daddy, which is the false picture of god that humans create for themselves. The false picture of god seems to be one that a lot of people believe in. Instead of believing in the living spirit they believe in a tyrannical angry person who's going to squash you, basically. So they believe in a series of rules and restrictions imposed by the noba daddy because they have a desire for rules and restrictions." This idea is something I quite strongly believe in, it goes into more depth in the interview about Greek Mythology's effect on our image of God. I very much feel that humans have created the vengeful god through some need of their own and if god existed he would most likely be a loving spirit.
|
|
Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
|
Post by Lu on Feb 3, 2007 17:43:14 GMT -5
I don't judge religions, but I really don't like that very religious people act so unlike the god they follow. I'm sure I've posted this somewhere on the boards, but Gandhi said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." I hate that really religions Christians are so against things like homosexuality for example. Even if there are instances in the Bible where it's mentioned wrong, isn't the whole Bible really about treating people well and loving them unconditionally, no matter what? What a contradiction... You're absolutely right, Kristie! I sometimes have moments of crisis because I'm very afraid of acting as you said...I'm very afraid of that contradiction. I personally think that loving and respecting people are the most important things! And also never judging other people's actings. WHO am I to judge what the others do?
|
|
|
Post by Dominique on Feb 3, 2007 19:35:50 GMT -5
I absolutely agree with you Lu, and I think that if there is a God that's the kind of way he'd want us to act.
|
|
|
Post by gilmoreren on Feb 4, 2007 9:32:20 GMT -5
I don't judge religions, but I really don't like that very religious people act so unlike the god they follow. I'm sure I've posted this somewhere on the boards, but Gandhi said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." I hate that really religions Christians are so against things like homosexuality for example. Even if there are instances in the Bible where it's mentioned wrong, isn't the whole Bible really about treating people well and loving them unconditionally, no matter what? What a contradiction... I do agree. However, you will never see a perfect enactment of Christianity as no one is perfect. St Paul said something like "Why do I not do the things I should, yet I do the things that I should not do?"
|
|
|
Post by Hanna on Feb 4, 2007 15:46:44 GMT -5
That's a good point, Ren! And that's the whole point with Jesus too...since no one else could be perfect, He had to be perfect for all humanity! But unfortunately some Christian forget how Jesus treated people, and who He choose to hang with...
|
|
|
Post by gilmoreren on Feb 4, 2007 16:14:25 GMT -5
That's a good point, Ren! And that's the whole point with Jesus too...since no one else could be perfect, He had to be perfect for all humanity! But unfortunately some Christian forget how Jesus treated people, and who He choose to hang with... Exactly. That's the reason why Christianity - true relationship with Jesus based Christianity is the opposite to an institutionalised religion - it's not doctrine that guides it, but a daily commitment
|
|
Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
|
Post by Kristie on Feb 5, 2007 16:45:13 GMT -5
I just watched The Prince of Egypt Saturday night. I've seen it before and I know the story of Moses, but for some reason it really made me wish that I believed something not necessarily strongly, but just something. I wish that I could trust the Bible and all it says, because it's a wonderful kind of story if it's true. I like the whole idea of having something to believe in, but logic won't let me. Although, when I read Angels and Demons, I actually began to argue for the Christian side. There were a couple "insightful" comments that made me believe Christianity could be true, and so it did the opposite of what a lot of Christians are afraid of Dan Brown's works for. Does that make sense that I wish I could believe in Christianity, but logic prevents me?
|
|
Paige
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
Posts: 1,787
|
Post by Paige on Feb 5, 2007 17:53:22 GMT -5
yea, that makes sense. i am a christian and i find myself struggling with the same thing at times. some days it's just hard to believe that it could all be true but then there are days when i have complete faith in it all. i think it's good to have at least some doubt because then you keep searching and learning, trying to find out more. but i guess even though i do doubt at times, in my heart i always know that i have faith. but yes, i do understand what you're saying.
|
|
cauthoncrazy
First short story featured in regional newspaper
I've got the dreamers disease.
Posts: 158
|
Post by cauthoncrazy on Feb 5, 2007 20:20:07 GMT -5
I was baptized and confirmed just threeish years ago Episcopalian which is a denomination of Christianity. I've struggled a lot with my beliefs in the past few years. I've seen the "ugly" side of Pentecostalism (in my opinion) and some things I like. For example, I'm taking World Religions and really identifying with Hinduism. What I think is nice about growing up is that one's perspective changes. I went from having a limited view on life to a larger one. I think religion can either encourage or inhibit our growth as people.
|
|
|
Post by gilmoreren on Feb 6, 2007 12:56:23 GMT -5
yea, that makes sense. i am a christian and i find myself struggling with the same thing at times. some days it's just hard to believe that it could all be true but then there are days when i have complete faith in it all. i think it's good to have at least some doubt because then you keep searching and learning, trying to find out more. but i guess even though i do doubt at times, in my heart i always know that i have faith. but yes, i do understand what you're saying. I strongly believe that faith without a little doubt is blind and blind faith without honest questioning is dangerous. A lot of people have a problem with questioning God - I suppose they just haven't read Job, Ecclesiastes or the Psalms...
|
|
|
Post by Dominique on Feb 10, 2007 9:30:11 GMT -5
I just realised I can stick the margaret atwood things on religion in here now, here we go: Part one:
Part two:
Part three:
|
|
|
Post by Hanna on Feb 10, 2007 9:53:58 GMT -5
Very interesting Dom! I don't know too much about Margaret Atwood (have her on my to read list though), but does she writes about this stuff too? I don't agree with everything she says, but she has quite a lot of points and seems like she really knows what she's talking about! I liked her:)
|
|
|
Post by Dominique on Feb 10, 2007 18:57:00 GMT -5
She doesn't directly write about just religion, but it's a theme in some of her books. Mainly the Handmaid's Tale. I don't agree with everything she says either, but I do think she makes some great points
|
|
hidingbento
First piece published in the school’s newspaper
Posts: 61
|
Post by hidingbento on Feb 13, 2007 14:24:28 GMT -5
I always thought I was Christian but I took a test saying I was Hindu- I am. It's everything I believe- it's wierd how you call yourself one thing but it turns out you arent because you didnt know what Christianity really was. Then again- I think religion is nothing but a box. Just love God- if you believe there is one.
|
|
Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
|
Post by Kristie on Feb 13, 2007 14:49:26 GMT -5
When you said you took a test, hidingbento, I looked online ofr a quiz and found this one:
www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html It claims that I'm 100% Reform Judaism. Don't really know the stipulations to that religion, but that's what it says.
|
|