SUPER Controversial Thread!!! (Not for the faint of heart)- Page 2

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:43pm

"Religion is for the willfully ignorant."

In this day and age, it is normal, I suspect, for well-educated people to come to that conclusion. The things that are done today in the name of God or Allah are despicable. And it never ceases to amaze me how so many "high-and-mighty" Christians can judge others so effortlessly, while refusing to examine themselves and the numerous sins that they commit everyday. Religion has become an enterprise, and a certain form of propaganda. It has become a contest. "I worship Allah, so all Christians and Jews are going to hell." Or "I am Christian, and I think all Muslims are dirty liars." It disgusts me what religion is nowadays, and in reality ALWAYS has been. I mean, if you look back in the Middle Ages during the Hundred Year's War and the Babylonian Captivity. There were FOUR Popes in different locations all struggling for power. Religion has been forever a contest and a way of gaining what you want.

That said, I must say that I consider there to be a HUGE difference between that kind of "go to church every Sunday or you're going to Hell" religion and spiritual religion. I consider myself a Christian, but my views on Christainty would cause Jerry Falwell to condemn me to hell. (After all, he *does* have the power to do that ) I do not in the slightest believe that one needs to accept Christ into their heart to go to heaven. That is absurd. Why would a loving God condemn someone to Hell simply because they were born into a non-Christian faith?

I believe that the essence of one going to Heaven is just one who leads a good life and is kind to others. Spirtuality is more important than religion. Spirtuality is, I feel, your own personal relationship with God, and how you act when you know that you will reap no rewards for your actions. Religion is, in my own very loose terms, your relationship with God as you want it to be percieved by others, and how you act when you know, or think, you *will* reap benefits.

I stuggled with my faith for a while. I didn't see how people with whom I shared the base of my faith could be so bigoted and cruel. Perhaps the greatest asset to me finding my own views on religion/spirituality was reading C.S. Lewis' MERE CHRISTAINITY, and it helped me a great deal.

And I apoligize if that sounded preachy or was too long. i just realized the length of it.


EDIT: After I posted this, I read what sunfish said, which basically what my whole post said, but in one sentence and more efficiently.

Updated On: 9/24/04 at 03:43 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:45pm

I feel the government should stay the hell out of people's personal lives and govern the country. What ever happen to separation of church and state?

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:46pm

Must. Not. Make. Length. Joke.

Well thought out. Thank you for sharing your journey.

[morosco]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:46pm

Contemporary art sux

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:47pm

Country music isn't that bad.

(In fact, it's more like Broadway music than many other types of music, in that it almost always tells a story, or advances some micro-plot)

[Sunfish]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:51pm

SticktoPriest, but your post describes the journey...helps people to "get it". Maybe. Thank you for a beautiful piece. And from what I have seen, you are "walkin' the talk". Updated On: 9/24/04 at 03:51 PM

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:53pm

Actually I take that back.

Only male land owners should be allowed to vote.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:54pm

But they have to be white, also. Don't forget white.

[Sunfish]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:54pm

ckeaton, I agree about country music, I generally like the instrumentation better than pop music, it's the whining vocals that sets peoples' teeth on edge. It is sounding more and more like pop music, though, which isn't necessarily a good thing...exchanging whining for wailing.

Why the hell can't people just sing? WELL? Oh, maybe they CAN'T!!!

[HeartinNYC]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:55pm

I miss Times Square before the Disneyfication! I know, I know, it was full of X theaters and adult video stores. There were even some NEGATIVE things about it! Seriously, what IS it when I'm met by Pluto and Snow White when I'm in the heart of NYC?

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 3:57pm

Take heart.
Pluto and Snow White were just banging behind a dumpster.

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:00pm

Priest - something I've discussed on these boards before is the response each of us has to the experience of existence. While it is obviously a gross oversimplification, you either believe that there is a point and purpose to it all, or you don't. Given the confines of what it is that the human mind can interpret, it is entirely understandable to come to the decision that, if there IS a point, then there must be something controlling it.

What we as a species have constructed to compensate for our fear of the unknown is what we have manifested now as religion. If you call yourself a Christian, then you are accepting the story of a supreme being and his manifested 'son' Jesus - and it is obviously your perogative to do so. I myself cannot accept any of that tale on an intellectual basis, and as of yet haven't had any kind of spiritual or emotional experience to lead me to accept it on faith.

Ultimately, my only interest in all of it is that, up until today (and for the forseeable future,) humans have used these philosophies to determine the social policies that all are to be governed by. For myself, this is unacceptable.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:03pm

"Once Upon a Time" is a half-decent song.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:08pm

"Only one answer. Women Veterans from NY."

How come only the lesbians get to vote?

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:11pm

Because according to the film "Parting Glances" they're all up in their ivory towers laughing at the rest of us

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:12pm

If I had six-pack abs when I was 25, I would have had no problem having sex with men for money.

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:13pm

I never did - have 6-pack abs OR have a problem taking money.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:13pm

The notion of equality does nothing more than perpetuate mediocrity.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:15pm

Ah, FF, that is true in so many ways.

Updated On: 3/2/05 at 04:15 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:15pm

I have gas today.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:17pm

WiCkEd RuLeS!!!!

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:18pm

I think that Jesus is the only way to God.

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:21pm

Touchme - by placing the 'I think' before your statement, you've removed all the controversy

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:24pm

Dgrant. true. I'll try again.

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD.

Of course, if you don't wanna get to God, that's ok, too. You won't go to hell, and you'll still go to Heaven, you just won't meet God.

Woohoo! I am controversy!

Posted: 9/24/04 at 4:34pm

Preach it, sistah!

Given the option, I'd STILL rather spend a Sunday morning in an inner city Black Baptist church with a full choir. The lyrics may not reach me, but their spirit lifts me WAY up