Civil Discussion About Religion

Matty will love this... I quote the great band 311 and their song "Seems Uncertain":

Your denomination
Should be a private thing.
How about a spirit
For all human beings?

How could something well guided
Turn out to be divisive?
Mostly wondering
It seems uncertain.

Nice! Perfect way to sum things up. Great song too.

I believe that I am the Creator but I must have hit my head on some celestial body and gotten some form of amnesia that caused me to forget how to be the Alpha and Omega. One day I fully expect to remember how to do the things I used to do like seperate Night and Day, Heaven and Earth and rip a rib out of a man to make a woman.

Oh, I go to a Catholic Mass service with my wife's family at 8:30 and my own Methodist church at 11:00 every Sunday.

I believe there is an ever-watchful but non-interfering God and I believe that a man named Jesus died for our sins. I'm still open minded about his "son of God" status, though. The idea of self-sacrifice for the good of the group weighs heavily in a lot of my decision making processes. Do unto others as you have them do unto you is another big one for me as well.

There were quite a few questions put forth in this topic so it's kinda hard to address them all. I personally don't like the term "religion" because over time it has developed into more of a negative term. I mean, you can be religious about pretty much anything. I believe I have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I was born into a strong Christian family and church has always been apart of my life. I grew up in and still am apart of the Pentecostal denomination. It's what works for me, because I enjoy having more of a freedom in worship than what most other denominations offer. It's a shame that churches get too caught up in the details of their particular beliefs because as Christians, we all pretty much believe in the same thing at the end of the day.

One thing I have learned is that you can't force people to believe as you do. Quoting scriptures left and right to someone usually doesn't get much results. The Bible says that each person has to work out their own salvation. I believe my greatest witness is for me to live my life in front of others as Christ did. People watch your actions much more than they listen to your words. Sometimes I still struggle with issues, but it's comforting for me to know that God is gracious and merciful and He offers forgiveness when I fall. I have been blessed beyond measure with a wonderful husband and family, great friends and an awesome pastor and church I can count on. I couldn't ask for more.

I really don't see how some people could believe in evolution. If you actually think about it, the theory says that people formed from rocks if you go all the way back to the beginning of it. Life is too complex to be made by accident.

The big bang is also pretty far-fetched. The first law of thermodynamics is that matter can not be created or destroyed, but matter would have had to have been created for the big bang theory to be true.

My mother grew up Catholic, and when I was young I went to Catholic church. As I got older I went to a few other churches, including Baptist, Episcopalian, and Morman. The entire time, I was Athiest and I didn't involve myself much in the church. I always thought that Faith was a noble thing, and that organized religions sought to make an industry of it. So, I pretty much ignored all organized religion on the basis that it was a profit industry.

When I got to college I started to learn the different religions of the world. I have studied Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Shinto, Ba'hai, blah, blah, etc. However, all from a student perspective -- not from a spiritual perspective. The best thing I learned from my studies was a proper definition of religion: Human transformation in response to perceived ultimacy. Once I applied this definition to religion, I was able to see that everything or anything can be a religion -- as long as it's something you perceive as ultimate. I realized that I perceived science as ultimate, and that my transformation in response to that perception was my religion.

Throughout my life, I became overwhelmed with the guilt of my sins and was strongly compelled to pray and repent. It helps during times of despair, and I value prayer. However, I wouldn't say that I pray TO anyone/anything, or that I pray FOR someone/something -- I pray to relieve my guilt, and nothing else. It's really kinda selfish.

Throughout my spiritual journey I have come to one conclusion: the details aren't important. Most religions are centered around details. For example: is there a God? What happens after death? Who is the prophet? How did we receive God's word? I don't think the answers to these questions are important. Yet, it seems most people seek religion based on those answers. It all seems so very illusory.

I am truly torn when it comes to religion and science. However, when I try to comprehend our universe it all seems so fantastical. I think, "here we are on this gigantic rock, spinning, and orbiting a massive fire ball." I think about our solar system, and the galaxies. I think about the billions upon billions of stars. Then I stop to think about what our universe is in. And what is THAT in? And so on, and so on -- it could never stop. So, the only way for me to make sense of it, is to say that it's not real -- it can't be, because it's just too unreal.

it would take a long time to write down all the things i have to say on this subject, therefore, i'll give just what i believe.

i believe god created everything, including man
i believe adam and eve sinned
i believe every person is born a sinner because they have the "blood of adam", tainted blood from their earthly father.
i believe jesus was born of a virgin, therefore not having the "blood of adam"
i believe jesus willingly laid his life down for you and me
i believe jesus is the only way to heaven
i believe by admitting your a sinner and asking jesus to come into your life and be your personal lord and savior, you go to heaven
i believe that jesus was god come in the flesh
i believe in god the father, god the son and god the holy spirit


i was 22 years old when i (got saved) asked god to be my personal lord and savior. my life truly has been better ever since. god has blessed me so much more than i deserve.

Almost every religion has ties to another one and stories that re more then alike so in my opinion they are all the same with only a few differences.

IMO there is a god up there but there is no need to go to chrch becuase they are conforming somthing that cant be conformed. People should not be able to tell others what to believe. Yes i would say im christian but that is to say I only believe in one god and to get to heaven you just have to live your life the best you can.

Matty will love this... I quote the great band 311 and their song "Seems Uncertain":

Your denomination
Should be a private thing.
How about a spirit
For all human beings?

How could something well guided
Turn out to be divisive?
Mostly wondering
It seems uncertain.
311 is my favorite band

p.s. im drunk

Jsarno gets my vote for warpath governer!

I was born and raised Catholic. but like Robh, I've kinda seperated myself from religion.

I still have faith, Just not in humans. :(

btw, Wolfeskins post was well written and informative, I never knew why we were born with sin, Then right after reading it, I read his Signature and laughed out loud.