EADD Theology Megathread

[Shambles]

Is a bit naff but that's the whole point of liberal Christianity, no?

I mentioned the church thing cos you and Raas have been talking about finding a god in your darkest hours. Well, I tried that too a few times. The church thing was when I was at one of the lowest ebbs I've ever been at. Was before I was posting here so had nobody to talk to, was ragged and raw from self-harm scabs, borderline suicidal and utterly desperate. So desperate I put aside all my atheistic principles and prayed. Actually prayed. And to the Christian god at that. Obviously immediate relief wasn't happening so dragged my sorry arse from church to church more desparate to talk to somebody - anybody - than I've ever been. But there was nobody. Cos there is nobody and there is nothing out there. Just other people in varying states of mind is all. People are the only hope there is. Yourself and other flesh and blood people. And even they close the doors sometimes. Just you alone is all ultimately. Is kinda empowering when you accept that actually. I recommend it

 

[NightsEpiphany]

Is a bit naff but that's the whole point of liberal Christianity, no?

no lol .

Actually I speculate far too much. So maybe yeah it is naff if I make statements about God that are not corroborated

'vain imaginings' I think its called in proverbs

 

[Shambles]

Actually I speculate far too much. So maybe yeah it is naff if I make statements about God that are not corroborated

That would suggest there are statements about "God" (or any gods actually) that are corroborated :D

Find one: I doubledogdare ya

 

[NightsEpiphany]

callin me a dog!!!??? you spiteful, nasty, man!! doubly n'all!!!!!

corroborated by scriptures.

ED: not that you are a spiteful nasty man lol.

 

[Shambles]

Ah yes. But find me a scripture that corroborates a god rather than just the general assertion of there being any god(s)

Doubledaw... actually forget the dares - too easily misread

 

[Raasyvibe]

^^^ 6.34am! Do you guys ever sleep!?

Especially the Christain deity who is a monster. Evil personified. I loathe and detest the very idea of such a being. It demeans humanity and makes me sad that such imaginary creatures can cause so much horror in the world.

Oh Shammy....Wammy...lammy....

Just look in the mirror, say exactly the reverse of everything you just said.

Raas.. sorry i've confused a few people with the name change. I had a password head spin. I was signing off yella or jess for a while. Perhaps i'll do it for a bit longer ( if I remember)

So no i'm not another Christian. Plenty of people would argue with that title though raas I've just joined a new church after not going for several years.. I hope they are not too hard on me. Its Anglican high church (a lot of oldies ) so if theres any judgin i'll nick their biscuits or hide their zimmers.

I'm only joking.. they seem like really lovely people and the services really lift me. I have been to churches that are quite reactionary though... v stuck in their ways they are not right for me and I wouldn't be right for them.

Do you go to church atm Raas?

Jess

At the age of 21 God came into my life. What I had learnt from life experience opened me up to accepting God. A host of religious experiences ensued to ensure I was a Christian for life.

Believing or disbelieving in God was no longer an issue. I knew of God now. I considered myself a very fortunate person, as many scientists, theologians, and professionals didn't know what I knew.

In respect of this, I went straight to church. It was awkward yes. They were all oldies, and not many of them. But i always felt fresh after church attendance, I felt good in my soul.

I felt my attendance was important. Some of the preachers had really great things to say, and it was such a shame so few people were there to hear their words. Especially young people. The elder members of the church have probably heard it all before, and don't really need to learn... but for a young person trying to grasp spirituality in the world, it made their work more fulfilling for them.
...

 

[Cornishman]

RE physics....

Physics nor religion can neither prove nor disprove god, but at least physics can prove something.

 

[Pagey]

Shambles I really agree with everything you've said. I haven't read through many of the posts here so I'm probably not gonna be contributing to the conversation that much but I just want to give my 2 cents -
I've never been religious (and am not, certainly don't plan on ever becoming so) but I guess what I believe in is the idea that we've all got a reason to be here. I used to be quite negative about everything and think that really, what was the point of life if it was all just going to end in a few decades, or sooner - and then what, I'd end up buried a few feet below the ground or scattered on a field or something, and a few years later no one would remember me. I definitely don't believe in any kind of afterlife.
The turning point for me was around my first suicide attempt. I think the fact that it didn't succeed when in all logic, it should have, made me have this consuming need to find a reason for my existence - because there had to be a reason for me to have survived what would have killed anyone, there just had to be. I know it sounds a bit stupid but it became an obsession for me in the weeks after that. I needed to find a goal in my life and something to offer the world or I just felt like I shouldn't be a part of it.
This is actually something hardly anyone in my 'real' life knows but that's one of the reasons Led Zeppelin is so important to me. I would just sit in my bed listening to their stuff over and over again and for a while that's the only thing that made me feel alive and made me feel like there was something worth living for - so I decided that my goal and reason to be in this world would be to be able to make at least one other person out there feel like LZ had made me feel. And since I'm a bit shit at music I decided I'd do it through writing since my dream was always to become an author anyway. It was very life-affirming to give myself a reason to be here, honestly, and it was just extra motivation to pursue something I probably would've done a bit half-heartedly otherwise - and hey, a bit under a year later I've finished my first novel.

I guess this doesn't have that much to do with theology but as Shambles mentioned, I like to think I can rely on myself, and only myself, without any superior being looking over my shoulder or controlling my actions. I've given my life a meaning on my own - I guess it's a religious meaning in its own right - and honestly I think that's the most important thing. And I'd tell anyone in trouble to do the same

 

[Ceres]

why do bees exist?

 

[NightsEpiphany]

1, they make honey.

2, they pollinate flowers.(v important)

3 they are beautiful and furry. esp bumbles.


are they enough answers? I think a few years ago the bee population decreased and environ mentalists went mental.
They play an important role in ecology. I'm curious now..i'm going to google 'why do we need bees'.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/banrock-station/importance-of-bees

 

[Pagey]

why do bees exist?

NSFW:

 

[laugh]

religion lol. we each have a brain, use the fucking thing, dickheads! xx

 

[Raasyvibe]

I like to think I can rely on myself, and only myself, without any superior being looking over my shoulder or controlling my actions. I've given my life a meaning on my own - I guess it's a religious meaning in its own right - and honestly I think that's the most important thing. And I'd tell anyone in trouble to do the same

Well if it wasn't for the superior looking after you, you should have been dead years ago.

God isn't there to strip one of indepenedence. Just to help where need be... we're fallible beings so need the odd aid here and there...but generally discovery is a personal thing.

religion lol. we each have a brain, use the fucking thing, dickheads! xx

Damn. I've never questioned my faith until reading this...

Spent my whole life studying theology, felt i've had many religious experiences and found great meaning in my life. And then someone comes out with this...

use the fucking thing.... dickhead..... it's all making sense.........

 

[Shambles]

Well if it wasn't for the superior looking after you, you should have been dead years ago.

So people who attempt suicide successfully are the ones this "superior" being doesn't give a shit about then presumably, yes?

 

[Ceres]

what is gods opinion on intellectual property theft and the DMCA?


does the pope approve of piracy?

is it wrong to reverse engineer humans?

will god be pissed off if we understand how we work?

 

[Shambles]

why do wasps exist?

Fix'd.

Whilst we're at it... Why does the malaria parasite exist? Why do tapeworms exist? Why do parasites in general exist? What about toxic moulds and fungi - like that freaky one that "zombifies" ants, takes control of their nervous systems then feeds on 'em from the inside? Or the barnacle that does similar things to crabs? What about the ebola virus? Or the aids virus? In fact horrendous virii in general? Why is nature so vile and brutal? Why is all this suffering and death necessary? Is god(s) just a sadistic, twisted fuck or - more likely - is it just that there are no gods to give a shit one way or t'other?

 

[Pagey]

Well if it wasn't for the superior looking after you, you should have been dead years ago.

God isn't there to strip one of indepenedence. Just to help where need be... we're fallible beings so need the odd aid here and there...but generally discovery is a personal thing.

No, I'm alive because of luck or, on other occasions, presence of mind. My accomplishments are just that, my accomplishments that I've succeeded at without the help of anyone or anything else, as are my failures. I don't believe there's a God nor do I want there to be one. You're completely entitled to your own opinion regarding that but God just...isn't my thing

 

[Raasyvibe]

So people who attempt suicide successfully are the ones this "superior" being doesn't give a shit about then presumably, yes

Never implied that mysef. I was speaking hypothetically for the sake of Pagey's response.

. I don't believe there's a God nor do I want there to be one. You're completely entitled to your own opinion regarding that but God just...isn't my thing

Well, in your original post you said

The turning point for me was around my first suicide attempt. I think the fact that it didn't succeed when in all logic, it should have, made me have this consuming need to find a reason for my existence - because there had to be a reason for me to have survived what would have killed anyone, there just had to be.

Sorry but when you say "there's a reason" you survived, when it should have killed you, it does read as if you are referring to a providence.

If you believe you're here for a "reason", someone must have given you that reason. And that can only be God?

If God doesn't exist and there's no life after death... surely there's no "reason" behind your existance. It's just a matter of chance and you may as well fill it with fun while you're still here?

 

[Pagey]

Never implied that mysef. I was speaking hypothetically for the sake of Pagey's response.


Well, in your original post you said




Sorry but when you say "there's a reason" you survived, when it should have killed you, it does read as if you are referring to a providence.

If you believe you're here for a "reason", someone must have given you that reason. And that can only be God?

If God doesn't exist and there's no life after death... surely there's no "reason" behind your existance. It's just a matter of chance and you may as well fill it with fun while you're still here?

Fair enough if it reads that way, but I didnt mean it that way. My bad then.
As I said, I believe there's a reason for us to be here, I don't really explain it but I certainly don't attribute it to God. I think there's something else out there, but it's not a God and it's got nothing to do with any kind of religion I've looked into so far. More of a parallel world type thingy - well that makes it sound kinda dumb but I've actually looked into it a lot and I'd love to explain it in more depth however I don't really have time tonight. Just wanted to clarify real quick.

 

[NightsEpiphany]

^^^ 6.34am! Do you guys ever sleep!?



Oh Shammy....Wammy...lammy....

Just look in the mirror, say exactly the reverse of everything you just said.



At the age of 21 God came into my life. What I had learnt from life experience opened me up to accepting God. A host of religious experiences ensued to ensure I was a Christian for life.

Believing or disbelieving in God was no longer an issue. I knew of God now. I considered myself a very fortunate person, as many scientists, theologians, and professionals didn't know what I knew.

In respect of this, I went straight to church. It was awkward yes. They were all oldies, and not many of them. But i always felt fresh after church attendance, I felt good in my soul.

I felt my attendance was important. Some of the preachers had really great things to say, and it was such a shame so few people were there to hear their words. Especially young people. The elder members of the church have probably heard it all before, and don't really need to learn... but for a young person trying to grasp spirituality in the world, it made their work more fulfilling for them.
...

I know what you mean about coming out of church and feeling refreshed. I've felt that in many different churches but I'm drawn towards churches that have a liturgy at the moment.. I love the Eucharist and the process that we go through before we take it.. eg a ritual of repentence ( saying sorry basically)... When I mean it and have faith that I am receiving His body, Blood and forgiveness. I feel so grateful ..and new. I think thats why I sometimes come out of church feeling alive and energised like you said.
Ed: This doesn't always happen.. sometimes I'm not focussed.. there's no faith and the Eucharist is just a wafer and a sip of cheap wine. But lately I've felt super aware of my sin.. the things I do or dont do that are nowhere near christ like..more devilish Like vanity, bitchyness, lazyness, pride. But I know I have mercy.. I can just ask for forgiveness in prayer if I' truely regret something I've done or said and know that He's with me and still loves me regardless of the mistakes I make.

But theres something about that process thats magical..ineffable.