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I'm becoming more religious and into the bible a lot but have some questions...

yes, even some things that Jesus says is scary to me. I think he was just a normal person that had special gifts.

I think BL is a good place to discuss these things because people aren't so easily brainwashed and neither am I

I just have for the last few years this feeling that things didn't just happen randomly. That someone has been guiding me along through my many many difficulties.

Is it possible that there is another dimension where angels exist?

I'm not the most intelligent person out there but I'm not the stupidest either so these questions are serious things i have been wondering about.

Maybe in the future we will all become more spiritual as opposed to brain washed by religion. I hope earth gets to that point one day which will be way after me. I hope it doesn't go the other way around. Like in the Muslim world. Where they take their rights away in the name of their God.

And what are the similarities b/w Judaism and Christianity? Why do Jews think they are the chosen ones? It's a good strategy to keep together and keeping together always works better for everyone in the group. This is for another discussion but I feel like Jewish people think that everyone else is a slave to them and they should rule the world. They don't want more people becoming Jewish. That's not what they are about. While the Muslims (some esp. ones with power who themselves usually don't exactly even follow the religion) are the other way around. They feel that through numbers they can rule the world. But that seems to be a disaster for the individuals who are deprived of basic rights and think its how it should be. The young generation I think is understanding the problem and fighting back to take back their lives which is great IMO. They are all intelligent beings and deserve the best of this world. I hope they can break through and win their freedom. Cuz I know the wars over there now are not about religion but about their right to a good life.

The incident where in the Middle East (Iraq?) somewhere they glued the anuses of homosexuals and then gave them laxatives so they slowly die in extreme pain has stayed with me and will always affect me and make me feel that people are mostly not good and religion is also not good. I just believe in individual freedom to be whatever you want and do whatever you want unless you are hurting others. Seriously, that incident comes into my thoughts at least several times a week. How could anyone do that to anyone fo whatever reason. How cruel is that? I guess I did smoke some ciggs during pregnancy and was on methadone which cause my baby some w/d symptoms so I'm no angel. But I think that goes beyond that. Many might argue not, but I was not in the right state of mind and addiction is such a hard thing to fight. Maybe those people were addicted to religion so bad that they had to do those things. I dunno. I could never do that to a person just cuz they choose to love the person of the same sex. Leave them alone. It's likely that they won't reproduce anyways so why hurt them so much. I feel that often people use religion as an excuse to do psychopathic shit.

My title should be change to I am becoming more spiritual because the things that have been done in the name of religion sicken me and I will never think it's ok to do that. My internal moral guide is what I trust the most.
 
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I went to Catholic school all my young life and the incident that ended my respect for religion was when the religion teacher nun said that my baby sister who wasn't baptized before she died (few hours of life she had) will go to hell. I was I think around 10 or something. After that never took anything they said seriously and understood its all BS if they think that about my sister then there has to be something wrong with the whole system.
 
yes, their system was almost perfect.
but free-thought can break-anything-down
~
with this face of fear accepted,
i fear not what man can do to or for me,
but what i can do for myself and this nature.
 
I went to Catholic school all my young life and the incident that ended my respect for religion was when the religion teacher nun said that my baby sister who wasn't baptized before she died (few hours of life she had) will go to hell. I was I think around 10 or something. After that never took anything they said seriously and understood its all BS if they think that about my sister then there has to be something wrong with the whole system.

Unfortunately, there will always be those who take the word to an extreme. If god (in whatever form you accept him) is truely so vengeful that he would cast out a baby that has been born into this world with nothing but innocence...then I would truely lose faith in all that has been taught to me. It was wrong for her to say such a thing. Before children were baptised in the time of Christ. He himself said "do not hinder the the children...let them come unto me..." and that he goes to the house of our father to make a place for us. I also struggled with religion based on all those that seemed to worship the money and showing off their clothes and cars..instead of focusing on the joy of sharing time with their family and friends.

One last thing...one of my favorite sayings is from a dear friend of mine. God rest him. "Wandering is not the same as being lost and sometimes being lost is so close to being found." No one can tell how to walk the path before you...that is your choice...follow your heart and go where you feel you are lead!
 
OK...here is what got me into this whole religion/spirituality thing is that all these people who I respect in my own life are religious. Plus all these other great people that aren't in my life for various reasons. I see that light in their eyes and that peace I want. And they are always willing to go the extra mile for me.Well, not all but someone religious/spiritual (real, not fake just for show) is more willing to be a good person than an atheist. Because they care about their spirituality and grow and nurture it inside. I want that. Not to be a crazy christian just for show. It's not how I roll anyways.

Ok, I just want to clear this up: atheists are not inherently immoral/amoral self-absorbed hedonists. That's a lie often spread by the some of more outspoken people of faith, which like the "all religious people are fundies" argument is A: generalised, and B: inaccurate. One does not need to believe in something higher than oneself in order to desire good-being.

I care about my spirituality, and grow and nurture it. I also believe that all beings are on equal footing, and that there is no "absolute authority" or father figure which sets "the" rules for being "good".

I want my life to be a good journey from now on. I did bad things and I don't want to anymore so I am holding on to any tool I have.

In the words of a very wise man, Don't Panic. Your life's journey is always whatever you are making it at this moment. So you did some things you regret. What matters now is that you care enough to not repeat those mistakes - this is what makes you a good being. Words on a page may provide you with a concrete definition, but to seek to fulfill such a definition would not be a genuine transformation.

My advice? See the goodness in yourself; that which you have already illustrated here. When you recognise it for the beacon of light it truly is, then you will see that not only it is the light you see in the eyes of others, but that the same light already shines in your own eyes.

May joy, wonder and positivity prosper in the life you cultivate.
 
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Ok, I just want to clear this up: atheists are not inherently immoral/amoral self-absorbed hedonists. That's a lie often spread by the some of more outspoken people of faith, which like the "all religious people are fundies" argument is A: generalised, and B: inaccurate. One does not need to believe in something higher than oneself in order to desire good-being.

Dude, I was atheist most of my life...or agnostic or in b/w or one or the other.

I know these things.

I just said that being atheist or agnostic is not enough for me. Not that its bad. I just want more.

I'm at a stage in my life where I think some religion would do me good.
 
Do people have some good reading from the bible? Like for example a gift I got in my BL inbox this morning:

Matthew 7:7-12
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
 
Behold the beauty of Koheleth (a.k.a. Ecclesiastes) - my favourite of the whole bible:

Koheleth 3 said:
3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

3:12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.


3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

This book seriously looks like apocrypha that had been overlooked and somehow made it through. It has more wisdom in it than the entire bible altogether, if you ask me...
 
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why is most of the world religious, as opposed to the other ways around?
about theists religions
religions were invented as an answer to things humans couldn't explain

what is thunder?
it's zeus being angry

what is the sun?
it's the god ra

why are we here?
god created us to revere him

etc.

then religions gained authority
some individuals started to pretend (/believe themselves) that they had a special relation with the gods
they kept their authority through fear, guilt, and so on

most people are taught a religion since birth
they are taught not to question it
and they pass the lie on to the next generation

science arrived and explained many things that used to be attributed to the gods
so religion was proven wrong on many aspects
and although there are still as many unanswered questions, people start to realise that if so much of what religions say has been proven false, there is no logic in thinking that what it left is true

but that's just a very recent development in the history of man
you didn't find many atheists 100 years ago
so many people with less access to information or less will to put their beliefs back into question still cling to the lies they were taught
 
Thank God for science, I just wish the two weren't so divided. I feel that some religions are afraid of science because they feel that science will take away people's need for faith.

I think people will always need faith. Wasn't there like a study done that people poses a God gene that makes them feel the need to believe in something like a God?

I'm optimistic for the future. If we don't destroy ourselves environmentally then in a few hundred years we have a chance to make a world where science goes hand in hand with religion and faith. Where we aren't like we are now but less divided.

Unless something like in "Idiocracy" happens. That would be tragic. The movie is hilarious but sadly a possibility.
 
Thank God for science, I just wish the two weren't so divided.
No... thank humankind for science... and religion.

I feel that some religions are afraid of science because they feel that science will take away people's need for faith.
There is no world religion today that is afraid of science... only people are afraid of science.

I think people will always need faith. Wasn't there like a study done that people poses a God gene that makes them feel the need to believe in something like a God?

That's utterly ridiculous imo. Having faith in a god has more to do with being uncomfortable with uncertainty than it is with genetics.

I'm optimistic for the future. If we don't destroy ourselves environmentally then in a few hundred years we have a chance to make a world where science goes hand in hand with religion and faith. Where we aren't like we are now but less divided.

Have you been paying attention to quantum physics? Plenty of the less refined theoretical physicists conflate some aspects of quantum mechanics with some sort of "magic in the sky" effect. I would hardly call the world divided... ever since the Enlightenment, "science" has absolutely dominated religion in being the authoritative source of knowledge of the world.

Unless something like in "Idiocracy" happens. That would be tragic. The movie is hilarious but sadly a possibility.

Yeah... I'm afraid of that too.
 
That's utterly ridiculous imo. Having faith in a god has more to do with being uncomfortable with uncertainty than it is with genetics.

While I agree that it has little to do with genetics, I disagree that actual faith has to do with being uncomfortable with uncertainty--to me, it seems like being comfortable with uncertainty is the definition of faith (in the Christian sense, at least.)
 
^Well, one generally patches up uncertainty with faith. It is true that atheists utilize a similar thinking process, by countering the uncertainty with disbelief in theism. Yet, if one is comfortable with being uncertain of the existence of Emanation/creation or not than they will generally not have faith in either.
 
I don't know about science being the authority in religion. Depending which one you're talking about maybe. In most religions possibly. But that convo can get muddy.

Kinda feels to me like religion is feeling "comfortable with certainty" as much as uncertainty. You have complete faith in God, you are certain God exists but at the same time you have no proof, can't do a study on it. I have a friend who is very religious and we talked a lot. When she couldn't answer with logic she said she just knew God existed. As much as her body and external world existed. She's a good person, went to school with me. Very logical and smart. So it just always amazed me, how much she believed in the existence of God when I never had a drop of that faith.

No... thank humankind for science... and religion.
Kind of meant it like that anyways. Like when someone says oh "thank god" I made the train on time today. Are they really thanking God or just feel lucky? Forgot what that word for it was and didn't put it in parenthesis. I got excuses...I'm slow and English is not my primary language.
 
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you can't put a science, or religion on your own spirituaity.
you gotta find it urself bud, or else its pointless.
 
I don't know about science being the authority in religion. Depending which one you're talking about maybe. In most religions possibly. But that convo can get muddy.

This seems a very odd way to phrase things, science is not the authority in religion just as much as religion is not the authority in science. Religion, and science are two separate. categories of thought that man has designed to further his knowledge of the world around him, and the world within him. I feel the two compliment each other.
 
my hope in this case would be for a scientific view/analysis of religion...heh.

science and 'spirituality sound much more complimentary of each other. i could not imagine spirituality to be conceptualized very far with-out our understanding of 'science&mathematics' as a catalyst and fuel.
at the same time, i feel the beliefs that brought one to a 'spiritual-plane' will be dissembled - and maybe the true nature, and further-more the nature of accepted science&mathematics and self would be redefined-if one allows it so.


... or did you mean not to draw a distinction between the 2 OP.?
 
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