The Official What Do YOU Believe?

SquashNut · #81 12/16/10, 03:29 PM

I believe, that God is in all of us. That he works through us. That even is you don't believe there is a god, you should strive to have the best morals you can find it in your heart to have.
That the real church is in side you, and is not made of bricks and mortor.

salmonslayer · #82 12/16/10, 04:39 PM

I was raised as an am a Deist. To keep it simple, I believe there is a higher power but that man has no special standing and that god does not interfere with the natural laws he created. We dont believe in miracles, destiny, prophecies, holy books etc and do not have houses of worship. We believe you become closer to god by observing nature and how it works and respecting what he created.

I am not a Christian in that I do not believe Jesus is the son of god but I do believe he existed and most Deists are accepting of organized religions as important in organizing civilzed society even though they reject the concept of the chosen or saved, heaven, hell etc.

Basically we believe in evolution, science and that what happens on earth is due to the natural laws established by god and that god does not interfere with that process.

Paumon · #83 12/16/10, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kung

I do want to point something out, however. (And I realize this isn't a scientific poll, but it's about as close to objective as we'll get here.

)

People are always complaining about how 'right-wing' or 'Christian' or such this board is. I went through the thread and counted up the Christians, and then the nonChristians.

There's about 11 or 12 Christians participating in this thread; and about 15 or so nonChristians.

I think what's probably significant about that is that there may be a few more non-Christians on the board than most people realize. Christians are much more vocal in expounding about their religion than non-Christians and some of the non-Christians who might normally avoid posting in such a topic are being encouraged to participate, are not feeling threatened by the usual risk of being bashed or argued with, so they're feeling comfortable about opening up about their beliefs this time. It's been made very plain that arguing and disagreements will not be tolerated in this thread and people are abiding by that. I know I find that more encouraging for me to open up (I'm a non-Christian). I think the conversation is going along swimmingly for a GC topic about religion/non-religion that would usually have gone downhill rapidly by now.

Perhaps if an anonymous poll were taken there'd be a better idea of how many Christians vs. non-Christians there really are on the board.

beccachow · #84 12/16/10, 05:48 PM

REMINDER: This was a nice thread, where EVERYONE could state what they believe. That was the deal: no debating for the purpose of proving something, no bashing, etc. I was having a great time reading this, go out for a bit, come back and all the kids have been smacking each other and need a time out.

Seriously: If you cannot resist bashing, TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. The deal was, a few posts would be deleted, then the whole thread would have to go bye bye. Guess where we are now?

Please keep this civil. This isn't the place to try to prove your point. Please don't wreck this for those of us who are enjoying it.

I was going to ask what the difference is between paganism and wicca(n?), as I know they both have respect of nature as the central force, or am I mistaken in that?

Paumon · #85 12/16/10, 05:55 PM

What Salmonslayer said here pretty much sums up my own beliefs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by salmonslayer

I was raised as an am a Deist. To keep it simple, I believe there is a higher power but that man has no special standing and that god does not interfere with the natural laws he created. We dont believe in miracles, destiny, prophecies, holy books etc and do not have houses of worship. We believe you become closer to god by observing nature and how it works and respecting what he created.

I am not a Christian in that I do not believe Jesus is the son of god but I do believe he existed and most Deists are accepting of organized religions as important in organizing civilzed society even though they reject the concept of the chosen or saved, heaven, hell etc.

Basically we believe in evolution, science and that what happens on earth is due to the natural laws established by god and that god does not interfere with that process.

jim/se kansas · #86 12/16/10, 06:45 PM

It's not about religion, it's about relationship. I can be as close to God down at the barn with my cows, goats and chickens as I am at church. Jesus loved people right where they were at. Believer or non-believer. Enough said, Pastor Jim

DENALI · #87 12/16/10, 07:03 PM

I truly hope there is a God and all is right in the end. But until he himself presents himself to me and kicks me in the cashews thus providing positive evidence to me directly i cant say i believe or disbelieve. However having said that i believe that no other form, faction, fact or fiction has caused more war, death, grief or civil unrest throughout history than religion or inflicted by those in the name of religion.

chickenista · #88 12/16/10, 07:07 PM

Religion is a man made structure.
It started as a way to explain the then unexplainable.. lightning, floods, deaths..
And it became ritualized. Even rats will ritualize the arrival of food in a cage and repeat the sequence repeatedly in hopes of a food reward.
Then someone in the tribe was given the role as priest or shaman and took power over the rest of the tribe and their daily rituals.
Then folks began living in groups and civilizations. More people and more control needed. There were no secular laws, only religious laws. Temples were built and the priests and shamans gained more power and became leaders of the people chosen by the god of their choice. It became a family thing passed down for generations.
When new lands and resources were taken over, the most important action was to outlaw that group's religion. If you take the basis for a culture from a people and force them to accept a new identity you weaken them and then meld them with your own.

Religion has been power since it's very beginning. It has shaped our entire world. Wars, genocides, atrocities against other tribes, groups of people within a culture etc.. if you believed that the earth revolved around the sun, you were imprisoned or killed. If you tried to cover your face and clean your hands while dealing with plague bodies you were defying religion and proving you had no faith in the power of god. A dissenting thought is a threat to the power that is held by religious leaders and appropriate actions are taken to ensure the stability of a culture and a people.

Even today our nation is forced to live by religious beliefs from 1,500 years ago (or so)
Many of our laws are religion based. DADT. Abortion. Death with dignity. Gay marriage.
All of these issues are met with quoted scripture as the main argument why they should not be allowed. I am controlled by religious laws even to this day. If I become terminally ill I am not allowed to end my suffering because of religious law. My dear friends would not be able to visit their partners in ICU at the time of great pain because of religious law. They cannot keep shared property upon the death of their partner because they are not next of kin thought they have shared everything for 40 years. It is religious law.
Religion is power and control of the peoples.

zant · #89 12/16/10, 07:58 PM

I believe in a superior being-GOD....I don't believe in organized religion....I believe in my own moral code of right and wrong,I live my life according to my code,if others don't like it-I don't give a flying.Don't try to force your beliefs,morals or laws on me and we'll get along fine.

pancho · #90 12/16/10, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenista

Religion is a man made structure.
It started as a way to explain the then unexplainable.. lightning, floods, deaths..
And it became ritualized. Even rats will ritualize the arrival of food in a cage and repeat the sequence repeatedly in hopes of a food reward.
Then someone in the tribe was given the role as priest or shaman and took power over the rest of the tribe and their daily rituals.
Then folks began living in groups and civilizations. More people and more control needed. There were no secular laws, only religious laws. Temples were built and the priests and shamans gained more power and became leaders of the people chosen by the god of their choice. It became a family thing passed down for generations.
When new lands and resources were taken over, the most important action was to outlaw that group's religion. If you take the basis for a culture from a people and force them to accept a new identity you weaken them and then meld them with your own.

Religion has been power since it's very beginning. It has shaped our entire world. Wars, genocides, atrocities against other tribes, groups of people within a culture etc.. if you believed that the earth revolved around the sun, you were imprisoned or killed. If you tried to cover your face and clean your hands while dealing with plague bodies you were defying religion and proving you had no faith in the power of god. A dissenting thought is a threat to the power that is held by religious leaders and appropriate actions are taken to ensure the stability of a culture and a people.

Even today our nation is forced to live by religious beliefs from 1,500 years ago (or so)
Many of our laws are religion based. DADT. Abortion. Death with dignity. Gay marriage.
All of these issues are met with quoted scripture as the main argument why they should not be allowed. I am controlled by religious laws even to this day. If I become terminally ill I am not allowed to end my suffering because of religious law. My dear friends would not be able to visit their partners in ICU at the time of great pain because of religious law. They cannot keep shared property upon the death of their partner because they are not next of kin thought they have shared everything for 40 years. It is religious law.
Religion is power and control of the peoples.

Thank you. That is a very good explanation.

**Tiempo** · #91 12/16/10, 08:22 PM

I simply don't believe in any deity, higher power..whatever anyone chooses to call it. I firmly believe we are the here and now and only that, and that is not only fine, but wonderful.

I spent six years in a Methodist school, but even as a child, the teachings just never spoke to me, they just seemed like (sometimes) interesting stories.

I guess my personal philosophies most closely relate to Buddhism/Taoism, but I don't practice as I don't believe in reincarnation etc...

glazed · #92 12/16/10, 08:33 PM

I believe the entire Bible - the Old and New combined as a whole - is the inspired Word of God.

I believe we should prove ... put to the test ... all things, and hold fast to that which is good.

I also believe there are ways which seem right to man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.

Quite simply, I believe.

doohap · #93 12/16/10, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama Crow

I believe the entire Bible - the Old and New combined as a whole - is the inspired Word of God.

I believe we should prove ... put to the test ... all things, and hold fast to that which is good.

I also believe there are ways which seem right to man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.

Quite simply, I believe.

Amen! Thanks for posting this, Mama Crow!

SpaceCadet12364 · #94 12/16/10, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haggis

...but I rather fancy myself a Frisbitarian. We don't go to a heaven or h**l, we just get thrown up on the roof and can't get down."

doohap · #95 12/16/10, 09:21 PM

Here's a really good video about what I believe.

glazed · #96 12/16/10, 09:45 PM

You're welcome, doohap.

naturelover · #97 12/16/10, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccachow

I was going to ask what the difference is between paganism and wicca(n?), as I know they both have respect of nature as the central force, or am I mistaken in that?

Wicca is a pagan religion. "Pagan" is just a blanket term for any religions that are not of the three mainstream religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity (the 3 sects who worship the god of Abraham). Some pagan religions are focused around veneration of nature but not all of them are.

.

rio002 · #98 12/16/10, 10:47 PM

Paumon--You're exactly right. Normally, when I see a thread regarding any religion subject, I'll read them but won't post because I don't feel like I need to "prove" anything and like everyone else, I really can do without being bashed around. But this thread, with the rules laid out, makes it possible for an actual mature, reasonable discussion to take place, which has been a lovely change when dealing with a sensitive subject as beliefs.

Shygal · #99 12/16/10, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenista

Even today our nation is forced to live by religious beliefs from 1,500 years ago (or so)
Many of our laws are religion based. DADT. Abortion. Death with dignity. Gay marriage.
All of these issues are met with quoted scripture as the main argument why they should not be allowed. I am controlled by religious laws even to this day. If I become terminally ill I am not allowed to end my suffering because of religious law. My dear friends would not be able to visit their partners in ICU at the time of great pain because of religious law. They cannot keep shared property upon the death of their partner because they are not next of kin thought they have shared everything for 40 years. It is religious law.
Religion is power and control of the peoples.

not religious beliefs and laws - Judeo/Christian beliefs and laws. If it were pagan beliefs, none of those things would be illegal.

beccachow · #**100** 12/16/10, 10:55 PM

thank you Nature Lover, I did NOT even realise that paganism covered a large group od sub-beliefs. I thought it was one to itself. So the Druids were Pagan, but Druid(ism?) was their actual religion?

Thank you all for coming back on track.