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I've never been to church in my life before I dated this guy Michael. (well... actually I went after homecoming with my friends)
but anyways... my boyfriend wanted to take me to church. and this is like.. 10 months ago. anyways. I went... and I liked it... I loved going to church.. but I didnt believe in god... everything seemed so far fetched...
I dont believe that were are children of god. but I dont know if we came from monkeys...
its all biological. I dont believe everything happens for a reason...
and like... I've read questions like "im pregant at 14... what do I do" and people will say "god put that baby on the world for a reason"
pssh. no he didnt. its biological. sperm reaches an egg... what does that have to do with god?
and if everyone was put here by god. there wouldnt be artificial insemination.
right?
so im Athiest. and have been my whole life... but now im dating another christian dude... how can people believe that theres a heaven and hell?
where the hell are they?
there clouds.. then there space.. millions of millions of miles of space... no one knows whats beyond it... but I dont believe theres heaven. then wheres hell?
if there was a god. there wouldnt be cancer. unless he loves to see us cry when we lose someone.
should I believe in god?
somthing tells me im going to need to be tied up to a chair in a closet with a priest shoving bible stuff down my throat... I just dont understand...
please help me.. I have no idea whats going to happen with me..
should I believe?
I haven't believed in God since I was 12.
I know that at times I felt like I was the only atheist on earth. When I was in high school the only atheist I ever heard of was Madelyn Murray O'Hair and everyone I knew hated her. I thought atheists were perhaps one in a million.
In college I stumbled upon the atheist and freethought section in the library and was amazed at the length and breadth of atheism, rationalism, and freethought. I had no idea that unbelievers had such a long and interesting intellectual tradition.
Instead of non-believers being one in a million like I used to think there are closer to one in 10.
It is good to learn about religion, I find myself inspired by a lot of relgious teachings. I actually wanted to become a Quaker at one point and join the Baha'I church at another because I like their teachings so much. Then it came down to the God thing. As attractive as I find these churches' teachings I just don't believe in God. The last several years I've been studying Eastern religions more. It is very hard for Westerners to wrap their minds around Eastern ways of thinking but I think that doing so can help you open your horizons.
I think it is interesting the way Joseph Campbell looks at religion. He sees religion like an operating system for your mind. When you change religions you change your OS. there are multiple operating systems that work and offer various features.
I do think people talk themselves into believing a religion that appeals to them. Like I mentioned, I felt drawn to the Religious Society of Friends and the Baha'I church at different times in my life. It wasn't that I believed in them but I wanted to believe in them. I never could quite talk myself into it though. Had I become a Quaker or Baha'I it would have changed the way I viewed the world. It would have changed my operating system so to speak. Once I was a believer I would have sought out anything that supported my viewpoint and avoided anything that went against it; such is the behavior of believers.
religion is a very complicated matter when looked at the way you are looking (no offense). you have to pick a religion and start learning about the small basic facts, principles and beliefs of that religion. you can't start with debating whether of not there is heaven and hell, and if so where those might be located. that's a HUGE bite. start with learning about the principle of faith, charity, the savior...that sort of thing. get to know a religion before you start asking all of those complicated questions. if you don't, they'll never make sense to you...let alone will you have any chances of believing it.
rickd: First, you mistake my meaning of "stands on its own". I was addressing sillygirl006's claim that before you can ask "all those complicated questions", you must "pick a religion" and "understand" it. There's no reason that should be the case for such basic question as "where did the universe come from" or "does the god you talk about exist?"
Second, even if that was a valid claim, something can be necessary but not sufficient. Eg, just because something "stands alone" doesn't necesarially mean it's "logically sound" - it can be merely one of many criteria.
A better question might be can you believe. It's hard for someone who realizes it's all a bunch of BS to brainwash themselves into believing it, but not impossible.
If you want to believe, then do what believers do; go to church regularly, pray daily, read from holy books and anything that confirms the faith while simultaneously shielding yourself from any undermining ideas.
Should you believe? I don't think so, but if you want to, use the above formula. After a few years, you'll probably start to actually believe it all.
the only reason I dont take other religions to mind. is because I cant believe there is any greater form or creator. the only religion I've been confronted with is christianity.
because. this is what makes me think its a crock. but then again. I never read very far into the bible because I thought it made no sense. so if its different... lemme know..
anyways...
it was just adam and eve... so doesnt that mean, that were all related to eachother and were all incest?
to me.. none makes sense
You're right. There's absolutely no reason to believe in god, let alone any particular religion's god. And as you point out, pretty much every religion seems ridiculous when you look at it from the outside.
Stick with what you can rationally defend (atheism or agnosticism). Be open to new arguments for or against your point of view. Tell others what you believe (or don't) if they ask, but don't push your views down their throats any more than you'd want theirs down yours. :)
...seriously? NEITHER.
It's hilarious how there are only TWO possibilities in your mind. Some christians can come across as so unbelievably stupid. They can't even acknowledge that there are OTHER religions out there, that are JUST AS LIKELY to be right.
A simple brain-challenge for you... what happens to christians if ISLAM is right? Or Hinduism? Or Satanism?
Are you too arrogant, zealous, or even CAPABLE of fathoming the possibility?
freshmrcurly: What you or I find unbelievable is irrelevant to what actually is. Besides, a universe with a creator is every bit as complicated as one without, with the additional complexity of the creator itself.
sillygirl006: What you're advocating is basically brainwashing yourself. If something is logically sound, it stands on its own, without requiring you to train yourself to ignore the inconsistencies.
but that's what I'm saying captain---if you learn about it, and understand it, you can then make a choice as to whether it's completely crazy or could possibly be the one for you. no one should go into something blindly; of course that's crazy!!
I know darling, and what religion NEEDS today, are people who actually understand what & why they believe. There's still just not enough people like that...
I respect your atheism. but seriously whats harder to believe? that something exploded and bam we're all here and by a random series of things life just came here? or that god exists. uve got nothing to lose being a christian when you die. but if you arent and all of it is real, then, well...U GO 2 HELLL
The thing that made you not believe in God is because you had never saw him before . I dont go to the church either but I am a christian , I read bibles hardly ! Try reading "The Daily Bread" or browse through some bibles , try praying this question to him . Take him as your saviour .
but that's what I'm saying captain---if you learn about it, and understand it, you can then make a choice as to whether it's completely crazy or could possibly be the one for you. no one should go into something blindly; of course that's crazy!!
filletofspam---I heart jo campbell!!!
Do not conform to the sheep! Turn away, before it is too late!
Does it really sound like a good idea if you have to repent for your fun? Does it sound logical to follow a book written by men for their own personal gain?
Empower yourself, honey. Become your own god. ^_^
no you shouldn't believe in god you SHOULD believe what ever you feel is right for you & just because you go to church doesn't mean you have to be Christian I had a friend whose a witch who went to church(course their mother forced them) just do what you feel is right
...and that type of stupidity is STILL happening in the religious world.
It would be better for a person to NOT understand it, and NOT believe it; instead of NOT understanding it, and believing it totally and blindly.
...that leads to fanaticism and terrorism.
we broke up... and now the guy im with doesnt go to church anymore.. he did when he went to school for 5th-8th grade. but he believes in god... and he knows I dont believe, when he sneezes I say "blush u" and when I sneeze he says "nothing happens when you die"
you dont have to believe in god. its your choice.. obviously your pretty curious about this though. if you have any questions you can just funmail me :) I've been a christian for a while now and I will try to give you the best answers I can :)
maybe you should wait a while to get into religion then. what's the point of joining something you don't believe in?
in the meantime, if you're having fun being with your boyfriend at his church, then keep going. what could it hurt?
arachnid---understanding a religion doesn't mean you agree with it or believe in it, but if you understand it, then you know that it's either right or wrong for you. where's the harm in learning ???
I dont go to the church either but I am a christian , I read bibles hardly !
I think a lot of christians would have a problem with that. It sounds like your faith is more of a hobby...
he just likes being mean to me... he doesnt do it to be mean... he does it because... well thats his personality... he... "jokes" but he knows it bothers me...
oh well...
pssh, cant. I want to be jewish, but my mum said no. so its christianity or nothing...
I dont get religion...
all I have to worry about is a religious boyfriend... XP
what the hell... this is under the wrong thingy... WTH!
I didnt put it under this... gay..
oh well... I do talk about boyfriend's... thats love and relationship-y
But I cant understand... I tried for months. I went to church for months. I did church projects, and had a ton of fun... but I really cant understand.
A lot of people go to church to meet people, and to be in a pleasant social environment. Not everyone goes to worship... though they'll pretend to...
you've got to start small...learn the basic principles of the religion and then get deeper. if it's still not making sense, choose a diff religion?
hmmm...
it sounds like neither of you were ready/ready to give up your religion or lack thereof for eachother. which is ok. you're very young.
...if that were always the case, then believing in religion would require one to understand it first. But that isn't always the case, now is it?
now I know you wouldn't advise someone to go into some religion totally blind. hellooo! remember what happened to the koolaid drinkers?!?
It's really simple: Either you accept what the word of God says or you reject it - obviously, you reject it - your choice.
capt---LOL...so what are we arguing over?!? it sounds like we both agree!! ha ha ha...
lol, I'm so confused now.
I think we DO agree, we're just looking at two different angles of the same problem.
...so you're... promoting megalomania?
oook :)
