Religion, Yay, lets believe in some made up shit! Options

[Joyno]

Religion – I hate it, Christians have no tolerance for anything or anyone, and the bible contradicts itself, e.g. old testament “eye for an eye” new one “turn the other cheek” really people will worship any crap if they want, etc.

[Cloaked Avenger]

If there wasn't any religion in the world then there would never be any wars. Just about every single war in the last 100 years has started due to something to do with religion.

[Trisdee]

If there wasn't any religion in the world then there would never be any wars. Just about every single war in the last 100 years has started due to something to do with religion.

That is very true indeed. John Lennon did have a point, you know...

[Elasticbandy]

Then again, it can be argued that Religion did at first keep a sense of morality about people.

Without it, those who are believers would have no consequences to deal with should they decide to go and murder someone, or if a nation decided on war. Without a 'God' or spiritual or moral leader to face after doing something wrong, there wouldn't be any form of punishment in their eyes.

They could do what they liked without consequences of going to a place of eternal torture such as Hell.

It also gives people something to believe in, that there is a better place to go to after life because let's face it, the world is far from paradise. It sort of gives people a reason to live life and to be a good person.

True, religion is at the base of many wars but they are the extremists. In any case there will always be those who take things a step further than everyone else.

I'm not a religious believer myself but that's just another view on the matter.

[Fellow]

I understand what you guys mean.. I don't usually post on topics like this, because it makes me feel like I'm defending my God, or my religious beliefs.
But this time I think there is something that has to be said.
Joyno when you say Christians have no tolerance, you have to be very careful. I'm a Christian and I'm so not like that, and that is not even what we learn and study at our church, we don't believe wars are solution to the problems.
And something else, don't mistake Christianity for religiosity, they are completely different things, I'm not religious, and I think a religious person is a dead Christian, because they are stuck in something they only believe in because the church said it. We don't have to follow churches, I believe I have to follow my God, and only Him. If I'm supposed to follow someone, I'll choose something beyond human..because of something very simple, humans make mistakes.
I hope that is clear enough, guys..and being a Christian I am open to discussions!

Oh, and Joyno, only one more thing, just think if you aren't being a little bit intolerant to Christians yourself...if you don't like them, try not be like them.
And about the old and new testament, I think the name says it all...

[Flamekebab]

Some of the religious people in the US annoy me so much I want to put a bullet between their eyes.
Not that it'd help, but it'd make me feel a damn sight better!

I think religion held much more importance in the Western world before the rise of our culture of wealth. People's lives are easier and it is always a time of plenty.

When you're poor, disease is still a threat and life is short, you need hope more, you need to believe there's something better to look forward to.

I'm not sure what I believe when it comes to Gods, but I certainly hope there is an afterlife.
I hope Jesus was real and I hope he was right, but I struggle to believe.
I also don't think that proof denies faith. I would believe more if I had God's existence proven to me.

[CydonianKnight]

If there wasn't any religion in the world then there would never be any wars. Just about every single war in the last 100 years has started due to something to do with religion.

That's very naive of you Ben. I think religion is often used as a scapegoat for war if you get my meaning. The majority of the time with war religion is just used as an excuse it'd happen anyway but people find that a religious cause for war is much more appealing than "We want more land!" Or "We want more oil!" [In the case of the Americans and us British I'm ashamed to say.]

[Cloaked Avenger]

This is a very controversial topic for me. I have to watch what I say as with my views and opinons as they are it is very easy to be branded a racist, which is something I am not. Many of my opinions are based on generalisations and I accept that, I also know that it is wrong to generalise but I just cant help it. Of course with these generalisations comes the thinking that I am basing the opinions purely on religion/ race, which I am not. Growing up with all that is going on around the world to do with religion makes it very difficult not to take prejudicial views.

Anyway something that is very close to my heart is the subject of Religious Education in schools, I am currently coming up for my last compulsary term in education and I cannot wait to finally be able to give up learning RE. I never really had that much of a problem with it until the last couple of years where the sylabus suddenly changed and before we new what was happening we were learning about Islam. Now we have asked our teacher why the sylabus has changed and the only reason she could come up with was that it was due to the current conflicts in the world and the fact the government doesnt want us growing up as racists because of what we see in the media. This plan appears to be backfiring.

In the last year I have noticed so many people that I have grown up with suddenly strarting to use words like Packi scum etc when they walk past them in school or the streets. Something that shocks me. Now I must admit there are very few people of ethnic backgrounds in my school and so the reacism in school is very rare. However out of school there os quite a growing trend.

Anyway back to the point. The other day I asked a couple of people that I knew why their opinions had suddenly changed on other races specifically Muslims and the only answer they could come up with was blame RE. Now at the time this made no sense but as I pondered on it further it did make sense, all we learn about in RE are things like Muslims opinions on divorce etc, something which no one of my age in their right mind could acutally give three fling fucks about. This means that these people are forced to endure lessons which they hate learning about religious tolerance for Muslims and so they begin to associate and confuse their hatred for the RE lessons with a hatred for the religion. It is almost like they are blaming them.

This is definately something that really worries me and I can see it only getting worse.

[Joyno]

I understand what you guys mean.. I don't usually post on topics like this, because it makes me feel like I'm defending my God, or my religious beliefs.
But this time I think there is something that has to be said.
Joyno when you say Christians have no tolerance, you have to be very careful. I'm a Christian and I'm so not like that, and that is not even what we learn and study at our church, we don't believe wars are solution to the problems.
And something else, don't mistake Christianity for religiosity, they are completely different things, I'm not religious, and I think a religious person is a dead Christian, because they are stuck in something they only believe in because the church said it. We don't have to follow churches, I believe I have to follow my God, and only Him. If I'm supposed to follow someone, I'll choose something beyond human..because of something very simple, humans make mistakes.
I hope that is clear enough, guys..and being a Christian I am open to discussions!

Oh, and Joyno, only one more thing, just think if you aren't being a little bit intolerant to Christians yourself...if you don't like them, try not be like them.
And about the old and new testament, I think the name says it all...

i mean the top people, e.g pope, bishops etc... i go to a chapel 6 times a week and some of the shit which comes out of the preachers mouth. ben might agrree with me on this, they say god is the only way, the truth, all that crap, i dont mind if you belive in a God but dont go around telling everyone and trying to convert people, like penticostal, *spits at them*, dont know if ben remembers their service or pheonix?

[Surreal Nightmar...]

If you hate church so much then why do you go? Church conscription? Heh.

[Flamekebab]

In Christ College, Chapel is not optional.

[Surreal Nightmar...]

Sheesh! The whole idea of forcing someone to partake in religious ceremony always seemed like a contradiction of faith to me.

Though saying that you're in private education so you deserve all the hell you get. Heh.

[Wissam]

Still, it's better than Scientology, which before you say anything, has unfortunately been given Official Religion Status, and is now exempt from tax. Bloody brain-washing, kid-napping, money-grabbing, bullshit-producing cunts.

[Cloaked Avenger]

Still, it's better than Scientology, which before you say anything, has unfortunately been given Official Religion Status, and is now exempt from tax. Bloody brain-washing, kid-napping, money-grabbing, bullshit-producing cunts.

What religion did you say you were Wissam?

[Wissam]

I'm Jewish. The best, kindest and most loving religion.