Religion Thread

[Ambalon]

Well, I'm not sure what I believe in. How about that?

[Rams]

I feel like years from now science will be to the point that all religions seem silly like that.

It already does that. 

Also story; Raised by die-hard Muslim fanatics. Moved to the Netherlands. Mom mellowed out. I grew my own opinion on the matter.

Mom and sister are still religious. Sister not so much.

[Wolfhead]

@ Ambalon - Pretty normal, I'd say. I was agnostic before I became agnostic-atheist.


Anyway, funny thing is, while most of my atheist friends were rebelling against religion and their parents, I was a dyed-in-the-wool kardecist, esoteric, and overall superstitious. I tore through spiritist books and acquired quite a lot of "knowledge" in that particular religion.

Then, when I turned 18, I started talking to one of my oldest friends, who is a very resolute atheist, about science, religion, everything. In the end, though he didn't "convert" me per se, he did spark in me a love of science and secular philosophy. In the end, my critical thinking started kicking in, and I started asking myself lots of questions, questions I did ask myself before, but was not entirely honest with myself about how I felt about them. I stopped going to the spiritist centre, and dropped the whole doctrine and dogma like a sack of bricks, but I was not quite ready to let go of the IDEA of god. That's the phase of my life I call my "agnostic" phase.

Finally, when I turned 19, I no longer believed in god, and broke it to my parents, who were pissed, but couldn't do shit, because they had always been liberal regarding my choices in life. Funny, half of my friends who were militant, rebellious atheists are now back in religion.

I can honestly say, becoming an atheist did change my life, and definitely for the better. I have a critical thinking I did not have before. I see things in a way I did not see before. I have a freedom I did not have before. No more useless guilt, no more pressure, no more feeling of worthlessness. It's great.

Some people are going to be pissed at me, but I've been to both sides, and religion, scratch that, belief per se, is a shackle that binds your mind. It makes you think in one direction, all the time. remember that game we all played as children, the one where you couldn't step in any line on the floor? Religion is like spending your whole life playing that game. Following a set of rules made to appease something that doesn't exist.

[Ambalon]

@ Ambalon - Pretty normal, I'd say. I was agnostic before I became agnostic-atheist.

I was catholic, then agnostic atheist, then atheist, then agnostic theist, and now I really don't know if I'm a heathen or not. With an introspective look I think it's more of a wish to believe in something, though it faces logic and then... then I don't know.

[Rams]

Why is the idea of no god figure so scary? It's rather more fascinating how much more there to it than that.

[Wolfhead]

I was catholic, then agnostic atheist, then atheist, then agnostic theist, and now I really don't know if I'm a heathen or not. With an introspective look I think it's more of a wish to believe in something, though it faces logic and then... then I don't know.

I know. There was a time where I couldn't bring myself to NOT believe in god, either.

With all due respect, and pardon me if I'm assuming, but I think it's less about what you do believe and more about what you want to believe.

[Ambalon]

Why is the idea of no god figure so scary? It's rather more fascinating how much more there to it than that.

Narcissism -> Thanatophobia

With all due respect, and pardon me if I'm assuming, but I think it's less about what you do believe and more about what you want to believe.

Exactly. And that's why I'm religiously confused.

[Rams]

But if you're aware of that, then, um.. why are you fooling yourself?

[Ambalon]

Because the thought of the ending of my existence (and the uncertainty of what happens in the real world after) terrifies me.

[Rams]

Having certainty and grip over your life and your belief should overcome that fear.

Suppose it's a personal/human thing.

[LordOfShadows]

I find it fascinating that you all equate religion with guilt.

I believe what I believe. I believe that to KNOW there is a god is impossible, but I choose to have faith that the deity exists. Much of religion is foolishness, yes, but it is a necessary foolishness.

[Nipplemelter]

Much of religion is foolishness, yes, but it is a necessary foolishness.

And why do you think it is necessary?

[Feragorn]

Currently, formerly, and forseeably Jewish. Conservative Jew, inclusive of all, most certainly not creationist.

Judaism leaves a lot of room for personal beliefs. Theologically, I guess I'd be agnostic, but I'm a practicing Jew. Go to synagogue nearly every week, volunteer reading Torah for said services, active in youth group where most guys are about the same, maybe less  observant as me. Both parents are scientists. Dad's active in the anti-creationism debates trying to keep it out of public schools. Went to a Jewish Day school till 8th grade, good for cultural, religious, and language education, however it emphasized core academics as well. Now I attend a public fine arts high school which is a good blend of beliefs and opinions (mostly non-religious), as a Math/Science major I'm pretty well set in my views.

Religion has its uses, good for teaching a certain message, bringing people together, but care must be taken not to let it stray too far into the secular world, or let it influence harmful decisions. Also proselytizing pisses me the **** off.

[Lord Brutus]

Began in a Dutch Reformed church (Calvinist) church in New Jersey, but the question of where Cain's wife came from was never answered to my satisfaction, so today I identify most closely with paganism.

[Cowdude]

We're sharing stories now?

Well, I was raised in a somewhat religious family. I went to catholic school when I was little, got offended when people talked badly about jesus and all the standard stuff. Then as I started using the internet I became more and more informed about the bible and whatnot, so in the end I stopped believing in the silly book and called myself a deist.

I didn't stop believing in god until my mother was taken to the hospital and died later that day... While my dad and I were on our way to church to pray for her to get better... My line of thought was that even if god existed, he is just a giant **** anyway, so there's really not much point in worshiping him.

Sometimes I get flak for it, but most people tend to understand. Plus it's just great when random beggars give me blessings and recite bible verses.