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Originally posted by NeoPhono Until recently, there was not the seperation between church and state that we find today. It is therefore very easy to lump religion and politics (wars and atrocities) of that time together. Now, at least for most religions, you have a clear seperation between the two where religion can now focus on the philosophies behind it, not the political actions around it.

Aye, good answer.

Thoughts on the Catholic church and it's acceptance of slavery , non-involvement standpoint of the prosecution of Jews and now the acceptance of evolution?

I'll probably get assassinated for that remark.

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Originally posted by davinox religion is misunderstood, bloated and dogmatic. it's all about the mental exploration, not the rules and regulations. rules and regulations are not what are important; they are merely ways to reach the goal (enlightenment, union with God, understanding of the universe, or just an illusion of the mind).

Can I buy some pot from you?

Religion was used as a tool to control the people.

"Back in the day" there was no police force u could call in to report a crime. So they make a religion where anything u do wrong will be a sin and u will be punished forever for it. Scare the people.

What i have always wondered is if Allah and God are seen as the same god? And if not, does it say in islam that Allah created the world?

And if he didnt then wouldnt the christian God be the bigger god because he did?

And if both these gods are seen as the main gods then doesnt that conflict prove that there is no god? I mean how can there be 2 Gods when one of them created the earth!

or if there is which one is the real one?

And if the cristian God created the earth why didnt he make everyone worship him without lettin other religions begin?

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Originally posted by Matty V Religion was used as a tool to control the people. "Back in the day" there was no police force u could call in to report a crime. So they make a religion where anything u do wrong will be a sin and u will be punished forever for it. Scare the people.

Committing a crime "back in the day" carried more swift and severe punishment then you'd find in today's world, by far.

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And if the cristian God created the earth why didnt he make everyone worship him without lettin other religions begin?

He gave people free will, and they chose to idolize and follow other Gods. Much smiting ensued.

Yer maybe, but if a person back then knew he was innocent even tho he was convicted of a crime he belived so much he would go to a paradise in heaven he wasnt that bothered about dieing. And that god would decide their fate in an afterlife

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And if he didnt then wouldnt the christian God be the bigger god because he did? And if both these gods are seen as the main gods then doesnt that conflict prove that there is no god? I mean how can there be 2 Gods when one of them created the earth! or if there is which one is the real one? And if the cristian God created the earth why didnt he make everyone worship him without lettin other religions begin?

Tell me, what is the first commandment? If you read it closely and ponder for a while, considering both its language and its broader implications it probably answers most of these questions.

And thats just 1 out of 613...

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Originally posted by tupsox Reasons for religion: 1. The realization that some things in life can never be explained. 2. The need to live life in reverence to something other than yourself.

Why would someone that is not weak minded need to live their life in reverance to someone else?

Its like saying that you don't have the power to do what you want with your own life. If I met someone like that I'd slap them!

What a cop out.

As if human beings need to have something to follow!

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Originally posted by oldskoolraver Why would someone that is not weak minded need to live their life in reverance to someone else? Its like saying that you don't have the power to do what you want with your own life. If I met someone like that I'd slap them! What a cop out. As if human beings need to have something to follow!

Interesting remark.

So would you consider yourself a humanist? Just curious.

You do realize that even if there is a God, He has given you free will to live your life however you want. How is that saying you don't have the power to do what you want with your life?

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Originally posted by Seventil Interesting remark. So would you consider yourself a humanist? Just curious. You do realize that even if there is a God, He has given you free will to live your life however you want. How is that saying you don't have the power to do what you want with your life?

I wouldn't consider that I fit any particular box you would like to categorise and put me in.

If there is a God, and you believe this, than you do have responsibilities to meet his/her expectations, so the personal freedom given to you is somewhat limited. A key element to believing in God is also believing that he has a purpose for humans and has expectations of how we should act.

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Originally posted by oldskoolraver I wouldn't consider that I fit any particular box you would like to categorise and put me in. If there is a God, and you believe this, than you do have responsibilities to meet his/her expectations, so the personal freedom given to you is somewhat limited. A key element to believing in God is also believing that he has a purpose for humans and has expectations of how we should act.

I wouldn't call them "expectations". However, believing in God does put a "higher purpose" calling into your life. It's the opposite of the humanist way of thinking - actual purpose to life. Self deluded or not, I think it's a better way to live life.

I wouldnt say money to the church is really a bad thing in some cases. Smaller churches tend to actually do something with it rather than just try to hold up their own massive weight like the mega-churches.

My father recently did a mission to Koderra Kenya and saved many peoples lives (medical work). He published a book on it called Breath Of Kenya that you can get off Amazon et al. They money from the books is going towards another mission. There are thousands if not tens of thousands of missionaries out there just helping people. They arent running around selling bibles to the natives, they are just there and just trying to make the peoples lives better.

Its not all bad.

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Originally posted by Orbax I wouldnt say money to the church is really a bad thing in some cases. Smaller churches tend to actually do something with it rather than just try to hold up their own massive weight like the mega-churches. My father recently did a mission to Koderra Kenya and saved many peoples lives (medical work). He published a book on it called Breath Of Kenya that you can get off Amazon et al. They money from the books is going towards another mission. There are thousands if not tens of thousands of missionaries out there just helping people. They arent running around selling bibles to the natives, they are just there and just trying to make the peoples lives better. Its not all bad.

That's cool man, I've thought about doing missionary work after I get outta the AF.

I'd like to think that's what life is all about, humbling yourself and making people's lives better. That sort of sacrifice and selflessness is rare in today's world.