Are you religious?

Guybrush · 10-22-2009, 06:13 AM

I think the most interesting thing here, although hardly not surprising, is that the some of the largest groups here are the non-believers, the undecided and the self-defined. I think in an environment of mixing cultures and societies which incorporates more and more empirical truths that contradict religious teachings, it seems the big religions are unraveling a bit. For example, I think people found it easier to accept the bible as truth in the old days. Now it's contradicted by so much - either scientific empirical facts or even other religions that we more frequently meet now that cultures are mixing. According to this poll, those who are religious now are likely to construct their own ideas rather than relying on the authoritive dogma of some church and I think this has been an increasing trend over the years.

I also think as the large religions unravel, they leave behind the spiritual gap they used to fill and things like science can't automatically fill that hole. For one, it deals with facts and not so much human experiences. Second, most people only know a little bit of science. To make your accumulated scientific knowledge capable of filling such a big role in your life, you may have to study the right fields and it might take years. You don't get it for free.

In Norway which ranks very low on the religious scale, this spiritual gap is being invaded by what's usually thought of as "alternative". Healing, ghosts, invisible helpers, past lives - all this has become increasingly popular in this country which I personally think is a bit depressing.

TheBig3 · 10-25-2009, 08:19 PM

Science doesn't really unravel religion for me. a 2,000 year old book, written by primitive tribes who weren't up on the science of their time, never mind mine aren't expected to know everything, and its perfectly reasonable to me that they have a little odd explanations for some things.

Where science does contradict religion its very easy to conclude, if you're religious and have a clue that there are some things people just can't grasp about a world they've never seen. ****, people were impressed with Hippos since they were discovered until extremely late into modern zoological expeditions. Silverback/Lowland gorillas are in the same boat.

Where religion unravels for me is its own failure to be honest with themselves, put more emphasis on the message rather than the peripheral garbage. People tend to like what Jesus was for - which is the point. Not what people have ascribed to his theories which is what causes problems.

Neapolitan · 10-26-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

****, people were impressed with Hippos since they were discovered until extremely late into modern zoological expeditions. Silverback/Lowland gorillas are in the same boat.

That's cool Silverback and Lowland gorillas together in the same boat, I'm suprise they can sit still long enough where they don't capsize the boat. Those gorillas should be careful though, Hippos are known for attacking people and boats. I think a Silverback with an oar can take out a Hippo imo.

SATCHMO · 10-26-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

That's cool Silverback and Lowland gorillas together in the same boat, I'm suprise they can sit still long enough where they don't capsize the boat. Those gorillas should be careful though, Hippos are known for attacking people and boats. I think a Silverback with an oar can take out a Hippo imo.

FAILopotamus

Guybrush · 10-26-2009, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Science doesn't really unravel religion for me. a 2,000 year old book, written by primitive tribes who weren't up on the science of their time, never mind mine aren't expected to know everything, and its perfectly reasonable to me that they have a little odd explanations for some things.

Where science does contradict religion its very easy to conclude, if you're religious and have a clue that there are some things people just can't grasp about a world they've never seen. ****, people were impressed with Hippos since they were discovered until extremely late into modern zoological expeditions. Silverback/Lowland gorillas are in the same boat.

Where religion unravels for me is its own failure to be honest with themselves, put more emphasis on the message rather than the peripheral garbage. People tend to like what Jesus was for - which is the point. Not what people have ascribed to his theories which is what causes problems.

I think personal interpretation of religious texts are well and fine, but when I'm talking about unraveling of religions, I'm thinking of more specific belief structures like the catholic church and it's dogma. It was based on the idea that the bible is true, but today the dogma is changing rapidly and the church for example now accepts the theory of evolution. They accept that the earth is billions of years old. That means that the bible contains stuff which is not true and how do you then decide what to believe in?

That question might not be too hard for you to deal with on a personal level, but if you were the spiritual authority of millions who are also struggling with the same things, it's a different story and over time, I think it would weaken your church.

I think that's part of the downfall of the protestant church here as well. With so much not being clear, people have to make up their minds rather than follow strict dogma and they "bud off" and figure things out for themselves.

TheBig3 · 10-27-2009, 01:40 PM

Didn't we say the same thing?

Also, not believeing in creationism and thinking the bible is a good resource are mutually exclusive.

I know theres a few sects out there that take it verbatim but most groups believe it to be a metaphorical text.

Guybrush · 10-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Alright, the poll has told me what I wanted to know. I'm gonna kill it now or this thread'll be bumped forever. Closed!

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 11-06-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Science doesn't really unravel religion for me. a 2,000 year old book, written by primitive tribes who weren't up on the science of their time, never mind mine aren't expected to know everything, and its perfectly reasonable to me that they have a little odd explanations for some things.

Where science does contradict religion its very easy to conclude, if you're religious and have a clue that there are some things people just can't grasp about a world they've never seen. ****, people were impressed with Hippos since they were discovered until extremely late into modern zoological expeditions. Silverback/Lowland gorillas are in the same boat.

Where religion unravels for me is its own failure to be honest with themselves, put more emphasis on the message rather than the peripheral garbage. People tend to like what Jesus was for - which is the point. Not what people have ascribed to his theories which is what causes problems.

That's why I have faith, because I know he was sent to Earth to save us and even for those who arn't Christian or even religious, living as he did wouldn't be a bad thing for the world. My dear I think you've explained it quite well.

delieterkop · 11-07-2009, 01:55 AM

my religiosity is not that high, aside from the experiences

tdoc210 · 11-12-2009, 05:38 AM

I am an atheist, personally i dont see the the validity in a higher being, and i understand and accept that other people do, i find and i can see that people would want to believe in such a thing as afterlife or a benevolent god, it's just a nice and comforting thing. For me a respect what gives me life every day, the sun, water, and other nutrients, w/o that i would die, w/o god i can live. I think that organized religion is a plaque which makes most atheists so staunch and elite, however if you are an ******* about your beliefs you are just as bad as the next guy in a different religion who does the same. i find that blindly devoting yourself to something w/o question is a bad move on anyones part, it limits your life experiences to that one code of conduct. i think that honestly out of all the organized religions Christianity has oppressed and changed the cultures and traditions of people who had already had a deep traditon in there own beleifs, and to me this is unforgivable.

View Poll Results: What religion do you follow?
Christianity	38	20.32%
Buddhism	3	1.60%
Hinduism	1	0.53%
Islam	2	1.07%
Judaism	4	2.14%
Wiccanism	1	0.53%
Other established religion (feel free to post about it)	6	3.21%
Self-defined	25	13.37%
Don't follow any religion & don't believe in deities (atheist)	68	36.36%
Not Sure, undecided, don't know or don't care	39	20.86%
Sikhism	0	0%
Voters: 187. You may not vote on this poll

10-22-2009, 06:13 AM	#191 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	I think the most interesting thing here, although hardly not surprising, is that the some of the largest groups here are the non-believers, the undecided and the self-defined. I think in an environment of mixing cultures and societies which incorporates more and more empirical truths that contradict religious teachings, it seems the big religions are unraveling a bit. For example, I think people found it easier to accept the bible as truth in the old days. Now it's contradicted by so much - either scientific empirical facts or even other religions that we more frequently meet now that cultures are mixing. According to this poll, those who are religious now are likely to construct their own ideas rather than relying on the authoritive dogma of some church and I think this has been an increasing trend over the years. I also think as the large religions unravel, they leave behind the spiritual gap they used to fill and things like science can't automatically fill that hole. For one, it deals with facts and not so much human experiences. Second, most people only know a little bit of science. To make your accumulated scientific knowledge capable of filling such a big role in your life, you may have to study the right fields and it might take years. You don't get it for free. In Norway which ranks very low on the religious scale, this spiritual gap is being invaded by what's usually thought of as "alternative". Healing, ghosts, invisible helpers, past lives - all this has become increasingly popular in this country which I personally think is a bit depressing. __________________ Something Completely Different

10-25-2009, 08:19 PM	#192 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Science doesn't really unravel religion for me. a 2,000 year old book, written by primitive tribes who weren't up on the science of their time, never mind mine aren't expected to know everything, and its perfectly reasonable to me that they have a little odd explanations for some things. Where science does contradict religion its very easy to conclude, if you're religious and have a clue that there are some things people just can't grasp about a world they've never seen. ****, people were impressed with Hippos since they were discovered until extremely late into modern zoological expeditions. Silverback/Lowland gorillas are in the same boat. Where religion unravels for me is its own failure to be honest with themselves, put more emphasis on the message rather than the peripheral garbage. People tend to like what Jesus was for - which is the point. Not what people have ascribed to his theories which is what causes problems. __________________ I've moved to a new address

10-27-2009, 01:40 PM	#196 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Didn't we say the same thing? Also, not believeing in creationism and thinking the bible is a good resource are mutually exclusive. I know theres a few sects out there that take it verbatim but most groups believe it to be a metaphorical text. __________________ I've moved to a new address

10-28-2009, 04:13 PM	#197 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Alright, the poll has told me what I wanted to know. I'm gonna kill it now or this thread'll be bumped forever. Closed! __________________ Something Completely Different

11-07-2009, 01:55 AM	#199 (permalink)
delieterkop Groupie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: your top and you just can't get any higher Posts: 14	my religiosity is not that high, aside from the experiences __________________ get jiggy with God brush your teeth with God

11-12-2009, 05:38 AM	#200 (permalink)
tdoc210 ashes against the grain Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: new hampsha Posts: 2,617	I am an atheist, personally i dont see the the validity in a higher being, and i understand and accept that other people do, i find and i can see that people would want to believe in such a thing as afterlife or a benevolent god, it's just a nice and comforting thing. For me a respect what gives me life every day, the sun, water, and other nutrients, w/o that i would die, w/o god i can live. I think that organized religion is a plaque which makes most atheists so staunch and elite, however if you are an ******* about your beliefs you are just as bad as the next guy in a different religion who does the same. i find that blindly devoting yourself to something w/o question is a bad move on anyones part, it limits your life experiences to that one code of conduct. i think that honestly out of all the organized religions Christianity has oppressed and changed the cultures and traditions of people who had already had a deep traditon in there own beleifs, and to me this is unforgivable. __________________ We went back there and they had come and hacked off every inoculated arm. There they were in a pile. A pile of little arms. And I remember... I... I... I cried. I wept like some grandmother. I wanted to tear my teeth out. I didn't know what I wanted to do. And I want to remember it. I never want to forget it. I never want to forget. And then I realized... like I was shot... like I was shot with a diamond... a diamond bullet right through my forehead. And I thought: My God... the genius of that.