bondagegirl

Ok so I looked back a couple pages and didn't think I saw this question or topic. This is one of my first threads/posts in philosophy, so don't hate me if this has already been talked about...


OK so I have had this conversation with a few different people, and I want to see what your guys view on this is. I always hear or read (I've seen it a couple times in threads here) people saying what religion they are, mainly christian or catholic, and they either say Non-practicing, or they don't go to church and so forth...


Well my question is why do you say you're catholic or christian? I can see some answers to this already... They were raised that way by family, or they believe in god or jesus, etc. Like say one of my older sisters said to me that she believed herself to be christian. Well never once have I known her to go church, I know she doesn't pray at the table, I've never really known her to pray at all. So My main question is what makes you christian or catholic?


It's hard to express my ideas like this, that's probably why I haven't posted much in here. It's hard to type my thoughts and ideas without writing ten pages. So tell me if this doesn't make sense and I'll try to clarify it for you

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"Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die today."

anti fishstick

people like to classify themselves. they always have. we're "male" or "female" even though there are technically five genders. we're "homosexual", "heterosexual", "bisexual" even "bi-curious". hell, we even classify the animal kingdom in class, genus, species, whatever. (i'm not good with bio) one thing that puzzled scientists was the platypus. a duck-billed... mammal? how is that possible when a platypus is also reptilian. its not that the platypus is a freak of nature, it's that the platypus is unique and incongruous to the system of classification scientists have come up with. therefore, they had to make their own specific category for the platypus to cover up their little mistake ;P

yeah that was slightly on a tangent there :-D

anyway... since we have these religious classifications for ourselves, we better say christian or catholic.. even if we dont practice or are active in church. bcos this word gives us a sense of identity.

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And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
~Anais Nin

bermuDa

my family tried a number of churches when I was young. It was more like we were trying to find a good social group to join than trying to find salvation.

I never accepted what I was told, so I never really fit into any organized religion.

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I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

sportsrule101

By the "worlds" view it is probably beliving in a higher power, and trying to do things that will allow them to reach that higher power when they die.

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winning isn't everything but
losing isn't anything

Cynthetiq

born and baptized a catholic. I wear a talisman of St. Jude Thaddeus patron saint of impossible missions, hopeless cases, and policemen. I'm not a policeman.

I do not actively go to services. i go to churches and sit quietly. even synagogues or mosques will do.

I'm that way because of my parents... it's what they taught me. I taught myself all the other religions and philosophies and that's when I decided for myself that I just don't like services. My relationship with god is between me and god only, no intermediaries.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

bondagegirl

Cynthetiq- See you said in that paragraph that you go to church, and you were baptized, and you wear a talisman all the time. SO cool you're catholic. But what I'm saying is people say they are and don't do anything like this...
You don't go to services, but you still go to church...

__________________
"Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die today."

Meier_Link

...agnostic. I don't know.

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life is a sexually transmitted disease

hawkeye

That's always a hard question. I suppose I would be called a christian, tho I have an aversion to labels like that. I do go to church on a regular basis, pray (mostly silently, or when I'm alone) etc. I was raised in a strict christian household, so that's what started me on this path. Once I was about 16, I started doing a lot of reading, and thinking on my own. Although my parents influenced me, I hold the beliefs that I do, becuase they make more sense to me than anything else that I have seen.

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You're not fat,
You're just a giant ball
of love, covered in anger.

tehblaed

Please note: If you are catholic or believe strongly in your religion and are not open to new ideas or opinions, this will offend you. Otherwise, read on.


The following text is basically a giant crapload of thoughts I have on religion. Enjoy.

I am 100% completely, pure atheist. I believe in no supernatural occurences: no ghosts, no spirits. There is no "soul" or "spirit", these are just fictionalized representations of your current personality. Personality does only exist in a living human brain, be it your brain (i.e. your own personality) or the brain of another human being (i.e. remembering how you used to be, or something). I am a scientist at heart and need proof for everything.

Funny, because my parents raised me Presbyterian. What's also humorous is that I got kicked out of Sunday School at their church (for telling the teacher she was lying!)

I guess what actually determines what religion you are is what other people label you as, and since all religions started out as one religion - basically traced back to Sumer and their king/gods - it doesn't really matter anyway.

Want to know what happens when you die? You rot. There you go. That's the answer. Your body rots, your brain rots, your eyes rot, your "soul" rots - since your brain is rotting, there is no soul. Soul is just another word for personality.

I believe the only reason religions still exist and thrive thoroughly is because people still need an excuse to get up off of their butts and do things. While I do agree that religion is a good way of motivating someone to do whatever (quit drugs, get good grades, stay chaste, etc), the motivation should come from within in the first place. There should be no reason to be unmotivated unless you are lazy and are frightened by the fact that when you die you will have things that you have not held responsibility for. Thus the reason for "forgiving" sins would be to remove personal liability for things you have done wrong.

I really really hate how everyone is so very polite to each other at Church, even though they may hate each other's guts. There is absolutely no reason to put on a show - if "God" could really judge you I bet he would be more pissed at you if you lied to yourself and others rather than just being honest.

Religion is all about motivation. I feel the reason I am atheist is because I have absolutely no reason to feel ashamed for anything I have ever done, nor do I lack any self respect or motivation. I get things done; I have never drank alcohol (to get drunk, I mean. I have consumed one (1) beer on three seperate occasions (eating steak.)); I waited until I was 18 to have sexual intercourse or any kind of sexual activity (and even then I made sure it was with someone I would want to be with for a long time. We're still going strong, if you are curious ).

All these morals, all this responsibility, all without the help of "spiritual guidance". I think religion is just an excuse to take the burden off of getting things done on your own.

Did you know that in the Stephen King book "It", there is a crazy spider monster that transforms itself into a clown and lures children into the sewers and then kills them?

How about if I told you that story was true, would you believe me? Probably not. For the same reasoning, I do not believe that the Bible is a work of complete non-fiction and should be taken literally; It is simply just a book that someone wrote. Well, more like a couple people. Okay, probably a hundred or so different people.

So that's about all I have for tonight - If anyone would like some more just ask and I could spill my thoughts again.

Thanks for reading.

------------------ Alright, you can open your eyes now.

grumpyolddude

I wa raised and educated as a Catholic. I attended Seminary and considered the priesthood. Things I learned raised doubts I could not overcome. Popular Christianity is a lie. Too much St. Paul and intolerance. Organized churches are more economic institutions than spiritual ones. I do what I can to live a good life (whatever that may mean) and try to treat people well. I try to teach my children to do the same. I wish everyone would.

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"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

tehblaed

Oh, and another thing.

Do not feel obligated to believe in any one of the many different religions just because "it makes the most sense" when you have not yet explored the idea that there is no God, no plan, no apocolypse. Wouldn't the thing that would "make the most sense" be something that has actually been scientifically proven to be exact and right many times over? If you answered yes to this question, then Creationism would be completely out of the picture. There is so much backing to evolution it is not even slightly amusing.

I feel no need to believe in anything, no order, no set path. The idea that I have no control over my life's outcome is pure bull to begin with. If fate is what you are to end up being, then I guess whatever the hell I do, that would be my fate, right? So if I work at a soup kitchen, give to the needy, and home the homeless, would my fate be "giving back to the community and being a kind, caring, gentle person"?

How about if one day I just decided to end all that and kill a few people? I guess that would be my new Fate then, huh? I can say loophole, can you? No matter what happens to me, that is always my Fate. That's not all that thought out if you ask me. So many ways to get around it.

WhoaitsZ

warning: this may piss off some catholics. please do not take this personally

to me the difference in the Catholic Church vs Christianity as a whole is very vast.

Christians (real one who practice what they preach) are people who've obviously found answers and love and peace through JC.

Catholics tend to be like a poilitical party. they no longer care about why they got into it to begin with; they just follow procedure and tradition and go on their way.

I am a Christian cuz i try to be as forgiving and i love people as he did. i am willing to change my m ind, too.

the very thought of a man being bowed down to in honor or kissing the Pope's ring makes me want to hurl. they are throwig what Christianity is supposed to be right in the people's face.

BBtB

I believe in God. I also believe there are many paths to God. The reason for that is everyone is differn't. Everyone is just a little unique. Now tell me, who would understand that there needs to be more then one path to God to cater to the differences in people better then an all knowing, all powerfull, omnipotent, loving, creator god? I believe live and let live. As long as you are not harming anyone else, but of course I also believe that MOST everyone goes to heaven or some version of it.

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Meridae'n once played "death" at a game of chess that lasted for over two years. He finally beat death in a best 34 out of 67 match. At that time he could ask for any one thing and he could wish for the hope of all mankind... he looked death right in the eye and said ...

"I would like about three fiddy"

MacGnG

I am Jewish cause my parents are.
I am Jewish cause I want to be.
I am Jewish cause it works.

I believe in God because I want to.
I believe in God because he believes in me.

I liked Dogma cause Alanis Morissette was God.