NationStates Jolt Archive

What religion do you follow or are you athesiest and proud?

and if you know of any religions ive missed out post on this thread and ill add them to the poll.

does anyone know how to add fields to polls cos ii mssed a few out very sorry

Im a Jew that believes in Jesus

A Muslim that believes Allah's name is Yehowah and that Jesus[Literally meaning YHWH is Salvation] wasn't just another prophet but the son of man with the unearthly experience of the first born of all creation by God.

A Christian that does not believe in any of the pagan traditions picked up after the 1st century - The lORD our God is ONE.

The inquisition would've know what to do with me - but I live in the currently tolerant and not so Ethnocentric US of A. Youre gonna have to make another catagory for people who dont exactly fit into your neat lil groups :D

I, personally, don't see how Muslims believe what they do. Jesus said he was the Messiah, yet Muslims say that he's a prophet and not the Savior.

Wiccan.


Truth is, I am influenced and taken ideas from Wicca and from all kinds of religions.

I, personally, don't see how Muslims believe what they do. Jesus said he was the Messiah, yet Muslims say that he's a prophet and not the Savior.

They dont believe that God could allow oen of his prophets to suffer, and die, at least not die like he did.

Oh yeah and I dont believe in the afterlife like most other religions do - scriptures and all available proof indicates that when you die youre not conscious of anything at all - like a deep sleep without dreaming - truely at rest. Of course as a Christian I believe God can resurect the dead, and there will be a resurection of the righteous and the unrighteous. That he can transfigure you into a spirit creature the same way Jesus was after his resurection - and the same way his personality complex was granted to him at his baptism when the LORD annointed him with his spirit.

No Hell for bad people and being good doesnt neccesarily get you into heaven. Show me the clear scriptural teaches that says all good people go to heaven - Show Me. :D

God let Jesus do that to prove his devotion to the people of Earth. You know, I also don't see how Atheists can believe what they do either. I mean, if they're right, we'll never know. If we're right, they'll sure as Hell know it.

Aethist I think are Aethist because theyre closed thier minds due to what religion has done to the world in general - can you blame them inlight of the fact that religion has at the very least done nothing while wars rage or at the worst loned its official support to a political element which... well, does unspeakable things with it. Religion has always been fewed by politicians as a useful socio mechanism.

If they analize the sciences however with an open mind in detail - theyd find all the evidence they'd need of the universes intelligent design. Besides it mathematically impossible the life could have started on its on by chance in an "evolution". And all the evidence in suport of this Theory is completely circumstantial.

None

and this is the wrong forum, it should be in general. keep that in mind next time you post.

Unitarian Universalist

none -_-

Atheist And Proud! : :D

good for you - in the words of my contemporaries, Whatever. :D

Seventh Church of the Apocalyptic Lawnmower.

Religion is stupid, so my religion is stupid.

(Well OK, strictly you'd say I'm an Atheist, but saying this annoys people more)

There really ought to be an "other" option. Especially since hindu was missed off, and that's a major world religion.

Im a Jew that believes in Jesus

A Muslim that believes Allah's name is Yehowah and that Jesus[Literally meaning YHWH is Salvation] wasn't just another prophet but the son of man with the unearthly experience of the first born of all creation by God.

A Christian that does not believe in any of the pagan traditions picked up after the 1st century - The lORD our God is ONE.

The inquisition would've know what to do with me - but I live in the currently tolerant and not so Ethnocentric US of A. Youre gonna have to make another catagory for people who dont exactly fit into your neat lil groups :D
you're a christian jew.

[COLOR=Red][FONT=Impact][SIZE=7]and if you know of any religions ive missed out post on this thread and ill add them to the poll.

Oh for the love of .... ok .... for the umpteen dozenth time ...

I'M A PAGAN! yeesh ...

Im a Jew that believes in Jesus


So ... you're a Christian.

Jesus said he was the Messiah, yet Muslims say that he's a prophet and not the Savior.

So you believe anyone's claims about themselves?

Cool ...

I'm the second coming. Now send me your money ... quick ... before I unleash the horsemen.


I said it, so it must be true.

Atheist

You forgot agnostic (very different from atheism). Since it wasn't a choice, I chose Protestant, since that's what I was raised and I still do occasionally go to Church.

Agnostic, though I was baptised as a Catholic.

I don't like religion at all. I refuse to have anything to do with the Catholic church.

These folk are important, they split off from the Church around 1100 due to the widening gap between Rome and Constantinople (New Rome)

Im a Jew that believes in Jesus

A Muslim that believes Allah's name is Yehowah and that Jesus[Literally meaning YHWH is Salvation] wasn't just another prophet but the son of man with the unearthly experience of the first born of all creation by God.

A Christian that does not believe in any of the pagan traditions picked up after the 1st century - The lORD our God is ONE.

The inquisition would've know what to do with me - but I live in the currently tolerant and not so Ethnocentric US of A. Youre gonna have to make another catagory for people who dont exactly fit into your neat lil groups :D
No, you should be in the Church of Jesus Christ. Not a Christian because that is not what Jesus was. At least not what Christians now adays are. They have perverted his ways some. They aren't all bad people its more the leaders faults.

I am in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. You missed that on poll. So I suggest an other thingy choice.
And I am happy with my choice as was Heavenly Father last time we spoke. :)

Discordian Agnostic(probably would fit best in an other catagory)

Ack - why do you ppl leave out Agnostics from the polls?

Yeah, you've left my religion off too. Taoist. Bloody central minded poll makers...

Through study of mathematical proofs, and the concept of "truth," I've had to make my own beliefs, which I describe as "abstractionist." Through a lon time of contemplation, I've found that it doesn't really matter if you believe there is/are god(s) or not because believing and not believing are the same thing.

Much as it pains me to have to do it, since you have included it among the religions...

I am an Atheist... which, ISN'T a religion.

Well i'd like to say Buddhist but that isn't quite a religion as there are no gods to worship, which makes it great because you aren't controlled by one false being but Buddhist is all I am so thats what i'll have to say.

Atheist. We seem to be the largest group, according to the poll. I find that encouraging.

----Quote:
Originally posted by Crazed Marines
"I, personally, don't see how Muslims believe what they do. Jesus said he was the Messiah, yet Muslims say that he's a prophet and not the Savior."--------


Well I'm surprised that you don't know that we as Muslims believe that Jesus (AS) was a Messiah as well as a Prophet. We do not believe however he was the Lord nor his son. We believe Jesus (AS) was not divine and he was not crucified. If you actually do your research you will realise that Christianity entwined many pagan beliefs like Mithraism which has the resurrection story and the ancient Greek logos which has the trinity.

I, personally, don't see how Muslims believe what they do. Jesus said he was the Messiah, yet Muslims say that he's a prophet and not the Savior.
But they still believe in him.

What religion do you follow or are you athesiest and proud?


That hurts my eyes. It burnsesys.

It's surprising that I and four other people share the same religion. Go us. That said, I’m mostly a self-believer.

I'm probably closest to Unitarian Universalist, but I don't like putting myself into any type of formal religion.

Wesleyan Protestant.

You need another option up there, Orthodox Christianity.

Orthodoxy is neither protestant nor catholic. It's the faith of the eastern half of the old roman empire, and divided with catholicism roughly around the time the empire broke into two segments.

You missed out "Jedi", too....

(Look at the last Census carried out in England... all those people who claimed Jedi as their religion, and the government marked them all down as wasted responses, because they don't accept 'Jedi' as a recognised faith.)

Im a Jew that believes in Jesus

A Muslim that believes Allah's name is Yehowah and that Jesus[Literally meaning YHWH is Salvation] wasn't just another prophet but the son of man with the unearthly experience of the first born of all creation by God.

A Christian that does not believe in any of the pagan traditions picked up after the 1st century - The lORD our God is ONE.

The inquisition would've know what to do with me - but I live in the currently tolerant and not so Ethnocentric US of A. Youre gonna have to make another catagory for people who dont exactly fit into your neat lil groups :D


You're a Jehovah's Witness aren't you? :confused:

S/he sounds like a nondenominational Abrahamite.

Still a Gnostic, here.

agnostic humanist.

and you have two kinds of christianity there.

S/he sounds like a nondenominational Abrahamite.


Well, the reasons for my assertion...

-Originally Posted by Zhejiang
Im a Jew that believes in Jesus
-I have heard JWs refer to themselves as Jew-Christians

-A Muslim that believes Allah's name is Yehowah and that Jesus[Literally meaning YHWH is Salvation] wasn't just another prophet but the son of man with the unearthly experience of the first born of all creation by God.
-I know JWs constantly refer to Jesus as the "Son of Man," and "Yehowah" is too similar to "Jehovah" to be ignored (the words are philologically related).

-A Christian that does not believe in any of the pagan traditions picked up after the 1st century - The lORD our God is ONE.
-The JWs belive that any celebration added to the Christian church after the first century should not be celebrated (Christmas, Easter etc) because of their roots in pagan traditions.

-The inquisition would've know what to do with me - but I live in the currently tolerant and not so Ethnocentric US of A. Youre gonna have to make another catagory for people who dont exactly fit into your neat lil groups
- I don't know what the Spanish Inquisition would do, but Hitler did round up JWs and threw them in concentration camps like he did with the Jews (JWs wore a purple triangle on their clothes like the Jews wore the yellow Star of David)

You forgot agnostic (very different from atheism).

Amen! I, too, am agnostic and am quite tired of people trying to lump my beliefs with those of atheists. As far as I'm concerned, atheists have more in common with theists than they do with me.




Agnostic, though I was baptised as a Catholic.

I don't like religion at all. I refuse to have anything to do with the Catholic church.

Strange. I still have a great deal of affection for the Church, even though I disagree with it on many issues and call myself a "recovering Catholic."

Did the Church or a member of the clergy do something to cause this animosity?

I am Joannaist first, a Jimist second and a Satanist third.

Plus an admixture of various pagan, mainstream and downright odd beliefs.

Well, the reasons for my assertion...

-Originally Posted by Zhejiang
Im a Jew that believes in Jesus
-I have heard JWs refer to themselves as Jew-Christians

-A Muslim that believes Allah's name is Yehowah and that Jesus[Literally meaning YHWH is Salvation] wasn't just another prophet but the son of man with the unearthly experience of the first born of all creation by God.
-I know JWs constantly refer to Jesus as the "Son of Man," and "Yehowah" is too similar to "Jehovah" to be ignored (the words are philologically related).

-A Christian that does not believe in any of the pagan traditions picked up after the 1st century - The lORD our God is ONE.
-The JWs belive that any celebration added to the Christian church after the first century should not be celebrated (Christmas, Easter etc) because of their roots in pagan traditions.

-The inquisition would've know what to do with me - but I live in the currently tolerant and not so Ethnocentric US of A. Youre gonna have to make another catagory for people who dont exactly fit into your neat lil groups
- I don't know what the Spanish Inquisition would do, but Hitler did round up JWs and threw them in concentration camps like he did with the Jews (JWs wore a purple triangle on their clothes like the Jews wore the yellow Star of David)

Yes, yes, yes... but:

Do JWs ever refer to themselves as Muslims? Do they accept the Q'ran as devinely inspired?

Yes, yes, yes... but:

Do JWs ever refer to themselves as Muslims? Do they accept the Q'ran as devinely inspired?


I do not know...

EDIT:
No, they wouldn't, the Q'ran was penned in the sixth century; read what I said on their belief on everything after the first century...

Anyone else here who would call themself a Gnostic?

Christian.
Yay, Christ!
This poll is kinda defective. No Hindu, no Taoist, no agnostic, no Eastern Orthodox (all pointed out by others), also no Jainism (sort of like Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, but I'm open to correction on this), and no Baha'i.
I don't know if anybody still follows Confucianism. I'm pretty sure Shinto is still popular in Japan. Anyone know about modern Zoroastrianism?
Then you've got things like Christian Science, Divine Light Mission, EST, Hare Krishna, JW's, Mormonism (CJCLDS), New Age, Scientology, the Theosophical Society, Transcendental Meditation (TM), the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon (the 'Moonies'), Unity, the School of Economic Science.
Satanism, Wiccan, Paganism, Druidism.
Can you edit the poll to include these?

I've probably still left some out.

P.S. Jedi was sort of a student joke to put on the census, though I accept there may be some who truly base their lives on the continuing Star Wars cycle (Testament III out soon!)

I, personally, don't see how Muslims believe what they do. Jesus said he was the Messiah, yet Muslims say that he's a prophet and not the Savior.

The only difference is that they don't believe Jesus was the son of God. What's hard to understand?

Im a christian and extremly proud of it. In the bible it says God is the alpha and the omega meaning the begining and the end. I believe in God there are no others but him. I respect that people have a right to their opinions but hello ya'll are stupid I mean all ya'll atheists do u think were just here for no purpose at all, we are here to serve God and thats final so I suggest u think about what ya''ll are beilving its the diffrence between eternal life and hell.

It's a common mistake when people call Buddhism a religion; it's actually the world's most widely practiced philisophical system.

That being said, I am a Zen Buddhist.

Theistic Evolutionist (I believe in God, but don't follow any particular philosophy, an I accept the conclusions of science - like evolution)

Your poll doesn't have enough options. What about people who don't fit into any of those categories? Here's what I believe:

http://paradigmassociates.org/ParadigmSpirituality.html

I beleve in Death. Everything else is still a guess.

They dont believe that God could allow oen of his prophets to suffer, and die, at least not die like he did.

Oh yeah and I dont believe in the afterlife like most other religions do - scriptures and all available proof indicates that when you die youre not conscious of anything at all - like a deep sleep without dreaming - truely at rest. Of course as a Christian I believe God can resurect the dead, and there will be a resurection of the righteous and the unrighteous. That he can transfigure you into a spirit creature the same way Jesus was after his resurection - and the same way his personality complex was granted to him at his baptism when the LORD annointed him with his spirit.

No Hell for bad people and being good doesnt neccesarily get you into heaven. Show me the clear scriptural teaches that says all good people go to heaven - Show Me. :D


Heaven is complete Union with God; Hell is the utter lack of God's presence.

Muslim.

Any Jedi here?

But they still believe in him.

Satan believes in Jesus and trembles at the name, but it doesn't make him a Christian. There is no such thing as a Christian/Muslim or Christian/any other religion. You are either a Christian or you are something else. Whatever that something else is, in God's eyes is irrelivant since He has given only ONE name under heaven by which people are saved from his wrath, and from their own sin, and that is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the God-Man, who was born through the working of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, who lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, on the third day rose again, ascended into Heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father and who will come to judge the world at the Last Day, when everyone will give an account to him and confess that Christ is LORD (Jehovah God Himself). The salvation of his elect will be consumated and the rest will be punished eternally for their sins in the Lake of Fire where the smoke of their torment ascends up forever, where there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, where the worm never dies, and where there is no rest day or night. They will be tormented in the presence of God and his elect angels and saints, and this, along with the salvation of elect sinners will bring God eternal glory, which He deserves.These things are what defines a Christian. If you believe this, you are a Christian. If you do not, you are not a Christian, and are in danger of all the dreadful things previously said. This is not bigotry, but rather an encapsulation of true, orthodox Christianity. It is all taken from the Word of God. So if you have a problem with it you will have to take it up with the Maker. He of course, has spoken and will not change, neither can he.

Dmare, you are a sheep. You follow a book that is thousands of years old, with ancient ethics and irrational stories. A book is not always true even if it says it is. Religion is full of inconsistancy, faith is a form of control, and its responsible for the deaths of multitudes of people. All in all its a pretty bad institution. I would even argue that religion is the bane of mankind. Besides, burning in hell probably isn't all that bad knowing that things on Earth can be infinitely bad. Infact I think that burning in hell is a vacation compared to being alive. Great thought isn't it?

Yeah you guessed it I am an Athiest. But thats only what people who believe in god call me.

Boy this is lovely. What’s up with attack of the Christians? Everyone else managed to be polite but for some reason half the Christians in the world can't resist any opportunity to convert.

I personally am an atheist (which for me at least is the knowledge that every religion so far is wrong).

<blockquote>If they analyze the sciences however with an open mind in detail - they’d find all the evidence they'd need of the universes intelligent design. Besides it mathematically impossible the life could have started on its on by chance in an "evolution".</blockquote>

Actually, a common misconception outside the scientific community is that evolution explains how life came to be. In fact evolution explains how life changes after coming into being. Another theory explains how life comes to be.

And also point me to evidence of intelligent design and I'll point to a random collection of numbers that had to exist in at least one universe.

Dmare, you are a sheep. You follow a book that is thousands of years old, with ancient ethics and irrational stories. A book is not always true even if it says it is. Religion is full of inconsistancy, faith is a form of control, and its responsible for the deaths of multitudes of people. All in all its a pretty bad institution. I would even argue that religion is the bane of mankind. Besides, burning in hell probably isn't all that bad knowing that things on Earth can be infinitely bad. Infact I think that burning in hell is a vacation compared to being alive. Great thought isn't it?

Yeah you guessed it I am an Athiest. But thats only what people who believe in god call me.

Well, you certainly made plenty of ad hominem attacks on religion and on the Word of God without giving a shred of evidence, though actually I wouldn't expect that. Not because I think you are too unintelligent to do so, but because this isn't the proper forum for such things. The only way to truly discuss such things in a civil manner is face to face. All I did was to post what a true Christian is and that there is no such thing as a Christian/combination of any other religion.

And actually burning in Hell is meant as a punishment and is a punishment which works. But it never stops. That's the real problem. There are plenty of nice people who will end up side by side with Hitler and Uday and Qusay in hell, because they relied upon their good works or morals etc to get them into good favour with God. God conquers all of his enemies. He either converts them (like he did with me) or he destroys them, at least finally on the Last Day. I do not wish it upon anyone, as I am only a lowly sinner myself and deserving only God's wrath. But for reasons outside myself, and in the secret council of His kind will, he chose to not destroy me but to save me to Himself. If he so chooses to so the same for you, he will and there's nothing you can do about it. He will bring you to faith in his only son Jesus Christ and you will love him, his life, his death, his blood, his Spirit and his kingdom. Of course if God chooses to do such a graceful favour for you, you will not realise that he is doing it. You will think that you are choosing him. But if he chooses to leave you where you are, in your sin and misery, where you want to be anyhow and couldn't possibly bring him up on charges of wrongdoing for granting your fondest wish, then he will justly punish you for your sins. This is neither a joke, nor a fantasy. You were foreordained form the foundation of the world to read this and to be forewarned. I hope the warning works to your favour.

Theistic Evolutionist (I believe in God, but don't follow any particular philosophy, an I accept the conclusions of science - like evolution)

Bravo, I like the sound of that. I am so very tired of those that believe in God arguing with those that believe in science. I truly dislike having discussions[or arguments] about such things as evolution. Science is a very useful tool in the advancement of the human race and earth as a whole[and sadly the hindering of it as well]. As well as the belief of God can be very usefull to many people for personal and emotional advancement. This being said, I am generally an athiest.


Any Jedi here?

May the force be with you...

what if my religion isnt in the poll options?

You forgot to put in agnostic

I'm NOT agnostic

Protestant.

nope

ok let me start out by saying I am a christian. I was raised Baptist, was not a christian for a time, and then was "reborn" a Methodist. I don't go to church that often, i havent read half the bible and i couldnt give any fancy verses or stories to back my ideas up. but i am a christian at heart, i have confessed my sins and my love to god and god alone. i have my own views on some things that are different from others. i like my relationship with christ and i think he approves.

Im a christian and extremly proud of it. In the bible it says God is the alpha and the omega meaning the begining and the end. I believe in God there are no others but him. I respect that people have a right to their opinions but hello ya'll are stupid I mean all ya'll atheists do u think were just here for no purpose at all, we are here to serve God and thats final so I suggest u think about what ya''ll are beilving its the diffrence between eternal life and hell.
-Dmare

one thing that gets on my nerves is when christians give others a bad name cause they always have to start name calling and putting down others. i think when god means to go and profess his word and his love for all i dont think he had that in mind. try being nice when talking to others when you have different religious views. you are not going to set someone on the path to christ by bullying them. i was a wiccan for most of my teenage life and i had to face someone everyday trying to force me to go back to god and saying i was stupid. in time god chose the right time for me to see the light so to say. a true christian would respect others opinions and refrain from being an ass. god and god alone should be the one to judge them, not us.

[Qoute]
and you have two kinds of christianity there
-dakini [/Quote]

catholics and protestants (if that is what you are referring to) are christians true... but have different views and not considered one and the same. so it makes sense to split them up in a poll.

and i think this poll does need to have alot more options to respect the vast various religions out there like many have already pointed out.

I regard myself "agnostic": http://www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/humftp/E-text/Russell/agnostic.htm

Personally I think religion has been "invented" to controll the masses, it's so easy to get people to do what you want if you have some devine power at your side...

Luckily a lot of modern people see this and basically only use the basic rules for living. I wish some other religions would evolve a bit faster and not take everything that is written in their holy book so damn literally.

I would be a Pagan, yet another option left off the poll.

As for the brewing Athiest/Christian confrontation, I think I can claim a degree of neutrality in it, so that is good.

Christians: Not everyone believes what you do, learn to live with that. You may feel free to believe that I am destined to burn in hell, as long as you accept that I believe you are completely wrong.

Athiests: Despite what you might think Religion has done some good things for humanity. Also, let me at this time point out the Human Rights records of the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, and many other officially Athiest states that have massacred plenty of people in the name of their non-religion.

Athiests: Despite what you might think Religion has done some good things for humanity. Also, let me at this time point out the Human Rights records of the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, and many other officially Athiest states that have massacred plenty of people in the name of their non-religion.

Just because some atheists did bad things, doesn't mean that other atheists are bad too. A lack of belief in God did not drive them to kill people, the presence of a belief (in their system of government) drove them to kill people.

You missed one.

I'm a Catoist.

You missed one.

I'm a Catoist.

A what?

(and the pollmaker missed more than one)

I'm a Catoist.

No hits in google.... you just invented this so called "religion" didn't you?

Wahoo! Protestant and proud of it!

I make an educated guess that there will be twenty people who laugh at me for posting this.

Just because some atheists did bad things, doesn't mean that other atheists are bad too. A lack of belief in God did not drive them to kill people, the presence of a belief (in their system of government) drove them to kill people.

Indeed, now let's change a few key words there...

Just because some religious people did bad things, doesn't mean that other religious people are bad too. A belief in a Deity did not drive them to kill people, the presence of a belief (in their system of government) drove them to kill people.

That was more or less the point I was trying to make. I just get a little annoyed with Atheists talking about all the evil religion has created, while ignoring the fact that Athiests have blood on their hands too. Evil exists in the world, and it comes in a lot of different forms, but just because some members in a group were evil does not mean all members of that group are evil.

Agnostic, though I was baptised as a Catholic.

I don't like religion at all. I refuse to have anything to do with the Catholic church.

If you don't like religion at all... then shouldn't you be an atheist? If you hate the church, then aren't you an atheist?
:confused:

Indeed, now let's change a few key words there...



That was more or less the point I was trying to make. I just get a little annoyed with Atheists talking about all the evil religion has created, while ignoring the fact that Athiests have blood on their hands too. Evil exists in the world, and it comes in a lot of different forms, but just because some members in a group were evil does not mean all members of that group are evil.

Fair enough. I wouldn't argue against that.

If you don't like religion at all... then shouldn't you be an atheist? If you hate the church, then aren't you an atheist?
:confused:

No, agnostics don't go to church either.

Also, the difference between agnostics and atheists is in belief, not likes and dislikes.

This poll is defective.

The fact that there is no Hinduism choice or a Jain choice is suprising since both have more members than Sikhism.

Agnosticsm isn't on the list

Nor is an "Other" choice.

Anyway, has anyone ever heard of Zoroastrianism?

Anyway, has anyone ever heard of Zoroastrianism?

Yes, I have.

Anyway, has anyone ever heard of Zoroastrianism?

Only the basics. Eternal battle between good and evil, Ahriman and Jaziran, etc.

uh, heady discussion.
Baptist/Born Again/Anti-Organized Religion/Pro-Example of Christ Protestant.
Oh spent 8 years in a Catholic school.

No hits in google.... you just invented this so called "religion" didn't you?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/caodaism.htm

There, happy?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/caodaism.htm
There, happy?

I almost lost my belief in Google, the word "Catoist" can't be found... so I guess you misspelled it :)

I almost lost my belief in Google, the word "Catoist" can't be found... so I guess you misspelled it :)

Surely caodaism -> caodaist, not catoist?

I'm a practicing orthodox Roman Catholic (or as Protestants would call me a "Papist") who attempts to follow the teachings of Jesus.

Surely caodaism -> caodaist, not catoist?

Jupz, thats it: http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&q=caodaist&btnG=Google+zoeken&lr=

BOW BEFORE THE MIGHT OF THE MIGHTY GOOGLE!!!

I'm a Discordian. Hail Eris.

I'm a Discordian. Hail Eris.

Discordians all work, I mean play, in their spare time, on Operation Mindfuck - an insidious yet disorganized attempt to tear down your old mental paradigms without offering anything with which to replace them. Techniques include everything from elaborate pranks, to...well, simple pranks. Sort of a Zen version of the Merry Pranksters.

Cool :) Where do I sign-up?

----Quote:
Well I'm surprised that you don't know that we as Muslims believe that Jesus (AS) was a Messiah as well as a Prophet. We do not believe however he was the Lord nor his son. We believe Jesus (AS) was not divine and he was not crucified. If you actually do your research you will realise that Christianity entwined many pagan beliefs like Mithraism which has the resurrection story and the ancient Greek logos which has the trinity.

I know all this but as a historian, I believe God works through history, religion and science(He created all 3) so of course there are pagan aspects to the story of Jesus. God's ultimate plan was to convert pagans of course the Jesus Movement contained aspects of paganism! (Allah is named after a pagan Arabian moon god I believe not to mention all its many other pagan aspects) And I do believe Jesus was divine because Jesus was the summation of the FULL human potential. I believe EVERY human being has within them the power to do the things Jesus did BUT no other human will ever be abe to do ALL the things Jesus did. The Son of God used His human body and rose from the dead to show us ALL what we are capable of if we can completely cleanse our souls of sin. Jesus was a human being born without the hinderance of Original Sin like the rest of us this is why no other human can truly live to their full potential until their spirit passes on to Heaven.

I hope that what I'm saying is clear. I've studied many religions but through my education in history and religion(especially the evolution of it) I can come to no other conclusion than that Jesus truly was sent here to save us from Original Sin and lead us to Heaven. Jesus freed humanity from having to live by a religion of Law, by Jesus dying on the Cross and conquering Death... all humanity now has to do is accept His sacrifice nothing more.

It would be possible to tie the bible with science, that it is metaphor for simpler times, so they culd understand how the wolrd was created without understanding... I know it sounds far fetched, but f god exists, my faith is undecided as of yet, but perhaps an all knowing being could just set up the big bang and let it go. I mean the 7 days is just a metaphor for the order stuff happened in?

It would be possible to tie the bible with science, that it is metaphor for simpler times, so they culd understand how the wolrd was created without understanding... I know it sounds far fetched, but f god exists, my faith is undecided as of yet, but perhaps an all knowing being could just set up the big bang and let it go. I mean the 7 days is just a metaphor for the order stuff happened in?
that's not tying the Bible to science, that's tying it to curiosity. people wanted to understand how things worked, and they didn't have the opportunity to find out the truth, so they made up stories to satisfy their curiosity. that is exactly opposed to the most fundamental principles of science, unfortunately, but it is a very understandable human impulse.

as for God starting the Big Bang, that could never be proven or disproven, no matter how advanced science becomes.

as for God starting the Big Bang, that could never be proven or disproven, no matter how advanced science becomes.

Surely it could be proven that physical laws alone could cause the big bang, without the need for divine intervention?

Jesus was a human being born without the hinderance of Original Sin like the rest of us this is why no other human can truly live to their full potential until their spirit passes on to Heaven.

What a load of bs... for a women to give birth the DNA of both a human male and a human female is needed. (unlike some worms we need to combine our DNA to recreate)

We evolved from monkees by pure chance and are nothing but intelligent animals. The only reason religion was invented was to explain things that our primitive ancestors couldn't explain, later on religion became an ideal instrument to control the masses.

Personally I think religion can be a fine thing as long as people regard the tales as a guide to right / wrong. Taking these tales literally is just foolish, if you have 10 people in line and have them pass on a story... by the time the last person tells the story it will be nothing like the original story. Now think about the centuries that passed and the sheer number of people that told these old tales.

It's all logic...

i am hindu and worship ganesha

Surely it could be proven that physical laws alone could cause the big bang, without the need for divine intervention?
nope, because it could always be claimed that those physical laws are controlled by a supernatural force. the problem is that science is confined by the assumption of materialism (that there is a material, "real" cause for things around us), and God is supernatural in nature. hell, one could easily argue that God interferes with all our scientific measuring instruments, making them read out whatever He chooses...we could never disprove that He does or doesn't do that, because God is not postulated in a scientific manner. there are no predictions made about God's actions, because God is all-powerful and is could do any of an infinite number of things, and so we can never disprove the existence of some God.

to some people, this means that we should believe in God. to me, this means it is ridiculous to waste time believing in God, because everything i just said about God is equally true of The Invisible Fire-Breathing Unicorn In The Sky.

Recovering catholic, then Wiccan, now Zen Buddhist.

That's pretty much true, and it's pretty clear that if this is the case then it's pretty much irrelevant whether or not God exists, because stuff happens just the same either way. If he only works by ccontrolling physical forces then he is also bound by them, he can't make an anvil materialise out of thin air and land on your head, so any kind of act of god could also happen as an act of not-god.

...member of the clergy do something to cause this animosity?

I hope not! *shudders*

It's a common mistake when people call Buddhism a religion; it's actually the world's most widely practiced philisophical system.

And yet it's still 'classified' as a religion.

Though I suppose when you think about it, what is religion then other then a way of thinking and acting?

nope, because it could always be claimed that those physical laws are controlled by a supernatural force. the problem is that science is confined by the assumption of materialism (that there is a material, "real" cause for things around us), and God is supernatural in nature. hell, one could easily argue that God interferes with all our scientific measuring instruments, making them read out whatever He chooses...we could never disprove that He does or doesn't do that, because God is not postulated in a scientific manner. there are no predictions made about God's actions, because God is all-powerful and is could do any of an infinite number of things, and so we can never disprove the existence of some God.

to some people, this means that we should believe in God. to me, this means it is ridiculous to waste time believing in God, because everything i just said about God is equally true of The Invisible Fire-Breathing Unicorn In The Sky.

Oh well. It seems to me that an entity cannot be both perfect, and possess human traits (and therefore flaws). This, however, is what theists believe in. I see it as contradictory, and therefore, non-existent.

The possession of human traits is also a major indicator that God is an idea conceived out of human imagination rather than an existing being.

I am Roman Catholic.

extra ecclesiam nulla salus

Oh well. It seems to me that an entity cannot be both perfect, and possess human traits (and therefore flaws). This, however, is what theists believe in. I see it as contradictory, and therefore, non-existent.

The possession of human traits is also a major indicator that God is an idea conceived out of human imagination rather than an existing being.

The above pretty much sums up my ideas about religion, although not about God - it is possible that there is a "real" god, who is completely and utterly different from the gods of religions. Because if the God of eg christianity were real, he'd basically be like a human, and a petty one at that, only with absolute power. Now has anyone ever heard that quote about power corrupting...

The real god wouldn't actually care about our pathetic little problems - how many people pray to god to win the lottery? - and would in fact be either incapable of interfering with our universe for reasons of being our universe (if you're everywhere, you gotta be everything) or would consider that cheating - like you set things off and then you watch to see where it's all going, it's like the sims, only more complex and less involved.

And yet it's still 'classified' as a religion.

Though I suppose when you think about it, what is religion then other then a way of thinking and acting?

Yes, that is true. However, in religion that way of thinking and acting is always governed by a divine or semi-divine force.

(dictionary.com definition)

re·li·gion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-ljn)
n.

1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

1. Does not hold true for Buddhism.
2. Does not hold true if you use the First definition as a basis.
3. True
4. True

A deadheat. I suppose that if you defined #2 as holding true, then by majority Buddhism would be a religion. But, I believe that #1 is the most commonly held definition of the word, which does not apply to Buddhism.

*shrug* Either way, define it as you will. I was just pointing out a common fact.

The above pretty much sums up my ideas about religion, although not about God - it is possible that there is a "real" god, who is completely and utterly different from the gods of religions. Because if the God of eg christianity were real, he'd basically be like a human, and a petty one at that, only with absolute power. Now has anyone ever heard that quote about power corrupting...

The real god wouldn't actually care about our pathetic little problems - how many people pray to god to win the lottery? - and would in fact be either incapable of interfering with our universe for reasons of being our universe (if you're everywhere, you gotta be everything) or would consider that cheating - like you set things off and then you watch to see where it's all going, it's like the sims, only more complex and less involved.

Yes, I thought about that. But if something is the universe, we can just call it "the universe". We don't need to call it "God" at all.

Im a christian and extremly proud of it. In the bible it says God is the alpha and the omega meaning the begining and the end. I believe in God there are no others but him. I respect that people have a right to their opinions but hello ya'll are stupid I mean all ya'll atheists do u think were just here for no purpose at all, we are here to serve God and thats final so I suggest u think about what ya''ll are beilving its the diffrence between eternal life and hell.

Puppet? or Troll?

Agnostic.

Satan believes in Jesus and trembles at the name, but it doesn't make him a Christian. There is no such thing as a Christian/Muslim or Christian/any other religion. You are either a Christian or you are something else. Whatever that something else is, in God's eyes is irrelivant since He has given only ONE name under heaven by which people are saved from his wrath, and from their own sin, and that is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the God-Man, who was born through the working of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, who lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, on the third day rose again, ascended into Heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father and who will come to judge the world at the Last Day, when everyone will give an account to him and confess that Christ is LORD (Jehovah God Himself). The salvation of his elect will be consumated and the rest will be punished eternally for their sins in the Lake of Fire where the smoke of their torment ascends up forever, where there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, where the worm never dies, and where there is no rest day or night. They will be tormented in the presence of God and his elect angels and saints, and this, along with the salvation of elect sinners will bring God eternal glory, which He deserves.These things are what defines a Christian. If you believe this, you are a Christian. If you do not, you are not a Christian, and are in danger of all the dreadful things previously said. This is not bigotry, but rather an encapsulation of true, orthodox Christianity. It is all taken from the Word of God. So if you have a problem with it you will have to take it up with the Maker. He of course, has spoken and will not change, neither can he.

First: the worm that never dies is a metaphor - for guilt... hence the fact that the Hebrew and Greek versions use the names of two different creatures... and it is only in the modern English translation that this gets corrupted to one 'worm'.

Two: The lake of fire, is similarly a metaphor, based on the location near Jerusalem where the detritus from the city was heaped an burned. In reality, all the 'sinners' in the world wouldn't fit within the geography of "Gehenna".

Three: If you think that the 'sinners' wailing and gnashing their teeth is giving god glory, you really need to re-read your bible.

Fourth: You obviously haven't even read the bible, if you believe Jesus was buried.

Fifth: The thing that defines you as a christian is following the teachings of christ. (Of course, we could go into a lengthy debate about how Jesus failed to meet the requirements of Messiah, and so couldn't be The Christ... but, we'll save that...) Anything else (armageddon, virgin-mothers, cruci-fiction) makes you a follower of a book, but not a better christian.

Sixth: I followed your advice. I took it up with 'the Maker', and he said you were wrong. Sorry... but, I guess he would know!

Fourth: You obviously haven't even read the bible, if you believe Jesus was buried.

Sorry to intrude, but I have to ask exactly what you mean by this ridiculous comment?

A deadheat. I suppose that if you defined #2 as holding true, then by majority Buddhism would be a religion. But, I believe that #1 is the most commonly held definition of the word, which does not apply to Buddhism.

*shrug* Either way, define it as you will. I was just pointing out a common fact.

Indeed. I wasn’t doubting the veracity of your statement, not by any means.

First: the worm that never dies is a metaphor - for guilt... hence the fact that the Hebrew and Greek versions use the names of two different creatures... and it is only in the modern English translation that this gets corrupted to one 'worm'.

No kidding. What you didn't notice is that it changes nothing. That's the point. The worm (guilt) never stops and therefore the punishment never stops. It is etrernal and conscious. This is not something I take enjoyment in, as I have no right to. I am just as guilty of sin as anyone and deserving of a place in Hell. However, that is not my destiny. Not because I'm better but because God elected me out of his mere good pleasure.

Two: The lake of fire, is similarly a metaphor, based on the location near Jerusalem where the detritus from the city was heaped an burned. In reality, all the 'sinners' in the world wouldn't fit within the geography of "Gehenna".


Actually Gehenna is an existing metaphor for the larger reality which is an actual "garbage dump" for the refuse of wicked mankind. This is where all who rebell against God and remain in that estate until death will be cast. This is the teaching of Christ.


Three: If you think that the 'sinners' wailing and gnashing their teeth is giving god glory, you really need to re-read your bible.

Actually it isn't my idea, it is from the Bible, both OT and NT. God in the OT "got himself glory" by destroying the pagan armies through both the agency of Israel (which was an existing metaphor for the church which now is the true Israel and really has always been, since those who are the favoured of God are those embued with the "faith of Abraham" -- having nothing to do with physical birth but with spiritual) or by miracle. I'll be glad to bring out references should you ask for them.

Fourth: You obviously haven't even read the bible, if you believe Jesus was buried.

Being placed in a grave whether it be an above ground tomb or under the earth is considered as being BURIED. Don't be an ass.


Fifth: The thing that defines you as a christian is following the teachings of christ. (Of course, we could go into a lengthy debate about how Jesus failed to meet the requirements of Messiah, and so couldn't be The Christ... but, we'll save that...)

Well actually you are incapable of believing that Christ is the Messiah, not because of any such thing that you mentioned but because God has not chosen to give you that gift, at least not at this time. Greater Greek and Hebrew scholars than yourself and Christians who know nothing of either language have come to know. It is by direct revelation from God himself in their hearts and minds. It is to know absolute truth and reality. In movie terms, it is to have taken the Red Pill. Everyone else is already on a steady diet of the Blue Pill.

I am not claiming to know ALL TRUTH or ALL THINGS, but I do know THE truth. God's elect know the voice of the Good Shepherd and will not harken to a stranger. Perhaps God will make you willing as well. It takes that miracle. You cannot just "decide" to "follow Jesus". That is an impossibility. You can and may "decide" to follow a religion, but you cannot "decide" to actually love God as he is. That is impossible. That can only be put in you by the outside Source.


Anything else (armageddon, virgin-mothers, cruci-fiction) makes you a follower of a book, but not a better christian.

Says who?

Sixth: I followed your advice. I took it up with 'the Maker', and he said you were wrong. Sorry... but, I guess he would know!

Now you are lying. You don't know Christ and therefore cannot know God. He pays no attention to your prayers. You have no mediator. You cannot come into the presence of a Holy God and expect to live. Obviously you are still alive, so God was merciful and kept you out of His presence. Only those who are covered in Christ's blood are able to "boldly enter the throne room of grace crying Abba (my Daddy), Father". Nothing unclean enters.

There is still time to repent.

No kidding. What you didn't notice is that it changes nothing. That's the point. The worm (guilt) never stops and therefore the punishment never stops. It is etrernal and conscious. This is not something I take enjoyment in, as I have no right to. I am just as guilty of sin as anyone and deserving of a place in Hell. However, that is not my destiny. Not because I'm better but because God elected me out of his mere good pleasure.


What you didn't notice is that one of the 'worms' referred to eats carrion, and the other is a caterpillar. Obviously, this is a metaphor, since caterpillars are not well reknowned for their 'dwelling in flesh'.


Actually Gehenna is an existing metaphor for the larger reality which is an actual "garbage dump" for the refuse of wicked mankind. This is where all who rebell against God and remain in that estate until death will be cast. This is the teaching of Christ.


No, Gehenna is a very specific geographical location. We could go there right now... I could show it to you. 'Gehinnom' or 'the Valley of Hinnom' - near Jerusalem. It matters not, to me, what prophets of the past believed about the place, the fact remains that it is a real geographic location.


Actually it isn't my idea, it is from the Bible, both OT and NT. God in the OT "got himself glory" by destroying the pagan armies through both the agency of Israel (which was an existing metaphor for the church which now is the true Israel and really has always been, since those who are the favoured of God are those embued with the "faith of Abraham" -- having nothing to do with physical birth but with spiritual) or by miracle. I'll be glad to bring out references should you ask for them.


And destroying armies is one thing. Force of arms could be considered glorious. Torturing someone mercilessly for all eternity lacks glory... and comes across, in fact, as kind of sordid and petty.


Being placed in a grave whether it be an above ground tomb or under the earth is considered as being BURIED. Don't be an ass.


Actually, being placed in a 'tomb' isn't being buried in the modern sense, it is being 'entombed' - hence the two different terms. Of course, if you mean by etymology, using the old english "byrgels" (meaning tomb), you might have a case... except that the New Testament wasn't written in old english, and the KJV translations weren't translated into old english... so your argument would be moot.


Well actually you are incapable of believing that Christ is the Messiah, not because of any such thing that you mentioned but because God has not chosen to give you that gift, at least not at this time. Greater Greek and Hebrew scholars than yourself and Christians who know nothing of either language have come to know. It is by direct revelation from God himself in their hearts and minds. It is to know absolute truth and reality. In movie terms, it is to have taken the Red Pill. Everyone else is already on a steady diet of the Blue Pill.

I am not claiming to know ALL TRUTH or ALL THINGS, but I do know THE truth. God's elect know the voice of the Good Shepherd and will not harken to a stranger. Perhaps God will make you willing as well. It takes that miracle. You cannot just "decide" to "follow Jesus". That is an impossibility. You can and may "decide" to follow a religion, but you cannot "decide" to actually love God as he is. That is impossible. That can only be put in you by the outside Source.


You ARE claiming to KNOW more than you possibly can... how do you know I haven't received the 'gift' of 'revelation'? By your definition of the 'miracle' of enlightenment, I DO KNOW "absolute truth and reality".

Furthermore, alongside that divine knowledge, I have a grasp of the Hebrew and Greek texts (which I am obviously inspired in my study of) which enables me to know that Jesus didn't meet the necessary requirements for Messiah - and, therefore isn't the Christ.


Now you are lying. You don't know Christ and therefore cannot know God. He pays no attention to your prayers. You have no mediator. You cannot come into the presence of a Holy God and expect to live. Obviously you are still alive, so God was merciful and kept you out of His presence. Only those who are covered in Christ's blood are able to "boldly enter the throne room of grace crying Abba (my Daddy), Father". Nothing unclean enters.

There is still time to repent.

How do you know I don't know Christ? You are making assumptions, and passing judgement without evidence. I would like you to PROVE that i didn't converse with God on this very matter.

Well i think you're both nuts. But especially Stegokitty, the moment you declare that someone doesn't know God if they don't know Christ, you go down in notch my book... :D ...and what religions (i probably shouldn't be so rash as to say something that inspecific) are you people, hmm?