NationStates Jolt Archive

Kind of following up on the idea of "What god is good" thread, before it became a Bible debate:

what about your religious beliefs that reassures you, pleases you or brings you happiness? What makes you want to follow that one particular religion? Why not others? What do you love about the teachings or concepts of your religion?

I want a different and interesting debate, not another flame war or "Nuh-uh!""Yuh-uh!""Nuh-uh!" type debates about the truth of one religion over another. This is not intended to be theological, but personal.

Agnostics and atheists are welcome to contribute, if they feel it appropriate,

Please bear in mind the following points before posting.

I want to AVOID:
* A debate over the validity/truth of any particular religion or belief
* A debate concerning the validity of all or part of the Bible texts
* A debate concerning the historical claims of Christianity
* A debate concerning the existing of any gods/god
* A debate about teh ebil Christians/Jews/atheists/communists
* It is in no way a debate about either capitalism or communism

I blame the communist jews.

A non-dogmatic, equal approach, wherein there is no sense of "you evil person go and beg for forgiveness".

In a forum designed for debate, you have banned debate. Err... yeah.

Good luck! I'm sure there'll be a hijack....

Personally, I wouldn't say my beliefs give me any comfort, or please me particularly, they just seem the best of a bad bunch, by my own criteria. At best, I don't feel like I am deceiving myself.

Woohoo! Nihilism ftw!

I like the fact that it has nothing to do with my own ability, or my own doing. My salvation is brought about by someone who I believe cannot fail. My help, hope, and strength in trouble is in someone infinitely more powerful than I will ever be.

I guess its comforting to have someone watching over you, though how that works into atheism I have no idea

also I'm in it for the bitter humour :)

I blame the communist jews.

your beliefs are wrong! it was clearly the capitalist Muslims :tongue:

I like how it all fits together perfectly and how I can't find faults in it yet. Also the people are so nice and we all know each other and get along very well. I have a testimony that it's true so that's my foundation for my faith.

It has to be the socialist atheists not the muslims or jews!!

No,no- Socialist Atheists.

In a forum designed for debate, you have banned debate. Err... yeah.

welcome to NSG :wink:

No,no- Socialist Atheists.

pfft everyone knows Atheists don't exist, I mean its like saying that a magical teapot exists!

In a forum designed for debate, you have banned debate. Err... yeah.

Not really. I just want to avoid the usual traps where everything gets sucked into

"The Bible says"
"Nuh uh!"
"Yuh-huh!"
"nuh-uh... that's not what wiki says!"

etc. etc. etc.

I want to get what peoples personal feelings are about their religion, over their theology.

welcome to NSG :wink:



pfft everyone knows Atheists don't exist, I mean its like saying that a magical teapot exists!

Pfft. Of course magical teapots exsist. They're positively crowding the lagrange points all over the solar system.

welcome to NSG :wink:

I've been here since 2004. I was once named NS's most random poster. :p

pfft everyone knows Atheists don't exist, I mean its like saying that a magical teapot exists!

But they must exist, otherwise how would I make my magical tea? "Brewo tea magicula ergo teapotum magicum est" As I'm sure Descartes would have said, if he ever got to try acid.

Pfft. Of course magical teapots exsist. They're positively crowding the lagrange points all over the solar system.

or maybe lagrange points just happen to be where teapots exist? ;)

I've been here since 2004. I was once named NS's most random poster. :p

and yet you still think this forum involves debate? :p

But they must exist, otherwise how would I make my magical tea?

Jews.

In a forum designed for debate, you have banned debate. Err... yeah.

"General For discussion and debate about anything."

discusson

There's no rule saying that everything has to be an argument.

Anyway, as for how my beliefs make me happy or whatever, it's hard to say. They just do in a way. In the same way that even as an adult, knowing you have, say, a mother might make one happy. Just feeling that even though not omnipotent, there is a wholly good being (I don't believe in an omnipotent god), and of course belief in afterlife is pretty good for my morale.

"General For discussion and debate about anything."

discusson

There's no rule saying that everything has to be an argument.

You have me there. I'll just crawl back into my hole and laugh at you all.

Jews.

I'm not sure I could use a Jew as a magical teapot. But I must admit (believe it or not!) I have never tried.

The most liberating moment of my life was when I realized that I wasn't required to believe anything.

The Word Is Dog

The Bounty Hunter? :eek:

Although I am an atheist, I do follow two different religions. Discordianism and Pastafarianism. What I like about them is that they provide much lulz. What more could one want?

Asking other peoples feelings about it... realised I haven't put my own here yet. For me religion works on several levels...

* Reassurance. The gods will be there. Whatever this world and the next throws at me, they and those who came before will be there. No one is ever entirely alone.

* Greatness. The gods are greater than I can ever be. By dedicating my effort to their glory, and not my own, I can work toward something far more significant and meaningful than a personal end. I can serve those far greater than myself.

* Love. The gods are so great, and so beneficent and loving toward us (and this can be harsh sometimes, such is the way of things) that it is impossible for me not to have unconditional love for them.

* Purpose. Related to the bit on greatness, I suppose. Through the gods, I have a purpose beyond myself. It gives me focus, and helps me through times of doubt and hardship.

* Pragmatism. Not directly from the gods themselves, but related to my religion, I was forced to question a lot of my previously held assumptions, and develop a world view more elastic and tolerant than I previously held.

* Culture. My appreciation of culture - literature, poetry and art are thanks to the gods. Actually, everything is, but these in particular are important to me.

* History. Awareness of my own family, those who brought me up and those before them. Growing up myself I never considered this and it left me rootless. Having it back is a great gift.

* Stability. There is a way for things to be, and everything has an order, and it will balance out in time regardless. Rather than crusade against the entire world, my religion has let focus on ordering my own affairs and my own world as they should be. It's something I am very grateful for.

Although I am an atheist, I do follow two different religions. Discordianism and Pastafarianism. What I like about them is that they provide much lulz. What more could one want?

Bolognaise that isn't so damn watery.

I guess its comforting to have someone watching over you, though how that works into atheism I have no idea

also I'm in it for the bitter humour :)

Bitter humor is what makes me smile on the train... Don't underestimate it's powerful to (counter-intuitively) lighten the heart... I wouldn't say it's a religion, but it certainly features. There are darkly satisfying elemtns to my philopshy, and i like it that way...

your beliefs are wrong! it was clearly the capitalist Muslims :tongue:

Actually all Muslims are commies, that's why they have commie guns like the AK47... *nods*


Personally, I wouldn't say my beliefs give me any comfort, or please me particularly, they just seem the best of a bad bunch, by my own criteria. At best, I don't feel like I am deceiving myself.

Woohoo! Nihilism ftw!

But maybe you just telling yourself that? ;)

The most liberating moment of my life was when I realized that I wasn't required to believe anything.

What made you think otherwise?

Bolognaise that isn't so damn watery.

There's only so much Eris or the FSM can reasonably do for you before they get distracted by more pressing matters.

I think faith has more to do with the idea of having a comfort over things that are beyond our personal control. It's coming up with answers for things that there are no explanation for. Newton asked why the apple fell. Some people would say "because god wanted it to". It obviosly isn't true but people have called science "the devils work" because they have found ignorance through bliss. If it brings you security in an otherwise hectic world, it can't be all that bad, no matter what it's saying.

-Snip-



What made you think otherwise?

The consistent propaganda dealt out to me during vulnerable moments of my life. Apparently it didn't take.

I guess I like how everything happens for a reason, even if something bad happens. I also like how there's a goal in going to Heaven, it gives life purpose.

I'm a Pastafarian because we get to have delicious noodles on Fridays. :)

Also, as I am the high priest in our local chapter, I can bless noodles so that no matter how small an amount is, the person eating it will still be full.

Kind of following up on the idea of "What god is good" thread, before it became a Bible debate:

what about your religious beliefs that reassures you, pleases you or brings you happiness? What makes you want to follow that one particular religion? Why not others? What do you love about the teachings or concepts of your religion?

I want a different and interesting debate, not another flame war or "Nuh-uh!""Yuh-uh!""Nuh-uh!" type debates about the truth of one religion over another. This is not intended to be theological, but personal.

Agnostics and atheists are welcome to contribute, if they feel it appropriate,

Please bear in mind the following points before posting.

I want to AVOID:
* A debate over the validity/truth of any particular religion or belief
* A debate concerning the validity of all or part of the Bible texts
* A debate concerning the historical claims of Christianity
* A debate concerning the existing of any gods/god
* A debate about teh ebil Christians/Jews/atheists/communists
* It is in no way a debate about either capitalism or communism

I ABSOLUTELY believe in God, and it saddens me, but, I'm ABSOLUTELY sure that we, meaning , The ENTIRE Human Specie, have COMPLETELY perverted and overlooked the meaning of our Creator's main message/lesson to us, the Created.
The only group that seems to "get it" in MY book seems to be The Wiccans, and I quote their ONE commandment;-

"An Ye do no harm; do what 'ye will".

-The WISEST words I have heard in a lifetime of living with religion.

I'm a Pastafarian because we get to have delicious noodles on Fridays. :)

Also, as I am the high priest in our local chapter, I can bless noodles so that no matter how small an amount is, the person eating it will still be full.

"In The Puddle" ROCKS webcomics!:D

I'm a Pastafarian because we get to have delicious noodles on Fridays. :)

Also, as I am the high priest in our local chapter, I can bless noodles so that no matter how small an amount is, the person eating it will still be full.

Aren't noodles nothing more than a poor reflection on the greatness of Spaghetti, though?

I like to believe that I will reincarnate, in to something. Maybe an albino super intelligent Gorilla?