What's your religion?

[Siren]

I made it clear on my license, in my will, and with my family, donate anything needed. Organs, eyes, skin, etc. I believe once we die, our soul ascends from our body, and decomposition starts. Once I am dead, my body is an empty shell, why not give what I can to help others? In the wake of my death, if I can save or help one or more people to live, then my time here was worth all their lifetimes

[my chicken is infected]

I consider myself a Christian, but I've been questioning things a lot lately. I really think that maybe if this Christianity thing IS a hoax, I still like to believe there's an afterlife and a higher power, because honestly, there's a lot of stuff that just doesn't allow me to believe that all this is just something that happened randomly.

I'm not so sure I believe that people go to Hell anymore for not following Christianity. I believe there's a place in Heaven for the atheists, the agnostics, the Pagans, the Wiccans, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc. I think if you do good and you live good and don't spend your life willfully hurting other people to further your own agenda or heighten your station in life, you'll be rewarded, and if you spend your life spreading evil and hatred, you'll be punished. And maybe you'll even get a chance to repent for all of that and then go to the beautiful place of eternal life. Who knows?

[ajmrowland]

To be frank, I'm Cristian and just as anti-organized religion as anyone here.

And I'm against abortion, because if people were smart, they'd use protection.

[xxhplinkxx]

And I'm against abortion, because if people were smart, they'd use protection.

Just FYI, it doesn't necessarily guarantee she won't get pregnant. And then there are also rape victims. Wanna go to tell them they should have used protection?


You know, to be honest, I really don't know how I feel about abortion or whether it's right or wrong, but I do know this: I'm pro-choice. I'm not the woman having to deal with the pregnancies and neither are the men in this country who are against it. Even if I come to find I'm against it, I still would want women to have the option because I don't appreciate people telling me I can't do something, so women should have the choice to do what they feel is right with their bodies.

[Prudence]

And I'm against abortion, because if people were smart, they'd use protection.

Just FYI, it doesn't necessarily guarantee she won't get pregnant. And then there are also rape victims. Wanna go to tell them they should have used protection?

I have a friend who was unwanted by his parents and conceived while his mother was using nearly about every form of birth control possible, and he still has the "if people were smart, they'd use protection" mindset. I'm not fully sure why. Maybe he thinks he and the others who came to exist in similar ways were destined to exist, or something. By the way, I'm also anti-abortion. I don't feel like abortion and religion should be tied together. Religion shouldn't be our basis for determining what's alive and what's not. I'm anti-abortion because there are so many better options than abortion, because discarding human beings as not worthy of life is revolting, and on a much more personal level, because my mother has told me time and again that she sincerely wished she had aborted me.

Getting back on the subject of religion, I'm irritated with all the anti-Mormon talk in my area. I have Mormon relatives who live perfectly regular lives, monogamist lives to boot.

[a-net-fan]

I don't appreciate people telling me I can't do something, so women should have the choice to do what they feel is right with their bodies.

But its not about their bodies....its about the bodies and the human life inside of them.

[DonMickGoof]

Officially i´m catholic, but I don´t believe in anything. But i believe that faith could help some people.

[Disney's Divinity]

Not to turn this into an abortion thread, but I completely agree with you, xxhplinkxx. If I had the choice (and I never will), I know I wouldn't have an abortion. But I'm not going to be so presumptuous to decide for everyone else that it's wrong. This really is connected to religion, to be honest, because it comes down between believing your soul comes into being at conception or you don't become truly "alive" until you've grown (at least a few months after conception). And then there's that whole, "If you can't live outside the mother, then you're not really alive," debate.

As for religion, my feelings haven't changed since my last post. However, I think taking a New Testament religion class in college kind of justified why I don't take the Bible too seriously (translations, changes, additions lateron, manipulation, etc.). I use the Bible mostly as tales that give some kind of "theological truth" rather than as literal fact (although I know many people take it as the latter, though that's strange to me personally). I think a few of the stories should be taken seriously, but most of them come off more figuratively--the stories of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel being the best examples of that.

[xxhplinkxx]

I understand what you mean, Adam, but until the life is growing inside you, or you're the one who helped create it, it's not up to you, me, or anyone but them to decide what they should or shouldn't do.

You believe in God, I don't. Doesn't mean I'm gonna say you can't believe in him just because I don't.

Isn't that the whole point of this country? To give people the freedom to do what they want with their lives? I wish religion would stop trying to control everything under the damn sun.

[Siren]

I am not pro-abortion, but I am not anti-choice either. I wish abortion wasn't used, certainly. I am not going to nitpick on whether its a glob of cells or a baby/life/soul at conception. I wish more people would choose adoption over abortion. But after seeing what the system is like and where these kids go and how many fall through the cracks and end up in abusive homes or runaways who turn to drugs and prostitution, I can't say I can really blame people for deciding death over putting them into a screwed up adoption system here in the USA. Here in Florida, its especially bad and hypocritical. A few years ago, there was a huge internal investigation into DCF after so many kids fell through the cracks and were killed by the people DCF appointed as guardians. One DCF killed herself. Why? Because it was rampant statewide...they were forging documents that they checked on the children. A child who was then 2, is still missing, because her worker said she visited her for a year....never did. America as a whole, their adoption process sucks. People are going to other countries to adopt because its easier. And Florida, hypocrite to the end...If a gay couple wants to foster a child, they can. If they want to adopt that child, they can't. Its illegal for homosexuals to adopt children in Florida...but they can foster them....makes total sense. So I can see why some people think their baby is better off to die early then risk living a life of being sexual abused, beaten, or on the streets, because that is where a majority of these kids are, least here in Florida.

On the other end of the spectrum...abortion is NOT birth control. I hate and am sickened by anyone who gets more than one abortion. The likelihood of getting pregnant twice while using condoms or birth control pills is pretty slim. There was a Law and Order show once about how at this one abortion clinic, they were sterilizing women who got abortion after abortion, without their knowledge. If such a thing is happening...I'm sorry...but those doctors are heroes. Its one thing to screw up once, for birth control to fail once, to get raped once...but I think abortion is a one shot deal. I am pro-choice, but I am not going to fluff it. No matter what, abortion is still killing a human life.

[a-net-fan]

I understand what you mean, Adam, but until the life is growing inside you, or you're the one who helped create it, it's not up to you, me, or anyone but them to decide what they should or shouldn't do.

You believe in God, I don't. Doesn't mean I'm gonna say you can't believe in him just because I don't.

Isn't that the whole point of this country? To give people the freedom to do what they want with their lives? I wish religion would stop trying to control everything under the damn sun.

Ok.....so then you think it is ok to kill your own child if you want to....since you are the one responsible for creating it. If I do its murder but just so its you killing your own child then that makes it ok and its nobodys business? Thats pretty much what you are saying Chris. Inside the womb or outside the womb it doesnt matter. Once a heartbeat is detected that is a human life and that life deserves to be protected the same as any.

Also, Abortion isnt a religious issue...is a moral issue. There are both religious and non religious people who are pro life. As I showed in the video from National Geographic, Science continues to prove that its NOT just a mass of cells that dont have any feeling growing inside the womb, but a living feeling human life. Its so amazing to me that after seeing such things that they still cant bring themselves to admit abortion is legalized murder....it just amazes me....

SO I do applaud the Religious and the non religious of this country who take a stand united against a very sad thing that is allowed to happen in this country.

And for the record I support the use of safe sex and the morning after pill. Many pro lifers do not approve of the morning after pill but I believe life starts at the detection of a heartbeat......and if a human hand aims to stop that heartbeat that is murder. The morning after pill is used before any development occurs.

[a-net-fan]

I am not pro-abortion, but I am not anti-choice either. I wish abortion wasn't used, certainly. I am not going to nitpick on whether its a glob of cells or a baby/life/soul at conception. I wish more people would choose adoption over abortion. But after seeing what the system is like and where these kids go and how many fall through the cracks and end up in abusive homes or runaways who turn to drugs and prostitution, I can't say I can really blame people for deciding death over putting them into a screwed up adoption system here in the USA. Here in Florida, its especially bad and hypocritical. A few years ago, there was a huge internal investigation into DCF after so many kids fell through the cracks and were killed by the people DCF appointed as guardians. One DCF killed herself. Why? Because it was rampant statewide...they were forging documents that they checked on the children. A child who was then 2, is still missing, because her worker said she visited her for a year....never did. America as a whole, their adoption process sucks. People are going to other countries to adopt because its easier. And Florida, hypocrite to the end...If a gay couple wants to foster a child, they can. If they want to adopt that child, they can't. Its illegal for homosexuals to adopt children in Florida...but they can foster them....makes total sense. So I can see why some people think their baby is better off to die early then risk living a life of being sexual abused, beaten, or on the streets, because that is where a majority of these kids are, least here in Florida.

On the other end of the spectrum...abortion is NOT birth control. I hate and am sickened by anyone who gets more than one abortion. The likelihood of getting pregnant twice while using condoms or birth control pills is pretty slim. There was a Law and Order show once about how at this one abortion clinic, they were sterilizing women who got abortion after abortion, without their knowledge. If such a thing is happening...I'm sorry...but those doctors are heroes. Its one thing to screw up once, for birth control to fail once, to get raped once...but I think abortion is a one shot deal. I am pro-choice, but I am not going to fluff it. No matter what, abortion is still killing a human life.

Thanks for sharing your feelings on this...

[Goliath]

Not at all.......the people in Bible times faced the same things that we face today. There were people who threatened Gods chosen people and he protected them. War was ugly then and is ugly now but as we all know there is certainly a lot of evil in the world. So no it is not at all hypocritical for Christians to take a stand for the innocent life.

Wrong. I'm sorry, but you're just factually wrong here. The people who got slaughtered either by God himself or through his "chose people", with his approval, posed no threat at all. They just didn't believe in the same God. Or they lived on land that the "chosen people" wanted to take. (Just like God's "chosen people" nowadays continue to steal land from other people who lived there first.) So, yes, factually, when you believe in, and live by, the Bible, you can't be against abortion without being a hypocrite.

No, as a Christian I can assure you that nobody is trying to control what one does with their bodies.....as long as they dont take a life in the process.

Of course it is about control. Control over women's bodies, that is, because all religions don't care much for women. It's all about the men and their satisfaction. So in order to control a woman's body they pretend that a lump of cells that can't even survive outside of the womb somehow is "life" and that it means more, and is more important, than a woman's body.

This is a pretty condescending comment, and I hope you didn't mean ill towards my person.

I don't mean ill toward anyone, including you. I agree it was a condescending comment, but that's because it was meant as such (see below).

I am very well aware that current religion was forged by men. But what I am saying is that I BELIEVE (as in, what I personally think, which may be right or wrong) is that there was a cosmic event that inspired people to believe there's more to life than just being born, making babies and working till death. It's why religion is so messed up and confused because everyone is taking the same thing and applying it to their needs.

You are free to feel and believe whatever you want, and you are free to post about it as much as you want. But when people are allowed to post in this thread about their thoughts on religion, that means I'm free to add my own thoughts, right?

The way you phrased your belief in the part I have just quoted and reacted to in this post, is actually making much more sense --although I personally still don't believe that. But I can see your point and I think it's reasonable to believe that. However, the way you presented that belief before, with one God who wrote a book and then passed it on to all of humanity who then interpreted it all in their different ways, is deserving of a condescending comment --and that is *my* opinion. Because, no matter what you believe, that's just not how the Thora or the Bible or the Qu'ran, let alone much older religious writings came into being. As you say so yourself: they were "forged by men".

By the way, what religion isn't about elitism? Each religion believes that all people who don't adhere to that religion will ultimately burn in hell (or whatever they call it). Only people who believe in *their* religion will be saved and party with Jesus or Zeus or Marduk until the end of times, right?

[Siren]

By the way, what religion isn't about elitism? Each religion believes that all people who don't adhere to that religion will ultimately burn in hell (or whatever they call it). Only people who believe in *their* religion will be saved and party with Jesus or Zeus or Marduk until the end of times, right?

Actually, you are wrong. I know with Wicca, we don't believe in a Hell. There is reincarnation, whether you are good or bad, you will reincarnate. I have yet to meet a Wicca who believes in Hell, believes all other religious people will go there, etc. I can't speak for all other religions, but I am sure Wicca isn't the only one who believe non-believers are going to eternal damnation.

And yes, you are entitled to your opinion, its your attitude that sucks.

[Goliath]

And yes, you are entitled to your opinion, its your attitude that sucks.

Why? Because I don't want religious people telling women or homosexuals that they can't do this-and-that with their bodies, because a certain God forbids it? Because I don't want other people's feelings getting hurt by religious zealots? I read your story and enigmawing's and I felt so sorry for both of you; that you had to go through so much bullshit; to be shunned by your own family, just because their religions said you or your parents were somehow unworthy for the lives they had lead or the choices they made. So does my attitude suck or does their attitude suck?

You know, to be honest, I really don't know how I feel about abortion or whether it's right or wrong, but I do know this: I'm pro-choice. I'm not the woman having to deal with the pregnancies and neither are the men in this country who are against it. Even if I come to find I'm against it, I still would want women to have the option because I don't appreciate people telling me I can't do something, so women should have the choice to do what they feel is right with their bodies.

[Siren]

And yes, you are entitled to your opinion, its your attitude that sucks.

Why? Because I don't want religious people telling women or homosexuals that they can't do this-and-that with their bodies, because a certain God forbids it? Because I don't want other people's feelings getting hurt by religious zealots? I read your story and enigmawing's and I felt so sorry for both of you; that you had to go through so much bullshit; to be shunned by your own family, just because their religions said you or your parents were somehow unworthy for the lives they had lead or the choices they made. So does my attitude suck or does their attitude suck?

No, not at all. I agree with all of that. But your delivery on some aspects is no better then some Bible-thumping, high horse riding person coming in and saying "You're wrong. You're wrong. You're wrong. And you, you're going to hell for that.". When someone says "I believe", they are NEVER wrong, sorry. If its your religious belief, there is NO WAY you can PROVE them wrong. Even evolution itself is still considered, a theory. A theory I totally believe it, but still, you hear people say, "I believe in evolution.". Ever think of wording it differently like..."I don't agree" instead of "You're wrong"?

[Goliath]

No, not at all. I agree with all of that. But your delivery on some aspects is no better then some Bible-thumping, high horse riding person coming in and saying "You're wrong. You're wrong. You're wrong. And you, you're going to hell for that.". When someone says "I believe", they are NEVER wrong, sorry. If its your religious belief, there is NO WAY you can PROVE them wrong. Even evolution itself is still considered, a theory. A theory I totally believe it, but still, you hear people say, "I believe in evolution.". Ever think of wording it differently like..."I don't agree" instead of "You're wrong"?

Well, you could believe the earth is flat... but you would be wrong. You could believe the earth revolves around the sun... but you would be wrong. You could believe the earth is only 12,000 years old... and you would be wrong. Just because you believe something, doesn't mean it can't be proven plain wrong. Some people believe president Obama is a muslim who was born in Kenya. Should we say: "well, if that's what you believe, more power to you"?

I'm sorry, but Evolution is not the same as religion. Evolution is science. Yes, it is called a "theory", but everything in science is a theory until it's disproved. But a theory doesn't come into being because a lot of people "believe" in it. It comes into being there's evidence and findings that support the theory. And until the theory gets disproven, it stands. Religion is different. There's no evidence or findings to support it. So please, don't equate them.

Now, I don't say I can disprove the existence of a God. I can't. And I don't want to. I'm just saying that Evolution is scientifically supported and Creationsim isn't. That's just the facts as they are now. Maybe they're different tomorrow. I don't find that condescending or elitist. I'm just stating facts here. You may choose to believe otherwise. But that doesn't guarantee you from not being wrong.

[ajmrowland]

Just FYI, it doesn't necessarily guarantee she won't get pregnant. And then there are also rape victims. Wanna go to tell them they should have used protection?

I have a friend who was unwanted by his parents and conceived while his mother was using nearly about every form of birth control possible, and he still has the "if people were smart, they'd use protection" mindset. I'm not fully sure why. Maybe he thinks he and the others who came to exist in similar ways were destined to exist, or something. By the way, I'm also anti-abortion. I don't feel like abortion and religion should be tied together. Religion shouldn't be our basis for determining what's alive and what's not. I'm anti-abortion because there are so many better options than abortion, because discarding human beings as not worthy of life is revolting, and on a much more personal level, because my mother has told me time and again that she sincerely wished she had aborted me.

Getting back on the subject of religion, I'm irritated with all the anti-Mormon talk in my area. I have Mormon relatives who live perfectly regular lives, monogamist lives to boot.

Of course it doesn't always work. Condoms break and then you gotta replace them. I don't know about the Pill, but there must be some simple solutions.

[Siren]

No, not at all. I agree with all of that. But your delivery on some aspects is no better then some Bible-thumping, high horse riding person coming in and saying "You're wrong. You're wrong. You're wrong. And you, you're going to hell for that.". When someone says "I believe", they are NEVER wrong, sorry. If its your religious belief, there is NO WAY you can PROVE them wrong. Even evolution itself is still considered, a theory. A theory I totally believe it, but still, you hear people say, "I believe in evolution.". Ever think of wording it differently like..."I don't agree" instead of "You're wrong"?

Well, you could believe the earth is flat... but you would be wrong. You could believe the earth revolves around the sun... but you would be wrong. You could believe the earth is only 12,000 years old... and you would be wrong. Just because you believe something, doesn't mean it can't be proven plain wrong. Some people believe president Obama is a muslim who was born in Kenya. Should we say: "well, if that's what you believe, more power to you"? .

Ummm...anyone who believes any of those is an imbecile. All those things can be PROVEN FACT. But you can't prove God doesn't exist. No more than you can prove Bigfoot doesn't exist. Of course what you'd deal with is probability. You can prove the earth is round. Be it by sailing the oceans or looking at it from space.

And yes, that is exactly what people CAN say...not should. Its of course your business to say it how you feel, but don't get your panties in a bunch because people get upset with how you are stating their beliefs are fairy tales. No one is asking you to believe it, but it would be polite of you not to belittle others because they don't agree with you. Atheists get enough stereotypes at being @$$holes towards those who are religious. Don't feed into that. We got enough Penn and Tellars of the world.

[Siren]

Of course it doesn't always work. Condoms break and then you gotta replace them. I don't know about the Pill, but there must be some simple solutions.

Condoms break and you don't always know...or they break and its too late. Sperm doesn't just come out at an orgasm. Whether the condom breaks at the beginning or the end of intercourse, it doesn't matter, there is a chance sperm could have slipped through.
The pill is quite simple, but not everyone can take it. There are many other methods, the ring, IUD, etc. Each woman is different and its up to them to be respondsible. Too much is put on the man to provide condoms. But female birth control, when taken/inserted correctly usually worked better than a condom anyday....but of course there is the whole STD thing, so regardless, condoms still should be used, IMO at least until you are engaged or married.