Why are you religious?

[Earfetish]

I know I always do religion threads, but I am deeply interested in it, from a sociological, political, and scientific, perspective. I hope you've noticed, too, that a lot of my most recent religion threads (or the OP at least) have been very neutral in tone and asking rather interesting questions, like 'how do you define God'.

I have some of my own theories on the matter, which i will post later, although I think the subject is too complex for me to write a complete essay on; I'll always be missing someone out. If you could state what your relgious views are, and why you believe in them, what your religious view provides to your life, to what extent culture played a part, and, if you fancy, to what extent you think evidence and reason could dissuade you.

Try and avoid flaming, unless someone totally deserves it. Indeed, only argue if you've got something interesting or insightful to say. And, to religious people, if an atheist states why they're an atheist and it offends you deeply, don't respond. They're either trolling, or you're weak, so what's the point?

All viewpoints are more than welcome; the religious, agnostics, deists, Buddhists, anyone - I'm sure you've all got something equally interesting to say.

[The-evil-bucket]

I'm not.

[BatDan]

I maybe Jewish, but I'm not THAT Jewish.

I eat Pork. I stay home on Saturdays scratching my balls.

So you could say I'm a "Lesser Jew"

[Shaun]

"i was born religious"

"its been drilled into me from a young age and cant think any differently"

"im afraid of dieing"

"why arent you religious?"

"because god spoke to me, in the form of burnt toast"

there is no good reason to be religious.

[Allocer91]

I mainly exploit my religion to piss off atheists and people that claim people that follow a religion are blinded, 's great fun to see them get all worked up and red in the face when it finally hits them that you don't give a fuck what they think or what proof there is/should be to prove the existence of a higher power. Aside from having true faith, as i just said i mainly get my views out there because i know that it eats away at the hearts of most non believers and annoys the shit out of them =D.

[Lord-Zed]

I'm not religious in anyway, and I do not treat people any differently if they are religious, I believe everyone has a right to believe what they want to believe, as long as they don't force it on me.

[Centurion-Ryan]

Because there's nothing better to do on a Sunday morning except fap. And I do that too much already.

But seriously, I have seen many people's lives changed for the better because of religion.

[fire-weasel]

Just a few questions:

1) How was god here before everything else, was he created? (please do not give me some bullshit like "he has always been)

2) If God is truly forgiving then why do I have to change to please him?

3) Where is proof?

[HappyBlobs]

My parents try to force me to be religious, but religion is stuiped in my opinion and is a waste of time.

[Lost-Chances]

I am agnostic, mainly out of personal greed. I want the security of "what if there is a god?" when I die, but I am not willing to give up things I enjoy because they are a sin. I feel there's likely some god, some divine being; but he has a very twisted and sick sense of humour.

[Allocer91]

I think aside from a lack of scientific proof (there's actually more proof of the existance of God then there is of the evolutionist theory which you will find in any high school text book, proven fact). But, aside from the fact that we cannot see god, hear him, ect. Like...do i think there is a god? yeah, am i positive? no, and to be honest i don't really care, i don't need nor want proof, it's not a crutch, i do not go to church, i do not pray religiously, i simply believe there is something out there like many people do.

But if the Catholic Church wasn't so fucking pushy, parents wouldn't ram religion down they're kid's throats, and people weren't so ignorant, i think many more people would be more accepting to religion, face it. History and lies and BULLSHIT have made the true bases of the major world religions look like shit, bottom line.

[Centurion-Ryan]

At 12/23/07 08:51 AM, fire-weasel wrote: Just a few questions:

1) How was god here before everything else, was he created? (please do not give me some bullshit like "he has always been)

Maybe a shitload of energy somehow travelled to the exact same spot. Then...boom. One Diety, hold the onions.

2) If God is truly forgiving then why do I have to change to please him?

You don't have to, it just shows faith.

3) Where is proof?

Where is proof against?

[Earfetish]

At 12/23/07 08:54 AM, MickTheChampion wrote:

At 12/23/07 08:52 AM, Xanthom wrote:
You're damn right it does. You religious people don't deserve to live. I wish the ocean turned red with the blood of the Christians and Jews.

Earfetish, remember when you were asking me to show you posts that showed you lot and Stalin in the same light?

I'd like to think both Xanthom and Allowhatever91 are taking the piss.

[Centurion-Ryan]

At 12/23/07 08:57 AM, MickTheChampion wrote:

At 12/23/07 08:55 AM, Earfetish wrote:
I'd like to think both Xanthom and Allowhatever91 are taking the piss.

What about Kiddmeizter? He's the worst for those kind of comments, actually.

If you knew him half as well as I do, you'd know that piss taking is like dogma to him.

[Shaun]

At 12/23/07 08:51 AM, fire-weasel wrote: Just a few questions:

1) How was god here before everything else, was he created? (please do not give me some bullshit like "he has always been)

2) If God is truly forgiving then why do I have to change to please him?

3) Where is proof?

I love how any religious discussion turns into the same arguments, each and every time.

[Lord-Zed]

At 12/23/07 09:00 AM, madknt wrote: I love how any religious discussion turns into the same arguments, each and every time.

People are like that, always motehrfuckers woh gotta have their way

[JohnnyWang]

I used to be rather religious. I found comfort in it, and friends in the church youth group. However, I read the bible a bit, and realised how large parts of scripture is ignored to make the religion more appealing to the people, and the parts they ignored, yeah, I didn't like them either. And when I met really shitty attitudes inside the church, I turned my back.

I was a hard-line atheist for a few years, but I've softened up lately. I consider myself soft atheist/agnostic/discordian.

[BananaBreadMuffin]

I'm atheist, but I've always been very logical and have wanted an explanation for everything, so atheism just 'fits' with that.

I think people choose religion because it's nice to have something to look forward to. It provides solidarity, and gives people a group of other like-minded individuals with which they can mingulz

[FRK]

I'm Catholic because I'm Catholic.

[3tard]

At 12/23/07 08:45 AM, Earfetish wrote: I know I always do religion threads, but I am deeply interested in it, from a sociological, political, and scientific, perspective.

From having talked to you in the past, you seem smart enough to find reasonable answers by yourself. It is my theory that you are asking these questions to start a religious flame war. I know you are a well established member on NG, but that doesnt give you troll immunity.

[JohnnyWang]

At 12/23/07 09:24 AM, MickTheChampion wrote: Although if I had to choose another Religion, I'd probably go all Rastafarian.

You know, if I had to choose a religion, I'd probably go moderate Catholic, or moderate Sunni Muslim.

[Kidiri]

Do I believe in God? Yes. Do I believe in the Christian omniscient, omnipresent and all-powerful God? No. I think of Him as a personal God, different for everybody, and a part of yourself. However, I consider myself mostly a catholic Christian.

[Earfetish]

At 12/23/07 09:18 AM, 3tard wrote: From having talked to you in the past, you seem smart enough to find reasonable answers by yourself. It is my theory that you are asking these questions to start a religious flame war. I know you are a well established member on NG, but that doesnt give you troll immunity.

Well that's not true. I already have a 65-page flame war in C+C. I am actually interested in why someone would be religious. I studied it in Sociology A-level but I don't think even their explanations work properly.

My motives for this thread might be anti-religious, but that's because understanding the other side is essential; it's not to start yet another religious flamewar. And I want to understand the other side far more than I do, if only for the purposes of enhancing my arguing abilities.

If I wanted to, anyway, I could probably get away with 'God doesn't exist' as a topic title, but occasionally I want neutrality and reason in these discussions.

If you fancy answering another one of my curious ponderings, then define God.

If I was to become religious, it'd have to be a personal religion, and there would be worship of psychedelics. If there is one thing to me that seems divine, it's psychedelics.

There would also be much cosmological research in my religion. If God did the Big Bang, we'd be very interested in seeing how he did it.

[strawberry-cock]

i hate religon

[zyzy]

wow. come on dude, the answer to why people choose religion is obvious. theres not many reasons to why they want a religion
- They're raised with it
- They are desperate to find a meaning

Yup thats all. I figured out people that are religious can easily be torn apart.

[Earfetish]

At 12/23/07 09:34 AM, ZyklonB wrote: wow. come on dude, the answer to why people choose religion is obvious. theres not many reasons to why they want a religion
- They're raised with it
- They are desperate to find a meaning

Regardless of how valid that may be, religious people don't view it like that, and their opinions count, too.

This thread seems to be mainly filled up with people who aren't actually that religious, and the irreligious. A couple of fundies would be more interesting. Like, no-one's specifically said why they made the jump from theism, to an organised religion.

[splurdan]

i are not relijus

[Earfetish]

At 12/23/07 09:39 AM, Earfetish wrote: This thread seems to be mainly filled up with people who aren't actually that religious, and the irreligious. A couple of fundies would be more interesting. Like, no-one's specifically said why they made the jump from theism, to an organised religion.

Other than that they were raised with it.

[FRK]

Hmm, ok. I feel like an only one person in the entire world, and I EXIST so I believe that God sent me here with some kind of mission...

[FRK]

I think that everyone should believe in God as they want.