So is it just me, or do a lot of atheist make God to be evil like the so called man. I'm a catholic, and I'm more then happy to explain to atheist we aren't out to get you. Religion isn't like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, people don't get hit on a head with a religious symbol, and show up to church in a vegetative state and repeat phrases like parrots. I know every word that comes out of my mouth while praticing my faith, and so does everyone else who pratices religion. I would also like to state on the behalf of my parish, that I haven't heard the phrase, "you'll go to hell", EVER in church. We are really just a group of people, that just believe in a common thing, and pratice it, which is the definition of religion. We don't threaten others, and we don't scare people into believing.
A religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people. Which leads me to the next point, aren't atheist praticing a religion ,by agreeing on not beliving in a Higher Deity? I believe so, but of course would love to hear your take on it. Another quick note, I believe atheist need not to direct anger towards those with conflicting viewpoints. Also vice-versa.
In the end I have only seen church try to do good, as a whole. Even if your not religious you can at least see all the good things, that occur because of the church. Its not trying to control your life, or even make you believe what it teaches, instead it is only trying to better the world. I know some might disagree with that statement, and say what about child molestation, and some certain forms of religious pratices. I say yes child molestation is a horrible thing, but then again the church does not teach this or endorse this, so blame the individual instead, because like religion it was their choice. Secondly, yes some weird cults have come out of religion, but these are also not the main population of religions as a whole. Finally the issues with Abortion and Gay Marriages, well I believe of those as Social Issues, more then just religious, as people like to classify them. This all leads to my conclusion, that religion is like everything else good in the world, it is left up to the individual to choose, if its right for them.
I agree, but as a whole, the individuals that choose to practice that religion are representatives of said religion. I believe there is a saying that goes something like: Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words. Something like that. A religion has to put a stand on social issues and take a general stance, and in the case of the catholic church, it is clearly a stance of intolerance, which frightens everyone not of that faith. It sends the message that if you are friends with those that are not accepted in the church's eyes, you must partly turn away from them.
Atheism is like a religion in the way that actively not collecting stamps is a hobby. Does that make sense?
That is a pretty idealized definition of religion. You say you have only seen church do good, but what about fundementalists? Anything taken to great extremes can be dangerous. Take for instance the Taliban...extrememe Islam, Waco and David Koresh recently Warren Jeffs. It is great that you have a good church experience, but it is too easy to generalize that experience when it truly cannot be generalized because of the vast amount of religions and differences from church to church, congregation to congregation. You also generalize athiests and what they have to say. Many people have different reasons for not being part of a religion, just as many catholics will say they have a different reason for being catholic than you do.
"Waco and David Koresh"
"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much."
Oscar Wilde
But all in, all I'm not the pope, so I must generalize like most people who blog do. I'm not the spoke person for the church, just hold my own viewpoints, that concide with the local area. Also when it comes to Atheist I must generalize for the simple reason, I know very few, and they won't converse about it. Yet there are always sects in everything in life, so no one is ever speaking for everyone truly.
Last thing, I was referring to extremist in religion in the following sentence, sorry it wasn't clearer. "Secondly, yes some weird cults have come out of religion".
Thanks for your imput.
"When I go into politics, I will change Washington D.C., not let it change who I am." - Me
I wouldn't call myself an athiest, but I definitely do not follow real organized religion. All of the ritual and gobs of money that go in to it are not ok with me. I also feel as though many people are only religious on Sundays, with no service component to what they do. I go to Quaker Meeting for Worship, where you do not have to ascribe to any deity, (depending on the Meeting you attend), we sit in silence for an hour and look inward to find "the light of God", and if you are moved to speak from the silence you can. Usually people speak about the environment, the war in Iraq or really, anything. The nice thing for me is there is no pomp and circumstance, just people together who often are very service oriented. There is an old saying or joke: a person new to Quaker Meeting Process is sitting in silence for a while and whispers "When does the service begin" the Friend next to him says "As soon as the meeting is over".
Thanks for your post, continue to examine things in life, not just spout your own truth. That is something I truly appreciate in life, the ability to question and learn.
I love the joke, it is funny and full of wisdom...
The main problem with religion is that it puts guild upon one’s shoulders.
This is the only way for religion to keep a strong hold in controlling the minds of so called believers or worshippers, since religion is nothing more than a tool to keep minds inside a box with no exit.
One that is not entangled into this structure or box immediately becomes a treat to all of the one’s that have bounded themselves into religion.
There is no enlightenment to be found in a box, book or religion were the main structure is build upon fear!
This makes all believers to become part of a hazardous group that justify any means of violence in order to keep the box closed.
There are lot’s of Body Snatchers on this planet and they all practicing one or another religion.
What is enlightenment to you?
Did you ever experienced enlightenment?
Andy236: “So is it just me, or do a lot of atheist make God to be evil like the so called man. I'm a catholic, and I'm more then happy to explain to atheist we aren't out to get you.”
The fact that Christianity proselytizes does indeed mean that you’re out to get us. I’m not trying to bash here, but proselytizing is probably the biggest part of Christianity that makes others dislike Christians so much. Why must religion be pushed down the throats of people, especially those who don’t want anything to do with it.
Andy236: “Religion isn't like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, people don't get hit on a head with a religious symbol, and show up to church in a vegetative state and repeat phrases like parrots. I know every word that comes out of my mouth while practicing my faith, and so does everyone else who practices religion.”
Again proselytizing can be almost like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. You may know every word that comes out of your mouth, but do the children know what they’re saying? Also, many people go through their entire lives (my parents for example) as Christians and they really have no clue on what the bible says. In my perfect world, children would be raised in the religion of their parents, but at a certain point in the child’s life; the child must be introduced to other world religions or religions in general. Children need to be able to make a choice at some point in their lives. Maybe that time is when the child is old enough to stay home alone. This way the parents wouldn’t be forcing their children to sit through church every Sunday listening to things that the children might not want to listen to.
Andy236: “I would also like to state on the behalf of my parish, that I haven't heard the phrase, "you'll go to hell", EVER in church.”
I’m guessing you didn’t grow up in the South then, did you? I’ve gone to church in Alabama, Colorado, and Nebraska; and in some way, shape, or form I’ve always heard the phrase of “you’ll go to hell” for doing x, y, or z.
Andy236: “We don't threaten others, and we don't scare people into believing.”
Scaring people is what Christianity is all about. That is why the concept of Hell was invented. Hell was brought into the picture to “scare” non-believers and the Pagans into converting. And Hell is still taught today. Just check out some of the other blogs. Many people actually believe that I’m going to Hell because I’m Wiccan. Well, don’t hold your breath.
Andy236: “Its not trying to control your life, or even make you believe what it teaches”
I have to stop you there. That is the whole point of the different denominations. They want you to believe what they believe. I was involved with a church that most definitely tried to control my life. They wanted to know where my wife and I were at all times. They wanted to see our check-book every month to make sure that we were giving tithe. They even got mad when I asked to see where the money in the church was going. And no they did not end up showing me.
Andy236: “it is only trying to better the world”
To truly better the world as we know it would be to teach tolerance and acceptance.
Andy236: “I know some might disagree with that statement, and say what about child molestation, and some certain forms of religious practices. I say yes child molestation is a horrible thing, but then again the church does not teach this or endorse this, so blame the individual instead, because like religion it was their choice.”
My only beef here would be when the church tries to cover these things up, pay people off, and even move the guilty party to another church so the guilty party can continue to molest and whatnot. I’m very grateful for the many things that Christianity does for the world. I do believe that with all the money that Christianity has that a lot more could be done though.
Tabias-