To all the religous zealots (674 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.43 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by worm (View user info) at 2004-04-26 23:55:45 EDT
I grew up Christian. I spent 13 years in catholic schools and after leaving I am 100% agnostic.
Truth be told, I don't know what form God takes on. Judaism, Christianity, Bhuddism, and Islam (among other religions) all have profound truths, but who am I to say which is right? Who am I, after only being exposed to one of the *hundreds* of religions of the world, to accept the religion I was born into as ultimate truth? Doesn't that seem a bit nieve?
With something like eternal damnation on the line, I'd like to take my time in choosing a religion. I know people from different religions who swear they *know* the truth and who God (or Jesus for the christians) is. All major religions are based on faith. But can you really claim your faith is stronger than that of the Muslims who spent hundreds of years fighting for (and eventually winning) the battle for a mutual Holy Land? Or that of a Jew who's faith has been around since the dawn of time? Or that of a Bhuddist who's faith brings monks to set themselves on fire to protest a war? Every religion can claim miracles or amazing feats as a religous people, so your particular religion has no advantage.
The books of the New Testament were written 30-100 years after Jesus died, a great many of them written by people who never even met the man (think about what the average lifespan of a person was in those days). Of the four greatest books of the new testament (the gospels), 3 are nearly identical. Almost 400 years after the death of Jesus death, a bunch of holy men got together and decided which stories were inspired by God and threw them together to make the New Testament.
This is where their faith comes from. I am not saying that it is definatly not ultimate truth, but anyone can see that there is a lot of possibility for twisting, exaggeration, or even complete fabrication of the events surrounding Jesus's life.
To put the timeline into perspective, 400 years ago there was no USA.
400 years ago there was William Shakespeare.
I do realize that I ended up singling out Christians, but that's where most of the fire comes from in my experience. People are sick of the preaching because there is no input, no argument, and no choice; if you have been exposed and do not believed, you are damned to Hell. This is all based on a book that was assembled 400 years after the fact by mortal men, just like you and me. Can you imagine (in the present time) a small gathering of men trying to assemble all of Shakespeare's novels with all their eloquence and beauty WITHOUT all the wonders that the last several hundred years have given us as far as communication, documentation, and insurance of validity? Even in modern times, 100% correct transcription of centuries-old stories would be all but impossible.
It seems that a loving God would give people the chance to experience the truth in the religions and experiences of others before damning them to an afterlife of eternal suffering. I intend to seek out what form God takes- I may never find it, but I'm okay with that.
I'd rather be honest and unsure than lie to myslef.
I have lived a very peaceful, loving life. I am not a bad person, I just don't see eye to eye with you when it comes to religion.
Is this really so unbelievable?
Is this really so wrong?
-Wo|2M
User Reviews
Submitted by kai070169 (user info) at 2004-05-07 14:36:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yup
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-04-27 16:31:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-04-27 09:21:12 (#)
Ranking: 1
I never have quite trusted people who said they were agnostic. It just seems a bit fence sitting to me, but hey at least you're thinking."
Loki,
From my Iraq post, you should know I sit on the fence so much I have developed some serious hemorrhoids.
Submitted by me <justme.at.aol.com> at 2004-04-27 16:18:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I too went to catholic school for many years. I am still recovering!!
Submitted by Worm (user info) at 2004-04-27 11:54:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-04-27 09:21:12 (#)
Ranking: 1
I never have quite trusted people who said they were agnostic. It just seems a bit fence sitting to me, but hey at least you're thinking.
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I have a hard time trusting the religous. They always seemed a bit too quick to commit their soul to one particular form of a higher being.
Funny how that works :\
-Wo|2M
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2004-04-27 09:54:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 from a Buddhist.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-04-27 09:21:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I never have quite trusted people who said they were agnostic. It just seems a bit fence sitting to me, but hey at least you're thinking.
Submitted by Balls <not@email> at 2004-04-27 04:43:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"I am an agnostic. I don't think the athiests have any better of a case than the religious people. Saying there is obviously not a God is just as ridiculous as saying there obviously is one. We also realize the vast number of religions in the world. If they all proclaim to be right, and if we assume one of them is, which one does the agnostic pick? Granted there is one right religion, is it worth it to be Christian when God really sent the angel Gabriel to speak to the prophet Muhammed? I think not. It's also retarded to completely dispell religion because there is no solid proof either way."
Aaaaand, a swing and a miss. According to your logic, the fact that spoons mentally control us is equally logical as it being not. Say hello to Ockam's Razor matey.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2004-04-27 04:26:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-04-26 23:59:39 (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm Christian and I don't give two shits what you believe as long as you leave ME alone. If you tell me I'm dumb for believing in God, I'll tell you to enjoy your one-way trip to hell. If you don't say anything to me, I won't say a single thing to you. I really, genuinely DO NOT CARE what ends up happening to your soul. I'm sure you truly do not care what ends up happening to mine.
Point being, shush.
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Erm...I think that means you're gong to hell too.
By the way, there is a god, me, I'm not going to prove it because proof denies faith.
Proove i'm not.
A lot of the bible is wrong, or twisted in some unexpected way, but it has its good points.
No, i'm not going to tell you which bits.
You could guess?
Submitted by tshia (user info) at 2004-04-27 04:10:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"Is this really so unbelievable?
Is this really so wrong? "
wow, you must be the first agnostic ever...
Submitted by TheMidnight12AM (user info) at 2004-04-27 03:25:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for standing up to both the fundies and the haters.
Submitted by queensowntalia (user info) at 2004-04-27 01:24:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by My_dixie_wrecked (user info) at 2004-04-27 01:08:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Some would call you a coward for not choosing a side. I would call you brave for Admiting your ignorance. I have found that there are two kinds of agnostics. The first one says: "I don't know the truth and neither do you." which comes off kind of arrogant to me. The second type says "I dont know the truth and I don't know if you do." Personaly, I like the deistic view.
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-04-27 00:23:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I told you what response I give people that call me a "sheep" or "dumb" for believing in a higher being, I did NOT damn you to hell. In fact, I believe I told you I didn't give a rat's what happened to your soul.
I still don't care. I'm a laid-back sort of Christian.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2004-04-27 00:20:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
so who's that guy they call God anyway ?
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-04-27 00:14:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
I am an agnostic. I don't think the athiests have any better of a case than the religious people. Saying there is obviously not a God is just as ridiculous as saying there obviously is one. We also realize the vast number of religions in the world. If they all proclaim to be right, and if we assume one of them is, which one does the agnostic pick? Granted there is one right religion, is it worth it to be Christian when God really sent the angel Gabriel to speak to the prophet Muhammed? I think not. It's also retarded to completely dispell religion because there is no solid proof either way.
Submitted by Trout (user info) at 2004-04-27 00:12:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
100% agnostic = 100% pussy that hasn't the balls to decide.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-04-27 00:08:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"What Is an agnostic?
An agnostic thinks it impossible to know the truth in matters such as God and the future life with which Christianity and other religions are concerned. Or, if not impossible, at least impossible at the present time."
I guess that would make me an agnostic. Yet I'm a Christian.
Submitted by SPE (user info) at 2004-04-27 00:08:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Why do people keep trying to convince people to not believe in God...FUCK OFF
Submitted by MrWillard (user info) at 2004-04-27 00:05:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
indeed
Submitted by Worm (user info) at 2004-04-27 00:02:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
you read and responded in just under 3 minutes(assuming you got to my post the second that it went up). You're either really fast or didn't read my post.
Judging by your hinting at my damnation, I'm guessing the latter.
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-04-26 23:59:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm Christian and I don't give two shits what you believe as long as you leave ME alone. If you tell me I'm dumb for believing in God, I'll tell you to enjoy your one-way trip to hell. If you don't say anything to me, I won't say a single thing to you. I really, genuinely DO NOT CARE what ends up happening to your soul. I'm sure you truly do not care what ends up happening to mine.
Point being, shush.