Religion-Deep Thought Question

[ldog]

Good am guys!

Quick question….out of curiosity:

How many of you identify as a Christian?

If so, does the way you live your life represent this belief?

I see lots of people everyday who claim to be Christian….I’m not so sure.

I’ve met some atheists who are more caring and compassionate than lots of Christians that I’ve been in contact with.

I have my own thoughts on all of this but I’ll defer to you guys for now.

Let me know your thoughts!
L

 

[unseen423]

Grew up in the Catholic church, catholic school k-12. Coincidentally ended up at an Augustan university.
Once I got out of my parents house, I rebelled against it and stopped going to church. Have some fundamental issues with the institution and hypocrisy.
I do take my kids to church on Christmas and Easter, more as a tradition than anything.
At the end of the day, I think there is value in the community you get from a church.
I try to be a good person, and live a life that sets an example to my children about caring for others.


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[chadmack]

I do but i am a flawed sinner, no perfection here.
Imo alot of Christian are Christian when its convenient.

 

[ldog]

Grew up in the Catholic church, catholic school k-12. Coincidentally ended up at an Augustan university.
Once I got out of my parents house, I rebelled against it and stopped going to church. Have some fundamental issues with the institution and hypocrisy.
I do take my kids to church on Christmas and Easter, more as a tradition than anything.
At the end of the day, I think there is value in the community you get from a church.
I try to be a good person, and live a life that sets an example to my children about caring for others.


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Thanks bro

 

[ldog]

I do but i am a flawed sinner, no perfection here.
Imo alot of Christian are Christian when its convenient.

Thanks man….i appreciate your comments and I believe there are many that feel the same.

 

[Glycomann]

Hate the sin not the sinner. That's one of the hardest parts of being a Christian. Also, most people, Christians or not, are quick to point a finger and judge. We all sin, but many can't see their own sin. Rather than repent they rationalize. That is another very difficult part of being a Christian. We all have weaknesses and for whatever powers that are at work, that's where the evil temps us. My weaknesses are wrath and women. That's where the evil knows to tempt me. As far as scripture, many can quote scripture but do they follow what Christ taught in his ministry as the way, walk in truth, and live the life? Most do not.

 

[Glycomann]

I do but i am a flawed sinner, no perfection here.
Imo alot of Christian are Christian when its convenient.

That you are aware of your sin and that you are flawed probably means that you repent for your sin at some level. So, you may be a better Christian than most.

 

[Meetketchup]

I've read the Old and New Testament cover to cover first as a teenager and later on in my twenties, discussed and debated countless people of faith since. That and having a vast interest in science especially astrophysics, I think you know my stance on the topic without insulting believers.

Believe what you want either way but just don't force it on others. That is respect. You can be an awesome or evil person regardless of whether you believe in a God.

 

[ldog]

Hate the sin not the sinner. That's one of the hardest parts of being a Christian. Also, most people, Christians or not, are quick to point a finger and judge. We all sin, but many can't see their own sin. Rather than repent they rationalize. That is another very difficult part of being a Christian. We all have weaknesses and for whatever powers that are at work, that's where the evil temps us. My weaknesses are wrath and women. That's where the evil knows to tempt me. As far as scripture, many can quote scripture but do they follow what Christ taught in his ministry as the way, walk in truth, and live the life? Most do not.

well said G

 

[Old_Ironman1972]

I'm curious. When you say, "I see lots of people everyday who claim to be Christian….I’m not so sure." What does that mean? All these people you see everyday, how do you know they claim to be Christian? If you are merely seeing them, where do you get your information about what they believe? Also, what does the Bible say about identifying a person as a Christian or not? No need to answer, just an interesting thought exercise.

 

[Farmerdan]

I was a pretty Christian dude growing up but then later became agnostic.

I was also a Freemason for a long time, which requires you to have a faith, but it can be any faith.

The one thing that really stood out to me about the guys at my Freemason lodge was their dedication to charity first. And there was no ulterior motive behind the charity; everyone was committed to helping other people just because it was the right thing to do.

This is very opposite to what I experienced at church where it seemed like doing charity was just a way to appease church leadership, or “god”, or look good to the other people at church.

Then it dawned on me that the worst human beings on earth are also the most religious. They say shit like “hate the sin not the sinner” and “Jesus died for our sins” to excuse the fact that they are hateful, shitty, piece of trash human beings. They use these as excuses to pardon how bad and vile they truly are.

These are the people that’ll sit at Sunday breakfast talking about how much they hate niggers, then yell “get a job you lazy fuck” to the beggar on the corner on their way to church. But then they sit in the pew at church and when the minister says “love thy neighbor, feed the poor” they raise their palms in the air and say “amen!”

But anyways, there is no god and absolutely no scientific proof of anything but the contrary. But religion has always been a fantastic way to control the masses. So atleast it stops most of these vile ass people from doing more heinous things. But then again it is the church leaders raping little boys, so maybe that’s not even true anymore.

 

[chadmack]

I was a pretty Christian dude growing up but then later became agnostic.

I was also a Freemason for a long time, which requires you to have a faith, but it can be any faith.

The one thing that really stood out to me about the guys at my Freemason lodge was their dedication to charity first. And there was no ulterior motive behind the charity; everyone was committed to helping other people just because it was the right thing to do.

This is very opposite to what I experienced at church where it seemed like doing charity was just a way to appease church leadership, or “god”, or look good to the other people at church.

Then it dawned on me that the worst human beings on earth are also the most religious. They say shit like “hate the sin not the sinner” and “Jesus died for our sins” to excuse the fact that they are hateful, shitty, piece of trash human beings. They use these as excuses to pardon how bad and vile they truly are.

These are the people that’ll sit at Sunday breakfast talking about how much they hate niggers, then yell “get a job you lazy fuck” to the beggar on the corner on their way to church. But then they sit in the pew at church and when the minister says “love thy neighbor, feed the poor” they raise their palms in the air and say “amen!”

But anyways, there is no god and absolutely no scientific proof of anything but the contrary. But religion has always been a fantastic way to control the masses. So atleast it stops most of these vile ass people from doing more heinous things. But then again it is the church leaders raping little boys, so maybe that’s not even true anymore.

Where did everything come from with no god?

 

[Meetketchup]

Where did everything come from with no god?

They asked the same thing about floods, plague, earthquakes, tsunamis and a thousand other things before evidence was found. You are using "God of the gap's" logic, which means if we don't know currently then it's God. There are numerous theories' being looked into that answers your question from multi-verses to layered dimension to quantum entanglement and more. Far too extensive to go into here, but you get the idea.

 

[Farmerdan]

Where did everything come from with no god?

You’re asking the wrong question. You’re assuming that because there’s a thing there must be a maker.

 

[chadmack]

Or maybe you are not asking the right question.

 

[Farmerdan]

Or maybe you are not asking the right question.

I’m not asking any questions?

 

[chadmack]

They asked the same thing about floods, plague, earthquakes, tsunamis and a thousand other things before evidence was found. You are using "God of the gap's" logic, which means if we don't know currently then it's God. There are numerous theories' being looked into that answers your question from multi-verses to layered dimension to quantum entanglement and more. Far too extensive to go into here, but you get the idea.

If its not God what is it?
Where did life come from?
Where did space come from?
Where did matter come from?
Everything came from absolutely nothing.
Its odd when the guys that say dont force god on me go out of their way to push atheism on others.

 

[chadmack]

I’m not asking any questions?

Obviously

 

[zwhit]

I am a Christian

I won't quote every post here but I will say we are all sinners. That's why we needed Christ. We couldn't uphold the law, clearly, after sin entered the world.

There are also examples of hypocrites throughout all of scripture. These are people claiming to be followers of Christ but never dying to their fleshly desires. These people will be judged accordingly, as they are pushing people from God.

To speak to morals, as well, where did these "good" morals come from, if not from good, which is God.

I also don't believe the order we experience today, came from chaos or nothing. It would take a lot more convincing me that we just came to be from an explosion, or whatever theory you want to subscribe to, than for their to be a Creator. There are too many coincidences for that to be, imo.

For us to exist right now, atheist or agnostics may say, "I don't know". I choose to say God, because I've had an encounter with Him. And I promised to become closer to Him. I choose to bring more people to Him, as we are called to do. We can't force them, but we can share Him with them and let them make their own choice.

I hope you all come to believe one day.

 

[Meetketchup]

push atheism on others.

How and when did I do this? I was directly answering a general question you asked. I honestly don't care what you believe. If you think Yahweh created the Universe, then have at it. I'm of the thinking we keep seeking answers to these questions. That is how we found evidence to similar questions from the past.

 

[Farmerdan]

Everything came from absolutely nothing.

Correct.


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[ldog]

I'm curious. When you say, "I see lots of people everyday who claim to be Christian….I’m not so sure." What does that mean? All these people you see everyday, how do you know they claim to be Christian? If you are merely seeing them, where do you get your information about what they believe? Also, what does the Bible say about identifying a person as a Christian or not? No need to answer, just an interesting thought exercise.

Good question. Many many folks I talk to claim to follow Christ and are actively witnessing to myself and others around me. When you watch the way they carry themselves and live their lives, I don’t see any resemblance of Christ’s teachings. You will know them by their fruits correct? I believe you will understand the term “lukewarm”.

 

[chadmack]

How and when did I do this? I was directly answering a general question you asked. I honestly don't care what you believe. If you think Yahweh created the Universe, then have at it. I'm of the thinking we keep seeking answers to these questions. That is how we found evidence to similar questions from the past.

Why did u ever post in this thread?
I dont care what u blv.
I just find it hilarious u say forced religion but u go out of your way to get involve.
If u dont like it or agree scroll on but u choose to push your veiw but dont like it when others the same if it differs

 

[chadmack]

How and when did I do this? I was directly answering a general question you asked. I honestly don't care what you believe. If you think Yahweh created the Universe, then have at it. I'm of the thinking we keep seeking answers to these questions. That is how we found evidence to similar questions from the past.

Ok answer then-
where did time come from?
Where did space come from?
Where did matter come from?

 

[chadmack]

Correct.


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So everything come from nothing?
So it a miracle!! Sounds like u blv in God then

 

[Farmerdan]

So everything come from nothing?
So it a miracle!! Sounds like u blv in God then

For the record, I do not believe in any religions’ god(s) or goddess(es). Nor do I believe it was a “miracle” that nothing became everything. Because there are no miracles. Because there is no god to enact miracles.

But to believe that god created everything from nothing, then it also stands to reason that god himself would have to also been made by an even more powerful god, who also would have to have been made from nothing by a third even more powerful god, ad infinitum.

Why did u ever post in this thread?
I dont care what u blv.
I just find it hilarious u say forced religion but u go out of your way to get involve.
If u dont like it or agree scroll on but u choose to push your veiw but dont like it when others the same if it differs

If you don’t want to have a discussion, then why are you posting in this thread? You ask questions and then get mad when the answers aren’t what you want and then claim “pushing your view” because you’re not getting your way.

 

[zwhit]

@ldog , have you ever studied the Bible? Sounds like you have to a degree. Just wondering, as this question was on your mind.

There's a lot of wisdom in there. It speaks to these hypocrites you're speaking of and how to be careful not to become one ourselves. I don't have it all memorized yet but I think Paul speaks of it in Galatians or Thessalonians. Both short books if you care to read them

 

[chadmack]

For the record, I do not believe in any religions’ god(s) or goddess(es). Nor do I believe it was a “miracle” that nothing became everything. Because there are no miracles. Because there is no god to enact miracles.

But to believe that god created everything from nothing, then it also stands to reason that god himself would have to also been made by an even more powerful god, who also would have to have been made from nothing by a third even more powerful god, ad infinitum.



If you don’t want to have a discussion, then why are you posting in this thread? You ask questions and then get mad when the answers aren’t what you want and then claim “pushing your view” because you’re not getting your way.

For the record, I do not believe in any religions’ god(s) or goddess(es). Nor do I believe it was a “miracle” that nothing became everything. Because there are no miracles. Because there is no god to enact miracles.

But to believe that god created everything from nothing, then it also stands to reason that god himself would have to also been made by an even more powerful god, who also would have to have been made from nothing by a third even more powerful god, ad infinitum.



If you don’t want to have a discussion, then why are you posting in this thread? You ask questions and then get mad when the answers aren’t what you want and then claim “pushing your view” because you’re not getting your way.

Everything coming from nothing is a miracle in itself!
Thanks for proving my point,
Have a Blessed Day

 

[grock23]

I was a pretty Christian dude growing up but then later became agnostic.

I was also a Freemason for a long time, which requires you to have a faith, but it can be any faith.

The one thing that really stood out to me about the guys at my Freemason lodge was their dedication to charity first. And there was no ulterior motive behind the charity; everyone was committed to helping other people just because it was the right thing to do.

This is very opposite to what I experienced at church where it seemed like doing charity was just a way to appease church leadership, or “god”, or look good to the other people at church.

Then it dawned on me that the worst human beings on earth are also the most religious. They say shit like “hate the sin not the sinner” and “Jesus died for our sins” to excuse the fact that they are hateful, shitty, piece of trash human beings. They use these as excuses to pardon how bad and vile they truly are.

These are the people that’ll sit at Sunday breakfast talking about how much they hate niggers, then yell “get a job you lazy fuck” to the beggar on the corner on their way to church. But then they sit in the pew at church and when the minister says “love thy neighbor, feed the poor” they raise their palms in the air and say “amen!”

But anyways, there is no god and absolutely no scientific proof of anything but the contrary. But religion has always been a fantastic way to control the masses. So atleast it stops most of these vile ass people from doing more heinous things. But then again it is the church leaders raping little boys, so maybe that’s not even true anymore.

This is a very well written take on christianity. This was somewhat apparent to me when I lived in the north eastern part of the country, but blatantly apparent to me when I moved down south for a few years. Some of the most vile, hateful people I have met go to church multiple times a week. And you bet your ass they'd let you know how many times they've gone to church, or if they've even done something they consider remotely charitable.

I had no clue about the freemasons. Thats awesome. Doing good for altruistic purposes is rare. If you do something charitable and tell more than 5 people you've done if for the wrong reasons. The best thing you can do is just do good, and keep doing good. People will notice, you don't need to open your mouth and blab about it.

 

[ldog]

@ldog , have you ever studied the Bible? Sounds like you have to a degree. Just wondering, as this question was on your mind.

There's a lot of wisdom in there. It speaks to these hypocrites you're speaking of and how to be careful not to become one ourselves. I don't have it all memorized yet but I think Paul speaks of it in Galatians or Thessalonians. Both short books if you care to read them

I’ve studied the Bible very intensely. My question was posted to get opinions and thoughts from others. I already knew my answers to the questions before they were posted.