Religion is a way of justifying the unexplainable. Thousands of years ago people were understandably fearful of things we could easily explain today – for example; thunder and lightening is a ‘Godly’ experience to witness, especially without double glazed windows and reinforced doors, which were obviously not available in 65BC.

People had to give an explanation as to why these things were happening; did they do something wrong? Should they alter the way they live to become a better person?

These questions floated around, bouncing from one head to another. Eventually someone comes up with an idea, maybe not a provable idea, but it will do for the time being. What if we were just small, insignificant ‘nothings’ with something much bigger looming over us? Could we be put here for a reason?

What is life’s biggest question?

Well, that’s obvious: What happens after death. This is a very scary concept, especially for the uneducated brain of someone living thousands of years ago. Are we to just sink back to the earth and be forgotten? Or should we romanticise what becomes of us after death? Perhaps we will float up to the clouds and bask in Gods almighty glory.

My question for you is: providing science can now prove what people living thousands of years would have put down to be an act of God[s], such as thunder and lightening or earth quakes, who’s to say that Heaven even exists or what actually happens after you die?

Secondly, most religions are built on a foundation of old ideas, which could be labelled as obsolete and wrong today – why do people still attempt to find faith in them? If you’re actually going to believe that Noah [from Noah’s Act] sailed for exactly 40 days and 40 nights [even know that just means a long time], why not still believe that the world is flat?

Of course I understand that there are different extremities of belief within religion. Some people just use them to find comfort in a time of need.

You probably have already guessed that I’m not religious in any way shape or form. However, I am interested in people’s opinion on belief in a greater power. Generally I don’t have a problem with religion [apart from born again Christians]. If it is helping you on a personal level, without interfering with anyone else, it’s perfectly acceptable. However, if this religion is requiring you to ‘sign other people up’ and, or convert people to your ideas, I think that is wrong.

I’m not religious because I’m confident in myself, and don’t need the aid of a higher power. I also don’t want to give that power credit when I succeed. I work hard and get where I am today because of it.

[This message has been edited by crimsonsmoke (edited 09-05-2005).]

quote:Originally posted by crimsonsmoke:



What is life’s biggest question?

Well, that’s obvious: What happens after death.

And also: What is the purpose of our existence?

There exists an obvious fact that seems utterly moral: namely, that a man is always prey to his truths. Once he has admitted them, he cannot free himself from them. One has to pay something. A man who has become conscious of the absurd is forever bound to it.

-- Albert Camus, An Absurd Reasoning

Thanks for your reply Angryfemme .

Crimson Smoke.........FUCK YEAH!

quote:Originally posted by crimsonsmoke:

I’m not religious because I’m confident in myself, and don’t need the aid of a higher power. I also don’t want to give that power credit when I succeed. I work hard and get where I am today because of it.

Well said - I couldn't agree more!

I'm gonna steal something i typed in a thread of mine that isn't getting much attention atm

quote:No matter the doctrine you live your life by; the scriptures you read or the God(s) you praise - Jesus - Allah - Buddha - Newton - Are not these all different routes to solving a problem thats answer has eluded us for the length of our existence?

You're plagiarizing yourself ! That's not fair.

Leave that to others.

quote:Originally posted by Daz:

No matter the doctrine you live your life by; the scriptures you read or the God(s) you praise - Jesus - Allah - Buddha - Newton - Are not these all different routes to solving a problem thats answer has eluded us for the length of our existence?

Well, if you consider "making things up" a form of "answering a question" then, yes, you could then say that following a form of religion is "answering a question". I personally don't.

who cares?

quote:Originally posted by crimsonsmoke:

I’m not religious because I’m confident in myself, and don’t need the aid of a higher power. I also don’t want to give that power credit when I succeed. I work hard and get where I am today because of it.



Are you telling me that you're confident enough to accept the fact that, under your method of reasoning, everything you work for, sweat for, and put your entire life on the line for will be completely and utterly worthless once you die? That you won't even remember your greatest joys, and that you won't even have the comfort of eternal damnation, but will suffer the worst punishment--not eternal damnation, but eternal dark?

If so, please tell me your secret.

quote:Originally posted by deptstoremook:

Are you telling me that you're confident enough to accept the fact that, under your method of reasoning, everything you work for, sweat for, and put your entire life on the line for will be completely and utterly worthless once you die? That you won't even remember your greatest joys, and that you won't even have the comfort of eternal damnation, but will suffer the worst punishment--not eternal damnation, but eternal dark?

If so, please tell me your secret.

1.) I am. It won't matter when I'm dead, will it? In the meantime, it's not meaningless at all. And in fact, it won't be meaningless when I die - there are other people to give the world meaning after me.

2.) I much prefer this to a universe where an Almighty puppeteer renders it all trivial and inconsequential.

3.) Eternal damnation isn't a comfort.



[This message has been edited by Twisted_Ferret (edited 09-11-2005).]