On religion

[Cliphead]

You lot still trying to argue that your imaginary friend exists?

[minestrone]

You see I have no idea why athiests would buy a book that reasons why god does not exist, that takes it into the realms of belief that they so strongly object to. They believe that someone who beleives in god is wrong which I believe is paradoxical.

[oscarose]

O Amida, I take refuge in you,

Ocean of Oneness, Eternal Life and Light;

Entrusting with my whole heart and mind

In your Primal Vow;

I am empowered by you to live a full, Compassionate and creative life,

I dedicate myself to the service of all beings,

Striving to help others realize,

Their human potential and Enlightenment;

May your Teachings guide me

Throughout the day, in my relationships, work and play.

Namo Amida Buddha

[Cliphead]

I wouldn't describe myself as an atheist. I was brought up in the Catholic faith and bought into it until I eventually realised that all religions are founded on nothing more than hot air backed up by indoctrination reinforced by fear.

I don't believe that having a faith instills morals or an ethical code. I can't debate faith or delusion so I don't try nor do I get all evangelical about what I believe or don't believe.

I just wonder how many of you would stilll have the faith you do had your parents not instilled the beliefs that they bought into and passed on.

Fair play to anybody who independently got to some form of belief by whatever route that didn't involve conditioning.

[speling bee]

I wouldn't describe myself as an atheist. I was brought up in the Catholic faith and bought into it until I eventually realised that all religions are founded on nothing more than hot air backed up by indoctrination reinforced by fear.

I don't believe that having a faith instills morals or an ethical code. I can't debate faith or delusion so I don't try nor do I get all evangelical about what I believe or don't believe.

I just wonder how many of you would stilll have the faith you do had your parents not instilled the beliefs that they bought into and passed on.

Fair play to anybody who independently got to some form of belief by whatever route that didn't involve conditioning.

Believing in fairy tales without the excuse of indoctrination doesn't sound like a good thing.

[d000hg]

I suppose the reason why some points aren't original is that every idiot thinks they're the first one to come up with simple question that gets asked hundreds of times every day, and doesn't bother to check

FTFY. It's frustrating but I suppose it's the same as how young people can never quite realise that old people were young and went through what they are going through. "You can't understand me!"

But God's son did not die.

did.

He is alive and well and living forever in heaven.

Because he came back to life. All believers are also living forever in Heaven.

God can also go back in time

Nope. That suggests God is travelling forwards in time to start with.

and spend as long with Jesus as he wants and create parallel realities where Jesus did not die and lived to be an old man and earth's problems were solved a different way (please do not say he cannot do that as he can do anything).

What a weird place your brain is I think you'll find being omnipotent doesn't mean you can do anything you wish. God cannot act out of his own character and his nature.

I just wonder how many of you would stilll have the faith you do had your parents not instilled the beliefs that they bought into and passed on.

<waves>. Also I'd say at least 50% of the Christians I know are from non-Christian families, maybe more.

Fair play to anybody who independently got to some form of belief by whatever route that didn't involve conditioning.

Everyone is conditioned one way or the other. You are the way you are due to conditioning that conditioned you against religion for whatever reason. People with parents who don't think religion is a serious topic are conditioned that way (that was me).

[Spacecadet]

My point was more why Christians or Muslims (the "younger" religions) think they are "right" when Buddhism started over half a millenia BCE.

By that reasoning Hinduism is "right" given that it goes back even further than Buddhism

[doodab]

Fair play to anybody who independently got to some form of belief by whatever route that didn't involve conditioning.

I may not count though.

[speling bee]

By that reasoning Hinduism is "right" given that it goes back even further than Buddhism

The shamans will bear that.

[mudskipper]

I may not count though.

What sort of weird religion forbids counting??