| Vincent. 22.07.2007 13:54 |
Uhm...Okay. My family is sort of Religious, but not really...I mean, we go to church nearly every Sunday, but we're not exactly the most Christian family. But anyways, my best friend is getting baptised. And my parents keep talking to me about how I should be considering it. But. I'm. Not. Sure. About. God. :B I mean I'm really confused about religion and every time I try to talk to someone they are either like...SCREW RELIGION! Or they are like JESUS! FOLLOW JESUS OR YOU WILL BURN IN HELLL!!!! So...I'm asking for some help...What are your opinions on Christianity? :B |
| 7 seas of Whatever 22.07.2007 13:56 |
I'm a Christian. I think you should read the bible and pay attention in church. Try to see if it is something you want to be part of. If you decide not to, that is your choice. But I think you should definetly give it a chance. |
| Vincent. 22.07.2007 14:01 |
7 seas of Whatever wrote: I'm a Christian. I think you should read the bible and pay attention in church. Try to see if it is something you want to be part of. If you decide not to, that is your choice. But I think you should definetly give it a chance.I do pay attention in church...sometimes. It's just...I can't hardly sit still that long and my mind wanders. And I'm really...thinking about this. Really Really thinking about it. Hard. :B |
| user name 22.07.2007 14:37 |
Just do it. If it will satisfy your parents, why not? You can even bargain, "If I get baptized, you have to..." See? Effective bargaining chip. |
| Gratzi 22.07.2007 14:38 |
<font color=fire>Instant Karma! wrote: SCREW RELIGION! Or they are like JESUS! FOLLOW JESUS OR YOU WILL BURN IN HELLL!!!! ?Well, I believe the first thing you should do is avoid the extremes ( atheists and zealots ), and try to either get an objective point of view on this or do a little research; all in all this should be your own decision! Good luck with it, as this is a very important step! ;) |
| its_a_hard_life 26994 22.07.2007 15:09 |
If you feel comfortable going church every Sunday and having a faith towards God, then do it, no matter what anyone else says. If you feel you aren't that close to God and you'd rather not, then you don't have to, you aren't a bad person. Research on it. |
| Ella! Formerly known as the Metal Maiden 22.07.2007 15:20 |
I'm half Christian, half Jewish. I'm not that religious, but we do celebrate holidays and stuff like that. I don't celebrate Christmas, even though i love Christmas cheer. I don't celebrate Hannukah,either, I just light the candles. But my whole family celebrates New Year. Well, whatever. I personally don't like to get into it much, and I have a choice of what I wanna be when I turn 16, and I've been thinking about it for years now, and I decided I'm not gonna choose. God is God, right? |
| AspiringPhilosophe 22.07.2007 18:16 |
Personally, I am not religious at all. I don't think morality and religion are mutually exclusive. I'm a good person because I want to be and because it makes me feel good, not because of some fear that I might wind up in hell when I die. I'm also very anti-organized religion, since it leads to nothing but bad things. But I understand some people need religion to feel like they are balanced....that's fine. I'm not one of those people, but if you are, more power to you. You need to do whatever you think is right in this matter. This is going to require a lot of thinking on your part. I personally got baptized at around age 10 because my parents made me, and confirmed at age 15 because "Everyone else was doing it." I don't necessarily regret either, but I haven't been to church in 3 years (even on Christmas) and I don't see myself as starting to go anytime in the future again. If you really don't want to do this, then don't. But if you aren't sure, there is no harm in just doing it. It may sound like a cop out, but it's not really. This isn't a major, life or death decision....it's just baptism. |
| sparrow 21754 22.07.2007 18:46 |
i was baptized as a baby, and i never really go to church. i have my own beliefs but i dont think im christian. well, i guess it wouldnt hurt to do it, its not like that water will burn you XD unless someone poured acid in it...then umm...my bad. youd be 'safe' as a 'christian'. ok now im just rambling, sorry. |
| deleted user 22.07.2007 20:11 |
Hello, Kaylee, darling. I'll see if I can help you out without being zealous. Okay. I'll try my hand at this one. Mind you, I am not forcing a religious opinion on you. It is a decision, I feel, that a person should make themselves. I am just giving you some reasons why I myself am a Christian, as I have struggled once. 1.How I felt at first: How can there be a God? Humans are animals. The only difference between us and animals is we can reason, so how is it we have beliefs? We die. That's it. What I feel now: Well, I am a scientific person, yes. There is science to everything. Elementary science states "Matter cannot be created or destroyed." If this is so, where did this earthly matter come from? From other matter. Where did that matter come from? Other matter. But what made the matter if it cannot be created or destroyed? The answer, to me, is God. I don't know what else could've done it. 2. Okay, so there is a God. What if God is not The God. How I felt before: Oh, dear. So many options. What if there is more than one god? Well, let's look at it this way: There is more than one God. That means that each god lacks something, which does not satisfy the definition of god, which is a being that is perfect (I suppose this could be debated, but if you think about it, people do expect the all gods, God to be perfection, as we look up to their/ His/ Her example.). This leaves the option of a single god. Yes, there are horrible things in the world that make you wonder, "How can there be a God if this happened?" But remember also, there are beautiful things, too. I hope I presented this as factually as I could, without being too biased. If you want more proof, darling, (I hope I'm not coming across as forceful; I'm just trying to be helpful) look up the Shroud of Turin and Juan Diego, and other things. And, dear? Whatever decision you make, my opinion of you will not change. You are a wonderful person. If you live your life right, which you are, it doesn't matter whether you are baptized or not, but it won't kill you to be baptized. As for the Church, there are teachings everyone disagrees with. If you feel what you are doing and what you believe is right, then you are fine. I hope this helped, though. :) P.S. I agree 100% with Jessica. P.S.P.S. Sorry that I rambled, and sorry if I sound forceful. |
| Adolfo and the spiders from Mercury 23.07.2007 00:45 |
All I can tell you is this: remember that any religion is a man made institution, if you want truth, you must look in your heart, learn everything you can about god, but not religion, that way you wont be fooled by fanatics, if your way of thinking is anything like mine, youll find out God to be such a cool dude you can trust |
| user name 23.07.2007 01:12 |
HistoryGirl wrote: I personally got ... confirmed at age 15 because "Everyone else was doing it." I don't necessarily regret either, but I haven't been to church in 3 years (even on Christmas) and I don't see myself as starting to go anytime in the future again. If you really don't want to do this, then don't. But if you aren't sure, there is no harm in just doing it. It may sound like a cop out, but it's not really. This isn't a major, life or death decision....it's just baptism."Getting confirmed"..."Going to church"..."baptism"? Is that what they're calling it these days? It seems I have to keep up to date with my sexual euphemisms. When I got my "first holy communion," I was a little nervous and unsure of the logistics of it. But soon me and my girlfriend were "going to Church every Sunday," and we became rather proficient at it. Now I am confident that I can "anoint the sick" with the best of them. What? You were being literal? Oops. |
| deleted user 23.07.2007 02:02 |
<font color=fire>Instant Karma! wrote: Uhm...Okay. My family is sort of Religious, but not really...I mean, we go to church nearly every Sunday, but we're not exactly the most Christian family. But anyways, my best friend is getting baptised. And my parents keep talking to me about how I should be considering it. But. I'm. Not. Sure. About. God. :B I mean I'm really confused about religion and every time I try to talk to someone they are either like...SCREW RELIGION! Or they are like JESUS! FOLLOW JESUS OR YOU WILL BURN IN HELLL!!!! So...I'm asking for some help...What are your opinions on Christianity? :Bgo Quaker,we have OATMEAL!!! OATMEALL!!!!!!! AND COFFEE!!! COFFEEEEEE!!!!! Oh, and 1 hour of complete silence is considered "sunday service". |
| deleted user 23.07.2007 05:53 |
My family is christian (we were all baptised) but nobody ever really cared (never go to church, only in weddings, funerals,...). But I used to believe in God. Now I dont believe in God for a few years. When I was young I went in a religious club, you know, with normal activities, but than go to chapel. Now that I can think by myself I realised that most christian ideas are stupid. In my opinion, it should be forbidden to put religion on children's head. They have the right to decide what to belive when they are more rational. But that's just me. In fact, I may not agree to them, but I respect religious people, too. : D |
| thomasquinn 32989 23.07.2007 06:38 |
Religion tends to feed you ready-made answers, which is easier than dealing with the great questions in life (is there life after death? is there a meaning to life? is there some higher power? etc.) yourself. However, it is also a great trap: there is NOTHING worse than believing something you don't understand at all. When you do, you run the risk of becoming a fanatic, because you are in want of context: answers are only as valuable as the thoughts that led to them. Therefore, I oppose organized religion. If you don't, that is your choice, but I urge you never to base your view of the world on what someone tells you to believe. And the Bible is no more than someone telling you to believe what other people wrote. There is definitely wisdom in the Bible, but it is often hidden under layer upon layer of folly caused by generations of theologians completely misunderstanding the texts due to their own fanaticism. |
| FriedChicken 23.07.2007 07:30 |
I can only agree with ThomasQuinn. |
| Freya is quietly judging you. 23.07.2007 08:07 |
Religion is a means of control. Don't fall for it. |
| Ella! Formerly known as the Metal Maiden 23.07.2007 08:10 |
Freya, why were you gone so long!!!??? |
| Freya is quietly judging you. 23.07.2007 08:13 |
Somebody actually missed me? |
| Ella! Formerly known as the Metal Maiden 23.07.2007 08:33 |
Well...no. But it seemed empty without your...evilness. |
| Freya is quietly judging you. 23.07.2007 08:34 |
Hmmm. I'll take that as a compliment. |
| Ella! Formerly known as the Metal Maiden 23.07.2007 08:38 |
You should, cuz you're getting it from me. |
| Mr.Jingles 23.07.2007 09:08 |
I will only belive in The Bible the day that God himself signs my Bible at Barnes & Noble. |
| eenaweena 23.07.2007 09:35 |
kaylee, i like you and all, but QZ isn't the best place to discuss religion. it's quite sensitive a topic. |
| john bodega 23.07.2007 09:38 |
I took an interest in reading the Bible mainly to get an insight into why society is the way it is. Whether or not religion is a bad thing lies squarely on what you think religion is. There's the side of things that George Carlin points out so well... the controlling, psychopathic bullshit..... as soon as that comes into it, you're being ripped off. So long as religion never results in you being told what to do with your life, or exchanging money for your newfound peace of mind, then it's a fine thing. I've only seen positives in some of my religious friends... they know less about the Bible than little old Agnostic Me, but their faith kind of keeps their lives in order, makes them *nicer people*. I cannot begrudge them that. |
| user name 23.07.2007 17:39 |
Religion is just religion. It's not a fascist means of control - it's merely part of human nature. To have it or to lack it really makes no significant difference at all, contrary to what many people believe. |
| JoxerTheDeityPirate 23.07.2007 19:18 |
i cant believe there's a religious thread going and atheist hasnt put his 2 peneth worth in? [backs slowly out of thread as ol' jox does not do religion apart from Jedi,which is now an official religon in the UK] |
| JoxerTheDeityPirate 23.07.2007 20:56 |
Miami Vice wrote: You know, i was baptised when i was 18, and i don't think it has hurt me any, although being involved with the pastors daughter did!did she let you take her up the aisle? ;-] |
| Vincent. 23.07.2007 21:32 |
Memliemfealskis. I'm still on the fence. But I've thought about it. A lot. And this helps...a little. And yeah. Inna's right...QZ isn't the greatest place for religion. :B I don't know. I've thought and thought. :B |
| thomasquinn 32989 24.07.2007 06:20 |
Mr.Jingles wrote: I will only belive in The Bible the day that God himself signs my Bible at Barnes & Noble.Personally, I wouldn't put anything past Barnes & Noble... |
| FreMe 24.07.2007 06:24 |
I believe in religion.. but I dont have one myself. it is something that you can have inside of you to bring you hope, and self confidence, and structure. I wrote an essay about this once, don't make me do it again! |
| thomasquinn 32989 24.07.2007 06:39 |
You're confusing religion and spirituality. The latter is what one has or has not got within the self, the former is organized worship. |
| thomasquinn 32989 24.07.2007 07:36 |
Miami Vice wrote: Kaylee, i'm sure many people have doubts about their beliefs, which might be a good thing, because we don't want to be like atheists who are so sure of their knowledge of the universe that they know for certain that a god had no part in its creation or its daily functioning. And we don't want to be like fanatical Muslims, who are so sure of their beliefs, they think they should undertake a Jihad (holy war) against the other religions of the world. You know, i was baptised when i was 18, and i don't think it has hurt me any, although being involved with the pastors daughter did!I would like to point out that for every militant Muslim, there is a militant Christian, a militant Jew, a militant Hindu and even, ironically, a militant Buddhist willing to shed someone else's blood. |
| john bodega 24.07.2007 07:56 |
Mr.Jingles wrote: I will only belive in The Bible the day that God himself signs my Bible at Barnes & Noble.It is *really* funny you bring that up, it's pretty much the synopsis for a video I was going to do.... just need a stack of Bibles and a pen. I'll probably get arrested, even though impersonating Jesus isn't exactly a crime...... I can't HELP it if I look like him. |
| Matias Merçeauroix 24.07.2007 09:08 |
This is what I think of Jesus link |
| john bodega 24.07.2007 10:48 |
No contest - if there is a 2nd coming, it's Ted Neeley. |
| Donna13 24.07.2007 10:53 |
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| Freya is quietly judging you. 24.07.2007 10:56 |
Zebonka12 wrote:Oh my gosh, you have to do that! Hahaha.Mr.Jingles wrote: I will only belive in The Bible the day that God himself signs my Bible at Barnes & Noble.It is *really* funny you bring that up, it's pretty much the synopsis for a video I was going to do.... just need a stack of Bibles and a pen. I'll probably get arrested, even though impersonating Jesus isn't exactly a crime...... I can't HELP it if I look like him. |
| its_a_hard_life 26994 24.07.2007 11:55 |
<b><font color=009966>?Freya? wrote:YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Zebonka12 wrote:Oh my gosh, you have to do that! Hahaha.Mr.Jingles wrote: I will only belive in The Bible the day that God himself signs my Bible at Barnes & Noble.It is *really* funny you bring that up, it's pretty much the synopsis for a video I was going to do.... just need a stack of Bibles and a pen. I'll probably get arrested, even though impersonating Jesus isn't exactly a crime...... I can't HELP it if I look like him. |
| john bodega 24.07.2007 13:53 |
Consider it.... on the to-do list!! Hehe... it'll make a helluva Youtube video at any rate. |
| thomasquinn 32989 25.07.2007 09:32 |
Zebonka12 wrote:I once pulled something like that off. There is a very annoying Christian book-shop in my hometown (the owners are fundamentalists of the type "if you're not with my church I am free to run your kids over with my car"), and I barged in there, dressed in a Roman toga, wearing a false beard and inquiring about a "novel that goes by the name of the "New Testament", as I hear I'm in it". I didn't get arrested, just thrown out. The looks of deep insult mixed with fear and confusion were worth it, though.Mr.Jingles wrote: I will only belive in The Bible the day that God himself signs my Bible at Barnes & Noble.It is *really* funny you bring that up, it's pretty much the synopsis for a video I was going to do.... just need a stack of Bibles and a pen. I'll probably get arrested, even though impersonating Jesus isn't exactly a crime...... I can't HELP it if I look like him. |
| FreddiesGhettoTrench 25.07.2007 11:13 |
I agree that religion and morality are not mutually exclusive. I personally am in the process of becoming a Catholic (one of my parents is a lapsed Catholic, the other was a Methodist) because I feel that it's the right path for me to become a better person - and that's really what it comes down to, doesn't it? If you don't feel it's right for you, then you'll be trying to fit into something where you really don't feel you belong, and that's no good. |
| ***Marial-B*** 25.07.2007 14:29 |
I'm a catholic, for almost all my life, and I was raised in a very strong based catholic family. That's why maybe they think I'm the black sheep of the family xD... Anyways, what I was gonna say is after going to church every sunday and doing all the stuff that Catholics do, the best way to find God is being happy with what you are and with everything that surrounds you. That's what can help you in the right way and the right path of your life, nothing more nothing less |
| deleted user 25.07.2007 14:51 |
Ah. Well, I'm Orthodox Christian....and my parents make me go to church every saturday and sunday and other days of the week. As much as it is annoying...Which it is...-_-...I still have to do it. Well anyway...I think going to church and being part of something is really good. I mean, if you pay attention and you participate and shit.. G** may ......eh...do something good for you. And you might live a fuller life, I guess. That's what they tell me, anyway. But anywho...It's really just a matter of personal opinion. if you don't mind participating and sitting and listening and etc etc. |
| Griffin 25.07.2007 20:13 |
some are cold, but few are frozen. |
| The Real Wizard 28.07.2007 03:15 |
<b><font color = "crimson"> ThomasQuinn wrote: I once pulled something like that off. There is a very annoying Christian book-shop in my hometown (the owners are fundamentalists of the type "if you're not with my church I am free to run your kids over with my car"), and I barged in there, dressed in a Roman toga, wearing a false beard and inquiring about a "novel that goes by the name of the "New Testament", as I hear I'm in it". I didn't get arrested, just thrown out. The looks of deep insult mixed with fear and confusion were worth it, though.Hahhahaha... that's hilarious.. :) |
