You know, sometimes I wonder. Do people truly want to know whether there is a god or an afterlife? Do they consider that more important than, say, how to earn the love of one's daughter or wife?
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is there any religion or faith for me?
- Thread starter willy1590
- Start date
I take it you don't watch football then lol But seriously, how the hell can you compare the existence of God or the afterlife to your family? Families are FAR inferior in importance to the question of God or the afterlife. Remember, if you don't believe in an afterlife then families are nothing but temporary walking organisms with an expiration date. And if an afterlife does exist then well... how will that affect your relationship with family later on? That's a pretty big question. Does god exist? If he does, why did he create all of this? Does he want anything from us? These questions are far far more important than getting the love of your family, which is temporary anyway if at all important.
One's more interesting, the other is more useful.
Quite effortlessly, as it turns out.
They are? I fear that I just can not think of any way of agreeing with that.
And very dear and needed ones at that, yes.
Will it? Why should it?
If you say so, then I must assume it is true for you.
It sure is not true for me.
Which is which?
It depends on the person.
I meant like what will happen to you and your family in the afterlife if one exists.
What do you mean? It's true for everyone, families ARE temporary are they not?
I sure will be surprised. I am certain that there is none.
They are temporary, sure. And that matters little. They may easily mean the world while they exist, and every single moment of joy and happiness should be savored as the miracle that it is.
What makes you certain? For the record, I'm certain there is lol
Emotionally, I just can't take the idea as realistic, nor desirable. Rationally, I don't see how anything could ever be eternal, nor how human longings and personalities could exist so detached from the environments and circunstances that make them possible in the first place.
I see,thanks,you woudnt know if any schools of Buddhism don't have hell would you?
Depends on what you mean by 'hell,' but generally speaking, the typical Western vision of a place of eternal torment and damnation is pretty much limited to a few subsets of Christianity. Reincarnation is more the norm outside of the Western monotheisms, and that naturally precludes a hell-concept.
Enai de a lukal
Well-Known Member
.....
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
Deism, Taoism, Quakers?[...]
I hope someone can help me
Enai de a lukal
Well-Known Member
I need learn this trick, i.e. "lending existence"... Then I can "lend existence" to my Playboy Playmate wife, my Porsche car, and my billion-dollar mansion heheheh...
If only it worked that way, eh?
skepticalseeker613
Member
To me you sound like someone who should be Buddhist Sikh or Hindu, all are accepting peaceful and tolerant, believe in reincarnation, and for the most part do not mind homosexuality and do not see thier religion as the only path that is correct, they also have orgin in the Dharma.
Far as I can tell, it does for concepts such as hell, heaven and god.
Such are the prerrogatives of the supernatural.
Enai de a lukal
Well-Known Member
Hmm, that sounds sort of suspicious- we can "lend existence" to things, but only things which we can never actually discern whether they exist anyways. Sounds more like having a fantasy than "lending existence" to anything.
Darn, and you had got my hopes up.
At this level of conception, fantasies and reality are one and the same thing.
Hello, Willy. My question for you is, are you interested in pursuing what is true? Or is your pursuit simply one in which you wish to find a religion that fits your preferences? I don't assume to already know the answer to my question, so please don't read it that way.
I would like to present you with what I believe to be the truth about our existence and the God who brought about our existence.
There is a God who is all powerful and created all that we see. He created man and woman to share in his love and be in relationship with him. God told the man what was good for him, and if he obeyed God, he would continue to live in union with God. However, man believed he knew a better way and rebelled against God. As a result, the beautiful relationship between man and God was shattered. But even in this moment of tragedy, God promised to send one who would reconnect man and God.
As you might have guessed, this promised one is Jesus. Because man rebelled against God, he owed a debt he could only pay with his death. The cross is Jesus paying this debt on behalf of mankind. True religion is found in recognizing our need for this debt to be paid, because we have sinned and rebelled against God ourselves, and following Jesus.
I pray that you would consider this explanation, for I believe it is reality.
bg
I would like to present you with what I believe to be the truth about our existence and the God who brought about our existence.
There is a God who is all powerful and created all that we see. He created man and woman to share in his love and be in relationship with him. God told the man what was good for him, and if he obeyed God, he would continue to live in union with God. However, man believed he knew a better way and rebelled against God. As a result, the beautiful relationship between man and God was shattered. But even in this moment of tragedy, God promised to send one who would reconnect man and God.
As you might have guessed, this promised one is Jesus. Because man rebelled against God, he owed a debt he could only pay with his death. The cross is Jesus paying this debt on behalf of mankind. True religion is found in recognizing our need for this debt to be paid, because we have sinned and rebelled against God ourselves, and following Jesus.
I pray that you would consider this explanation, for I believe it is reality.
bg
Otis Nomark
New Member
Basically I'm an athiest,or deist but genreally don't believe in an all knowing god or creator.
-I think Reincarnation has something to it,but I also think like planes of existance after death,defo no hell,just we are fixed after death in one of these planes.
-i don't mind rituals
-not loads of books to read
-do not condemn homosexuality
-have proof they are right
-not based all in one country,basically allow any human to be in it or woship in its name
-finally,have compassion,respect,mindfulness and not require payed membership to be able to practise it
I hope someone can help me
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS ARTICLE
Religion—What Good Does It Do?
“I CAN be good without being religious!” That is a common sentiment. Many honest, compassionate, responsible people are not attracted toreligion. For example, few Western Europeans are churchgoers, although most say that they believe in God. Even in Latin America, a mere 15 to 20 percent of Catholics go to church regularly.
Like many others, perhaps you feel that religion is irrelevant to a better life. Possibly, though, you are also aware that decades ago, in your grandparents’ day, most people were much more religious than they are today. How did religion lose its widespread appeal? Can a person be good without being religious? Is there a religion that can benefit you?
Why Many Have Turned From Religion
For centuries, most people in Christendom believed that God requires obedience. They went to church to gain God’s favor, either through rites conducted by a priest or through guidance provided by a preacher. Of course, many were aware of the hypocrisy in religion. The role of religion in war was well-known, as was the abusive conduct of some clergymen. But most people felt that religion itself was good. Others liked the mystique, the tradition, and the music; some even saw value in the threat of eternal damnation in hell, which is a teaching not found in the Scriptures. Then, several developments changed the way that many people viewed the churches.
The theory of evolution became popular. Some became convinced that life originated by accident—without God. Most religions failed to provide convincing evidence that God is the Source of life. (Psalm 36:9) In addition, as technology advanced, dramatic achievements in medicine, transportation, and communications gave people the impression that any problem can be solved by science. Further, it was felt that social scientists and psychologists provided better guidance than did the churches. The churches, for their part, failed to demonstrate clearly that living by God’s law is the best way of life.—James 1:25.
In response, many churches changed their message. Priests and preachers gave up teaching that God requires obedience. Instead, many taught that each individual must decide for himself what is right and what is wrong. Trying to gain popularity, some religious leaders claimed that God accepts you no matter how you live. Such teaching calls to mind what the Bible foretold: “There will be a period oftime when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled.”—2 Timothy 4:3.
Rather than attracting people, such teaching turned them away. They naturally wondered: ‘If the churches doubt the power of God to create and the wisdom of God to make laws, how does going to church benefit me? Why should I bother teachingreligionto my children?’ Individuals who were just trying to lead a decent life began to see religion as irrelevant. They left the churches, and religion was no longer important to them. Where did something that should be right go so wrong? The Bible provides a persuasive explanation.
Religion Used for Evil Ends
The apostle Paul warned the early Christians that some would use Christianity for evil ends. He said: “Oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29, 30) One who spoke “twisted things” was the Roman Catholic theologian Augustine. Jesus had taught his followers to convince others by reasoning from the Scriptures. However, Augustine twisted the meaning of Jesus’ words recorded atLuke 14:23, “Compel them to come in,” to mean that it was all right to use force in the work of converting people. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 28:23, 24) Augustine usedreligionto control people.
Satan, a rebellious angel, is behind the misuse and corruption of religion. He provoked religious men in the first century to try to corrupt Christian congregations. The Bible says of those men: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness.”—2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
Satan still usesreligionthat makes a pretense of being Christian, moral, and enlightening in order to make people live by his standards rather than God’s. (Luke 4:5-7) You have probably noticed that many clergymen today use religion to elevate themselves with high-sounding titles and to obtain money from their flocks. Governments have also usedreligionto persuade citizens to sacrifice themselves in war.
The Devil employsreligionmore extensively than most realize. You might imagine that only a few religious extremists are serving Satan’s interests. But according to the Bible, “the one called Devil and Satan . . . is misleading the entire inhabitedearth.” The Bible also says: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (Revelation 12:9; 1 John 5:19) How does God feel about religion that is used by leaders who just want to draw people after themselves?
“What Do I Care?”
If you are shocked at the conduct of some churches of Christendom, know that Almighty God is greatly displeased with them. Christendom claims to have made a pact with God; ancient Israel made a similar claim. Both have proved unfaithful. Jehovah’s denunciation of Israel therefore applies with equal force to Christendom today. Jehovah said: “They have not listened to my words and have rejected my law. What do I care about incense from Sheba? . . . Your sacrifices do not please me.” (Jeremiah 6:19, 20, New International Version) God did not recognize acts of worship performed by hypocrites. He was not interested in their rituals and prayers. He told Israel: “Your festal seasons my soul has hated. To me they have become a burden; I have become tired of bearing them. And when you spread out your palms, I hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening.”—Isaiah 1:14, 15.
Is Jehovah attracted to festivals that the churches present as Christian but that originally honored false gods? Does he listen to the prayers of clergymen who corrupt Christ’s teachings? Does God accept any religion that rejects his law? You can be sure that he reacts to church rituals today just as he reacted to the sacrifices of Israel of old, regarding which he said: “What do I care?”
Nevertheless, Jehovah does care deeply about worship rendered in truth by sincere people. God is pleased when individuals express appreciation for all that they receive from him. (Malachi 3:16, 17) So can you be good without worshipping God? A person who does nothing for his loving parents is hardly justified in considering himself good, is he? Can a person who does nothing for God be good? Reasonably, we should take an active interest in the true God, with whom life itself originated. In the following article, we will see how true worship not only honors God but also benefits us.