Nebraska woman sues all homosexuals

[BSM1]

I'd agree ...guess I can't have my double standard. But, if people feel that they may score some points with their respective 'god'...it can be the reason why some 'good' people turn 'bad.' It can be the reason why many religious people are willing to kill or die for their faith, or what they perceive as the necessary tenets of their faith...ISIS comes to mind.



The interesting thing about religion, any religion...is that it really is just us talking ourselves into certain things. If I pray to a god for the strength to get me through 'x' trial...and lo and behold I end up getting through 'x' trial with flying colors...I'll attribute this to a god giving me that strength, when in reality...the strength was within me all along. That is why religion is little more than wishing something else existed to carry us through this life, when in reality...we are carrying ourselves through. And ''crediting'' a deity for what we ourselves possess.

Interestingly, on the flip side...many religious people will not blame god when things go awry. The idea of ''free will'' tends to only come into play with a religious person, when they see people doing bad things, as opposed to good things. God gets the credit when things turn out great...he doesn't get the blame when things fall apart.

...and please don't get me started about people telling me that God has a "plan" for my (or any other) life.

 

[Deidre]

...and please don't get me started about people telling me that God has a "plan" for my (or any other) life.

as long as your free will doesn't interfere...

 

[Thana]

I'd agree ...guess I can't have my double standard. But, if people feel that they may score some points with their respective 'god'...it can be the reason why some 'good' people turn 'bad.' It can be the reason why many religious people are willing to kill or die for their faith, or what they perceive as the necessary tenets of their faith...ISIS comes to mind.

Maybe, But then ISIS strays quite far from Islam, And only upholds it when it's useful to oppress people so they won't rise up against them.
And to be true, I don't even think the vague promise of a special afterlife will encourage a true pacifist to take up arms.

The interesting thing about religion, any religion...is that it really is just us talking ourselves into certain things. If I pray to a god for the strength to get me through 'x' trial...and lo and behold I end up getting through 'x' trial with flying colors...I'll attribute this to a god giving me that strength, when in reality...the strength was within me all along. That is why religion is little more than wishing something else existed to carry us through this life, when in reality...we are carrying ourselves through. And ''crediting'' a deity for what we ourselves possess.

Interestingly, on the flip side...many religious people will not blame god when things go awry. The idea of ''free will'' tends to only come into play with a religious person, when they see people doing bad things, as opposed to good things. God gets the credit when things turn out great...he doesn't get the blame when things fall apart.

I'm not so sure about that, Simply because God gives me much more than strength to get through a trial. He gives me a reason to endure the trial in the first place. I don't know where Atheists pull their reasons from, Especially considering the true bleakness of the world, maybe it's just habit, but some people need a real reason to live. I know I'm one of those people. Sure, you can live your life without God and you can survive without Him, but I wonder, why would you want too?

Well, it depends on how far along in your spiritual journey you are. As for someone like me, Good and bad are not opposites. Bad always leads to good, And I see the necessity of bad. Sometimes it can seem a little overwhelming, But I trust God. I know there is a reason for everything, And I can always look back on all the bad things, In my life and in this world, And see how they always turned into something good.

 

[BSM1]

Maybe, But then ISIS strays quite far from Islam, And only upholds it when it's useful to oppress people so they won't rise up against them.
And to be true, I don't even think the vague promise of a special afterlife will encourage a true pacifist to take up arms.



I'm not so sure about that, Simply because God gives me much more than strength to get through a trial. He gives me a reason to endure the trial in the first place. I don't know where Atheists pull their reasons from, Especially considering the true bleakness of the world, maybe it's just habit, but some people need a real reason to live. I know I'm one of those people. Sure, you can live your life without God and you can survive without Him, but I wonder, why would you want too?

Well, it depends on how far along in your spiritual journey you are. As for someone like me, Good and bad are not opposites. Bad always leads to good, And I see the necessity of bad. Sometimes it can seem a little overwhelming, But I trust God. I know there is a reason for everything, And I can always look back on all the bad things, In my life and in this world, And see how they always turned into something good.

Where do you think the "trial" came from in the first place?

 

[Thana]

Where do you think the "trial" came from in the first place?

God, of course.
But then I don't see trials as bad things. They're necessary for growth and change.

 

[Deidre]

Maybe, But then ISIS strays quite far from Islam, And only upholds it when it's useful to oppress people so they won't rise up against them.
And to be true, I don't even think the vague promise of a special afterlife will encourage a true pacifist to take up arms.



I'm not so sure about that, Simply because God gives me much more than strength to get through a trial. He gives me a reason to endure the trial in the first place. I don't know where Atheists pull their reasons from, Especially considering the true bleakness of the world, maybe it's just habit, but some people need a real reason to live. I know I'm one of those people. Sure, you can live your life without God and you can survive without Him, but I wonder, why would you want too?

Well, it depends on how far along in your spiritual journey you are. As for someone like me, Good and bad are not opposites. Bad always leads to good, And I see the necessity of bad. Sometimes it can seem a little overwhelming, But I trust God. I know there is a reason for everything, And I can always look back on all the bad things, In my life and in this world, And see how they always turned into something good.

I hear you, but isn't the idea of god...well, just an idea? Worship an idea? Pray to what I hope may exist...? I'm of the opinion that no one knows with certainty if a god exists or not. Or some type of supernatural 'force,' etc. But, there is no evidence currently to support it, just a lot of people wishfully thinking and hoping...and praying for something beyond this life. And that's fine to believe whatever one wishes to, but to tell others to wish for the same things, is where the problems come in. (But, I know you are well intentioned, as I once was with my past faith life)

 

[Thana]

I hear you, but isn't the idea of god...well, just an idea? Worship an idea? Pray to what I hope may exist...? I'm of the opinion that no one knows with certainty if a god exists or not. Or some type of supernatural 'force,' etc. But, there is no evidence currently to support it, just a lot of people wishfully thinking and hoping...and praying for something beyond this life. And that's fine to believe whatever one wishes to, but to tell others to wish for the same things, is where the problems come in. (But, I know you are well intentioned, as I once was with my past faith life)

Well, I'm not an Evangelical. I'll talk to people about the faith if they ask, But I'm not one to bring it up or push my beliefs on others. I personally believe we're all responsible for our own Salvation, So I need not convince anyone of anything.

And reality is a funny thing, It's not universal. What is real to me may not be real to you. What looks blue to me may look brown to you.
Life is what you make it, And God is real if you want Him to be.

 

[BSM1]

Well, I'm not an Evangelical. I'll talk to people about the faith if they ask, But I'm not one to bring it up or push my beliefs on others. I personally believe we're all responsible for our own Salvation, So I need not convince anyone of anything.

And reality is a funny thing, It's not universal. What is real to me may not be real to you. What looks blue to me may look brown to you.
Life is what you make it, And God is real if you want Him to be.

Everyone has to find their own truth.

 

[Thana]

Everyone has to find their own truth.

Very true.

 

[Deidre]

This 'lawsuit' shows however, that this woman (like many religious people) feel that they have a right to impose their 'truths' on others.

 

[Thana]

This 'lawsuit' shows however, that this woman (like many religious people) feel that they have a right to impose their 'truths' on others.

Mmm.
Well that's people for you.

 

[thau]

Burma(or if you really want, Myanmar), a Theravada Buddhist country, & the United States are tied for most-charitable. Rest of the top-10 list;

Canada(Heavily secular)
Ireland(Christian, largely devout)
New Zealand(Heavily secular)
Australia(Heavily secular)
Malaysia(Muslim)
UK(Heavily secular)
Sri Lanka(Buddhist)
Trinidad & Tobago (Christian plurality at 54%, Hindus 18%, 11% Unspecified, 8% Other, 5% Muslims)

Here's the article & list down to 20.

Once you dip down below 10, you start seeing a lot of Muslim(including Iran) & Buddhist states, and then you also see extremely secular ones(Denmark, Netherlands & Iceland).

That's a reasonably even distribution, I'd say, even more so when you look at the religious demographics of the top 10.



The Oak Trees had naught to do with their physical worth, they were where the Germanics(those who deigned to, anyway) would celebrate our Gods. There were undoubtedly missionaries sent to the North with the best intentions, to teach the people about their God & his son and allow for them to convert in their own time. But it became extremely clear that was never going to be enough to supplant the Aesir & Vanir. It was an alien faith, one entirely at odds with their way of life & their own morality. Namely the notion that we are somehow broken, or that we would rewarded or punished based on faith rather than actions.

Which is why they were some of the first to be converted by the sword. And even then, the Germanic peoples resisted conversion for centuries, longer than any other group. You can even see the echoes of this today. As soon as it became tenable(as in Christians south of them wouldn't just invade again, so the past few hundred years) they've been dropping Christianity en masse, and rapidly.


Most PBS Documentaries I've seen on Jesus of Nazareth regard him as some manner of heretical rabbi(which in fairness would be true) who upset the wrong people and so they made example of him. Is that really "anti-Christian" or is it just non-Christian?

Charity can be measured in many ways besides the numbers shown. I also look at our government’s response to tragedies around the globe. Our welfare to so many of the needy. And, of course, the sacrifice of our soldiers defending the defenseless from evil agressors, such as in Korea. But I do not have any more time to make a case on this, including your other comments which bear some response.

The only reason I responded today was because there is an article from the NewOxfordReview on your namesake and the punishing sacrifices he made. It only appears for a few days to access, but then it is taken down and requires a subscription to read it. So if you have any interest below is the link. I printed it out for my own curiosity to read later.


New Oxford Review

GUEST COLUMN The Dark Side of Self-Sacrifice

 

[Nietzsche]

Charity can be measured in many ways besides the numbers shown. I also look at our government’s response to tragedies around the globe. Our welfare to so many of the needy. And, of course, the sacrifice of our soldiers defending the defenseless from evil agressors, such as in Korea. But I do not have any more time to make a case on this, including your other comments which bear some response.

The only reason I responded today was because there is an article from the NewOxfordReview on your namesake and the punishing sacrifices he made. It only appears for a few days to access, but then it is taken down and requires a subscription to read it. So if you have any interest below is the link. I printed it out for my own curiosity to read later.


New Oxford Review

GUEST COLUMN The Dark Side of Self-Sacrifice

I'm a bit busy at the moment, but I've copied the text to read later.