Thread: What's Your Take on Religion Lately?

It's a general believe that we are worshipping in one religion or another. It may be Christianity, Islam, Buddhism etc. Sometimes, religion is being referred to as the opium of the masses, meaning we can't do without it and virtually depend on it for everything.


But with the turn of events occurring in our world today especially ones that transpires all in the name of religion has given me cause to doubt our religious beliefs and system. Most of terrorism and terror attacks carried out in our world today are done in the name of religion, most pastors are now using churches as a money making investment. All these have changed my view on the importance of religion in our world today.


What do you think about this?

I was raised in a preacher's household, but I left the church after I realized I was a bisexual. I could not reconcile with church doctrine what I saw as natural passion and desire. I dabbled in Zen Buddhist thought for a while, and Zen teaching still informs a part of my philosophical outlook; however, I came to the conclusion that I did not need any supreme being's approval to be happy. So I'm proud to say that I am an atheist. I find religion and dogma in general susceptible to fallacy and arguments based on emotions alone without appeals to fact or to credibility as par the Aristotelian triangle. In spite of these things, I still call myself a "cultural Christian," because Christianity has shaped the culture and values I uphold.

I guess you could call me an apatheist.



Sometimes I used to think about my stance on religion, etc. Atheist? Nope, because I don't deny the possibility there might be a creator. Eventually I settled with being agnostic but over time I realised how little I really care about religion and how quickly I grow tired of a lot of religious discussion. My individuality is something that I and only I define. I don't need to believe in any kind of deity to make sense of things. To me it's a waste of time.

Originally Posted by Mantis

I guess you could call me an apatheist.



Sometimes I used to think about my stance on religion, etc. Atheist? Nope, because I don't deny the possibility there might be a creator. Eventually I settled with being agnostic but over time I realised how little I really care about religion and how quickly I grow tired of a lot of religious discussion. My individuality is something that I and only I define. I don't need to believe in any kind of deity to make sense of things. To me it's a waste of time.

I truly understand your position in this @Mantis, before now I used to have much believe and trust in religion but recently with what is obtainable in our world of religion today, I don't think that it's worth it.

Recently, I think atheist are even more humane and down to earth with there relationship and interaction with their fellow man compared to the so called religious individual. I can categorically say that pretence is what dominate in religion today.

My take on it lately here in the states is it's too entrenched in politics, and too cozily allied with political entities. It's nothing new in the world, obviously, but it's just crazy here. Strange lines in the sand are drawn when you try to evoke things like, 'my religious liberties, 'murica, are being infringed because gay people are getting married.'

Religion will never go away (and goodness knows, it can do good in the world), but with the advent of the internet, I wonder if, more than ever, organized religion runs the risk of becoming anachronistic:

'I believe gay people can't have sex or get married.'

Why?

'A book addressed to an ancient culture thousands of years ago said so.'

...

......

And, common sense doesn't suggest to you that maybe--

'Nope, sin, abomination. Period. Their private lives somehow affect me.'

Well, those same old books also forbid tattoos, clothing made from different types of material, and eating pork. And yet you, thrice-married murican Joe, with a tattoo on your forearm, exposed by your sleeveless cotton-polyester blend shirt, munching on a McRib, are gonna' tell me those two consenting adults can't have the same 'murican civil liberties as you...because 'sanctity of marriage'?

'Nom-nom yup, nom-nom-nom.'



(Shouldn't veer off topic, but food for thought to my fellow Americans: Speaking of Mr. Spock, what if my "religion" were logic, thus anything anyone else does that can be categorized as "illogical" (e.g. opposing marriage equality in the 21st century because of a couple of cherry-picked verses addressed to ancient Israelites) is infringing upon my religious liberties?)

I am a christian.I would not say devout though, that would be a lie.Like you Heatman I am worried about the path Christianity is taking as the years burge on.Now Christianity has evolved to the point where the Ministers of the Word of God are the now calling the shots,and not God Himself. Religion is being used as a means to an end, whatever end this people we trust to interpret the Holy Book are aiming at. They interpret it however they want to and twist the words to incite whatever emotions they desire their followers to have. This days pastors actually have the guts to tell people that if they don't make a donation to the church their prayers will not be accepted in Heaven.Surprisingly, we are falling into their traps and accepting what comes out of their mouth every time. It has come to a point whereby I have decided to take my stand and keep my guard up even as I continue to believe in the Almighty.

Before being an instrument of mass domination, i think it is first and foremost the most efficient weapon humans ever created.
In both cases i think it should be eradicated for the sake of greater good. But don't take me wrong : i hate religions, not religious people.
Even though i kind of look down on them i do not feel the need to kill them.

Originally Posted by (Who is) Lobo

My take on it lately here in the states is it's too entrenched in politics, and too cozily allied with political entities. It's nothing new in the world, obviously, but it's just crazy here. Strange lines in the sand are drawn when you try to evoke things like, 'my religious liberties, 'murica, are being infringed because gay people are getting married.'

What I think is that the idea of Rights has been taken beyond its original proportions. People on both sides of this issue (the religious and the gays) are under the impression that their Rights give them license to involve themselves in the lives of other people and boss them around.

Where I do not see what you might call "Positive" Rights as acceptable law. In other words, they have turned the concept of Rights from a Defense into a Weapon.
Religious people around the world will make claims to possess authority on behalf of some higher power we may never see in order to control the lives of others... from the Muslims who want the "Right" to kill gays to Christians who want the "Right" to tell gays they can't get married.

From my perspective, I see Muslims (particularly in the Arab world) as the more hostile and authoritative of the bunch, although I know there are crazy Christians.

On the flip side you have the people who support "Bake the Cake". Basically, discrimination laws. Which I view as illegitimate.
I don't think it's going to help Gay/Religious relations if we have gay people going around finding religious business owners and forcing them to do things on the merits of their gaydom. That is what that whole situation was: they wanted to force that bakery owner to bake them a wedding cake through the legal system that was designed to "protect their Rights".

It's a grotesque miscarriage of justice, if you ask me.


As far as the Marriage discussion goes, I consider the government institution surrounding it to also be illegitimate. The government should have no involvement in the private affairs of others. Signing a paper and surrendering to the State doesn't make your union any more or less official in my book. The rules surrounding it are unnecessary and stupid.

All of this has been concocted to expand the size of government and reduce the size of personal freedom, or "actual Rights", in my opinion. If the legal institution of Marriage never existed, I don't think gays would have ever had a problem getting married. Hell, they hadn't had a problem getting married in the first place. It's just words and traditions. They're cute ideas, but that's what they are. If you love each other, nobody can stand between you declaring yourselves being wed.

Nothing has ever stood between that. All those people want is a Tax Break and hospital visitations, if you ask me. Which is fine, I guess, as long as the legal prerogative exists. But it ought not to.

I'll amend my statement in that nothing stands between gays being married as of the late twentieth century, in Western countries. If gays in the USA think they have it bad, they've probably never been to Jordan or Sudan... or Yemen. All of which coincidentally Islamic.

(Shouldn't veer off topic, but food for thought to my fellow Americans: Speaking of Mr. Spock, what if my "religion" were logic, thus anything anyone else does that can be categorized as "illogical" (e.g. opposing marriage equality in the 21st century because of a couple of cherry-picked verses addressed to ancient Israelites) is infringing upon my religious liberties?)

Well in either case I think a logical argument would reveal those notions to be... illogical?



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Originally Posted by Kieranlewix

I am a christian.I would not say devout though, that would be a lie.Like you Heatman I am worried about the path Christianity is taking as the years burge on.Now Christianity has evolved to the point where the Ministers of the Word of God are the now calling the shots,and not God Himself. Religion is being used as a means to an end, whatever end this people we trust to interpret the Holy Book are aiming at. They interpret it however they want to and twist the words to incite whatever emotions they desire their followers to have. This days pastors actually have the guts to tell people that if they don't make a donation to the church their prayers will not be accepted in Heaven.Surprisingly, we are falling into their traps and accepting what comes out of their mouth every time. It has come to a point whereby I have decided to take my stand and keep my guard up even as I continue to believe in the Almighty.

I was born into a Catholic home. Although I consider myself Agnostic, I empathize with the good people of the Faith.

From one angle you have pressure on Seculars to abandon traditions and values, and on another you have evil people masquerading as Devout. It's not a good situation.

Perhaps it has always been this way, but in the Information Age all of this has been accelerated. It must be very challenging to uphold the very best things about your faith while keeping a critical eye on yourself and the world. Good on you, if you can

I think religion as an idea is supremely important for creating an ethical baseline for societal laws.

Too bad then that religions is more often co-opted by the selfish to push their own prejudices.

I am not fond of religion. I believe that it only exists to provide some form of group mentality. I mean, you do not even need religion to have moral standards. To be honest, religion just increases prejudice among people. Overall, I perceive religion negatively.