A brief theological question....... - Page 6

BlueStreak · #51 07-17-2011, 11:10 PM

Hi Eva, and WELCOME!

Dave

JCricket · #52 07-21-2011, 12:50 PM

Raised as an ultra conservative catholic. My parents were/are just plain nuts - REALLY!

I am a product of christian values and I do hold living righteous, virtuous and with charity in high esteem.

I give zero creedance to any organized group of people who lead a religion or religious institution.

I am a solid agnostic - I don't kow what is out there.

Does it affect my plotical beliefs? I cannot see how it couldn't. I do put the needs of the people over the needs of the corporations.

I am a socialist, and a bit of a buhdist type. Not the shave my head and pass out the daisies type though.

I like Thomas Jefferson's stance on religion and the seperation of church and state for sure.

djv8ga · #53 07-21-2011, 10:09 PM

"I give zero creedance to any organized group of people who lead a religion or religious institution."
"and a bit of a buhdist type."

I don't get it...?

JCricket · #54 07-22-2011, 07:27 AM

Buddha was about a way of life. He did not advocate for a set of theological beliefs or heaven and hell. He did not worship a supreme being.

True, buddhism is considered an eastern religion by many folks. I don't follow it religiously. But I do think most of what I have read about the buddhist make sense.

Also, in my statement, I was trying to seperate the "leaders" of the churches from the people of the churches. These are two very different things.

Thomas Jefferson would not attent a church meeting or bible study if a minister, priest, monk, etc. was leading the group. However, he would go if it were just the people.

merrylander · #55 07-22-2011, 07:37 AM

The problem is that all churches have gotten to the point where they exist simply to exist. Their main function appears to be passing the plate. That and sticking their fat noses into things that are simply none of their business.

piece-itpete · #56 07-22-2011, 09:53 AM

Agreed Rob. A few years ago I heard that the loonie Moonie spoke to a number of churches in the DC area and convinced them that the Crucifix was actually a false bad thing somehow - they took them down. Why would they listen to him? Crazy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCricket

.. I don't follow it religiously.

LMAO that's killing me!

Pete

JCricket · #57 07-22-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

LMAO that's killing me!

Pete

I was wondering if anyone would catch that and hopefully take it how it was meant.

mark

BlueStreak · #58 07-22-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCricket

Buddha was about a way of life. He did not advocate for a set of theological beliefs or heaven and hell. He did not worship a supreme being.

True, buddhism is considered an eastern religion by many folks. I don't follow it religiously. But I do think most of what I have read about the buddhist make sense.

Also, in my statement, I was trying to seperate the "leaders" of the churches from the people of the churches. These are two very different things.

Thomas Jefferson would not attent a church meeting or bible study if a minister, priest, monk, etc. was leading the group. However, he would go if it were just the people.

Have you read any of Thich Naht Hahn? Fascinating stuff, especially his work on finding common ground with Judeo-Christian philosophy.

Dave

Rex E. · #59 08-23-2011, 07:02 PM

Baptised and raised a Mormon until I was old enough to make the decission to stop going to church. (around 15-16).

I was encouraged to go to all my friends churches as a youth and see what was going on there for myself rather than speculate.

All I will say is a know many very good if not great Mormons(my father being one of the greatest and most selfless men I have known or known of). Far from what they are projected to be by media and speculation. I can't remember a single year of my young life (4-12 or so) when we did not have someone living in our home that was in need. Home was isolated Alaska and folks tended to look out for one another(even if you hated one another). I remeber when moving to Missouri how my parents had several Pentacotals over to the house to do laundry and have a meal as their own families had rejected them for their beliefs.

Like so many I find the business of religion to be sickening. It makes it easy to not attend and to point fingers.

In the past several years (mainly since my daughter was born and I remembered I did not have to be such a selfish prick) my religious and political views have changed greatly. I realize that neither organized religions nor politicians are that interested in my or the people of this worlds general well being and that it is incumbant upon ourselves to look out for each other.

So... to answer the question I do have faith and since I've come to understand that it is not found at a church or in one denomination or another it no longer clouds my political views.

Charles · #60 08-23-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrylander

The problem is that all churches have gotten to the point where they exist simply to exist. Their main function appears to be passing the plate. That and sticking their fat noses into things that are simply none of their business.

The biggest difference between going to church and going to the country club is, when you go to church you're expected to stay halfway sober for an hour.

They're the same bunch, more or less. But I'm a Methodist, or at least they tell me I still am.

I've met worse people.

Now the snake kissers, well, they're a different kind of bird.

To be fair to them, they're only desperate for something to hold on to.

But bottom line, it's a social organization, not unlike Political Chat.

Chas

BTW, if you're eager to pass judgment on your fellow man, most likely you're only attempting not to pass judgment on yourself.

God told that to me while I was out fishing and getting drunk.