Explain Your Religious Views or Lack Thereof

[Menassa]

I'm an atheist because I have read the BIble and the Qu'ran and then witnessed how the "pious" Jews, Christians, and Muslims act. If their god were real pretty much each and every one of them would have been struck down countless times a day. As they are not struck down within the year I judge that either their god is lazy and incompetent or simply doesn't actually exist as logic dictates.

Because Abrahamic religions are the only religions.

It's true.

[Blasveck]

I'm an atheist because I have read the BIble and the Qu'ran and then witnessed how the "pious" Jews, Christians, and Muslims act. If their god were real pretty much each and every one of them would have been struck down countless times a day. As they are not struck down within the year I judge that either their god is lazy and incompetent or simply doesn't actually exist as logic dictates.

Well, it seems you know little of sin and atonement....

Depends. If we're talking about the Jewish God, there is atonement correct?
If we're talking about the Christian God, AFAIK, there is no atonement.

What is the Jewish perspective on atheists?
Are they counted as Gentiles? Or do they have their own set of punishments?

[Athylon Prime]

Alright, a very big one was Jesus claimed he wouldn't change the law a tittle, then proceeded to change almost all of the laws.
Shall I continue?

It happens to be that Paul changed the Law... although if Paul's the mouthpiece of Christ it's what Christ wanted... it's not really a contradiction then...

I see. Also, I know this is only a few religions, I can't get over the whole "send you to hell for not believing and worshiping in me" thing. That's really my biggest objection. It's like a car dealer saying you have a choice whether to buy the car or not, but telling you he'll torture you forever if you don't. He also won't even show you the car. You just have to have faith that there is a car.

[Pacifornia]

Disregard my last message.

I became an atheist after seeing how wackos like Westboro were giving real Christians a bad name. I started looking at the Bible and noticed how most of the stuff didn't add up and imo was kinda hypocritical. Coming out as an atheist to my mom was, believe it or not, scary. Surprisingly, she accepted my lack of beliefs and didn't guilt trip me. There have been times of doubt about my lack of faith and even be scared by the idea of hell, but I just tend to live in the present and enjoy my life before Death comes knocking

[Menassa]

Well, it seems you know little of sin and atonement....

Depends. If we're talking about the Jewish God, there is atonement correct?
If we're talking about the Christian God, AFAIK, there is no atonement.

It depends on what branch of Christianity you are, I believe most protestants would say there is no atonement outside the blood of Jesus, as there is no atonement without the shedding of blood... from the Old Testament perspective, the latter (and former) are false.

What is the Jewish perspective on atheists?
Are they counted as Gentiles? Or do they have their own set of punishments?

Anyone whose mother isn't Jewish or who didn't convert is a gentile... Christians... Muslims... Hindus...

What do you mean by set of punishments?

[Polvia]

I see. Also, I know this is only a few religions, I can't get over the whole "send you to hell for not believing and worshiping in me" thing. That's really my biggest objection. It's like a car dealer saying you have a choice whether to buy the car or not, but telling you he'll torture you forever if you don't. He also won't even show you the car. You just have to have faith that there is a car.

That's an issue I have with those religions as well.

[Menassa]

It happens to be that Paul changed the Law... although if Paul's the mouthpiece of Christ it's what Christ wanted... it's not really a contradiction then...

I see. Also, I know this is only a few religions, I can't get over the whole "send you to hell for not believing and worshiping in me" thing. That's really my biggest objection. It's like a car dealer saying you have a choice whether to buy the car or not, but telling you he'll torture you forever if you don't. He also won't even show you the car. You just have to have faith that there is a car.

Well, we don't believe in an eternal punishment, if I can offer some insights.

God does not need your worship, as he does not need anything... you worship God for you, if that makes sense... I've felt it with me it changes you, it changes your outlook, sometimes for the better.

Why would God show you he's there and remove your free will?

[The Batorys]

It happens to be that Paul changed the Law... although if Paul's the mouthpiece of Christ it's what Christ wanted... it's not really a contradiction then...

I see. Also, I know this is only a few religions, I can't get over the whole "send you to hell for not believing and worshiping in me" thing. That's really my biggest objection. It's like a car dealer saying you have a choice whether to buy the car or not, but telling you he'll torture you forever if you don't. He also won't even show you the car. You just have to have faith that there is a car.

I was raised in two religions, one of them being Christianity (Roman Catholic, to be precise). Hell was the first of its concepts that I rejected. It's not that I don't believe that one's afterlife/reincarnation might differ depending on the life one led, it just seemed weird to me that nonbelievers would get eternally punished just for being nonbelievers in a specific religion, even if they were otherwise good people. Punishment didn't fit the crime, per se. That was pretty much the start of my beliefs' evolution to what they are now.

[Blasveck]

Depends. If we're talking about the Jewish God, there is atonement correct?
If we're talking about the Christian God, AFAIK, there is no atonement.

It depends on what branch of Christianity you are, I believe most protestants would say there is no atonement outside the blood of Jesus, as there is no atonement without the shedding of blood... from the Old Testament perspective, the latter (and former) are false.

What is the Jewish perspective on atheists?
Are they counted as Gentiles? Or do they have their own set of punishments?

Anyone whose mother isn't Jewish or who didn't convert is a gentile... Christians... Muslims... Hindus...

What do you mean by set of punishments?

Punishments was bad wording. Don't worry about it.

[Menassa]

It depends on what branch of Christianity you are, I believe most protestants would say there is no atonement outside the blood of Jesus, as there is no atonement without the shedding of blood... from the Old Testament perspective, the latter (and former) are false.


Anyone whose mother isn't Jewish or who didn't convert is a gentile... Christians... Muslims... Hindus...

What do you mean by set of punishments?

Punishments was bad wording. Don't worry about it.

Well okay then.

[Polvia]

I was raised in two religions, one of them being Christianity (Roman Catholic, to be precise). Hell was the first of its concepts that I rejected. It's not that I don't believe that one's afterlife/reincarnation might differ depending on the life one led, it just seemed weird to me that nonbelievers would get eternally punished just for being nonbelievers in a specific religion, even if they were otherwise good people. Punishment didn't fit the crime, per se. That was pretty much the start of my beliefs' evolution to what they are now.

My personal beliefs center around the idea that it is how one lives during their lifetime, and their words, thoughts and actions, that will matter and not what God(s), or lack of God(s), they acknowledged or worshiped.

[Conscentia]

Because Abrahamic religions are the only religions.

It's true.

Are you being serious or sarcastic?

[Wintersun]

I'm an atheist because I have read the BIble and the Qu'ran and then witnessed how the "pious" Jews, Christians, and Muslims act. If their god were real pretty much each and every one of them would have been struck down countless times a day. As they are not struck down within the year I judge that either their god is lazy and incompetent or simply doesn't actually exist as logic dictates.

Well, it seems you know little of sin and atonement....

Sin and atonement only goes so far for the Protestant's and Jew's. As for the Catholics...well they think raping little boys is okay which is another reason why I'm an atheist as if anything they worship Satan and not God.

[Menassa]

It's true.

Are you being serious or sarcastic?

Sarcastically Serious.

[Conscentia]

I find it disappointing that no one responded to this post I made I while ago...

I have found myself wondering if anyone is really a theist, or if they have merely learned to apply a label of "god" to a figure from a myth that they have been convinced it real but know only from basic descriptions in scriptures.
I wonder if any "theist" could actually recognise a "god". I wonder if anyone could actually recognise a "god".
I sure cannot tell you what "god" even means.
Seems like a meaningless label applied to supposedly powerful figures that are revered because they possess that label or an equivalent.

[Blasveck]

I find it disappointing that no one responded to this post I made I while ago...

I have found myself wondering if anyone is really a theist, or if they have merely learned to apply a label of "god" to a figure from a myth that they have been convinced it real but know only from basic descriptions in scriptures.
I wonder if any "theist" could actually recognise a "god". I wonder if anyone could actually recognise a "god".
I sure cannot tell you what "god" even means.
Seems like a meaningless label applied to supposedly powerful figures that are revered because they possess that label or an equivalent.

So over time, myths and stories get warped by word of mouth, and eventually, those stories and those figures within those stories become our Gods?

Makes sense.

[The Grey Wolf]

I find it disappointing that no one responded to this post I made I while ago...

I have found myself wondering if anyone is really a theist, or if they have merely learned to apply a label of "god" to a figure from a myth that they have been convinced it real but know only from basic descriptions in scriptures.
I wonder if any "theist" could actually recognise a "god". I wonder if anyone could actually recognise a "god".
I sure cannot tell you what "god" even means.
Seems like a meaningless label applied to supposedly powerful figures that are revered because they possess that label or an equivalent.

People didn't respond to my post either.

[Conscentia]

I find it disappointing that no one responded to this post I made I while ago...

So over time, myths and stories get warped by word of mouth, and eventually, those stories and those figures within those stories become our Gods?
Makes sense.

Not what I said.

[Menassa]

I find it disappointing that no one responded to this post I made I while ago...

I have found myself wondering if anyone is really a theist, or if they have merely learned to apply a label of "god" to a figure from a myth that they have been convinced it real but know only from basic descriptions in scriptures.
I wonder if any "theist" could actually recognise a "god". I wonder if anyone could actually recognise a "god".
I sure cannot tell you what "god" even means.
Seems like a meaningless label applied to supposedly powerful figures that are revered because they possess that label or an equivalent.

If you don't believe in a God than you believe theists believe in something that doesn't exist... so according to that belief their not worshiping anything.

[Orcoa]

I'm a christian that belongs in the Episcopal Church and is of the Christian Universalism school of Theology.

Haters gonna hate

[Blasveck]

So over time, myths and stories get warped by word of mouth, and eventually, those stories and those figures within those stories become our Gods?
Makes sense.

Not what I said.

Well then forget what I said.

[Athylon Prime]

I was raised in two religions, one of them being Christianity (Roman Catholic, to be precise). Hell was the first of its concepts that I rejected. It's not that I don't believe that one's afterlife/reincarnation might differ depending on the life one led, it just seemed weird to me that nonbelievers would get eternally punished just for being nonbelievers in a specific religion, even if they were otherwise good people. Punishment didn't fit the crime, per se. That was pretty much the start of my beliefs' evolution to what they are now.

Punishment most definitely doesn't fit the crime

I see. Also, I know this is only a few religions, I can't get over the whole "send you to hell for not believing and worshiping in me" thing. That's really my biggest objection. It's like a car dealer saying you have a choice whether to buy the car or not, but telling you he'll torture you forever if you don't. He also won't even show you the car. You just have to have faith that there is a car.

That's an issue I have with those religions as well.

It's one of my biggest issues. Doesn't sit well with me. Not at all.

Why would God show you he's there and remove your free will?

We would still have free will, the choice would just be easier. Does not the shepherd calm his sheep by letting his presence be known?

[The Batorys]

I have found myself wondering if anyone is really a theist, or if they have merely learned to apply a label of "god" to a figure from a myth that they have been convinced it real but know only from basic descriptions in scriptures.
I wonder if any "theist" could actually recognise a "god". I wonder if anyone could actually recognise a "god".
I sure cannot tell you what "god" even means.
Seems like a meaningless label applied to supposedly powerful figures that are revered because they possess that label or an equivalent.

What a god is really depends on the religious views of who you ask.

The definition for what exactly one is varies as much as any other aspect of religion does, across time and culture. In some religions, a god must be omnipotent, omniscient, etc. The big monotheist religions tend to hold to this view. However, in some other religions, gods aren't necessarily that powerful, are very limited in authority, and there are tons of them, though in some cases that's due to "god" being an imperfect translation of the culture's own word for such things. This is particularly true of more Animist religions.

I don't think a universal, functional definition can really ever be crafted for something that means such different things to different cultures and can in definition only ever really be vague.

[Menassa]

I'm a christian that belongs in the Episcopal Church and is of the Christian Universalism school of Theology.

Haters gonna hate

I thought you were Orthodox.

[Conscentia]

I find it disappointing that no one responded to this post I made I while ago...

If you don't believe in a God than you believe theists believe in something that doesn't exist... so according to that belief their not worshiping anything.

No. I don't believe that theists believe in what they claim to believe because what they claim to believe does not even exist as a concept, let alone in reality.