Explain Your Religious Views or Lack Thereof

[Orcoa]

I try when I'm on here.

What is the point of getting pissed off at someone saying something that goes agasint your religion? On the internet no less

I hold the idea that I get to believe in what I want to and others can do otherwise till somebody tries to impose their views on people.

If you don't do that, then we are cool and I got nothing agasint you.

I like you already.

Thank you

I find you Kawaii as well

[Menassa]

The first part I understand... and it's not if you could take a bowl of diamonds or a bowl of hot coals the choice is made before you sit down in the chair.

The last part, I don't understand... at all.

I'm not sure how much more plain I can make it. God is a fictional character from the mythology of the ancient Middle East. Due to a history of people pretending this character is real, to the point of it being socially-ingrained, an inherent special-pleading fallacy has attached to this particular character, meaning it is treated as being somehow more worthy of consideration than similar characters, like Thor, Zeus, Isis, and so on. I'm just taking a step past the historic special-pleading, and looking at it objectively.

Your point I mean... what is it?

[Menassa]

Where?

Seen it a bunch of times on NSG, YouTube, Yahoo (not that I go there often), etc.

It barely happens on NSG in comparison.

[The Batorys]

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.

I've searched plenty. The only responses to "define god" I have found are either surface descriptions of specific gods, or "we call it god because we revere it".

That's because there really can't be any consensus on a precise definition of what being a god entails, due to the fact that not all religions are really that related to each other as schools of thought, and "god" is merely a word in the English language that we use to describe concepts across religions that have surface similarities/commonalities, despite being in many ways quite different. Even defining "gods" as "subjects/objects of worship" breaks down because what exactly worship means is similarly not universal across time and culture.

While both might be described as gods, the deity of Abrahamic religions and the innumerable Kami of Shinto (and deities fulfilling the same role in similar religions) don't really have that much in common, for example.

This is actually one of my frustrations with the way religious 'discussion' usually goes on NSG, because it usually boils down to an atheism versus christianity argument, when the latter is but one of many thousands of different spiritual belief systems that have been practiced in the history of humans, and even itself has many different views within it. It makes things such a boring, oversimplified dichotomy when the actual variety of views is so much more complex and interesting.

[Athylon Prime]

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?

No if God revealed his presence to the human race, the choice would be made for them already.

And perhaps God does reveal himself in little ways, some sheep choose to follow... while others stray.

I like you, Menassa. You don't push your religion on other people, yet you subtly defend it without insulting anyone. Also, apparently god is using ways to subtle for me. I am very hard headed, although he should know this.

[The Realm of God]

Could have sworn...

Its ok Menassa

Its not as bad as when I was back in school people thought I worshiped Satan or Thor because I wore a lot of black and listen to Slayer

It's probably because of me and Arch having conversations that reveal sympathy with semi-universalist theology, perhaps people have learnt to associate Orthodoxy with it, especially as it is not anathema to believe in Maximus the Confessor's version.

[Menassa]

No if God revealed his presence to the human race, the choice would be made for them already.

And perhaps God does reveal himself in little ways, some sheep choose to follow... while others stray.

I like you, Menassa. You don't push your religion on other people, yet you subtly defend it without insulting anyone. Also, apparently god is using ways to subtle for me. I am very hard headed, although he should know this.

We don't believe everyone needs to be a member of our religion in order to attain eternal peace, therefore I find no need to push my religion on people and it probably would do more harm than good.

[Mkuki]

Seen it a bunch of times on NSG, YouTube, Yahoo (not that I go there often), etc.

It barely happens on NSG in comparison.

Yeah, and? Still happens. *shrug* What can you do about it except debate or tell the mods?

[Orcoa]

Seen it a bunch of times on NSG, YouTube, Yahoo (not that I go there often), etc.

It barely happens on NSG in comparison.

Ehhh....I won't say that.

It has happen in the past, not to the degree that happens in shitholes like Youtube or Yahoo but both Theist and Atheist sides have gotten...a bit heated in the past.

[Tlaceceyaya]

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?

No if God revealed his presence to the human race, the choice would be made for them already.

And perhaps God does reveal himself in little ways, some sheep choose to follow... while others stray.

No, it wouldn't.
There are loads of people who deny evidence.
If he exists, then he's basically saying "Fuck You!" to the people who prefer evidence over superstition, and making their choice for them by not providing them with an opportunity.

[Blasveck]

I like you already.

Thank you

I find you Kawaii as well

Spoiler ain't working.

[The Grey Wolf]

No if God revealed his presence to the human race, the choice would be made for them already.

And perhaps God does reveal himself in little ways, some sheep choose to follow... while others stray.

No, it wouldn't.
There are loads of people who deny evidence.
If he exists, then he's basically saying "Fuck You!" to the people who prefer evidence over superstition, and making their choice for them by not providing them with an opportunity.

I think God doesn't really care about your insults.

[Orcoa]

Its ok Menassa

Its not as bad as when I was back in school people thought I worshiped Satan or Thor because I wore a lot of black and listen to Slayer

It's probably because of me and Arch having conversations that reveal sympathy with semi-universalist theology, perhaps people have learnt to associate Orthodoxy with it, especially as it is not anathema to believe in Maximus the Confessor's version.

True that Realm

I guess I surprised a few people on here because of speaking about my Religion

[Reploid Productions]

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.

No.
None of that.
Shame on you.

*** Wintersun, warned for trolling. ***. Really, you'd gone for months with a clean record, and then this?

Also, I swear, I never thought I'd go so much mileage out of a line from DBZ Abridged. Thank you, Bardock.


~Evil Forum Empress Rep Prod the Ninja Mod
~She who wields the Banhammer; master of the mighty moderation no-dachi Kiritateru Teikoku

[Menassa]

No if God revealed his presence to the human race, the choice would be made for them already.

And perhaps God does reveal himself in little ways, some sheep choose to follow... while others stray.

No, it wouldn't.
There are loads of people who deny evidence.
If he exists, then he's basically saying "Fuck You!" to the people who prefer evidence over superstition, and making their choice for them by not providing them with an opportunity.

Yes it would,

If you see a bowl full of hot coals and a bowl full of diamonds the choice to take one would be made before you sat down.

[Neo Rome Republic]

No, it wouldn't.
There are loads of people who deny evidence.
If he exists, then he's basically saying "Fuck You!" to the people who prefer evidence over superstition, and making their choice for them by not providing them with an opportunity.

I think God doesn't really care about your insults.

I think he doesn't even exist.

[Athylon Prime]

The first part I understand... and it's not if you could take a bowl of diamonds or a bowl of hot coals the choice is made before you sit down in the chair.

The last part, I don't understand... at all.

I'm not sure how much more plain I can make it. God is a fictional character from the mythology of the ancient Middle East. Due to a history of people pretending this character is real, to the point of it being socially-ingrained, an inherent special-pleading fallacy has attached to this particular character, meaning it is treated as being somehow more worthy of consideration than similar characters, like Thor, Zeus, Isis, and so on. I'm just taking a step past the historic special-pleading, and looking at it objectively.

This is an explanation thread, not a debate thread. Go to another thread if you wish to debate. I really don't want the mod to lock this one again.

[Orcoa]

Thank you

I find you Kawaii as well

Spoiler ain't working.

Damnit it was a good gif too....

Well anyway, its good to know I got somebody who likes me on here

[Conscentia]

No.
I am not convinced that anyone believes in "god" because I'm not convinced there's such a thing as "god" - not even as a concept.
Prove me wrong. Answer the questions I presented in my post.
Also, I'm not telling them anything. They told me - I have simply recorded what I have perceived.

So you don't believe in what they believe exists.
So you believe that according to your beliefs what they believe doesn't exist.
While they believe that what you believe is the real falsehood.

No - I am not convinced that it is even possible to believe god exists. (It is impossible to have an idea that does not exist.)

Many claim to believe in something that they call "god". It occurred to me that every definition of god I've ever seen is either a description of a specific figure based on achievements or attributes and therefore useless ("Creator of the universe", & "omnipotence" - like defining "steel" with "used to make spoons", & "shiny".), or refers to gods vaguely as figures that are revered as "divine", whatever that means, - also useless.

It seems very clear to me that "god" is simply a meaningless label.

[Menassa]

So you don't believe in what they believe exists.
So you believe that according to your beliefs what they believe doesn't exist.
While they believe that what you believe is the real falsehood.

No - I am not convinced that it is even possible to believe god exists. (It is impossible to have an idea that does not exist.)

Many claim to believe in something that they call "god". It occurred to me that every definition of god I've ever seen is either a description of a specific figure based on achievements or attributes and therefore useless (Creator of the universe, & omnipotence - like defining steel with the words used to make spoons, and shiny.), or refers to gods vaguely as figures that are revered as "divine", whatever that means, - also useless.

It seems very clear to me that "god" is simply a meaningless label.

Well that's probably because humans fall short of something that goes beyond their comprehension... so some confusion is always going to be around.

[The Grey Wolf]

I think God doesn't really care about your insults.

I think he doesn't even exist.

Must I get Kirk Cameron and his banana to convince you otherwise?

[Asshatland]

I'm not sure how much more plain I can make it. God is a fictional character from the mythology of the ancient Middle East. Due to a history of people pretending this character is real, to the point of it being socially-ingrained, an inherent special-pleading fallacy has attached to this particular character, meaning it is treated as being somehow more worthy of consideration than similar characters, like Thor, Zeus, Isis, and so on. I'm just taking a step past the historic special-pleading, and looking at it objectively.

This is an explanation thread, not a debate thread. Go to another thread if you wish to debate. I really don't want the mod to lock this one again.

You're right - I was just trying to clarify what I thought was an already clear point. I'll try to refrain from further debate.

[Athylon Prime]

We don't believe everyone needs to be a member of our religion in order to attain eternal peace, therefore I find no need to push my religion on people and it probably would do more harm than good.

Amen. It almost always does more harm than good to push your religion, whatever it may be, on someone.

[Neo Rome Republic]

I think he doesn't even exist.

Must I get Kirk Cameron and his banana to convince you otherwise?

No that's okay, I believe modern bananas were intelligently designed........by us.

[Menassa]

We don't believe everyone needs to be a member of our religion in order to attain eternal peace, therefore I find no need to push my religion on people and it probably would do more harm than good.

Amen. It almost always does more harm than good to push your religion, whatever it may be, on someone.

Sometimes that is the case, although sometimes Proselytization works.