Shalom!

Today's topic: WHAT IS A RELIGION?

(I should own a column... )

According to the novel "Joshua," the word "religion" means to "bind up."

So atheists aren't completely wrong when they say religions cause too much diversity and separate people from eachother.

But guess what... atheism is a religion in itself. Atheists even had a god... it's themselves. So:

Christianity: God/Jesus/Holy Spirit
Buddhism: Buddha
Shintoism: Ancestors
Islam: Allah
Wicca: Nature
Evolutionism: Paramecium
Atheism: Humans

This part is directed at Christians:
Are we really supposed to be a religion? Are we supposed to "bind up" together in a know and ignore the world around us? I find that far too many Christians do that. That's why some people gave us the reputation of thinking of ourselves as "superior." A person I once witnessed to put it this way:

"You believe that you [the Christians] are the only ones good enough to go to Heaven. And yet you still think everyone is equal? How does that work?"

I told him we're no better than them - we're equal - because everyone has the ability to accept Jesus. Those that do aren't smarter than anyone else. Those that don't just haven't found a reason to believe. If they never do, you know what happens. But if they do some day, then praise God... someone else is back in the intimate family.

Besides, doesn't God love everyone? From Mother Theresa to Josef Stalin. We're all His children. So we should all be together... not bound up in a not, but holding hands in a "circle of love" (a song by Point of Grace). Christianity is a FAITH, people. "Joshua" points out that Jesus never meant for it to be a religion. Jesus just wanted everyone to come to heaven and be with Him, and be friends.

OK, so I'm not gonna tackle anything else right now. I'm new at this message board thing, all right? So if this sounds too preachy, I'm really sorry. If you feel the need to flame, go ahead. It's understandable... I'll just go right on loving you because God loves you. ^-^-

I'll work on my writing skills, I promise.

Shalom!

anyhow...

A Religion

Okay, maybe I didn't prase some things the way I wanted them to be inturpited.

The thing with Spirit: I realize that it is the embodyment of God and Goddess/Lord and Lady. My point was that they choose worshiping them as a whole or in seprate diaties(sp?).

The thing about Pagans/Wiccans going to church on sunday: I was trying to say that some of them also follow the Christian beliefe system. Meaning God, Holy Spirit, Christ, and Goddess. Angels and Faries:etc.

The way I learned it was that Paganism was the worship of nature, and that Wicca, Druidism, and Native American all fall under that clasification.

I don't know much about Athists or I would say something about them, but I prefer not to speak rumers, no matter how realistic they may seem.

Ok, so I am jewish by heritage and I believe that a religon is something to help people through the rough times in their life, i don't happen to agree with all religons but if they keep people from going insane, i'm all for it. And poncho- not all of them will smack you with a bible, lets try not to make generlazations.
(spelling?)

Gem and Amaris are right--

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re·li·gion n.

1 a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2 The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3 A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

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Atheism is not a religion.

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faith n.

Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.

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Atheists can have faith in many things. As an athiest I have seldom had faith in myself. I have had faith in other people, I have had faith in ideals, I have had faith in potential, I have had faith in the future, faith in a cause, faith in knowledge. Atheism is the opposite of believing in any god. Atheism is having faith in what's here now or could be here. It might be one's self, or it might be myriad other things. Atheism is not "self worship" and is certainly not even confined to "love of self". I've always hated myself, in fact. In the past, as an example, I've put my faith in extreme dieting. I know that's warped, and probably something I need to change, but it is one place to put faith. The point is, you can't narrow atheism down that way, saying that athiests in general place importance on ______. It's a different experience for everyone. And it is not a religious experience.

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First off thank you to BillyBarrio, you seem quite incitful, I definatly plan to follow several topics that I find you in.

Next off, I must tell you that Wicca is a branch off religion. They have a god and goddess, they also may worship spirit and the directiond or elements. Some wiccans even have a gardian angel, and find god every sunday with christions. But all in all, wicca is a form of Paganism. This is the worship of nature, it also covers the Native Americans way of living, as well as others.

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WOW! Thanks for the compliment, sometimes I'm not so incitful...but I try

I don't know about the sunday thing, but I wanted to expand on Wicca and Pagans. Both of these from what I have understood in a study and interviews my GF did, both are derived from Druism...all of which pre-date Christianity. And also from what I understand are the first and purely all natural religions.

a religion is n e sort of organized belief system or something u follow. so like hell...punk rock could be a religion!

woudn't that be kinda awesum?

actually, they do beleive themself to be the "god" in a way...its hard to explain.

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YES Atheists have a "god."

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I know you think you know what Atheist means, but apparently not, if you think they have a god.

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and find god every sunday with christions.

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There is no set day for Wiccans to "find god". Wiccans find their Goddess or their God on any day they want to.

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They have a god and goddess, they also may worship spirit

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God and Goddess (aka Lord and Lady) make up the female and male aspects of Spirit. Saying "Spirit" or "God and Goddess" is the same thing, just a different name for it. So instead of saying "God and Goddess" or "Lord and Lady" in rituals, people say "Spirit".

I was once smacked with a bible by a Jehovah's witness.
Because I'm buddhist and bi.
I don't like their views, I'll say that.

First off thank you to BillyBarrio, you seem quite incitful, I definatly plan to follow several topics that I find you in.

Next off, I must tell you that Wicca is a branch off religion. They have a god and goddess, they also may worship spirit and the directiond or elements. Some wiccans even have a gardian angel, and find god every sunday with christions. But all in all, wicca is a form of Paganism. This is the worship of nature, it also covers the Native Americans way of living, as well as others.

I, myself, find that a religion is hidering. I simply claim a form of Paganism mixed with Scientology, I really have no idea wich is right, but they work for me. I've found that this works with any religion to perfect your oun. And that is how it is, every person has a different way of living his or her life and that is their religion. Anyone who thinks differently should take a closer look at themselves.

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To BillyBarrio: I did a little research on Deism after reading your response. I didn't fully understand it, but it seems like Deism was created to bash Christianity and change Bible doctrines around.

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Again with the bashing!!! HI!!!! Simply we do not believe what you believe. We do not believe religion should influence law and most of all we don't believe in all of the senseless killing and magic of revealed religion. God does not reveal to anyone the answers which have already been given. You must understand those answers to truely understand anything...including God.

And no, we could pretty much care less about the Bible...it's a bunch of papers with words on it, and not God's I might add.

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YES Atheists have a "god."

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Wrong.

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And atheists don't think of themselves as being their own gods. But put it in a perspective, in a metaphor. Buddhism will say "Buddha in me did it." Christians will say, "Jesus in my did it." Atheists will say, "I in me did it."

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a) Buddha is not a god.
b) Atheists don't praise themselves for everything. Not all Atheists are the same; they all simply lack belief in a higher power.

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who do we love most? Atheists love themselves.

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I love myself, but so do Christians, and Muslims, and Jews, and Buddhists, etc. Loving yourself and worshipping yourself are two different things.

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Atheists choose to walk through life like they own the place.

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Excuse me? I do own this place. I'm royalty. Now get the hell off my website!

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In all honesty, saying that God didn't create the world, it just exploded into being, is like saying that the explosion created the world. So we might as well go worship the explosion

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Saying that some omnipotent fairy tale just decided to create a few people one day in a garden with serpents and trees of life is more viable, then? It seriously sounds like something coined off the Lion King. It's saddening that adults still believe in that BS.

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Except the atheists don't because they leave the explosion behind and say, "Oh well, thanks a lot nitrogen molecules, now I'm outta here to stink up the planet with my pollutants."

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Many Atheists believe in evolution, but many don't. I don't believe that life as we know it evolved from mixed gases and bacterium. Everyone's opinion varies. Atheism doesn't hold a belief in a deity; it doesn't explain how -all- life was created. We've simply ruled out the possibility as a fairy tale fabrication.

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But not everyone cares. So yeah, atheists have a god. They just choose to be blind and pretend they don't.

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Here we go:

god - capitalized: the supreme or ultimate reality; the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshiped as creator and ruler of the universe; Christian Science: the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit: infinite Mind. A being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically: one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality. A person or thing of supreme value; a powerful ruler.

Okay, let's look at this. Atheists have no supreme reality, creator, eternal spirit, sole controller, or powerful ruler. Atheists don't worship themselves; Atheists don't worship anyone or anything, thus setting us apart from all religion. We are NON-religion because we lack a god.

worship - to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power. To regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion. (Intransitive senses): to perform or take part in worship or an act of worship.

Well, would you look at that? We have no god, and we worship no one. We don't idolize ourselves. We many love ourselves just like any other person; we don't regard ourselves as divine, holy, or omnipotent. Therefore, we do not have a god.

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While they'll be fair everywhere else: "Yes, you say you don't have a party, but everyone has a party, they just don't realize it. You can say you're neither democrat nor republican, but that means your party is the 'independent party'." But they cant see that they themselves are in an "independent religion."

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Bad example. Many people lack a political party, because they aren't affiliated with politics at all. They hold no belief that one is better than the other, thus staying neutral.

And "independent party" would consist of those whose parties don't fit into the mainstream (e.g. Rep, Dem, Green, Libertarian, etc.) They have their own special views on politics. But if you were to associate this with Atheism, it would imply that Atheists have their special views about god, which we do not. We all believe god fails to exist. Agnostics hold their own beliefs about god, and they would relate more to your "independent party" scenario.

atheists do not believe in any form of god, shammah, and your abstract portrayal is not very accurate. atheists do NOT think "well, i did something, now i must give thanks unto and worship myself." we are NOT our own idols, we simply do not believe that there are any gods/skypixies/supernatural individuals out there to give salvation.
And forgive me if this sounds mean, but from reading how much you know about religion in general from your posts, i wouldn't exactly be wanting to take your word on much. Perhaps you should take a comparative religions course at your local college, often they are offered.

Caerat3, first of all you misunderstood me. I was NOT bashing Christians. After all, I AM one. And anyone that tells me that since I'm a Christian I should support my religion is only speaking half the truth. Yes, I support my church and my God. But NO, I won't say that there aren't Christians that treat people like they're superior. You get those in ALL religions - including Christianity. I was confused by your response and couldn't figure out what your religion is, so forgive me if I say something you already know. I've met many good Christians. In fact, I've met many GREAT Christians, ones that I strive to be like someday. But I do a lot of online witnessing and the people I speak to over the net have told me over and over again, "Christians are hypocrites - they act no different than us but then they think they're going to go to heaven and we won't." It's an effect we need to be aware of and avoid as much as we can. Which is why I posted this, to make people aware.

Also, to quote Caerat3: "You say "Shalom" all the time, but how can there be if y'all don't just shut up about religion all together? I don't bring it up on purpose you know, try that as well."

You want me to stop talking about religion? I think not! In Matthew 28:18-20 God tells us that is exactly NOT what we need to do. He also tells us to be kind to one another, which most likely doesn't include writing all in caps and using symbols to represent swearing, like that makes it ok. Now, I'm sure that didn't sound very kind, but I'm not going to be a push-over either. And like anyone else, I have a temper, so God and everyone else please forgive me when I lose it. If everyone stops talking about religion, then everyone that never hears God's truth is doomed to rely on their good deeds.

To BillyBarrio: I did a little research on Deism after reading your response. I didn't fully understand it, but it seems like Deism was created to bash Christianity and change Bible doctrines around. It's true that the Bible was written by man. The books put into it were even voted upon by man. But the entire Bible was put together before the corruption of the Church in the 1500s. People were still trusting in the holy spirit to guide them, and the Holy Spirit showed them exactly which books to put in the Bible - the ones inspired by God. Later on, the Church added books that they themselves had written and sometimes even lied and said that the apostles wrote them. Those books were taken out of the Bible eventually because it caused the Bible to contradict itself. Man and God are always going to contradict because people think they know everything but it's only God that does.

Next, to geminiangel521 and BillyBarrio: YES Atheists have a "god." You're right, BB: A = no and theist = religion. I KNOW that. And atheists don't think of themselves as being their own gods. But put it in a perspective, in a metaphor. Buddhism will say "Buddha in me did it." Christians will say, "Jesus in my did it." Atheists will say, "I in me did it." So who do we love most? Atheists love themselves. Christians love God. Atheists choose to walk through life like they own the place. In all honesty, saying that God didn't create the world, it just exploded into being, is like saying that the explosion created the world. So we might as well go worship the explosion. Except the atheists don't because they leave the explosion behind and say, "Oh well, thanks a lot nitrogen molecules, now I'm outta here to stink up the planet with my pollutants." Although many people are worried about the well-being of the environment. But not everyone cares. So yeah, atheists have a god. They just choose to be blind and pretend they don't. While they'll be fair everywhere else: "Yes, you say you don't have a party, but everyone has a party, they just don't realize it. You can say you're neither democrat nor republican, but that means your party is the 'independent party'." But they cant see that they themselves are in an "independent religion."

billybarrio
caerat
geminiangel521

Athiests don't worship anyone.

please see my Islamaphobia posts, you are not the only one. It is Theistic relgious beliefs, revealed and invented by men. It just happens that there are 300 Christians on this board, so Christianity comes up most. And so you know, Christianity is not my most distrusted religion...however it is second.

First off I am a Deist, go look that one up!

second of all Atheist means
A = No
Theist = Religion

you add it up!

next

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But guess what... atheism is a religion in itself. Atheists even had a god... it's themselves. So:

Christianity: God/Jesus/Holy Spirit
Buddhism: Buddha
Shintoism: Ancestors
Islam: Allah
Wicca: Nature
Evolutionism: Paramecium
Atheism: Humans

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Christianity: God/Jesus/Holy Spirit = Theist

Buddhism: Buddha = not a God, within all of us...we are Buddha

Shintoism: Ancestors = Not Gods either

Islam: Allah = Messiah and not God

Wicca: Nature is not their God, they worship Dieties who work within Nature

Evolutionism: Paramecium not God and it's a amoeboid protozoan, or single celled animal with no given structure


Atheism: Humans not Gods, and don't believe Humans are God, that would be Humanism.

so I hope we are done with religious class for today...