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Politics & ReligionWell Since every damn forum has one. Might as well leave it out there. This place is loosely moderated and should not be entered if you're weak of heart.
Absolutely your rights are endowed by a Creator. They must be if you are to be and remain free. That is the very foundation of freedom and human rights.
Think of the implications of your rights being endowed by the government, or man, or the Constitution, or some other temporal thing. What does that mean? How do you feel about it?
This was part of what made the US constitution so revolutionary. The idea of natural rights as described by the philosophers of that era (Locke, I think?). I just finished a book called "The Future of Freedom" that Gaolee recommended to me. It delves a little into some of the factors that result in having a free country.
Natural Rights and the British idea of the Rule of Law are the 2 primary concepts that allow a democracy to flourish.
It has everything to do with controlling people by accusing them of something they have no ability to defend against, and threatening their everlasting soul with eternal damnation as punishment.
Fear, plain and simple. That is what lies at the center of religion.
It is unfortunate that you see religion as a way of control. And its very unfortunate that you feel scare tactics are what keep people believing in a religion. I'm sure there may be some that live in fear, but the great majority of us do not live in fear.
I for one am not a Christian because I live in fear of eternal damnation. I am a Christian because Jesus Christ is who brought me to God. His teachings and beliefs are what inspire me to believe in God. That is what makes him my savior. I do not fear death, and I do not live my life in fear of sin. I know I am flawed, I have spoken with God about it, and I know when my ticket is up, that all my sins will be forgiven.
Its just that simple.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shah269
I was born in Iran, I don't believe in forgiving nor forgetting. I believe in getting even. Pay back is gonna be a bitch...
It is unfortunate that you see religion as a way of control. And its very unfortunate that you feel scare tactics are what keep people believing in a religion. I'm sure there may be some that live in fear, but the great majority of us do not live in fear.
I for one am not a Christian because I live in fear of eternal damnation. I am a Christian because Jesus Christ is who brought me to God. His teachings and beliefs are what inspire me to believe in God. That is what makes him my savior. I do not fear death, and I do not live my life in fear of sin. I know I am flawed, I have spoken with God about it, and I know when my ticket is up, that all my sins will be forgiven.
Its just that simple.
The Judeo-Christian religions are attempts at control, period. The believer is asked to accept that there are people who have the ear of God, and having such, can interpret what He wants.
Generally, what He wants is for us to give his rabbis, priests and ministers money. In exchange for our largesse we get to go to this place with 72 virgins (or hunks, as the case me be - Steff and acalliste), lots of good food to eat, angels, Mom, Dad, all our ancestors, palm trees....and everyone gets a liter bike of his/her choice.
The Judeo-Christian religions are attempts at control, period. The believer is asked to accept that there are people who have the ear of God, and having such, can interpret what He wants.
The bible actually explicitly warns against doing so.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
-Phillipians 2:12
I take this to mean that you are not to just accept what others say, but are to study the bible yourself before you believe of deny what someone else tells you. We believe that when a pastor gives a sermon, that it is inspired by God, to reveal a truth through His word. We do not, however, believe that we should blindly accept what the pastor says. We believe we are too listen to a sermon, and then study the scripture preached on to verify what was said. This keeps you from being lead astray by those who would pervert the teachings of the bible.
And this is what baptist preachers also teach. If anyone recommends that I accept what they say without question, that person would never be my pastor. Furthermore, I would likely not listen to a single sermon by them.
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doublEEsta
Global Warming - A phenomenon where natural climatic cycles coincide with liberal aspirations.
"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass." - Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
-Phillipians 2:12
Even if the bible did say it, why would that convince you? The bible saying it or some random person saying it amounts to the same thing.
If the bible said go to church on Sundays or else you will go to hell would not convince me, far from it actually. I’m merely just curious about it all. I figure its best to keep an open mind and seek information to the questions I have. I can’t find the truth or figure out what I believe with the minute amount of information I know.
And I suppose many think the authors of the bible weren’t random. Supposedly god gave the men the words to write?
Yeah, spare me the virgins. Silly little bitches. I'll take an experienced woman (or man) instead of a virgin any day.
Amen!
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The rat always knows when he's in with weasels. Here you lose a little every day.
I remember when a million was a million. They all have ways to make you pay.
~ Tom Waits
Thank god I'm not cool, I can do anything I want ~ Fourstring Gewsleesta
There are no doubt many decent people who attend church but there are also many decent people in mental wards who just happen to talk to the wrong phantom.
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