Something about Religion (come on everbody express your opinion!!!)

[RyJ Maduro]

Originally Posted by Thumper

That's funny considering that the Tridentine Rite contains numerous controversial passages regarding Judaism.

Further proof RyJ, that you have no clue what you are talking about, regardless of the subject....................

I'm perfectly familiar with the criticism of the Good Friday prayer for the conversion of the Jews... I believe that support for Israel and the Jewish people and a desire for their conversion can be compatible.

In any case, I find the traditional Mass to be favorable as the focus is on God in the Real Presence of the Eucharist, as opposed to the focus on the congregation and interpretive nature of the post-Vatican II Mass.

The homily, which was very conservative in nature and long-winded by today's standards, actually spoke favorably of the Jewish faith and, interestingly enough, called Islam a perversion of the Judeo-Christian religious tradition.

Out of curiosity, Father Thumper, do you consider devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be offensive to Russians?

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro

Out of curiosity, Father Thumper, do you consider devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be offensive to Russians?

I believe in The Great Promise of Fatima almost as much as I believe that crop circles are created by little green men.........................

[RyJ Maduro]

Originally Posted by Thumper

I believe in The Great Promise of Fatima almost as much as I believe that crop circles are created by little green men.........................

I'm going to go ahead and guess you're not Catholic?

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro

I'm going to go ahead and guess you're not Catholic?

Whether I am Catholic or not is immaterial to the discussion.

A better question would have been; "Are you a mindless drone, much like myself"?

I will admit to being Portuguese however.

Therefore, I will debate Fatima with you all day long......................

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro

I believe that support for Israel and the Jewish people and a desire for their conversion can be compatible.

• Tridentine Rite
  
• Support for the Jewish people
  
• Belief in the first two secrets of Fatima

I'm starting to see why you are so schizophrenic...............................

[RyJ Maduro]

Lately I've found the works of the Trappists to be particularly inspiring.

[punisher]

Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro

Lately I've found the works of the Trappists to be particularly inspiring.

oohhhh noooo.


you just didn't do what you did? did you now?



pun.

[Ringy]

Personally, I try not to read articles or get involved when people rant about religion. The reason being that they automatically claim that religion = Christianity, totally ignoring that there are hundreds of different religions in the world. Not all religions have a guy watching in the sky watching every move you do; not all religions involve a god of the sky and a goddess of beauty. In fact, there are quite a few religions that don't involve gods at all (atheism doesn't count).

Then there are also thousands of people who consider themselves not apart of a religion, but instead spiritualists. Personally I find it insulting to automatically claim that religion = Christianity, considering the hundreds out there.

This is kind of in response to an article posted (I think on page 5?) but to the thread on a whole as well.

EDIT: I still can't explain it properly, but.. what I mean by religion = Christianity is when people rant ABOUT religion, they are always talking about Christianity, but instead of calling it Christianity, they instead use the term religion, deeming that all religions are Christian. Or at least thats the way it sounds.

[wjmurray]

Originally Posted by Ringy

Personally, I try not to read articles or get involved when people rant about religion. The reason being that they automatically claim that religion = Christianity, totally ignoring that there are hundreds of different religions in the world. Not all religions have a guy watching in the sky watching every move you do; not all religions involve a god of the sky and a goddess of beauty. In fact, there are quite a few religions that don't involve gods at all (atheism doesn't count).

Then there are also thousands of people who consider themselves not apart of a religion, but instead spiritualists. Personally I find it insulting to automatically claim that religion = Christianity, considering the hundreds out there.

This is kind of in response to an article posted (I think on page 5?) but to the thread on a whole as well.

EDIT: I still can't explain it properly, but.. what I mean by religion = Christianity is when people rant ABOUT religion, they are always talking about Christianity, but instead of calling it Christianity, they instead use the term religion, deeming that all religions are Christian. Or at least thats the way it sounds.

Religion, be it xtianity, buddhism, islam or any of the multitudes of beliefs created by man all rely upon the same thing, the fear of believers and some form of blackmail by the priesthood in order to get believers to keep coming back and feeding the coffers. That threat can be eternal damnation, endless rebirths and suffering and a whole multitude of devices that priests think up to get people to fill seats and come back for more.

I don't bash only xtianity, but instead all religions because they all rely upon the exact same thing - fear and ignorance. In the end all religions are the same, they are just packaged differently to suit the audience.

[Swedish goalie]

Originally Posted by wjmurray

I don't bash only xtianity, but instead all religions because they all rely upon the exact same thing - fear and ignorance. In the end all religions are the same, they are just packaged differently to suit the audience.

wjmurray you sound like and smart well educated man, but I think you forgett to mention one important thing about religion that it in most cases was created for money and power. most cults and religions starts that a self prenounced messias says that he is the leader and so on. Everyone needs to listen to him and give him money, sex etc. That is what disturbs me most about religion and cults.

[wjmurray]

Originally Posted by Swedish goalie

wjmurray you sound like and smart well educated man, but I think you forgett to mention one important thing about religion that it in most cases was created for money and power. most cults and religions starts that a self prenounced messias says that he is the leader and so on. Everyone needs to listen to him and give him money, sex etc. That is what disturbs me most about religion and cults.

I understand this completely. I have often said that the first religion was probably founded by the laziest person in the community. He thought up a great story and told it to whomever would listen. That story involved and explanation of death and what happens, what you have to do in order to live on after death having a good time (give the lazy guy $$$ and food and do whatever he tells them to do) and what happens if you don't buy into his story (eternal suffering after his followers killed your rear end.)

Religion only serves one purpose - to enrich those too lazy to actually be productive members of society. Instead they go off and preech a myth and demand money and obedience to appease their gods. It's the ultimate con game and it's sad that people still buy into it.

[Timberwoof]

wjmurray, I don't agree with your generalization about the purpose of religion. Yes, a lot of religions get used for political and financial advantage, but you can find "honest" priests if you want to.

Swiss, do you have a working definition of "cult" other than "religion which I don't like"? (I have one. Interestingly, my source for it gets dismissed as being a lunatic neo-pagan.)

Recently a 15-year-old in London got arrested for calling $cientology a cult. Is $cientology a cult? If so, what makes it one and, say, the Society of Friends not?

[RyJ Maduro]

Originally Posted by wjmurray

...I have often said that the first religion was probably founded by the laziest person in the community...

That's very interesting... you must have majored in Anthropology.

[Bones343]

Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro

That's very interesting... you must have majored in Anthropology.

While a witty saying proves nothing (Voltaire), that is all it is, an expression. Good job taking it literally.

For those god believers, if there is a god, which one is it? With the number of different religions, and different views on what god is/is like, he/she/it clearly can't be all the different views. The chances (assuming blindly there is a god), that this god is anything like what people think, is minimal. If there is a god, this god isn't anythink like what anybody has ever thought him to be. I will bet my life on that.

[wjmurray]

Originally Posted by Bones343

While a witty saying proves nothing (Voltaire), that is all it is, an expression. Good job taking it literally.

For those god believers, if there is a god, which one is it? With the number of different religions, and different views on what god is/is like, he/she/it clearly can't be all the different views. The chances (assuming blindly there is a god), that this god is anything like what people think, is minimal. If there is a god, this god isn't anythink like what anybody has ever thought him to be. I will bet my life on that.

Funny you should bring that up:

YouTube - I've Converted To EVERY Religion (Just In Case)