Why do I post in Religous Threads?

Increasingly I find myself drawn to comment on religious threads.
I find this quite strange, as I am neither a religious nor a particularly spiritual person.

I was raised a Roman Catholic, even being an Altar Boy at one point, but I soon grew out of that once I learnt to think independently for myself.

Over the years I have read quite a few books on religious related subjects but never really contemplated my own beliefs.
On the odd occasion that I did ponder the subject of my own faith I always became a bit confused as to why any all powerful, knowing “God” would be concerned whether I truly believed in “him” and followed his alleged teachings blindly without question.
Would such an omnipotent force really be that conceited that “he” expected me to be such an unthinking, unquestioning drone.
It was at this point that I realised that it also all so irrelevant.
What is the point in blindly following any belief system that requires, total obedience of its dogmatic creed?
I also realised that definite proof is impossible until after death, by which time I could quite easily have spent a quite miserable and boring existence following a lie.
And seeing that we only get one chance at this life, I certainly wasn’t going to waste it worrying about something that may or may not happen.
As they say, life ain’t no dress rehearsal!

It was at this point that I decided to live my life by a set of morals and values that I set myself.
They are not important here, suffice to say they are basically around not intentionally doing any harm to anyone else without due cause or reason and to be as considerate as possible to others.
I obviously frequently fail but what the hell, I’m only human and far from being perfect.
All this happened quite a few years ago, I merrily went on my way living my life without much concern for religion.

Over the years I continued to occasionally read books with religious connections.
Additionally, I have also always tried to keep up with world events and am still a bit of a history buff, so I did maintain an awareness of religious related topics and formulated my own personal opinions.
With this in mind, I came to the opinion that organised religion is truly the bane of mankind.
People have used religion to control the masses by perpetuating the myth that “your reward is after you die”.
Organised religion has also been used to further personal agendas and as an excuse for whole scale slaughter, (all in “God’s” name of course), by feeding on our in built suspicion of outsiders and the unknown.

I’m not saying there isn’t an element of historic truth in most religious texts, even though they have gone through extensive editing, or that the teachings were originally well intentioned or even have some moral values that can only be admired.

I also recognise the support role that religion offers for some people.
Their lives are so pitiful; they need something to believe in just to get by.
It also a comfort when we lose a loved one to think that they have gone “somewhere better” and that we will meet them again in some mystical afterlife.
Religion can also provide the need to belong to something that all humans require.

At the beginning of 2007 I stumbled across ATS, eventually joining sometime in June I think.
I have become increasingly amazed at the intolerance of some of the religious types, of most faiths, I have come across on this site.
The fervour, naivety and sometimes downright ignorance absolutely appals me.
There is an outright unwillingness to listen to or consider any other viewpoint or to accept the possible validity of an opposing arguement despite the strength of the reasoning offered.
Of course this is not all of the members who post, but for every “dbates”, there are countless unreasonable, arrogant, egotistical members whose only responses are blinkered, dogmatic rhetoric.
I think this is probably a reflection on society rather than ATS, it’s just I thought this site would attract more open minded, non-judgemental people.

In Britain, public annunciations of religious beliefs are somewhat frowned upon today, indeed public figures actively play down their religious beliefs due to public scepticism and suspicion.
I understand and accept that this isn’t the case everywhere.
So it came as quite a surprise to see the fundamentalist bigotry displayed by some so called Christians, (but by no means all Christians).
Unfortunately, I wasn’t as surprised to see the same attitude from some of the Muslim members.
However, I have also been greatly educated by some of the less extremist Muslim members and now have a far greater and rounder understanding of Islam.

I do have strong views on fundamentalism but here is not the place to discuss them.
They can be openly viewed on any number of threads here on ATS.

My question is, eventually, why do I find myself drawn to comment on religious and spiritual threads here on ATS when I have never had the inclination, and still don’t, anywhere else, especially considering the number of deeply religious people here when I’m not a religious person at all?
Outside of ATS I honestly think I have only discussed anything of a religious nature on no more than 2 or 3 times over the last 5 – 10 years.
I am certain I have no hidden, deep need for religious understanding.
So why the continual participation in religious related threads?

Apologies for the rant, yet again.

Well, obviously you are curious.
Your spirit is being drawn to christianity.
Years ago, I was a metal-listening, chain- smoking young woman.
I was fairly happy. I had gotten a job at an all-black people's dry cleaners in Alabama.
They were very nice to me. We had no air conditioning in this place in south Alabama, in the Summer and all they would listen to was black gospel music. At first I didn't like it.
Eventually, though it grew on me and I found it to be very pleasant.

Little by little, things like that helped open my heart (although I didn't notice it)
People need to be shown christianity More than told about it.
Shortly before I became a christian, I was in a psych ward for depression and we had a 'spiritual' class.

A preacher was there and he told us a little about 'mind, soul and spirit'.
When it came time for us to ask questions, I asked "Why does God hate women?"
He had NOTHING to say. he thought I was being facetious, but, I really thought that and wanted to know.

I became a christian about 4 years later. At home. Alone.
I heard the gospel and for the first time I knew trying to just 'be a good person' wasn't enough for God.

It took ME wanting to know the truth about God, for me to be converted.

[edit on 24-1-2008 by Clearskies]

First of all.

" Their lives are so pitiful, they need something to get by on "


You talk about arrogance? Have you evn gave the thought that he might be real? Just because you say so doesnt make him false.

Many, and I mean many have seen miacles, including I like seeing cancer cured from prayer. never grew up religious but converted rom miracles as many have.


so that statemnt is arrogance itself. Secondly you think the girl in my sig just needed to (get by) in life?


some actually believe in God, seen him wrk, and cant live A DAY without him, not a day son.



Now, the reason you are drawn is because I blive you have a Guardian angel whih scripture points to us all having one, and your baptismal gace from being a Catholic trying to draw you back to God....

St gemmma talked to her angel daily almost, they put inspiring thoughts into the mind to try and guide you..


I culdnt think of any other reason.

Wha thoughts before you enter thi forum run through your head if you dont mind me asking???


peace.

reply to post by JesusisTruth


Yeah, some peoples lives in this world are just so pitiful and they have no hope except for the belief that there is something better afterwards.
I don't see what's arrogant about recognising that. I certainly didn't want to sound like that.
But to deny it is either naivety or ignorance.

A Guardian Angel?
I hope not, that could prove quite embarrasing, for both of us.

I honestly have so little interest in religion outside of ATS.

What thoughts, everything, anything and at times nothing at all.
Just like everyone else I guess.
I have no all consuming passions except socialising, music and scooters.

Clearskies;
You are obviously a well intentioned person with a good heart.
Me, I'm just an old knacker who likes a good chin wag.
I'm not searching for anything.
I'm happy with my life choices and who I am.
I've lived my life, and continue to do so, to the full and have no regrets.

Thanks both for the comments, I genuinely appreciate them.

reply to post by JesusisTruth


Relax. He's just venting and letting everyone know his feelings. It's a really admirable trait that more people should have. If we actually opened up around here and let our thoughts really come out things would be better.

I'd say that you're drawn to religious topics because you're uncertain and undecided about something. Wether you agree or not, it's good to explore the idea and find out all you can about religion. As far as Christianity goes, go back to the roots. Skip over the religious lines of denominations or groups and read the Bible. Find some good commentary from those that don't have an agenda. Of course there's always the underlying agenda to convert you to a specific religion. Skip past that part and look at the religion itself.

One of my favorites is Chuck Missler's commentary. It's extremly informative and actually entertaining.

www.khouse.org...

reply to post by Clearskies

Your spirit is being drawn to christianity.

that is the most outrageous thing I have heard. How can you claim that he is specifically being drawn to Christianity? Unbelievable. You do not have to be a Christian to have faith or beliefs that you feel are right to follow. How do you not know he isn't being drawn to Islam, or Buddhism, or Judaism?

To OP: I feel you are drawn to these threads because you want to explore all of the options that are out there. I often find myself doing the same thing. you have to really look at the information that is out there and interpret things for yourself. You cannot let, as dbates says, an organization with an agenda tell you how, who, or what to believe in. In the end, all that matters is that you are happy with yourself.

Dbtes.

" if we actually open up around here. "

You see the problem is the label people with faith get. he said we have pitiful lives, which is insanely false....

It is arrogant, hes a soul of God h can think what he wants.

I couldnt live a day without God nd be happy, to some poeple freeborn God is their all. And people have seen him work in teir lives....


" what thoughts "

Freeborn dont you have any dee thoguhts? socializing is a normal occurance I do it too, but sometimes you have to think about things...

If the angel causes you embarrasment, they still stay with us, so I do believe its your angel with you, you were baptised into Christ, that character doesnt leave...

its grace.

Grace is love, a movement of compassion in the soul. But also its conscience... Youll see howit works after death but I believe thas what it is..

Nobody is drawn to God but by grace, and the ones he knows will accpet it.


peace.

reply to post by JesusisTruth


Thanks for the reply but let's get something straight.
I didn't say all religious people’s lives are pitiful.
I said SOME people’s lives are so pitiful that they need something to believe in.
Religion can, and in many cases does, serve that purpose.
Some people living in the slums in India or the numerous Shanty Towns throughout Africa and South America have so little of anything of any value and have so little hope for the future that they need the belief of something better in the afterlife otherwise they would have absolutely no purpose whatsoever to exist.

SOME people are just so lonely, they have no friends or family that they need the belief that they will meet up with the friends or relatives they once had after they die.
It provides comfort for them.

SOME people need the feel to belong to something.
SOME people find that in various groups, societies, clubs etc.
SOME people find it in organised religion.

Religion can, and does, provide these support functions, for SOME people.
Religion can, and does, feed off the fears of human beings.

I would not be embarrassed of a Guardian Angel but for a Guardian Angel.
Some of the positions or predicaments I may have placed “it” over the years could be acutely cringe worthy.

I may indeed be sub-consciously searching or reaching for something spiritual and have taken on board what some people have said, it’s just that I am thoroughly at one with the life choices and lifestyle I lead.
It’s my choice.
Free will.
I lead a fun and full life with none of the self-persecution so many people seem to have.
I am free of the cerebral flagellation that most people seem to put themselves through on a constant basis.
As I stated in a previous thread; if, and it’s a big if, sometime in the future I am judged and found wanting, then so be it, it was my life, my choices and I have no complaints.
I won’t blame anyone else.

How many people here on ATS can honestly say that?

I understand that there are many caring, well-intentioned individuals within religious communities and I would like to think that I respect both them and their beliefs; it’s just that I expect the respect to be shown to me.
For some reason I enjoy the religious discussions on ATS but I do not understand the unwillingness of most members to consider other opinions and viewpoints and the complete lack of respect given to followers of other belief systems.
There are of course some notable exceptions; I think they know who they are.

RnR to all.

" to some "

Yes that may be true, and I feel for those. I misunderstood you and am greatly sorry..

Its not for everybody.

One thing I do live a full happy life, but its not baised on playing Bball or socializing, I mean thse tings provide a boost for a while but never fill you up..

God fills me up, thats why im always smiling, no reprecutions.

God doesnt want you to carry around a bag of guilt.


hes wants us to be happy and stay out o sin and evil....


But with true humility. He wants you to realize you are nothing without him and its true. Love is a grace and (he) puts it into us not us ourselves.

Unless we run on pride. Thats like those who think they are the realest things on earth, but have no fealings, tey constantly run on self thought and how good they are....


So the self accusation, is a deep search for true humility, which does not retract from full enjoyment of things.


God wants us to enjoy thesethings. Nature, eating good foods, and loving relationship.

thats why he put it here. Its when people become too selfish with these things and hurt others... and only live for these things and not the afterlife..


thtas why many saints freeborn gave up everything on earth, their own wills, to do Gods here on earth, complete unselfisness, and the reward tey get in heaven is incredibly great.....


Im sorry for misunderstanding you. I have that irish hotheadedness in me.

I think you along with a number of other people misjudge religions. This goes for the religious as well as the non-religious. Too many think god is concerned about an earthly title. He doesn't care what you call yourself. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist Atheist, Scientolog... ok he might care about that last one but I digress. He doesn't care about that. He cares about who you are, not what you call yourself, or who you claim to be. And all of these religions have something to offer in terms of becoming a better person, the type of person God wants this world to be full of. The type of person this world needs to have peace. Service for others. That's what this is about. We're in this together. I saw in a sig a quote from Lao Tzu, it's very pertinent to what I'm talking about:

"What is a good man but a bad man's teacher?
What is a bad man but a good man's job?"
If you don't understand this you will get lost
However intelligent you are
It is the great secret"


It's not about teaching any one religion, it's about teaching the mindset all religions hope their followers attain. One of peace, love, and understanding.

Obviously, you have something to contribute here or else you wouldn't give the subject the time of day.

Pondering God. Face it - you've been exposed. You go over in your mind why he cares about each individual person. You know he never gives up. You may stray but the apple never falls far from the tree. Know what I mean? Of course you do!

We live in difficult times and things are going to get worse. We know it's coming and it can't be stopped. Some people don't want to face it, so they suppress it - be it drugs, alcohol, compulsive shopping - the list goes on and on. It's as if we are in a car on a dark road, the brakes are out and we are coming up on sharp curve and it's too late to bail.

God loves his creations, every single one of them. He is compassion manifested and has strived for so long to just be accepted for who he is.

Luke 13:6-9

"Then he told this parable: A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man, who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

" 'Sir', the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "

Hi: I am not well versed in any religious text but I’d like the challenge of being able to express my thoughts in religious threads from time to time. First, ‘God’ will let us do whatever we want and this is ‘His’ form of love to us. He certainly doesn’t need his various voice pieces to say what we can and cannot do. But ‘they’ do assist whenever necessary and, yes, not all prayers are answered due to in part those thought forms are self-centered at best.

The point is: We were born with our minds. And while I believe we were ‘created’ by some intelligent grand ‘designer’, we have been allowed to ‘evolve’ SLOWLY into sentient beings with rational minds. Our ability to make decisions based on the best available data should be utilized but let us not forget our emotional hearts (gut instincts, inner feelings and whatever) as a better gauge for all matters. This doesn’t mean we should go all out and force each other to believe a set of meme that appeals to our senses either.

The concept of ‘God’ gives our current understanding a basis from which we could learn and grow with each other. ‘God’ is originally allowed to be our authoritarian – a parent and a teacher. And this arrangement has been made possible for awhile until we as a group have matured enough to understand the outmoded ways of looking up for guidance and direction.

The time has already come for each and everyone of us to mature spiritually with a new and improved set of ethical and moral values – to love above and beyond ourselves; not each other but for those whose spoken language is not normally understood by us ‘humans’ -- say for example, animals.

And by posting in religious threads we are able to share ourselves in this manner to a few readers who are willing to open their minds to any possibilities. [I hope this makes sense. It’s way past my bedtime and it's two in the morning, too -- yawn].

[edit on 2008-Jan-26 by pikypiky]

[edit on 2008-1-26 by pikypiky]