Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[redux]

You are totally ON topic, Bantylover. Thanks for your contribution to this thread.

 

[KDbeads]

Quote:
I have noticed this too. I just figured it may have something to due with the financial strain people are under now. It seems like when things get bad,..people reach deeper for their religion.

Actually this is not a new thing. The idea of Christian soldiers was deeply ingrained into the fundamental pentecostal I was raised in 30 years ago. One of our children's church songs was "Onward Christian Soldiers". (lyrics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Onward,_Christian_Soldiers.jpg )
War and destruction were emphasized repeatedly in the main church as well. Maybe it's a trend toward more extreme fundamentalism?

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Quote:
I have noticed this too. I just figured it may have something to due with the financial strain people are under now. It seems like when things get bad,..people reach deeper for their religion.

It would be nice if they reached for the parts of religion that speak about loving one another.

Actually it goes all the way back to the Crusades, when knights were encouraged to pillage the Middle East in the name of Christianity and bring back all the boodle they could find after they dispatched all the "heathens". Which is part of the reason the entire Middle East bristled when Bush called some Iraqi operation a "crusade" a few years back. They changed that title in a hurry and sent out a lot of apologies. But a lot of the conquests all over the world were done in the name of Christianity starting WAY back. Personally I think the West taught the Middle East the whole concept of religious wars. They weren't bothering anybody until the Europeans started showing up a few centuries back and lopping off their heads for not converting.

The funny part about all of this is that I have read several times that Islam was dying and it was the Crusades that revived it. Considering the conditions now, I think those early Christians have a lot to answer for!

Rusty

 

[mom'sfolly]

I think the use of military and militaristic terms are fairly commonplace among some Christian groups. Ralph Reed routinely mentions an army for god, and the quiverfull movement has some serious undertones of raising up soldiers for god. There is also talk of the war on Christian values, and the need to fight against that war. I think it is a definite us vs. them attitude. But it has been around for a long time. Ever hear of the Salvation Army?

I think for many it helps define and cement a community if there is perceived opposition against them or against those different from them. If you are fighting a war, you don't have to empathize with the enemy. Anyone different than you is against you. It makes the world very clear, with no nuances of gray. A "Happy Holidays" is not an inclusive greeting, but a war on Christmas. I think it gives great comfort to know that the sword of righteousness is pointed at someone else, and that god is on your side.

 

[fowltemptress]

I'm grateful I'm free to love my animals. That may sound weird, but when you get it drilled in your head that you were created in your god's image and animals are here primarily for your use, well, it just seems to me that kinda warps people's feelings for their fellow creatures. Of course I use other animals for my own purposes, but I'm not arrogant enough to think that's their sole purpose in existing. Holding a human life's value over another creature's life is perfectly natural, and I very much doubt any other animal besides the dog would do otherwise when it comes to their own species, but that does not mean you have to disrespect other animal's lives as some sort of twisted "proof" that that's the case. I am absolutely sick to my stomach when people use religion as an excuse for treating other animals horrendously . . . and they honestly think it's a valid argument that should be admissible as evidence to prove their point! Not to mention the whole idea that other animals do not get access to heaven. I don't want to know how many children are made miserable by that news. I'm very grateful that there seems to be a trend towards people dropping this idea as ridiculous.

Take it away, Mark Twain - "The noblest work of God? Man. Who found it out? Man."

 

[OccamsTazer]

Quote:
It's official, I would like to join your fan club

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

There is a good deal of this attitude of an armed god who will defend the just and defeat the unjust. As Occam said, it gives people, especially those who feel helpless in today's society a great comfort to think of a powerful god who will eventually be on their side.

The concern is the people who can get god to say whatever they want him to say because he is not usually around to defend himself. There are new ones citing Numbers and the lord swallowing the people who rebel against Moses and ask for a vote as proof that god is not really keen on democracy.

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

I'm a bit late to the discussion sorry if I'm off topic

I believe there is a creator, I on the other hand have my doubt's about the way my religion (Christianity) has tried to force their idea of who my creator is. I'm not anti jesus, I'm a person that looks around herself and see the miracle in every breath we take every breeze blown by and realizes that in all the galaxy, on all the planet's it's too much of a coincidence for life to have not only existed but flourish to be an accident. Not only that but I know in my spirit that I have a creator that I will return to when my time here is over. I do not believe in church, I do not trust in the church. There is too much in the bible that has been twisted into a tool to control society. Fear mongering seems to be the biggest money maker as well for the church. And any group that suggests that a person should go against or feel guilty and ashamed of their natural inclination's is not an organization I would be interested in.

I believe in worship, I do it in my garden when I nurture my plants, I do it in my home when I love my family, I do it in public, when I am generous to those less fortunate than I, I do it when I'm alone by learning to love the creature my creator made me into. Not trying to be preachy but my ex husband was a fear mongering bible thumping YOU BETTER BELIEVE OR YOUR GOING TO HELL type of person. I (before his brainwashing came into play) was a child raised in a godless home needing something to cling to. He had my head so twisted up that now... 4 years later I am STILL confused about God and feel guilty about losing faith in him. More so it's fear that the God my ex-husband worshiped does exist, because even if he did... I doubt Id want to follow him.

That just goes to show for all those "force it down your gullet" kind of Christians... you won't help, your only going to make things more confusing. For me I have a long hard road still to go before I can decide if I'm afraid that I am disappointing this all powerful God or if I'm terrified that my fear is not my own but that of my ex-husbands and I can't seem to shake it.

Someday I'll find my answers but for now.... I don't know what I am.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

mom'sfolly :

If you are fighting a war, you don't have to empathize with the enemy. Anyone different than you is against you. It makes the world very clear, with no nuances of gray. A "Happy Holidays" is not an inclusive greeting, but a war on Christmas. I think it gives great comfort to know that the sword of righteousness is pointed at someone else, and that god is on your side.

People who think like that remind me of Mrs. Carmody in The Mist. So do a lot of the Rapture-ites, come to think of it, the folks that have this attitude of 'I'm going to sit in heaven and laugh while you burn'.​

 

[maryk117]

Mrs. Green Thumbs :

I'm a bit late to the discussion sorry if I'm off topic

I believe there is a creator, I on the other hand have my doubt's about the way my religion (Christianity) has tried to force their idea of who my creator is. I'm not anti jesus, I'm a person that looks around herself and see the miracle in every breath we take every breeze blown by and realizes that in all the galaxy, on all the planet's it's too much of a coincidence for life to have not only existed but flourish to be an accident. Not only that but I know in my spirit that I have a creator that I will return to when my time here is over. I do not believe in church, I do not trust in the church. There is too much in the bible that has been twisted into a tool to control society. Fear mongering seems to be the biggest money maker as well for the church. And any group that suggests that a person should go against or feel guilty and ashamed of their natural inclination's is not an organization I would be interested in.

I believe in worship, I do it in my garden when I nurture my plants, I do it in my home when I love my family, I do it in public, when I am generous to those less fortunate than I, I do it when I'm alone by learning to love the creature my creator made me into. Not trying to be preachy but my ex husband was a fear mongering bible thumping YOU BETTER BELIEVE OR YOUR GOING TO HELL type of person. I (before his brainwashing came into play) was a child raised in a godless home needing something to cling to. He had my head so twisted up that now... 4 years later I am STILL confused about God and feel guilty about losing faith in him. More so it's fear that the God my ex-husband worshiped does exist, because even if he did... I doubt Id want to follow him.

That just goes to show for all those "force it down your gullet" kind of Christians... you won't help, your only going to make things more confusing. For me I have a long hard road still to go before I can decide if I'm afraid that I am disappointing this all powerful God or if I'm terrified that my fear is not my own but that of my ex-husbands and I can't seem to shake it.

Someday I'll find my answers but for now.... I don't know what I am.

I hear 'ya. I too find my "church/worship" in the everyday living. I truly enjoy the beauty of simple things. I frequently tell people that SCUBA diving is my church. No one yacking in your ear, down under the water enjoying all the creatures...At this period in time I choose not to decide for myself if there is a God or more than one God, if Jesus was here, if I'm going to hell or any other place deemed appropriate for those who try to live a life wanting to help others. I attempt to be mindful that we are here for just a moment in time and though it sounds corny I stop and smell the flowers and have witnessed sunsets and sunrises that take my breath away. I like to live and let live!​