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Being a non-Christian is excellent, because I don't have to stick to a system of rules that govern how I live my life. It gets even better, because I don't feel that I have to impose my way of life on other people, opting instead for a simple, non-offensive attitude to see me through the day. This leads to meeting people that actually like me for the way I treat them with respect, and how I am tolerant of their beliefs. No-one can try to make me feel guilty or humble, by telling me that a total stranger, who may or not have existed 1000 years ago, died for my sins, which I hadn't even committed yet. The closest I've ever come to being emotionally blackmailed is by my cat, when it whines to get at the kitty treats. It learnt to shut up and wait.
I went to a Christian school - it was just nearer than all the other schools. I got good results, was polite, didn't smoke, drink, take drugs or play with girls - I was a model pupil. But I was still forced to repent my sins to someone else's God. If I didn't want to, fine, but I had to get up in front of the whole school and make a fool of myself because they snuck it in at the end of assembly. Despite this, I excelled in Religious Education, even though I had no interest in it. It got a bit boring, because we only ever learnt about one religion. If it wasn't for the fact that we had some Asian kids at our school, I would have been completely oblivious that any other religions actually existed outside of Christianity. Amazingly, we had a Jewish teacher for a subject that was basically a recruitment camp for a religion that shunned the plight of millions of Jews only 50 years ago. It's astonishing how totally blinkered and bias the RE syllabus is. I did hear recently that they were introducing other religions into the subject. What enlightened times we live in.
What I love most about being a Non-Christian, are the many fun and exciting ways there are of winding up the members of the Christian religion that take their faith a little too seriously. All you have to do is mention that there may be other forms of faith and religion that are better, or another God has a more booming voice and more arms, and they get all uppity. Sometimes it's not even a challenge. Take our beloved Forest Fan, for example. So convinced is he that his faith is the way forward for all humanity, he goes into this armadillo-type state of defensiveness should anybody question it. Honestly, he's more tightly wound-up than a Danish whirl in a vice. Have you ever seen anyone with shell shock? Sometimes they go into a trance, endlessly repeating phrases and sentences, over and over and over... That's what Forest Fan sounds like when you rattle his cage. Sorry to single him out, but he really is a babbling brook of bullsh*t.
One thing I do find interesting about the Christian faith, is the many ways of insulting us non-Christians. All that "thou shalt love my neighbour" nonsense goes straight out the window, if your neighbour is of a different religion. Christ on a bike, what if your neighbour is a gay!? Imagine that - a homosexual, living in a house, next door to you - would you love him (or her) then? You couldn't possibly, your religion forbids it. A gay Jew? What a mind-mental for the Christians! Imagine not knowing this vital information and then starting a conversation with one. What would your God think of you then? Better just isolate yourself from the rest of the world now. Better yet, find some fantastic way of forcing everyone else to be just like you - here's a fancy title you might like for your campaign: "The Final solution".
I was at the train station the other day, and there was a poster quoting a passage from the Bible in one of those big plastic-fronted advertising windows. It was basically calling me a fool. Now if I put up a poster saying "Suck my c*ck, or else you're a c*nt", it would get torn down pretty quickly, and I'd probably get lumped round the head a few times - even if I hid it behind some fancy religious posturing. So why should I put up with this childish name-calling? My example may have been a bit extreme, but the same sentiment is used - if you don't agree with my way of thinking, then I am allowed to call you names. There's no difference, it just gets shrugged off because the insult isn't harmful enough to penetrate. It just makes all Christians look like a bitter, hateful bunch, unable to see past their own misguided and outdated wisdom and lack of tolerance. Hopefully Forest Fan will reply to this, and you'll get some A1 examples of what I'm on about.
Yip, I'm a practising non-Christian, and damn proud of it.
I went to a Christian school - it was just nearer than all the other schools. I got good results, was polite, didn't smoke, drink, take drugs or play with girls - I was a model pupil. But I was still forced to repent my sins to someone else's God. If I didn't want to, fine, but I had to get up in front of the whole school and make a fool of myself because they snuck it in at the end of assembly. Despite this, I excelled in Religious Education, even though I had no interest in it. It got a bit boring, because we only ever learnt about one religion. If it wasn't for the fact that we had some Asian kids at our school, I would have been completely oblivious that any other religions actually existed outside of Christianity. Amazingly, we had a Jewish teacher for a subject that was basically a recruitment camp for a religion that shunned the plight of millions of Jews only 50 years ago. It's astonishing how totally blinkered and bias the RE syllabus is. I did hear recently that they were introducing other religions into the subject. What enlightened times we live in.
What I love most about being a Non-Christian, are the many fun and exciting ways there are of winding up the members of the Christian religion that take their faith a little too seriously. All you have to do is mention that there may be other forms of faith and religion that are better, or another God has a more booming voice and more arms, and they get all uppity. Sometimes it's not even a challenge. Take our beloved Forest Fan, for example. So convinced is he that his faith is the way forward for all humanity, he goes into this armadillo-type state of defensiveness should anybody question it. Honestly, he's more tightly wound-up than a Danish whirl in a vice. Have you ever seen anyone with shell shock? Sometimes they go into a trance, endlessly repeating phrases and sentences, over and over and over... That's what Forest Fan sounds like when you rattle his cage. Sorry to single him out, but he really is a babbling brook of bullsh*t.
One thing I do find interesting about the Christian faith, is the many ways of insulting us non-Christians. All that "thou shalt love my neighbour" nonsense goes straight out the window, if your neighbour is of a different religion. Christ on a bike, what if your neighbour is a gay!? Imagine that - a homosexual, living in a house, next door to you - would you love him (or her) then? You couldn't possibly, your religion forbids it. A gay Jew? What a mind-mental for the Christians! Imagine not knowing this vital information and then starting a conversation with one. What would your God think of you then? Better just isolate yourself from the rest of the world now. Better yet, find some fantastic way of forcing everyone else to be just like you - here's a fancy title you might like for your campaign: "The Final solution".
I was at the train station the other day, and there was a poster quoting a passage from the Bible in one of those big plastic-fronted advertising windows. It was basically calling me a fool. Now if I put up a poster saying "Suck my c*ck, or else you're a c*nt", it would get torn down pretty quickly, and I'd probably get lumped round the head a few times - even if I hid it behind some fancy religious posturing. So why should I put up with this childish name-calling? My example may have been a bit extreme, but the same sentiment is used - if you don't agree with my way of thinking, then I am allowed to call you names. There's no difference, it just gets shrugged off because the insult isn't harmful enough to penetrate. It just makes all Christians look like a bitter, hateful bunch, unable to see past their own misguided and outdated wisdom and lack of tolerance. Hopefully Forest Fan will reply to this, and you'll get some A1 examples of what I'm on about.
Yip, I'm a practising non-Christian, and damn proud of it.
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WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> It may not be claimed directly, but the implication is there
> throughout.
>
> Creating man "in his image", "my children" etc.
>
> According to the Bible, Adam & Eve were the first people on
> Earth, and we are led to believe they were much like we are today.
>
> But how does that then tie in with prehistoric man, etc?
>
> There's proof of evolution, but no proof of anything the Bible
> claims.
>
> There is a theory of Evolution, with evidence, but no actual proof of Evolution. Some form of 'Evolution' obviously did occur though, but the way it happened is still in debate.
What we know is that there were animals, dinosaurs and even humanoid creatures around before humans as we know them existed. In the Bible's defence it is pretty much a different tome to when it was first put together, due in no small part to the many translations and changing of the text. It is believed that 'days', for instance, is correctly translated as 'ages' into English.
There are many debates open about the meanings of the old testament anyway, half of which are an obvious analogy. Some of it could well be the ramblings of beardy old men, but that doesn't mean it all is.
> It may not be claimed directly, but the implication is there
> throughout.
>
> Creating man "in his image", "my children" etc.
>
> According to the Bible, Adam & Eve were the first people on
> Earth, and we are led to believe they were much like we are today.
>
> But how does that then tie in with prehistoric man, etc?
>
> There's proof of evolution, but no proof of anything the Bible
> claims.
>
> There is a theory of Evolution, with evidence, but no actual proof of Evolution. Some form of 'Evolution' obviously did occur though, but the way it happened is still in debate.
What we know is that there were animals, dinosaurs and even humanoid creatures around before humans as we know them existed. In the Bible's defence it is pretty much a different tome to when it was first put together, due in no small part to the many translations and changing of the text. It is believed that 'days', for instance, is correctly translated as 'ages' into English.
There are many debates open about the meanings of the old testament anyway, half of which are an obvious analogy. Some of it could well be the ramblings of beardy old men, but that doesn't mean it all is.
I think this is probably the author's best post ever.
Personal faith where people draw strength from God, fine by me. One of my friends is a Christian, goes to prayer-group with her fiance. I didn't even know she gave a toss about Jesus and co. She evidently does, and if she (er, 'God forbid') ever has major problems, I hope her faith aids her in every way possible, as long as it's not a suicidal attack on some Sikhs.
Massive organised faith draws mixed emotions. Sometimes ridicule. I was at a very very Christian wedding once and a woman had her hand raised to the sky/roof/arches, eyes closed, other hand on heart and was belting out the hymns (which by the way, are musically as dull as anything and lyrically the most generic and cliched rubbish ever, but hey, better than 'Christian Rock'). Was quite funny, in a sad way.
Other times it's an inexplicable fear device. Organised religion, more than anything else, is responsible for the most huge amounts of pain suffering, loathing, fear, jealousy, greed and torture ever in human history. Modern day extremism, all the way back to ancient times, Christian, Zionist, Islamic, Hindu....all of them. It just makes me nervously laugh - hypocritical to very core of their 'belief'.
God. Well, what is that? To me, mass religion is an 'acceptable' face for it's members to be in. God/s is/are the head/s. Jesus died to save the world from sin. Yet sin occurs. Religion has been an excuse for people's, humans inner evils to manifest themselves. Of course, religion does help (see first paragraph), but so do non-religious people like aid workers. I'm not religious, but I do have beliefs that help me. One of those is that the world, no matter what evil occurs, is beautiful and I'm lucky to live in it. I'm sure that belief would shrivel in the face of no hope, real, carnal, fears, but that is what I hold dear to me.
I believe religion is both good and bad, but historically, a device in which people can manifest their feelings with any reason they are allowed. Good or bad. Mainly bad. Certainly no God. Man-made institutions that can both aid and destroy people. On past evidence, it's the latter, at least in the things that have shaped the world - but does that not define humans - that we 'shape ourselves with misery and fear'?
I'm a proud non-Christian - I believe in something else. It has no name, but emotion comes into it a lot.
Massive organised faith draws mixed emotions. Sometimes ridicule. I was at a very very Christian wedding once and a woman had her hand raised to the sky/roof/arches, eyes closed, other hand on heart and was belting out the hymns (which by the way, are musically as dull as anything and lyrically the most generic and cliched rubbish ever, but hey, better than 'Christian Rock'). Was quite funny, in a sad way.
Other times it's an inexplicable fear device. Organised religion, more than anything else, is responsible for the most huge amounts of pain suffering, loathing, fear, jealousy, greed and torture ever in human history. Modern day extremism, all the way back to ancient times, Christian, Zionist, Islamic, Hindu....all of them. It just makes me nervously laugh - hypocritical to very core of their 'belief'.
God. Well, what is that? To me, mass religion is an 'acceptable' face for it's members to be in. God/s is/are the head/s. Jesus died to save the world from sin. Yet sin occurs. Religion has been an excuse for people's, humans inner evils to manifest themselves. Of course, religion does help (see first paragraph), but so do non-religious people like aid workers. I'm not religious, but I do have beliefs that help me. One of those is that the world, no matter what evil occurs, is beautiful and I'm lucky to live in it. I'm sure that belief would shrivel in the face of no hope, real, carnal, fears, but that is what I hold dear to me.
I believe religion is both good and bad, but historically, a device in which people can manifest their feelings with any reason they are allowed. Good or bad. Mainly bad. Certainly no God. Man-made institutions that can both aid and destroy people. On past evidence, it's the latter, at least in the things that have shaped the world - but does that not define humans - that we 'shape ourselves with misery and fear'?
I'm a proud non-Christian - I believe in something else. It has no name, but emotion comes into it a lot.
pb wrote:
> I can't find anything in the old or new testament that mentions we
> are the only sentinent planet.
It may not be claimed directly, but the implication is there throughout.
Creating man "in his image", "my children" etc.
According to the Bible, Adam & Eve were the first people on Earth, and we are led to believe they were much like we are today.
But how does that then tie in with prehistoric man, etc?
There's proof of evolution, but no proof of anything the Bible claims.
> Hey, and if it can happen in The Three Amigos...
You prove my point. What God would mar his creation with Steve Martin?
> I can't find anything in the old or new testament that mentions we
> are the only sentinent planet.
It may not be claimed directly, but the implication is there throughout.
Creating man "in his image", "my children" etc.
According to the Bible, Adam & Eve were the first people on Earth, and we are led to believe they were much like we are today.
But how does that then tie in with prehistoric man, etc?
There's proof of evolution, but no proof of anything the Bible claims.
> Hey, and if it can happen in The Three Amigos...
You prove my point. What God would mar his creation with Steve Martin?
I used to be god, but the hours and wages were terrible.
deputy god is just as good (you still get the women), but you can work on flexi-time.
Idiocy aside, if I WERE a god, I'd be Rayden from Mortal Kombat.
deputy god is just as good (you still get the women), but you can work on flexi-time.
Idiocy aside, if I WERE a god, I'd be Rayden from Mortal Kombat.
But if you were God, surely you could manage something a little more impressive than flaming shurbbery.
A tree at least.
A tree at least.
WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> I want to see what happens to religion in general when - yes, WHEN -
> life is found elsewhere in the universe.
I can't find anything in the old or new testament that mentions we are the only sentinent planet.
>
>
> "An eye for an eye!"
Old Testament - Written by people with big beards who say they heard the word of God and told everyone. Written down many decades later after being passed down by oral tradition.
>
> "Turn the other cheek!"
New Testament - taken from letters, teachings and general stuff taken from the disciples and Jesus. Again, passed down for a while before most of it was written in to one tome and then edited to suit the purpose of the time.
> Talking snakes? Burning bushes? And they say hallucinogenic drugs
> are a relatively recent problem!
But surely if there is a God, anything is possible? Any higher being can easily make bushes talk. Hey, and if it can happen in The Three Amigos...
> I want to see what happens to religion in general when - yes, WHEN -
> life is found elsewhere in the universe.
I can't find anything in the old or new testament that mentions we are the only sentinent planet.
>
>
> "An eye for an eye!"
Old Testament - Written by people with big beards who say they heard the word of God and told everyone. Written down many decades later after being passed down by oral tradition.
>
> "Turn the other cheek!"
New Testament - taken from letters, teachings and general stuff taken from the disciples and Jesus. Again, passed down for a while before most of it was written in to one tome and then edited to suit the purpose of the time.
> Talking snakes? Burning bushes? And they say hallucinogenic drugs
> are a relatively recent problem!
But surely if there is a God, anything is possible? Any higher being can easily make bushes talk. Hey, and if it can happen in The Three Amigos...
I'm not a Christian either, or any other religion, yet I still went out and bought battenburg today after reading a story about Jesus bumping into the Devil in the desert, and being offered some of this most delightful window-cake.
WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> I want to see what happens to religion in general when - yes, WHEN -
> life is found elsewhere in the universe.
The Islamic faith is forthcoming about the fact that there may well be life elsewhere in the universe. They accept it as an obvious possibility: a God is entitled to create life wherever they want to and in whatever form they desire. Us humans of course, generally like to relate religion directly to what we can observe. Thus many Gods take the form of animals or, most egotistical, man (or lass).
> I want to see what happens to religion in general when - yes, WHEN -
> life is found elsewhere in the universe.
The Islamic faith is forthcoming about the fact that there may well be life elsewhere in the universe. They accept it as an obvious possibility: a God is entitled to create life wherever they want to and in whatever form they desire. Us humans of course, generally like to relate religion directly to what we can observe. Thus many Gods take the form of animals or, most egotistical, man (or lass).
I want to see what happens to religion in general when - yes, WHEN - life is found elsewhere in the universe.
Though it will probably just "adapt" - as most fiction does - to try and encompass the latest discoveries.
For beliefs so rigid and set in stone (apparently literally in some cases), it never ceases to amaze me how much religion has wriggled and squirmed over the centuries as it has had to encompass new, factual, proven discoveries.
And yet people still believe in it, whichever guise it is presented in.
"An eye for an eye!"
"Turn the other cheek!"
Yeah, erm... which is it? How does anyone know how to make "God" happy with contradictions like that littered throughout the manual?
Talking snakes? Burning bushes? And they say hallucinogenic drugs are a relatively recent problem!
Though it will probably just "adapt" - as most fiction does - to try and encompass the latest discoveries.
For beliefs so rigid and set in stone (apparently literally in some cases), it never ceases to amaze me how much religion has wriggled and squirmed over the centuries as it has had to encompass new, factual, proven discoveries.
And yet people still believe in it, whichever guise it is presented in.
"An eye for an eye!"
"Turn the other cheek!"
Yeah, erm... which is it? How does anyone know how to make "God" happy with contradictions like that littered throughout the manual?
Talking snakes? Burning bushes? And they say hallucinogenic drugs are a relatively recent problem!
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