Why do you believe in your religon.

I don't believe in religion. The beliefs I do hold, I hold because they are the most logical and I identify with them the most at this point in my life. How can one grow as a person and hold onto the same beliefs throughout the different stages of their life? That seems to be very insecure, stubborn, and fearful of letting go and exploring things for themselves. I find that strict adherence to any belief is not conducive to personal growth and the ability to expand and open the mind to different possibilities. Rekunta

But if one always changes their beliefs, how can they say they truly understand that belief in the first place. I personally see what you just said as being insecure in your own beliefs. I don't mean to be insulting, but like you, that is how I see it.

"Why do I gotta have religion if I believe in God?"

That's pretty much me. The dogma and principles surrounding religion as a whole, not to mention the texts, doesn't appeal or fit with me.

bigdcstile

Because of my experiences I can't see how God can't be influencing my life in seeing where it is heading. I've seen God do amazing things both in my life and those around me. I've seen people's lives changed in ways that can only be through God. I've seen people rely on God during the deepest possible pain and come away with a deep joy in knowing that God can be glorified through our struggles.

Besides all of that, I honestly haven't seen any view of the world that makes sense like the one of what the Bible teaches. Many other views sound great at times but they often contradict each other in application of that view.

mindstorm

QFT dude! ;)

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]

Because of my experiences I can't see how God can't be influencing my life in seeing where it is heading. I've seen God do amazing things both in my life and those around me. I've seen people's lives changed in ways that can only be through God. I've seen people rely on God during the deepest possible pain and come away with a deep joy in knowing that God can be glorified through our struggles.

Besides all of that, I honestly haven't seen any view of the world that makes sense like the one of what the Bible teaches. Many other views sound great at times but they often contradict each other in application of that view.

battlefront23

QFT dude! ;)

Thats strange.I always thought the bible had its own contradictions.Maybe you guys overlooked those.

[QUOTE="Rekunta"]I don't believe in religion. The beliefs I do hold, I hold because they are the most logical and I identify with them the most at this point in my life. How can one grow as a person and hold onto the same beliefs throughout the different stages of their life? That seems to be very insecure, stubborn, and fearful of letting go and exploring things for themselves. I find that strict adherence to any belief is not conducive to personal growth and the ability to expand and open the mind to different possibilities. Saxsoon

But if one always changes their beliefs, how can they say they truly understand that belief in the first place. I personally see what you just said as being insecure in your own beliefs. I don't mean to be insulting, but like you, that is how I see it.

Exactly. I'm presently at a point in my life where I'm utterly confused and not at all secure in any belief, whatever it may be. I'll be the first to admit I'm insecure in them. I used to hold many beliefs that I thought to be concrete, however after a drastic life changing event in my early twenties, nothing makes sense to me now. Losing and questioning belief is very frightening, because it is the foundation of what makes up a person. When that's lost, you're in a small, leaky boat out at sea with no anchor.

I don't see how someone can go through their life and not have their beliefs change or be challenged from the personal growth that comes from life experiences, both good and bad. This is why strict adherence to anything without question and exploration is an impediment to growing as a person.......in my, umm....belief, anways. :)

I was raised Catholic, and I have enough evidence behind it. Either way, it's safer to believe in it and find out there's no God rather than to not believe it and find out there is one. orazinac

Not true - believe in the wrong God and potentially, you could be punished more than if you'd just lived a moral life.

That's silly, no thread that involved religion ever finished peacefuly. And you're saying you normally wouldn't start a religion thread but you JUST DID!

Bah, whatever, I'm atheist but I'm very open to debate, as long as it's logical and proof is being used. I'm atheist because that seems the only logical truth, and abrahamic religions have been disproved countless times.

Mochyc

Abrahamic religions disproven? Exactly how?

Exactly. I'm presently at a point in my life where I'm utterly confused and not at all secure in any belief, whatever it may be. I'll be the first to admit I'm insecure in them. I used to hold many beliefs that I thought to be concrete, however after a drastic life changing event in my early twenties, nothing makes sense to me now. Losing and questioning belief is very frightening, because it is the foundation of what makes up a person. When that's lost, you're in a small, leaky boat out at sea with no anchor.

I don't see how someone can go through their life and not have their beliefs change or be challenged from the personal growth that comes from life experiences, both good and bad. This is why strict adherence to anything without question and exploration is an impediment to growing as a person.......in my, umm....belief, anways. :)

You and me are exactly the same drastic event and all, this event eventually led me to question all my beliefs on a deeper level then most people ever do, I think most people are content to believe in whatever they were raised to believe in, if this wasn't the case then why were slaves and racism accepted for so long?

Another thing is, why would the average person ever dream of looking for proof that there is no afterlife? If a person with any intelligence truly searches hard for an answer about whether or not there is a god, that person will find that all religion up to this point is completely false, just study astronomy/the size of the universe for a start.

I don't beleive in religion, i beleive in God.123625

What are you talking about? You are the biggest hardcore Christian ever...

disproven? Exactly how?MFaraz_Hayat

Evidence from religious doctrine has been discounted as false.

[QUOTE="123625"]I don't beleive in religion, i beleive in God.jking197

What are you talking about? You are the biggest hardcore Christian ever...

I beleive in the God of christianity as sole authority not the religion itself. I tend to think of christianity as more of a relationship than a religion.

And im a hardcore christian? i thought i toned it down a notch.

[QUOTE="MFaraz_Hayat"]

disproven? Exactly how?RationalAtheist

Evidence from religious doctrine has been discounted as false.

Now I cannot talk about Chrisatianity and Judaism, but what evidence from Quran has been discounted as false?

[QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="MFaraz_Hayat"]

disproven? Exactly how?MFaraz_Hayat

Evidence from religious doctrine has been discounted as false.

Now I cannot talk about Chrisatianity and Judaism, but what evidence from Quran has been discounted as false?

Come on! Remember our previous outings on this topic...

Here's 3:

Kuran 4:1 - The human species comes from 1 man and 1 woman

Kuran 20:71 - Egyptians crucufied people

Kuran 7:80 - Homsexual acts are not seen in nature

I believe in it because I think it's true. What other reason do I need?Dracargen

A good one!

I'm not a follower of any monotheistic religion...because none of them make any sense.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]I believe in it because I think it's true. What other reason do I need?RationalAtheist

A good one!

The truth of a matter is not a good reason to believe it?

[QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]I believe in it because I think it's true. What other reason do I need?Dracargen

A good one!

The truth of a matter is not a good reason to believe it?

What I'm getting at is that you are defining what "belief" is, rather than explaining why you believe.

For example, a belief can be defined as a concept that one thinks to be true.

It's really all about how you come to know "the truth" and why.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"][QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]I believe in it because I think it's true. What other reason do I need?RationalAtheist

A good one!

The truth of a matter is not a good reason to believe it?

What I'm getting at is that you are defining what "belief" is, rather than explaining why you believe.

For example, a belief can be defined as a concept that one thinks to be true.

It's really all about how you come to know "the truth" and why.

OOOOOOOH.

Well, in that case, I believe in my religion because I am convinced of its place in reality from gathering information.:D

Because I think it makes sense.Thiago26792

That's the best and simply because it fits nicely into life.

[QUOTE="RationalAtheist"][QUOTE="Dracargen"][QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]I believe in it because I think it's true. What other reason do I need?Dracargen

A good one!

The truth of a matter is not a good reason to believe it?

What I'm getting at is that you are defining what "belief" is, rather than explaining why you believe.

For example, a belief can be defined as a concept that one thinks to be true.

It's really all about how you come to know "the truth" and why.

OOOOOOOH.

Well, in that case, I believe in my religion because I am convinced of its place in reality from gathering information.:D

i still think everybody should just spin the wheel of religion.

[QUOTE="MFaraz_Hayat"][QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="MFaraz_Hayat"]

disproven? Exactly how?RationalAtheist

Evidence from religious doctrine has been discounted as false.

Now I cannot talk about Chrisatianity and Judaism, but what evidence from Quran has been discounted as false?

Come on! Remember our previous outings on this topic...

Here's 3:

Kuran 4:1 - The human species comes from 1 man and 1 woman

Kuran 20:71 - Egyptians crucufied people

Kuran 7:80 - Homsexual acts are not seen in nature

Quran 7:80

[Yusufali 7:80] We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?
[Yusufali 7:81] "For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds."

Over here the Quran is saying, that the act of approaching males and commiting homosexual sex for pleasure, was never before seen. This doesnot mean that homosexuality doesnot exist in nature. In nature, there are various examples of fruitflies etc., but the point to be noticed is, that these acts which animals and insects commit are not for sexual pleasure. Therefore, the verse is correct as it says, that act of homosexualtiy for pleasure has never before been seen.

[Yusufali 20:71] (Pharaoh) said: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic! be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees: so shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment!

Cucifixtion, is not a punishment asscociated solely with Christ (P.B.U.H). It was performed even before his birth, and doesnot neccessarily has to take place on a cross. What is crucifixion? It is a punishment, where a person is tied to an object and tortured and then left tied, for a slow and painful death. Over here, the Pharoah was threatening certain subjects of his, that had embraced the truth brought by Prophet Moses (P.B.U.H). and so the pharoah was threatening them, with a punishment of slow, painful death.

As far as verse 4:1 is concerned, visit this link for a better answer:

http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=255

and please read the entire thing, before commenting.

I don't believe in religion because scientific theories and such make much more sense to me.

An interresting question to believers though: What makes Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or whatever you believe in more valid than the rest? Really it's just because it makes sense to you and there's no two ways about it. For all we know, the truth could be Zeus and ancient Greek religion. It's all based on faith and I chose atheism because it's not. Sure, we can't 100% prove a lot of things, but a lot more has been tested and retested and proven, so I'm not going to believe in religion just because of blind faith.

ALSO, faith in a god is faith in man. Everything you've ever been taught about religion was taught to you by a human or something created by people. No god has actually ever talked to you.

[QUOTE="RationalAtheist"][QUOTE="MFaraz_Hayat"][QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="MFaraz_Hayat"]

disproven? Exactly how?MFaraz_Hayat

Evidence from religious doctrine has been discounted as false.

Now I cannot talk about Chrisatianity and Judaism, but what evidence from Quran has been discounted as false?

Come on! Remember our previous outings on this topic...

Here's 3:

Kuran 4:1 - The human species comes from 1 man and 1 woman

Kuran 20:71 - Egyptians crucufied people

Kuran 7:80 - Homsexual acts are not seen in nature

Quran 7:80

[Yusufali 7:80] We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?
[Yusufali 7:81] "For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds."

Over here the Quran is saying, that the act of approaching males and commiting homosexual sex for pleasure, was never before seen. This doesnot mean that homosexuality doesnot exist in nature. In nature, there are various examples of fruitflies etc., but the point to be noticed is, that these acts which animals and insects commit are not for sexual pleasure. Therefore, the verse is correct as it says, that act of homosexualtiy for pleasure has never before been seen.

[Yusufali 20:71] (Pharaoh) said: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic! be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees: so shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment!

Cucifixtion, is not a punishment asscociated solely with Christ (P.B.U.H). It was performed even before his birth, and doesnot neccessarily has to take place on a cross. What is crucifixion? It is a punishment, where a person is tied to an object and tortured and then left tied, for a slow and painful death. Over here, the Pharoah was threatening certain subjects of his, that had embraced the truth brought by Prophet Moses (P.B.U.H). and so the pharoah was threatening them, with a punishment of slow, painful death.

As far as verse 4:1 is concerned, visit this link for a better answer:

http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=255

and please read the entire thing, before commenting.

I think you are right - the Koran says homosexuality was never before seen. But it was!

You say that (consenting) animals do not commit homosexual sex for sexual pleasure. How do you know this and do you know why they do it, if not for sexual pleasure?

The Koran mentions specifically crucifiction on palm trees. If you could provide some evidence to show that this type of punishment was known and used in Egypt, then I will concede the point. Crucification is a very specific means of death and I can not find these other definitions as you describe, or any examples of this being used in Egypt. Perhaps the Koran could be wrong again...

We all know the reality is that the human population did not come from a single man and a single woman. Unforunately, the Koran does specifically state this. The link you gave me even doubts it, when it suggests there was more than one pair of early humans.

The link to being made out of clay (an inorganic mineral) is also supposed to confirm evolution - so loose is the interpretation from the verses. What has clay to do with evolution?

No amount of "interpreting" words will show the Koran to be infallible.

I believe in no religion because i am of the opinion that even if there were a god he does not interfere with our planet or lives.

You just have to look at certain diseases, defects, inequalities, disasters, conflicts, etc, etc to realise that even if he is there, he really doesnt care.

Having a religion just divides people, like massive gangs. If people could all unite under one religion, be it islam, christianity, judaism, buddhism, whatever, and it was acting as a unifying thing then it would be good.

I suppose on a local level religion does unify, but the world is heading towards globilisation at an ever increasing rate, its just causing friction and its all over a hypothetical concept.

out of clay (an inorganic mineral) is also supposed to confirm evolution - so loose is the interpretation from the verses. What has clay to do with evolution?

RationalAtheist

If it says this then it has nothing to do with evolution. Sounds more like abiogenesis which is still a hypothesis.

Evolution explains the process in which life changes, not how life started.

Because of my experiences I can't see how God can't be influencing my life in seeing where it is heading. I've seen God do amazing things both in my life and those around me. I've seen people's lives changed in ways that can only be through God. I've seen people rely on God during the deepest possible pain and come away with a deep joy in knowing that God can be glorified through our struggles.

Besides all of that, I honestly haven't seen any view of the world that makes sense like the one of what the Bible teaches. Many other views sound great at times but they often contradict each other in application of that view.

mindstorm

It's great that faith can bring people into a collective and solve problems. But at the same time, religion has massive potential to control people. Religion used to be "The opium of the people" as it dulled their pain of facing up to reality. The media has replaced this since we mostly live in a secular society (here in Britain anyway).

But it has been a brilliant distraction, and even an excuse for going to war throughout History.

That's why I'm an Atheist, or Agnostic at most.