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Tell me about it then.
Of course religion is cultural, but that is largely irrelevant. All the religions (even Paganism) roughly say the same things in roughly the same order- the names are changed, but so what? It's arguing over semantics, more than anything; whether you think Jesus was a prophet (as the Jews and the Muslims believe) or if he's the Son of God, it doesn't make a huge difference.
It's the same belief, in my opinion, it is just translated differently. That is cultural.
I take issue with this though.
The one thing that annoys me about so many atheists is that they are normally respectful of culture, respectful of other peoples' beliefs, respectful of what people hold dear. But mention the word "Jesus" and suddenly they start frothing at the mouth, saying that it's all a con, it's all stupid, that what that person believe sin deeply is a crock of shit.
I couldn't care less what you, or anyone else, believes about the existence of God/Allah/a lump if green putty/other. I really couldn't. But when my beliefs start getting mocked and ridiculed it bothers me, because it is always from someone who normally preaches tolerance and humility. Or at least they claim to.
Aladdin and the newest n00b mongs are worst for this: I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. I allow you to believe what you want- if you want to worship a stone or a lump of putty then you do so. Believe in none of it, I don't care. But I am fed up of my belief and my religion being ridiculed simply because. Say you disagree with me, that's fine, but I deeply resent the "you believe in God? You're a FUCKING STUPID FUCKING IDIOT!!!" mentality that seems prevalent on this board.
Yes, that's what I said. But some Christians on here disagreed with me.
And I'm far from an atheist. But it does rile me that some people refuse to think critically about their religion, they seem to believe exactly what they've been told without attempting to gain a wider and deeper understanding.
I think that is fair enough, really.
I'm grounded in Catholicism, but there is so much that I disagree with the Church on now it's not even funny. The sex cover-ups, the mysogyny, the homophobia, it's disgraceful. And it's stupid- the Church would be a far stronger, and a far better community if it accepted everyone, instead of building up stupid rules about sex and about sexuality and gender.
I had sex before marriage, with more than one person, and used contraception. How evil am I? :rolleyes:
What is the date today Blagsta? OK, take Judaism and Christianity. Jews think Jesus was an impostor and are still waiting for the Messiah. Christians think Jesus is the saviour of the world. A pretty fundamental difference.
I'm not, I'm expressing my opinion of you.
Again, you miss the point. Science is independantly verifiable - religion isn't.
And I'm not denying religous experience - you'd know that if you read my posts a bit more carefully.
So, why is Islam less valid than Christianity?
No I'm not. Most people have the religion they do for cultural reasons.
Why are you a Christian and not anything else?
Again, you're getting bogged down in superficialities.
And if one is right and the other wrong, how do you know you've chosen the right one and that everyone else is wrong?
Again, maybe if you bothered to read my posts a little more carefully, you'd see that that is precisely not what I'm doing. In fact it seems that you are doing what you accuse me of when you say that all other relgions are wrong.
I have put forward an argument, one that you can't seem to grasp. Which is why I'm wondering about your intelligence.
The Bible is not widely held to be a reliable historical account.
In which calendar?
Again, you have totally missed the point.
Because they have a more intelligent insight into these things than someone who merely takes these things on face value without question.
Historians do not seriously believe that Christ rasied people from the dead, turned water into wine etc.
I'm not denying that he lived, but the Bible is not an accurate account.
The 1st November. What about it?
Yes, that is my point. You have missed looking beyond the surface superficial differences to see what spiritual truths might be being expressed by relgions.
It's like the difference between the plot of a book and it's theme.
Islam is different from Christianity. One must be right. Both cannot be equally valid, otherwise both would be wrong since they are contradictory. I don't recall ever declaring my own relgious beliefs. Most people are exposed to the religion which is most prevalent where they are born, of course. But you are misunderstanding religious faith if you say people are born into it. Not superficialities, fundamentals.
And I trust my own judgement. There is a difference between believing something to be true and another thing false, and mocking alternative views. You preach tolerance, but are very intolerant of those who hold views you disagree with.
'More intelligent' is entirely subjective.
But I should have learnt by now - there's no reasoning with a fundamentalist.
I have read it and decided. I decided it was a good story that expressed some truths, but it is not an accurate historical account. It is more akin to metaphor and allegory.
That means fuck all. It is because Christianity was the main cultural power when these things were decided. Doesn't mean anything more than that.
You're grasping at straws!
:banghead:
You really don't get it do you? Typical fundie. :rolleyes:
Were you?
A fundamentalist is someone who takes their religous text at face value.
We'll have to finish this later, I'm off.
Blagsta, and he can correct me if I'm misunderstanding him, is not saying that all the religions are IDENTICAL, but that their key themes are mutual. The plot is different, the characters are different, but that is largely irrelevant, to be quite honest. The themes are the same, it's the same God, it's the same spirituality. Call it Thor if you want, it's the same thing.
In the Middle East Islam is the main cultural power. Are they wrong?
Judaism shares most of The Bible with Christianity. Are they wrong?
At heart, I believe that it is the same God who appears to different peoples in different ways. I understand your thinking, but I disagree with it. You are fine to believe it, but I do believe it is rather misguided to think that 80% of the world is wrong.
It looks interesting, I may read it when I have time. I have about 6 books in my to read pile at the moment though.
I agree it tapped into something, but your assertion that we have the calendar we do today because of the fundamental truth of Christianity ignores so many aspects of political and cultural power, it's absurd.
A belief in an eternal soul.
I'm warming to you Kermit.
I doubt it, but I'd like to be surprised.
See above.
Go on, run away.
no, it would be a total waste of time.