religion

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anonymous

New member
Religion debates always used to get me in trouble... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

It was weird cause throughout all my high school, I was Atheist, didn't believe in God, was all for natural selection etc etc. I even did my grade 11 speach on the non-existence of god, and i got to the semi-finals with it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ( I was pretty nervous I tell ya).

I dunno. Man's idea of spirtuality and enlightenment is limited. The idea in christianity that you can only gain entrance to heaven if you belive in God and jesus as the son of God...I mean common. How many christians are there in the world? What about the others? Meh, i think eastern religion and even native religion has it more how it should be. Natives believing everything is connected, rather than the christians view of man being on top. I think it was that one view alone that has cause greater destruction to the environment and then world then anything else we could have thought up in the last 500 years. But lets not go there.

As for my beliefs, i was never raised with any religion, minus the religion classes in school. I am not so close minded now as to think that everything in the world came in by chance, because man, there are a lot of things going on in the universe for it to just happen outa nowhere, and a lot of questions that I think can never be answered. I believe more in the unity of the universe, intelligent design without the god. I think we were meant to be here, but not because god put us here, but because it was the natural course of the universe. I think the universe is evolving, and we are part of that evolution. We are here because we can change the natural environment....and nothing to our knowledge was able to do that before us. Where are we going with this? No idea. But there is something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about.

I dunno....life is crazy. When you think about humans, and how we interact with the environment....it gets you thinking. All our cells are connected, and they change to the surroundings in our environment. Whether you are at a party, or a sunset on a beach, your cells react differently to every situation. However, our cells are made up of exactly the same thing that everything else is made up of. Fundamentally we are all connected, but for some reason, we can think, percieve and manipulate the natural environment. It is like we were made to experience this universe.....

I dunno, I think too much....just a few ideas i had <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

Kiel
 
A

anonymous

New member
We are baptist and believe that The Son of God, Jesus Christ died for our sins, and those that believe and have accepted him as Savior will spend eternity in Heaven.

Kaitsmom<img src="i/expressions/present.gif" border="0">
 
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65rosessamurai

Guest
This is quite an interesting topic you started, wanderlost. (I like the introduction you made, so as not to startle anyone)
I was also curious about what some people believed in, what such religions were, and I knew religion (esp. Christian) was vast.
I grew up Roman Catholic, though I heard my father's dad was Lutheran. I was a "dedicated" Roman Catholic until the day I asked the Priest to wed me and my first wife at the time; yet she was not a Christian, nor was going to be in the States for too long. Basically, without giving me a chance for the three of us to at least make an appointment to discuss marriage, he had "cast me away". We got married at the local court house, but this infuriorated me; for a "Godlike" mortal to decide my future by telling me to find another priest from an Air Force Base, or somewhere to marry us. Soon, I began questioning the same doctrines, etc., that I was taught. I still believe in God, and perhaps as much as Jesus Christ, but I'd probably rather convert to Lutheran, for he (Luther) was the guy who stood up to the corrupt Popes in the 15th century (I think my history was about right).
My mother's father, I heard, was a strict Roman Catholic--My mom even had to learn Latin! My sister and mother still practice, and even her husband seems a bit strong in the belief, they have their daughter going to a private Catholic school, and I have to watch my P's and Q's around her! (Or face her Daddy!)
Both my wives are Buddhists, which makes an even bigger experience, much less some of the Martial Arts I've been into reflects the beliefs of another religion, Shintoism.
I guess the results in coming to Japan was to see an even broader side to (Most) all the religions.
Currently, my belief is that God does have a plan for us, good or bad, and we have to figure it out! I tend to believe repeated nightmarish dreams about divorcing the first wife, and falling off my bicycle, severing the tendon connecting my sholder bone to my collar bone was a sign to get divorced. By this accident, it was revealed to me what kind of person I really married, and if this same similar situation happened in relation with my CF, it would be worse.
I'm not sure about re-incarnation, am a little bit in belief of Karma, but under Buddhist belief, if you don't get rid of all your bad Karma in your current life, you're back, again in another life, so that belief's hard to hold water, too!(I think)
The odd thing is, since my first marriage was never in a church, it was supposedly "not recognized", therefore I haven't been banned from the church when I divorced, so if I decide to return... (P.S. after the divorce, the reoccuring dreams went with it!)
 
A

anonymous

New member
65 roses samurai, is your wife a practicing Buddhist? I am very interested in Eastern philosophies myself and though I incorporate some aspects of Buddhism into my belief system, I could by no means consider myself to be Buddhist. I am curious though, how Buddhism is celebrated differently in the East than by those of us dabblers here in the West?

Also, I asked this of you in the family forum, but I'll put it here too - you mentioned living in a small town in MI near the IN border - was it Niles per chance?
 
A

anonymous

New member
65 roses samurai, is your wife a practicing Buddhist? I am very interested in Eastern philosophies myself and though I incorporate some aspects of Buddhism into my belief system, I could by no means consider myself to be Buddhist. I am curious though, how Buddhism is celebrated differently in the East than by those of us dabblers here in the West?

Also, I asked this of you in the family forum, but I'll put it here too - you mentioned living in a small town in MI near the IN border - was it Niles per chance?

wanderlost
 
T

TCNJcystic

New member
I'm an atheist. This means I've rejected the idea of a higher being. At the same time, I have an overwhelming sense of purpose and direction in life. I don't know. My brother is an atheist because he'd rather not believe in God than have to accept him and be pissed off at him all the time. Maybe that's how I see it too. It's easier for me to know that I have CF without accepting a God figure. Should I believe he existed, I'd have to believe he gave it to me, right?
 
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65rosessamurai

Guest
Whoa!! Twilight Zone!
As a matter of fact, wanderlost, it was in Niles that I lived for the time I was working in Indiana, actually I worked in Mishawauka, a metropolitan area of South Bend.
What brings you to this question? Did you live out there, too? I didn't catch where you asked in the family forum (sorry).

As for Buddhism, so far what my conclusion is; they are very strict about when someone passes away, and I mostly see their religion when it's related to someone's passing. They don't necessary "go to mass", though depending on the "cult" of the religion (Buddhism also has differences in followings), they may have special days set for visiting the "altar". My understanding of the Buddhist belief is that during a past lifetime, there were Karmas incompleted, and the spirit goes back to earth to complete it. In some beliefs (not which I agree with), the Karma of someone having great health, for example, took advantage of it, and therefore was reincarnated as someone with poor health to deal with that. Some Karmas (which I tend to believe a little) are faced and challenged during the person's lifetime.

To TCNJcystic, who made a reply into a question, I'd like to offer a suggestion for you. Without having to believe in the chance of "God" existing, or even a higher power; to find within yourself the power of helping you guide your way through life's challenges, and appreciation for the things already good in your life would seem to be enough. Most people on this forum already witnessed what happens when someone wants to "convert" an athiest. So, the decision is up to you.
 
I

IG

Guest
What religion were you raised in?
[Very rarely practicing] Nazarene
What religion do you practice now (if any)?
I consider myself a deist.
Do you use religion in your struggle with CF?
Not really, I'm a big believer in whatever happens happens. I'll deal with it as it comes and hope for the best. I prefer the thought that I have control over my life.
 
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miesl

New member
You are aware of the fact that it is not known when Jesus was born, yes? Pope Julius I set the date as December 25. The celebration at the end of December was easy - since the solstice was already readily celebrated by "rival" religions. What better way to convert the heathens than to let them continue celebrating their holidays? Holly, mistletoe, evergreen these are pagan symbols to reflect winter's inablity to keep life from renewing itself.

The "whole premise" of Christmas is what you make of it - since it's been repackaged and altered by so many over the years. I celebrate it as a season to spend quality time with family, decorate trees, and make tasty, tasty goodies.
 
A

Allie

New member
First off I am not an athiest, nor am I a Christian, perfect middle ground. I have no emotional stock in the holiday.

Christmas was the accepted date of Jesus' birth as set by the pope. YOu know all this, and the fact that they acually don't know when he was born. The holiday now has many non-religious connotations. Santa, Christmas trees, lights on the house (heck, WE put lights on the house) gift giving, none of those has anything directly to with even being a Christian. I think most reasonable people, whether they personally appreciate it or not, would agree that it's become a reasonably secular holiday. Or can be. Like Halloween is now secular.

Now, in my opinion, you're just trying to stir the pot, which is not impressive. If that's your motive, please stop. We don't need it. Do you honestly think if you tell all athiests they can't celebrate Christmas, they'll convert? It's just a holiday, not a spurn to your faith. As for me, if an athiest wants to celebrate Hanukkah, go right ahead, it hurts my faith none.
 
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65rosessamurai

Guest
I recall hearing somewhere the same thing that miesl mentioned.

And, Halloween, like Christmas, there were a lot of pagan symbols included in the celebration. I heard, for example, the Christmas tree, symbol of "everlasting", was a custom adapted by the Germans.

I'm glad to hear even Jewish (like Buddhists), can find some "fun" in the Christmas Holiday (Besides some extra free days off of work!)--Well, actually the Japanese don't "Really" celebrate Christmas! I've spent 12 years in Japan, and the only reason why I get the day off this year, is because it landed on a Sunday! Most Japanese just eat birthday cake for Christmas, after "Papa" comes home from a long hard day at the office!

I figure though, if athiests want to celebrate something like Hanukkah, or Christmas, go ahead, just don't mock it! However, in my case, the old saying "When in Rome..." has come in hand, so I've been to some Buddhist ceremonies.
 
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Lilith

New member
I am an athiest, but I still celebrate Christmas because it's just a fun time of year! Getting together with friends and family, decorations and pretty lights, and having a good excuse to buy my friends presents is what it's all about for me. Not to mention the yummy Christmas dinner...*drools just thinking about it*
 
A

anonymous

New member
Yeshua is the "Light of the World". Many believe that our Messiah, Yeshua was conceived during the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah. Yeshua was not born during the winter months as the sheep were in the pasture (Luke 2:8).Yeshua was born six months after John the Baptist. John the Baptist was conceived about Sivan 30, the eleventh week (Luke 1:8-13, 24). Using forty weeks for a normal pregnancy places Johns birth on Nisan 14 , or Passover. Six moths after Passover is the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth which is in the approximate month of October when Yeshua was born. Six months after Johns conception Yeshua was conceived which places us in the month of Kislev, Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev. Was the Light of the World conceived on the Festival of Lights?
 
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