I’m raising my kids atheist in a God-obsessed culture.. - Page 3

78SA · 08-09-2014, 11:43am

Atheists have faith there is no God. Ironic huh?

78SA · 08-09-2014, 11:47am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

I was also raised Catholic, and I would and do claim it. Yes, we've got our fair share of issues. OK, we've got enough baggage to fill the Grand Canyon. Twice.

Inspite of all this, I can't ditch my faith. Stupid? Maybe, but it is what it is.

It's good to be steadfast in your beliefs and I'm not attacking you or Catholics but it's also good to keep an open mind to the possibility of falsehoods in one's religion so you can recognize it and either work to get it corrected or move to another religion that you can't find those falsehoods in, ie, if your religion teaches something that is obviously against your God's word.

Giraffe (He/Him) · 08-09-2014, 9:24pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78SA

It's good to be steadfast in your beliefs and I'm not attacking you or Catholics but it's also good to keep an open mind to the possibility of falsehoods in one's religion so you can recognize it and either work to get it corrected or move to another religion that you can't find those falsehoods in, ie, if your religion teaches something that is obviously against your God's word.

Huh?

1911fool · 08-11-2014, 9:18am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

Huh?

I think he is saying that you should keep an open mind about your religion in case someone tries to teach you something that is not in alignment with God's word. That way you can correct it or move on. I made sense of his post by changing the word religion to denomination. I don't think he was advocating going from Christianity to Islam. I think it was more going Southern Baptist to Methodist or something along those lines.

Sea Six · 08-11-2014, 1:26pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1911fool

I think he is saying that you should keep an open mind about your religion in case someone tries to teach you something that is not in alignment with God's word. That way you can correct it or move on. I made sense of his post by changing the word religion to denomination. I don't think he was advocating going from Christianity to Islam. I think it was more going Southern Baptist to Methodist or something along those lines.

He can't hear you.

He left the forum in a huff yesterday.

Again.

78SA · 08-11-2014, 7:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1911fool

I think he is saying that you should keep an open mind about your religion in case someone tries to teach you something that is not in alignment with God's word. That way you can correct it or move on. I made sense of his post by changing the word religion to denomination. I don't think he was advocating going from Christianity to Islam. I think it was more going Southern Baptist to Methodist or something along those lines.

An example is a guy I work with talks about the church he goes to and says things that they do that are not authorized by God. He said he doesn't say anything because they have over 1000 members and he isn't one of the leaders. I told him someone needs to speak up and point out the errors.

78SA · 08-11-2014, 7:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Six

He can't hear you.

He left the forum in a huff yesterday.

Again.

Hope it wasn't what I said.

NeedSpeed · 08-13-2014, 11:52pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1911fool

I think he is saying that you should keep an open mind about your religion in case someone tries to teach you something that is not in alignment with God's word. That way you can correct it or move on. I made sense of his post by changing the word religion to denomination. I don't think he was advocating going from Christianity to Islam. I think it was more going Southern Baptist to Methodist or something along those lines.

You see, this is where I choose not to follow a Catholic lifestyle. I believe in God, not religion.

Each denomination exists only because they disagree on their interpretation of the bible (i.e. God's word). Not to mention the fact that there are various versions of the bible with different, all be it minor, wording which can alter the interpretation of various verses. Also, each one also adds their own "morals" for lack of a better word, on top of all that, that you're supposed to follow.

Christianity didn't exist until after Christ. So, what's wrong with believing in God old school, pre-Christ?

Some points because I'm too lazy to type:

Quote:

Some of the problems we are faced with today as we look at denominationalism and its more recent history:

1. Denominations are based on disagreements over the interpretation of Scripture. An example would be the meaning and purpose of baptism. Is baptism a requirement for salvation or is it symbolic of the salvation process? There are denominations on both sides of this issue and have used the issue to separate and form denominations.

2. Disagreements over the interpretation of Scripture are taken personally and become points of contention. This leads to arguments which can and have done much to destroy the witness of church.

3. The church should be able to resolves its differences inside the body, but once again history tells us that this doesn’t happen. Today the media uses our differences against us to demonstrate that we are not unified in thought or purpose.

4. Denominations are used by man out of self-interest. There are denominations today that are in a state of self-destruction as they are being led into apostasy by those who are promoting their personal agendas.

5. The value of unity is found in the ability to pool our gifts and resources to promote the Kingdom to a lost world. This runs contrary to divisions caused by denominationalism.

Point being, if only one religion is truly right, are all the rest going to hell? Or is it, "Your beliefs fit my life style, I choose you."?

Sea Six · 08-14-2014, 8:40am

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedSpeed

You see, this is where I choose not to follow a Catholic lifestyle. I believe in God, not religion.

Each denomination exists only because they disagree on their interpretation of the bible (i.e. God's word). Not to mention the fact that there are various versions of the bible with different, all be it minor, wording which can alter the interpretation of various verses. Also, each one also adds their own "morals" for lack of a better word, on top of all that, that you're supposed to follow.

Christianity didn't exist until after Christ. So, what's wrong with believing in God old school, pre-Christ?

Some points because I'm too lazy to type:

Point being, if only one religion is truly right, are all the rest going to hell? Or is it, "Your beliefs fit my life style, I choose you."?

You'd better be careful.

You keep on asking questions like this, and thinking for yourself, and it won't be long before you don't believe in any god and any religion.

So far, it seems like you've limited yourself to looking at the different Christian denominations. It's this consideration that's led to your rejection of the various differing Christian denominations.

Open your focus up to include all faiths over all time. You'll be an atheist before you know it.

DukeAllen · 08-14-2014, 8:58am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Six

You'd better be careful.

You keep on asking questions like this, and thinking for yourself, and it won't be long before you don't believe in any god and any religion.

So far, it seems like you've limited yourself to looking at the different Christian denominations. It's this consideration that's led to your rejection of the various differing Christian denominations.

Open your focus up to include all faiths over all time. You'll be an atheist before you know it.

There's too much beauty in the world for it to all be an accident.

I'm not referencing VB, of course

<--- former atheist, now non-denominational Jesus freak.

RedLS1GTO · 08-14-2014, 9:14am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Open your focus up to include all faiths over all time. You'll be an atheist before you know it.

It seems to me that make you more agnostic than atheist.

Of course it's pretty clear that most people either don't grasp... or more likely don't care to grasp... the difference.

And no... that was not directed at anybody specific. Just a general observation of being called an atheist (of which I am not) throughout my life when I happen to disagree with somebody.

Sea Six · 08-14-2014, 9:46am

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

It seems to me that make you more agnostic than atheist.

Of course it's pretty clear that most people either don't grasp... or more likely don't care to grasp... the difference.

I love how non-atheists like to tell atheists what they think, or reasons why they don't believe.

I don't believe in any god - that makes me an atheist.

RedLS1GTO · 08-14-2014, 9:48am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Six

I love how non-atheists like to tell atheists what they think, or reasons why they don't believe.

I don't believe in any god - that makes me an atheist.

I think you beat my edit... to clarify, my comment was not at all directed towards you (or anybody specific).

...and yea, it is amusing when people think they know what I believe and why I believe it better than I know myself.

Sea Six · 08-14-2014, 9:53am

My favorite one is that since I don't believe in sin, I must want to go out and kill people or hurt people or do anything I want because a sense of right and wrong could only come from God.

Sea Six · 08-14-2014, 9:54am

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

It seems to me that make you more agnostic than atheist.

Of course it's pretty clear that most people either don't grasp... or more likely don't care to grasp... the difference.

And no... that was not directed at anybody specific. Just a general observation of being called an atheist (of which I am not) throughout my life when I happen to disagree with somebody.

DukeAllen · 08-14-2014, 11:19am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Six

My favorite one is that since I don't believe in sin, I must want to go out and kill people or hurt people or do anything I want because a sense of right and wrong could only come from God.

You come to VB but still don't believe in sin?

Sea Six · 08-14-2014, 11:35am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeAllen

You come to VB but still don't believe in sin?

Sin, heaven, hell, God, religion, Purgatory, it's all a bunch of crap.

Right and wrong? Sure. Sins? A bunch of made-up garbage designed to induce guilt for the purpose of control.

DukeAllen · 08-14-2014, 11:54am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Sin, heaven, hell, God, religion, Purgatory, it's all a bunch of crap.

Right and wrong? Sure. Sins? A bunch of made-up garbage designed to induce guilt for the purpose of control.

I'm not feeling guilty, and no church ever made me do anything against my will.