Religion

I thought we had a topic for this, but apparently we didn't. So, here it is for you to discuss. =)

And, although I shouldn't have to say this (because it should be obvious), please respect others' rights to believe in whatever they wish.

Debate is fine. We all think differently, and I find it interesting to to share. But I will not tolerate name-calling, etc.

I was actually involved in a debate a little while ago that got rather heated. There's someone on my friends list on Facebook that constantly posts the ugly side of Islam and claims that there is no such thing as extremists; that they're all into barbaric practices, all hate the West and are trying to take over the World through passive infiltration and destruction from within, blah blah blah.

Me being me, I stood by my opinion that they're not all the same; which eventually lead to me being dubbed a "Useful Idiot" and even accused of being a Muslim, myself. The sickening thing about the whole thing was that it was Christians that I was debating with. So much for "love thy neighbour".

Chojin wrote:I was actually involved in a debate a little while ago that got rather heated. There's someone on my friends list on Facebook that constantly posts the ugly side of Islam and claims that there is no such thing as extremists; that they're all into barbaric practices, all hate the West and are trying to take over the World through passive infiltration and destruction from within, blah blah blah.

Me being me, I stood by my opinion that they're not all the same; which eventually lead to me being dubbed a "Useful Idiot" and even accused of being a Muslim, myself. The sickening thing about the whole thing was that it was Christians that I was debating with. So much for "love thy neighbour".

I don't mean to sound... funny? And I must point out that I don't think all Christians are the same. But it really didn't surprise me when you said it was Christians you were arguing with.

Which is a sad fact. Alot of Christians are so narrow minded and judgemental (despite their own God telling them not to be) that I'm no longer surprised by the evil that come out of their mouths.

As for myself, and my beliefs... I'm not really sure what to believe. Though it always surprises me how much of the ideas relating to pagan/wicca match my own. Just, with my own personal little tweaks, I guess. ^^;

And I don't believe in any set deity(s). Myself, I'll usually use words like energies, or spirits, or something. Because I'm not comfortable using God, or Goddess. I feel like those titles force you to think of these energies as single, humanoid, beings. I guess it's just easier to imagine. And putting an idea into form helps you to relate to it easier, I guess.

I do wonder sometimes though... my witchery "beliefs", are very close to, if not the same, as scientific "beliefs" (sorry, I dunno how else to put that). Like, it's as like their the same thing, but science is bound by it's own rules. Which is understandable. Magic isn't. It allows for the unknown, for the seemingly impossible, and for change which may go against everything science holds as "law".

If anything, I guess I'd come under the Atheist/Wiccan label. But something I don't believe in, is labelling yourself a certain follower if you only believe in parts of a religion. Or like, if you pick out the bits you like, and ignore the bits you don't like.

So I don't really have any set religion at all.

My religion according to official documents is Jedi... I kid you not. I'm comfortable refering to the "higher powers" as the force. I fully believe that people should be free to believe whatever they want, but those Christians I was debating with would gladly take it upon themselves to try and expose any and all faiths as false, because they believe they're doing what they are being told to by THEIR god (I refuse to refer to "him" as a person because he is no my god).

They were quite happy to question the beliefs of others, expecting them to bend to their will, but when I questioned theirs they didn't like it. I wasn't proud of how I did it, but it had to be done because they needed to me exposed as hypocrits.

Alrighty... its not widely known, my faith, what i believe or even that i believe in anything as it seems to be nothing but a road to confrontation with any religion. I have been down the path of Christianity, in its many sects, and found them virtually all the same... in such as they are so hypocritical and misguided that they might as well think themselves as dogs.

I find that you/me/we are a little too quick to "believe" in something higher than us because that is how the world is currently set up. Different levels of society make for the lower levels to see something higher and because they do not want to emulate the morality of those higher, so they look higher to find nothing except what they "believe" to be there.

I do not want to be like all the sheep and "believe" in something "higher" so i looked beside me instead. What I found was the air, the earth, the sun and the water. Yes, yes... "Sounds like shamanism to me" and you may be right and then you may very well call me a shaman but i dont worship or deify them, i dont make them seem more real to me by giving them a name, they merely ARE, unlike other things.

I dont sak the air, earth, water and heat for anything and i dont expect them to answer. I know they make up what i am and what everyone is. I am content to know that they are and that we are. I think its more of being a religious Realist than following something that is most likely and almost irrefutably man-made to bring the masses into line.

Just my thoughts... tis late and i is tired...

I don't mean to completely disregard your post, dude, I've just been dealing with bigotted idiots all day trying to resurrect the Berlin wall with words. As a result, when I see a lot of text in one go, my brain says "nu-uh, I'm not translating that for you" and I end up seeing what could be sandscrit for all I know.

Not literally, of course, but large blocks aren't really making much sense right now >_< I'll come back to your post when my mind has cleared a little.


One of those Christians I mentioned before has now outright blamed Muslims for third world countries being stricken with poverty. However, he is also said that he has Muslim friends, himself. I'm sure they'd be real happy to hear their friend is blaming them for the state of some countries.