|
Post by bathstoke on Dec 1, 2017 20:39:50 GMT
51! Your dad sounds a fascinating man, unlike that Bishop. We've got a new vicar & the jury is still out... Never heard him described as fascinating before. The war fucked him up badly - never spoke a word to us about it. Then we moved house every two years so it was very hard for us kids to make and keep friends. I never got his religion though - maybe he was searching for something. The bishop threw my poor old mum off religion too. When she was dying I asked her if she wanted a religious funeral: she said "No, they are all just hypocrites". I could tell you lots more, but I won't. But in reply to the OP, no, I can't believe in any god. Sorry to hear all that Local. Look after yourself
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 20:55:33 GMT
For me: I can fully accept the Darwin theory of evolution but I don't believe that it necessarily contradicts the existence of God. The evolution theory does not answer questions of " Why are we here?"."What is the meaning of existence" what is it all about" "God" coukd have chosen to do things that way. Religion and religious stories are simply mankind's search for the truth and an explanation ( which surely is a natural human instinct and is understandable that we should seek to find a reason for things). It is also tied up with identity and the history and roots of " your people" hence Judaism or Islam bring very much cultural and particular to specific groups of people. ( I think that the Talmud, Torah etc is the attempt of the Jews to explain " their" story and stories such as Adam and Eve are not meant to be taken literally. I must say I do believe that Islam was intentionally invented to combat Judaism and Christianity and is simply a cult that has got out if hand) I'd always make a distinction between organised Religion and a personal belief in God.....once man gets hold of religion often it becomes another man made business about power control and money. Yet an individual relationship with God has inspired many to great things, Gandhi, Martin Luther king, Mother Theresa etc. I can't accept the Christian idea that God intervenes by way of miracles, nor does he answer prayers...if this were the case he/ she seems very selective and unjust. Also I can't understand how, if everything is his creation home come it seems " natural" that big things eat smaller things in the food chain..why does lamb taste good? God's cocked that up. I have been to a range of churches/ religious buildings in the past... there was a black Tunstall Pentecostal church that I went to for a while which wad a brilliant experience...I must go back to see if it is still there....can' t remember it's name, may have been Assembly of God. For those who are interested the Potters church in Birches Head is well worth a visit for those interested or searching www.potterschurch.co.uk/ Started by Phil Barber , of the great Barber family..... Brian, Deputy Principal of the sixth form college and George Barber ( Barber cinemas, and the book " From workhouse to Lord Mayor"..can be googled) www.thepotteries.org/federation/056_barber.htmI think it is worth mentioning the Stoke on Trent connection to Primitive Methodism / Mow Cop that is something to be proud of, and I believe has associations with the traditional Stoke connection to Labour ( as opposed to a Marxist connection) Just wish to state that I am not religious but like many of us, search for meaning. Have you considered an Alpha Course ?
|
|
|
Post by localloser on Dec 1, 2017 21:03:32 GMT
Never heard him described as fascinating before. The war fucked him up badly - never spoke a word to us about it. Then we moved house every two years so it was very hard for us kids to make and keep friends. I never got his religion though - maybe he was searching for something. The bishop threw my poor old mum off religion too. When she was dying I asked her if she wanted a religious funeral: she said "No, they are all just hypocrites". I could tell you lots more, but I won't. But in reply to the OP, no, I can't believe in any god. Sorry to hear all that Local. Look after yourself Thanks mate, but I'm fine really. The religious people here may like one true anecdote though. When dad was at Shelton - the big church at the top of Snow Hill, he was called into the hospital late one night to baptise a critically ill baby with meningitis. 5 minutes after he did his stuff, the baby began to recover. Ten days later she was discharged, completely recovered. The parents thought it was a miracle, my dad wanted it to be a miracle. It was probably the antibiotics kicking in, but we'll never know, will we? But it is true. Still can't find it in me to believe in a god. Take care mate.
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 1, 2017 21:11:35 GMT
For me: I can fully accept the Darwin theory of evolution but I don't believe that it necessarily contradicts the existence of God. The evolution theory does not answer questions of " Why are we here?"."What is the meaning of existence" what is it all about" "God" coukd have chosen to do things that way. Religion and religious stories are simply mankind's search for the truth and an explanation ( which surely is a natural human instinct and is understandable that we should seek to find a reason for things). It is also tied up with identity and the history and roots of " your people" hence Judaism or Islam bring very much cultural and particular to specific groups of people. ( I think that the Talmud, Torah etc is the attempt of the Jews to explain " their" story and stories such as Adam and Eve are not meant to be taken literally. I must say I do believe that Islam was intentionally invented to combat Judaism and Christianity and is simply a cult that has got out if hand) I'd always make a distinction between organised Religion and a personal belief in God.....once man gets hold of religion often it becomes another man made business about power control and money. Yet an individual relationship with God has inspired many to great things, Gandhi, Martin Luther king, Mother Theresa etc. I can't accept the Christian idea that God intervenes by way of miracles, nor does he answer prayers...if this were the case he/ she seems very selective and unjust. Also I can't understand how, if everything is his creation home come it seems " natural" that big things eat smaller things in the food chain..why does lamb taste good? God's cocked that up. I have been to a range of churches/ religious buildings in the past... there was a black Tunstall Pentecostal church that I went to for a while which wad a brilliant experience...I must go back to see if it is still there....can' t remember it's name, may have been Assembly of God. For those who are interested the Potters church in Birches Head is well worth a visit for those interested or searching www.potterschurch.co.uk/ Started by Phil Barber , of the great Barber family..... Brian, Deputy Principal of the sixth form college and George Barber ( Barber cinemas, and the book " From workhouse to Lord Mayor"..can be googled) www.thepotteries.org/federation/056_barber.htmI think it is worth mentioning the Stoke on Trent connection to Primitive Methodism / Mow Cop that is something to be proud of, and I believe has associations with the traditional Stoke connection to Labour ( as opposed to a Marxist connection) Just wish to state that I am not religious but like many of us, search for meaning. Have you considered an Alpha Course ? No not at all.No need really because my friends who deliver the course know my background so know that they don't need to ask. Have you?
|
|
|
Post by bathstoke on Dec 1, 2017 21:16:49 GMT
Anyone seen any Heavenly Beings...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 21:31:36 GMT
Have you considered an Alpha Course ? No not at all.No need really because my friends who deliver the course know my background so know that they don't need to ask. Have you? I didnāt really have too many questions as Iād kind of figured stuff out over the years but yeah I went along to one. Found it a great experience and I was glad I went.
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 1, 2017 21:38:53 GMT
No not at all.No need really because my friends who deliver the course know my background so know that they don't need to ask. Have you? I didnāt really have too many questions as Iād kind of figured stuff out over the years but yeah I went along to one. Found it a great experience and I was glad I went. Not for me at all. I grew up in a non- religious household, got involved in evangelical Christianity/ Methodism/ born again Christianity in my teens ( because of Tunstall Methodism www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page/tunstall_staffordshire and the influence of the Barbers) became a local Methodist preacher...then grew away from it at University. I have also visited Mosques and synagogues all part of the journey of life. I am quite content with my present position to be honest and don't need Alpha....still enquiring though and asking questions... not necessarily got answers that would satisfy others. For me "humanity" is more important than "religion" ...and I think God would agree with that....in fact Jesus seemed anti the religion of his day....that's Why the Jewish leaders plotted to kill him
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 22:06:10 GMT
I didnāt really have too many questions as Iād kind of figured stuff out over the years but yeah I went along to one. Found it a great experience and I was glad I went. Not for me at all. I grew up in a non- religious household, got involved in evangelical Christianity/ Methodism/ born again Christianity in my teens ( because of Tunstall Methodism www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page/tunstall_staffordshire and the influence of the Barbers) became a local Methodist preacher...then grew away from it at University. I have also visited Mosques and synagogues all part of the journey of life. I am quite content with my present position to be honest and don't need Alpha....still enquiring though and asking questions... not necessarily got answers that would satisfy others. For me "humanity" is more important than "religion" ...and I think God would agree with that....in fact Jesus seemed anti the religion of his day....that's Why the Jewish leaders plotted to kill him Iām pretty much anti religion too. Religion is the part that mans added on to the true message. Iām not religious but have a faith in God... there is a difference.
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 1, 2017 22:16:01 GMT
Not for me at all. I grew up in a non- religious household, got involved in evangelical Christianity/ Methodism/ born again Christianity in my teens ( because of Tunstall Methodism www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page/tunstall_staffordshire and the influence of the Barbers) became a local Methodist preacher...then grew away from it at University. I have also visited Mosques and synagogues all part of the journey of life. I am quite content with my present position to be honest and don't need Alpha....still enquiring though and asking questions... not necessarily got answers that would satisfy others. For me "humanity" is more important than "religion" ...and I think God would agree with that....in fact Jesus seemed anti the religion of his day....that's Why the Jewish leaders plotted to kill him Iām pretty much anti religion too. Religion is the part that mans added on to the true message. Iām not religious but have a faith in God... there is a difference. I wouldn't really say I'm anti religion. Each to their own. Religion brings alot of comfort and company to some people...keeps some people " going" ...much like football does for some( or Elvis does for me).. The problem I have is if a religion tries to control others, tells others what to do and think, judges others, condemns others, is intolerant of any belief that contradicts theirs, doesn't allow free thinking,won't allow discussion and scrutiny of their beliefs, is intolerant of some diversity etc etc..... If God has created man and if life is a gift worth living there should be an emphasis on love, care, compassion, hope , empathy and a bit of celebration of the good .....although there is enough bad for it to be understandable for someone to reject God..in my opinion of course
|
|
|
Post by sneydgreenstokie1 on Dec 1, 2017 22:22:19 GMT
Iām pretty much anti religion too. Religion is the part that mans added on to the true message. Iām not religious but have a faith in God... there is a difference. I wouldn't really day I'm anti deli. Each to their own. Religion brings alot of comfort and company yo some people...kerps some people " going" ...much like football does for some( or Elvis does for me).. The problem I have is if a religion tries to control others, tells others what to do and think, judges others, condemns others, is intolerant of any belief that contradicts theirs, doesn't allow free thinking,won't allow discussion and scrutiny of their beliefs, is intolerant of some diversity etc etc..... If God has created man and if life is a giftvworth living there should be an emphasis on love, care, compassion, hope , empathy and a bit if celebration of the good .....although there is enough bad for it to be understandable for someone to reject God..in my opinion of course Fascinating read. Thanks gents. Have been a Christian myself for most of life. Have many issues with religion in so many ways. Incidentally, I was one of the 25 who started the Potters House, now the Potters Church. I can see why so many are put off Christianity by the people who represent it. I can certainly testify to not being the greatest of adverts on far too many occasions to mention
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 1, 2017 22:30:43 GMT
I wouldn't really day I'm anti deli. Each to their own. Religion brings alot of comfort and company yo some people...kerps some people " going" ...much like football does for some( or Elvis does for me).. The problem I have is if a religion tries to control others, tells others what to do and think, judges others, condemns others, is intolerant of any belief that contradicts theirs, doesn't allow free thinking,won't allow discussion and scrutiny of their beliefs, is intolerant of some diversity etc etc..... If God has created man and if life is a giftvworth living there should be an emphasis on love, care, compassion, hope , empathy and a bit if celebration of the good .....although there is enough bad for it to be understandable for someone to reject God..in my opinion of course Fascinating read. Thanks gents. Have been a Christian myself for most of life. Have many issues with religion in so many ways. Incidentally, I was one of the 25 who started the Potters House, now the Potters Church. I can see why so many are put off Christianity by the people who represent it. I can certainly testify to not being the greatest of adverts on far too many occasions to mention A fantastic church and concept.On a simple level good people simply trying to do good things. I go back a long time with the Barbers and I'd imagine the names Nixon and Phillips are well known to you.I think that the Potters House challenges many of the stereotypes of religious people , especially in respect of youth.It's one reason that I would not to presume to be " judgmental" about religion and religious people.
|
|
|
Post by sneydgreenstokie1 on Dec 1, 2017 22:33:14 GMT
Fascinating read. Thanks gents. Have been a Christian myself for most of life. Have many issues with religion in so many ways. Incidentally, I was one of the 25 who started the Potters House, now the Potters Church. I can see why so many are put off Christianity by the people who represent it. I can certainly testify to not being the greatest of adverts on far too many occasions to mention A fantastic church and concept.On a simple level good people simply trying to do good things. I go back a long time with the Barbers and I'd imagine the names Nixon and Phillips are well known to you.I think that the Potters House challenges many of the stereotypes of religious people , especially in respect of youth.It's one reason that I would not to presume to be " judgmental" about religion and religious people. I am indeed a Phillips. We all still attend. We span three generations weekly
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 1, 2017 22:34:20 GMT
A fantastic church and concept.On a simple level good people simply trying to do good things. I go back a long time with the Barbers and I'd imagine the names Nixon and Phillips are well known to you.I think that the Potters House challenges many of the stereotypes of religious people , especially in respect of youth.It's one reason that I would not to presume to be " judgmental" about religion and religious people. I am indeed a Phillips. We all still attend. We span three generations weekly Rob your dad? The singer!
|
|
|
Post by sneydgreenstokie1 on Dec 1, 2017 22:36:43 GMT
I am indeed a Phillips. We all still attend. We span three generations weekly Rob your dad? The singer! He certainly is. Did you go to The Group by any chance?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 22:38:03 GMT
Iām pretty much anti religion too. Religion is the part that mans added on to the true message. Iām not religious but have a faith in God... there is a difference. I wouldn't really day I'm anti deli. Each to their own. Religion brings alot of comfort and company yo some people...kerps some people " going" ...much like football does for some( or Elvis does for me).. The problem I have is if a religion tries to control others, tells others what to do and think, judges others, condemns others, is intolerant of any belief that contradicts theirs, doesn't allow free thinking,won't allow discussion and scrutiny of their beliefs, is intolerant of some diversity etc etc..... If God has created man and if life is a giftvworth living there should be an emphasis on love, care, compassion, hope , empathy and a bit if celebration of the good .....although there is enough bad for it to be understandable for someone to reject God..in my opinion of course If you take out the āreligionā the actual message of Jesus was to love, care and have compassion. His message certainly gives us hope and that allows us to celebrate the good. Having a faith in God and trying to follow Jesus certainly changed the course of my life. Iāll never be the finished article and itās a now a life of learning but itās a whole lot better than the life I tried before without God.
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 1, 2017 22:38:06 GMT
Rob your dad? The singer! He certainly is. Did you go to The Group by any chance? I certainly did in the original Tunstall church, started by Brian...one of the originals...does the name Paul mean anything to you....and I've seen( you and) your dad in block 30 a few times...believe it or not...I used to sit about 10 rows in front of you
|
|
|
Post by sneydgreenstokie1 on Dec 1, 2017 22:41:00 GMT
He certainly is. Did you go to The Group by any chance? I certainly did in the original Tunstall church, started by Brian...one of the originals...does the name Paul mean anything to you....and I've seen( you and( your dad in block 30 a few times...believe it or not...I used to sit about 10 rows in front of you Sorry, so many names from the past. Have you had any contact with my dad?
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 1, 2017 22:49:15 GMT
I certainly did in the original Tunstall church, started by Brian...one of the originals...does the name Paul mean anything to you....and I've seen( you and( your dad in block 30 a few times...believe it or not...I used to sit about 10 rows in front of you Sorry, so many names from the past. Have you had any contact with my dad? When I said "Paul" I meant "Nixon" my age is getting to me....yes your dad will certainly know me....as I said earlier I was a local preacher on the Tunstall circuit, a year or two after your dad....but I have spent many a meeting with him , before I fell by the wayside... I am well aware of his musical input and talent....he did the same at many of the Group's drama productions ( before you were born) , and I think something to be particularly proud of is the song sung at Leonard Barber's funeral ( 103 years old).....As you know better than me your dad is one of the pillars of the Potters House. I was in the same class at school as Phil Barber
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 23:29:11 GMT
The Tao Te Ching says that the Tao (the way or path) is older than God himself
The term/word God is a man-made concept. Each religion creates God in its own eyes. Hence far right Christians believe in a prejudiced and vengeful god of the old testament, militant Islamics of a god cleansing the earth of nonbelievers.
Shamans of south America believe that we are god as do the brahmins of Hinduism, that the Lord Shiva resides within all of us, hiding his true identity and that we have forgotten we and he are one.
Pagans and Shinto see god as being present in nature, residing in streams and rocks as well as flora and fauna
Blake said that one can see eternity in a grain of sand, eternity symbolising the infinite, god as it were
Tolle speaks of the power of now in that when one is in the present moment one is filled with the presence of God. Mindfulness comes from the Japanese Zen Buddhist practice of grounding oneself in the present moment to free oneself of attachment and thus achieve satori or enlightenment
All this goes to show that we have an innate drive to speak of the metaphysical as a way of making sense of our existence and liberating us from the tyranny of our human constructed world through meta narratives as well as a way of preparing us for our ultimate extinction. Indeed the whole of art, literature, culture could be seen as a distraction from the ultimate questions of who am I? How did I get here and what happens when I die?
Bill Hicks spoke of life as a trip, a ride, that most of what we do is folly and to be angered by it is to take us from the pleasure of life of and for itself in its true essence (my interpretation of him who I see as a prophet for the age of synicism). Psychedelics may become the answer to how we make the move from our cultural understanding of God to an actual experience of the divine, out and away from the Abrahamic beliefs of nomadic Arabs found in Bible, the Torah, Koran and towards a unique, personal wisdom and dance with the divine
|
|
|
Post by Squeekster on Dec 2, 2017 0:09:18 GMT
God hey, we have starvation,disease,war to mention a few but Jesus came to save us all?
Oh but you have to help your self.
He's as real as Harry Potter, all it proves is that all people through history have great imaginations, even the Egyptians centuries ago thought about aliens from another world.
|
|
|
Post by wagsastokie on Dec 2, 2017 4:19:24 GMT
Do I believe in god God is a name given by man to explain the unexplainable
So until science can explain everything than god in whatever form must therefore exist
I personally think that there is a inherent need in all of us to believe in something Whatever a individual calls it Just to try to make sense of the chaos that life is
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2017 4:37:22 GMT
The Tao Te Ching says that the Tao (the way or path) is older than God himself The term/word God is a man-made concept. Each religion creates God in its own eyes. Hence far right Christians believe in a prejudiced and vengeful god of the old testament, militant Islamics of a god cleansing the earth of nonbelievers. Shamans of south America believe that we are god as do the brahmins of Hinduism, that the Lord Shiva resides within all of us, hiding his true identity and that we have forgotten we and he are one. Pagans and Shinto see god as being present in nature, residing in streams and rocks as well as flora and fauna Blake said that one can see eternity in a grain of sand, eternity symbolising the infinite, god as it were Tolle speaks of the power of now in that when one is in the present moment one is filled with the presence of God. Mindfulness comes from the Japanese Zen Buddhist practice of grounding oneself in the present moment to free oneself of attachment and thus achieve satori or enlightenment All this goes to show that we have an innate drive to speak of the metaphysical as a way of making sense of our existence and liberating us from the tyranny of our human constructed world through meta narratives as well as a way of preparing us for our ultimate extinction. Indeed the whole of art, literature, culture could be seen as a distraction from the ultimate questions of who am I? How did I get here and what happens when I die? Bill Hicks spoke of life as a trip, a ride, that most of what we do is folly and to be angered by it is to take us from the pleasure of life of and for itself in its true essence (my interpretation of him who I see as a prophet for the age of synicism). Psychedelics may become the answer to how we make the move from our cultural understanding of God to an actual experience of the divine, out and away from the Abrahamic beliefs of nomadic Arabs found in Bible, the Torah, Koran and towards a unique, personal wisdom and dance with the divine God is in nature. God (god) is in us all. We are "god". The olde religions are interesting. The olde ways of nature are better than the new (materialistic) ways. Buddhism and Bon intrigue me.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2017 7:22:22 GMT
The Tao Te Ching says that the Tao (the way or path) is older than God himself The term/word God is a man-made concept. Each religion creates God in its own eyes. Hence far right Christians believe in a prejudiced and vengeful god of the old testament, militant Islamics of a god cleansing the earth of nonbelievers. Shamans of south America believe that we are god as do the brahmins of Hinduism, that the Lord Shiva resides within all of us, hiding his true identity and that we have forgotten we and he are one. Pagans and Shinto see god as being present in nature, residing in streams and rocks as well as flora and fauna Blake said that one can see eternity in a grain of sand, eternity symbolising the infinite, god as it were Tolle speaks of the power of now in that when one is in the present moment one is filled with the presence of God. Mindfulness comes from the Japanese Zen Buddhist practice of grounding oneself in the present moment to free oneself of attachment and thus achieve satori or enlightenment All this goes to show that we have an innate drive to speak of the metaphysical as a way of making sense of our existence and liberating us from the tyranny of our human constructed world through meta narratives as well as a way of preparing us for our ultimate extinction. Indeed the whole of art, literature, culture could be seen as a distraction from the ultimate questions of who am I? How did I get here and what happens when I die? Bill Hicks spoke of life as a trip, a ride, that most of what we do is folly and to be angered by it is to take us from the pleasure of life of and for itself in its true essence (my interpretation of him who I see as a prophet for the age of synicism). Psychedelics may become the answer to how we make the move from our cultural understanding of God to an actual experience of the divine, out and away from the Abrahamic beliefs of nomadic Arabs found in Bible, the Torah, Koran and towards a unique, personal wisdom and dance with the divine God is in nature. God (god) is in us all. We are "god". The olde religions are interesting. The olde ways of nature are better than the new (materialistic) ways. Buddhism and Bon intrigue me. Buddhism and Zen are more ways of life than a religion. It is all about freeing oneself from attachment. Mind is the source of all suffering and to be free or enlightened is to suffer the death of the ego. There is no I only the One reality of big mind, the death of the ego allows one to connect with everything. The path towards emancipation from thought is through meditation. The collected teachings of Shunryu Suzuki (sic) are a beautiful and highly accessible insight into the practice of Zen Buddhism through meditation. According to Suzuki meditation is simple, it is just sitting, nothing else. To sit and meditate towards the goal of enlightenment is the goal of the ego and at once enlightenment is impossible. One meditates to simply meditate, free from a goal. Personally I hope one day to travel to Peru and visit the shaman and partake in the Ayahuasca ritual, to gain insight beyond thought and mere imagination, free from dogma. To surrender entirely to my subconscious and the unknown, perhaps greater consciousness of the plants one ingests (read Terrence McKenna for more ideas on this) Good luck on your journey š¬
|
|
|
Post by jimigoodwinsbeard on Dec 2, 2017 7:26:26 GMT
No.
|
|
|
Post by bathstoke on Dec 2, 2017 7:45:09 GMT
I didnāt really have too many questions as Iād kind of figured stuff out over the years but yeah I went along to one. Found it a great experience and I was glad I went. Not for me at all. I grew up in a non- religious household, got involved in evangelical Christianity/ Methodism/ born again Christianity in my teens ( because of Tunstall Methodism www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page/tunstall_staffordshire and the influence of the Barbers) became a local Methodist preacher...then grew away from it at University. I have also visited Mosques and synagogues all part of the journey of life. I am quite content with my present position to be honest and don't need Alpha....still enquiring though and asking questions... not necessarily got answers that would satisfy others. For me "humanity" is more important than "religion" ...and I think God would agree with that....in fact Jesus seemed anti the religion of his day....that's Why the Jewish leaders plotted to kill him Thanks for the link John. Love a bit of histoire me. I especially liked the other page on the Chartists Riots!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2017 7:53:18 GMT
God hey, we have starvation,disease,war to mention a few but Jesus came to save us all? Oh but you have to help your self. He's as real as Harry Potter, all it proves is that all people through history have great imaginations, even the Egyptians centuries ago thought about aliens from another world. This is the problem with an interventionist God in the age of reason. Why would god want us to suffer so unreasonably? I forget their names but there was a French Christian sect in the middle ages who believed that we were created by an evil devil entirely to suffer and on death we entered the true life of god's world, free from disease and suffering. Of course such ideas and people were wiped out for blasphemy. I find that God is ruined by Man who twists and turns the holy books to their own political ends I find it entirely amusing that the first Pope Constantine was a Roman emperor who took on Christianity as a device to control the masses and made himself it's leader. Such a saint was he that he had his wife and son murdered for plotting to overthrow him while pope! Religion can bring about good. All our major religions arose out of an expansion of our consciousness and understanding of our place in the world, each designed to produce a code of ethics to shape our culture and improve societal harmony. That the minds of Arab nomads of the middle East still permeate out modern thought through the Abrahamic religions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism is testament to our need to cling to an idea and the older it is the more valid it is, that it is The Truth. I have always seen this as a weakness in the believer being unfree from independent thoughts and to live an entirely unquestioned existence. Each to their own. Religions have the capacity to cause great evil and the ultimate good. For me the strength of a religion should be it's capacity to extol and create love within the believer and to bestow this upon their fellow Man. No true religion preaches hate or vengeance I have never found a religion I could entirely succumb and surrender to, nor a god I could believe in whole heartedly. Taoism is free from dogma and encourages one to follow The Way through oneself and doing-without-doing, free from ego and just being. There is peace in this
|
|
|
Post by GeneralFaye on Dec 2, 2017 8:14:42 GMT
Nope, why should I believe in something that I can't see, hear or touch? That's just letting your imagination play tricks with you.
|
|
|
Post by bathstoke on Dec 2, 2017 8:54:42 GMT
God hey, we have starvation,disease,war to mention a few but Jesus came to save us all? Oh but you have to help your self. He's as real as Harry Potter, all it proves is that all people through history have great imaginations, even the Egyptians centuries ago thought about aliens from another world. I have never found a religion I could entirely succumb and surrender to, nor a god I could believe in whole heartedly. Taoism is free from dogma and encourages one to follow The Way through oneself and doing-without-doing, free from ego and just being. There is peace in this Loving your work Balls. How does one actually do, without doing, cause I'd like to get on this. "Yes boss, I won't be in today, but don't worry. You can consider that I've put a shift in, even though I'm not present. Put my cheque in the post!"
|
|
|
Post by Rednwhitenblue on Dec 2, 2017 8:58:45 GMT
Erm.......
|
|
|
Post by bigjohnritchie on Dec 2, 2017 9:07:56 GMT
Erm....... If we are going that way I can't resist this......probably my religion. I was in Tupelo ( Elvis birthplace/ pilgrimage) in August, one of the employees of the shop where he bought his first guitar said " Elvis is my therapy."...He does that for me. The words are worth listening to....and he means it...
|
|