How can we be so sure?
MY rant on religion, which I was supposed to post earlier on today or a few days ago. I am, in NO WAY, trying to rip off the drummer, cause it was total coincidence he posted something on religion the SAME DAY I wanted to. So, yeah...
Ever since I was five, I attended Christian schools. Elementary school, I attended a Presbyterian school; in middle school AND now, in high school, I attend a Catholic high school. My dad has tried to have me follow his beliefs in God since I can't remember, and Catholic school tends to "force" you into the religion, whether you like it or not. But that's my experience, maybe someone else's is different. So, I'm pretty aware of religion in and of itself.
With that being said, I'm not all that religious. In fact, I used to DETEST God. I used to deny he existed, for most reasons that other people do. Some of my arguments included:
1. If God exists, why is there crime? Why can't he just SMITE all sinners?
2. If God exists, why is there disease and other horrible things that kill people.
3. If God exists, why isn't the world perfect? It's in his power, why can't he just remove everything that's evil?
And, there's many more arguments AGAINST God. I don't even believe in a "Christian God." I disagree with a lot of the things that Catholicism says about God, and all the rituals surrounding it, and the consequences of not conforming. I think that the term, "religion," has been distorted by many. Religion is SUPPOSED to mean the belief in something greater than oneself, that's it. Not, there is only ONE, ALMIGHTY GOD. None of that. As long as you believe in something greater than yourself.
This is how I interpret it: we all don't have to believe in the same "deity." Every person can have their own belief on who, or what, presides in another place, and what its accomplishments are. With that being said, I think that everyone can have, and create, their own perception of "heaven" or "hell," and whether it is a tangible place or a concept.
Because I don't think it's fair that people who believe in other religions, such as Buddhism, Mythological gods, etc, would go to hell because they don't believe in "God Almighty." The members of those individual religions created their OWN idea about the outside universe, and created their own "sense of karma." Does that make sense? Religion is what YOU make of it, not what OTHERS install into your brain. If you just go along with what you're told about God or whoever that Force is, you're not really getting anything from it.
Likewise, if one were to dismiss a certain religion because "there can be no God because there's hate in the world (for an example)," then that's the same. You're not giving things a chance. I believe that bad things happen for a reason, and that somewhere down the line, we become better, stronger people through our hardships. Without difficulties we learn nothing, and we do not grow.
Ever since I was five, I attended Christian schools. Elementary school, I attended a Presbyterian school; in middle school AND now, in high school, I attend a Catholic high school. My dad has tried to have me follow his beliefs in God since I can't remember, and Catholic school tends to "force" you into the religion, whether you like it or not. But that's my experience, maybe someone else's is different. So, I'm pretty aware of religion in and of itself.
With that being said, I'm not all that religious. In fact, I used to DETEST God. I used to deny he existed, for most reasons that other people do. Some of my arguments included:
1. If God exists, why is there crime? Why can't he just SMITE all sinners?
2. If God exists, why is there disease and other horrible things that kill people.
3. If God exists, why isn't the world perfect? It's in his power, why can't he just remove everything that's evil?
And, there's many more arguments AGAINST God. I don't even believe in a "Christian God." I disagree with a lot of the things that Catholicism says about God, and all the rituals surrounding it, and the consequences of not conforming. I think that the term, "religion," has been distorted by many. Religion is SUPPOSED to mean the belief in something greater than oneself, that's it. Not, there is only ONE, ALMIGHTY GOD. None of that. As long as you believe in something greater than yourself.
This is how I interpret it: we all don't have to believe in the same "deity." Every person can have their own belief on who, or what, presides in another place, and what its accomplishments are. With that being said, I think that everyone can have, and create, their own perception of "heaven" or "hell," and whether it is a tangible place or a concept.
Because I don't think it's fair that people who believe in other religions, such as Buddhism, Mythological gods, etc, would go to hell because they don't believe in "God Almighty." The members of those individual religions created their OWN idea about the outside universe, and created their own "sense of karma." Does that make sense? Religion is what YOU make of it, not what OTHERS install into your brain. If you just go along with what you're told about God or whoever that Force is, you're not really getting anything from it.
Likewise, if one were to dismiss a certain religion because "there can be no God because there's hate in the world (for an example)," then that's the same. You're not giving things a chance. I believe that bad things happen for a reason, and that somewhere down the line, we become better, stronger people through our hardships. Without difficulties we learn nothing, and we do not grow.
You're so right .
Mr. Teatime, January 22nd, 2007 at 08:07:57am
Well, according to laws of most religions now, if you don't believe in their God, you do go to hell. It would be like saying "we made these rules up, but if you dont follow them, thats cool, we'll still let you in to heaven". But, really, when you think about it, look at the phases religion goes through. Most religions now don't believe in multiple gods, most ancient religions did. Religion is constantly adapting to what society is at the time. The fact that is changes so easily is another reason why I find it hard to believe in. What we think now, may in 1000 years a non existant relgion being studied in history class.
You made a good blog. You brought up lots of interesting points, I don't think it was repetative, those were all good reasons even though they had the same answer.. I think the answer provided to them is pretty vauge actually, it was a good point to make.
Kurtni, January 21st, 2007 at 08:35:43pm
to Kurtni: I know, the points are kinda repetitive, I didn't really read through my post before I submitted it. There are a few things I wrote that I wish I put in a different way, that being a big part. I just meant to say that people can believe in whatever they want to believe and it can still be considered a "religion." Like, "god" can be a relative term. You can believe in your own afterlife, because there isn't any specific, overruling "God." That why I disagree with the Catholic religion so strongly.
And I brought up the Mythology thing in the wrong way, too. I meant to say that the Romans and Greeks won't be sent to hell because they believe in different gods than we do, but through their own "laws of religion."
Funky Platypus, January 21st, 2007 at 08:27:20pm
i'm agnostic
im open to all different kinds of stuff
i think there is a God when i think of all the good things in the world
but then i think of all the bad things
Joni., January 21st, 2007 at 08:19:24pm
Well, think about that. Saying that there is only one God, how could everyone have different beliefes? Obviously there is, but you think of yours as correct. It isn't like you could practice Greek Mythology, and lets say the God of Christianity exists, your religious beliefs would be meaningless, and you wouldnt know that until it's too late and you're in hell.
1. If God exists, why is there crime? Why can't he just SMITE all sinners?
Because, according to the bible, what makes heaven a paradise if the rid of all the burdens on the planet. I, personally, think thats insane. For a God to have the ability to stop suffering and death, and not use it. One of the reasons I refuse to worship anything.
2. If God exists, why is there disease and other horrible things that kill people.
Same reasons as #1
3. If God exists, why isn't the world perfect? It's in his power, why can't he just remove everything that's evil?
XD also the same as #1
Im glad you raised those points, because those are why I refuse to worship a God. If you had the ability to end it, why wouldnt you? I don't think that deserves praise and worship, I think it's pretty sick personally.
Kurtni, January 21st, 2007 at 08:19:09pm
Well first of all, if there is a so-called God, you couldn't question him because there are sinners in the world, the bible suggests he created people. The behavior of the people he created has nothing to do with him. But then again, I don't believe in a god, yet I don't question the existance of a god, because I choose not to question my existance of life, i'd rather just live it and see what comes next.
The Hippy, January 21st, 2007 at 07:58:16pm