Um...please stop preaching... your scaring away my demons

[Lace Neil Singer]

I call it "Boozing All Day Day". XD I'm atheist, and I've lost count of how many people have considered it their duty to convert me. -___-

[draftermatt]

one word...

WINTER-EEN-MAS!!!!!!

But there is only one true king of Winter-een-mas. And he almost died inside a pixelated crockodile.

[IT Grunt]

As Shironu-Akaineko said, they are equally valid. We all worship the Divine, just each in our own way.

This is a belief I share, that when it comes right down to it, we're all worshipping the same Divine. Be it God, Allah, nature, what have you. They all point back to the same basic concept, a belief in a higher power. Personally, I'm a Methodist, but I don't slam other religions. It's the small minority who claim to be following a religion, but are in fact twisting it, that are the ones who give most religions a bad name, and pretty much every one has them. Islam has the radical extremists, Christians have the "you'll burn in hell for this, that, and anything else we can think of just because you don't do everything by 'the book'" (which often is not what the Bible really says), and I'm sure other religions have similar extremists.

From my understanding, Islam as it was intended is in reality a very tolerant religion, accepting everyone as people of the same God. It's the radicals that have twisted it into the general perception most people have of it today. I remember a class I took back in college about religious dialogue. The book we used I believe was titled 'Many mansions.' In essence, the book was about the fact that it is entirely possible to have religious discussions with members of other faiths, the key is to not make judgments of their beliefs. Explore, discuss, share opinions, but never judge. Whenever I hear of religious discussions, I always think back to that class. During one class, we had a chance to practice with one of the professors, who was Indian and a practicing Hindu. It was a nice conversation as he shared his beliefs with the class, and many students shared their beliefs with him, and there was much discussion.

I think that if people could just remember that key fact, there we be a lot less conflict between religions.

[Librarybabe]

Just curious...

Does being (or not being, for that matter) a devout follower of some faith alter the flavor perception of light fluffy pancakes dripping with butter and real maple syrup? If, not, why arge the point over breakfast?

[Andara Bledin]

I'm Catholic, just not one of the angry preachy you're going to hell if you don't obey me one.

But here's what I think.

Every religion is valid.

*blinks*

Wow, I hardly ever run into someone else who follows one religion yet does not disparage the validity of other religions to other people.

I have, however, run into two separate self-proclaimed Christians who proceeded to cuss me out and tell me I was damned for having the audacity to not want to listen to them preach at me.

^-.-^

[air914]

I think one of the biggest problems with "religion" today is Superiority. I do believe that you can believe your religion is the one true religion. However, this does not all of a sudden make you "Superior" to all of the other people on the earth.

And, while I believe as a Christian that we are called to let others know about Christ, that doesn't mean beating them over the head w/ a Bible, telling them they're going to hell, standing on a street corner yelling out "the end of the world is coming you must repent", etc.

There are problems in the church - b/c the people in a church are imperfect. That's why they need to come to church or to faith - b/c they are imperfect people in an imperfect world and they need a savior. That doesn't mean that when they accept Jesus as savior that they become some superhero with ultimate knowledge, powers, and superiority over everyone. It just means they have hope and forgiveness - which again, does not give them the RIGHT to go out and sin just to go to some confession and say "I'm sorry", then go back out and do the same thing..... while everyone will continue to struggle with their own issues, you shouldn't feel free to go sin b/c you've become a "Christian". Nor does it give them the right to act superior - it's when they forget that they too are imperfect and still need a savior that they allow feelings of superiority to come into play.

There's plenty of bad in the world already and those that distort religions and twist them to meet their own personal or political agendas make me sick to my stomach. I do respect other people and I respect what they believe. I may have discussions with them about what I believe, but I'm not going to attack them or their beliefs. I feel passionate about my beliefs and I know others are passionate about theirs - I just wish we could be passionate without "forcing" our passion on someone else..... Jesus didn't act that way and if "Christians" would really look at how Jesus acted and try to act the same (which is what they are supposed to do), then I think the world would be a better place. Or at least "Christians" would represent Christianity in a better way.

Hope that all didn't come off as "preachy"!

[csdrone]

Does being (or not being, for that matter) a devout follower of some faith alter the flavor perception of light fluffy pancakes dripping with butter and real maple syrup? If, not, why arge the point over breakfast?

Good question. Mmm Pancakes. And I do not care what religion the person serving my food follows as long as I get my food quickly, at the right serving temperature and get asked if we want coffee, water or other drink of choice. Oh and you come back and ask us if we want dessert with dinner. Tips are based on service and we usually tip well.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Wow, I hardly ever run into someone else who follows one religion yet does not disparage the validity of other religions to other people.

"I have, however, run into two separate self-proclaimed Christians who proceeded to cuss me out and tell me I was damned for having the audacity to not want to listen to them preach at me.

Unfortunately, those kind are the ones you notice. And since those are the only ones you notice, the ones making spectacles of themselves, you very reasonably assume all Christians are like that. The truth is that the majority of Christians are not like that. And we get as annoyed with with the ones you mention as much as, if not MORE SO, than you do. After all, they make us look terrible to a lot of people.

A friend once made a very good point: If you have one group of 100 orange people, and then one purple person, and you meet a single representative of each group, it's easy to believe there are as many purple people as orange ones. You are encountering the loud, vocal, nutty minority of us, and thinking we are all that way. Just remember the subtle ones are all around you in legions, and you'll never notice them because they don't try to force their ways down your throat.

[air914]

A friend once made a very good point: If you have one group of 100 orange people, and then one purple person, and you meet a single representative of each group, it's easy to believe there are as many purple people as orange ones. You are encountering the loud, vocal, nutty minority of us, and thinking we are all that way. Just remember the subtle ones are all around you in legions, and you'll never notice them because they don't try to force their ways down your throat.

Good point! Although I really have to laugh at the "just remember the subtle ones are all around you in legions and you'll never notice them..." it sounds like we're an alien race of "Mr. Smith's" or something.... you don't know we're there, but we're all around you!! Watch out!! I know you didn't mean it that way, that's just how I read it at first and it really made me laugh!

[Spiffy McMoron]

Just a friendly mod reminder to keep things civil in here. Things have been pretty good so far, but lets keep it this way. These kind of threads have turned ugly and gotten closed more often than I can count.

[Gravekeeper]

I'm Buddhist myself (and some days its the only thing that saves my customers from harm)

So I'll toss in the Buddhist viewpoint:

All religions are valid because different people of different cultures at different points in their various lives have different spiritual needs. End of story. If a religion is fulfilling you spiritually, stick with that religion. No belief is "better" then any other and every belief can probably learn something from others. As long as you are not acting immorally or bringing suffering to others your beliefs are perfectly valid. Basically, I will only object if you're being a dick because of your beliefs.

That being said I don't like self appointed missionaries of any faith and the entire practice of attempting to convert people baffles me. Is anyone seriously going to swap religions because some dick lectured him in public? This isn't some kind of game were you have to rack up the most convert points for your team before 3rd Period Armageddon. ;p

If what you believe works for you, stick with it. Just don't tell me I'm going to spent eternity burning in hell fire because I don't kiss the feet of your particular invisible man/woman/three headed sheep in the sky/earth/back alley/barn yard altar. That's just being a dick.

Though I admit if you worship a 3 headed sheep god that would be pretty awesome.

[protege]

Though I admit if you worship a 3 headed sheep god that would be pretty awesome.

A 3-headed purple yak would be even more awesome

Several years ago, some friends and I got into a discussion like that. For centuries, God has always been depicted as human...since that's what people are most comfortable with and can relate to. How do we know that God isn't a 3-headed purple yak? I mean, it's not like anybody's ever seen him

[air914]

That being said I don't like self appointed missionaries of any faith and the entire practice of attempting to convert people baffles me. Is anyone seriously going to swap religions because some dick lectured him in public? This isn't some kind of game were you have to rack up the most convert points for your team before 3rd Period Armageddon. ;p

I believe the purpose of missionaries is to help people (building schools, getting clean water, etc.) AND to make them aware of your beliefs. They still have to choose for themselves what to believe. And no, no one is going to swap religions b/c some idiot lectured them in public - but there are a ton of people who start out in one religion and change to another as adults. Or start off with no religion and start to follow one later on in life. Or start off in a religion and later decide not to follow it anymore.

And no, as far as I understand it, there's no "convert points", however, in the Christian religion we are commanded to "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19 NIV).

So we are told that we are supposed to make others aware of our faith - but we aren't supposed to FORCE them to convert or beat them over the head until they do, etc. We are supposed to help anyone in whatever way we can, and if the opportunity arises, we are supposed to let them know our beliefs..... but again, we aren't supposed to just go up to someone and lecture them or tell them they're going to hell, etc. etc. - I've always been baffled by that as well - how does "you're an evil horrid person you're going to burn in hell" make me more interested in your religion/faith? I don't understand people that act or speak that way.

[draftermatt]

How do we know that God isn't a 3-headed purple yak? I mean, it's not like anybody's ever seen him

Well in the Bible it is said that God created Adam in his own image. And you would think that since we look the way we do...

Granted, that must mean God is a black man because the original civilizations were in Africa. But I digress.

I'm Catholic, so is my wife. And I never preach, nor do I like being preached too. If I want that I'll go to Church, and I haven't been in years. Why? 1. Laziness, 2. Pope JP II was a nut job, and the new guy isn't much better.

Again I digress.

I don't have a problem with other religions, but when someone explains to me how they are Wiccan (or some other than the big 3) I think I look at them odd simply because of my Catholic upbringing. That and I live in a small commnuity and there aren't a whole lot of non-Christians around.

[Der Cute]

I'm an Undeclared person.

And I'm currently pretty lucky in that I don't deal with customers, but I have a co-worker who is VERY DECLARED in his religion.

He did a booboo the other day, some really big management people were in our building (top of food chain here) and Mr. Declared mentioned in front of the batch of Mgmt he doesn't believe gay is OK, per his Bible readings.

Now, I work in a place run by a LARGE company, who employs ALL flavors of people..and I think (by word of mouth) 2 or 3 of the mgmt people there that day were gay.

Talk about DOH!

Mr. Declared actually is pretty good about listening about other flavors, but he's staunch in his belief. So I don't tell him what I believe, I ask him technical q's about bible/ christianity. Which he answers, quite well. Nice to have someone well versed around.

And he's been pretty good about not pushing his beliefs.

I think in our team we've got:
Undeclared (me)
Devout Christian (mr. declared)
Mormon
Buddhist
Atheist
and a couple of people who just aren't vocal about it.

It's neat to see how we can all work and get our crap done without being dorks about it.

cutenoob