Church.

[AMGpower]

http://jaih.optus.nu/img.php/cartman.jpg

[Tobalaz]

Religion is hope for those of lower stature, it gioves them something to hold on to and keep going. Church is a gathering of people that give money to one guy to do their thinking for them.
Don't get me wrong, I beleive in God and worship him, but in my opwn way. I refuse to become a sheep and not live my own life. I refuse to give 15% of my money to a person to do my thinking for me as he reasures me God will reward me for supporting his dead ass. I refuse to be a follower that is blind to reality. I will be myself and if somebody doesn't like it they can blow me.

[tonymark01]

I'm Catholic...and I go to church alot....well not alot but sometimes and the whole time it's a big game of "Who Can Contradict The Fastest". I'd also like to point out the views of certain Fundamentalist bitches about video games here. (http://www.almenconi.com/topics/games/reviews.html) I mean seriously, why say that these are promoting violence and go against the Scriptures to play WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING THEM YOURSELF? The door swings both ways, bitch.

[AMGpower]

Frankly I think it is the biggest scam ever. Although I kinda feel scared about saying that because I have been going to church all of my life. Ever since the beginning of the church, (well im not sure about the beginning) the popes and bishops and so on have been god on earth. People gave all their money to the church. It was bigger than anything until about the 1800's and the start of the industrial revolution. What makes the popes or whatnot better or more holy? Nothing, its a fucking scam. I would love to be able to believe in something like this, you know for like comfort and support, but I think to scientificaly. I cant see the facts so to me its not possible.

You will see religion in all society. The reason is people need a reason to be here. A reason for living. But frankly we are just here out of some huge chance billions of years ago when some shit mixed up in some bubbles and made proteins and such. Nothing more, at least to me.

I feel some how bad after saying that.

[AMGpower]

Originally posted by ILikeBeans@Jul 15 2003, 12:53 AM
I'm Catholic...and I go to church alot....well not alot but sometimes and the whole time it's a big game of "Who Can Contradict The Fastest". I'd also like to point out the views of certain Fundamentalist bitches about video games here. (http://www.almenconi.com/topics/games/reviews.html) I mean seriously, why say that these are promoting violence and go against the Scriptures to play WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING THEM YOURSELF? The door swings both ways, bitch.
Keep going on the rant. Just let it all out. I KNOW you have more for us.

[Scale]

Ooohh.. I have to get some really good LaVey quotes for this thread.

I consider church to be a sort of "brainwash session". All of these people are here with their religious beliefs which are highly outdated. Times have changed, and the rules and teachings of their religion cannot withstand the practices modern society for much longer. Yet, they manage to gather in huge crowds in church and reinforce their obsolete beliefs using a psycholigical feeling of togetherness. My mom used to make me go to church every Sunday up until I was about ten, and I never really took any of it in. I just saw church as another chore in a way. About two years ago my parents decided that they would start dragging me to church every Sunday like they used to, but that didn't last long.

I practice my solitary rituals and stuff for the introspective, philosophical, and elightening aspects of it. I find none of that in a church. I do not want to sing, nor hear a preacher rant about how wrong homosexuality is ( this has happened ), and try to back up absurd biblical ideas with his own interpretation, and then have to shake hands with strangers who, for all I know, could be plotting to rape me in the bushes after the mass--People tend to stare at me at church. My best friend is staying with his grandparents for the summer who make him go to church, and the other day he told me that the priest or whatever there saw his pentacle around his neck and is now spreading all kinds of insane rumors about him. That kinda insults me because we both wear the exact same pentacle, and it's like a symbol of our friendship in a way. To hear that someone is interpreting it so ignorantly pisses me off.

My mom threatened to start taking me to church again after she heard I was getting into occult stuff.. if she does, I swear I will go there and make the biggest scene. The hands of armageddon are upon us all! HAAAAIIIL SAAAATAAAN! Everyone there would hate me for who and what I am, and I want to make them know that I hate them too. I find the Christian religion to be, for the most part, corrupted, and to follow corrupted teachings so strictly is to become a corrupted person. Ever hear of a "Sunday morning Christian"?

"Who can contradict the fastest".. I like that. What's funny though, is that for almost every statement in the Bible there is a contradictory statement somewhere else in it. And most of the things that are condemned by the church aren't even particularly condemned in the Bible. For example, the section on sorcery.. it does NOT say you will go to hell for practicing magic. It just says that if you do, you're an idiot and you're wasting your time.

Lemme shuffle through my Satanic Bible ( w00t! I love this book ) and find some good quotes from Anton LaVey.. he's a great debator, and I personally love his ideas on religion and the masses.

[JC Denton]

Church has always felt like a big scam in my eyes. When I was with my parents I would be dragged all the time. I remember my grandparents giving $50 a month. Now I'm not saying I'm so aetheist who doesn't believe in God. I just don't like the way he's been, commercialized.

Now you can BUY Jesus idols and the other holy family merchandise along with other things. Zealotry runs rampant in the church. Who would have though you would have to PAY to be in a prayer/religious group?! However, I do agree church is a good place for uniting people. Although I do think some of the bible readings are a tad exaggerated.

Who knows, really? Maybe I'm posting sacrilege right now. Can I just call God and ask him? BTW Beans, funny site. I couldn't even find a FPS game that got >C.

[Tanaban]

Well, I was trained from birth to be a Roman Catholic. It wasn't bad. Met a lot of people there, got hard wired to believe that every thing can and will be forgiven. So basically any thing I do can be forgive? If I have faith, then walla I am fogiven on judgment day (and no I don't mean every time I watch T2). So what was keeping me there? The mother figure and her wenchnes. Now that I am 18 she has let me slip out and I haven't looked back too hard.

Reasons I do not attend regularly
1. I do not enjoy being told how I should think and live, even if most of my life follows most of their edicts.
2. I do not aggree in giving money to a group who says that we do no need it.
3. It's bloody boring just sitting there listening to the repetition of the faith.

[Haysoos]

ok, i'll read your posts later, but heres my thoughts. I have a million and one thoughts one this topic, about the sheep followers, etc etc reasons for religion, but i'll keep it short.

First, look at the catholic church, its history, what its done through the years. It is more evil than any other institutionor person, it holds more hatred than any person. The catholic church is probably the WORST thing to ever happen to humanity in my opinion. Just look at all the killing and ignorance and hatred through out the years. I think God probably doesnt even like them anymore because they perverted EVERYTHING.

Faith is good, as is belief. It turns bad when an institution pops up that takes the religion from you and forces you to pay homage to that institution to practice your religion. Then it forces its ideals on you that arent your ideal and arent "god's" ideals, they are the ideals of men(and women) who run the institution. I agree with Martin Luther, all you need is the religious documents explaining the religion, i.e. the bible....

[Scale]

Originally posted by Jesus@Jul 15 2003, 12:18 PM
First, look at the catholic church, its history, what its done through the years. It is more evil than any other institutionor person, it holds more hatred than any person.
I agree with that. So many people consider themselves to be "good" simply because they "have faith" and go to church every week. They are so wrong in their thinking, because they are probably the most evil of all. They have this intense fear towards anything beyond the shackles of Christianity. And as even Yoda says: Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate... leads to suffering. They are so insecure and narrow-minded that they lash out with blind judgement at anything different from their familiar tunnel-vision environment.

They lie, cheat, steal, step on their closest friends, work intricate webs of deciet, and yet they claim to be "good". And who can blame them? When the philosophy of a religion, one that's been drilled into you since childhood, says you can do whatever the hell you want and still live in eternal paradise after death for having "faith", there are going to be some pretty nasty people around. The sheep are everywhere, the religious leaders are the sheperds ( ironically enough--"the Lord is my sheperd" ) and since these people don't know how to think for themselves, they let the sheperds think for them. As a result, their idea of right and wrong is extremely corrupted.

An interesting tidbit: I read that the Vatican has the most complete library of pornography in the world.

[tonymark01]

You know what else? From what the Catholic church says, It is impossible to reach heaven in our modern world. Why? Because simply being around people will make you commit a "deadly sin" such as lying. And since every one does that when we turn about 6 i dont think there are many people in heaven.

The other funny thing is what they try to drill into the little kids. When i helped out at vacation bible school (I didn't want to, my sister bitched me out to go), every thing that they said at "bible story" was "Jesus loves all of you blah blah blah he died to forgive your sins." Well this is fine and dandy except that when you go to real church its full of how "blah this and blah that are sins and you'll got to hell if you blah that." WHAT HAPPENED TO JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS???

Also, its funny the sort of group names they had there. Like the "Wacky and Wise Watermelons", the "Cool Cucumbers" "Prayerful Peppers" "Outrageous Oranges".... so sad.

[Scale]

Originally posted by ILikeBeans@Jul 15 2003, 02:18 PM
You know what else? From what the Catholic church says, It is impossible to reach heaven in our modern world. Why? Because simply being around people will make you commit a "deadly sin" such as lying. And since every one does that when we turn about 6 i dont think there are many people in heaven.
That's like, another huge point made in the Satanic Bible. All of the deadly sins are listed, and they're things like "gluttony", "pride".. he makes this argument: People wear clothes. They don't want people to see them naked, so they cover themselves out of pride. Therefore, everyone is guilty of pride. Then he talks about gluttony, how you would overeat, get fat, and then be motivated to lose weight out of pride, another sin. I know I keep referring back to the Satanic Bible, but I am just so.. in awe over its ideas on popular religion.

I think the idea of heaven and hell is a very childish, "tall tale" kind of concept. The Bible makes implications that all sins are equal in the eyes of God, and as long as you "have faith", you will make it to heaven. Following that logic, I could be a highly benevolent person, donate to charities, cure cancer, be kind to everyone I know--and for being gay, I'm classed among murderers, rapists, and thieves? Doesn't something seem a little wrong about that? Do priests walk up to every overweight person they see and tell them that they have committed a "deadly sin" and that they're going to hell? The whole thing is really screwed up in my opinion.

Prayerful Peppers.. LOL (w00t)

[d0nk`]

you all realize you dont have to pay anything, right?

[Doorbasher]

Religion is nothing more than a story made up by some king long ago. It's all a spook story to keep the apes in line. I actually went to a catholic school once, where they tried in vain to brainwash me. I got out of there in the third grade, and it's a damn good thing I did. If you come right down to it, all of the worlds three major religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) are founded on a principle of "kill or convert anyone who dosen't believe in our god". As far as I'm concerned, religion is nothing but a clever lie told to people so that they will think alike, bow to their authority, and then pass on the lie to others. And this world needs less thinking alike, not more.

[Scale]

Originally posted by Doorbasher@Jul 15 2003, 04:11 PM
all of the worlds three major religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity)
Those are not exactly the three major religions.. may seem so over here, but in reality there are far more Buddhists and stuff in the world. I agree with what you said about the thinking alike.

And to Donkey.. you might not have to pay, but what else are you going to do? When the ushers come and ask you for your money, are you just going to refuse? When the collection basket comes around, will you just pass it to the next person and be shunned by whoever sees that you didn't pay anything? You don't literally have to pay, but ethically you do.

[JC Denton]

Now, on the same token. If you don't believe in church, or the holy blessing of heaven and all that supposed propoganda. Then what do you believe? Do you think you'll go to heaven/hell/purgatory, "nowhere?"

[d0nk`]

Originally posted by Scale@Jul 15 2003, 02:59 PM
And to Donkey.. you might not have to pay, but what else are you going to do? When the ushers come and ask you for your money, are you just going to refuse? When the collection basket comes around, will you just pass it to the next person and be shunned by whoever sees that you didn't pay anything? You don't literally have to pay, but ethically you do.
Alot of people around here dont pay, and it doesnt matter, no one really cares, they dont "shun" people either... atleast everyone but my brother doesnt shun, but thats for other reasons...

[Doorbasher]

Originally posted by Captain Kirk@Jul 15 2003, 06:43 PM
Now, on the same token. If you don't believe in church, or the holy blessing of heaven and all that supposed propoganda. Then what do you believe? Do you think you'll go to heaven/hell/purgatory, "nowhere?"
Correct, nowhere. When you die, you just sort of, well... die. In my line of thinking there is no such thing as a soul or whatnot.

[Haysoos]

I havent figured out what i believe. I'm still figuring that out.

[Tanaban]

Originally posted by Jesus@Jul 15 2003, 10:55 PM
I havent figured out what i believe. I'm still figuring that out.
I am with yah on this one.

[tonymark01]

Originally posted by Tanaban+Jul 16 2003, 12:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Tanaban @ Jul 16 2003, 12:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Jesus@Jul 15 2003, 10:55 PM
I havent figured out what i believe.&nbsp; I'm still figuring that out.
I am with yah on this one. [/b][/quote]
*signs name*

[Scale]

I believe in the new age idea that you just separate from your physical body and ascend to the astral dimension.. but if I start ranting on that, I seriously will never stop.

[d0nk`]

Originally posted by Scale@Jul 16 2003, 05:58 AM
I believe in the new age idea that you just separate from your physical body and ascend to the astral dimension.. but if I start ranting on that, I seriously will never stop.
:lol: i thought that at one time, now i dont know what i think....

[Scale]

Yeah.. I only believe it because of the concious OBE's I've had, although they were kinda pathetic.. two were only partial, and one I fell asleep during and then forgot most of. I almsot didn't remember any of it at all.

And it would also explain encounters with ghosts, spirits, etc.

[d0nk`]

Originally posted by Scale@Jul 20 2003, 03:42 PM
Yeah.. I only believe it because of the concious OBE's I've had, although they were kinda pathetic.. two were only partial, and one I fell asleep during and then forgot most of. I almsot didn't remember any of it at all.

And it would also explain encounters with ghosts, spirits, etc.
man, i used to try for OBE's, i came freakin close, but no luck... havnt tried it awhile... i afraid of what might be waiting for me :blink:
and i have no reason to want an OBE now.

edit: i really dont believe in OBE's anymore...

[Haysoos]

OBE? how would one go about doing an OBE?

[d0nk`]

google it n00b :P

[Haysoos]

way to grave dig, n00b.