STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

kenzie · Chanel

RE: God/faith

ejc423 · Coach

I follow Jesus. I think (hope) our definition of Christianity is in the process of evolving. It bothers me that greater Christianity is not at the forefront of campaigns for social change and peace (not just ending war, but peace). There are exceptions, but I don't think anyone would argue that the immediate connotation of "Christian" is "champion for social justice." But that is who God calls me to be. That is who I believe Jesus is.

halleybird · Hermes

kenzie wrote:

I'm sure my pov will change when/if I have kids because I'll probably want them to go to church, at least when they're young. I have good memories of my formative years and attending church.

-- Edited by kenzie at 20:40, 2007-05-21

ITA agree with this. I forgot to say in my original post that if I have kids, I would probably find a church for them to attend, if only so they feel comfortable going later on in their lives if they wish.

erin · Chanel

squishy wrote:

i waver between agnostic and apathetic.

moi aussi. but mostly agnostic. i don't really think about it much actually.

honey · Gucci

i am christian but don't regularly attend church. i really don't believe in organized religion per se b/c i think that religion is a product of humans, and humans are inherently flawed. while i'm not one to completely discredit the bible, everything in it reflects some person's interpretation of what he believed was god's word, and its deeply rooted in the culture in which it was written.

i grew up attending a pentecostal church, but have kind of moved away from that. part of what turned me off from church was my experience within that denomination. growing up, my religious beliefs were formed more out of fear, specifically the fear of dying and going to hell. (my church talked about hell a lot). now, my beliefs are motivated by a true understanding of my faith and a desire to be closer to god, b/c he loves me, not b/c i'm scared of the consequences of not believing. obvs i'm not perfect, but i find comfort in knowing that god accepts me and all my numerous imperfections, and loves me regardless.

rosie_the_riveter · Gucci

halleybird wrote:

I don't regularly attend church anymore, but I have a lot of problems with organized religion. I am glad I went to church as a kid, but I think most of my religious teachings came from my parents. My faith is very personal to me, and I don't feel like attending church really affects it one way or another. If I could find a church that exactly fit my beliefs, I would probably go, but I am happy with my faith as-is.

This is my thinking exactly. When I was young, my parents bounced around from church to church trying to find something that "felt right" but not one of them ever really nailed our beliefs exactly so therefore I don't go to church. I feel that I have a pretty good relationship with God and I don't need a church to keep that relationship.

Drew · Gucci

I'm gonna have to go with Karl Marx on this one: "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses." And also John Lennon: "Imagine no religion too."

I was raised Roman Catholic from nine years on, so maybe my late indoctrination has something to do with my complete disbelief in organized religion. I just don't believe Mary was a virgin, Jesus is the son of God or did any miracles, and I certainly don't like the fact that in order to get into "Heaven" you have to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior... Seems like an awful exclusive club that a lot of people aren't going to get into simply for lack of exposure. Plus, if we were all based in the middle east, most of us would be hailing the praises of Allah. Religion just doesn't make sense to me. As much good as it has done in community service and promoting "good" (although that can be highly debatable too) morals, it has also been the single largest tool in creating division amongst people. More people have died in "God's name" than in any other way. Seems to cause more harm than good. I think that is why secular societies are far more successful than societies ruled by religious doctrine.

Claudia · Gucci

I'm pentecostal.

Teresa · Kate Spade

Drew wrote:

I'm gonna have to go with Karl Marx on this one: "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses."

Although this could be true, are you willing to bet eternity on it? The way I see it, Jesus could be a hoax, I dont think he is, but I

could be wrong. On the other hand, if he is real, but I reject him, I am giving up heaven. It is difficult. I cant imagine not thinking about it, as I believe it is what life is all about. It is what I live for.

-- Edited by collegegirl5858 at 20:14, 2007-05-22

boobaby · Kate Spade

erin wrote:

squishy wrote:

i waver between agnostic and apathetic.

moi aussi. but mostly agnostic. i don't really think about it much actually.

That about sums it up for me, too.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I was raised Methodist. And attended a Christian college (for the second half of my educational adventure).

Having said that I have a huge problem with the way organized religion goes about their faith. I feel a lot of it is finger waving and judgemental (as a whole, not as individuals). And, I disagree with a lot of what Christianity (and other religions for that matter) has to say.

I would love to take a comparitave religions class. I don't think any religion has got it "right" yet, and would love to study them all and combine tennants of each to make u p my own personal belief system.

Through science and logic I can not understand the idea as god as a creator. But, I still pray from time to time. I have hang ups with the virgin mary, but still celebrate christmas.

A lot of times I think rulers used "religion" to help shape their cities/counties/empires, etc. through the teachings.

But, if you ask, I still consider myself christian (that's what I voted).

All in all, I'm still trying to set straight in my mind what my beliefs are.

A church in my area has some very politically liberal classes held there, as part of their ministries, and I am interested in what they have to say, as a denomination. It's Universal Unitarians.

Drew · Gucci

collegegirl5858 wrote:

Drew wrote:

I'm gonna have to go with Karl Marx on this one: "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses."

Although this could be true, are you willing to bet eternity on it? The way I see it, Jesus could be a hoax, I dont think he is, but I
could be wrong. On the other hand, if he is real, but I reject him, I am giving up heaven. It is difficult. I cant imagine not thinking about it, as I believe it is what life is all about. It is what I live for.

-- Edited by collegegirl5858 at 20:14, 2007-05-22

I'm not concerned with my soul. I live a good life, I don't hurt other people or animals, and I respect the environment. That is what is important in life, not having to bow down and worship somebody because other people long ago said so. That is what I believe. I don't care to debate this any further. I just wanted to have my beliefs included amongst the rest.

Hermes

collegegirl5858 wrote:

Drew wrote:

I'm gonna have to go with Karl Marx on this one: "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses."

Although this could be true, are you willing to bet eternity on it? The way I see it, Jesus could be a hoax, I dont think he is, but I
could be wrong. On the other hand, if he is real, but I reject him, I am giving up heaven. It is difficult. I cant imagine not thinking about it, as I believe it is what life is all about. It is what I live for.

-- Edited by collegegirl5858 at 20:14, 2007-05-22

I don't think anyone implied that Jesus is a hoax. As a matter of fact, I believe he actually existed. But just like any other story that is passed along over years by many people, the truth gets skewed. I do not think Jesus held supernatural powers, but his legend and subsequent story tellers attributed supernatural powers to him. Religion also served as an explanation for the unexplained, hence the supernatural attributes.

Kitty · Hermes

Atheist.

blubirde · Chanel

collegegirl5858 wrote:

Drew wrote:

I'm gonna have to go with Karl Marx on this one: "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses."

Although this could be true, are you willing to bet eternity on it? The way I see it, Jesus could be a hoax, I dont think he is, but I
could be wrong. On the other hand, if he is real, but I reject him, I am giving up heaven. It is difficult. I cant imagine not thinking about it, as I believe it is what life is all about. It is what I live for.

-- Edited by collegegirl5858 at 20:14, 2007-05-22

What you described is Pascal's Wager. You should look it up. You might like it.

I personally dismiss this argument. Betting on god isn't going to get you to heaven, if the Christian religion is correct. Faith is what matters.

That said, I voted atheist although I don't really fit into that category. I'm not agnostic because I don't believe there might be a supreme being out there somewhere. I don't not believe it either, if that makes any sense.

I do think people would do well to live by the teachings of Jesus and Buddhism (the two are actually very closely linked), but I don't attribute any mystical or magical powers to either.

I was having a similar discussion with my bf's family the other day. I believe the biggest hypocrisy in the world today is anyone who follows Jesus' teachings engaging in a war that kills. (That's not just the U.S., that's anyone who claims to "believe" in a peaceful god but then chooses to act completely adverse to those teachings.)

I believe there are very few Christians in the world. I believe there are very few religious people in the world. I believe that there are a lot of people who say and do two different things. I believe it's a lot easier to say one is a Christian than to actually live a Christian life. I also believe this is why organized religion gets a bad rap (not undeservedly). The hypocrisy of "organized religion" leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

All of this is not to say that all organized religion and all Christians have negative traits. They don't. But I'm constantly frustrated by my beliefs being trampled on by those who aren't any more Christian than I am.

FYI, I grew up Southern Baptist. I loved church as a child, although I found it terrifying in some respects.

-- Edited by blubirde at 16:05, 2007-05-23

Teresa · Kate Spade

Blubirde, I completely understand wat you mean, and it is one of my biggest frustrations, also. Drew, I didn't mean to start a debate, just wanted to put that out there, I struggle with it too.

NCshopper · Hermes

I consider myself Christian. I have issues with the history, people's interpretations of the religion, and all that jazz, but at the core, I am Christian.

Didn't we all take an online religion quiz on here sometime last year? I remember a post about it and it was super interesting. My beliefs actually corresponded most with Orthodox Judaism. Here's the quiz if anyone wants to re-take it or try it for the first time. I thought it was fascinating: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

Kelly · Hermes

NCshopper wrote:

I consider myself Christian. I have issues with the history, people's interpretations of the religion, and all that jazz, but at the core, I am Christian.

Didn't we all take an online religion quiz on here sometime last year? I remember a post about it and it was super interesting. My beliefs actually corresponded most with Orthodox Judaism. Here's the quiz if anyone wants to re-take it or try it for the first time. I thought it was fascinating: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

Wow. Thank you for that. I didn't know what I expected, in fact I kind of expected that my faith (Roman Catholic) wouldn't be at the top of the list (it was #5), but I was very surprised to see that my 100% match was Orthodox Quaker (I obviously don't know much about the Quakers because I voted that I am fine with homosexuality...I wouldn't think that would be something the Quakers would support). I'm going to send this to my boyfriend who is in the midst of a lot of spiritual anguish.

-- Edited by ttara123 at 22:52, 2007-05-23

atlgirl · Gucci

D wrote:

I do not follow an organized religion, and I do not believe there is a "god." I do believe there is an energy we all share, and that may be what some consider a god.

I voted atheist, but maybe I fall more in the agnostic category...

I could have written that. But I voted Spiritualist. I believe I am spiritual, but not religious in any recognized sense.

atlgirl · Gucci

collegegirl5858 wrote:
are you willing to bet eternity on it? The way I see it, Jesus could be a hoax, I dont think he is, but I could be wrong. On the other hand, if he is real, but I reject him, I am giving up heaven.

I am willing to take that bet. :)

I don't believe in heaven so I don't believe I am giving up anything.

I live by two mottos: "Do No Harm / Do Unto Others", and "A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats". Like Drew, I do my best to not hurt anyone - physically, emotionally, environmentally. I give to charities. I mentor. I do as much as I can to help others. I want everyone to be happy and successful.

I believe that the energy we put into the world is what comes back to us. I believe that if people would concentrate on the positive and stop putting out so much negativity, and that if people actually *practice* tolerance more, instead of just talking about it, we'd all be happier and our lives would improve.