Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Understood, and accepted.

Serious question: does it matter to you if it is true or not?

I believe it’s absolutely true. I have zero doubts. It’s the rock of my life.

I know you believe it is true. But would it matter if you discovered it was not?

God's existence or lack thereof is an objective fact that can never be arrived at subjectively. My religion provides great joy and inner peace to me and those who are willing to experience it, while those that can’t just think it’s strange.

You sound delusional. No offense intended, I swear.

You sound extremely intolerant. Not a good way to go though life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Understood, and accepted.

Serious question: does it matter to you if it is true or not?

I believe it’s absolutely true. I have zero doubts. It’s the rock of my life.

I know you believe it is true. But would it matter if you discovered it was not?

God's existence or lack thereof is an objective fact that can never be arrived at subjectively. My religion provides great joy and inner peace to me and those who are willing to experience it, while those that can’t just think it’s strange.

You sound delusional. No offense intended, I swear.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Understood, and accepted.

Serious question: does it matter to you if it is true or not?

I believe it’s absolutely true. I have zero doubts. It’s the rock of my life.

I know you believe it is true. But would it matter if you discovered it was not?

God's existence or lack thereof is an objective fact that can never be arrived at subjectively. My religion provides great joy and inner peace to me and those who are willing to experience it, while those that can’t just think it’s strange.

Whether or not you do practice your religion as a member of a church, do you think you and others could practice it outside a church?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Understood, and accepted.

Serious question: does it matter to you if it is true or not?

I believe it’s absolutely true. I have zero doubts. It’s the rock of my life.

I know you believe it is true. But would it matter if you discovered it was not?

God's existence or lack thereof is an objective fact that can never be arrived at subjectively. My religion provides great joy and inner peace to me and those who are willing to experience it, while those that can’t just think it’s strange.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Understood, and accepted.

Serious question: does it matter to you if it is true or not?

I believe it’s absolutely true. I have zero doubts. It’s the rock of my life.

I know you believe it is true. But would it matter if you discovered it was not?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Understood, and accepted.

Serious question: does it matter to you if it is true or not?

I believe it’s absolutely true. I have zero doubts. It’s the rock of my life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Understood, and accepted.

Serious question: does it matter to you if it is true or not?

Anonymous wrote:So, when all is said and done, religion is a matter of belief and faith.

Some of religion's attractive features are the beauty of it's rituals and it's writings, its ageless moral lessons, its love and compassion and, in some religions, its promise of eternal life.

+1

Religion has a lot to offer. I find it does, and it has enriched my life in so many ways.

Anonymous wrote:NP. I think most organized religions and churches have an element of control. If people just believed in their God and didn't let a Pope or a TV pastor or an emir try to influence world and local policies, most people who don't believe would be okay with religion.

But Christianity, specifically as a Missionary religion (and Islam with a slightly smaller sphere of influence) has tried to spread its influence beyond just personal faith.

once you leave a heavily controlling church, you can see this Glock clear. I think that might be where the OP is coming from

And it's a club, with rules and due like any club. They need paying members to pay the pastors and the rent. So being spiritual but not religious, or praying to Jesus on your own is obviously no good for organized religion. They gotta think of some way to hook you in financially or they are toast.

NP. I think most organized religions and churches have an element of control. If people just believed in their God and didn't let a Pope or a TV pastor or an emir try to influence world and local policies, most people who don't believe would be okay with religion.

But Christianity, specifically as a Missionary religion (and Islam with a slightly smaller sphere of influence) has tried to spread its influence beyond just personal faith.

once you leave a heavily controlling church, you can see this Glock clear. I think that might be where the OP is coming from

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

I guess I should have elucidated for you. The sufferings that Peter is mentioning in the Book of Peter in the New Testament are most likely a contemporaneous mention of the killings of Christians by Nero. So if religion were used to control the masses, why was Nero killing them at the complete outset of their religion? Not a very good propaganda move to get people into the religion so you can control them. Unless by "control" them you mean kill them, which I know you don't.

Again, it's a stupid argument that intelligent people should't make.

Because Nero had a different religion (Roman paganism), and wanted that to be in control?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Rome

Yes. Nero believed he was a god. He did not want competition for that view among his citizens, and the Christians had their own god.
Obviously he didn't want to "control" them so much as eliminate them.

You guys are constantly moving the goal posts. The assertion is made on posts in the Religion Forum repeatedly that Christianity is a much of made-up stories that were made up for the express purpose of controlling people. Now you're arguing that it was other religions that wanted to be in control. Which is it?

You understand completely, and your ridiculous bronze age example is yet another attempt to white-noise out the facts.

Religion is the problem. Christianity is only one of them, although the most prominent in the US. They all have the same flaws, including pagan religions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

I guess I should have elucidated for you. The sufferings that Peter is mentioning in the Book of Peter in the New Testament are most likely a contemporaneous mention of the killings of Christians by Nero. So if religion were used to control the masses, why was Nero killing them at the complete outset of their religion? Not a very good propaganda move to get people into the religion so you can control them. Unless by "control" them you mean kill them, which I know you don't.

Again, it's a stupid argument that intelligent people should't make.

Because Nero had a different religion (Roman paganism), and wanted that to be in control?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Rome

Yes. Nero believed he was a god. He did not want competition for that view among his citizens, and the Christians had their own god.
Obviously he didn't want to "control" them so much as eliminate them.

You guys are constantly moving the goal posts. The assertion is made on posts in the Religion Forum repeatedly that Christianity is a much of made-up stories that were made up for the express purpose of controlling people. Now you're arguing that it was other religions that wanted to be in control. Which is it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

I guess I should have elucidated for you. The sufferings that Peter is mentioning in the Book of Peter in the New Testament are most likely a contemporaneous mention of the killings of Christians by Nero. So if religion were used to control the masses, why was Nero killing them at the complete outset of their religion? Not a very good propaganda move to get people into the religion so you can control them. Unless by "control" them you mean kill them, which I know you don't.

Again, it's a stupid argument that intelligent people should't make.

Because Nero had a different religion (Roman paganism), and wanted that to be in control?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Rome

Yes. Nero believed he was a god. He did not want competition for that view among his citizens, and the Christians had their own god.
Obviously he didn't want to "control" them so much as eliminate them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

I guess I should have elucidated for you. The sufferings that Peter is mentioning in the Book of Peter in the New Testament are most likely a contemporaneous mention of the killings of Christians by Nero. So if religion were used to control the masses, why was Nero killing them at the complete outset of their religion? Not a very good propaganda move to get people into the religion so you can control them. Unless by "control" them you mean kill them, which I know you don't.

Again, it's a stupid argument that intelligent people should't make.

Because Nero had a different religion (Roman paganism), and wanted that to be in control?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Rome

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m tired of this “Christianity was created to control the people” argument. If that’s true, why do all totalitarian regimes ban Bibles and persecute Christian? Why would Nero have killed Christians if that were the means to control people?

It’s nonsense, and if you were intelligent, you’d stop saying it.

+1

The atheists on this board just got exposed today; pay them no nevermind.

Again, are you serious?

Nero?

I guess I should have elucidated for you. The sufferings that Peter is mentioning in the Book of Peter in the New Testament are most likely a contemporaneous mention of the killings of Christians by Nero. So if religion were used to control the masses, why was Nero killing them at the complete outset of their religion? Not a very good propaganda move to get people into the religion so you can control them. Unless by "control" them you mean kill them, which I know you don't.

Again, it's a stupid argument that intelligent people should't make.