Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

I wish we had a deal where you kept your religion out of politics, so women didn't have men making reproductive choices for them, gays being forced to live with restrictions you don't, and the environment and animals being smothered under your backward logic. I like how you toss around around the word bigoted. It's okay to criticize your nonsense beliefs. All the young people do. In a few years, they'll be running the show. That's right none of them go to church.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

I wish we had a deal where you kept your religion out of politics, so women didn't have men making reproductive choices for them, gays being forced to live with restrictions you don't, and the environment and animals being smothered under your backward logic. I like how you toss around around the word bigoted. It's okay to criticize your nonsense beliefs. All the young people do. In a few years, they'll be running the show. That's right none of them go to church.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The shroud of Turin is the only man made item that science cannot figure out how to duplicate. And it is the image of crucified Christ.

It's still uncertain. There was a study in 2010 that questioned its authenticity.

Still, it is indeed an interesting artifact, and I'm not religious at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Catholic. I believe that God is love. That's my faith in a nutshell. I respect other religions (or no religions)
and I hope they respect mine. Going to Mass every week, sending my children to Catholic school, saying the rosary, praying (even when I don't feel like it), reading the Bible and other inspirational literature (including evangelical Christian daily readings from my sister-in-law), listening to Catholic radio- encourages me to be a better, kinder person.
My faith and the church aren't perfect, because of the human component, but I can't deny the basic premise-
God is love.

Wow. This is truly one of the best expressions about why "being spiritual" isn't the same as supporting an actual community. Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

I wish we had a deal where you kept your religion out of politics, so women didn't have men making reproductive choices for them, gays being forced to live with restrictions you don't, and the environment and animals being smothered under your backward logic. I like how you toss around around the word bigoted. It's okay to criticize your nonsense beliefs. All the young people do. In a few years, they'll be running the show. That's right none of them go to church.

Anonymous wrote:I am a member of a Christian church (Episcopal) that teaches our children about other religions, which also are valid ways of living.

John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

OK so maybe it's "wishful thinking" at best. I agree, it can and is harmful. But I think this only further supports the contention that real benefit from religion is the tribal / social aspect to it.

Your contention. Just because you can't imagine anybody else getting spiritual benefit from religion, or a model for how to live life, doesn't mean oth DS don't get those benefits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

OK so maybe it's "wishful thinking" at best. I agree, it can and is harmful. But I think this only further supports the contention that real benefit from religion is the tribal / social aspect to it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

OK so maybe it's "wishful thinking" at best. I agree, it can and is harmful. But I think this only further supports the contention that real benefit from religion is the tribal / social aspect to it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.