...marry, and that we were misguided. I
lost all respect. If someone believes something, such as homosexuals
shouldn't marry, I don't agree but I won't tell them they're wrong.
The day people aren't entitled to an opinion is when society needs to
be reformed. But to tell people they're the ones who are incorrect is
arrogant, elitist and ignorant. This doesn't only apply to those with
a faith.
I didn't like this girl, and I doubt
I'll be speaking to her much in the future. Things brings a new point
in. I've never disliked someone because they have a different opinion
to me, which I've already said. However there have been a lot of
people I dislike because they're so opinionated and refuse to accept
other views. Unfortunately there are a lot of people like this in the
world, and many people I've met both in real life and on the Internet
are no exceptions.
When arrogance and ego come into it
(which they inevitably do, either through yourself or someone
opposing you) then religion causes a lot of problems. People are
shunned simply because they have a faith, have a different faith or
have no faith. Despite the arrogance that seems to go hand in hand
with atheism people without a belief are less likely to suffer
prejudice unless in a strong religious area. But in modern Britain
people with religion are more likely to be mocked and abused than
those without. It could be said I'm in a good position, I don't
follow a religion and so can't be held against for it, but not
denying means there's more acceptance from the other side, if you
will. But I didn't choose my thoughts to be safe from people's
comments, I'm not so eager to please as to base my life around a
system I don't agree with. I don't know why I have this particular
opinion or how it came to be, but it's what I know is right for me.
Perhaps some people feel religion is right for them and are happier
for it, other take comfort in logic and science. Whatever you believe
there are going to be problems. People can be abused on the street
for it, and considered dangerous, stupid, worthless and all a manner
of other things thanks to ignorance and the media. This is just the
tip of the iceberg of problems arising from religion, but that isn't
what this blog is about.
So far my title's been neither
supported nor proved incorrect. Religion is a personal thing. As I've
already explained it never played much of a part in my childhood, and
I was taught to respect other people and other cultures. I've never
thanked a God for anything good in my life, and I've never hated one
for anything bad. At funerals people have told the mourning family
that they're praying for them and the deceased. Of course the
sentiment is appreciated, but again I never took comfort in that.
Some people may be happier believing in an afterlife, others are more
comfortable thinking there isn't. There was an occasion in my life
where we (me and my family) were told it was a miracle the situation
was improved. People we knew from the local church told us they'd
been praying for us, though they knew we weren't a religious family.
Still, none of us once blamed a God for it happening nor thanked a
God for the improvement. Thought is always appreciated, regardless of
someone's beliefs, and we didn't believe it was some holy power. We
took it for good luck, and were thankful.
I've coped fine without religion. I'm
no less happier than someone with it, and I'm comfortable with having
open options and being entitled to an opinion. If someone doesn't
agree, with me or anyone on this topic, that's part of life.
Everybody disagrees. But unfortunately people will consider
themselves above someone with an opposing thought. Atheists will
think they have logic and so are better with reason, many religious
people will consider themselves better because they have a God (or
several) on their side. Either way, an opinion is just that. An
opinion. Not truth. And while that's correct, I'm right in saying I
don't need a religion. Perhaps some people do, perhaps the comfort of
a religious community and people who understand are needed. And then
perhaps some people are happiest believing science. While it's
certainly not necessary to think the same as I do to be happy, I know
with this thought I'm comfortable.
As for a disclaimer, I know this can be
a very sensitive subject for some people. This wasn't made to prove
people correct or incorrect, and not to insult. If you don't
appreciate people having different thoughts than you, don't read
material like this. I'm always open for a discussion as long as it's
kept respectful and I'm not being told to choose your religion.
Cheers for reading.
Okay. I rewrote this part after losing it because of the word limit. I think I covered most of my points I had before, and I hope it still makes sense. I have to thank people who bother to read all of it, I know it's a lot but I find religion to be an interesting topic.
I'm kind of in the process of deciding my views on the subject, and whether or not I'm religious and to what degree. It's pretty difficult to think about and discuss since my parents and 99% of my family are very religious.
Ah, so you've already typed up the second part of this! What an unexpected surprise!
Not really much to add from my first comment, I guess. It's nice that you're willing to accept both sides of the argument here. As much as I try to be fair about this subject, I can't help but have a natural bias towards the atheist view of things. It's just something engraved in my brain that won't let me truly believe in a god. But like you, I try not to discriminate against people who DO believe in a god (or gods). I think more than anything your unbias is a good model for the type of mentality everyone should have in the world, and not necessarily just about religion.
It's an interesting read, no doubt. 2 kudos again.
Ah, so you've already typed up the second part of this! What an unexpected surprise!
Not really much to add from my first comment, I guess. It's nice that you're willing to accept both sides of the argument here. As much as I try to be fair about this subject, I can't help but have a natural bias towards the atheist view of things. It's just something engraved in my brain that won't let me truly believe in a god. But like you, I try not to discriminate against people who DO believe in a god (or gods). I think more than anything your unbias is a good model for the type of mentality everyone should have in the world, and not necessarily just about religion.
It's an interesting read, no doubt. 2 kudos again.
lol are you sure your 16 thats cinda deep in parts
but neway nothing ever makes sence with the people in the world
as in me for an EX: im religious and i play alot of music that bashes alot of religion's even my own and i dont have a prob* with gay people but i play hatefull songs like that to lol come on where i live the colored people shoot and stab one another in the streets but than thay tune at a white person and say we are races haters
we as people is whats going to end tho world we doom eachother
i had cut up what i wanted to say because i didnt want to offend neone or make it to long but i how i got some parts right lol
I loved this blog entry. It's so true. I can't stand it when people try to shove their religion down my throat, simply because I don't believe in it. Great writing Hannah.
Reading this gives me the impression that you're very intelligent.
You express words in a way that makes it very clear and understandable and at the same time, interesting to read as well.
I look forward to reading more from you
"society needs to be reformed" souns like anarchy?? i say if any one is denied a right some amount of anarchy is in order maybey not the sex pistols idea of anarchy but some amount of anarchy
Holy Shit! I love finding stuff like this on the interweb, the only problem is most are done by profs who have a very large vocabulary and this one is no exception. It has one fine little twist however, you are in fact a 16 year old who can write a random article on the internet longer than I can for a mid term worth 40% of my mark.
Anyways this is really interesting, I took a world religion class and absolutley hated it because my teacher was the biggest feminest and stuanch catholic. The results were she would beak men for half an hour everyday and we only got through about half the religions I wanted to study because she took so much time with christianity and judahism. The one thing that made that class worth it, was the arguments we would come up with in class. I really enjoyed the philosophy behind religion and not the actual teachings or practices of specific ones.
I am supposedly catholic, however I was not confronted about the decision of what I should believe in. Instead my parents thought it would be best for me to be baptized probably pressured by my grandparents. Do I believe in my faith? I dont know, but its always good to have a back up plan when the bullet hits my head. I think religion is good in a sense that it can provide moral guidelines to some people or help them build inner strength. The only problem is it is now corrupted with so many people who use it to make money and control people.
Now as for others telling people what to believe in, how to act, or forbid them to live a certain way, I think it is just stupid. Who are these so called protectors of the moral majority that decide what is right and what is wrong. I govern my life around my own personal code of ethics that way if, within the constructs of my own morality, I were to do something that is considered a sin, so be it, I feel no guilt whatsoever. If it helps a deeply religious person sleep at night that for doing such a horrible thing I am going to burn in hell, well then that makes two of us happy as long as that person
well thats my two cents... aparently it was a little more than. tis a shame they cut me off like that. I am looking forward to reading more of these articles.
Excellent read. I share the same sentiments, I'm fine with religious people believing in all the lark but don't tell me I'm wrong because I don't believe in a deity[s] for which there is no real evidence.
Actually bassistgal, the quote is that it is religion and the quote is from a communist.
I was brought up a catholic, went to catholic school, had all the sacraments, spent the sundays at church, got an A in my RE GCSE. But basically, all through my life i had this building doubt. Because God was supposedly this all loving being, but apparently he hated alot of people for seemingly trivial things.
One my RE teacher (who, by the way was a extremely nice person and always willing to accept that there were other points of view) was a moral absolutist. She believed that there were things that could never been forgiven by God ever. And that whole stand point just baffled me. By definition, if there is a God he can do anything. Which means he either can't, or choses not to. Either way, that means he's not omnibenevolent, which is supposdly a key thing.
>.> sorry. What i mean to say is: I've always been sceptical, and these days I'm more sceptical than ever. I'm agnostic in the fact that i think there might be a God, but i think if there is one. Mainstream religion has him all wrong. And creationists anoy the hell out of me, even though i know i should let them have their opinion.
^ But what right do you got to tell me I'm wrong if I think that their is a larger being?
After all, it had never been disproved.
As much right as every religious person who has knocked at my door who's already decided that I need Jesus or God or double glazing in my life because I'm incapable of making up my own mind about how the universe and life came into existence.
The difference is I don't exercise that right just because I believe that I'm right and no one else is allowed to think differently. I'll leave that to religious zealots and Meths .
GOD: I wanted you to find the true joy of having a mortal body, and still being able to know divine love the way I do.
Hannah: I kinda missed out on that I guess. Anything else
GOD: You won’t have a very good seat at the table. You could have sat much closer, If you’d learned more on earth.
Hannah: Hmmm. I guess I can live with that.
GOD: *chuckle*
Hannah: There’s one more question I’d like to ask, while I have your attention.
GOD: I already know what you’re thinking … the SYK one.
Hannah: Yeah, how did you know wha … oh, right!
GOD: Yes he made it.
Hannah: I wasn’t too sure about him.
GOD: Neither was I.
Hannah: Does he have a good seat?
GOD: Fair. He could have done much better. He found me early, and talked to me often, but didn’t always listen.
Hannah: I’ll bet the sexy-talk didn’t help much, either.
GOD: meh, it didn’t really hurt either. I found it amusing and creative … I like creative. But he wasted too much time with that. There were lots of other things I had in mind for him, but he never got to them.
Hannah: Will I get to see him?
GOD: Sure. He’s asked to sit next to you once in a while, if it’s OK with you.
Hannah: Fine by me. He’s good for a laugh.
GOD: You’re telling me? *hahaha* Only one thing, when you dine together, it will be in your section … the cheap seats.
Hannah: Why do you call them that?
GOD: The chairs are harder, and the food isn’t as good.
Hannah: I guess all things considering, I’m getting a break. I won’t complain.
GOD: You never stop learning. I’ve always admired that about you.
i think that i am a Christian but i don't go to church.
muslims have to pray five times a day and that is what i call religious but i still class myself as a Christian
i enjoyed reading that. it's good to find people who don't feel the need to shove there athiesm down others throats. athiests can be as bad as christians in that respect.
I have a very similar view to yours on religion. I understand that certain people need faith. They find comfort in believing their is a God looking down on them and everything happens because God decides it does. I'm fine with people of different religions but, like you, I hate it when people shove their beliefs and opinions down your throat when you didn't ask for it. I've never believed their was a God of any kind, I was never Christened or have had felt any need for believing in a God.
So yeah, interesting post.
It was a pleasure to read. It looks like we share the same opinions on religion, much like a few other people commenting. I wish I could find something more to say, as I would love to reflect the enormity of your post, but words escape me. I would give a kudo if I thought it meant something.
I loved your blog, every now and then I have that kind of discussions. You should always resort to Africa to question somebody who is overzealous about religion. You see, in theory, to get to heaven you must accept Christ and repent, but let's say there's this guy in the middle of Africa who lives a decent life with some good deeds and sin (like any normal human being) and dies, does he go to heaven? the problem is... he doesn't accept Christ so he SHOULD go to hell, but then you are ignoring all his life and judging him by something he didn't have any control of (in this case the knowledge of the existence of christ), or does he go to heaven because he was good and it is understood that he just didn't know religion? If that is the case then I don't understand the why of preaching.
I will refer to Camus "Man can only have responsability and guilt of his actions when confronted with free will when making them." Man, I love christians. lol.
Great read btw.
In the above post I was refering that the person in the middle of Africa was incomunicated from any contact with religious people who brought their religion and the like.
They treat homosexuality worse then the sins. Christianity is too exploited to take seriously anymore. I'd honestly smack someone if they thought I were to endure ETERNAL damnation just because I don't beleive in their god, exactly the way they tell you to.
i read part 1 and 2 and i have to say it was a very interesting read. makes you really think about alot of things. keep these coming, you have great insight.
I very much agree with the majority of what you said. Sometimes it seems that Christians want atheists to give them a reason why they don't believe in God, whreas most atheists would not dream of asking a Christian to justify their faith, because that's just what it is; faith.
I like that you are so adiment about your beliefs or lack thereof, however you'd like to field it. Even though i am christian personally, i admire people that can say "i'm an atheist" and then back it up with some reasoning instead of just running into a rant about modern science or the big bang theory...kudos
i am a christian, but you do give a good argument (actually i kinda skimmed through your blog, but i did read most of it). i really don't agree with what you said, cuz most of it isn't true. like christians thinking they're better than others cuz they have god in their lives, that's not entirely true. i know some christians who think they know everything, but we don't think we're better than everybody else. i know i don't. i'm human just like everybody else, we all are. maybe you should get to know more christians. find out who we really are and what our lives are like. cuz it looks like you know what you're talking about yet you really don't. i do respect your opinion, but i'm just advising you to just talk to more christians...
I've tried believing in God, thought it would be comforting to have someone love and forgive me no matter what and to have a purpose in life... but I have been told by every Christian I have asked (and sometimes not asked), that to truly believe in God you have to 'hand your life over to him'. But I like to think I am in control of my own life and make my own decisions, guided by my own moral beliefs, not a book's or a God's rules. That and I realised I'm much more comfortable with science than faith. Needless to say the Christian thing never worked out for me.
Well I am a Chrisitian, and I can't be mad for what you think. And I have no right to just you by your belief. But people get the wrong impression on Christians. They think that they are little sheltered humans living a sinless life. And that's not true at all. Christians are just another group of "belevers" in their religion, and not any different from people who aren't Christians. It's just all about your perspective of things. I say "You are going to hell" you say "I've done good things, so no, i'm going to heaven." But is that true? Why would Jesus die on the cross if we could sin and still go to heaven? He wan't us to believe in Him and understand the things that we have done wrong..... now I could on forever with reasons and questions that might stump you, but I'm tring to keep it simple.... I'm a Christian, you are not. I go you to heaven, you don't...... and now, I know this sounds like something that any other ordinary Christian would say, but it's easy, Heaven or Hell? The choice is ours.
I agree with you completely. i go to a Christian school, and i respect their beliefs, but i myself don't believe in God. If anyone has seen the movie Kenny, as Kenny puts it "When God introduces himself to me, I'll give him my undivided attention"
Very well blogged. I believe in God, and in His gift Jesus. I wasn't raised that way, but have experienced some amazing things in my life that have displayed the nature of "God" to me. I believe that there is no human ability to comprehend what God really is, and yet I still believe through my own personal faith. I am NO better than anyone else, and at the same time I realize that I am much worse than many other human beings... I find a great deal of humility in knowing that fact... And I can look up to others to see their points of view.
I agree 100% with what u are saying. In my schools we always had prayers and assemblys and local priests coming to visit. I think its wrong to impose religion on children who don't know any better. Other than that we think exactly the same on this topic, Religion has no personal effect on me, I absolutely respect others for having their gods and beliefs, I never tell anyone their religion is wrong even if I think they are being over zealous. As soon as somebody scorns at me for being an aetheist, then I feel trully sorry for them.
God doesnt need to exist, the idea of god being made up (tremendous one at that), would be to keep people in order, a happier world. However, WHOOPS, doesnt work like that, you have holy wars, suicide bombers, fanatics, massive debates, fanatical god laws.
God creates more problems than solves.
You prove things DO exist, you almost always prove things dont exist.
If it exists, its been proved it exists, and, oopsee, in a few thousand years, what do you know, 'encounters' (rotflmao), 'dreams' (yeh, only dreams), oh and dont forget, SINGLE PERSON VISIONS! WOHA!
If you cant prove something exists in a few thousand years, there isnt really any chance in heck of it existing.
Gods all around us? Nope, I dont feel him, I dont see him, smell, touch. The real world is physical, get educated on that.
Btw, I didnt say god doesnt exist, so dont say i did, I simply gave my experiences, other experiences and OPINIONS.
I don't think you quite understood what I was talking about. I removed your other comments from my other blog because to be honest your asshole nature pisses me off. This whole thing is my opinion. Notice the 'why I feel' in the stinking title. ANd what's with contradicting yourself? First of all you say 'THAT WAS AN OPINION!' as if someone would be stupid enough to take the verbal shit you spout as fact, and then say not to argue. Where was anybody's sign of any inclination they were going to argue with you? You argued with my opinion, and effectively said I'm wrong (on my other blog too). Someone has a bit of a superiority complex they need to get sorted out.
Hmm... An interesting standpoint on religion.
Personally, I don't know what I am. I'm not any specific religion, and I despise most of them.
They, as the moron a few posts ahead of me put it, cause way too many problems.
I find all the different beliefs interesting, but, rather than fighting over trivial issues, why can't they all just say "Yeah, I believe in a deity, and so do you. They might have different names, but in the long run, they're the same thing."
My belief is that, if "God" does exist, it is a petty, greedy deity, seeing as it has people worship it every Sunday. (Or whatever day it happens to be for different religions.)
I'm not agnostic, either, because I don't believe there is some form of deity out there. I'm not ruling out the possibility, of course, but I don't believe in it, and that's what I believe.
Atheist is taking it too far, however, because, while I don't believe it, personally, I'm not ruling out that it does exist. Or perhaps once existed.
But learning how other religions think is really cool. Granted, it's caused me a lot of problems, because I now have Mormons at my door every other day. Jehova's Witnesses used to come a lot, but I figured out that if you convince them that you're homosexual, whether you are or not, they never call on you again. Seriously. Try it out next time one of them comes to your door.
Also, Hannah, I don't know if "superiority complex" is the correct term, closer to a need to be the center of attention. I'm not contradicting you, or trying to contradict you, I suppose, but he seems more insecure than anything. Perhaps a little immature as well. Certainly jumps to conclusions about people arguing with him.
I read your first paragraph. You base there not being a god because Cathlics can't marry? I am not religious what so ever but there is no point in trying to disprove it; and yes I know you're not trying to point that out... But topics about religion bring on controversies that will keep religious pople involved. Do not take offense to this because I'm merely stating a relevant issue..
I read your first paragraph. You base there not being a god because Cathlics can't marry? I am not religious what so ever but there is no point in trying to disprove it; and yes I know you're not trying to point that out... But topics about religion bring on controversies that will keep religious pople involved. Do not take offense to this because I'm merely stating a relevant issue..
Did you read any further than the first paragraph? Because that's kinda not my point at all.
I agree with you more than anyone else I've ever met as far as religion goes... I thought I was alone
I am fine with other people having a religion, but it really pisses me off when they judge me a certain way or treat me poorly for not having a faith. I just tell them I don't want to spend my whole life thinking about the afterlife. I'm not going to live a certain way to please a 'god', but if they want to, that's fine. They usually get defensive, but I try to be as respectful as possible.
anyways, good blog!
i have to say myself, i am infact a Christian, i go to church every sunday, but that IS IT, i am not some psycho nut who runs around going: GAYS WILL BURN IN HELL!!! GOD WILL SMITE THEE!!!! i hate extremists of any group, which is why i keep what i know to my self
While this is very well written, and I can't really fault you for you viewpoints, what do you have to say about all the harm that religion causes? Do you still believe that it's OK to leave religious people be (that's what I gathered that you were saying) when they use their beliefs to oppress or harm others, like that woman who said that gay people shouldn't have any rights? Or the pope, who condemns condom use, and has even told those in heavily AIDS effected areas in Africa not to use condoms.
Just wondering. It was a good read over all though. +1 kudos.
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Religion, and why I feel I don't need it Pt 2. blog
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