<p>I'm sure if God exists he won't sentence me to Hell for eternity just because I was an agnostic atheist. :) I'm saving lives through FreeRice - if anything he'd reward me!</p>
<p>haha I pretty much put all of my faith in science and I only believe in God when I need to ask him for a favor. My family isn't religious, either that or they're too lazy to go to church</p>
<p>i think people aren't necessarily saved from knowing the exact name of jesus or god, or the concept of him, rather, they are saved through him. otherwise, there are many people out there who do not know what christianity is. Like in Africa, or Asia. They grow up unknown of God. So how is it that jesus came to the earth to save everyone if some people don't even know who he is?</p>
<p>I think people are saved through Jesus Christ, so I think anyone may go to Heaven, whether they are conscious of the holy spirit inside themselves or not. but whether other human beings should decide that is completely something else.</p>
<p>I am Catholic/Christian. As mentioned before, the whole "God created the earth in 7 days thing" is of course symbolic or whatever and is not meant to be taken literally. 7 days in the Bible could really been several billion years, who knows. All I know is that I love and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and/because I know he died so our sins could be forgiven. Science isn't everything. As for evolution, I am really on the fence. There are those who say "Evolution all the way, no God" and "God created Adam and Eve - no evolution". Well I'm thinking, why couldn't God have created evolution (like everything else) which led to the first complete humans, Adam and Eve? We'll never know until we get there. Etc.
And I agree with powerbomb.
Oh and I hate when people think as long as they believe in God they'll go to Heaven - no, I don't think that's how it works. I don't think you can believe in Him and sin a whole bunch, not ask for forgiveness and go to Heaven. Jesus was sent here to lead an example on how to live our lives (not necessarily accepting death freely though) because if we follow that example, we would be happier have a better life etcetc.
K I'm done :)</p>
<p>I used to be Catholic.
I am Wiccan now.
I had issues with the Bible and the Judeo-Christian faiths as a whole. </p>
<p>I am not particular religious but I am DEEPLY spiritual. I meditate almost daily and pray with nearly every thought. I believe though that the Great Spirit resides within all of us and all that need be is to not hurt anything (or try not) either through words, actions, speech, or otherwise and karma will come back to you. I also believe that everything in nature is connected, which is why I live so "green"ly.</p>
<p>I am agnostic.</p>
<p>Why I love religion: It generally creates very good moral codes, like the 10 commandments, which whould help the world be a better place. Second, you will never fell lonely, becasue you will know that there is always someone who is willing to listen to you. Also, it brings together people with common beliefs and philosophies. Last, it provides you with a sense of security, like the fact that after you die, you don't disappear into nothingness.</p>
<p>Why I don't like religion: It possibly creates an intolerance towards those with different or even opposing beliefs, therefore causing unnecessary conflict. Also, without it being based on reason and logic, it is based solely on blind faith. Last, it prevents people from doing what they want to do, like drinking, smoking, being sexual deviants(:)), ect., just because some messanger of God claims the actions are wrong. I, personally, don't like being told what I cannot do, esspecially if the religion condems things that are harmless to others.</p>
<p>Why I love Athism: It releases one from the burden of following strict guidlines religions inpose on its subjects. Also, it is logical and science based, making it much easier to prove. </p>
<p>Why I don't like Athism: It does not prove Creation as well as I would like. The Big Bang theory seems plausible, but life seems so complex that I believe that a higer being created it. Also, the feeling of no life after death is bleak and depressing, while religion gives a better alternative.</p>
<p>So, overall, I believe that the existance of a higher being is possible, but, being a carefree(or at least kind of) teenager, I don;t want to fully commit to somethign I believe only half-heartedly.</p>
<p>God no.</p>
<p>I do reside in a very strict Roman Catholic household, and went to a strict all-boys Catholic school. I am gay, and that doesn't exactly bode well with my parents and religion, so I said **** it, and became atheist. Before I 'found out' I was gay, I was beginning to have my doubts already. When I was in elementary school, there were nights I would spend crying because I thought I was going to hell. In 4th/5th grade or so I slowly began to question how good something is if it makes me feel the way I did, and did some horrible things to other people as well. Now I am atheist, without my parents knowledge.</p>
<p>Gay? All-boys school? Sounds like a paradise to you! But you could do without the chatholosism.</p>
<p>Do you think they let real gay people into an all-girls school? I mean, it wouldn't make sense to put a gay person in an all-boys school, am I right? That would genuinely defeat the purpose of putting someone in a school like that.</p>
<p>No, the catholics would rather condem them to hell. Gay heaven, that hell is.</p>
<p>interesting. it seems most atheists on here dont' agree with christianity. What are your opinions on religions such as buddhism, zoroastrianism, shinto, etc? How about religions that are congruent with science and don't personify god, such as buddhism, hinduism, islam, etc?</p>
<p>If lines from the Bible like "god created the earth in 6 days" are not to be taken literally, what other lines can we really trust to be accurate? Additionally, who are we to be the judge of the validity or "true meaning" of so-called "divine words" of god? There are too many questions left unanswered, and i just don't see how people can accept something so complex (and contradictory) with such conviction.</p>
<p>I think lots of regular Christians believe the creationist theory/bible, without being labeled a "creationist".</p>
<p>The Bible was not created to be a scientific document but rather a spiritual guide. Therefore, it is unreasonable to look to the Bible for questions that should be answered by scientific means. Rather we should look to the Bible to answer questions that cannot be answered scientifically such as how to live properly and preserve the soul.</p>
<p>Okay, not trying to be offensive here, but I'm really curious.</p>
<p>I hear all the time about how the Bible "contradicts itself". Can anyone show me a specific example of the Bible contradicting itself?</p>
<p>@Coolphreak. First, why would atheists, any atheists, agree with christianity? That defeats the purpose of being an atheist, duh! Second, Buddhism and Hinduism are more philoophies than anything else. They believe, kind of, in a hire being, but that higher being is everything, so the higher being is more like the universe. Last, Islam does personify God. It is very similiar to Christianity and Judism in that they are monotheistic religions with God, or Allah, personified to make it possible for humans at least try and understand.</p>
<p>@HisGraceFillsMe, many people read the Old Testiment and the New Testiment and realize that they contradict each other. However, those people do not realize that the New Testiment has the final word, while the Old testiment is rather...out-dated? Most of those who critize the Bible in that matter either don't know what they are talking about or ignore the facts to make themselves right.</p>
<p>^But it's not. I've learned just as much (if not more) about my faith from the OT as I have from the NT. You just have to read them carefully.</p>
<p>Really, if you're going to read the Bible, you need to read it from beginning to end. You can't just jump into the New Testament and hope to understand it, without understanding how they got there. The history of the bible is very complex, and unless you really understand everything from Creation and the Exodus, you can't possibly hope to understand why it's important that Jesus came.</p>
<p>I understand what you're saying. But based on what's been going on in this topic, it seems that atheism (as defined/practiced/believed by the people in this topic) is more of a response against only christianity. It's the rejection of theism. Islam doesn't personify allah to the extent that christianity does. I understand what you're saying about the other religions, that they're more of philosophies, however, religions don't have to require the belief in deities. This brings up the question of what is the difference between a philosophy and a religion. Personally, I'm against labeling people/myself as x or y. Labeling causes restrictions. But I was wondering why this instantly turned into christianity vs. atheism</p>
<p>^Quite possibly because those "religions" are two of the largest.</p>
<p>Lets begin. The bible was created by the council of Nicaea. It was there that the common bible we see today was formed. Many gospels were tossed aside and considered "false". That is my biggest problem with the "word of God". Basically a couple of people decided to sensor what they thought was right and wrong. For instance in the Gospel of Peter (not included) every man on earth is accepted into heaven. Peter turns to Jesus as the wicked are being tortured in hell and asks Jesus how he could watch his fellow men suffer. Jesus responds that the good have the opportunity to pardon the wicked and give them acceptance into heaven.</p>
<p>Why wasn't this gospel good enough? It contradicts the greater need of religion. It is a means of control. As Marx said an opiot for the masses. Religion allows you to blame God or praise him and makes people feel "safe" because they have no control.</p>
<p>Obviously this is a topic that I am passionate about because my family members died for the "word of God". Hitler abused Christian passions to turn Germany to genocide. Religion is responsible for more deaths than anything else in history. I have no problem with the existence of religion I just despise people who abuse faith for their own means.</p>
<p>In the end know your faith and how it began. Don't let men like Lewis Faraquan and Bill O'Reilly (the most dangerous man in America) abuse your minds.</p>
<p>I am an atheist. I have always been an atheist. I can't imagine being anything other than an atheist.
All of my closest friends are also atheists. Funny how that works!</p>