Figured the random picture thread is cluttered enough as it is without all this jargon being spewed around in it.

So what are your religious beliefs?
If you say atheist, that's cool, roll with it all you want, just know I will debunk the shit out of it for your own good, and with scriptural proof if you'd like, hopefully helping you to discard that pathetic dispute of evolution you currently hold for our existence. Atheism takes more faith than Christianity does, and that's no joke.

Furthermore, I'm really curious as to your thoughts and qualms with Christianity, and how it is you justify ignoring thousands of prophecies that have been fulfilled since it's completion, or is it just that you are ignorant of them?

I fully understand that the majority of you have been fed lies regarding this reality, lies that start at the Garden and end at the Revelation, which is completely sad, but it is also written, so there is nothing I can do about the nonsense that has been crammed into your brain since grade school, but what I can do from here is hopefully help you to realize some facts about what the Truth really says and overcome the many fallacies you've heard thus far regarding "God" in your lives.

Now I realize this is a board of a band called Camp KILL Yourself, and that I may be preaching to the choir here, but it's more than worth a shot. I have no credibility to lose.

I think there's probably no god. And I'm almost 100% sure that if there is one, we're the least of its concerns. At the same time, I'm amazed and grateful to be a part of the universe.

Also I disagree that Atheism takes more faith than Christianity. There's a wide range of beliefs among Atheists as well as Christians, so a blanket statement like that isn't a safe bet.

That's the thing... scriptural "proof" is all that's given, which doesn't help when the people you're trying to convince don't believe that those scriptures are what Christians believe they are. And how does atheism take more faith than Christianity?

Yeah, define your terms. What does an Atheist believe, to you, and what does a Christian believe?

To me, every 'true' Christian believes Jesus was the son of God and born of a virgin. To me, Atheists believe there's probably no god because we don't require god to explain things anymore. That's why I think it takes more faith to be a Christian than an Atheist.

Does it take faith for a Christian to assert that Zeus probably doesn't exist?

Personally I'm agnostic. Eastern philosophies hold the highest "religious" beliefs with me since from what I read and experience is the most relatable to me. The "Tibetan book of living and dying" as well as "The art of happiness (and A.O.H. in a troubled world)" By his Holiness the Dalai Lama are some of my favorite books. Very spiritual and peaceful. I don't really like debating the topic of religion because often enough people become hostile and no one can really ever agree, I rather just assume different strokes for different folks. Give peace a chance homie.

Edit: As far as christianity concerns me and the scriptures, I find it hard to have faith when such things like this are printed in the bible http://sharerpics.com/p/141291.html. This is also one of my favorite things when talking about the ten commandments. Just for laughs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-RGN21TSGk

With great power comes great responsibility. We are emanations of the all powerful and our responsibility is to reconnect with it.

http://www.ckyalliance.com/forum/index.php...c=9168&st=0

The way the OP started this thread reeks of "I want to flex my theistic muscles so I'm going to call out atheists right off the bat and show just how arrogant somebody like me can be, one whom holds the answers to every question we have ever asked about our existence with a one word answer."

Are you trying to tell me, that the idea of a god, an idea that was invented by primitive cultures with absolutely zero grasp of science, had everything all figured out? That's absurd. The more scientific discoveries there are, the more gods we were able to disprove. Which is why monotheistic religions are so popular. Once you can show that earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, and floods are natural occurrences and not supernatural ones, then you can effectively disprove those gods. But science has yet to discover with absolute certainty how the universe began, and so you get religious groups who say "well until you explain that, there IS a god!" Not the most logical of steps.

Atheism, at least to me, is no god until proven otherwise. And really, what is the danger in that? Why must one believe in something that no evidence has been shown for? The phrase "it takes more faith to be an atheist" is stunningly ridiculous. Faith is the belief in something in which no evidence has been shown. It's a suspension of critical thought, it's a suspension of reason. What atheists do believe in is as far as science has taught us, always learning, and always striving for truth. If you have your mind made up, that there is a god, then there's no work to be done. And what a meaningless existence that would be.

And why would anybody want a god? A totalitarian overseer who's rule is unquestionable, who's punishment is vicious, who's word is absolute? Christopher Hitchens put it perfectly when he called the idea of a god created universe a celestial North Korea.

atheists are fuckin dumb. it's ridiculous to think that we came from nothing or some big bang and over time a bunch of chemicals, particles, physical material, etc formed into humans and all the stuff we have today.

I pretty much turned Christian after Tim Tebow's playoff game against the steelers... no way that was a coincidence. I believe in god but i dont go around preaching or basing my life and decisions off of it. I dont think homosexuality is an abomination like the bible says. All these religions are a different path to the almighty one, the way i see it. all of them cant be true...all i do is focus on being the best and most moral person i can. Plus a kind and loving god would not send someone to hell just for not believing or not being a Christian

humans are obviously designed... why do hot bitches exist? sex just happens to feel good? weed just happens to grow? and why do we have ribs? to protect the organs and shit.

not sure if joking...

Atheists don't believe we came from nothing. Atheists believe we came from the same matter that the universe is made of, and atheists understand that humans do not yet know from where the universe came. Christians claim to know the answer to this question and provide no sound evidence to support it.

"Humans are obviously designed"? Sounds like you're going with your gut rather than going with the evidence. Humans once had a gut feeling that the sun 'obviously' rises and sets while the Earth is 'obviously' stationary. That gut feeling must've been MUCH harder to shake than your god theory, because we actually SEE the sun tracing across the sky!

It might've been easy back in the day to say to a heliocentrist, "It takes more faith to believe the Earth goes around the Sun than the other way around." And in that context, I'd say they might've been right! But once more and more evidence piled on, and geocentric theory crumbled down to implausible then demonstrably false, one would have to be a fool not to abandon it.

since believing in something is impossible to pretend to any omniscient deity, we're essentially inherently believers or non-believers. once presented with faith, its not ones choice to believe it or not, merely ones choice to practice it or not.

it is that very simple line of logic and reasoning that makes me think this:

if divinity (in terms of a deity) exists, its far too complex (or far too simple, for that matter) for humans to comprehend, and any attempt or record of understanding is completely futile. your destiny is chalked up to shit luck.

But it's perfectly logical to believe that god came from nothing?

What got me was:

That's got to be a joke, though. ...Right, Karma?

Atheist.

I have no real qualms with any religion. My parents didn't raise me in any religion because they are not very religious themselves and they thought I should figure that stuff out for myself.

So far in life I haven't been compelled to believe in one faith or another. As such I don't believe in any higher power or other such thing, so I'm an atheist.

I have no problem with people of other religions though, except for people like (assuming he's serious) karmaworks. There's far more scientific evidence that we came from the big bang than from.. uh.. err.. magic, chief. If you don't believe that then please don't ever have a say in anything regarding science.

And for anyone about to attack that, I have a friend who's a very devout Christian who also believes in the big bang and evolution. The two are rather compatible... I could buy the argument that some superior being laid out the beginning of the universe's existence and then basically hit "play."

I'm an Atheist, mainly because there's more primary evidence of evolution then there is in the Christian side of creation. The only evidence Christians say they have is the bible, which is nothing more then a secondary source, and I was taught if there is only secondary sources for something it's nothing more then talk

I rarely post but seeing as this thread could lead to at least some interesting discussion I'll throw my two cents in. I was raised Southern Baptist (not in one of the snake handling baptist churches that do still exist in remote regions of the South or any other "extreme" sects of Southern Baptists) and for a good portion of my adolescence I was active in the church. Around the time before I went to college I gradually began to question many of the practices of Southern Baptist churches. I found that many of the "leaders" in the church were very closed minded in the fact that if you questioned the bible, listened to "secular music", hung out with others whom they deemed as "trash", went certain places or basically didn't "live for Christ" as they saw fit; you would be condemned by them and others in the church. I was never one to believe that a loving God would send you to eternal damnation for such petty things, and I was turned off by these ideas. And so I basically turned away from anything religion affiliated.

Upon entering college at a private liberal arts institution that was technically a Methodist college (though in practice there was little religious affiliation except for the fact you had to take 4 religion classes), I still had many reservations about religion in general. However after taking World Religions, History of Religion, Old Testament History, and Christian Ethics I began to develop my own personal belief system. After learning about many of the influences upon the Bible's creation and other religious texts, as well as the crossover between many religions, I found that my beliefs mirrored that of the founding fathers of the US (Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, etc.). I believe the correct term is deist, but the way I describe it is that God set all of this in motion. How much of a hand in our day to day lives He has is questionable, however we are granted the free will to follow Him or to not follow, the choice is ours. We have (or don't have) faith that there is something beyond our understanding of this universe and when we die we will only then be able to understand the divine processes that put us here. The Bible and other religious texts were created by man and therefore are flawed, however the main principles contained in those writings are what were meant to guide us in this life. I highly doubt God will condemn all of us to Hell for failing to heed every single sentence in the Bible, but if we have faith in Him and believe that we can be forgiven for our sins, while living a morally righteous life then we will be rewarded after we die.

Ultimately it takes faith to believe in any religion. I could be completely wrong, and if so then oh well. It's a personal choice to believe so choose as you will. I am not going to argue that anyone is wrong for believing what they choose, nor will I preach to any of you. I choose to let my beliefs guide me, even though I am so far from perfect it's not even funny. If nothing else live to make a positive impact with the time you have here. Sorry for the long post but I wanted it to be complete.

Quoted for immense(ly potential) truth.

Here's a quote from Alejandro Jodorowsky (director of The Holy Mountain) that I really liked and wrote down in a little sketchbook last year:

"Religions become traps when they set up boundaries. Divinity has no name or nationality and is for everyone. Religion comes to segment mystical reality. Ultimately you feel the limits of each religion, and these become traps."

I don't know what I am, and I don't worry about being unable to condense it down into a few clumsy words. I'd say I'm equal parts everything and nothing. I do like mystical literature and have a lot of religious figures, historical and mythological, that I love and appreciate for various reasons. I might describe myself as a religious person (maybe even Christian) to an atheist or secularist with a reductionistic agenda, and I might call myself an rationalist (maybe even an atheist) when encountering a dogmatist with an evangelical agenda.

"Ever-newer waters flow on those who step into the same rivers.", this was Heracleitus, and it means everything is always changing. Including (ESPECIALLY) us.

One more thing:
"If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise."

My views are closest to pantheism. Which is the idea that "God" is science and nature. I believe that the universe is intelligent, though I haven't decided yet if I think it's conscious or not. I lean towards the idea that every sentient being is the consciousness of the universe/god. I don't sit there are consciously grow my arm hair or send white blood cells to fight a cold, and "god" doesn't come into our lives and interviene... nor does he give a shit who you fuck, or if you steal or kill or blaspheme.

We dont meet god when we die. We're closest to "god" now, when were alive. As we are all, individually, pieces of it's conciousness. Looking for god? Look up at the stars. Take a nature walk. Look in the mirror. This isn't something I was indoctrinated with, but something I always felt and discovered that it has a name.

And no, you can't "prove with scripture" that ChriIstianity is the way and that atheists are stupid. That's stupid dumb-dumb talk. The bible has been altered too many times to control early man with fear of hell. (which i think speaks volumes about christians because most christians ive met dont do good out of pure altruism, but fear of punishment.) And turning Christian because of tebow??? I'm at a loss for words at that one.

Answer me this one, gore rage. As its been my main problem with Christianity since I was like 10.

-Hell, as described in the bible, is the worst torment imaginable, times 10000. And it lasts forever.
-God, as described in the bible, is the most merciful being imaginable.
-I wouldn't send my worst enemy to hell.
-but god would.
-I'm more merciful than god????????????????????

Naturalistic Pantheism is an interesting way of looking at the universe that isn't necessarily irrational.

I call myself an atheist because it's the most succinct way of conveying my beliefs.

Nah it's not a joke dude. It kinda is but not really. I'm not some Jesus freak now but that game made me rethink shit....all I'm saying is I think it's absurd to think our consciousness, morality, bodies, and everything came to be without a higher power or some intelligence. I mean really...think about it. You were obviously givin a dick for a reason.

Of course we were given a dick for a reason. So we could have something with which to penetrate women and ejaculate inside of them for the purpose of reproduction, and thus the survival of our species. Of course there is a "higher power" that gave function, order, and purpose to that function...it wouldn't just be there for the sake of being there if it hadn't served any evolutionary function. Modern proponents of evolution don't simply belief that, because "everything came from nothing," that nothing in this universe has any function, purpose, or meaning whatsoever. It takes no more of a leap of fate to say that that "higher power" or "some intelligence" is simply the natural function and driving motor of our universe as it does to give that higher power the identity of "God." There is no logical basis for your claim that, because our universe that a sense of order and organization, that there is automatically some "big man in the clouds"-style monotheistic deity controlling everything.

Also, lol @ HeinyGoreRage1's original post. Not, "hey guys, let's have an intelligent, rational discussion about religion," but, "I already know you guys are Christianity-hating atheists, and I already know that you're WRONG!" That doesn't leave much room for discussion if you already presume that you are the only one with a valid point of view before the conversation even starts.

Recently (within the last month and a half), after much research and thought, I became an ex-Mormon atheist.

Ask me anything you'd like.

This has to be a joke, but can anyone link me to a clip of what happened? I'd like to know why everyone in the US have been talking about him for the past month.

And so I don't go off topic, I believe that good things happen to good people, so I guess I believe in some sort of karma. And even if I don't get anything in return, I can still feel good about myself for doing something good. I think that's a good rule to live by.
I also can't help but believe in some sort of a higher natural power that seeks balance in everything and makes life and species develop and adapt. Let's call this mother nature because no one has figured this out yet, except for maybe George Lucas lol.

People who read 2000 year old manuscripts about events that happened centuries or milleniums before in a small part of the world and live by them today are just dillusional. However, there are plenty of good things that the Old Testament, the Torah etc have given us as humans, so I give those stories credit for creating a basic universal human rulebook on how to live as a sophisticated species.
But even these texts have to be put into context.
The story of Noah and his arc for instance, is first mentioned in old sumerian texts (later mentioned in all three major religions from the area). Back then, the known world was much limited to mainly today's Middle-East, so a massive flooding of the vital rivers in the area would naturally have been seen to have covered the whole world and as a result of a wrath of a higher being. People are obsessed in finding out why things happen, and before science was able to explain these things, they were easily explained as acts of a god.
It's ridiculous that the same old folklore that's behind everything and has gone through so many different interpretations by several prophets for thousands of years, is the cause for so many bad things in west and east because people refuse to read it using common sense.
In my eyes the holy books were just a guide to survival in the desert several thousand years ago and the main prophets were just good dudes who did good things and later on became immortalized for it.

What do Christians think of the similarities between the major religions? Coincidence? Do the one's that pre-date Christianity count to you?

And they found another inhabitable planet 600 light years away... If there are people on it, what happens? I'm speaking in part to the Christians, because doesn't the bible depend on there only being one planet? There are no sub-planets, right? One God (in my mind) for one world means that there ought to be numerous Gods for numerous worlds...

A good question. One of the harder things for me to swallow about religion. Who or what says that Christianity is the one true faith versus Islam or Judaism? Or Buddhism? Or Greek mythology? Or even Flying Spaghetti Monsterism?

One answer Christians might retort with is that the bible teaches that they're right and the rest of the religious world is false. But the other two Abrahamic religions use the bible as well (or at least a part of it) and claim additional scripture as witness that they are correct. Who's to say that their interpretation of the scripture is false or that their scripture is untrue? And by what standard?

Another answer you might hear is that they have had a meaningful spiritual experience that has been a witness to them that their faith is correct and true. Very common amongst Mormons btw. But Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists all claim similar spiritual experiences that reaffirm their faith as well. Who are they to say that their feelings are right are others are wrong? And by what standard?

I find it unacceptable that a just and all-knowing God would allow such confusion, especially when said confusion causes horrific atrocities to be done in his name. Of course the argument would be made that we have free will, and that some may choose to follow God and some may not. But for a supposed loving and just God that created us with minds to reason with and to make logical decisions, he's made it pretty damn hard to figure out the "right" way to worship him.

All major religions have a lot in common with one another. Really, the only place where they differ is the method in which theyre practiced... Which is/was a human interpretation. I entertain the idea that the core of "religion" is the important part, and we can pretty much toss away the rest. Isn't the MAIN point of Christianity/Judaism/Buddhism/Oldschoolism/Newschoolism just "live a good life; be kind to others?" I think the whole "church on Sundays" and "pray facing mecca" part are man made ideas, but the core message is what matters. and I believe that all of the religions and science are all simply different ways of saying the same exact thing.

I never really understood how the big bang and evolution neccesarily contradict the idea of the universe being created intelligently. Why don't Christians look at the big bang as the moment god said "let there be light?" I assure you, there was plenty of light during the big bang... And it led to the formation of stars and galaxies which provide light and life. Why is evolution seen as evidence against theology? Evolution is actually my main reason that I DO believe in a "god" (refer to my last post for clarification.) In my mind, the idea that organisms eventually obtain physical traits that they need supports my theory that the universe is intelligent. How is nature stepping in to nurture life different to what Christians call "god stepping in?" How is my view that we're all one and part of "God" any different than when Jesus said "To do harm to your fellow man is to do harm to God"?

I believe 100% that the only time we have is our time alive and that's it. There is no god(s) and there never have been. It was the easiest way to explain away all of the things that couldn't be rationalized.

you know, guys, i still come here because it's not reddit.

whatever, i'll roll with it.

everything man does is fallible. therefore all the functions, enterprises, and institutions made by man are themselves destined to fail. this is the inevitable truth of life, and it is eternally cyclical. there is nothing that can save us from ourselves. embrace this truth and happiness can be found in the little time we have. if you ignore it then anger, frustration, and self-doubt are your only rewards. if you insist upon yourself that what you do is always "something higher," don't be surprised when you inevitably suffer vertigo.
call it "Zen Anarchism" i suppose, but it is my belief. and it will fail, same as everything else.
call it fatalistic--even defeatist--but never underestimate your own insignificance in the universe.

Relevant
scared the hell out of me as a kid, but poignant in the way only a kid's film can be.
"Life itself is but a vision, a dream, nothing exists save empty space and you, and you are but a thought."

lol. basing religious beliefs off of sports. good logic.

i'm not really sure what i believe. essentially, nothing can be proven. EXCEPT. your own mind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism

not saying i believe in this as a whole, but it definitely makes sense to me more than anything else. that being said, i don't disbelieve nor believe in any organized religion. religion makes you a better, happier person? cool, good for you. you don't want to believe in any structure and you want to piss off all the arrogant christians of the world? also cool, sounds like a lot of fun.

just seems to me that religious groups (certainly not all) raise more violence than atheists. however, i hate making this stereotype because religious groups also seem to help a good bit. i don't know, believe what you want.

number of people "killed for jesus" > number of people "saved by jesus"

Sure, maybe all the matter in the universe came from a higher power, but Atheists don't claim to know what that power is. We admit there are questions to which we do not yet know the answer. If we don't even know everything about our own planet, let alone galaxy or universe, isn't it audacious of Christians to think they know the ins and outs about the being they believe created it all?

If you think it's absurd to doubt that matter arose from a higher power, then you're in the same boat as us when it comes to explaining from where that higher power came.

And, no, I wasn't 'given' a dick for a reason. I have a dick for a reason, but it was not given to me, just like animals aren't 'given' camouflage for a reason. They have camouflage because it worked for previous generations, and our biochemistry allows for traits to be passed on from subsequent generations.

If we were, for example, put on this Earth for a reason (which I presume you believe), why is less than a third of our Earth inhabitable by humans? There are too many questions like these that break down when you assign qualities to god like "omniscient" and "caring."

theres a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of evolution among both religious folk who refute it and areligious folk who support it

and im too lazy to get into that

The vast majority of die hard Christians I've encountered in my life are by far the biggest hypocrites. A good many of them are also very belittling to those who don't share their beliefs whether they admit it or not.

its less the people that are hypocrites and more the concept of their faith thats inherently hypocritical, like many contemporary belief systems

cant blame a KKK member who was draped in sheets from the age of 1/365

You're definitely right, and I attribute all this failure to man's accumulated "sins." Desire creates attachment in turn creating fear and suffering. Desire nothing and there will be no suffering. It's an illusion that we need anything or anyone in the first place. All sin is created by attachment to "things" we believe are resourceful. The problem lies solely within your self. Your limited reality is created by your perceptions.. all of which could be wrong in the first place. Therefore, something is wrong with you. Don't be ignorant to your surroundings and you can inevitably create your own environment. The first step to not being enslaved to this material realm is delving inward. It may take a lifetime but personally it's a pretty fucking crucial role in understanding. Nobody can just decide to say faith showed up one night. You can't "ask for forgiveness" and everything is gravy. There's nobody to fucking ask but yourself. People can go on all they want about finding "God," but only true divinitory encounters come from deep meditation. That claymation was dope as hell. Everyone do your Self a big favor and soak up these words: deoxy.org/egofalse

The premise of religion is extremely interesting to me. So many people make generalizations based upon their own experiences in dealing with religion or religious people. It all comes down to personal choice and preference. If practicing a religion makes you a better person, great. If practicing a religion doesn't change you at all or makes you a worse person, that isn't so good. Questioning the existence of a "God" is futile, as it will never be proven nor disproven. I think religion can be appreciated by all if it is studied in a pure sense and looked at using a sociological perspective.

There is more scientific proof that god doesnt exist.

It annoys me when you confront a believer of god about something thats already proven scientifically and ask them about it, and they ALWAYS put it down to "thats just the way god made it" or "its just faith"

I will agree with this. Many here are "painting with a broad brush" in referencing their encounters with others regarding religion. Unless you have spoken with someone who has studied religion intensely then take whatever anyone says with a grain of salt. We do not know if there is a God/Allah/Buddha etc. The many religious texts that exist are human kinds attempts to reason as to why we are here, what our purpose is, and how we should live. Is any of it right? No one knows for sure. For all we know, when we die we could just be reincarnated into some other form or being. Ultimately, respect others beliefs and live your life to pursue your own happiness and self satisfaction. In the end we leave this world with only the impact that we make. It can either be positive or negative. So in summation: live and love, for our time here is short in the grand scheme of things.

Edit: This thread is too much to get into and some of the attitudes in here are infuriating and predictable. Some of you have stirred up great debate and discussion; I applaud those few of you. Carry on.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/10spot...chefter-10-spot

There is a god.

His name is John Elway!

Thanks for the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coincidence

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/lincoln-kennedy.asp

OHMYGOD!!!! they must be some type of reincarnation! tarnation!