15th December 2005, 12:56 PM
:D
I don't have much to say on Christianity, as, in my relatively-humble point-of-view, it's irrelevant. I will comment on this, though:
Lazy refuted this one well. However, I just wanted to say that, in general, I think spirituality should be very personal and subjective. I don't like the idea of the church having power/influence in gubberment office (to legistlate morality, which often times doesn't work). I don't like it's not uncommon to be packaged and sold.
*Carnie interlude*
"Ladies and gentleman! Step right up, take your best shot, and if you've got good aim, you just might win! Walk away with a teddy bear, a digital watch, or even a big ol' crucifix that automatically cleanses the hands and tongue you use to hurt people every day! You're unworthy slobs without MY help!"
*end*
Missionaries attempt to influence the world positively, because deep down in their little black hearts they really DO believe they are spreading the word of Jesus (in this case) with an invariably positive effect. I have no qualms against free speech, but I think it's a little disturbing.
I've dabbled in Buddhism in the past couple of years. It's helped me realize that I believe people should all be encouraged to find their own paths in life, figure out their own morals and beliefs (aside, perhaps, from some basic common sense, as in "Thou shall not kill", or "do unto others", etc). Manufactured religion may have been a good survival technique, created by the people for the people, used to foster hope in otherwise dark times (or to foster darkness... can we say Spanish Inquisition?). However, I honestly hope that, in time, people learn to grow less reliant on this creature they call "God". Self-reliance (particularly, being free from an invisible, intangible higher being's very ambiguous rules) may be lonely and frightening, but at least it strengthens us. Puts some hair on our genitals and a little chlorine in our gene pool. I honestly believe that man has no need for god, though mainly in the social sense. Life after death, fear of one's own mortality, and having an invisible big brother to spiritually guide you are sufficiently seperate issues.
At the very least stop informing me that I'm going to burn for all eternity, sent by an entity that simultaneously "loves" me (spiteful little prick, isn't He?) because I don't follow his exact rules (interpretted by <b>mankind</b>!). That's a fucking mountaintop of foothills of loads of crocks of piles of anthills of morsels of dogshit, and I can't imagine why anyone would want to use fear as a primary argument for spiritual/moral redemption. It's a little like painting God out to be Hitler. As imperfect beings, who are we to say we genuinely know the word of a higher/supposedly perfect being?
Bill Hicks (imitating a person modifying the bible): "'...I think what god MEANT to say... uh...' ...I've never been that sure of myself."
I wish I had a sound byte of that.
I don't have much to say on Christianity, as, in my relatively-humble point-of-view, it's irrelevant. I will comment on this, though:
Quote:You cannot take bits and pieces of his teachings to make some Create-a-god. Even though that seems to be the thing to do these days.
Lazy refuted this one well. However, I just wanted to say that, in general, I think spirituality should be very personal and subjective. I don't like the idea of the church having power/influence in gubberment office (to legistlate morality, which often times doesn't work). I don't like it's not uncommon to be packaged and sold.
*Carnie interlude*
"Ladies and gentleman! Step right up, take your best shot, and if you've got good aim, you just might win! Walk away with a teddy bear, a digital watch, or even a big ol' crucifix that automatically cleanses the hands and tongue you use to hurt people every day! You're unworthy slobs without MY help!"
*end*
Missionaries attempt to influence the world positively, because deep down in their little black hearts they really DO believe they are spreading the word of Jesus (in this case) with an invariably positive effect. I have no qualms against free speech, but I think it's a little disturbing.
I've dabbled in Buddhism in the past couple of years. It's helped me realize that I believe people should all be encouraged to find their own paths in life, figure out their own morals and beliefs (aside, perhaps, from some basic common sense, as in "Thou shall not kill", or "do unto others", etc). Manufactured religion may have been a good survival technique, created by the people for the people, used to foster hope in otherwise dark times (or to foster darkness... can we say Spanish Inquisition?). However, I honestly hope that, in time, people learn to grow less reliant on this creature they call "God". Self-reliance (particularly, being free from an invisible, intangible higher being's very ambiguous rules) may be lonely and frightening, but at least it strengthens us. Puts some hair on our genitals and a little chlorine in our gene pool. I honestly believe that man has no need for god, though mainly in the social sense. Life after death, fear of one's own mortality, and having an invisible big brother to spiritually guide you are sufficiently seperate issues.
At the very least stop informing me that I'm going to burn for all eternity, sent by an entity that simultaneously "loves" me (spiteful little prick, isn't He?) because I don't follow his exact rules (interpretted by <b>mankind</b>!). That's a fucking mountaintop of foothills of loads of crocks of piles of anthills of morsels of dogshit, and I can't imagine why anyone would want to use fear as a primary argument for spiritual/moral redemption. It's a little like painting God out to be Hitler. As imperfect beings, who are we to say we genuinely know the word of a higher/supposedly perfect being?
Bill Hicks (imitating a person modifying the bible): "'...I think what god MEANT to say... uh...' ...I've never been that sure of myself."
I wish I had a sound byte of that.