[pepper]

hey, no disrespect intended. those are just my thoughts and feelings as requested.

and kitten, word. militant anything is like same shit, different pile as far as i'm concerned. some wiggle room either way is reasonable.

prayer works, imho, to alter your reality or at least your perception of it which amounts to the same thing. whether that's externalized prayer to a god/dess, earth elements, ancestors or internalized prayer/meditation, the end result can be profound. the power of the mind is incredible and "belief" certainly does "work".

[kittenb]

So therefore belief with out evidence for me is out. I have no problem with someone praying so long as they understand that prayer does not work and that they are just fooling themselves.

And I suggest that everyone can benefit from steering clear both of living a life full of superstitions and of living with other people’s superstitious lives. Because when people hold superstitions, then no amount of reason can save them from making poor decisions based on bad information, which is beyond challenge.

There is not greater cause of evil in this world in my opinion than bad information held as an article of faith.

See I have met more than one militant atheist in my life and I just find them to be every bit and annoying and arrogent as every other fundemental believer of any religion (please not I said militant, not just atheist.) It seems that it is not enough for an atheist to not have a beleif system. Anyone who does have one is just stupid and uneducated.

How is your judgement any better for this planet than someone who holds a literal interpretation of the Bible? All your are really saying is "I'm right, your wrong, and further more you are dumb if you disagree." Where is the enlightenment in this view?

[konphusion26]

I'm not hatin ladies...just wanted some clarity on the issue. Thanks for your respectful responses.

[pepper]

meh, religion has always been a pain in the ass to me. i'm spiritual, sure, but it's freaking private, hello. i certainly don't want anyone dictating to me what i am supposed to believe. and no WAY do i want anyone putting religion on my kids. that's up to them to decide when they're old enough to do so for themselves. i mean, at that age they are so gullible they think a bunny brings them chocolate at easter!
religion always seemed to me like people so terrified of the unknown that they had to make up a grandoise story to explain everything to make them feel safe. i think when you die, that's it. you're dead and gone. that's just way too scary for most people. they'd like to think that this isn't it instead of living it to the fullest.
that's my take anyhow. i'm just not into it. there is no room in my life for religion.

[nickclick]

LOL I see. I don't think anyone should try to force their beliefs on anyone. But, I think faith is important. I've never known any atheists, I really dont understand what thats all about. I personally can't function without God. Anyone care to enlighten me? I respect your beliefs, even though I dont share them. Let chat. Like is there a specific reason one decides to be an atheist? Help me out here.

as an atheist, or agnostic, or whatever i am, i don't think i ever decided to be an atheist. it's not a group i joined. there's not much to learn about. there's no rules to follow; no book to tell me what to do. which is exactly the point. i just never found the need for any religion. yeah, i have questions, and i don't think science can answer everything. but i'm okay with that.

[konphusion26]

I'm a devout atheist, and ideally i'd love to settle down with someone who's a feminist atheist vegetarian trekkie and all that jazz. lol

But that being said, so long as i'm not pushed into going to church, or warned of eternal damnation (or, if i do ever decide to marry, i'm not pushed to have a church wedding), or threatened with a church funeral when i die, i'd be totally cool with marrying someone who's religious. And i don't want kids, but if i DID by some awful twist end up with kids, i probably wouldn't mind them being raised in my husband/partner's faith, either, if it was that important to my partner. (Again, so long as I'm not gonna be bothered to come to church with them every week and stuff. Because that's just not gonna happen).

I think as long as my partner could respect my boundaries and beliefs, I'd be more than happy to respect his.

LOL I see. I don't think anyone should try to force their beliefs on anyone. But, I think faith is important. I've never known any atheists, I really dont understand what thats all about. I personally can't function without God. Anyone care to enlighten me? I respect your beliefs, even though I dont share them. Let chat. Like is there a specific reason one decides to be an atheist? Help me out here.

[faerietails2]

I'm a devout atheist, and ideally i'd love to settle down with someone who's a feminist atheist vegetarian trekkie and all that jazz. lol

But that being said, so long as i'm not pushed into going to church, or warned of eternal damnation (or, if i do ever decide to marry, i'm not pushed to have a church wedding), or threatened with a church funeral when i die, i'd be totally cool with marrying someone who's religious. And i don't want kids, but if i DID by some awful twist end up with kids, i probably wouldn't mind them being raised in my husband/partner's faith, either, if it was that important to my partner. (Again, so long as I'm not gonna be bothered to come to church with them every week and stuff. Because that's just not gonna happen).

I think as long as my partner could respect my boundaries and beliefs, I'd be more than happy to respect his.

[konphusion26]

Spirituality and faith are very important to me in a relationship/marriage. Or any relationship for that matter. Every relationship has to be built on some type of foundation or it wont stand. What better foundation than love-- Love comes from God, and according to scripture God IS love. He Loves US unconditionally. Right???

I refused to marry or date anyone who was not of the same faith. Thats just me. I'm not so much "religious" or with "traditions"... because people have put their own spin on things and have really made a mess of it, left God out of it. I am a Christian, I'm not perfect but I stand on my faith in Christ. That is how i will raise my children. My sister and I have had the "i dont know where I fit in" discussion and she's really confused about what to believe. I can't say that I blame her. She doesn't "identify" with one religion or another but says she believes in God. I'm not sure if its because she doesnt want to be held accountable for what she's done in her life or what.... Her husband, is non-practicing Muslim. I don't know how that works cuz she's not muslim. They were married in a civil ceremony (but so was I) . Hers was non-religious, while we incorporated our Christian faith. I can't imagine my marriage or my relationship not being based on and led by our faith in God/Christ. We couldn't sustain this thing without Him. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I feel bad for their kids because the parents themselves are so confused, how will they guide their children???

But anyway, I basically told her, the only information I can give you is based on what I've learned and believe through my studies of the Bible, and my belief in who Jesus Christ is. Some might say that would be biased information. But FOR ME it is truth. So I let her know, in order to find what you're looking for, you have to have a personal relationship with God and find out the truth for yourself. I can only tell you what I believe to be true based on the Bible. I'm sure I'll get lots of lovely responses about this, but thats fine. I stand firm on my beliefs.

[faerietails2]

You're a jackass.

[nohope]

For me it's not a question of religion, as much as a question of basic assumptions of how dose my partner make decisions. That for me is a deal breaker, primarily because for me a relationship is a business proposition. If my partner makes bad decisions that will affect my life...

So therefore belief with out evidence for me is out. I have no problem with someone praying so long as they understand that prayer does not work and that they are just fooling themselves.

Which is ok in my book because our mental state can create "a self fulfilling prophecy." If we can psych our selves out in a negative way, we can do the same in a positive way.

We can also get benefits from controlling our thoughts and minds. i.e. meditation, and for some people that is called prayer.

So I am not against using psychological tricks in order to gain benefits....
But when that crosses the line from purposeful self-delusion to create a potential benefit, to straight out delusion beyond reason and evidence.... well that is going to be trouble...

And I suggest that everyone can benefit from steering clear both of living a life full of superstitions and of living with other people’s superstitious lives. Because when people hold superstitions, then no amount of reason can save them from making poor decisions based on bad information, which is beyond challenge.

There is not greater cause of evil in this world in my opinion than bad information held as an article of faith.

[lunia666]

Hope am posting this in the right place ??

Do you feel spirituality/religion is important for long term couples

This has become an issue with me and BF over the last few months. He doesn't go to church regularly but he prays before every meal. Which I don't have any issues with. He asked me to start praying with him and poss find a local church to attend. Here's where the problem is I really don't know if I believe maybe there is a higher power who knows. I wasn't raised to believe anything my father is a lapsed catholic. Personal I always thought if I every did join a church it would be the catholic church but I also have issues with the catholic church. In fact I have issues with church's all together.I do feel religion is important for couples and raising kids. Where I fit in I have no clue. Your thought are welcomed:)

[nereid]

That's more money for the cause (you dumbass)

[nohope]

Ron Luce's Holy War

Next up on the agenda—woman bashing. If you think the world needs an alternative to the worst misogynist heavy metal or hip-hop, but you still want to see women degraded, insulted, and dehumanized, Luce has got just the thing for you.

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=72&ItemID=10320

[alligator]

HALF of them? Really?

Hell, it's worth a try.

"I pledge to never have sex again."

50%, here I come...

[snafooey]

It's not that far-fetched. There's a definite history of Christian militia movements in the U.S.

Btw, did anyone see this week's Savage Love: The American Taliban's War on Birth Control?

http://www.villagevoice.com/people/0620,savage,73228,24.html

(sorry, no cleaned-up link b/c of all the commas)

Scroll to the end (though he mentions off the top that statistic that half of the people who take virginity pledges end up losing it within the year).

[smurfin]

I'm sorry nohope, but I can't take that seriously. Just as I can't take Slipknot or the lyrics of Eminem seriously.

I strongly feel those 25K people came for the spectacle, the music, for the opportunity to shock more than for the actual wish to go to battle for christianity.

[nohope]

Meet the Shock Troops of the Christian Youth
Battle Cry for Theocracy!
by Sunsara Taylor

May 16, 2006

If you've been waiting until the Christian fascist movement started filling stadiums with young people and hyping them up to do battle in "God's army" to get alarmed, wait no longer.

In recent weeks, Battle Cry, a Christian fundamentalist youth movement, has attracted more than 25,000 to mega-rally rock concerts in San Francisco and Detroit and this weekend they plan to fill Wachovia Stadium in Philadelphia.

They claim their religion and values are under attack but, amidst spectacular lightshows, hummers, Navy Seals, and military imagery on stage, it is Battle Cry that has declared war on everyone else! Their leader, Ron Luce, insists: "This is war. And Jesus invites us to get into the action, telling us that the violent--the 'forceful' ones--will lay hold of the kingdom."

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=72&ItemID=10275
http://www.battlecry.com/

[smurfin]

Demoness, I don't think you'll be getting hate mail from busties either. It's the trolls you want to be wary of.

[demoness]

hello smurfin, thanks for telling me. I thought my profile was confidential. Doesnt matter though. Ive edited it. Plus, i dont think i'll be getting any hate mail from any busties. If anything you all are some of the sweetest warmest people ive come across. :-)

[smurfin]

o/t
Demoness, I don't know if you know/if you intended it like this, but you're email address and (possibly) your name are in your profile.