Religious intolerance :(

[universalmessenger]

oh ok. that's a whole separate issue. but ur entitled to ur beliefs. yet ur in here asking questions. so did u want to believe in GOD? that's the first thing we should establish.

 

[Snowbunny]

I don't know why you believe it. I have only seen him play favorites.

truthfully it is just part of my personality to believe, and it always has been. but i was a nurse in a clinic that specialised in burn victims, specifically children. they had a profound impact on me. it is personal though... perhaps you will have a paradigm shift someday.

I don't mean to disrespect your beliefs but as a person coming from a non-abrahamic background, the Adam and Eve story doesn't make much sense.

certainly, i understand... what part of it confuses you? like the narrative... or the point of it?

 

[armyman_83]

I think we all can be respectful to each person, but perhaps not an ideal (or faith). I try to "Hate the evil, and love the good" (Amos 5:15) so I do not tolerate some beliefs, indeed no one can tolerate everything, for to do so is not toleration, but indifference.

"Those who tolerate everything, respect nothing."

 

[kunabi]

oh ok. that's a whole separate issue. but ur entitled to ur beliefs. yet ur in here asking questions. so did u want to believe in GOD? that's the first thing we should establish.

I don't want to believe or disbelieve. I want to know why people believe or disbelieve. Do they have the questions I have? What answers they accept and why?

truthfully it is just part of my personality to believe, and it always has been. but i was a nurse in a clinic that specialised in burn victims, specifically children. they had a profound impact on me. it is personal though... perhaps you will have a paradigm shift someday.

Its possible. In spite of my current shift towards disbelief, If I see enough evidence to believe, I will.

certainly, i understand... what part of it confuses you? like the narrative... or the point of it?

there are many questions I have like - why did god need company all of a sudden, where is the garden of eden, why didn't god want them to get the knowledge of good and bad? isn't that the most important thing we would like our children to learn - separate good from bad? was it such a grave sin that he is still punishing the billionth+ generation for that sin? If that was such a big mistake, why not create a new pair, the one that would be more obedient? there are so many more questions. May be I have the story all wrong in which case I would request you to provide a link to the right one.

 

[universalmessenger]

I think we all can be respectful to each person, but perhaps not an ideal (or faith). I try to "Hate the evil, and love the good" (Amos 5:15) so I do not tolerate some beliefs, indeed no one can tolerate everything, for to do so is not toleration, but indifference.

"Those who tolerate everything, respect nothing."

i don't think this is necessarily true. one of my main beliefs is that spiritual truth is different for everybody. so it all depends on ur outlook on life.

 

[universalmessenger]

I don't want to believe or disbelieve. I want to know why people believe or disbelieve. Do they have the questions I have? What answers they accept and why?

i'm sorry kunabi but the question u asked me was very vague. i have no idea what answers ur looking for. as i speak i tell u what i believe in. and the majority of the time, i give explanations for my beliefs. just read thur some of my posts. if those aren't the answers ur looking for then plz reexplain.

 

[universalmessenger]

I want to know why people believe or disbelieve.

this answer will b different for everybody. so i don't get what ur looking for. 2-3 people's outlook on spirituality won't give u insight into what the whole world is thinking. so i don't get it. what r u looking for exactly?

 

[universalmessenger]

y do u not believe? y r u curious about the next man's perception on life when u have not clearly defined ur own? another person's viewpoints will only confuse u when u don't know which way to turn. u can only discover ur true path to GOD by looking within.

 

[LadyDeflora]

I don't want to believe or disbelieve. I want to know why people believe or disbelieve. Do they have the questions I have? What answers they accept and why?

Its possible. In spite of my current shift towards disbelief, If I see enough evidence to believe, I will.

there are many questions I have like - why did god need company all of a sudden, where is the garden of eden, why didn't god want them to get the knowledge of good and bad? isn't that the most important thing we would like our children to learn - separate good from bad? was it such a grave sin that he is still punishing the billionth+ generation for that sin? If that was such a big mistake, why not create a new pair, the one that would be more obedient? there are so many more questions. May be I have the story all wrong in which case I would request you to provide a link to the right one.

i'll take a try at answering.

His loneliness, here's this great beign with the power to create the universe, who can He share such thoughts with; what artist hides his masterpiece? We can make robots, some are frighteningly life like...but do they have enough individual intelligence to carry on a conversation or the emotions to share to make good company?

God created Adam and Eve for His company, they were His perfection. As for the tree of knowledge, what does that represent? an actual fruit, perhaps other cultures' influence, it's written in a manner that one needs to read it with, i don't know...maybe God in their heart to understand the parable? It doesn't state clearly they were the only people in the world.

the bible was written by people who had amazing experiences with God, how can any human convey what that's like, if they've never experienced it? I don't believe the bible is infallible, but i can understand what inspired those people and willingly accept He's the One, that i've chosen to inspire my life.

He's not still punishing people; isn't that why Christ died; so we'd be spared? Not every spiritual belief may believe that, but the answer for a Christian is right there, and He always offers chances, Adam and Eve weren't the only example of His disappointments He tried to send away, but it does suggest He learned from the early choices He made when dealing with those that offended His expectations of humanity, the story of Noah is a prime example.

How can we answer for another person's understanding, if we don't subscribe to it? i've never been atheist or agnostic, i was always the witch; until recently when i had a chain of experiences that i couldn't deny any longer, but i've always has some form of spirit in my life.

He didn't want obedience, He admires it as demonstrated by those in the bible that He chose, dutiful children, caring slaves, devoted leaders, great speakers, spirited women...if He expected it of us, He would never have given us the option of free will, perhaps it makes Him more glad when one of His children that strayed and having experienced life without Him, accepts that He has the most to offer, wanting to obey Him, rather than being forced to. He tells you what the options for not believing are, but it's still an individual's choice. Even paul in his letters points this out..."that's what they do, not what His do."

at least that's how i came to understand it and what finally let me accept that He's not the bad guy, my bad associations with people who used Him as theirs made Him so, and i was ready for Him to come back into my life...He was there, and i'm a better believer now then i was when it was being imposed upon me as a child. i'm not fond of the roman catholic church, they're the ones that inspired a passion for the occult in me, and made it seem so difficultly painful to just say "Hey God, remember me?"

it's impossible to provide a link that offers absolute correctness, i don't believe anyone knows the absolute truth and if they are gifted with that knowledge, they become prophets and sages; how many are in the world today?

there haven't been to many in my opinion; but i do believe Jesus definitly qualified...regardless of believing in a god or not, He had some right ideas for living with each other, harmoniously, and had understandings that most people don't about what our natures need to thrive; rather than our wants, that don't.

the most important thing for me that i'd like my children to learn is how to be good, healthy people in a world that makes it difficult. I believe spiritual faith helps, and know from my own, that educating has more impact than dictating the choices a child makes. I offer my daughter to come to church with me, usually she says no and i don't make her, but i'm most happy when she asks me to go, because she wants to.

these are my answers and opinions, if you disagree with them, read the bible and make your own...unless you expect others to tell you what to believe about a particular faith?

 

[universalmessenger]

I don't want to believe or disbelieve. I want to know why people believe or disbelieve. Do they have the questions I have? What answers they accept and why?

Its possible. In spite of my current shift towards disbelief, If I see enough evidence to believe, I will.

there are many questions I have like - why did god need company all of a sudden, where is the garden of eden, why didn't god want them to get the knowledge of good and bad? isn't that the most important thing we would like our children to learn - separate good from bad? was it such a grave sin that he is still punishing the billionth+ generation for that sin? If that was such a big mistake, why not create a new pair, the one that would be more obedient? there are so many more questions. May be I have the story all wrong in which case I would request you to provide a link to the right one.

oh i didn't read all ur questions until the last person posted. i just read the one addressed to me. now i see where ur questions r coming from. ur asking from a state of "y is GOD punishing us like this?" what did we do so wrong, etc. my advice let that mess go. ur allowing the complications of Christianity to impair ur judgment instead of seeking out GOD with a pure heart. i believe those stories aren't even true. i think they r mythology. and no one can make any logical sense out of it no matter how hard they try. who said u had to b a Christian in order to believe in GOD anyway??? discover who GOD is by looking within.

 

[kunabi]

i'm sorry kunabi but the question u asked me was very vague. i have no idea what answers ur looking for. as i speak i tell u what i believe in. and the majority of the time, i give explanations for my beliefs. just read thur some of my posts. if those aren't the answers ur looking for then plz reexplain.

I don't know which question you are referring to. May be we are not talking about the same thing. can you please repeat the question you think was vague? I will try to explain it.

I want to know why people believe or disbelieve.

this answer will b different for everybody. so i don't get what ur looking for. 2-3 people's outlook on spirituality won't give u insight into what the whole world is thinking. so i don't get it. what r u looking for exactly?

I am looking for different explanations from different people on different religions. I am in no hurry to reach a conclusion. I know it is confusing when you are trying to listen to everybody's side but I prefer that over jumping to conclusions. There are many people here who are far more knowledgeable than I am and I would like to learn from them.

y do u not believe?

Right now, I don't believe but that too brings a lot of questions to mind. I am looking for as many answers I can get with regards to religion.

y r u curious about the next man's perception on life when u have not clearly defined ur own?

To help define my own.

another person's viewpoints will only confuse u when u don't know which way to turn. u can only discover ur true path in life by looking within.

As I said, I would like to know as much as I can before I decide. Religion is not stopping me from being a good person in this life and so I am no hurry.

 

[kunabi]

oh i didn't read all ur questions until the last person posted. i just read the one addressed to me. now i see where ur questions r coming from. ur asking from a state of "y is GOD punishing us like this?" what did we do so wrong, etc. my advice let that mess go.ur allowing the complications of Christianity to impair ur judgment instead of seeking out GOD with a pure heart. i believe those stories aren't even true. i think they r mythology. and no one can make any logical sense out of it no matter how hard they try. who said u had to b a Christian in order to believe in GOD anyway??? discover who GOD is by looking within.

As I said earlier, this story doesn't make sense to me. This is one of the many questions why. What I am looking for is why do many believe it to be true.

 

[dnihila]

I don't buy fish from fishers who do the following:
1. sell me many fish in the sea
2.give me a rotten fish for free
3. get me busy fixing their fishing net
4. taking other fishers fish
5. ask me to hold their fishing rod and wait
It really SMELLS PEOPLE!

 

[universalmessenger]

As I said earlier, this story doesn't make sense to me. This is one of the many questions why. What I am looking for is why do many believe it to be true.

bc they r brainwashed into believing it's true. this isn't a conspiracy theory either. many religions such as Christianity asks their followers to believe something wholeheartedly without ever asking questions. everybody expects u to just have faith and believe in whatever was written in scripture without second guessing the Bible. this is the wrong way to go if u ask me. here is what i believe

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-9DwLC7gkda.Ep_J0ZwsXAP7Jy6PHz9Rc2_U-?cq=1&p=25

 

[universalmessenger]

I don't know which question you are referring to. May be we are not talking about the same thing. can you please repeat the question you think was vague? I will try to explain it.


I am looking for different explanations from different people on different religions. I am in no hurry to reach a conclusion. I know it is confusing when you are trying to listen to everybody's side but I prefer that over jumping to conclusions. There are many people here who are far more knowledgeable than I am and I would like to learn from them.


Right now, I don't believe but that too brings a lot of questions to mind. I am looking for as many answers I can get with regards to religion.

To help define my own.

As I said, I would like to know as much as I can before I decide. Religion is not stopping me from being a good person in this life and so I am no hurry.

u can not define ur own faith based off another man's perception. in fact, i advise against it. but to each their own. trust and believe u can not determine how knowledgeable the next person is based on their faith. u can only make that assessment based on ur own knowledge. but the key is to obtain ur own knowledge first. u make a decision based on another man's judgment and u may not get what ur looking for. find exactly what works for u. and don't let nobody judge u. that's the best advice i can give.

 

[universalmessenger]

Snowbunny u r outraged at the fact that no one in the Non-Christan Religion Forum views the Catholic Church as the ONLY ONE TRUE WAY to GOD- like u do. yet u have no valid arguments, u have no true concepts of life, and ur only defense is FLAMING. and yet u still wonder y people won't convert???

 

[universalmessenger]

plz get a grip. i'm begging u. ty.

 

[Tynan]

Religious intolerance

I consider myself intolerant of most religions, any group of people who tell me that my loved ones, those people I have met and respected in my life, my family and my friends are not only going to burn in hell for all time, but that it is 'right' that this should happen.

I am intolerant of religion in the same way I am intolerant of pedophiles and racists, I see them all as a threat.

 

[universalmessenger]

Religious intolerance

I consider myself intolerant of .....any group of people who tell me that my loved ones, those people I have met and respected in my life, my family and my friends are not only going to burn in hell for all time, but that it is 'right' that this should happen.

ty. i feel the same way.

 

[universalmessenger]

Snowbunny u r outraged at the fact that no one in the Non-Christan Religion Forum views the Catholic Church as the ONLY ONE TRUE WAY to GOD- like u do. yet u have no valid arguments, u have no true concepts of life, and ur only defense is FLAMING. and yet u still wonder y people won't convert???

ooohhh. i see this thread is back up again. i thought it was on it's way to getting shut down like the other threads. i must've been mistaken. well save that pm as a keepsake, Snowbunny.

and in return, if ur only rebuttal is to make another blatant attempt to get this thread, unjustly, shut down- like u did the others- with a whole bunch of avid lies and flaming. Then allow me to warn the other members, who r only in here trying to conduct an intellectual conversation in the mist of all ur tirades.

The following message is an announcement:
in advance, i'm letting everyone know. People please do not worry about posting any responses to the flaming posts and the insults that will surely follow. don't worry about pushing the REPORT button either. bc i don't think it works. this thread will just get locked down. no matter how u tell it. oh well. i could care less. as long as GOD don't play favorites, i don't care how man judges. we'll just have to take our conversation some where else. we'll move to a new thread. and begin again. no biggie.

but i digress. one thing i can say Snowbunny is that u might b a Catholic but u r certainly NOT a Christian.

Galatians 5:14
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus said this and you've done the complete opposite. whereas I've shown u honesty and respect. I just don't agree with u on some things. and ur treating me like i've committed a crime here. like i've done something wrong for being right. Snowbunny, i say this in all seriousness. it's not my fault u don't have any real answers. i am not the one to blame here. go to ur SOURCE. they say the truth hurts, now don't get me wrong, but ur overreacting. my advice, u should start seeking out the real truth and looking for some real answers instead of just attacking me sista'. peace.