Have you seriously questioned your religious faith

I believe all religions are for people who are afraid of dying and need a crutch to lean on. They want some devine reason for their existence and some guidance in the way they live good lives.

Being gay I get advice? from so called christians with their "devine I know better attitudes". So if you want to question my orientation I'll question your most inner beliefs too.

If you opened your eyes you would see the only true god is money. The lust for it creates lives destroys others and rules most things people do. I don't want your gods or to chase material things in an excessive way.

So if your god is the "true god" lets here some good solid proof or at least an arguement why your so sure your on the right track. Or have you never questioned your beliefs.

Ignorance, that's why they've never questioned it. Or they have, we don't know. Either ignorance, desperation, or forced belief by the people who raised them.

Being 'gay' is not a sin, being 'gay' has nothing to do with religion. It's sexual and nothing more. Nobody has any right to judge you on that fact. Maybe something else, but not on that. Ever.

Don't let them touch you just because their religion insults you.

Religion is a sensitive subject when speaking about how it impacts different people's lives. But then again, you must look at the different religions and the correlations they all have to see that there is a "Creator" entity present in this universe and that religion serves as a conduit to worship that entity...

But again I feel that some of the things religions come up with makes me laugh...

But you're right in thinking that many of the people believe in religion because it serves as a way for them to live more to life rather than live the knowledge that they will become nothing more than worm chow...

Yeah I do it everyday, I have thought of switching too, but all in all I stick with mine because it fits me.

"I question my spirituality and my existence daily, anyone who doesn't is a fool....."

I think most of us agree that homo-sapiens enjoy labeling everything
In the process of labeling, people have been known to personify love in many ways
If I claim to be a wise man it surely means that I don't know, as the song says.

Elisha,

I consider myself a Christian. I believe in God and my faith is very strong. But I do hope I did not come across trying to give you any advice as some crazy religious person and persecuting you for who you are. I have my thoughts and my beliefs yes, but I try not to force them on anyone. I try to stay quiet and let people approach me if they prefer. Most of my friends are not Christians but know that I am. My best friend of 9 years, is gay. He knows where I stand, but we don't discuss it.

blah blah blah Im rambling. sorry

anyways, I just hope I haven't done anything to offend you.

~Lyndsy

My religion, as well as several others, may reject those who are gay, lesbian or whatever. But to be perfectly honest, that is one of the things that I don't personally agree with. Of course, I am part of a particularly religious family community, so being gay would result me in being thrown out of my house and being severely abused. However, I have been taught by many of my elders that I should never judge others. Unless they inflict any unwanted behaviour upon me, I should accept them and treat them with respect; just as I’d wish to be treated. And I agree with Lyndsy, I'd never force my opinion upon on you or anyone else. After all, Islam does not accept forced decisions.

^^But it hates those that leave the religion...!!!

I personally hate what religion has become...I have issues with Islam, but then that is just me, I think that certain religions fail to mordernize with the coming times, making it look old-fashioned.

I think that religion at that precise moment when it was at it's highest, reflected quite well with the social issues that plagued them before...

^
Noir if you have issues with islam then let's talk seperately i would love to

as for gays...it's not about hating them or loving them but a fact is a fact that being a gay is totally wrong..all people were born from a relation between male and female
gays people should think about it again

Any person who does not seriously question their faith from time to time is a complete twit.

Agreed .

"Any person who does not seriously question their faith from time to time is a complete twit."

Really...How so?

I would really like to know how someone completely happy with the faith they are with, is a complete twit, if they never question it?

Emily,

Your commitment to God and your faith is beautiful. Especially at such a young age. I admire that. I am also born again. :-)

Bob, I Didn't get your point??!!
and furthermore, all people make mistakes but God is perfect

I think that just because someone loves another of the same sex, does that make them wrong?

No...I feel that it is nothing more than a rule that all men/women should act like the "reinforced" notion of what a man should be like.

But I think the focus is mostly on the men...Why? Because they break the traditions of masculinity, and right now according to them and many New Right thinkers, the concept of masculinity is dying...

I feel that if one loves another, it transends any earthly limitations...

""Any person who does not seriously question their faith from time to time is a complete twit."

Really...How so?

I would really like to know how someone completely happy with the faith they are with, is a complete twit, if they never question it?"

Being happy with ones faith has nothing to do with questioning it. I'm saying that it's just stupid to blindly follow something that you're taught from birth without questioning it. Real faith survives those tests of faith. I can respect someone who has questioned their religion and still find it to complete them.

Emily, I have never heard of "The Way". You will have to tell me a little bit about it. I have actually considered becoming Catholic. I will have to tell you a little more about that later!

Ha...

How funny...

I Have Questioned My Religion On Numerous Occasions But Alot Of Good Things Have Happened To Me While Believing In Christianity....It Makes Me Happy So I'm Holding On To God....I Think Religion Should Be Whatever Makes You Happy And Do Good Things :)

*To Each His Own

xoxo-Nikki-xoxo

"I believe all religions are for people who are afraid of dying and need a crutch to lean on. They want some divine reason for their existence and some guidance in the way they live good lives."

I do not believe that faith can be forced on anyone. The above statement seems to contradict the stories of the martyrs that chose death over denial. In today's world it is more common to see a choice of death because of denial. It does seem to be lame to force personal beliefs on others as the history of the crusades seems to have proven
"So if your god is the "true god" lets here some good solid proof or at least an argument why your so sure your on the right track." Or have you never questioned your beliefs?"
For the most part I have lived my life questioning my beliefs. I have examined life, and searched for rhyme and reason, while I wondered was I forcing the reason, or was the reason forcing me

Since respectfully I interpret Bobs question "and furthermore, who is really to determine what is wrong and what is right...ancient teaching....be real" as at least an absolution from determining right from wrong I will examine this topic outside the realm of dogmatic authority.

C.S. Lewis wrote a book about four loves. I don't remember the order, but I recall one was the love between God and man, another was parent and offspring, the love between friends, and finally erotic love characterized by Eros

About a little over three years ago I happen to meet this young woman who seemed to have at least one thing in common with me, besides being insane, i.e. she was broken hearted because she could not be with the woman she was in love with. I really have little doubt that she held her love for this woman sacred.
I actually viewed the letters she wrote praying they could be together in every sense of the word together.

Sometimes it is easy for me to compare religion to legs or spiritual steps to destiny

I do not expect the shallow to understand how this topic reminded me of the joke about the man that had a diseased leg that needed to be surgically removed. Due to human error the healthy leg was removed by mistake, and eventually the diseased leg had to be removed also. When he consulted a lawyer about a lawsuit, he was told he did not have a leg to stand on. My point is that it is futile to attempt to prove the existence of supreme holiness if we use religion as a weapon

If we accept all that the bible says about God we must accept that God is love, thus it is love that is on trial here.

To the topic question: I think I've questioned my faith myself more than anyone else has questioned it. When other people do it, though, I like to talk with them. As one of my good friends says, "A man who learns only from himself has only a fool for a teacher."

"C.S. Lewis wrote a book about four loves." Woo Lewis! I've read that one... I remember it being different than I expected. What did you think?

I don't believe in God because I'm afraid of death, the boogieman, or anything else. I believe in God because I do, simply put. Because I feel that there are "more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies," and that Goodness is a vital, living, powerful force in our existence. Ending this post with a bastardized Lewis quote: "I believe in God as I believe the sun has reason; not because I can see it, but because by it, I can see everything else."

I became a fan of C. S. Lewis after an Irish woman that I new from a prayer group saw me lingering in the small church library. I did not have an online computer then, and I enjoyed the catholic encyclopedias while I was questioning my faith. The woman pulled "Miracles" by C. S. Lewis off the shelf and assured me that I would enjoy reading it. That book was not what I expected at all. Yes, if I had not checked out "The Four Loves" from the church library I would have expected a romance novel. I was again pleasantly surprised by the content. .....I enjoyed the quote

Lyndey, no it wasnt anything you said, I was actually in a pretty foul mood and I wanted to vent my frustration a little. I find most individuals who are religious to some degree quite reasonable, but the hierarchy of those religions tends not to move with time. Maybe a lack of common sense is what they suffer from.

Emily I think its great that you are a born again Christian. Im one of lifes natural cynics which probably dictate Im a fairly negative person. One great thing about that is I dont over estimate my own knowledge or beliefs. So maybe I envy your faith as such because I feel lost in this world.

Elysium I sometimes wonder if women had more of a say in Muslim countries if things there would be different. Maybe Islam which led the world in culture for so long is just a little behind, but it has taken the rest of the world such a long time to find some tolerance.

Angelina is the picture of you???

Bob youre so diplomatic, that comment about the glass house is so true.

And Michael you hit the nail on the head about the young woman who felt so much sorrow because she couldnt be with the one she loved. Thats probably why I was in such a mood anyway. But thats another story.

To Bob
i never forced anyone to follow my belief

and as for you (i know it's a unpolite but) i think you are afraid to be judged by others and because of that you don't tell your true opinion about this artical and others articals

Whhhhooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaa
Sheri shes talking to me again after weeks
the world is great
god exists now

as you all were

"I find most individuals who are religious to some degree quite reasonable, but the hierarchy of those religions tends not to move with time. Maybe a lack of common sense is what they suffer from."

^^ I think the common misconception a lot of people make is that they believe "religion" to be the same as "faith"... I couldn't disagree more. RELIGION is the cause of wars (fought with guns and tongues alike) and is full of man-made rules and regulations it uses to control its sheep. GOD and FAITH talk of things quite opposite to this. All "religions" have a great variety of interpretations of God and Faith - that from the "irrationally superstitious" to the "philosophically sophisticated".

Not meaning to attack any religion in particular... so I will try to spread my questions and discoveries equally across the board (and please note, Im not attacking anyone's religion - Im just saying that religion includes faith, albeit man-made, amongst other things - but faith does not include religion)...

Why is it in the Catholic Church you cant partake in the Holy Communion if you have been divorced? Yes, it does talk on divorce in the bible, but nowhere does it say that once divorced you cannot partake in Christ's body and blood.

Why is it that some Islam woman are forced to wear the Hijab? It states in the Qur'an that modest dress apply to any person (male or female) at the time of puberty. This was because of a story relating to a young woman that visited Muhammad's wife wearing see-through clothing and it was decided men and woman had to dress modestly from puberty onwards. Why is it then that only woman are persecuted for showing more than their eyes and hands? Once again, man has taken this rule and altered it to become something that it was not intended as.

Buddhism is seen as a beautiful and spiritual religion (the modern religion etc)... although even there, we can find hypocrisies from man made rules... rules such as meat can be eaten if it has been offered to a monk, as they decided that the animal would have already been killed (and it was not killed specifically for them). Yet, if no one accepted the meat, the meat would not be in demand and the animal would not have been killed.

No religion or whatever cultural product will be 100% rational or 100% irrational. We have been given by God (whichever you may believe in) a brain and mind and heart and soul... these are the tools which should be used to determine how to live your life through your faith. Not books or preachers or priests or monks.

Then again, maybe this kind of hypocrisy is something endemic to mankind rather than just religion?

I'm christian, but I accept all people for who they are not what they are, I believe we are all god's children, whatever religion, colour, race, orientation, age, or gender... we are ALL equal and deserve the love of one another. Plus I do like the safety net of having my god, despite the fact of my sins and sometimes questioning of my god... but it's nice to have my faith, I do not preach so I expect people to accept me for who I am and not for the god that I believe in... everone has the right of choice in my eyes.

"Why is it that some Islam woman are forced to wear the Hijab? It states in the Qur'an that modest dress apply to any person (male or female) at the time of puberty. This was because of a story relating to a young woman that visited Muhammad's wife wearing see-through clothing and it was decided men and woman had to dress modestly from puberty onwards. Why is it then that only woman are persecuted for showing more than their eyes and hands? Once again, man has taken this rule and altered it to become something that it was not intended as."

You have a very misguided view when speaking about things you haven't even lived through...

Yes, it is not compulsary to wear the hijab, but many women "choose" to wear it as a form of identity, while other's wear it as a form of protection or as a way to eradicate the gaze of men.

You can be true that some people use it against others, but you need to understand that it is men under power with their own misguided interpretation of what a book says that make up this rules.

Women wear the hijab because it is part of their culture and heritage, and respect comes with that, so rather than say that they are being forced to wear something, actually look at the "WHY's" rather than the "HOW COME"

Subject: News
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:01:38 -0500
Now this is News....
Barbara Walters of Television's 20/20 did a story on gender roles
in Kabul, Afghanistan, several years before the Afghan conflict. She
noted that women customarily walked 5 paces behind their husbands.

She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk
behind their husbands. From Ms. Walter's vantage point, despite the
overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to walk even further back behind their husbands and are happy to maintain the old custom.
Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, "Why do
you now seem happy with the old custom that you once tried so
desperately to change?"
The woman looked Ms. Walters straight in the eyes, and without
hesitation said, "Land Mines."

Noir - you just had to write that in there didn't you - you just LOVE to argue! If you read my post and then you're post... you're actually stating exactly what I am stating - for once we are actually agreeing that religion is man's perception of a book or rules that have been handed down from generation to generation (and often changed drastically) to create a power of their own... I was not saying that all women wear it as a statement of their religion - I am merely stating that each religion has its pitt falls...

PS - love that post above mine! Haha.

And this poem would be called.....?

Or are we supposed to fumble our way through them all?? :)

OMG - did you just apologise?! Hahaha - Im going to remind you of that one day... :)

I don't question my faith. Why should I? If you question your faith and beliefs then it wasn't much of a faith or belief then was it.

I also am a born again Christian and I know that if I wasn't raised that way, then I would find my way to it.
And believe me I'm not blindly following through... I have my own mind and I find things out for myself. This is what I choose and I'm sticking with it.

I dont care if was meant to be taken literally - I have it in WRITING dude and its going in the "Mo-archives-for-later-use-against-an-individual" file

Exactly - its all man-made rules and regulations...

"I have always thought it funny that a piece of linen could command respect....or rosary beads, collars etc...it makes no sense to me....I refuse to respect someone because of how or what they dress in."

Really what a nice way to respect another person's culture much less religion. That piece of silk not linen is held by many as something that hold symbolic reverance to...You can abuse it Bob, but let's face it, many people wear it not because they have to but because they "want" to...

I would respect someone who dresses like how a proper person should dress, than respect someone who dresses like a shall we say w****

I think you need to go see a specialist Noir - you have ODS! (Obssessive Debating Syndrome)...

Bob wasn't saying that he DOESN'T respect someone for their culture - he's saying that a piece of cloth to a non-believer isn't going to command respect.

I also dont think that something like that shouldn't be allowed to be worn in the schools if others cant wear a cross on a necklace or a piece of their "religion" but this is getting off the topic... I think sometimes we can overcompensate for our previous intolerance to play the accepting country that welcomes all and everything - and in the process you can loose the identity, or the make up of the country you started with. What would happen if I were to go to a country where women were expected to cover their bodies out of respect and I walked around in a bikini? Apart from the many people drooling over me - *cough*, there would be an outcry because I am not respecting their culture... same goes big nose...

Although - I have to admit Noir - you're good at debating... yup... you're a master-debator...

hehehe *stiffles laughter at the hidden message*

Lol...

Mo is definitely right there, Noiro :)