Religious Debate

I have set this up temporarily until Paul can set up a Specific topic category for this. If you are interested in moderating a Religious Debate area please contact Macfive. Though I will leave that ultimately up to him if he wants to have this topic on the forum.

ok, I will get this started.



What makes one religious/spiritual? Going to church, temple, sacred space etc...? Are they one in the same? If someone is a kind, caring, thoughtful and the helping type person, and happens to believe in "whatever" , but never goes to a church, temple etc...is that not considered religious?

Thoughts????

For me, it is not the pomp and circumstance. It is living it. I see the world as a huge creation of Diety, be it GOD, Cernunnos, Shiva, Isis whatever. Really when it is boiled down they are all the same.BASICALLY.
If I spend my life trying to better myself, repect others and ALL creatures on this big blue ball, and enjoy life. I think I have lived a good, well rounded life. And in my eyes, everything living is ( enter diety of coice here) creation. and if I am midful and respectful of that, I need not worry about my "afterlife"......

In my opinion it does. I do not care if they go to some kind of Physical Place of Worship. I believe it is what's in that person spirit.

I have known people who are Christians and act very un-Christianly and I have known Non-Christians who have acted more Christianly. I have also met Atheist who are kinder and more respectful than either or.

I can not judge a person for what they believe or not believe in. It is their spirit that I look at. I believe in one rule. And that is "DO NO HARM". If I was to go into detail of what I have just said. Than I am no better than anyone else pushing their belief onto others. I tell no one how to believe and I do not want them telling me.

I usually say "May you walk in balance with Creator", but I think from here on, I will say "May you walk in balance." Hopefully nobody can be offended by that.

Most Wars are started in the name of Religion. Let us not go that far.

May you walk in balance.
Richard

For me, spirituality is respect(for the earth, yourself, and others), action(live so that others can see your belief in your actions), and intent(the reasoning behind it all) All spiritualities are facets of the same jewel, so unless it causes harm or is forced on others, we should respect others beliefs.
The hardest part part of spirituality for me is living with intent, living in the now, what the Christians call living life as a prayer. Great stretches of time go by, and then I realize I've been on autopilot!

Personally, I don't need to visit a building to express my spirituality. I am much happier being out in nature.

In Christian philosophy, it is very clear that it is your faith and not your works that really count. So, going to church, synagogue etc., helping others do not help unless one has faith.
Although, one would I guess think that your faith would lead to good works, and good works do not necessarily bring faith. make sense? That basic "faith and not works" could apply to any religion.

I have abstained from posting here because I see it as a redundancy of other topic areas! Until now.

I do not see a need for an area to debate religion, religion to one commited to that religion is a mog point and not debatable!


Why do you think that only your religion requires faith??
Mine does too!

The god of Abraham gave down 10 comandments, not the several thousand that have evolved with every new interpretation of "what god wants"

If one lives by those 10 they in no way can be considered offensive to that god.

I will state again, one's beliefs are between them and their god and not open to critisism or condemnation to your hell because one does not believe as you!

Even your religion states that your god is a forgiving god....


If you want to discuss the different beliefs here then do so , but do not turn it into a debate.

My convictions are as sound as yours, I respect yours and do not condem you for your beliefs, I also do not put down your beliefs as unfounded... you need to expand your train of thought to cover all and not be so closed minded...

Religion is personal and not secular!

I simply stated the fact of one philosophy, same as everyone else has posted in this forum and answered the forum question. Just because it is one view does not invite ranting. This is called discussing and because it is not mainstream here does not make it "debate". I never went to anyone's house and held a gun to their head and told them to convert. Every time something non-liberal is mentioned I see someone pounding on them and making a broad generalization personal.
We could even start another thread: Is religion debatable? however, I didn't find it a question yet, here.

Isn't the forum called: "Religious Debate"?

Shawdows I agree with Maryellen she was just talking about one religion and she never said anything regarding other religions this does not mean she thinks only her religion is right just means she was talking specifically about her chosen religion.

And I set this topic up for debate because there seem to be a need for a protected topic on it as there seemed to be some debate going on in the open forum which was getting a little out of hand. As moderator I set it up so folks could debate should they wish. If you don't want to debate then you have the choice of not participating in this debate thread there is a forum in the open board for general spiritual discussion. By posting here you agree to the topic being discussed or in this case debated.

Debate is there to discuss issues and try and persuid others to change their views. For instance how do you know your chosen religion is the right religion?

My personal view of religion is that 2000 years ago we were visited by beings from another plantet and to our ancestors who had never seen cars or planes or anything like we have today would think these beings to be gods as they would obviously be far superior to our ancestors of 2000 years ago. That's my 2 cents on religion, but how can you know if I am right or wrong. All any religion has is the words of the past and how do you kow the words you read today are the same words written so long ago. Stories tend to have a life of their own and 2000 years later who knows if what you read today is the way it really happened.

Ok that's my 2 cents.

You just aided my point!

I asked questions and debated what was quoted, the questions were not answered and now I am being accused of not playing by the rules, debates have many sides!

No you clearly questioned her comments with the quoted comments above. She was refering to just one religion but on no way excluded other religions waqs just her comments on one specific religion.

I personally could careless about religious debate but came in to see what was happening and your comments were trying to say she was saying more then she said.

Clearly, the use of the words "you" and "your" are personal. So is the use of "I" and "mine." Hence, they are actually called personal pronouns. The disclaimer clearly states "no personal attacks or flaming." The questions were not answered because 1, you have only one interrogative statement, not more than one 2, insulting me of being "close-minded." I am the only one singled out, out of all the responders. interesting.

Ok this is getting into English I am backing out before I put my foot in my mouth LOL

Yes. English and religion shouldn't mix. Back to the religion debate.

What is religious? Obviously, there are some people that claim to be religious and do not act like it, then some that don't claim to be, but act better than the "religious."
Many good questions have come from this thread.
For instance how do you know your chosen religion is the right religion?
Should you just need faith, or do you need act "good" too?