Another religious thread

[orbsycli]

First off I would just like to say I know this IS a science forum, but there is something troubling me and I don't know where else to turn to.
Occasionally, at extremely random times, perspective and realization just dawns over me. I realize this is the only life, that I will die. Yeah, this is still hard...probably always will be, but that's just me.

Anyway...I honestly can not believe how far religion has come. It's everywhere, it truly amazes me. I feel left out because I havn't read the bible, but at the same time...I almost don't even want to bother. I feel like it's a complete waste of time. I know that no reading is a waste of time, well, almost all...it's knowledge. But...should I care?
As most of you probably know (from the discussion here on hypography) that I do not have a religion, nor do I want one.

About a year ago I decided I was going to devote my life to try to open peoples' eyes when it comes to all this...but one argument after another made me realize that after 2,000 or so years, I don't even have a chance.
I guess I'm just struggling between caring, or not caring about religion and all the false hopes around the world. But...it makes them happy. From the people I have talked to throughout the world, they all say almost the same things, something along the lines of:
"how could you live like that? i would be so sad all the time."
I appologize for my rambling, just needed to get some thoughts out.

[zadojla]

At your age I thought much the same. I do not care about "belief"; it doesn't answer any question I feel the need to ask, and it seems to me like believing in Santa Claus (which I never did either). Experience has taught me not to argue with people unless attacked. You won't convert them. (Think how hard it would be to convert a Red Sox fan to a Yankees fan; convincing someone to change their religion is harder and just as pointless.)
I am not an atheist the way Free Thinker is. I go to church every week with my family and I go through the motions out of courtesy. (I do refuse communion, and I will not recite the Apostles' Creed.) Just let the other folks be, and they will likely let you be. You are not their keeper.

[zadojla]

BTW, aren't "religious threads" what priests wear?

[Tormod]

No need to read the bible (although feel free - both the bible and the q'uran are good reads).

Read up on religious thought instead. Read philosophy. Read what religious people of different factions write, and what atheists write. Read books on varieties of religious thought etc.

Right now I am reading the book "God?" which is a discussion between a creationist and an atheist. Interesting stuff. It's good to learn how different people see things.

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by zadojla

I am not an atheist the way Free Thinker is. I go to church every week with my family and I go through the motions out of courtesy.

Somehow I doubt you'd be able to drag Freethinker into a church.

Edit: I misread your post...did not see the "not" in there. Sorry.

[bumab]

Another good book is "a new kind of christian" and "the story we find ourselves in" they address the problem many people have with relgion being outdated and anti-intellectual and anti-scientific. the second specifically deals with evolution (among other things) and creationism (it's a pro-evolution book)

[zadojla]

Originally Posted by Tormod

Somehow I doubt you'd be able to drag Freethinker into a church.

Not without a squad of Marines!
My family are church members, and participate fully. I feel that church attendance is something that that should be done as a family. I started when beccareb was little, because I didn't want to confuse her or hurt her feelings. There are families in the church whose non-member parent will not cross the threshhold for any reason, even for performances involving the children. That is wrong, and unkind.

[orbsycli]

so tormod, you've read the q'uran?
my father is a very stubburn man, and everytime the news talks about terrorists, he says something like: "it's because they say in q'uran to hate and kill white people."
i have found this so hard to believe, in fact i don't...and for the longest time i've been wondering if there is anything relatively close to that?

[bumab]

From my understanding, it says those who die in a holy war go straight to paradise, but it doesn't really define what a holy war is. some interprit it as any action against non-believers (terrorists), some define it differently, like maybe ww2, or defense of one's land, or whatever. It was my impression that that verse is taken out of context by people who are looking for some reason to condem islam.

i could be wrong, it's been a while since i've looked through it.

[orbsycli]

I bet you anything if you walked through an airport security holding a book of the q'uran, you would be tackled to the ground so fast. (well at least in america)

It was my impression that that verse is taken out of context by people who are looking for some reason to condem islam.

that makes a lot of sense.

i'm actually going to the airport tomorrow...wish i had a copy to test this idea.