[inside the sun]

I came to this theory once, religion was created to answer all those questions that cannot be answered. And in order to make ones life easier but not having to worry about where we came from, where we go when we die, whether or not there is a god, (because no one really knows these things), we created answers, to give people, faith, hope? That is religions purpose right? I agree with that purpose. I think thats its only purpose, and other things, just are well, political, buisness, i dunno. Dont get me wrong, im not saying religion is evil, just saying, i think like all things, it got abused. Like, you get authority, and well, you can restrict the things you can from people, that really should be restricted, but then you, (while your at it), restrict other things you Think, should be. I think thats what happened to religion, lets answer peoples questions, and *while we are at it*. But then theres also this, was the bible written 300 years after Jesus died? or something, i like buddhism cuz you get buddhas words, im kind of scared of something written, even 30 days later. Take rumors at school, or anywhere, it takes 1 day to mess them up, and if the bible was written that much after jesus's death, thats like a 365x3 day rumor. Thats scary, and that is why i could never blame jesus for anything "bad" that has came out of religion. Jesus, was probably just like Ghandi and Buddha, for peace, he didn't believe in the war in Iraq, but at the same time, say NO to abortion. He wasn't as Pro Life as a gun, like so many these days. Emotions are entering, but they are necessary for an artist

[Gulielmus]

thank you for sharing your views, but next time you might want to give something for people to comment on at the end such as "what do you think about this" or start with a question then babble on with your answer. anyway neat stuff.

[Thomas]

I'm not religious, but
There are a number of religions, buddist, muslum blah blah, ect.
But I am a spritual person, I believe in Jesus Christ as my savior.

I define religion as more a tradition, the Catholic church, for example,
used religious grounds in attempting to explain science that they did not
understand.(like with Galeleo). Jesus never mentioned the orbit of Jupiter's
moons; the geocentric theory was made up by religion, but
The living Christ himself does not make anything up.

[maddog]

Actually, Geocentric theory was concocted by the Greeks I think even before Aristotle.
It was Ptolemy in Egypt (inheritor of Alexander the Great's Empire) whole crystalized
the Geocentric theory by inventing Epicycles to explain retrograde motion of the
outer planets. However, you are correct, the Catholic church copied this and claimed
it as "Gospel", as good as the Bible. By the 16th century they (Catholic) were burning
people at the stake for believing otherwise.

Maddog

[maddog]

There have been in the recent past discoveries that imply the Book of Thomas might
be the closest to the word of Jesus. It is not in the Bible as it was removed in the
Council in the in 4th century as being heretical.

Maddog

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I'm not religious, but
....
But I am a spritual person, I believe in Jesus Christ as my savior.
... The living Christ himself does not make anything up.

I don't understand the need to label yourself as "non-religious" when you are obviously a Christian.

[Gulielmus]

To me the difference between religious and spiritual is that religion is organized, structured and has far more people involved, while spiritual is more of a private thing; you take from one, or multiple, religions (or science etc…) to form what you believe, it is more your personal beliefs rather than rules that you follow.

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by Tormod

I don't understand the need to label yourself as "non-religious" when you are obviously a Christian.

I am obviously a Christian, I am non-denominational,

My belief is that if you're looking for salvation, religion will not get you into heaven. Only through Christ can you achieve salvation. To understand the difference between a true Christian and Christian religion, I ask myself this question, (which a non believer wouldnt' want to answer if they don't believe in God in the first place.)

If God left the earth, would your church even know he was gone?
If no, then that is religion.