Are you religious or just spiritual?

[Guest jackdm3]

I'm not sure if sorry is a strong enough word.....

C'mon! That was a little bit funny.

The thing that bothers me the most of all about this is that so many people feel their faith is challenged or attacked. I think faith is the most positive asset you can keep in your pocket, and I would never try to take someone's hope away.

It's the hard-right thumpers and the hate-filled "axis of evil" types that worry me.

[Hotshot]

I've gotta muster up some faith to put this Colt 1903 back together. See ya.

[gregintenn]

I think George Jones nailed it when he said "There's only one difference in sinners and saints.....one's been forgiven and the other one ain't".

[trblmkr13]

I want to be a good person just to set an example for my children, I think 99% of people who are into are good people its just the salesmen(send me your retirement so you can go to heaven) and fanatics (terrorists, the westboro baptist church) just hide behind a religion to serve there own cause driveme crazy. Hope I didn't offend anyone just a humble opinion.

[Guest clownsdd]

I'm not sure if sorry is a strong enough word.....

That's my point...I believe it was comment posted in jest.

Why get your panties in an uproar? You going with the "don't say anything that might upset someone" lib ideas, and proving my point that most "devoutly religious" people are intolerant of other beliefs.

Heck, my grandmother was Jewish, father Church of Christ, mother Lutheran, wife Catholic... I can laugh and make jokes at all of them.

[Guest db99wj]

I'm Catholic.

[Guest jackdm3]

And let me guess. They love you, regardless? Sounds like a family I'd like to meet.

[Guest jackdm3]

Killer "clown", I just noticed that you're in Memphis. We will meet.

I'm busy this weekend, though.

[JeffL]

No.

[Guest jackdm3]

In fact, I've been wanting all the Memphricans to meet somewheres.

Guys, add (or subtract, if you have to) your name if I missed:

MEMPHISMASON

TNMIKE

CHAZMR

NOKOMON

TGO MEMBER

DB99WJ

WHATZIT67

PUNISHER84

SMZRU275

SEAN S

CHUCKTAYLOR

BENFIELD8585

TRUTHSAYER

CANYNRACER

CLOWNSDD

Edited October 23, 2009 by jackdm3
ADDITION

[Guest clownsdd]

add the clownsdd....Memphis Mason and I know each other quite well.

[USMCJG]

Religious in the modern, church dogma, institutionalized, adhere to the social mores of that particular group, sectarian sense of the word? No.

Spiritual, believe in a higher power? Yes.

That's just me, but I do respect everyone's beliefs regardless of my own.

This is where I stand too.

[Guest Smitty]

Spiritual, but not religious here. I go to unity church now since they mostly represent my beliefs and opinions on life in general.

[Hotshot]

That's my point...I believe it was comment posted in jest.

Why get your panties in an uproar? You going with the "don't say anything that might upset someone" lib ideas, and proving my point that most "devoutly religious" people are intolerant of other beliefs.

Heck, my grandmother was Jewish, father Church of Christ, mother Lutheran, wife Catholic... I can laugh and make jokes at all of them.

It was funny, my panties are not in a wad. I did not prove anyones point. I was just trying to be funny back.

[Guest Bronker]

The thing that I feel is most wrong with the modern church, is that there are humans in them.

Humanity is far from perfect. God created one perfect thing. We're not it.

I will keep my faith in the one perfect thing He created. Jesus Christ.

No one else has to understand or agree. Free will, baby!

[Guest jackdm3]

It was funny, my panties are not in a wad. I did not prove anyones point. I was just trying to be funny back.

I knew Hotshot would be back tonight to re-join our congregation!

C'mon, everybody. Group hug!

[Guest mosinon]

apatheism. I do the best I can and if it isn't good enough, well, it isn't.

The essential question is, whether you believe in God or not, is what are you to do? That's a hard question with no good answer.

Though the question is wonky. Spiritual or Religious is like asking Marlboros or Winstons? Some of us don't even smoke.

[res308]

Heck, my grandmother was Jewish, father Church of Christ, mother Lutheran, wife Catholic... I can laugh and make jokes at all of them.

Doesn't that get you beaten regularly at home?

[Kelemvor]

Neither in the least. I believe in a god. I don't think he cares about humanity other than the way a casual observer cares about the lives and deaths of ants. Why do bad things happen to good people? Because if god interceded, it would mar the concept of free will. I don't go to church, I don't pray. I do my best to ignore god, I would want the same thing if I was trying to watch my creation.

That's just my take on it.

Serious question.

What is your motivation to be a good person?

I ask because if I had no faith in God, man's laws would mean nothing to me.

Not being a smartass, I'm interested in your thoughts.

I used to believe this about myself when I was a devout Christian.

The best way I can explain it is, the way I keep my ethics in check is by analyzing the effects of my actions on myself and others. If the net outcome is negative, I don't do it. If it is positive, I do. If it is neutral, I just choose. It's kinda complicated, but the rule-sets that all of the religions have in common are pretty simple to make secular sense out of.

[Mike.357]

My answer (admittedly, I'm no theologian).

God's version of tragedy is completely different from ours. His only tragedy is somebody falling away from Him. If those little kids with leukemia were drawn to faith before they died, there's no tragedy in His eyes.

See that kind of makes my point. A God who cannot be bothered with kids is not a God I want in my life.

Kids are the most precious thing on this earth. A heartless God who cannot be bothered, no thanks.

[Guest Jamie]

Just your thoughts?

Neither.

And I'm fairly sure no one really wants to hear my thoughts or opinions on the subject.

[mousegunner]

I'm a pastor. But I don't like "religion." That is: I don't like going through the motions, and I don't like preachers who preach as if they absolutely know and understand everything, and want to make sure you become one of their followers. Some days I feel spiritual and some days I don't. But I believe it is right to love God, and to love my neighbor as myself.

[Guest m&pc9]

And how about a man preaching the word of god and he molests young children? Looks like a god would do something about that.

[mousegunner]

The argument against God "If there were a God He would not allow such and such evil thing." This is to presume that you understand everything perfectly, and that you are qualified to sit in judgment on God. It's also to ask that God force everyone to do only good, and take away freedom and personal responsibility. That won't work. Also, it is to blame God for the evil, instead of the actual evil people doing their evil deeds. It's a shallow argument against the existence of God.

[DavidM]

Religious? Noooooooooooo. Jesus was never a fan of the "religious" crowd, and that pretty much settles it for me. He never condoned it, since the religious leaders of that day (and to some extent today) were pious, pushing-the-law-down-your-throat people. Christianity, on the other hand, is 180 degrees from religion. All "religions" have one theme: Man searching for a relationship with a "god". Christianity is God searching for a relationship with man. Christ came to break the bondage of the law for everyone and give us the opportunity for a one-on-one experience with the Creator. And He wanted that bad enough for us to die for it.

Some TV preachers are out for money. Not all, but some. That is very sad, because this is how people that do not attend a church hear the message, and they will somehow wind up listening to one of these messages equating Christianity with earthly prosperity. God will deal with these preachers in a special way, just as Christ threw the money exchangers out of the temple.

That being said, I do believe in attending church, and the one I attend does not promote any liberal agendas. I know that no church is perfect, because imperfect people are in it. We sometimes try to run the church "our" way instead of God's way, and that's when it goes wrong. I'm not perfect, just forgiven.

Sorry, I think I started preaching there for a minute.