We have our first gay pro athlete.

[buzzdog]

Funny, I'm a devout atheist and still live a more christianly lifestyle that half of the people who consider themselves christian.

Fuck your religion, whatever it may be.

Fire was once controlled by a God. So was thunder, lightning, rain, and even fertility. Science took care of disproving the need for a God to explain those things. Not really sure why the leap of faith into believing in an all mighty higher power, that either A) Created the whole world and all events and set it in motion, or B) Constantly tinkers with the world, despite being perfect. You're either praying to something that doesn't care, or someone who probably shouldn't be fucking around anyway.

IF God existed, it was an alien race that genetically engineered us, and has thus died out.

I mean, hey, who am I to say that Sumerians who talked about people from the sky like an everyday occurrence were wrong? They still predate anything related to the Jewish or Christian faiths.

I love how it's all about this Christian God, despite people living thousands of years before these accounts never mentioning it.

That's all cool, just realize that whatever you just described is a belief system. Even if you think you have no system ...well you do. Maybe it's not believing, maybe it's figuring you can never know so why bother? You're processing all of your experiences through some sort of a system of belief whether you acknowledge it or not.

 

[castor777]

I thought the original NT language was Greek as well?

The books were, correct. The scrolls, ten commandments, Old Testament were Hebrew.

 

[shoes22]

I actually really like the ancient alien theory. It makes more sense than anything you will see in religious text. Lets start a church for ancient astronaut engineers and use it as a tax shelter.

Something like this already exists. It's called Raelism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raëlism

 

[Man Called X]

That's all cool, just realize that whatever you just described is a belief system. Even if you think you have no system ...well you do. Maybe it's not believing, maybe it's figuring you can never know so why bother? You're processing all of your experiences through some sort of a system of belief whether you acknowledge it or not.

I never said I didn't have a belief system. I do not believe in a higher power. At the very least, I could be convinced to believe that "the higher power" is an extinct alien race.

I'm a big history buff, and preferably pre-christian history. And I find it hilarious that Christians tend to never mention anything in human history before "the bible".

Oh ancient gods are just angels/demons.

I still want an explanation how "God" a perfect being, created "Angels" that were perfect yet able to revolt despite the lack of free will, then went on to create "Man" who were perfect except they had free will. Which is it? ANGELS DON'T HAVE FREE WILL, SO HOW DID SATAN EXIST?

See, Christianity is just a bunch of bullshit contradictions constantly repeated over history so no one questions it. When someone does, it becomes a "God has mysterious intentions" or that human influence has warped the Bible from the true meaning over time. Never a "Wow, that really is stupid."

Stupid people believe in God. Plain and simple.

 

[TyGuy]

Something like this already exists. It's called Raelism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raëlism

Interesting, but way too cult like, and I don't like how they have a hierarchy or other crazy things that appear to be made up like have your genetic code recorded on a space ship and having a name for this race of aliens? I like the idea of something that doesn't have a hierarchy and nothing is set in stone where people can just kind of bounce ideas around and have awesome guest speakers like ancient aliens hair guy seems way more appealing.

Raël also mentioned cloning as the solution to terrorism by suicide attacks, as the perpetrators would not be able to escape punishment by killing themselves if the Elohim recreated them after their attacks

Yeah, not what I had in mind.

 

[shoes22]

I think this does bring up a good larger point, though.

What determines one religion as being outlandish and cult-like, while others are more widely accepted? I'd be very interested to hear from the very religious people as to why their religion is correct while others are wrong.

 

[SkaakS]

I still want an explanation how "God" a perfect being, created "Angels" that were perfect yet able to revolt despite the lack of free will, then went on to create "Man" who were perfect except they had free will. Which is it? ANGELS DON'T HAVE FREE WILL, SO HOW DID SATAN EXIST?

That's a good question. I don't know of anywhere where it says explicitly that angels do or don't have free will, but I guess the fact that they were able to rebel and leave heaven would suggest that they did have the ability to choose. I'm not sure. In any case, does the rebellion have to be the result of free will? Couldn't the angels have been created in order to rebel, to ultimately give men free will to choose between who to follow? I know that raises all sorts of other questions as to the nature of God and his creations, but it's something interesting to think about.

 

[SkaakS]

I think this does bring up a good larger point, though.

What determines one religion as being outlandish and cult-like, while others are more widely accepted? I'd be very interested to hear from the very religious people as to why their religion is correct while others are wrong.

Religions are cults. Pretty much anything is which requires the belief in something that can't be proven to exist. It all comes down to what society generally accepts as being possible or not. If the majority of people tend to agree (or are agreeable) with the beliefs of the religion as feasible, it's not viewed as 'crazy' or 'cult-like'. If the beliefs are well outside the norms of what society accepts, however, it's labeled a cult.

As to your second question, it's because if you actually believe what most of the religions teach, it's not possible to also believe that what other religions teach is also true. There are some pretty major differences between most major religions that just can't be reconciled (e.g. Jews believe that Jesus was not a prophet or God, Christians believe that Jesus was God and was crucified and raised from the dead, Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet but not God or raised from the dead, and that Muhammad was a prophet). I mean, if my religion says that the sky is blue, I must infer that every other religion that teaches that the sky is a different color is wrong.

As to why someone actually believes in a particular religion over the other, that's an entirely different question. For most people, it's just because that's how they were raised. They've been raised to believe that one way of thinking is correct and there is comfort in having something constant like that in your life, so they deny all other ideas. Same goes for why most people affiliate themselves with one particular political party of another--because that's what their parents believed or what they were raised to believe. There are, of course, people who consciously choose one religion over the others, and most would probably point to one particular experience they had in their lives which they aren't able to explain which caused them choose one religion which best explained the experience over the others.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I think this does bring up a good larger point, though.

What determines one religion as being outlandish and cult-like, while others are more widely accepted? I'd be very interested to hear from the very religious people as to why their religion is correct while others are wrong.

What's funny is how certain religions look down on others constantly despite the fact that they all have some pretty batshit crazy backstories.

Take Catholicism, a religion where people participate in cannibalism at every mass, yet look down on Mormons as the "crazies." :chuckles:

 

[BRInQ]

I never said I didn't have a belief system. I do not believe in a higher power. At the very least, I could be convinced to believe that "the higher power" is an extinct alien race.

I'm a big history buff, and preferably pre-christian history. And I find it hilarious that Christians tend to never mention anything in human history before "the bible".

Oh ancient gods are just angels/demons.

I still want an explanation how "God" a perfect being, created "Angels" that were perfect yet able to revolt despite the lack of free will, then went on to create "Man" who were perfect except they had free will. Which is it? ANGELS DON'T HAVE FREE WILL, SO HOW DID SATAN EXIST?

See, Christianity is just a bunch of bullshit contradictions constantly repeated over history so no one questions it. When someone does, it becomes a "God has mysterious intentions" or that human influence has warped the Bible from the true meaning over time. Never a "Wow, that really is stupid."

Stupid people believe in God. Plain and simple.

1. I believe in God and I consider myself somewhat intelligent. Your characterization of Christians as stupid is unnecessary.

2. Angels have free will, hence the rebellion by satan. I freely choose to practice Christianity, and if I decided to stop, I am free to do so. Christianity is based on a foundation of love, peace, joy, & understanding. A Christian should practice self control, selflessness, and humility. God will not make you do anything.

3. You say you're more Christian like than most, your recent posts suggest otherwise.

In regards to Jason Collins, more power to him. He shouldn't be treated any differently than anyone else. I don't believe in it, not just b/c of my faith, i dont think its natural, but I sure as hell don't judge him....it's not my place. Just like some in here have no right to judge Broussard, Mark Jackson, or any religion.

In regards to Broussard, he's right in relation to Christianity. Christians don't practice homosexuality. If you're gay willingly, deliberately, you're not a Christian .. That's called apostacy. That's with any "sin." If you're a vegetarian, you don't eat meat, it's that simple. He didn't attack Collins, he stood up for what he believes in just like Collins. It does not make him a bigot.

People need to stop commenting or stating opinion as fact in areas they have no responsibility in. Whatever you believe in do you, but no has a right to judge anybody.

Collins is gay, whoopty do. He made a spectacle out of his situation. Straight people need to start going in TV making announcements.

There are to many know it alls, hypocrites in this world.. And apparently on this board.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Dude X...a higher power EXTINCT alien race?

Annunaki comin for ya kid!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BRInQ]

And what about retarded and mentally ill people incapable of understanding Jesus or any religion? All of them burn in the pits of a fiery hell? What about infants who die suddenly and can't understand religion? Young children? Are any of those classes spared?

Yes, according to the Bible, they are all "spared"

 

[Jack Brickman]

People need to stop commenting or stating opinion as fact in areas they have no responsibility in. Whatever you believe in do you, but no has a right to judge anybody.

Collins is gay, whoopty do. He made a spectacle out of his situation. Straight people need to start going in TV making announcements.

There are to many know it alls, hypocrites in this world.. And apparently on this board.

Funny how you say no one has a right to judge anyone, than you immediately judge Collins in the next sentence (and earlier in the unquoted portion as well). Then you follow it up by calling other people hypocrites.

Well done.

 

[supergoat52]

1. I believe in God and I consider myself somewhat intelligent. Your characterization of Christians as stupid is unnecessary.

Fair enough, go on.

Angels have free will, hence the rebellion by satan.

Good to know, thank you.

In regards to Jason Collins, more power to him. He shouldn't be treated any differently than anyone else. I don't believe in it, not just b/c of my faith, i dont think its natural,

Interesting take...

Christians don't practice homosexuality. If you're gay willingly, deliberately, you're not a Christian

Ah some more facts here to go along with the facts about angel brains. Or beliefs. Not sure which, maybe you'll clear this up?

People need to stop commenting or stating opinion as fact in areas they have no responsibility in.

Wait but didn't you... How can you say...

There are to many know it alls, hypocrites in this world..

Oh.

 

[Man Called X]

1. I believe in God and I consider myself somewhat intelligent. Your characterization of Christians as stupid is unnecessary.

2. Angels have free will, hence the rebellion by satan. I freely choose to practice Christianity, and if I decided to stop, I am free to do so. Christianity is based on a foundation of love, peace, joy, & understanding. A Christian should practice self control, selflessness, and humility. God will not make you do anything.

3. You say you're more Christian like than most, your recent posts suggest otherwise.

In regards to Jason Collins, more power to him. He shouldn't be treated any differently than anyone else. I don't believe in it, not just b/c of my faith, i dont think its natural, but I sure as hell don't judge him....it's not my place. Just like some in here have no right to judge Broussard, Mark Jackson, or any religion.

In regards to Broussard, he's right in relation to Christianity. Christians don't practice homosexuality. If you're gay willingly, deliberately, you're not a Christian .. That's called apostacy. That's with any "sin." If you're a vegetarian, you don't eat meat, it's that simple. He didn't attack Collins, he stood up for what he believes in just like Collins. It does not make him a bigot.

People need to stop commenting or stating opinion as fact in areas they have no responsibility in. Whatever you believe in do you, but no has a right to judge anybody.

Collins is gay, whoopty do. He made a spectacle out of his situation. Straight people need to start going in TV making announcements.

There are to many know it alls, hypocrites in this world.. And apparently on this board.

Angels aren't supposed to have free will. That was the gift bestowed to man. That was the gift that made angels jealous of man. So here we have one of many contradictions in the Bible that everyone seems to conveniently forget about.