Religion

Some forums set an edit time frame for non-mods to discourage a common troll tactic - post something horrible, wait for everyone to start arguing, edit it out of their post, and make it look like they're being attacked for no reason. I fixed it for you.

Anyway... I am nowhere nowhere nowhere near eloquent enough to speak my opinion much without piggybacking heavily off Omega's post, hence why I'm kind of stealing her ideas here. I was waiting for SOMEONE to post first so I could take some cues. That said, I'm going to try my best:

I am an atheist. I was raised Catholic, but I ended up questioning it heavily after a certain point - I can't even pinpoint WHEN. I do know that by the time I was at the age where school would give "write your personal feelings about your relationship with God" assignments, I had to quickly master the art of BS. If asked, I would have said I was Catholic, but get me to sit and pray or try to connect with God and I just felt NOTHING. I finally officially gave up claiming Catholicism when I came to terms with my sexuality. Claiming to be Catholic but feeling no remorse over being bisexual - indeed, a refusal to believe that I SHOULD feel remorse - set off my hypocrisy alarms and I knew one had to stop. Didn't take long to decide which. It wasn't THE deciding factor, just the thing that finally pushed me over the edge. Mom is a bit miffed about it, but her biggest issue seems to be that she paid for eleven years of Catholic schooling for me and the indoctrination simply didn't take - that she wasted money, not that she honestly wanted me to be Catholic like her.

All that aside, I do respect the idea of religion and find it and its traditions to be a beautiful thing. As long as you're not using your religion to infringe on others' right to live then I don't see why anyone should oppose anyone's religious practices. It's really no one's business, simply a personal matter between the followers and their god(s) or lack thereof. Blanket insulting statements on Christianity (or any religion, for that matter, but it's Christianity where I see it the most) are rather depressing to me and just reminds me how much more vocal the offending crowd is. Like I said in another topic - the Christians who portray their religion in a good light don't go talking about it because there's really no point. And besides, isn't there a belief that you shouldn't go yammering on about the fact that you're Christian, and if you REALLY want people to know you are, it's better to show through good deeds? Point is, the yappers make up a small population of the religion, but good grief are they LOUD.

By the way, in all my years of Catholic schooling, I never heard ANYTHING about "no interracial marriage". In fact, that takes most of what I learned and smushes it into pudding.

...did I do this right? Like I said... I am not eloquent. I tend to type things, and while I know what I meant, others read it differently, I look like a moron or a jerk, and I quickly realize what I did wrong. So I try to reword it and explain better, and I mess up in there, and never ending cycle until I give up. So if you ever wonder why I sometimes avoid topics that are more than just "AQUA CONCERT YAAAAY"... you may have just figured out why.

I am not really of any religion. I am into new agey occult type stuff. You could call me a rainbow witch with a little bit of hippie and flower child roled in.: )

I am psychic and I believe very much in paranormal and the related.

that's me : )

I honestly don't think I've ever heard of "no interracial marriage" in Christianity, either, but I have certainly heard that homosexuality is "bad" as is bisexuality. ...despite the fact that there are arguably gay and bisexual people in the Bible who are majour supporters of God and placed as Biblical heroes.

Eh, not quite true. ><; There are no Biblical heroes in the Bible who were gay, and if there were people in the Bible who considered themselves gay or bisexual AND considered themselves supporters of God...well, being one and saying you are one are two different things. =/

Also, I've been confused lots of times by the Bible where a person who openly sins is mentioned but not as someone who openly sins. =P I'm like "wait, so are they right or wrong...?"

But trust me, I've read the entire Bible and am so effing sick of people taking parts of the Bible that they believe are true. (NOT saying anyone here does that. Just saying. =P )

And no what else I'm sick of? People learn I'm a Christian and treat me different. Yes, I appreciate an effort not to swear or talk about premarital sex in my presence, but if people do that, it's not out of respect, it's out of fear that I'll beat them over the ass with a Bible.

I have morals, the same ones God has, AND I have opinions, but guess what? I'm a person too. For instance, I believe homosexuality is wrong. And I believe that that's something they'll have to answer to God for. But I know what it's like to be tempted, and I know what it's like to give in to temptation. I do it all the time. I'm not perfect, and I don't try to be. I just try to be the best I can.

I keep my relationship with God public and open as much as possible (although it's hard when having such a relationship gets you instantly labeled as "ignorant".) But people think that I'm a prude because I don't give in to my lustful animal desires.

I don't just go around masturbating, right? ("Well neither do I!" you argue. Well, maybe YOU don't, but there are seriously people out there who do. I know some of them.) I have self-control, and people think it's unnatural. They think my self-control will cause me to lash out at them and judge them if they so much as take a drink of alcohol.

Sorry, I know I'm ranting, but I am SO SICK of being treated like one of IrkSplee's catholic-nun-ruler-smacking teachers.

It's hard being a Christian in this world, no matter what kind of Christian you are. Yes, there are judgemental bigots who call themselves Christians.

But how can they truly be Christians if they don't follow Jesus, who warned against judging people? Judging is God's job, and I REALLY don't want God's job. I mean, who would? Yes, I'll give my opinion on what I think God would think about something, but I know I can't change you just because I wag my finger at you, and I'm not going to try.

I agree with the aboves. I have never beaten anyone over the head with a bible. Ever. But I still get that for some reason.

I think it's hard to practice any religion at all nowadays. When I hear someone is Christian (especially Catholic), the first thing that comes to mind is: "Oh really? On what day? December 25th?" Cause there aren't a lotta butts in the seats come Sunday. I'm a little cynical, if you can't tell.

When did this who's gay in the bible concept originate? Seems pretty hackneyed to me. I guess people have agendas to push? Was Abe Lincoln gay? I'm going to file that in the "not-care" drawer.

*delete*
i just...give up...

ermms...sry
was it the angry face?
I guess I don't take lightly to insults...

If you're not civil, you'll receive a PM. I'm not one to chastise specific people in public. =3 Don't fear. No PM, nothing wrong in my eyes, carry on.

I apologize that I seem like such a bad person.
I know what you said wasn't meant directly towards me but how can I not take it badly when i'm told that I chose/was tempted to be gay when I myself know for a fact that it was nothing to do with choice/temptation. I mean, continue to believe that if you'd like, it just hurts me so much that people believe that. Like I said before, its maternal.
"I try to be the best I can"
I mean - is that suppose to mean i'm inferior/not as good as one who isn't gay?
I assume that your homosexuality thing has to do with your religious beliefs, right? (just making sure, before I get told off again...)

Nothing that I just said was meant to be offensive or sarcastic...

Ah I see
but, you've never been a homosexual so you wouldn't really know whats its like in the shoes of one, right?
The only "control" you can have on your "behavior" is pretending your not, which is worse in my opinion.

And won't a condom prevent HIV/AIDS (unless it breaks)?
Believe me i'm worried too for when the time for that comes around for things like intercourse.

And I greatly respect your acceptance for people who you may not agree with their lifestyle (optional or not).

And just because your christian I don't look down on you either. One of my good friends is a very big believer in christianity and though we don't agree about religion we still get along well and I don't let things like that affect how I view people (unless they refuse to accept me, then I return the favor.)

On-spot with that description.
Can't be "fixed".
You can't just change who you fall for.

"so when i hear of someone who believes in a religion (any) i generally consider it a good thing."

mari: Honestly, I don't think you can tell if the person is using religion as a positive thing until you've really met them.

LMAO

Yeh I still feel really bad about what was said in this discussion and hope you guys forgave me, and I don't want this to lower anyones perspective on me.