Theology Matters . . . It Always Matters

Atheist wrote:

Hello
Belkins..
Maybe you can have a look at Wayne's bible quotes on "That Amazing Book" he sems to really want them answered.. I can't as I'm not educated in the bible...
Atheist

cant find it...

belkins wrote:

<quoted text>
While I agree there is a tremendous amount of superstition involved, most of it at the street-level of the the various religions - we cant simply dismiss the apparent human tendency to NEED them in order to survive, if only on a personal level.
Disbelief, atheism, agnosticism, etc has to be about more the just being anti-belief, or a fancy debate tool. There has to be more to the debate then this...there has to be dialogue as to why religions and their doctrines should be given a continued free-pass on all things. Simply because they are held by so many peoples.
Theologic studies are fine, as long as we can agree that they are about nothing but collected myths, not they are proven "scientific", or even historical facts. Historical in nature? Sure, but not as proofs of anything but humankinds tendency to explain the unexplainable with the supernatural
Studying Religions as organized social movements are not the same as theologic study.

i agree 100%...people are animals..and like all animals we get scared by the unknown....to alleviate this fear of the unknown humans try to explain the unknown..to give reasons to things...earthquakes..thunder. ..fire..the sun..the moon...mankind gave these things explanations and attributed them to gods to take away their mystery and hence the fear they caused.....they could then 'control' the unknown...if earthquakes are caused by gods...we can maybe sacrifice animals to try and make them not happen..and if they still happen..and someone dies...then its because the god is angry..and they need to sacrifice even more......THATS were religion comes from...fear..and the wish to control..or at least have some say in what the world throws at us...a man in a cave can do NOTHING to alleviate the fear he felt for himself and his family....inventing gods gave them some comfort...

religion comes from fear..

theology does matter...your right...its interesting...

harper wrote:

<quoted text>
i agree 100%...people are animals..and like all animals we get scared by the unknown....to alleviate this fear of the unknown humans try to explain the unknown..to give reasons to things...earthquakes..thunder. ..fire..the sun..the moon...mankind gave these things explanations and attributed them to gods to take away their mystery and hence the fear they caused.....they could then 'control' the unknown...if earthquakes are caused by gods...we can maybe sacrifice animals to try and make them not happen..and if they still happen..and someone dies...then its because the god is angry..and they need to sacrifice even more......THATS were religion comes from...fear..and the wish to control..or at least have some say in what the world throws at us...a man in a cave can do NOTHING to alleviate the fear he felt for himself and his family....inventing gods gave them some comfort...
religion comes from fear..
theology does matter...your right...its interesting...

Not sure we agree 100%...lol, but close enough...

And yes a lot of why people believe is centered on fear, but there has to be in todays modern world something more...why do the most absurd of the beliefs/doctrine persist in the light of modern life. Why does the apocalyptic stuff still persist? Why are people so eager for the world to end? Why are the silliest of the superstitious beliefs still held so firmly?

My biggest question however, at this moment in time, is "why do people find it satisfying to believe there is an after-life?" (of any type, be it christian/muslim, or various reincarnation theorys) Why do so many find if satisfying to live this life preparing for an after-life? An after-life that in the light of analysis shows there is no clear way to figure how to get to the promised paradises.

Hello

Belkins..

Have a look here, Post #1 :

http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/christian...

Atheist

belkins wrote:

<quoted text>
Not sure we agree 100%...lol, but close enough...
And yes a lot of why people believe is centered on fear, but there has to be in todays modern world something more...why do the most absurd of the beliefs/doctrine persist in the light of modern life. Why does the apocalyptic stuff still persist? Why are people so eager for the world to end? Why are the silliest of the superstitious beliefs still held so firmly?
My biggest question however, at this moment in time, is "why do people find it satisfying to believe there is an after-life?" (of any type, be it christian/muslim, or various reincarnation theorys) Why do so many find if satisfying to live this life preparing for an after-life? An after-life that in the light of analysis shows there is no clear way to figure how to get to the promised paradises.

fear...of death...lack of justice etc.....its fear...nothing more..

Hello

Harper

I also agree..nicely put...

Harper Writes
"My biggest question however, at this moment in time, is "why do people find it satisfying to believe there is an after-life?" (of any type, be it christian/muslim, or various reincarnation theorys) Why do so many find if satisfying to live this life preparing for an after-life? An after-life that in the light of analysis shows there is no clear way to figure how to get to the promised paradises"

Well my thoughts on that is moratality...
People don't want to think of themselves as Dead.

I believes it's egotistical, that people want their thoughts, what they have done and who they are to go on forever.. It masks the fact that death is death and nothing more..

People want to be immortal, or at least think as themselves as Immortal.
The Fear of death, and leaving ones family alone and never seeing them again is overwhelming. however if they have the hope that they will see all of their loved ones again, it gives them hope to press on, "knowing" one day they will be reunited with their loved ones..

I lost my mom three years ago, she died in her sleep. I never had a chance to say Goodbye to her, nor anything else that I wish I would have told her.

I know thats not possible, however...

It would be nice to have that opportunity to see her again, tell her how much I love her and all the things I wish we would have talked about...

Knowing that I will never have that chance, it's something I have to deal with, and something that I struggle with daily.

If I was a Believer in the Afterlife, I would now have hope and something to look forward to, knowing that one day I will see her again, be reunited and be able to say Everything I ever wanted to say through eternity..

However.. Being non Believers of this, we know that it isn't possible, and again we must deal with it in our own way..

This is a Very powerful thing, and I believe it to be a driving force in the Religious mind..

However again,, those are only my thoughts, and may or may not be what a religious person feels or thinks..

Atheist

A...........thank you for your last line in your post.

I think a few of you misinterpreted what I said.

Religion is real because a great many people out there believe in it. That does NOT mean their thelogy is true. It just means you have to consider their theology to understand the people within that religion.

I'm actually a deist and do not think theology is valid as universal truth. However, I cannot dismiss it as personal truth to individuals who believe in it. That's their choice, not mine.

Hello

No Fear..

No Problem..

How accurate do you feel what I said was though ??

Am I close ??

I can only Assume, because I don't know what a religious person feels about this particular topic..

I think if we all used that line a little more in our posts, we wouldn't be giving everyone a wedgie when we posted something...

I will try to use that more myself..

Atheist

Ok exactly who does any body's theology matter to? God certainly could care less.

James a Prophet of
Yeshua HaMashiach
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/james

Atheist wrote:

Hello
No Fear..
No Problem..
How accurate do you feel what I said was though ??
Am I close ??
I can only Assume, because I don't know what a religious person feels about this particular topic..
I think if we all used that line a little more in our posts, we wouldn't be giving everyone a wedgie when we posted something...
I will try to use that more myself..
Atheist

.....we are learning...lol

A,
As a Christian, for me, I don’t think or focus on death or the after. As you have learned from being on this forum, maybe even before, all Christians do not think or believe alike. There are many doctrines on the issue of where you go, when you go, how you go.
I,(Christians) am not in this for what God can do for me (us). I’m in this for what I can do for Him and others. If a Christian is just in it for the rewards and what God can do for them, their heart is not right, and God knows that, just as it is apparent sometimes to you and me.
I don’t think of myself dead period. Where there is breath there is life. That is my focus.
I do want to be remembered as a good person that did everything I could do for humanity. So I try to do my best in all areas of life, not for a reward, because that is what brings rewards, a fulfilled life, that in turn brings peace, happiness, joy to my life. I use God’s Word to show me things about how to handle situations, life’s up and downs. I use it as a guide to help me not make some of life’s stupid mistakes. I am just talking about one thing I use it for, and why I read it, as there are many.
Yes, I think for myself, but if I line up my thinking with what's in Word of God, before acting or reacting to a situation. God has always proven himself right to me. It’s a personal thing with each and every Christian.

Do you expect a gift from someone gives you one?
I don’t, that’s why it’s called a gift

God has given us a Gift of eternal life.(Nothing I deserve)

I copied this........from another topic.

Platus: "I believe that whatever you believe is truth."
Socrates: "In that case, my dear Platus, I believe you are wrong."

James a Prophet of Yeshua wrote:

Ok exactly who does any body's theology matter to? God certainly could care less.
James a Prophet of
Yeshua HaMashiach
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/james

thats really a flippant, "I know what god thinks" sort of statement. You have no more clarity then any other interpreter of the books/manuscripts.

Exactly what on that website is making your point, not interested in crusing ALL your rants, pick a specific one or take the time to type it up here...

belkins wrote:

<quoted text>
thats really a flippant, "I know what god thinks" sort of statement. You have no more clarity then any other interpreter of the books/manuscripts.
Exactly what on that website is making your point, not interested in crusing ALL your rants, pick a specific one or take the time to type it up here...

No interpretations or conjecture just fact. He tells me what to say and I say it it is up to the people who read it to either accept it or to reject it.

No man is able to speak FOR God. God speaks through men when the people have turned a deft ear to Him and their heart are far from Him.

James a Prophet of
Yeshua HaMashiach
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/james

James a Prophet of Yeshua wrote:

<quoted text>
No interpretations or conjecture just fact. He tells me what to say and I say it it is up to the people who read it to either accept it or to reject it.
No man is able to speak FOR God. God speaks through men when the people have turned a deft ear to Him and their heart are far from Him.
James a Prophet of
Yeshua HaMashiach
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/james

Shut up! Your a liar and a fake, but most of all a PERV-VERT! Go back to the naked hole you crawled out of!

No Fear wrote:

<quoted text>
Shut up! Your a liar and a fake, but most of all a PERV-VERT! Go back to the naked hole you crawled out of!

Hear me this evil and wicked Generation when you reject my son you have rejected me and when you have rejected me you are lost without any hope.

For I am and I reign in power and in glory. Oh you disobedient generation have not I told you that obedience is better than sacrifice. I have called you out of the world yet you like to hide yourself in the darkness thinking I cannot see you hiding there in the darkness. Oh you wicked and perverse generation I have set before you a path and you want to go in another way only there is no other way to enter in.

You reject me now and I will reject you. You Repent now and seek my Kingdom and my righteousness and I will open the doors of heavan widely to let you enter. Repent and come unto me as a small child and the Angles will herald you triumphs and your successes. I will lift you up and place your feet on the high ground. I will make your enemies to fall at your feet. Repent and I will heal your body and your relationships. For I am the Lord your God who comforts you and gives you rest.

James a Prophet of
Yeshua HaMashiach
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/james

The Quick Brown Fox Jumps 0ver Lazy Dog...

Just like quick smart MUSLIMS jump over imbecile INFIDELS ;)