Someone said to me once that god created us as a image of himself ?

Since people are dumb, and also nasty on the side, then god must also be dumb and nasty on the side. That might explain some of the bad things happening in this world !!!!

Aybody who wants religion is welcome to it, as far as i'm concerned.
I support your right to enjoy it. However, I would appreciate it if you exhibited more respect for those people who do not wish to share your dogma, rapture or necrodestination.

Think about the "rules" of christianity for a moment. Okay- What was in that Adam ate that he wasn't supposed to eat? It wasn't just an apple-it was the fruit of the three of the knowledge of good and evil.
The subtle message? "get smart and i'll f u over sayeth the lord" god is the SMARTEST and he doesn't want any competition.
Is this not an absolutely anti-intellectual religion.

In my view there is about time that some people stop using the chimpansee side of their brain so much and open their eyes and minds. I also believe that a reason that people practice religion is that participation creates thr illusion of belonging to an extended family. Whatever the IMAGINARY GUY IN THE CLOUDS won't do for them(sometimes he's busy-inventing crack; causing drought's stirring up mischief here and there) their fellow parishioners might.

If you want to stand on the steps af any building all dressed up on sunday morning, for whatever purpose( a christian business discussion, perhaps) great go for it.
If you want to get together in any exclusive situation and have people love you, fine-but to hang all this desperate sociology on the idea of THE CLOUD GUY who has THE BIG BOOK, who knows if you've bad or good-and cares about ANY of it-to hang it all on that, folks, is the chimpanzee part of the brain working.

I SERIUSLY BELIVE THAT DUMB PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS

Ostrom

Someone said to me once that god created us as a image of himself ?

Since people are dumb, and also nasty on the side, then god must also be dumb and nasty on the side. That might explain some of the bad things happening in this world !!!!

Aybody who wants religion is welcome to it, as far as i'm concerned.
I support your right to enjoy it. However, I would appreciate it if you exhibited more respect for those people who do not wish to share your dogma, rapture or necrodestination.

Think about the "rules" of christianity for a moment. Okay- What was in that Adam ate that he wasn't supposed to eat? It wasn't just an apple-it was the fruit of the three of the knowledge of good and evil.
The subtle message? "get smart and i'll f u over sayeth the lord" god is the SMARTEST and he doesn't want any competition.
Is this not an absolutely anti-intellectual religion.

In my view there is about time that some people stop using the chimpansee side of their brain so much and open their eyes and minds. I also believe that a reason that people practice religion is that participation creates thr illusion of belonging to an extended family. Whatever the IMAGINARY GUY IN THE CLOUDS won't do for them(sometimes he's busy-inventing crack; causing drought's stirring up mischief here and there) their fellow parishioners might.

If you want to stand on the steps af any building all dressed up on sunday morning, for whatever purpose( a christian business discussion, perhaps) great go for it.
If you want to get together in any exclusive situation and have people love you, fine-but to hang all this desperate sociology on the idea of THE CLOUD GUY who has THE BIG BOOK, who knows if you've bad or good-and cares about ANY of it-to hang it all on that, folks, is the chimpanzee part of the brain working.

I SERIUSLY BELIVE THAT DUMB PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS

Ostrom"Anybody who wants religion is welcome to it, as far as I'm concerned.
I support your right to enjoy it. However, I would appreciate it if you exhibited more respect for those people who do not wish to share your dogma, rapture or necro destination."

Frank Zappa, said that ordinally (edited by CG. Sorry, the word should have been "Originally") and I agree with him, as no doubt you do. However, your post (and some of Zappa's words) seems not to extend that courtesy to believers.

"Anybody who wants religion is welcome to it, as far as I'm concerned.
I support your right to enjoy it. However, I would appreciate it if you exhibited more respect for those people who do not wish to share your dogma, rapture or necro destination."

Frank Zappa, said that ordinally and I agree with him, as no doubt you do. However, your post (and some of Zappa's words) seems not to extend that courtesy to believers.

He most certanly did and a lot of other things in life, there is to many fanatics running around on this planet. We should learn from history, that the worst wars in the past was related to religion.

Ostrom

Frank Zappa, said that ordinally and I agree with him, as no doubt you do. However, your post (and some of Zappa's words) seems not to extend that courtesy to believers.Do I smell a niche market for a new line of clothing and accessories? We would print up WWFZD on everything (What Would Frank Zappa Do) ;-D

How about some T-Shirts with this logo on the front:

http://www.science.uva.nl/~robbert/zappa/files/jpg/collier1.jpg

Do I smell a niche market for a new line of clothing and accessories? We would print up WWFZD on everything (What Would Frank Zappa Do) ;-D

How about some T-Shirts with this logo on the front:

http://www.science.uva.nl/~robbert/zappa/files/jpg/collier1.jpg
Good idea Joe!

Love the logo. It really sums up the atheists approach. :rolleyes: (Or should I say, some atheists approach?)

He most certanly did and a lot of other things in life, there is to many fanatics running around on this planet. We should learn from history, that the worst wars in the past was related to religion.

Ostrom
OK you are right. Religion has a lot to answer for. There will always be people who will misuse anything. I am sure there are bad Atheists too. We will never be rid of bad people no matter what their faith, or lack of same.

If we got rid of all religions tomorrow, the next day there would be something else to fight about. Maybe fundamentalist Atheist would rise up against moderate Atheists. That is our nature it seems.
Zappa’s quote has an important word in it. "Respect." Both parties, Atheist and believers seem to be lacking in respect and tact for the other party’s views. How do we foster more respect? Do we avoid each other? Do we not talk about our beliefs? Let me hear your views.

joe baboon, i've always respected your opinion coming from someone whom i've always known to be generally agnostic.

to note, the arguments as i have realized, taking place between one or more erligions versus any number of other religions, has been because there was a rather thin, almost undistinguishable line between "respecting" other people's idea of religion, and "tolerating" their religion to the point where it looks like you support their religion, thus causing someone of their own religion, to form the opinion that you are a pretender of your own.

thus it goes to support, not entirely "prove" the point that was implied. this point being that, religions are merely a set of canonical rules set out for people to obey, because some "leaders" feel that most people are quite incapable of thinkin for themselves, and therefore, they must set rules within their religion/denomination of choice... to believe in a super-being. they also seem to be "trained" by some cult-like pastors, that everything that is not black is white. (typical sheltered attitude that most people i've met broadcast) people generally feel they need to go an equator worth of an effort pass the "invite you to my church" and do the "if you don't accept (insert Superior Life Form name here) as your group leader, you will go to (insert really flippin horrible place name here) and die!!" attitude.

seriously, i am of Christian "broughtupcy", but i have never forced what i was raised to believe... down another's throat. as far as i am concerned, you can compare the choice of religion to working for the govt, or working for a private entity. from i was small the envy conjured up in people i know for the people that had public sector jobs, was almost boundless. "go get a govt job when you grow up, das security".

needless to say, i still think it is best for a person to choose whether they want to worship God, Buddah, or any of the like.

the other interesting point is that if religion was wiped out. one day God/Buddah/Selassi/etc decided "ok, guess what. humans can't handle the choice of religion, let's take this out" (Superior Being types "rm -rf religion" and religion disappears). humans will only, by nature form some other opinion based belief AGAIN and kill each other for it. then all of a sudden, entire civilizations worth of kids are once again so ****** up, they choose to totally avoid THAT aspect of society and do as they feel, as they wish, or both.

it is done (in all coldness and reality) so that people have a reason to shun others. it seriously seems to serve no other purpose. at from the time i became of age, the issues were as follows:

1. was adam weak or was eve's original name supposed to be "evil"?
2. was the history of Jesus a fake or real?
3. who is the REAL Superior Being? (which religion is right)
4. which race is the superior?
5. how did we get here? (not the stork or the virgin mary, the whole place where we exist)

these are all questions that people generally ask to shut someone they know out, due to difference of opinion.

questions i have thought about for years, that i figure only my creator can answer:

1. did religion matter?
2. why was there ever a need to identify (falsely or not) if anyone was better than someone else?
3. why is it, in certain civilizations, (and everyone can tell which i am speaking of) is it considered illegal, or immoral to user your brain and your heart to help you through situations, as opposed to the opinions of your local cult-like pastor?

I am impressed of some of your replys, it tells me that there still are some intelligent people out there. I loved the picture of Frank Zappa,even if the person who posted it couldnt come up with anything really intelligent, at least the humor is there.

Let me qoute some other great persons in the past!

Thomas jefferson
'it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg"

Thomas Jefferson
"i do not find in orthodox christianity one redeeming feature"

Thomas Peine
"i do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church' by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that i know of. My own mind is my own church"

Abraham Lincoln
"the bible is not my book, and christianity is not my religion. I could never give asset to the long,complicated statements of christian dogma"

(quotes as listed in Salvation for sale, by Gerard Thomas Straub)

I think that stupidity has a certain charm-ignorance does not.It has been said that ignorance is a bliss, i am not so sure. Perhaps I have been deprived in this regard but never been truly ignorant, I find it difficult to speak with any authority on the topic of such a blissful state.

When we celebrate Ignorance, and make that the National Standard of Exellence, we embarras ourselves.

Regards
Ostrom

Ostrom. Let me give you a few quotes. First by Abraham Lincoln: "That I am not a member of any Christian Church, is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular." The good Mr. Lincoln has a respect for religion.

In a letter to Mrs. H. Harrison Smith, Thomas Jefferson wrote:"I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another's creed. I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness. For it is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be judged." Mr. Jefferson had respect too! You left the impression that these two men had not respect or time for religion. These two quotes prove that not to be true.

-----------------------------------

Here are two other quotes I throw in at no extra cost. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama writes of a religion (Tibetan Buddhist) that maybe even you can agree with. "This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

Perhaps the late Henny Youngman said it best: I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up . . . they have no holidays.:)

You left the impression that these two men had not respect or time for religion. These two quotes prove that not to be true.

I only quoted these most respected Gentlemen, but we can quote the for an eternity, i guess.

Here are two other quotes I throw in at no extra cost. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama writes of a religion (Tibetan Buddhist) that maybe even you can agree with. "This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

You are absolutely right about me been able to agree with Buddism. I find it more intelligent than any other religion. I have lived in the far east for many years, and i had many good discussions with the munks. I have spent many nights in their temples, it is extremely comforting for your state of mind. The buddhists would in no way try to convert you like christians do. There is to much respect in them for your way of living.

Perhaps the late Henny Youngman said it best: [i]I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up . . . they have no holidays.:)

Brilliant comment by Youngman, this person had a good sense of humor. There should be more people like this. Perhaps the world would be a better place.


I am also impressed with your knowledge CG, thank you for intelligent replys.

Regards
ostrom

Hi all
No temples. good idea build home for the homeless.
Philosophy Kindness. This is the best and most important.

The Dalai Lama is right on the money.

John Lennen Imagin

Hi all
No temples. good idea build home for the homeless.
Philosophy Kindness. This is the best and most important.

The Dalai Lama is right on the money.

John Lennen Imagin
You are right Vicky. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama hit the nail right on the spiritual head!

It would be wonderful if all religions could echo that quotation. If kindness was the watch word of all faiths (which it is but it is often lost, and often not practiced) the world would be a better place. But we are wishing! Wishing does little. We need to act out that kindness in our own lives.

You left the impression that these two men had not respect or time for religion. These two quotes prove that not to be true.

I only quoted these most respected Gentlemen, but we can quote the for an eternity, i guess.

Here are two other quotes I throw in at no extra cost. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama writes of a religion (Tibetan Buddhist) that maybe even you can agree with. "This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

You are absolutely right about me been able to agree with Buddism. I find it more intelligent than any other religion. I have lived in the far east for many years, and i had many good discussions with the munks. I have spent many nights in their temples, it is extremely comforting for your state of mind. The buddhists would in no way try to convert you like christians do. There is to much respect in them for your way of living.

Perhaps the late Henny Youngman said it best: I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up . . . they have no holidays.:)

Brilliant comment by Youngman, this person had a good sense of humor. There should be more people like this. Perhaps the world would be a better place.


I am also impressed with your knowledge CG, thank you for intelligent replys.

Regards
ostrom
Ostrom, thank you for your kind words.

You also wrote. "You are absolutely right about me been able to agree with Buddism. I find it more intelligent than any other religion." Why so? Can you expand on this?

"I have lived in the far east for many years, and i had many good discussions with the monks. I have spent many nights in their temples, it is extremely comforting for your state of mind." I know what you mean. I have experienced that myself.

"The Buddhists would in no way try to convert you like Christians do. There is to much respect in them for your way of living." Right. Buddhist do have a respect for all religions and they don’t try to convert people. We work on the assumption that if a person wants to convert to Buddhism they will find us.

here we are...trapped in a christian religious bash fest!!
and its gettin kinda hard to stomach!!:screw:

we all came from something....
and how we choose to worship is totaly up to us,and the spirit that leads us!!

every now and again we have a scientist cult follower *cough cough ostrom cough* who sets science and religion a thousand years back!!

we have been there...science aproves the notion of a supernatural,get over it!!!

here we are...trapped in a christian religious bash fest!!
and its gettin kinda hard to stomach!!:screw:

we all came from something....
and how we choose to worship is totaly up to us,and the spirit that leads us!!

every now and again we have a scientist cult follower *cough cough ostrom cough* who sets science and religion a thousand years back!!

we have been there...science aproves the notion of a supernatural,get over it!!!

So you think that schientists are a CULT, maybe you should go to your church for your cough, and not the scientists.

Ostrom