So now that I have your attention, I would like to start this blog with the inspiration behind it:
I know everyone hates religious banter here, but I was just thinking that my faith belief is nothing like what I hear people here railing against.
For starters, there is a huge difference between faith and religion. Religion is taught by someone, usually a person with an agenda or motive needing many people to believe as they do. Faith is deeply personal and it is simply one on one, you and your deity.
Don't get me wrong, religion has it's place, but as a footprint for your journey of faith. You take those basics of your religion and you form your own faith. My faith teaches me to accept people unconditionally. It teaches me not to hate or be quick to rush to judgement. It teaches me people are people, not labeled by color, race, creed, or sexual orientation. Faith to me is strongly related to love and as such, I love all people and that is what my God tells me through my mind and heart. To ignore that inner voice is a sin in my book. Hence why you see me try to always accept and understand the view of a poster no matter how unpopular it may be. I am human and I do have my fits of anger and hatred, but they are few and far between.
I hear religion and I think of zealots, Fred Phelps, The Taliban, Osama Bin Laden, The Dolginites, televangelists, etc. These people pray on the weak willed in society. They further their own selfish causes through their so-called religion. Some even go so far as to justify death and the killing of another as being done "in the name of God", that is bulshit.
No man or woman can truly know what God means by what he does. Why do so many suffer? Is this God trying to teach those of us that have to be charitable? Perhaps. We can no sooner figure out God's intent than I can figure out what NJQT is going to eat for lunch today.
As for heaven and hell? Who is to say that all the "good" people go to heaven and the "bad" to hell? What if it is the other way around? Do we really know? No, and even after death we may not know because we have no proof. It is a belief we either have or don't have.
So I hope that through this little rant, I have shown that anyone can have religion, but faith is truly up to you and everyone has it in some shape or form, that is my belief.
If there is a true religion, I would say it is humanity and the pursuit of peace for humanity.
May you who reads this be blessed, loved, and well this holiday season.
And
Happy Christmakwanzachannnumas. :wink:
sweatyblackballs;1161310 said:
I know everyone hates religious banter here, but I was just thinking that my faith belief is nothing like what I hear people here railing against.
For starters, there is a huge difference between faith and religion. Religion is taught by someone, usually a person with an agenda or motive needing many people to believe as they do. Faith is deeply personal and it is simply one on one, you and your deity.
Don't get me wrong, religion has it's place, but as a footprint for your journey of faith. You take those basics of your religion and you form your own faith. My faith teaches me to accept people unconditionally. It teaches me not to hate or be quick to rush to judgement. It teaches me people are people, not labeled by color, race, creed, or sexual orientation. Faith to me is strongly related to love and as such, I love all people and that is what my God tells me through my mind and heart. To ignore that inner voice is a sin in my book. Hence why you see me try to always accept and understand the view of a poster no matter how unpopular it may be. I am human and I do have my fits of anger and hatred, but they are few and far between.
I hear religion and I think of zealots, Fred Phelps, The Taliban, Osama Bin Laden, The Dolginites, televangelists, etc. These people pray on the weak willed in society. They further their own selfish causes through their so-called religion. Some even go so far as to justify death and the killing of another as being done "in the name of God", that is bulshit.
No man or woman can truly know what God means by what he does. Why do so many suffer? Is this God trying to teach those of us that have to be charitable? Perhaps. We can no sooner figure out God's intent than I can figure out what NJQT is going to eat for lunch today.
As for heaven and hell? Who is to say that all the "good" people go to heaven and the "bad" to hell? What if it is the other way around? Do we really know? No, and even after death we may not know because we have no proof. It is a belief we either have or don't have.
So I hope that through this little rant, I have shown that anyone can have religion, but faith is truly up to you and everyone has it in some shape or form, that is my belief.
If there is a true religion, I would say it is humanity and the pursuit of peace for humanity.
May you who reads this be blessed, loved, and well this holiday season.
And
Happy Christmakwanzachannnumas. :wink:
