Religious Differences

[Shibby]

When we going to have our discussion?

[FitnessBrat]

Not while he's on vacation....

[fog_hat1981]

Originally Posted by Shibby

When we going to have our discussion?

Hey - sorry - as FB said - I've been out of town...

That and I had almost forgotten we were going to have "that talk" - hit me up when you have a chance - my Fall semester doesn't start until Thursday so I will have a bit of time on my hands....

If FB doesn't have me all tied up

[Shibby]

If you want to discuss it through PM's that's cool, I just thought it would be interesting to get others opinions on it.

[fog_hat1981]

No problem - how you wanna start...

[Shibby]

I don't know where you know what, but we could start with the most common Christian vs. Jewish, then move on to other things like the Koran, Budah, etc.

[blm]

Originally Posted by Shibby

but we could start with the most common Christian vs. Jewish, then move on to other things like the Koran, Budah, etc.

Oh boy...open the flood gates....

[rado]

Originally Posted by blm

Oh boy...open the flood gates....

lol....Yep

[Shibby]

Maybe, but the intent is not to talk about who is right or wrong, or if there are facts. More just what each belive to be true and how it is different from others. Here is the discussion leading up to this ACLU Challenges Ky. Funeral Protest Law

[Primal Instinct]

I don't know if either of you were aware of this but the "protesters" at the funeral were almost all entirely made up from the same family. To me, they certainly don't represent any other religious ideologies but are a bastardization of a christian religion, much like wahabbists are generally considered a bastardization of Islam and whose roots are located primarily in part of Saudi Arabia.

It is interesting that upon closer inspection religions start out as a peaceful organization meant to keep people from what basically amounts to anarchy. By using the carrot and the stick approach, these religions kept people more or less under a rule of law when there may have not otherwise real law enforced by a nation-state. So, stuff like don't kill, don't steal, don't commit adultery etc., was generally part of almost every organized religion. Where it gets iffy is when for instance in the Jewish faith, the Talamud was written later by jewish theologians which then indicated exceptions such as justifying murder in some cases.The religion of Islam is a peaceful religion in itself but then we have Fatwas issued that indicate that it is acceptable to kill non-muslim infidels in some cases. It's this type of meddling that such peaceful religions begin to tear at the seams and eventually, the original message is lost.

[Shibby]

I was watching something on NGC about the ten commandments and about the "exceptions" made to those laws. About murder being ok at one point in war. Then it went to capital punishment, then capital punishment went away... anyways that was very interesting. No doubt that the christian religion has a big part in our country's development. The morals are there to teach right and wrong. But now that it's the law and people have evolved, for the most part, to be respectful of each other... That's where it get's interesting. It's all moral teachings in a story book and no longer "factual words".

[Mr incredible]

This doesn't seem to be going anywhere, what you need is someone to come in and stimulate the debate with some radical thoughts, possibly atb the risk of annoying everyone, I'll try think who best

[PWoody]

This guy is about the only thing organized religon has going for it... http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...rting+preacher

[fog_hat1981]

Ok - so I worked on typing something up and my computer got shut off and the "auto-save" option didn't work - wtf...

Anyways - I want to get this started ASAP but I just found out that we're getting the house appraised Monday and I need to get started on crap around the house that I've been putting off - I'll give this my best as soon as I can get back to fun stuff like typing ....

[rado]

Originally Posted by PWoody

This guy is about the only thing organized religon has going for it... http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...rting+preacher

Not to be an ass, but why do you have to be a tool? This thread is all in seriousness...

[blm]

I think if you are going to have such a broad and open discussion on such a topic that you should create a thread w/a title relating to the topic. 'Foghat' doesn't really conjur up ideas of religion

[rado]

Originally Posted by blm

I think if you are going to have such a broad and open discussion on such a topic that you should create a thread w/a title relating to the topic. 'Foghat' doesn't really conjur up ideas of religion

lol...I concur/\

[Shibby]

[PWoody]

Originally Posted by rado

Not to be an ass, but why do you have to be a tool? This thread is all in seriousness...

I appologize.

Originally Posted by Mr incredible

This doesn't seem to be going anywhere, what you need is someone to come in and stimulate the debate with some radical thoughts, possibly atb the risk of annoying everyone, I'll try think who best

I thought that maybe I could answer his calling. I figured I would take the place of the person that people yell at and call a "tool" and what not, and maybe get the debate going like he wanted. Sorry to be inappropriate. However, I as well would like to see some more discussion of opinions and maybe a little friendly arguing going on. Again, sorry for taking the serious edge away from the thread.

[PWoody]

Any "big bangers" out there?

[bonebreaker]

Originally Posted by PWoody

Any "big bangers" out there?

Probably most of the people on this board I suspect. Unless I've missed my suspicions badly, I would think most are Evolutionists and not Creationists. Of course, there may be a few Raelians, (like me), or perhaps several Panspermians, (my second choice). I prefer not to discuss religious preferences, each to their own and welcome to their beliefs. The only thing I WILL say about religions is, more people have, throughout past history, AND will be killed in the future because of their differences in religions, than anything else. The only thing that will cause more deaths will be a "planet killing" asteroid. BB

[PWoody]

Originally Posted by bonebreaker

The only thing I WILL say about religions is, more people have, throughout past history, AND will be killed in the future because of their differences in religions, than anything else. The only thing that will cause more deaths will be a "planet killing" asteroid. BB

You are so right. It's funny how it ends up like that, when most all religions were created with hopes of maintaining peace and order, so to speak. But, I suppose it's human nature to take your opinion over someone else's and kill them for being an individual and having their own different beliefs...

[Shibby]

Originally Posted by bonebreaker

Probably most of the people on this board I suspect. Unless I've missed my suspicions badly, I would think most are Evolutionists and not Creationists. Of course, there may be a few Raelians, (like me), or perhaps several Panspermians, (my second choice). I prefer not to discuss religious preferences, each to their own and welcome to their beliefs. The only thing I WILL say about religions is, more people have, throughout past history, AND will be killed in the future because of their differences in religions, than anything else. The only thing that will cause more deaths will be a "planet killing" asteroid. BB

Well, the discussion wasn't going to be about prefrences. More what different religions believe, how they conflict with each other, how they fit into today's world... Foghat said he took some classes/studied about different religions, or something like that, and I was interested in hearing what he has learned (and anyone else who has examined other religions than there own).

[Primal Instinct]

I think that in order to understand the importance of such differences between various religions, it would be prudent to understand the similarities first.


Each of the organized religions have several things in common and those are:


a) The Product- We are in essence consumers buying a product from a manufacturer. The product is religion (absolution, peace, life eternal, etc...) They market their wares for us to sample. If we like the product or more likely, if our parents liked the product, we then become the consumer. Like salespersons in commercial business enterprises, each religion also have spokespersons out there attempting to create the interest in the product and draw in new prospects. Generate interest (eternal happiness). Create a demand (absolution from sin). Offer the product (religious ideology). Follow up with service contracts - aka masses or prayer assemblies of some type for the believers to maintain a repeat client business. Simply put, organized religions seek to sell their product to those who do not yet have it. If you don't have it, then you need it. If you are already buying from a different vendor then you need to try it from their own vendor. This is the theory behind religious conversion.


b) Exclusivity- Only members in good standing of the recruiting religion will find a great reward at the end of their lives. In general, all other religions (although they may be respected to a certain degree) are false religions and those nonbelievers will not experience a great reward, as only members of the recruiting religion will be allowed to enjoy.


c) The Carrot and the Stick Approach - Good religious practictioners -aka true believers- will go to heaven (or some sort of other worldly nirvana) and nonbelievers will suffer an eternity in hell (or again, some otherworldly contemptuous place) if they either do not ascribe to said religion or if they chose to not actively follow its religious doctrine or precepts.

d) Give US Money- Most organized religions readily solicit monetary donations from their participants in order to either grow the financial power or properties of that religion's actual financial holdings or to promote the spread of such religious ideologies.

e) Owner's Manual- There