User Panel
|
Quoted: To be honest...I've never really even though about it. Not sure I believe in a "god", but I can't say there isn't one. This may sound bad....but I just don't care. I live my life under the rule of "treat others how you would like to be treated". When I hear preachers talk.....would could switch out the word "God" with "the giant panda", or "holy elephant".....and it would all be the same to me. I've just never understood any of it.......but I don't go around telling people there is no god, or they shouldn't go to church. I just don't care.....people can do what ever they want, believe in what ever they want. View Quote It may be better to lie to your wife, if she can’t handle it. |
|
Quoted: There’s no good church for an atheist. The man doesn’t believe in god, so he’s bored when he gets dragged in. Maybe a jump around, sing and dance church? All fun and no philosophy? That might work. View Quote Ok I'll leave now. |
|
|
Too bad the OP couldn't take a time machine back to circa 1776 and ask the Founding Fathers
I dunno, but seems like they get kudos for meeting his three criteria |
|
To me op it comes with the territory of being an engineer. I've been through all the classes and i think a lot of religion is meant to explain things they couldn't explain at the time. I believe i some sort of higher power but honestly I see so much more out in the woods and wilderness than I have ever seen in a church. I'm going through something similar as you. My wife is catholic and wants to attend some which I do. But I've never been in a more unwelcoming place than the catholic church.
But hey, Happy wife, Happy Life and all. |
|
|
Quoted: Say what? Philosophy and fun aren't mutually exclusive! After all, you can't spell "philosophy" without "phun." Ok I'll leave now. View Quote At least not the one his wife goes for. A lot of people love bible study (philosophy) but hate preaching. I’d suggest that as a compromise but I don’t think OP would like it either. I think he needs “active” fun. |
|
|
One doesn't have to go to church to believe in God or to practice their faith. I haven't attended a church since I was a teenager, but, I still believe in God and pray to him everyday regardless if I am in need of anything. And by the way, OP, good and bad things happen to people all the time and that has nothing to do with God. God has granted mankind free will to make their own decisions. They will ultimately reap the consequences of their decisions in the end. But, that's the wonderful thing about freedom. You write your own check and you eventually pay for it. Attending church does not expunge one's outstanding checks (sins). Only true remorse will. Most people pray to God for relief from issues troubling them. Nothing wrong with that. The bible does say that God will provide what you need, not necessarily what you want (phrase used by the Rolling Stones). But, it's understood that you must not rely on God to be your servant and provide everything for you. It's the other way around, man is God's servant. Those that didn't like that arrangement and were too arrogant and too stubborn to accept it left with their leader, Lucifer. In the end times they will all be destroyed. That's one thing that I am confident in.
|
|
Quoted:
How would that not be atheism or agnosticism? I guess a believer could just say fuck god, but that would be asking for damnation. Who would do that? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
How would that not be atheism or agnosticism? I guess a believer could just say fuck god, but that would be asking for damnation. Who would do that? To me, that's a stretch, Too many Christian True Believers of certain denominations really over-play that whole "damnation if you're not one of us!" threat. Quoted:
That sounds great to me, but the Bible said you have to gather with other Christians. It’s like, required. |
|
I'm not an atheist. I'd say I'm an agnostic. I believe in the possibility of a God. But no one can prove his existence. I think my problem is with organized religion, and that may be your problem too OP. I think organized religion and the church as a whole is nothing more than a business. I'm sure plenty on here will disagree and say their church isn't like that, and that may be true for them but in my experience the churches I've been to have all come down to the money. I've also met a lot of what I considered to be fake ass people in churches, you know, all nice to your face and put on a certain facade. I used to question my Christianity constantly, as I once considered myself a Christian. I never got straight answers to the questions I'd ask, so I made it a point to try and find the answers myself. All I can say is I'm 100% comfortable in my beliefs now, and have no questions. Some people need church, some don't. Some people need Narcotics Anonymous to quit dope, others don't. In the end I don't try and change anyone's mind about what they believe, my wife is still a believer and her father is a Pastor. It's definitely damaged my relationship with her father but I'm not going to pretend to be something I'm not. I don't consider people who need church to be weak minded, but I definitely feel they have a different thought process than I do. Probably comes down to faith, blind faith, the ability to believe in something you'll never see, hear, or feel. I'm one of those people that need proof.
|
|
Quoted:
Too bad the OP couldn't take a time machine back to circa 1776 and ask the Founding Fathers I dunno, but seems like they get kudos for meeting his three criteria View Quote Many of us would call ourselves "strong minded, confident, self-reliant people", yet also have a relationship with God. That sure doesn't make a person "weaker". |
|
Quoted:
Excellent post. An intelligent perspective. Faith in a higher being that has a higher purpose for everyone keeps people grounded in reality. The only way to nurture that faith and keep it healthy is by prayer and Church. View Quote |
|
Quoted: Good stuff right here. Yes, I support my wife even if I'm not 100% on board. I don't get it....but people do what they want. Yes, my wife (like most women) isn't emotionally strong. She needs a shoulder to cry on...someone to lift her up when she's in the dumps.....I'm ok with that, that's my job. Im not like that.....I just don't need that kind if support. Some people do....I'm fine with that. View Quote At least that’s what they tell me. |
|
Quoted: There’s no good church for an atheist. The man doesn’t believe in god, so he’s bored when he gets dragged in. Maybe a jump around, sing and dance church? All fun and no philosophy? That might work. View Quote Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person need to rely on someone else telling them what decisions they need to make in their own life? |
|
Quoted: So you think that people need to quake in their shoes for god or they're an atheist? To me, that's a stretch, Too many Christian True Believers of certain denominations really over-play that whole "damnation if you're not one of us!" threat. Which only matters to True Believers. View Quote |
|
Quoted:
To me op it comes with the territory of being an engineer. I've been through all the classes and i think a lot of religion is meant to explain things they couldn't explain at the time. I believe i some sort of higher power but honestly I see so much more out in the woods and wilderness than I have ever seen in a church. I'm going through something similar as you. My wife is catholic and wants to attend some which I do. But I've never been in a more unwelcoming place than the catholic church. But hey, Happy wife, Happy Life and all. View Quote |
|
Quoted: So believing in an all powerful being way up in the sky that nobody has ever seen, and requires "faith" to believe it is real.....is the one thing everyone needs, because it keeps our feet on the ground and keeps us grounded in reality? Ok. View Quote Christians get a lot of happiness and comfort from their beliefs and activities. You know that. Are you playing dumb? |
|
It's quite simple, I live my life and spend an hour a week at church and then some personal time thinking about things. You're doing a bad job at being edgy OP
|
|
nobody is "self reliant" that's arrogance speaking.
The Parable of the Rich Fool …17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. 19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!” 20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’…21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”… |
|
Quoted: Churches, sales meetings, time share seminars......pretty much anyone trying to convince me of something because they assume I can't figure it out on my own....and I need to "believe" what they tell me is someone I don't like to listen too. Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person need to rely on someone else telling them what decisions they need to make in their own life? View Quote Preaching/speeches are dull to people outside the hobby. You’re just outside the hobby. You aren’t special or better. |
|
|
I'm also a very strong willed, confident, emotionally strong person... and have no problems with believing in a Creator God.
That’s your first mistake OP. You think that people who believe in a Creator are not those things. |
|
Quoted:
Churches, sales meetings, time share seminars......pretty much anyone trying to convince me of something because they assume I can't figure it out on my own....and I need to "believe" what they tell me is someone I don't like to listen too. Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person need to rely on someone else telling them what decisions they need to make in their own life? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: There’s no good church for an atheist. The man doesn’t believe in god, so he’s bored when he gets dragged in. Maybe a jump around, sing and dance church? All fun and no philosophy? That might work. Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person need to rely on someone else telling them what decisions they need to make in their own life? |
|
Quoted: Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person be bothered about what others believe or have an issue accompanying his wife once a month while she goes to feel better? View Quote Just playing devil’s advocate here. Not that I believe in the devil, but that’s not because I’m strong or logical or better than people who do. |
|
|
Quoted:
So believing in an all powerful being way up in the sky that nobody has ever seen, and requires "faith" to believe it is real.....is the one thing everyone needs, because it keeps our feet on the ground and keeps us grounded in reality? Ok. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Excellent post. An intelligent perspective. Faith in a higher being that has a higher purpose for everyone keeps people grounded in reality. The only way to nurture that faith and keep it healthy is by prayer and Church. The Son, Jesus, was seen. That's historic. It's a matter of faith as to whether he was the Son of God, who was dead, buried, and then raised by the power of God. I do "choose" to believe that. Back to that comment about being strong willed/confident, what do you make of forefathers such as George Washington? At the very least he was a deist. His adopted daughter says that he was a man of faithful prayer, though I'm not sure she claims that he was necessarily a Christian. He and a number of other forefathers were Freemasons which to this day requires belief in some deity, a Creator of all. Were they also weak willed? Not self-reliant? |
|
Quoted:
Well, it certainly helps a lot of people. Your wife, for instance. Christians get a lot of happiness and comfort from their beliefs and activities. You know that. Are you playing dumb? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: So believing in an all powerful being way up in the sky that nobody has ever seen, and requires "faith" to believe it is real.....is the one thing everyone needs, because it keeps our feet on the ground and keeps us grounded in reality? Ok. Christians get a lot of happiness and comfort from their beliefs and activities. You know that. Are you playing dumb? My original question was for the people like me who don't need that type of "help" with life, how do they handle going to church (if they do at all). It wasn't a "I'm better than you because I don't like church" type of post...sorry if it came off that way. Yes, from the churches I have gone to........my personal experience has been that most of the people I see there are weak, can't handle reality, and need help. They cry about all of their problems and ask for prayers, but don't "pull themselves up by their boot straps" and make things better....they rely on everyone else to help them. Religion helps them out......but I still think that if they were stronger mentally, more self reliant, and took things for what they are......they would not need all of that help. This is actually a good conversation......the whole point of a "General Discussion". See....GD can be used for more things than Tay Tay and Tranny threads And I'm not trying to say all churches are bad....the one my wife goes to does do a lot of legitimate charity work, and work helping out the community with things. So in that sense, I think it's very positive. |
|
|
Quoted:
I'm not arguing that one bit. It helps a LOT of people. Lots of good comes out of religion for people who need it.....I agree. My original question was for the people like me who don't need that type of "help" with life, how do they handle going to church (if they do at all). It wasn't a "I'm better than you because I don't like church" type of post...sorry if it came off that way. Yes, from the churches I have gone to........my personal experience has been that most of the people I see there are weak, can't handle reality, and need help. They cry about all of their problems and ask for prayers, but don't "pull themselves up by their boot straps" and make things better....they rely on everyone else to help them. Religion helps them out......but I still think that if they were stronger mentally, more self reliant, and took things for what they are......they would not need all of that help. This is actually a good conversation......the whole point of a "General Discussion". See....GD can be used for more things than Tay Tay and Tranny threads And I'm not trying to say all churches are bad....the one my wife goes to does do a lot of legitimate charity work, and work helping out the community with things. So in that sense, I think it's very positive. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted: So believing in an all powerful being way up in the sky that nobody has ever seen, and requires "faith" to believe it is real.....is the one thing everyone needs, because it keeps our feet on the ground and keeps us grounded in reality? Ok. Christians get a lot of happiness and comfort from their beliefs and activities. You know that. Are you playing dumb? My original question was for the people like me who don't need that type of "help" with life, how do they handle going to church (if they do at all). It wasn't a "I'm better than you because I don't like church" type of post...sorry if it came off that way. Yes, from the churches I have gone to........my personal experience has been that most of the people I see there are weak, can't handle reality, and need help. They cry about all of their problems and ask for prayers, but don't "pull themselves up by their boot straps" and make things better....they rely on everyone else to help them. Religion helps them out......but I still think that if they were stronger mentally, more self reliant, and took things for what they are......they would not need all of that help. This is actually a good conversation......the whole point of a "General Discussion". See....GD can be used for more things than Tay Tay and Tranny threads And I'm not trying to say all churches are bad....the one my wife goes to does do a lot of legitimate charity work, and work helping out the community with things. So in that sense, I think it's very positive. |
|
Quoted: Stop bragging on yourself and trying to justify why you hate boring stuff. Everyone hates boring stuff. It doesn’t mean you’re awesome, it just makes you look like a tool to keep bringing it up. Preaching/speeches are dull to people outside the hobby. You’re just outside the hobby. You aren’t special or better. View Quote I'm not saying I'm better than anyone......maybe it was implied, and if it was..I'm sorry. |
|
Quoted:
So believing in an all powerful being way up in the sky that nobody has ever seen, and requires "faith" to believe it is real.....is the one thing everyone needs, because it keeps our feet on the ground and keeps us grounded in reality? Ok. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Excellent post. An intelligent perspective. Faith in a higher being that has a higher purpose for everyone keeps people grounded in reality. The only way to nurture that faith and keep it healthy is by prayer and Church. As mythical and make-believe that it sounds, we are only in this world temporarily and are merely footnotes in history textbooks. Besides that, many things about life are unexplainable without a higher being so that makes sense. Although there are some that believe they are magnificent and great like God despite the fact they are flesh and blood like everyone else, they are not God and never will be. Those are the people that need faith. |
|
The problem with the whole atheist/agnostic thing is that theism requires a revelation to provide enough specificity about God to make belief meaningful, and to believe a revelation to be divine is to have a religion. It only seems like an unambiguous question to people who have God in a small enough box not to realize the distinction isn't valid for anyone who doesn't.
I don't know if I'm a deist, but I'm certain I'm not a theist, and as far as I can tell that's virtually everyone without a religion, at least once you cut through all the BS surrounding the question. I mean pick your radical atheist and you'll find them making inherently agnostic statements regarding deism. Adeism doesn't even seem to be a word. It's the specific claim of a personal God who intervenes in natural causality that's always at issue. I think that's people creating God in their image, a perfectly understandable thing for any creature to do, conceive of God as the most powerful creature like them they can conceive of, but catastrophic because everything that derives from that premise is poisoned by it and the way it cripples one's capacity for incredulity and expectation of causality, and thereby their reason. I don't have a problem of suffering or evil to resolve, so I have no need for devils or demons, but if I did I'd believe theists were deceived by them. I just don't go OP. You can get fellowship and music without all the lunacy. |
|
Quoted: Ding ding.... mechanical engineer here. I operate on fact, common sense, and logic. I have a difficult time believing in things I can't prove out. I'm not very emotional, and I handle things on my own. Not sure if that good or bad.....but it's the way I operate. View Quote You can't see your love. Show me how your love is a "fact". Scientifically "prove it out". You can't. But you take on faith that what you feel for her is love and that she also loves you. Other things can also be taken on faith that aren't able to be seen, and that doesn't make somebody stupid, illogical, or dependent. Reason is only half of the human equation. |
|
I think you can be both, can’t you? Strong in faith and in personality?
Like you said, it’s a sensitive subject. |
|
Quoted:
Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person be bothered about what others believe or have an issue accompanying his wife once a month while she goes to feel better? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted: There’s no good church for an atheist. The man doesn’t believe in god, so he’s bored when he gets dragged in. Maybe a jump around, sing and dance church? All fun and no philosophy? That might work. Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person need to rely on someone else telling them what decisions they need to make in their own life? I've never really gave religion much though.....religious, atheist, agnostic....I've never really even thought about those things., I just don't really even care. The one thing I will tell you is that I've noticed that if you don't believe what they do, religious people are fast to attack you.....even other religious people that don't believe exactly what they do. I've never attached anyone for believing in what they want......that's kind of the whole idea of me living my own life, not relying on others to control my thoughts, or attempt to make me believe how they do. ....just saying. |
|
Quoted:
Because he’s terrified and he hurts inside and he doesn’t know how to let it out so he convinced himself his weaknesses are virtues. Just playing devil’s advocate here. Not that I believe in the devil, but that’s not because I’m strong or logical or better than people who do. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: Why would any intelligent, confident, strong minded person be bothered about what others believe or have an issue accompanying his wife once a month while she goes to feel better? Just playing devil’s advocate here. Not that I believe in the devil, but that’s not because I’m strong or logical or better than people who do. |
|
Quoted: My original question was for the people like me who don't need that type of "help" with life, how do they handle going to church (if they do at all). It wasn't a "I'm better than you because I don't like church" type of post...sorry if it came off that way. Yes, from the churches I have gone to........my personal experience has been that most of the people I see there are weak, can't handle reality, and need help. They cry about all of their problems and ask for prayers, but don't "pull themselves up by their boot straps" and make things better....they rely on everyone else to help them. Religion helps them out......but I still think that if they were stronger mentally, more self reliant, and took things for what they are......they would not need all of that help. View Quote And yes, it absolutely was an "I'm better than you" type thing- if it wasn't you wouldn't have called religious people weak willed, emotionally weak, and whatever other insults you chose to use. |
|
I have a very close friend who is a closeted atheist. I know he's an atheist we've talked about it many times. Not only does he go to church, he's actually taught Sunday school, and actively participates in his church's social activities.
He says it gives his family structure, and his children a moral base upon which to build. Is he a hypocrite? I suppose, but in the scheme of things, is it really all that bad? |
|
Quoted:
I know this is a sensitive topic, and I'm not trying to insult anyone....but I just want to ask the question. My wife is not super religious, but likes to go to church once a month or so. She says it makes her feel better…I’m ok with that. Every now and then she asks me to go with her…..I don’t want to, but it’s my wife…and a marriage is a compromise. I’m a very strong willed, confident, emotionally strong person. Everything good or bad that happens to me is because of my own hard work, my good choices, my bad choices, or good/bad luck….that’s it. I don’t know how people can sit for an hour and listen to some preacher get up there ramble on and on about how they need to look for a higher power to believe in when things get them down, when things don’t go right, or when they are having a rough time with life. I can listen to it for about 5 min, and my eyes glaze over and I’m thinking about riding dirt bikes, fishing, or a multitude of other things. I guess I just can’t wrap my mind around how people can be so emotionally fragile, so weak minded, so out of touch with reality that they can’t realize that everything that happens to them is of their own doing….nothing more, nothing less. What am I missing here? View Quote |
|
Quoted:
Well, I guess if listening to someone preach, or listening to someone give you a speech on how you need to live your life because you are doing it wrong is a hobby....I'm just not into that hobby I'm not saying I'm better than anyone......maybe it was implied, and if it was..I'm sorry. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: Stop bragging on yourself and trying to justify why you hate boring stuff. Everyone hates boring stuff. It doesn’t mean you’re awesome, it just makes you look like a tool to keep bringing it up. Preaching/speeches are dull to people outside the hobby. You’re just outside the hobby. You aren’t special or better. I'm not saying I'm better than anyone......maybe it was implied, and if it was..I'm sorry. "I guess I just can’t wrap my mind around how people can be so emotionally fragile, so weak minded, so out of touch with reality that they can’t realize that everything that happens to them is of their own doing….nothing more, nothing less." |
|
Quoted: I never said I had a problem with it......I do it because it makes her happy. It doesn't mean I don't support her even if I don't understand why she wants to go to church. And I never said I was bothered about what others believe? This is a discussion board right? It's for discussions? I've never really gave religion much though.....religious, atheist, agnostic....I've never really even thought about those things., I just don't really even care. The one thing I will tell you is that I've noticed that if you don't believe what they do, religious people are fast to attack you.....even other religious people that don't believe exactly what they do. I've never attached anyone for believing in what they want......that's kind of the whole idea of me living my own life, not relying on others to control my thoughts, or attempt to make me believe how they do. ....just saying. View Quote |
|
Quoted:
I have a very close friend who is a closeted atheist. I know he's an atheist we've talked about it many times. Not only does he go to church, he's actually taught Sunday school, and actively participates in his church's social activities. He says it gives his family structure, and his children a moral base upon which to build. Is he a hypocrite? I suppose, but in the scheme of things, is it really all that bad? View Quote |
|
Whenever I hear or see the “weak minded” argument I think about C.S. Lewis’s writings , his was an absolute brilliant mind, many folks would do well to read his stuff.
|
|
Quoted: You just can’t help yourself. You think your better than those who believe in god. Don’t worry, all of you people do. View Quote You might not like hearing that......but you can't argue with my own personal views on things. Am I wrong? Who knows...who cares. In the end, it's not really going to matter. Hell, 1000 years ago everyone believe in Thor, and all of the other "gods". Who knows what people will believe in 1000 years from now. |
|
I go to church with my brother and his wife and her parents for Christmas.
I do it for them, not for me. |
|
Quoted: I'm not arguing that one bit. It helps a LOT of people. Lots of good comes out of religion for people who need it.....I agree. My original question was for the people like me who don't need that type of "help" with life, how do they handle going to church (if they do at all). It wasn't a "I'm better than you because I don't like church" type of post...sorry if it came off that way. Yes, from the churches I have gone to........my personal experience has been that most of the people I see there are weak, can't handle reality, and need help. They cry about all of their problems and ask for prayers, but don't "pull themselves up by their boot straps" and make things better....they rely on everyone else to help them. Religion helps them out......but I still think that if they were stronger mentally, more self reliant, and took things for what they are......they would not need all of that help. This is actually a good conversation......the whole point of a "General Discussion". See....GD can be used for more things than Tay Tay and Tranny threads And I'm not trying to say all churches are bad....the one my wife goes to does do a lot of legitimate charity work, and work helping out the community with things. So in that sense, I think it's very positive. View Quote They’re like type two diabetics at the hospital. They’re not going to diet and take care of their feet any better if they avoid the doctor. |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.