That level of constipated thinking has blessed us with MAGA.
Religious grooming?
- Thread starter CubanB
- Start date
No religion teaches evil, though. All the mainstream religions teach the Golden Rule.
Our culture only judges religion by its worst members because America is atheist now.
As an example, for every 1 pedophile Catholic priest there are 100 saintly ones BUT our culture only highlights the pedophile and ignores the saints.
I went to elementary school, high school and college where they tried to teach me all sorts of stuff that is irrelevant to my life today. What’s really pathetic is that my parents and I had to pay for a bunch of this grooming.
What a joke, can’t believe this goes on every day.
No kidding look at the top online, religious, TV, celebrity, political, etc influencers. What do they all have in common.I think most Americans are atheists now because we live in an atheist country and Americans are groomed into it.
Materialism is the religion of America...not Christianity. The "American Dream" is to get rich and buy stuff.
I was unchurched for 15 years and believed what our atheist culture teaches...that Jesus was a myth and the Catholic Church is a pedophile organization.
I started to question our culture and did my own study and discovered I was lied to.
Jesus isn't a myth, He is a real historical person and Catholic priests have a lower abuse rate than public school teachers.
So, I pray, try to live well, help others and hope for an eternity of bliss after my death in a few decades.
Separating Facts About Clergy Abuse From Fiction
Quality research and reason need to take precedence over emotion if we truly want to keep children and families safe from sexual abuse in the the Church or anywhere.www.psychologytoday.com
How would you know if you don't go to Church or pursue any involvement?
There are tons of good people in Churches. I know many saints.
LBJ once said give the poor White man someone to look down on. Then tax the shit out of them. Which is what is happening for MAGA.
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"lOoK aT aLl ThEsE aSsHolEs oBseSsEd wItH pOliTiCs!!!!
-- Guy who does nothing but talk/bitch about the government
If you come home and live in a state of Grace, it will be great for you after we die...infinitely better than this world.
www.masstimes.org
Unanswerable questions, by definition, can't be answered. I'm not sure how inserting some deity into the equation suddenly provides one. I don't disagree with the premise that there may be some entity behind the whole shebang - hell, maybe the universe itself possesses some intelligence. My point has always been that such an entity would be less comprehensible to us than we are to a bacterium so there's really no point with dwelling on it. The idea that such an entity would intervene to cure this child of cancer but allow that one to die in a fire is absolute nonsense. Don't even get me started on thanking god for winning a football game.
The holographic principle emerged from the black hole paradox. Information falling into the black hole is assumed to be lost. But physics says that's impossible. The idea arose that all that information still existed in a 2-D sphere around the black hole - neither destroyed nor still in this universe but preserved. Hawking radiation would encode this information as it escaped the black hole so that when the black hole finally evaporated, all the information it sucked in would have been returned to our universe. That led to the idea that the "information" about this universe is contained on the inside a 2-D structure and our perceived reality is a projection of that information...like a hologram. It makes a lot of sense in physics but there's no way to test it. At this point, it's no better than saying a god did it but it does make the math easier...god doesn't.
In my opinion, you ought to raise your children either Catholic or Jewish. Or else they might end up religious.
Well, that's what faith is. It doesn't matter what you believe on this as long as you don't let a belief in God suddenly start meaning that 5+5=15.Unanswerable questions, by definition, can't be answered. I'm not sure how inserting some deity into the equation suddenly provides one. I don't disagree with the premise that there may be some entity behind the whole shebang - hell, maybe the universe itself possesses some intelligence. My point has always been that such an entity would be less comprehensible to us than we are to a bacterium so there's really no point with dwelling on it. The idea that such an entity would intervene to cure this child of cancer but allow that one to die in a fire is absolute nonsense. Don't even get me started on thanking god for winning a football game.
The holographic principle emerged from the black hole paradox. Information falling into the black hole is assumed to be lost. But physics says that's impossible. The idea arose that all that information still existed in a 2-D sphere around the black hole - neither destroyed nor still in this universe but preserved. Hawking radiation would encode this information as it escaped the black hole so that when the black hole finally evaporated, all the information it sucked in would have been returned to our universe. That led to the idea that the "information" about this universe is contained on the inside a 2-D structure and our perceived reality is a projection of that information...like a hologram. It makes a lot of sense in physics but there's no way to test it. At this point, it's no better than saying a god did it but it does make the math easier...god doesn't.
Religious grooming?,... Back in the day we simply referred to that as a catholic education.
I do go to church. I said as much earlier in the thread.
As to your comment of no religion teaches hate, on its face, I agree. However, it is very clear and has been for centuries that people use religion to justify their hatred and evil acts.
One thing that doesn't sit well with me is when people argue that God must be an Omni God. I don't see a reason for that. We could have an evil god, a flawed god, a neglectful god, an absent God. The possibilities are limited only by our imagination.Unanswerable questions, by definition, can't be answered. I'm not sure how inserting some deity into the equation suddenly provides one. I don't disagree with the premise that there may be some entity behind the whole shebang - hell, maybe the universe itself possesses some intelligence. My point has always been that such an entity would be less comprehensible to us than we are to a bacterium so there's really no point with dwelling on it. The idea that such an entity would intervene to cure this child of cancer but allow that one to die in a fire is absolute nonsense. Don't even get me started on thanking god for winning a football game.
The holographic principle emerged from the black hole paradox. Information falling into the black hole is assumed to be lost. But physics says that's impossible. The idea arose that all that information still existed in a 2-D sphere around the black hole - neither destroyed nor still in this universe but preserved. Hawking radiation would encode this information as it escaped the black hole so that when the black hole finally evaporated, all the information it sucked in would have been returned to our universe. That led to the idea that the "information" about this universe is contained on the inside a 2-D structure and our perceived reality is a projection of that information...like a hologram. It makes a lot of sense in physics but there's no way to test it. At this point, it's no better than saying a god did it but it does make the math easier...god doesn't.
Using a god to answer unanswerable questions of science isn't faith. It's copping out. And it gives you an ever smaller and smaller god. Believing in any god answers exactly zero questions. We have absolutely NO idea what the nature of this supremely powerful being could possibly be. We just imprint our own needs and desires on our "faith". We create our god in our image. As I said, it's remotely more vast than bacteria worshipping you for providing the gut they inhabit.
Just because you went doesn’t mean you paid attention. Thats on you.
How is it copping out? And it answers a lot of questions. But I'm not going to even attempt to explain it to you because it really isn't any of your business. You need to resolve these issues for yourself. You shouldn't be upset with how other people do that so long as they don't try to force it on you.
I went to Catholic elementary school and church through high school. I think I lost most of my interest in it when I left for college. When I lost my twin brother to illness at age 20 and was told that it was all part of God's plan they pretty much lost me. I'm not about to love a god that decides taking my brother was a good idea.
I still however thought it a good idea to get my kids baptized many years later and took them to church through grade school. Son didn't want to go once he hit middle school and we didn't force the issue. He's an atheist now. My daughter is agnostic. I am as well.
Alt handle. I got banned recently for posting noods. I think it might be permanent this time. Pretty sure northern snitched on me.
You posted, "To me, religion answers unanswerable questions". I responded to that contention. That's not being "upset". You're free to believe anything you like. When you publish it in a public forum, expect that belief to be critiqued. Feel free to critique what I posted as far as the nature of any all-powerful entity. I won't accuse you of being upset.
Sorry, I misread your tone then. I have been attacked by atheists on public forums before for this stance.You posted, "To me, religion answers unanswerable questions". I responded to that contention. That's not being "upset". You're free to believe anything you like. When you publish it in a public forum, expect that belief to be critiqued. Feel free to critique what I posted as far as the nature of any all-powerful entity. I won't accuse you of being upset.
I would not say I was groomed, I was allowed to question as a child. Parents raised me in a reformed Christian church. Lots of old people, nothing too exciting.
Parents were divorced in my teenage years and my father begged the church to assist with counseling but did not. Post-divorce, parents never made me go again and through college years, I was full-fledged agnostic. Holstein's class did not do me any favors!
But, a few years later, I realized my agnosticism was not working for me. I had questions and it did not provide answers. I realized my hatred of my old church was because I thought they did not help my father but that turned out not to be true. As I grew older, I realized the choices my father made did not help and wasn't telling the full story. Blaming the church was the wrong choice.
I realized as I became a working professional starting a family, that all humans end up worshipping. Humans are built to worship. Deny that all you want but it is truth. So, I had to sit down and think out what it was I was going to spend my life worshipping. I could worship myself, my family, my career, politics, lots of choices. But I decided to settle for nothing but the best. I realized I needed something far greater than myself.
My wife helped me lean back into my faith and I asked God through prayer to help guide me and He did! It is very difficult to explain the how but I'll simply say that God quickly oriented me in the right direction and revealed some things I needed. Quickly baptized and dove head first into my church community and that is where my faith-life took off and never looked back!
God has moved in my life and my family's life so much. Not all of it has been easy. some hard, some uncomfortable. And, what He is currently doing in our lives may challenge us even more. But, I have learned to trust that God's plan is infinitely better than my own and I have the wisdom of several decades to look back and confirm God was right and I wasn't. The person I am today has "been made new" compared to my teenage/20's old self. I could not have done that on my own, only Christ working in my heart.
For my own children, wife and I have decided to raise them in the church but to give them room to ask questions. I fully understand that they have to choose Christ and not have it shoved down their throats. My goal is to be an example to them to help make that choice easy.
I know...CSB
Don't be defensive about what you believe. If you're going to put it out there, expect push-back and roll with it.
I was baptized and raised Presbyterian and was very involved in my smallish rural Iowa church. I liked to challenge our pastor (bless his patience) and it was a great social scene for me as I grew up. The people of the congregation were like family to me and many were actual relatives from my maternal grandfather's side of the familial equation.
I went off to college and fell away from church going, too many other things to fill my daily calendar it seemed and I wasn't really able to find the same type of social connection in any of the Iowa City churches. I'm essentially an agnostic, a "possibilist", if you will. I have my own beliefs concerning the great mysteries and unknowns of the universe and I hold no ill feelings towards those who are highly devoted to their faith, at least until they stray out of their lane and try to impose their religious beliefs on others through political and social power and influence. There's a large segment of the evangelical fundamentalist Christian church IMO who are entirely lost right now and if there is a judgment day coming, they better hope and pray that the all powerful force/God/whatever? grants them mercy at their time of reckoning. The hypocrisy and abandonment of Christ's teachings is very disappointing to see in our modern world and to be fair, the same criticism can be leveled at certain factions of other faiths as well (ahem, looking at you radical Islam).
Jesus, whether real or not, can be held up as a great example of how to live one's life the right way, regardless of your religious leanings. His message was very simple and I try my best each day to follow that example but I do have to admit it gets more challenging in these trying and troubled modern times.
I went off to college and fell away from church going, too many other things to fill my daily calendar it seemed and I wasn't really able to find the same type of social connection in any of the Iowa City churches. I'm essentially an agnostic, a "possibilist", if you will. I have my own beliefs concerning the great mysteries and unknowns of the universe and I hold no ill feelings towards those who are highly devoted to their faith, at least until they stray out of their lane and try to impose their religious beliefs on others through political and social power and influence. There's a large segment of the evangelical fundamentalist Christian church IMO who are entirely lost right now and if there is a judgment day coming, they better hope and pray that the all powerful force/God/whatever? grants them mercy at their time of reckoning. The hypocrisy and abandonment of Christ's teachings is very disappointing to see in our modern world and to be fair, the same criticism can be leveled at certain factions of other faiths as well (ahem, looking at you radical Islam).
Jesus, whether real or not, can be held up as a great example of how to live one's life the right way, regardless of your religious leanings. His message was very simple and I try my best each day to follow that example but I do have to admit it gets more challenging in these trying and troubled modern times.
Talking about your wasted schooling. Every public school or college I attended there were good, bad, and average teachers. Claiming your parents wasted money is mostly on you.
I told OP that there are good churches and bad ones as well. Mostly try to stay away from the ones that are more cult like.
Churches do give a sense of community and relationship building. But as I said if it’s cult like mega church/prosperity gospel not so much.
Thanks for all the good responses everyone.
@LuciousBDragon, I don’t agree 100% that humans are built to worship something, but it definitely made me think about what I “worship”. I came to the conclusion that it’s nature, I try to do as much for Mother Nature as possible. That’s why I’m okay with just going back to the earth after I die.
I do believe that humans are naturally curious and want answers to the questions that have no answers. I’m also a believer in ancient aliens playing a huge role in the world’s religions.
@LuciousBDragon, I don’t agree 100% that humans are built to worship something, but it definitely made me think about what I “worship”. I came to the conclusion that it’s nature, I try to do as much for Mother Nature as possible. That’s why I’m okay with just going back to the earth after I die.
I do believe that humans are naturally curious and want answers to the questions that have no answers. I’m also a believer in ancient aliens playing a huge role in the world’s religions.
Schools do give a good sense of community and relationship building. But if they are cult like lib or mega schools not so much.
It's not grooming and doesn't really relate to the thread, but I'll leave this here. Hard to believe this is real. The is more absurd than any WWE promo.
I just found this video on YouTube about the Parable of the Unjust Steward in the Gospel of Luke.
Pretty good. IMO.
Pretty good. IMO.
Who funds this charlatan? He’s living for this material world and its trappings. Not a man of faith with his eyes on the rewards of the spirit. Disgusting.
There are churches worth billions of dollars whose leaders live in luxury. This guy is just following their lead.
