Ash Wednesday (also known as oh god not another religious thread)

Toph · February 13th, 2013

This time around it's made me realize something. The biggest thing about religion that is silly to me isn't believing in sky demons. Maybe they *do* exist, who knows.

The thing that bugs me the most is that in many religions, people think they're somehow inherently flawed and horrible and need someone (who they've never met or seen) to forgive them. What's up with that? I fuck up all the time, but that's what people do. I'm still freaking awesome. Sure, it'd be great if we didn't fuck up, but there's no reason to think your fuck ups are so severe, so horrible, that they take divine intervention on a cosmic scale to atone for them. That is a rather serious guilt complex for your "sins" that don't even amount to a misdemeanor.

End of rant, sorry, love you long time.

Schofield · February 13th, 2013

When I fuck up I drink alcohol and attend therapy. And I fuck up a lot.

The people who do seek forgiveness through divine intervention are the kind of people who don't even do really bad things; and the people who do really bad things don't give a fuck, because why would they?

As long as you don't go Hitlering up your mistakes, you're fine - for the most part. Just be glad you're not being smitten for getting a parking ticket.

***MoreGun89*** · February 13th, 2013

Well, from my observations, being most strains of Christian involves an inherent and deep guilt for being human. And now they atone by giving up a vice for a month....

MORE BEER FOR ME!!

Red Menace · February 14th, 2013

I know! Guy came into work yesterday and he had some ash on his forehead and I was like "OH! IT'S ASH WEDNESDAY!" Then I looked back down at my computer and continued working.

Why do you care so much?

Toph · February 15th, 2013

I literally study humans to get a degree in order to (literally) study humans. That's why. Don't get your shorts in a bunch.

Nemmerle · February 15th, 2013

Personally I think they should have sin month. Just a month every year where god doesn't judge you. We'd see a real test of faith when that finished.

And a test of character in the month itself for that matter.

Toph · February 15th, 2013

I do wonder about the concept of sin though. It seems to me a rather complex thing, particularly the origin of the idea. After rather shallow thought (meaning the following might be bs), a "sin month" would cause people to forget about god almost entirely for that month, as the whole sin=hell + gods mercy thing is central to Christianity. If you suddenly didn't need that for a month, then you don't really need Christianity for that month.

Red Menace · February 15th, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toph

I literally study humans to get a degree in order to (literally) study humans. That's why. Don't get your shorts in a bunch.

I didn't know they gave degrees in voyeurism, would have changed majors.

Adrian Ţepeş · February 15th, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I didn't know they gave degrees in voyeurism, would have changed majors.

If they did, I'd certainly have a Ph.D by now

***Flash525*** · February 16th, 2013

There are never too many topics on Religion. The more that exist, only illuminates the number of disillusion people in the world, at least, in my opinion.

Simply, there are two kinds of people. Believers and non-believers. There really isn't a middle-ground. You either believe in God, or you don't. If you believe in God, then your life is based around a faith. Anything that you don't understand, or that can't be explained will have reasons, but those reasons will only be accepted if they work within your faith. If they contradict anything, then they're excluded.

A believer starts with a conclusion, and lives their life finding answers that match their conclusion. A non-believer would start their life with questions, and find answers throughout, thus ending with a conclusion (God isn't real).