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How did U became atheists/deists/theists?

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Hermes:
Welcome to the forums ...


--- Quote from: searchinwithnoagenda on December 25, 2008, 09:16:48 PM ---Not sure I am an atheist yet.
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The term atheist is often misunderstood.  I posted a poll that spells out 21 different categories of belief or lack of belief.  For most people, they are mainly in one category but are also (depending on circumstances) in a few of the other categories as well -- even when those categories would seem to be contradictory if they were not put in context.

What is your religious position?
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/forums/index.php?topic=833


--- Quote from: searchinwithnoagenda on December 25, 2008, 09:16:48 PM ---Share similar strong Christian (USA) upbringing as other posts above.  My journey along life’s road includes decades of silent observation trying to reduce life/religion/etc. to it’s simplest form and would like the input of others to the following: 

At or near the highest level of abstraction; to what degree is the Christian religion merely a social club whose message is one of material prosperity through organization, conformity and uniformity?
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I think that the GIIVideo (below) nails this quite well for Christianity, though the same can be applied to many other regions where one religion dominates a society.  In sum: Most people are Christians (publicly) because they are scared of what other Christians will do to them.  This does not either invalidate or validate Christianity, but it does give a base motivation for Christians to be Christians.

Why does every intelligent Christian disobey Jesus?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-slAgzJmdU[/youtube]

While I am not a Christian, I do think that there is room for reform and correction to improve the ratio of good to bad in Christianity.  It is not necessarily fatally flawed and necessarily negative, but as it is now I think it can be demonstrated to be a net negative.  Unfortunately, like nearly all other religions, Christianity is founded on supernaturalism/superstition.  As that core leads to lying to cover up problems with supernaturalism.


--- Quote from: searchinwithnoagenda on December 25, 2008, 09:16:48 PM ---Organizing resources (people, time, materials, attitudes, beliefs, etc.) to achieve various accomplishments/creature comforts (cars, housing, food, air conditioning, etc.) that any particular individual cannot accomplish on his/her own in order to increase the PHYSICAL (aka cloaking/hiding the desire for more physical creature comforts for ones self/family/group to which the individual belongs in/behind a religious construct) comfort level of each individual in society and that of the collective whole of human society/experience (i.e. a rising tide lifts all boats).
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Not sure where you're going with the above. 

xphobe:

--- Quote from: Hermes on December 26, 2008, 12:53:47 AM ---
--- Quote from: searchinwithnoagenda on December 25, 2008, 09:16:48 PM ---Organizing resources (people, time, materials, attitudes, beliefs, etc.) to achieve various accomplishments/creature comforts (cars, housing, food, air conditioning, etc.) that any particular individual cannot accomplish on his/her own in order to increase the PHYSICAL (aka cloaking/hiding the desire for more physical creature comforts for ones self/family/group to which the individual belongs in/behind a religious construct) comfort level of each individual in society and that of the collective whole of human society/experience (i.e. a rising tide lifts all boats).
--- End quote ---

Not sure where you're going with the above. 

--- End quote ---

I got that churches help improve people's lots by acting as a group in ways that individuals cannot.  I could be wrong though...

I wonder what people would do with their spare time if churches simply vanished.  Join more civic groups?  Help out at homeless shelters or food banks?  Build more houses?  Think of all those extra hours not occupied by church on Sundy morning, or not studying an ancient book.  Think of all the cash that could be put to better use instead of donating $1000 to the local well-off RC church so they can build a bigger building.  Oops.  Got a little carried away there...

GotMooo:
Well I have no problem with churches when it comes to helping others.  That is a wonderful thing, no doubt.  And there are churches that have certainly proven to be good places to do these things.

However, I do not like it when churches use helping others as a way to hide their corruption.  What corruption?  I am talking about self-interests like greed.  When the pastor is making loads of money and living a lavish lifestyle, I think it's non-productive.  The bible backs this up too.

I certainly don't like it when pastors/churches cheat the tax system, by using church assets and money for taxable businesses.  It is certainly unacceptable, and it is money that the church goers could put to better use.  Any church/organization, such as Kenneth Copeland Ministries, that has a problem with showing us where their money is going, I wouldn't want to invest in.  I wouldn't invest into these organizations by volunteering, giving resources like money, or anything else.

Other corruption can include molestation and any kind of abuse.  Just because a church/organization is helping people, doesn't mean they aren't hurting people at the same time.

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