Religion is just a crutch used by weaker minded people to establish so meaning and morales in their lives. More intelligent people see that religion has been proven a falacey ever sense Evolution became a proven fact. Thus someday when the weaker minded people are weeded out and the intelligent minority takes over religion will become a sad reminder of a more worhtless time. Don't worry though their is still hope for you so throw your bibles your Korans and your other holy texts down and join the revolution!!! ------------------ "Where knowledge ends Religion begins"
I'm glad to see that you too have a religion. You just posted one. Man may make many gods,... only God, the one and only, can make and break man, ISDAMan
Any belief system is a 'crutch'. There are no beliefs that can be considered to be entirely justified. Thus, every belief, especially scientific ones, must be largely motivated by desperation and fear.
Now, let me preface what I am about to say. I am by no means "anti-science", and I actually believe in evolution, well, mostly. How can you explain us evolving from unicellular, asexual organisms? When they reproduce, they clone themselves. So, how could anything evolve out of them???
Copr, Random mutations cause evelution. From what I know these mutations are caused by enviroment. Be it minor changes or major ones, those who adapt survie those who don't die. Prety much sums up evelution. Bezzle, To call those who have differing opions / belifes then you week minded is verry week minded on your part. I don't think it took much thinking on your part to come up with that statement. I sure know that you haven't realy read or understood anything posted by those who "belive". If you did you would know that they accualy are verry smart and strong willed. Mind you I don't "belive", I just think you are not using your mind and are tooting your horn hoping that no one will notice that you didn't realy put any thought into your post. Week words never have much thought behind them. ------------------ My life could have been black and white, but I had to color it.
6, Thank You!!!! That was really kind of you to stand up for us. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! To God Be The Glory, ISDAMan
ISDAMan, Thanks for making a very good point... Whether we believe in God, or whether we believe in ourselves, we all have a "belief system" or "religion" so to speak. Being an intelligent, strong and self-sufficient person, I used to have faith only in myself. Life was pretty good, too, I must add. Such faith in myself would serve me well-enough in this world, or so I thought. However, God has since intervened in my life with such a force of knowledge, strength, intelligence and love that humbles me... His greatness makes me look like a mere speck of dust in comparison. God has brought me, through positive intervention in matters that I would not have even known about if it were not for Him, to the realization that whatever I can do for myself in this temporary life is "nothing" compared to what I can do with the power and love of God in my life. The best thing that I can do for myself and others while I am here, the one thing that God wants me to do, is to accept His great gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. In the here and now, and for all eternity... Through Him, all good things will come. [This message has been edited by truestory (edited January 19, 2000).]
Bezzle, Sometimes to cause a stir is a best way to start an interesting discussion. I have got your point and I must say that I generally agree with your thesis. By me an intelligence has nothing common with strong or weak mind. I met plenty of people who were very intelligent and who were Christians, but we all knows that number of such people dramatically falling down recently (during last 50 years). You can hear very often from people who believes that to become one of them you should take the whole their system as it is. If you have some problems with explanation any divergences to yourself you should pray more and believe that there is solution of your doubts somewhere – God knows where. And after you death, every such doubts will disappear in bright light of God. What was happening during last 50 years that traditional believe systems lost their attractiveness to people? I want to focus only on Christianity, because this is the main subject of our discussion. We have to remember that the final shape of Christianity was established in about 3- 4 century (remember that it was established by PEOPLE who based on Jesus live). And I have to say that it was significant development of men’s approach to other men and his live in those times. Maybe it was the reason of such quick increase of this religion. During the time we noticed one significant change, when evangelic church came into existence as a successful attend to improve the system to the present (in those time) people mentality. But from 16 century till now we cannot find any other such changes in faith systems. In the other hand the mankind has reached from 16 century till now so great development in science, culture, relation between other people or nations which had never been reached before. Should the faith system evolve in accordance with mankind culture or it should remain frozen? I don’t know, who should answer to this question – maybe pope. But in the second case, the system become less compatible with people mentality and then people cannot receive the answers for most of their basic questions from the system. They have to believe in more range than before. We live in real world; we have to step on hard ground, so such approach become not acceptable to more and more people – what we have seen recently. People have to stay on front of dramatically choose: faith, but uncomfortable for his experience or live without God but it give a pain somewhere deep inside. Today people often choose the second solution and try to deaden that pain by amusements, music, movies, work, drugs, TV or internet, or try to find their own solution for relation with God. I understand Christians. From their perspective both above decisions are wrong – first one is obvious, the second: they know that people mentality is generally lazy and people solutions are often conform with their wishes, not with requirements of transcendentality. But you Christians have to understand that today the only faith is not enough for more and more people. The question was asked: who has a weak mind – believers or non believers. I think that it is not a good question because every one of us has its own mirages to cover incoherent places in our mind. Ivan ------------------ The Ravens Are Not What They Seem ------------------
Hi again, I have to add that it is possible that our world is so noisy today not only from deadening the pain in unbeliever’s souls but also from drowning the divergences in Christian's minds. Ivan ------------------ The Ravens Are Not What They Seem ------------------
Yes, I can only hope that one of these days, I can reach the level of intelligence of Jessie Ventura. Ah, but alas, I am no pro-wrestler. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! What a joke. Talk about a bleepin' Zombie. ------------------ "Go Jesus, go! Go Jesus, go!" I finally get to be the cheerleader that I always wanted to be but could not, as I was not a fluff chick.
Bezzle~ You might want to watch out when you lean too heavily on science. I have a pretty scientific mind, just so you know, but I'm also aware that many "facts" that are "discovered" by the scientific community are incorrect. How often are "solid scientific findings" retracted after 10 years or less? Remember asbestos, the wonder insulator? Thalidimide - that great drug safe for pregnant women to take to ease morning sickness? I believe in magick (as opposed to "magic" which is stage magician's work), but I don't think it's "supernatural". I think it's just a little beyond our current understanding of the universe. Couldn't religion have a place in the universe as well? How do you define religion, by the way? Is it believing in a higher force? Does it matter if that force is called "god" or "goddess"? Is it the personification of an energy that you see as "weak"?? Or are you of the opinion that us humans know all there is to know about the universe? Speaking of crutches for the weak...do you drive a car? Use a telephone? Take asperin? Buy your groceries at a grocery store? Aren't all of these things crutches of a kind? Designed to make our lives a little easier, safer, get us from point A to point B without walking for a week...
You're right I was to harsh on religion and I did seem weak minded myself. But I was merely trying to stir the pot and show my point of view which I in fact exceded. Again I'm sorry and I hope noeone was to offended by my comments and if you were well take this advice, open your eyes and try not to think so simply. ------------------ "Where knowledge ends Religion begins"
Bezzle-- Don't worry about offending people here. It seems there's a whole lot of offending going on. You'll know you've touched a nerve when you get a long string of expletives from one direction or another. thanx, Tiassa Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ------------------ Take a side you say, it's black and gray. And all the hunters take the hunted merrily out to play. We are one, you say, but who are you? You're all too busy reaping in the things you never sown. And this beast must go on and on and on .... Nobody gives a damn. (Floater; "Beast")
bezzle, I was just trying to get accross that you can reach more people with thought and meaning and not by calling them down. No offenes taken on my part. ------------------ My life could have been black and white, but I had to color it.
