Religion & Spirituality - 12 November 2007

If you reject Deuteronomy and Leviticus (as most do) then by what criteria do you decide which of religions moral values to accept?

If "we" have the ability to choose/decipher between good and bad -- moral and immoral -- within the very book that many claim is their sole reason for their moral parameters, then how is it that we need religion (aka The bible) to guide us and tell us what is right and wrong?

In other words: How can you choose which of "Gods" words should be followed and which should not, if it is only through his words that you find your moral direction?

2007-11-12 08:20:47 · 13 answers · asked by I, Sapient 7

some Bible-fundamentalists answered here that the Bible is a history book, I find it so hard to believe that they would go that far with their so-called belief in the Bible!

2007-11-12 08:20:11 · 13 answers · asked by Ťango 3

How can we be sure what is right and wrong if there is? Do you use a moral guide such as the Bible, a system such as utilitarianism, another method or do you believe there is no such thing?

2007-11-12 08:19:17 · 18 answers · asked by timssterling 4

2007-11-12 08:19:14 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

Most atheists answer "for lack of evidence to the contrary" but that's not why I'm an atheist... which I can only explain by way of a parable.

If I was walking through the forest and saw a tree lieing on the ground and wondered why. I might think that lighting hit it. Or I might think that termites ate away at the roots and it fell. Or I might think it died and gravity pulled it down. Or I might think a meteor hit it (like the forest in Russia). Or I might think that a passing mudslide made it fall. Or I might think that a large animal accidently hit up against it causing it to topple. Or I might think that the owner of the land cut it down - hoping to make a log cabin out of it one day - and gave up. Or I might think some other natural cause made the tree fall but I can't think what it might be. But not for a moment would it ever cross my mind to think it is on the ground because an invisible, all powerful, diety laid it there... and the same goes for every event in history.

2007-11-12 08:19:03 · 13 answers · asked by I'm an Atheist 3

If not, then why?

There are people in Christian Club and Gay Straight Alliance at my school....I just don't understand.

2007-11-12 08:16:56 · 40 answers · asked by * 6

Ever since I was 13 or so, I have had a high sex drive, well, my body wanted it really bad. I found that I could control it through masturbating, which went from once a day to up around 5 times.
From when I was young, I was shown God and believed, as time passed I saw things and did things that led to me falling away. Basically through my entire teens I did what felt good, well, mostly. I never had Sex or anything, but I did other things to prevent myself from wanting it, just because I felt like I shouldn't. I never did anything with a girl, just me.

A few months ago I started reading the bible, and things started changing without me realizing it. Now, I find myself fighting it. I see masturbating as something that isn't glorifying to God, yet, after a couple days I lose my mind. And then I do it once to relieve the thoughts. Then I feel really bad afterwards cause I think its bad before, during, and after. Yet I still did it.

2007-11-12 08:16:22 · 33 answers · asked by Mashu 4

like questions??

2007-11-12 08:13:08 · 17 answers · asked by ♥~cinderella~♥ 1

Is it acceptable for me to bead dazzle my temple garments?!?

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!

2007-11-12 08:13:06 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-11-12 08:12:17 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-11-12 08:10:50 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

ok so, last year, my teacher tought us about how the Earth was created. He talked about the big bang and such but there is one thing I don't get, all those molecules and stuff came together, how did they get there in the first place? I mean you can't get some thing out of nothing right?

2007-11-12 08:06:13 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous

When I was about 8 years old, I picked up a Children's Bible and started reading it from the beginning. I never got all the way to the end. But the thing that really puzzled me at that age was dinosaurs.

From what I could recall, the world began with Adam & Eve. There was no mention of dinosaurs living thousands of years before that. (Unless I missed it.)

So when I was learning about dinosaurs in school, I kept telling the teacher that I didn't believe in them because they weren't in the Bible.

Now, I am not here to dispute science or their existence... nor to refute anyone's faith.

What I am curious about is....

1. Did you have any conflicting thoughts as a kid between science and the Bible?

2. And how have dinosaurs been explained in the Christian world where there is clearly a conflict of information?

Just something I have pondered...

(..and again, I am not looking for proof that dinosaurs did exist... I already know about all that now that I am older

2007-11-12 08:06:03 · 20 answers · asked by Proud Momma 6

Were you here when R&S had a mayor?

2007-11-12 08:05:12 · 36 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-11-12 07:57:57 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

Trying to say god is as obvious as a parent and that all Atheists deny god out ignorance to piss him off.

2007-11-12 07:57:30 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous

A follow up to a question asked earlier:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071112104052AA9uMux&r=w

We've established that hate crimes are more heinous because they are targeted not only toward the victim but toward a larger religious/racial group as well.

Barring the actual admitted testimony of the perpetrator, how do we as a society know what is and is not a hate crime? Upon what moral authority can we make that judgment?

2007-11-12 07:56:58 · 26 answers · asked by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7

Describe the teachings of christiannity about the relationship between humanity and the rest of creation?

2007-11-12 07:55:57 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

they don't seem to be aware of the fact that Martin tore away several books from the original compilation of the Bible.

2007-11-12 07:55:53 · 11 answers · asked by Ťango 3

So, I am a baptised/confirmed Lutheran. I went through the classes etc. as a kid. Recently I have found Catholic cathedrals and ideology more consistent with my beliefs. Also, my girlfiend is a catholic and I like attending her church.

My question is, how do I convert to Catholic without having to retake CCD? (I think that's Catholic confirmation, correct?) I want to be able to take communion and be a member of the Catholic church. But I don't want to sit through a year of classes when I understand the fundamental ideology of the religion.

Am I being to glib about this conversion? Should I make the effort to take the classes? Or is my understanding and previous indoctrination sufficient in the eyes of this religion?

2007-11-12 07:55:41 · 19 answers · asked by Billy J 1

Falling necessitates a pusher just like a painting necessitates a painter. Why can't you damn atheists understand that?!

2007-11-12 07:51:24 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous

come to the conclusion of "evolution" after only 3 weeks on the Galapagos Islands

2007-11-12 07:49:30 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous

Im a catholic and so tired of hearing about all of these priests raping and molesting little children and ruining their lives forever. It makes me wonder if they are in some way in work with the Devil.

2007-11-12 07:48:46 · 18 answers · asked by WildcatDemise 3

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray.

2007-11-12 07:45:29 · 19 answers · asked by rabble rouser 6

2007-11-12 07:44:42 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous

According to certain Christians and Muslims, only THEY have the RIGHT God. All other people from other religions worship "false" gods and are in false religions. In both the koran and bible, non-believers are condemned for all eternity.

Now if someone has with a genuine heart, searched, spiritually quested and delved into the various faiths, holy books and VOILA! They have their epiphany and find God and a spiritual path that satisfies them mind, body and spirit; answers the most important questions in life:
- WHo are we? Why are we here? What is life? What is death? What happens after? It gives them a way to live a good life, peaceably with their fellowman and the planet. It is a belief and relationship with God they would DIE for. That is how much they KNOW it to be TRUE.

Yet it is not your belief (Jesus or Allah).

If after all of this, they die and OOPS! Let's say your God WAS the true one afterall. How could that God honestly punish that person?

2007-11-12 07:39:25 · 23 answers · asked by pixie_pagan 4

works of straw hay and stubble?

2007-11-12 07:36:02 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous

your answer is always ,,,''consider an egg the white, the yolk and the shell.''

but i wouldn't call ''the shell'' ''an egg''

2007-11-12 07:35:38 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

Atheists often point out that there are few atheists in prisons. Plus atheists will also say that they too are humans and are subjected to same laws set in place by the government. With this being the case, why do you think that there are fewer atheists in prison? If an atheist committed a crime on the outside, wouldn't he also be an atheist in prison? Do you think that one would be able to survive in prison better if they had converted to a theist philosophy? Could this be the reason for the low numbers? What is your opinion?

On the poor, so only the people who need hope have religion and the ones who don't, don’t need religion. Assuming that people who are poor are hopeless, and need the comfort of religion to get by; is atheism not the belief of the hopeless and the poor? Why can't these people gain hope from atheism rather than a belief in a god?

If you are an atheist who is in favor of someone having religion in their lives, because of the psychological benefits why? Aren't you ultimately saying that atheism offers no hope, and the only way to help someone have hope is through religion and a belief in a god?

2007-11-12 07:33:38 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

Why else would Pat Robertson endorse Giuliani?

2007-11-12 07:32:55 · 54 answers · asked by Murazor 6