One final R+S question?

Question

I've spent about a year and a couple months on Y!A, and about 10-11 months of that have been spent in the Religion and Spirituality section. During that time my beliefs have shifted, from an apathetic "everything's ok" agnostic, to being a combative atheist, to being a weak atheist, and now I've made it back full circle again. Name an common religious argument, I've probably seen it 7 times on here. It's gotten to the point for me where I'm no longer learning anything about religions, it's just petty arguments about God, monkeys, and bananas. I realized that R+S had begun to make me callous toward the religious posters. I've given many snide remarks over the course of my R+S, and although I take pride in my quick wit, I am regretful for posting them.

In R+S it's easy to get lost in religious debates, but it's not so easy to see people for who they are. I admit that most of my 360 friends I met through R+S, and most are atheists, but I don't consider them my friends because of

their religious belief, I consider them my friends because of who they are. They are good people, with whom I share many similarities with. That’s why they are my friends, not because of how many reasons they can state why atheism is the logical choice, or why Christianity is the only way. I’m friends with them because we share a common bond in football, or are trying to learn how to play guitar at the same time. I took this outside of my internet realm as well. I went to my old home and met, through a common friend, some new people who are very deep in their Christian beliefs, and I had a great time with them. They were kind people who automatically accepted me for who I was, and I previously judged them having heard prior that they were devout Christians. I felt ashamed for doing so after I got to know them, that’s what really what sparked this long rant/question. R+S had made me so judgmental, it turned me into something that I initially came to R+S to try and stop.

Since then, my appeal to R+S has diminished to almost nothingness.

So here is my question for any of you still around to see it: Why do we let different religious beliefs get in the way of humanity?


Thank you in advance for reading and weighing in on my last R+S question. It truly does mean a lot to me.

Answer 1

My questions, such as they were, have long since been answered. Not in the way I imagined, and certainly not the actual questions I asked on R&S, but the responses I've gotten and the people I've met have taught me the answers to the underlying questions I've really had all along.

I understand what you say, and feel akin to what you feel. I think my time at R&S is waining as well, but it is not because I've gained all I could from the experience. What I've gotten from R&S is what I've gotten from anything that's ever happened in my life: immense value and nothing like what I was expecting. We'll miss your wit, and I'll see you on 360.

Answer 2

I actually think I have become much more tolerant over the past several months since my first visit to R&S, and have made some big steps towards feeling less anger over my own religious past. I was feeling very pro-atheist and anti-religion when I first started coming here, and that was fueled by finding that so many other people on here seemed to feel the same way I did, and that the christians on here were falling into my own stereotypes (but we sometimes tend to find what we are expecting to find, and don't want to look any further - I know, not very objective of me). But maybe it was partly from having the chance to make all the snide remarks that I never could with people that I wanted to in real life that I started to feel better, but the novelty of being combative just for the sake of argument starts to wear off. I do feel more understanding of other people's beliefs, and have started being much less judgmental of my religious family or when I meet new people and find out they are christian. After all, I understand what it's like to have been raised a certain way or brainwashed to believe that only one way is right and all others are wrong. I guess this is just a reflection, and not really an answer to your question, but I think I understand just where you are coming from.

Answer 3

I can completely relate - I have been spending very little time in here lately as well. It's not only because I was sick of being told that I'm a sinner constantly, but my bitter feelings towards those who did were turning into sweeping generalizations about the group as a whole. I realized that I can post as many answers as I wanted to about not stereotyping and the dangers of blanket statements, but it didn't really mean much if I was doing exactly that when I turned the computer off. And bitter, no matter what you're bitter about, is just a bad place to be in.

There will always be the few bad apples that spoil the bunch for any group, but until this place can attract more tolerant users it will continue to breed the type of resentment that has been stirred up in you, me and countless others, I'm sure. I would rather focus my energy on something positive.

Good luck. :)

Answer 4

Southpaw, you sound like your just blowing in the wind mate, going with every wind and doctrine.

What is it really thatyou are searching for? You have been here some time and your still lost!

You still haven't found the One True God and the emptiness in your life is a clear and present danger for yourself.

I don't think this is trhe last we will see of you.
But K-Sera-Sera.

What has it come to the point where youv'e run out of questions.
Because if you look around and instead of attacking the same-old-same-old ones, Look and just observe other q's.

Religion, non-religion, Spirituality and Christians and the rest, (no offence meant but you are probably in the minority if I didn't name you) is so vast there is NO-WAY you or anyone on Earth could capture it in a lifetime.
And if you wanted some real truths about God, as I don't share All, then you probably woulsn't believe me anyways.
And that also includes alot of religious people!

The part about reading the same Q many times is, well ever guessed?
For a number of reasons.
Someone knew comes in and would like to know about something and so they ask away.
Or it may be someone who frequents R&S and asked that Q like 6 months ago and now they would like to here what a new crowd think of it!
I gaurentee if you asked a q on Monday, left it a few days than asked again on Thursday and left it for a few days, the Answers would be so different and from a different crowd, yet similar in alot of ways, the Athiests will be arguing or so-so depending on the Q and the Christians will be like-minded, because we are all unique individuals that God made.
And the Christians should be growing day by day into His likeness.
For example I have been on here getting close to a year and I haven't seen you around, same with many others!

May The Lord God bless you with His richest blessing /s this year and I wish for you Love and Enough!*

Answer 5

I think every one of us has different experience in R&S. Since I started to come here, I have learned a lot. Actually, I have to confess I have been into religion more than ever, reading more, searching more and people has always given me interesting websites that I care to check. It's been awesome, however nothing here has changed my personal belief or religion. I try not to be judgmental, but sometimes it is difficult, especially when we get angry with some stupid answers, and I tend to think "this could only come from atheists/christians". It is not good, but it is impossible to control that inside myself... at least, not yet.

If you choose not to come here it is probably because you don't have the need anymore and that's great. Maybe it is time to jump to another field in your spirituality or journey or stage in your life and it is good. Whatever makes you feel better.

Now, answering your question, religion is really something very personal, it is about "who" we are, and that's why it always boils when we come to discuss it. Tolerance and acceptance is the best key to deal with diferences, but we are way behind on that matter.

See you,
Peace!

Answer 6

God loves you, and so do we. You will be missed. If you want to learn anout religions, look up the info on line.

I created this web site for my church, to express what we believe...
http://pilecki.homestead.com/Believe.html
...it focuses on just the main 16 truths!

Christianity is the one true religion. That may sound awfully dogmatic and narrow-minded, but the simple truth is that Christianity is the only true religion.

Jesus said that He alone was the way to the Father (John 14:6), that He alone revealed the Father (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22).

Christians do not go around saying Christianity is the only way because they are arrogant, narrow-minded, stupid, and judgmental. They do so because they believe what Jesus said.

Are you sure you are an agnostic? Maybe you are tempted to believe and want to run away from the word of God so you can stay on the fence.

When you can't decide whether you are in the uphill lane or the downhill land, sitting on the center line between the two will cause you to be hurt in a painful crash, and it will be your own fault.

By definition, you cannot KNOW that you don't know. How can you be sure you are an agnostic, if absolute truth is unknowable?

By definition, you cannot KNOW that you are an agnostic!!! It is an obsessive religious belief, as anti-God as atheism.

Answer 7

Humanity can only be established by religious leadership. NO powerful economic leadership, no social mega leaders or any powerful political influence can bring humanity. IF religious leaders accept all religions with respect from their heart and not in their speeches, they will influence their followers. Each Christian,Hindu, Muslim, Jew or any other follower of certain religion should be ready to accept each others God as incarnation of God and treat with respect to co-exist. If I am ready as a Christian to hold bible in my hand and take blessings in a temple from whichever God, I have created respect. How much I have done to learn the real other religion is important. NOW, once it is influenced by religious leadership, it can influence all the goodness of a human and humanity can be enlivened. It is not a rocket science. BUT.....Will it happen? Maybe. Most mega religions wants to increase their number and presence by whatever means. This is what is creating chaos of all kinds of unwanted things we see today. 'Swadhyay' has shown the way and also practiced in thousands of villages in India and many places in the world. We are all part of one no matter what name we call. It is not difficult if the goals of religious leadership in true sense is getting people closer to God as taught exactly by their founders. Religious leaders have lost their own say and are influenced by governments & rulers. Very difficult to swallow but these are the nuts & bolts of bringing the humanity. Giving $ for charity is not the end of my contribution. Did I give hope to someone SELFLESSLY? I must have but I must have some gain, intention or some purpose attached. Try something selflessly, and you will know the true satisfaction. Humanity is possible and these are some proven ways.

Answer 8

R&S has done the same to me on some level. I used to defend Christians, now I'm somewhat on the side of thinking they deserve it. Not so much the people, but those trying to spread their faith. I guess after being lied to most of my juvenile life, and after coming here and watching the rabid ones talk crap, I figure they have it coming to them.

I don't think attacking a faith is the same as attacking an individual though. Unlike attacking atheism and agnosticism, which is more individual based. As faith follows doctrine, those who break away learn their own way. Atheism and agnosticism is much more personal in that way. So while Christians see it as the same as attacks on them, it really isn't because of how one reaches their final conclusion. Then I think a lot of folks retaliate in kind. It makes everyone a little bitter all around.

Answer 9

For some reason we feel the need to be right about things including our beliefs. Often what we believe tends to include a belief that not sharing the belief system makes the other "wrong" in some manner and therefore not "right". This view can range from wrong being simply misinformed to possessed by the devil and evil incarnate. So it's some what easy to see why beliefs would come between people.

Answer 10

We wish you well and hope you still stick around to ask or answer some questions. R and S has taught me a lot. It was and still is like being in a big United Nations Assembly which has no time limits and borders. To answer your question, religions don't get into our way. Religions help us to love one another. We love all our brothers and sisters around the world. God is love so religions don't keep us apart they unite us with bonds stronger than death. A brother would rather be ridiculed for his beliefs than see his brothers get lost for ever. If that is not love of the highest sense I don't know what love is. See you around and hopefully in heaven someday. Be good.

Answer 11

Why do we let different religious beliefs get in the way of humanity?

My answer would be ......

We forget to love. For those that are religious (and to be honest, I don't like the word religious, it denotes ritualistic and transitional ideas rather than a relationship with Jesus which teaches his love to us which we are to in turn model as he did, in other words, love)

Humanity is caught up in a prideful nature whereas they want to be right and they get a sense of power from believing that they are right.

They have forgotten that kindness, patience, love and humility also bring a wonderful sense to their being. A sense that far out weighs the power trip.

Does anyone remember how it feels to be kind and help someone rather than to bash them and throw insults at them? Does anyone remember the feeling that being patient with one, and when they learn or succeed in something, the feeling that you were patient to help and the other succeeded as well. Do you remember how it felt to do what is right, not what would get you one up on another? Do we remember how to answer a question without assuming that it is given in sarcasm? Why respond to a question you think is sarcastic with sarcasm? Haven't you just committed the same act you complained about? These all apply to those who are religious and also not religious. What happened to love and kindness? Want a better world? Stop hating one another!!