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Okay, we do agree that religion and God have been subjects that are not only interesting to discuss but also in some ways, sensitive. Here, we are in a world where there are many forms of religion with different ideas and beliefs, different ways of worshiping but they all share one thing in common, at least from what I do know, that most believe "something" or "someone" is above us all - more powerful than anything ever created.

What trouble me is this.

In general, our knowledge on religion and God is mostly introduced to us by bibles, Qurans, holy books, as well as our parents, friends, teachers, people. The essence of religion is believed to be "alive" as it is passed down from generation to generation, influenced by men and written work.

Because we are not living in the past and we did not witness for sure that things really happened the way they are described to us (by books or people) , how are we know for sure that an event described really did happen? Sure they are evidence to prove to us but such evidence are also found by humans, where many flaws can be found. Reliability is one, Justification is another, not mentioning a few others like Biased perception and uncertainties.

Somehow, religion isn't what is written in books or what people tell you but rather the mutual bond between one and the unseen believe of the presence of God.

P.S: God here is defined as a metaphor that symbolizes Good, Purity, Innocence and all that ( you get the idea whee )


Agree or disagree? Discuss.

Yeah, there are some things that just don't make sense at all. Which right now I can't think of due to my paranoia taking over my mind (that has an explination, my latest posts in ED should state why.)

An interesting view. By that same logic, I submit to you then, that history does not exist. After all, how can we trust history books and records to tell us what happened? It is my contention that if we cannot trust the bible, simply because we were not alive for the events in it, that we cannot trust that anything happened before we were born.

For that matter, how can we trust sources on what's happening now, if we aren't actually there to see things happening. How can we trust that there IS a war in Iraq? We're not there, seeing it happen.

wow, this is really scary, it actually gave me chills when I read it. I've never thought about it this way so it's refressing for a new perspective.

now I have a lot to think about

man, I totally agree with you on that... I feel more comfortable and intelligent here! >.<

My background isn't really any of the major monotheistic faiths, so I'm never gotten why a one great god is central to religion. It might be because I was introduced to spirituality in general as a beautiful game (my life was sans Santa, but I left cookies out for my mother when she stuffed my stocking, for example).

Why does religion converge for most people? For my it diverges into a thousand gods great and small, none of which I feel required to believe in at any particular moment. Our house has a kitchen god and house spirits, but I don't actually Believe in them with a capital B; just leaving food in the offering bowl by the kitchen god and remembering to clean and take my shoes off when I come indoors feel good, if I have a benevolent but domestically obsessed imaginary friend.

I tend to make a distinction between the tenants of a religion and spirituality in that religion consists of the practices and rituals of the belief and spirituality is more of that intimite connection you mentioned.

As far as trusting in a bible goes, or any other book I suppose, the only answer may be "faith." Really, I don't see how some people can expect one to "prove" their religion or give evidence, because you really can't. On the other hand, I don't really think you can use religion to prove anything, either. So, to argue against what E-x-o-t-h said, I can believe in history books and world events because I have the sense that time elapses (I have memories of a past relating to me), therefore I can assume that the past applies to other people and that there must be a greater past. I also have to trust, or prove, that any given historian is writing accurately and with minimal bias.

One or two have mentioned something about accepting what you're told and making your own interpretations. That's fine, but I don't think every person can or wants to come up with their own interpretation. Call them sheep if you want, but not every human is made to forge a new path. Also, I think the community aspect of some religions is significant; it's something you can share with a group and have a support network. Questioning things can lead to uncertainty, so some people prefer not to question things.

Hopefully I haven't been too off topic. Oh, I suppose I'll mention that I'm a deist, or something like that. I don't believe in a god per se, but I feel some sort of power must have set the Universe in motion, but that it plays no part in our lives at all.