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 Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:15 am
Time to do a brief subject change. I was working at a scout camp as a cook. One of the guys that worked there lost his mom day two of our training week. He came back next week. three days in he lost his brother and father. Any religion saying that there is a predetermined fate can take a flying leap at a rolling donut. A diety that would do that to a 15 year-old is cruel and not worthy of worship in my book.
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:43 am
I don't really believe in any specific religion but I do think there is some form of a higher being/existence.
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:45 am
I've abandoned all forms of organized religion after being lutheran for 10 years. Get enough idiots in a room and get them to say a name to the sky and you have my view on religion.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:46 am
I've been seeing little difference between religion and culture. Seeing as it was generally difficult for us Westerners to explain what religion is to Asians, it seems likely that religion and culture are pretty much the same thing but us westerners make the distinction for whatever reason.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:54 am
rmcdra I've been seeing little difference between religion and culture. Seeing as it was generally difficult for us Westerners to explain what religion is to Asians, it seems likely that religion and culture are pretty much the same thing but us westerners make the distinction for whatever reason. No, they really aren't. Religions influence cultures, without being them. I am an agnostic in an agnostic household, in a country which is founded by deists with the intent of favoring no religion and is predominantly Christian. Which of those is my culture, as you define it? You're also over-looking (or at least not addressing) that the word itself means two different things, to each culture (and by culture, I mean culture, not religion). In most parts of the West, it seems to pertain to what god we worship, whereas in much of the far east, it pertains more to one's guiding philosophy, when it comes to earthly and spiritual (but rarely divine) matters.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:41 am
Matasoga rmcdra I've been seeing little difference between religion and culture. Seeing as it was generally difficult for us Westerners to explain what religion is to Asians, it seems likely that religion and culture are pretty much the same thing but us westerners make the distinction for whatever reason. No, they really aren't. Religions influence cultures, without being them. I am an agnostic in an agnostic household, in a country which is founded by deists with the intent of favoring no religion and is predominantly Christian. Which of those is my culture, as you define it? You're also over-looking (or at least not addressing) that the word itself means two different things, to each culture (and by culture, I mean culture, not religion). In most parts of the West, it seems to pertain to what god we worship, whereas in much of the far east, it pertains more to one's guiding philosophy, when it comes to earthly and spiritual (but rarely divine) matters. I guess since I'm familiar with non-theistic religions, that definition you described doesn't cross my mind since it discounts groups that are classified as religions. As for American culture, it's hard to define because there is a lot of different subcultures with many different cultures that shape and influence them. I don't know how to begin to define American culture because, well I'm not a sociologist for one. I'd probably would want to look in sociological studies if I wanted to go deeper into it.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:02 pm
rmcdra Matasoga rmcdra I've been seeing little difference between religion and culture. Seeing as it was generally difficult for us Westerners to explain what religion is to Asians, it seems likely that religion and culture are pretty much the same thing but us westerners make the distinction for whatever reason. No, they really aren't. Religions influence cultures, without being them. I am an agnostic in an agnostic household, in a country which is founded by deists with the intent of favoring no religion and is predominantly Christian. Which of those is my culture, as you define it? You're also over-looking (or at least not addressing) that the word itself means two different things, to each culture (and by culture, I mean culture, not religion). In most parts of the West, it seems to pertain to what god we worship, whereas in much of the far east, it pertains more to one's guiding philosophy, when it comes to earthly and spiritual (but rarely divine) matters. I guess since I'm familiar with non-theistic religions, that definition you described doesn't cross my mind since it discounts groups that are classified as religions. As for American culture, it's hard to define because there is a lot of different subcultures with many different cultures that shape and influence them. I don't know how to begin to define American culture because, well I'm not a sociologist for one. I'd probably would want to look in sociological studies if I wanted to go deeper into it. It sounds as though you realize that you have overgeneralized things. Is this correct?
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:46 pm
Matasoga rmcdra Matasoga rmcdra I've been seeing little difference between religion and culture. Seeing as it was generally difficult for us Westerners to explain what religion is to Asians, it seems likely that religion and culture are pretty much the same thing but us westerners make the distinction for whatever reason. No, they really aren't. Religions influence cultures, without being them. I am an agnostic in an agnostic household, in a country which is founded by deists with the intent of favoring no religion and is predominantly Christian. Which of those is my culture, as you define it? You're also over-looking (or at least not addressing) that the word itself means two different things, to each culture (and by culture, I mean culture, not religion). In most parts of the West, it seems to pertain to what god we worship, whereas in much of the far east, it pertains more to one's guiding philosophy, when it comes to earthly and spiritual (but rarely divine) matters. I guess since I'm familiar with non-theistic religions, that definition you described doesn't cross my mind since it discounts groups that are classified as religions. As for American culture, it's hard to define because there is a lot of different subcultures with many different cultures that shape and influence them. I don't know how to begin to define American culture because, well I'm not a sociologist for one. I'd probably would want to look in sociological studies if I wanted to go deeper into it. It sounds as though you realize that you have overgeneralized things. Is this correct? Which things have I overgeneralized? I still failing to see how religion is different from culture. And what are you talking about cultures not influencing religions? During Pre-enlightement Europe, you had culture influencing religion all the damn time. I guess the Reformation had no cultural influence at all. This doesn't even factor in the unnamed tribal religions where a change in a tribal leader could change the way a religion is practiced. You have not explained what the difference is. The only thing you've really thrown out there is that most westerners takes on religion is "what god you worship", which is a simplistic view on religion in general and excludes non-theistic and atheistic religions, meaning your definition of religion is incomplete at best.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:53 pm
rmcdra Matasoga rmcdra Matasoga rmcdra I've been seeing little difference between religion and culture. Seeing as it was generally difficult for us Westerners to explain what religion is to Asians, it seems likely that religion and culture are pretty much the same thing but us westerners make the distinction for whatever reason. No, they really aren't. Religions influence cultures, without being them. I am an agnostic in an agnostic household, in a country which is founded by deists with the intent of favoring no religion and is predominantly Christian. Which of those is my culture, as you define it? You're also over-looking (or at least not addressing) that the word itself means two different things, to each culture (and by culture, I mean culture, not religion). In most parts of the West, it seems to pertain to what god we worship, whereas in much of the far east, it pertains more to one's guiding philosophy, when it comes to earthly and spiritual (but rarely divine) matters. I guess since I'm familiar with non-theistic religions, that definition you described doesn't cross my mind since it discounts groups that are classified as religions. As for American culture, it's hard to define because there is a lot of different subcultures with many different cultures that shape and influence them. I don't know how to begin to define American culture because, well I'm not a sociologist for one. I'd probably would want to look in sociological studies if I wanted to go deeper into it. It sounds as though you realize that you have overgeneralized things. Is this correct? Which things have I overgeneralized? I still failing to see how religion is different from culture. And what are you talking about cultures not influencing religions? During Pre-enlightement Europe, you had culture influencing religion all the damn time. I guess the Reformation had no cultural influence at all. This doesn't even factor in the unnamed tribal religions where a change in a tribal leader could change the way a religion is practiced. You have not explained what the difference is. The only thing you've really thrown out there is that most westerners takes on religion is "what god you worship", which is a simplistic view on religion in general and excludes non-theistic and atheistic religions, meaning your definition of religion is incomplete at best. My time is short, but one thing that I would like to answer with is to point out that it would be difficult to take your statement as an assertion that all non-believers are uncultured, which is not only deeply ignorant, but highly offensive, as I feel many members here will agree.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:19 pm
Matasoga My time is short, but one thing that I would like to answer with is to point out that it would be difficult to take your statement as an assertion that all non-believers are uncultured, which is not only deeply ignorant, but highly offensive, as I feel many members here will agree. Please tell me where I said that. I would love to see you quote me where I said that EVER in this thread. I do not appreciate unwarranted accusations. If there are life issues going on with you right now, I'll understand; but please do not take them out on me. All I claimed was that I saw little difference between culture and religion. If there is a difference, it seems slight. Does this mean that there cannot be culture outside of religion? Of course not. But I don't see a problem with regarding a religion as a type of culture or social organization.
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:48 am
Update!
I don't even think about religion honestly.
If I lived by any code, it'd probably be the Satanic one.
Before you freak out, a friend of mine is a big Satanist, I accept all religions, and if you actually read the book, their actually pretty decent rules to live by. I have not read the whole Satnaic bible, though I think it'd be an interesting read.
I have a tendency to enjoy reading books of faith for the different religions.
I mean. I don't agree with one or two of them, but their still pretty decent.
The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth
-Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.
-Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
-When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.
-If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.
-Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
-Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.
-Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.
-Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
-Do not harm little children.
-Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
- When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.
See??
Not that terrible!
I mean, the last one is a litter drastic, but still xD
Anywho.
That's just rules to live by.
I don't think I could ever really have actual faith in a religion.
And on that note!
I'm still friends with Christians. I have no problem with them as long as they don't hinder my own activities.
But since it IS a popular religion, I just want to throw it out there that even if you gave me legitimate proof that God existed, damned or not, I would not worship him.
He just doesn't seem worthy of worshiping.
I don't really think there is a higher power at all anymore. I have no proof of this. I mean, I believe that what goes around comes around, but that's not the same thing. And karma is the closest I'll get to believing things of such a nature.
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:21 am
rmcdra Matasoga My time is short, but one thing that I would like to answer with is to point out that it would be difficult to take your statement as an assertion that all non-believers are uncultured, which is not only deeply ignorant, but highly offensive, as I feel many members here will agree. Please tell me where I said that. I would love to see you quote me where I said that EVER in this thread. I do not appreciate unwarranted accusations. If there are life issues going on with you right now, I'll understand; but please do not take them out on me. All I claimed was that I saw little difference between culture and religion. If there is a difference, it seems slight. Does this mean that there cannot be culture outside of religion? Of course not. But I don't see a problem with regarding a religion as a type of culture or social organization. I'm not making unwarranted accusations, nor am I taking anything out on you. I am merely stating that if culture equates religion, then those without religion are, by immediate extension of that very thought, without culture. Can you find any fault with this logic? When I think of culture, I think of theater, music, and visual arts, all of which are outside of religion. Religion doesn't come to mind, at all.
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:23 am
Matasoga rmcdra Matasoga My time is short, but one thing that I would like to answer with is to point out that it would be difficult to take your statement as an assertion that all non-believers are uncultured, which is not only deeply ignorant, but highly offensive, as I feel many members here will agree. Please tell me where I said that. I would love to see you quote me where I said that EVER in this thread. I do not appreciate unwarranted accusations. If there are life issues going on with you right now, I'll understand; but please do not take them out on me. All I claimed was that I saw little difference between culture and religion. If there is a difference, it seems slight. Does this mean that there cannot be culture outside of religion? Of course not. But I don't see a problem with regarding a religion as a type of culture or social organization. I'm not making unwarranted accusations, nor am I taking anything out on you. I am merely stating that if culture equates religion, then those without religion are, by immediate extension of that very thought, without culture. Can you find any fault with this logic? When I think of culture, I think of theater, music, and visual arts, all of which are outside of religion. Religion doesn't come to mind, at all. The fault with this logic is like squares and rectangles. Just because a square is a rectangle, doesn't mean all rectangles are squares. I think of this when I hear the word culture: the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. Depending on the religion, theater, music, and visual arts are often incorporated into them. M C Escher's inspiration for tessellations came from visiting a mosque (Old Mosques have some very intricate tessellations). Sistine Chapel? Again doesn't mean that these elements can't exist outside of religion.
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Reply
