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I have started to read the bible..... confused

Just becuase I like to have an open mind and i hate it when people judge things that they havn't read themselfs....

I think its alright, but it sort of contradicts its self..
Well, becuase it says that people who star gaze or follow stars across the sky, then they are evil....

but then they say that the 3 Wise men followed a star... and it said wise men were people who followed stars

I'm wondering if that passage is signifying sittuational or contextual variables for when star gazing is good and bad. If I remember right, in general the church would frown upon things which were occultic in nature, which would include the art of astrology that existed at that time. So reading your fate into the stars would be a no-no... you're supposed to trust God with that. Inconsistencies aren't neccesarily bad at all... show me one human being who acts with perfect consistency and... (snickers) well, nevermind. Such a thing simply doesn't exist.

just a word for the wise, be careful what you say on this subject... hehe religions...ugh... anyways so far you guys have been ok but just you know...how things can get...

I too have studied other religious beliefs including the Christian sects. I do believe that they believe in an ultimate and absolute power, known as God and that their book, the Bible, is just as perfect. That's the point in finding contradictions because that would mean it isn't perfect. True, most of us in here already recognize this, but highlighting them brings questions to mind, why do people continue to follow its creed?

I know, being raised Muslim, that they are very similar in their omnipotent tendencies. They feel that their word is true and the only truth and that may very well be a downfall.

The only thing that bugs me, the absolutely bugs me is the afterlife. So many believe it to be true and I would really love for it to be true. Even Wiccan speaks of a realm beyond death, but that's what makes it so horrible. If there truely is a definite afterlife, then that would be the nail in the coffin for so many other beliefs. It just never ceases to amaze me just how enveloped people are in their beliefs and just how god damn devoted they can be, to the point where if they are considered wrong, then their whole lifes work was for nothing and disappointment will just come tumbling down. Now tell me how many different beliefs there and just how many of them offer a damnation for non-believers? Could you imagine if any one of them were to be true, how much a horrible fat it would be for so many other people?! What kind of Omnipotent God does that?! Create a world with such a diversity in beliefs and over only one path so that the rest may burn or suffer eternally? I feel this cosmic joke in nearly all the monotheistic religions is the true contradiction in all holy books that requires other religions to prove. The only problem is, people are so into what they believe that by the time it is truely proven against them, they would be dead and worse, they would have to face the concequences and disappointment of their actions for ALL ETERNITY!

Now what kind of f***ed up sh** is that...<_< sorry...I just...have a best friend who's Christian and he's good and all...but I can't help eliminate the idea that he holds in the back of his mind that I am truely going to burn for all eternity...that kind of stuff just eats me up inside...

Hah! Awsome! Now I have a chance...you know...JUST IN CASE!

XD

*orders in a few million of them*
btw they aren't for me, they are for my freinds.....

Actually my bf said that Buddishim is sort of like the chinese paganism.. (what do u guys think)
I havn't studied Buddah, but my friend is a Budda

I was born in a family and raised as a Muslim so I can speak a little on that. First of all, they are very similar because they have the same origin, in the middle east and the same reason why they are so similar is the same reason why they are so opposed to each other. Christians (in general) don't seem to have much of a reason to hate or even care about muslims (according to Christianity since it makes no mention of them in the Bible or gospels) BUT Islam views Judaism and Christianity as part of the original right religion but over time their holy books were rewritten and altered to appease certain people and nations. Islam believes they are the correct faith, the final uneditted version (so to say) that was never altered through time and holds true to the original ways even though they are the newest of the three. They believe in Jesus and Moses and all of the other prophets, angels, and beings but believe in one very important extra, Muhammad, who they believe was the final prophet to bring the "miracle" of the Quaran which is said to be protected by God to never be altered as the Bible and Torah were. Because of this, they see each other more like brothers, so close so it frustrates them both that there seems to be salvation for them but refuse to take the extra step to being "right". Sometimes extremists take this a step further and believe they are truely doing something right when they force their belief on the people who are the closest to them as opposed to the pagans and the athiests who seem more like lost causes to them (in one point it is said in the Quaran that Muslims shouldn't even associate with Pagans and puts them on level with prostitutes and murderers).

Now I don't mean to offend any Christians or Muslims, but I believe I have my facts straight. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also, I too would like to learn more about Shinto. Honestly, anime doesn't cut it when you want to learn more about such an intruiging and beautiful religious practice. xp