Board 8 > So touchy subject, but could you guys help nail down what my religion is?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Religious beliefs I should say. You guys helped me out with this a long time ago but I can't remember what the consensus was. I'll break it down to main points.

I believe in GOD but I don't think it is a he,she, or anything that we can comprehend. I think it's a higher form that we can't grasp or lack the senses to understand.

God is not preoccupied with the welfare of mankind. It created literally everything in this universe, humans are no more special than anything else. God created a giant sandbox for us, and it's up to us what happened after.

I believe in Christ and that he rose from the dead and all that but I don't think he is the son but the avatar of god. If we can't comprehend what GOD is, then Christ was created so we can wrap our head around it.

The earth is not just 2000 years old. It's been around for millions of years and the process of the Big Bang and Evolution all happen as science describes.

The Bible was not to be taken literally and is largely an analogy.

The "afterlife: is actually your own personal heaven or hell that your consciousness transfers too. Your state of being when you die will carry on to this "afterlife". If you were at peace, you will have peace. If you died with a lot of guilt and turmoil, this will rise to the surface after.



Now, I'm going to install a few flame-shields and hope for the best here!
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non denominational christian I guess?

if you believe christ revived and was sent here by god that seems to imply you are christian.
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honestly I'd just call it Inceptionism and leave it at that. you borrow some aspects from organized religion, but you make it into your own unique thing.

(also, what is the Bible an analogy for?)
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Gatarix posted...

Inceptionism

the belief in christopher nolan
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INCEPTlON posted...

God is not preoccupied with the welfare of mankind. It created literally everything in this universe, humans are no more special than anything else. God created a giant sandbox for us, and it's up to us what happened after.

I believe in Christ and that he rose from the dead and all that but I don't think he is the son but the avatar of god. If we can't comprehend what GOD is, then Christ was created so we can wrap our head around it.

I feel like these two conflict somewhat?

If he cared enough to create an avatar, he seems pretty preoccupied to me.

But yeah, you seem like a Christian.
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Gatarix posted...

honestly I'd just call it Inceptionism and leave it at that. you borrow some aspects from organized religion, but you make it into your own unique thing.

(also, what is the Bible an analogy for?)

No answer to that honestly. I just think it has some truth to it, but not as the way it was painted.

I can't buy that the ribs from someone created the first female.

We all come from that primordial soup and the big bang and all that.

I just think GOD was before all that. I think if there can be a whole bunch of literal nothing out there " anti-matter and dark matter etc..) then there can also be something that is everything.
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It sounds a lot like Christian deism but with different beliefs about the afterlife.
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ChaosTonyV4 posted...

INCEPTlON posted...

God is not preoccupied with the welfare of mankind. It created literally everything in this universe, humans are no more special than anything else. God created a giant sandbox for us, and it's up to us what happened after.

I believe in Christ and that he rose from the dead and all that but I don't think he is the son but the avatar of god. If we can't comprehend what GOD is, then Christ was created so we can wrap our head around it.

I feel like these two conflict somewhat?

If he cared enough to create an avatar, he seems pretty preoccupied to me.

But yeah, you seem like a Christian.

I should clarify and say permanently occupied with us. I think it takes a passing interest every now and then. I think that specific instance was a big one and was a brief moment of throwing us a bone.
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I will say it's weird that you think god chose to send a being here that could revive from the dead and pull fish out of thin air, but you don't believe he could turn a ribcage into a human being.
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Thanks for keeping it civil with me guys.
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MariaTaylor posted...

non denominational christian I guess?

if you believe christ revived and was sent here by god that seems to imply you are christian.

I wouldn't say Christian because it doesn't have a lot of beliefs that I'd consider core to Christianity (God cares about humanity, humans are made in the image of God and special among creation, Jesus is the son of God, the Bible is literally true). It just has a mild Christian flavor. It's like you didn't add any chicken to your dish, but you put in a dash of something in your spice drawer that's labeled "chicken seasoning" and called it a day.

So yeah I feel like you aren't any specific organized religion, you just have your own personal belief system.
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MariaTaylor posted...

I will say it's weird that you think god chose to send a being here that could revive from the dead and pull fish out of thin air, but you don't believe he could turn a ribcage into a human being.

I don't believe the fish stuff was literally * Poof* fish. I think there was some science going on there that couldn't be explained at the time or was just not written



You got me on the revival stuff though. I do stick to my belief in that.
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Gatarix posted...

MariaTaylor posted...

non denominational christian I guess?

if you believe christ revived and was sent here by god that seems to imply you are christian.

I wouldn't say Christian because it doesn't have a lot of beliefs that I'd consider core to Christianity (God cares about humanity, humans are made in the image of God and special among creation, Jesus is the son of God, the Bible is literally true). It just has a mild Christian flavor. It's like you didn't add any chicken to your dish, but you put in a dash of something in your spice drawer that's labeled "chicken seasoning" and called it a day.

So yeah I feel like you aren't any specific organized religion, you just have your own personal belief system.

I'll roll with this!
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Gatarix posted...

I wouldn't say Christian because it doesn't have a lot of beliefs that I'd consider core to Christianity (God cares about humanity, humans are made in the image of God and special among creation, Jesus is the son of God, the Bible is literally true). It just has a mild Christian flavor. It's like you didn't add any chicken to your dish, but you put in a dash of something in your spice drawer that's labeled "chicken seasoning" and called it a day.

eh, I don't feel super prepared to argue about religion because well.

1. I'm not that knowledgeable about it
2. this is undoubtedly one of the many subjects where if I try to engage with people in debate they will almost certainly get pissed off. this is so obvious that even I can recognize it and so I'll try to avoid.

however I will mention that my understand of christianity is that it revolves around the idea that christ was the second coming of god (sent here by god,etc.) all the other fine details are what your denomination is categorized by. basically in my mind anyone who says they believe christ was a figure sent here by god is a christian. that is what I consider the core requirement for putting someone into that category.
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With the exception of "God doesn't care about us" and the afterlife those are not uncommon Christian beliefs.

And there are probably denominations/churches that agree with each of those (though maybe not both).
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MariaTaylor posted...

Gatarix posted...

I wouldn't say Christian because it doesn't have a lot of beliefs that I'd consider core to Christianity (God cares about humanity, humans are made in the image of God and special among creation, Jesus is the son of God, the Bible is literally true). It just has a mild Christian flavor. It's like you didn't add any chicken to your dish, but you put in a dash of something in your spice drawer that's labeled "chicken seasoning" and called it a day.

eh, I don't feel super prepared to argue about religion because well.

1. I'm not that knowledgeable about it
2. this is undoubtedly one of the many subjects where if I try to engage with people in debate they will almost certainly get pissed off. this is so obvious that even I can recognize it and so I'll try to avoid.

however I will mention that my understand of christianity is that it revolves around the idea that christ was the second coming of god (sent here by god,etc.) all the other fine details are what your denomination is categorized by. basically in my mind anyone who says they believe christ was a figure sent here by god is a christian. that is what I consider the core requirement for putting someone into that category.

I would pretty much agree on this. Especially when it comes to a literal bible. Its pretty common these days for Christians to believe in a bible that is "inspired by" God and therefore influenced by the time it was written and the biases of the people who wrote it.
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Religion is really personal. You seem to believe in a lot of Christian things. Perhaps speak to a priest?
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MariaTaylor posted...

however I will mention that my understand of christianity is that it revolves around the idea that christ was the second coming of god (sent here by god,etc.) all the other fine details are what your denomination is categorized by. basically in my mind anyone who says they believe christ was a figure sent here by god is a christian. that is what I consider the core requirement for putting someone into that category.

hmm.

In my opinion, the most fundamental thing about Christianity is that it's a system for salvation (both why people need it, and how people can get it). So I'd say the core requirements are (1) people have sinned; (2) therefore, they need salvation from their sins; (3) Jesus is the means of salvation. As long as you believe that, the rest (did Jesus really feed 5000 people? are the genealogies in the Bible exact?) is less important, though I would still expect most Christians to agree on stuff like God's love, a literal resurrection, etc.

On the other hand, if you deviate from the core -- e.g., God sent Jesus in a moment of benevolence to be a good teacher and an example of how we should live our lives, but that's all -- then imo it stops being Christianity.

Admittedly my fundamentalist background is showing here. It is weird because I no longer believe most of these things (to be more specific, I am undecided as to whether the system exists, but if the system does exist, I no longer believe in its rightness). But somehow, the definition of Christianity is still important to me? It's odd. I didn't realize it until this topic.
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Do you need to believe in a religion?

I dont see the point in cherry picking what you "want" from a religion. It's obviously not real to you on some level, just go full atheist.
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Oh I guess your post is just saying you're a Christian.
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tabiicat42 posted...

Religion is really personal. You seem to believe in a lot of Christian things. Perhaps speak to a priest?

Once I tell them I don't think GOD is a he and that I'm cool with pro-choice and homosexuals, they don't really want to hear me out anymore.
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pjbasis posted...

Do you need to believe in a religion?

I dont see the point in cherry picking what you "want" from a religion. It's obviously not real to you on some level, just go full atheist.

I don't need an organized religion, but it would be nice to know what I'm considered so I could talk to other like minded individuals.
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Gatarix posted...

(1) people have sinned; (2) therefore, they need salvation from their sins;

Yeah thats Lutheran stuff. I remember being shocked at the guiltfest they lay down on you after visiting a lutheran church for the first time.
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Honestly just be a Jew. It makes things easier.
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SantaRPidgey posted...

Gatarix posted...

(1) people have sinned; (2) therefore, they need salvation from their sins;

Yeah thats Lutheran stuff. I remember being shocked at the guiltfest they lay down on you after visiting a lutheran church for the first time.

(ex-)Southern Baptist here! although we're all post-Lutherans anyway
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INCEPTlON posted...

tabiicat42 posted...

Religion is really personal. You seem to believe in a lot of Christian things. Perhaps speak to a priest?

Once I tell them I don't think GOD is a he and that I'm cool with pro-choice and homosexuals, they don't really want to hear me out anymore.

You'd be surprised how many don't care. You just need to find the right place. You might like a Unitarian Universalist church for that sort of thing. http://www.uua.org/association
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tabiicat42 posted...

INCEPTlON posted...

tabiicat42 posted...

Religion is really personal. You seem to believe in a lot of Christian things. Perhaps speak to a priest?

Once I tell them I don't think GOD is a he and that I'm cool with pro-choice and homosexuals, they don't really want to hear me out anymore.

You'd be surprised how many don't care. You just need to find the right place. You might like a Unitarian Universalist church for that sort of thing. http://www.uua.org/association

I'll check them out. I really do enjoy a lot of organized religion until it begins to hate people that don't follow.
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