Drac.... Sure as a person that believes you can never know to much or you should never stop learning or close your mind.
Mommy, Quoting the Bible is not your opinion, I wanted your opinion, not a quote from the bible.
First of all let me state I am not anti-religious or an atheiest (sp?)
I grew up a roman catholic, but I lean and favor being a deist.
What is a Deist? A person that believes in a GOD, but No formal religion, the GOD created teh Universe, and then "left it alone" to evolve to it's own conclusion.
While a youngster I was brought up in a roman catholic family, my wife and kids are roman catholics, I respect my wife for her religious beliefs and she wanted to raise our children in that faith, and I was fine with it, the children can make their own decisions on faith when they are old enough to "free think and use their free will"
Now while in College, I have studied many religions that are across this world. Way to many to list.
Most have common themes of an All powerful GOD that needs praise and worship. I think the Buhuddist (sp?) are the closest with the "cycles" of life and how the world is an ever cycle, that we feed the land as the land feeds us, etc.
I find it a crying shame that people need to pay priests or pastors, I've seen to many wealthy pastors driving BMW's or mercedes, living in Mansions. Joel Olsten is a perfect example, he is a BILLIONAIRE...all he has done is taken peoples money. IS he closer to GOD for this? no.
The Catholic Church is the wealthiest church in the world, at one time is was a World Power. Muslims Kill people who do not believe in their faith, even different sects of the religion kill each other due to the "unpure" ****es vs Shia's
I fully believe Religion was created by man to control others, especially living here in Georgia, I am viewed as an outcast becuase we are not Southern Baptist, we are "evil catholics"
I've ben told I will be going to hell because I am not a souther baptist, more then once, I been told by catholics I am going to hell for committing what ever "sin" i did as a child...Fear mongering.
The churches of the world preach FEAR, you will go to Hell if you are not a good boy/Girl, you will Go to hell if you are not a member of our faith. People have killed over this.....for what?
Do you really think this was GOD's intentions? to create a "species" in his image that would destroy and kill each other and find ways to kill more and more.
I simply believe in a few things, there are good people in this world, there are BAd people in this world. When you Die, you Die. You become part of the cycle like the rest of the animals and plants of this world.
Why would humans go to Heaven and not Dolphins? birds? insects? just doesn't make sense.
The Bible was written by humans, it ahs been edited and changed over the years, several chapters are missing. It was also written at a time where Water would normally kill you if not boiled, so they Normally drank Beer and Wine during these time periods. Also Smoking Opium was completely normal and is to this day in the middle east, so you are talking a society that drank and was high often. History proves this.
Easter was created by the church, as was Chistmas.
Why is Christmas celebrated in December when "jesus" was proven to be born in the spring?
Why do we have easter Bunny with eggs? (another religions belief of fertility)
Traditions, religions and other celebrations have been taken over, morphed to fit one's needs. Same for the Bible.
you can pull out 10 quotes from the Bible, and I can rebuff them with 10 quotes from the bible as well.
Bottom line, religion is about controlling people, being fearful of GOD and what might happen to you. That you need to Praise GOD.
IF this GOD who is all powerful and all knowing, Why is his/Hers Self Esteem so low that it needs to be praised or woshiped? Why does GOD need a man made creation called Money?
Sure I believe in GOD, but I don't believe that god needs worship or money. I just think he wants us to be GOOD PEOPLE and take care of those around us.
Sorry for the long winded response. But hey I am an opinionated person and I love to discuss things.
I was more curious as to what people do believe if they choose not to believe in God. I wanted to know what people think happens to them when they die.
Im actually leaning to 'going the way of all the earth.' in other words, the body and soul (which i believe is a form of energy) breaks apart into all its molecules and becomes part of the world.
It was also written at a time where Water would normally kill you if not boiled, so they Normally drank Beer and Wine during these time periods. Also Smoking Opium was completely normal and is to this day in the middle east, so you are talking a society that drank and was high often.
You know this explains something ive been thinking about lately. ive always thought is quite fantastic that all those miracles and rather ostentatious acts took place in the bible. Because really, I cant seem to recall something like that ever happening. I know, i know people will point out countless 'miracles' but come on. does anything one can think of in their own life ever compare to the things that happen in the bible??? I mean sure, there are things open to interpretation, but the miracles witnessed to in the bible are not open to interpretation. there's not a lot of room to argue them. they're quite fantastic. but in reality, there's plenty of room to see something differently because its never that fantastic. Life is really very simple and ordinary.
Mommy, sorry if I sounded like I was getting in a argument, I was just stating where I come from.
I've always maintained, Religion is very good for some people, just not everyone, some use it for good, some use it for bad.
To answer your question, Where do we go when we die? Simply we go back into the earth and become part of it again.
Much like sleeping, you don't remember all 8 hours of sleeping, your brain goes to "sleep mode" When we die, we are simply turned off, and thats it.
Many people have a hard time understanding, that when we die, it's all over. I won't be an angel floating above watching my children grow, I will be gone. So hopefully I am raising them to be self sufficient and independent.
Drac, it's not that I don't believe in the bible, I just think it's a book written by man, same for the Quran.....it's just a book.
I've also noticed on our street, I and another (northerner) are the least "religious" people on our street, we party have a good time and laugh, all good stuff.
When a tornado went down our street and several trees were knocked down, and other damage was caused (nothing earth shattering) It was Him and I that leant everyone a hand cleaning up and and getting things back to normal. My super church going friends stayed inside their houses, they will go work on something if their Church tells them to, but when their old neighbor across the street needs a hand...they are no where to be found.
I've also noticed on our street, I and another (northerner) are the least "religious" people on our street, we party have a good time and laugh, all good stuff.
When a tornado went down our street and several trees were knocked down, and other damage was caused (nothing earth shattering) It was Him and I that leant everyone a hand cleaning up and and getting things back to normal. My super church going friends stayed inside their houses, they will go work on something if their Church tells them to, but when their old neighbor across the street needs a hand...they are no where to be found.
Then that is a sad sate where people will not help one another.
as I said Drac, there are good people and bad people, some will help there Neighbors, others won't. Has nothing to do with religion, but how you were raised as a person.
as I said Drac, there are good people and bad people, some will help there Neighbors, others won't. Has nothing to do with religion, but how you were raised as a person.
That is true. I most have had good upbringing where that is conserned but not enough people today are raising their kids like that.
I've actually ahd the opposite, I've seen women struggling in a parking lot with something heavy, I have offered to help them, 80% of them will say no, thinking, I am trying to steal from them, some sort of scam, or hitting on them. When really I am just being nice. the other 20% usually say yes because my kids are with me, I guess they feel safer that way. LOL
some of your views totally hit home with me! i was also raised roman catholic (never missed church - might go to hell kind of thinking). it's just how my dad grew up. he accepted it but as i got married & had my own children, i am having such a hard time with it! we have 4 children. our oldest had cancer & is fine now. everyone tells me that he is a miracle. i have such a hard time agreeing. i just can't believe that we got a miracle while so many other children we met over the years at the oncologist lose their battle. sometimes illnes brings people closer to their religion but not for me. it has totally made me question everything! i still believe in god & speak to my god all day long in my thoughts! i am not sure exactly how i feel about religion. i want to go to church to be more spiritual but i always end up leaving in such a bad frame of mind after the priest talks! i know that i believe in being a good person, helping others, understanding consequences to actions, being moral, etc. what is the answer?? will we ever figure it out?
some of your views totally hit home with me! i was also raised roman catholic (never missed church - might go to hell kind of thinking). it's just how my dad grew up. he accepted it but as i got married & had my own children, i am having such a hard time with it! we have 4 children. our oldest had cancer & is fine now. everyone tells me that he is a miracle. i have such a hard time agreeing. i just can't believe that we got a miracle while so many other children we met over the years at the oncologist lose their battle. sometimes illnes brings people closer to their religion but not for me. it has totally made me question everything! i still believe in god & speak to my god all day long in my thoughts! i am not sure exactly how i feel about religion. i want to go to church to be more spiritual but i always end up leaving in such a bad frame of mind after the priest talks! i know that i believe in being a good person, helping others, understanding consequences to actions, being moral, etc. what is the answer?? will we ever figure it out?
God saved your child, you should be so thankful that it brought you closer to him. I mean knowing he was there for you. Is it that you blame God for letting cancer hit your child? We had cancer hit my family too, but he showed me that he was there for me, and if I didn't believe in him, I would have the day I prayed so hard. I know how some people that is in Church are, you think why do they even go, but you are not there for them. You are there for YOU, YOUR FAMILY, and God.
I htink that it doesnt mater if you live with the one you love 3 years or 50 years and as for iof she dies well what if she lives oyu or oyu live her huh? what does it change?
What count the most is the time spend together beign hapy an din love.
you coudl also say the same for anything you do in life.
Why eat sicne it goes down the toilet and why cultivate the soil when you have to do it all over again the next year?
and soemtiems its all waisted cause of the bad weather..
and what about cars they alos die on you and oyu never see them again.. and houses..
and dogs and cats.
doesnt mean that you have to drop living..
thats the eternal problem of life and death.. why live if we are going to die?
cause we aint dead yet, thats why..
if all were thinking like oyu then no mum will give birth to chldren cause what if they die?
so all will ahve been for nothing?
i dont think os, not if they were loved and cared for.
you ahve to keep all the god and therefor everyday do good things for you and for other too. It makes oyu life more meaningfull when you have love in it.
Anythign thats good is done through one form or another of love.
But wahts hard is long distance relationship.
not what if after 50 years together.
anyway, women live longer so why worry? LOL!
Re: Too young to wonder this. 
Is it that you blame God for letting cancer hit your child? We had cancer hit my family too, but he showed me that he was there for me, and if I didn't believe in him, I would have the day I prayed so hard. I know how some people that is in Church are, you think why do they even go, but you are not there for them. You are there for YOU, YOUR FAMILY, and God. 
