AWKWARD ZOMBIE

I'd like to make 4 points:


1. The divine Jesus was based on older, mythic "savior figures" such as Dionysus and Mithras and that Christian leaders are reluctant to teach early church history because it supports, rather than debunks, the theory that Jesus was a mythic figure rather than a historic personage.

2. Earlier gods like Thor, Balder, Deva tat, Beddru, Dionysus, Bacchus and Horus shared one or more similarities to Jesus, including "Born of a virgin on December 25", "Killed on a Cross or Tree", "Visited by Magi from the East", "Rode Donkeys into the City" and "Betrayed for 30 Pieces of Silver". Mithra (6 century BC)was born on 25th under a star, was visited by 3 wise men, had 13 disciples, was the son of god, came back after death, etc.


3. The letters of Saul/Paul of Tarsus, which were written prior to the Gospels, omit most of the events from the traditional "life of Jesus" (events that Paul would never have omitted from his arguments unless he had never heard of them), mentioning only the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension as happening in a mythic realm, rather than in an Earthly one.


4. Christian doctrine is contradictory in details but unambiguous on one point: God demands you believe in him or be damned to eternity in hell. I see this doctrine as the key to, or the origin of, the Christian church's never-ending appetite for expansion and imperial conquest.

You're so wrong you don't even know it. You need to read the Bible because you're a shit faced asshole. :awesome:

That aside, I think this is a pretty sound arguement. I know the only reason I'm Catholic is because my parents are. But I still feel obligated to my religion. If I was raised an atheist, I might have become a Buddhist, just because I like the virtues presented. But I find myself unable to commit to Buddhism at this point in my life. It seems as though I still cling to the faiths presented to me as a child.

For the last few years of my life, I've been going through a constant on and off faith crisis, and it just sort of pisses me off. I wish I could just pick something and stick to it.

Ew, religious controversy.

I have nothing against people in a religion just the religion and UBER religious people that won't shut up about it. I'm atheist by the original definition of atheism. Now adays its being agnostic. I agree with L Lawliet in every aspect including the last line. [spoiler]J/K[/spoiler]

I would disagree with the controlling argument, not only because I don't personally agree with it, but fundamentally. It's dangerous in the first place to argue in absolutes, and doubly so when dealing with other people's beliefs. There are people who were once without religion until some life-altering experience that caused a change in the way they see things. I'm talking about people who believe they have been 'touched' by God, or believe they have been witness to some miracle. There are also people who have been raised from birth with a belief who do truly believe what they were taught. Simply because they were raised in a religious family does not mean that they are incapable of making decisions themselves.
Most of your points seem to me like examples of some reasons why people don't believe in the Religions that they follow, not proof that all people don't actually believe what they believe.
Also, I'd just like to make the point that I believe in the religion I follow, I'm just not sure what it is. I guess I'm a non-'practicing' Catholic, or something... I kinda just made my own religion as I went.
Also also, you're a shit faced asshole, and should go read the bible (even if I've never actually read it...). I mean, so many people like it that it must be true.
Also also also, I just want to say that I hate talking about religion, but I do like to be a shit eating asshole.... its a double edged sword.

I'm going to intertwine religion and facebook.

Facebook let's you set your religious views on your home page and what I have seen, at least with my friends, is that the answer is never a straightforward "Christian" or "Judaism" or "Muslim." In fact, most of my friends put down "lacking", "none", "ehh" or something else. I've seen "Church of Hot Addiction", "Your Body is a Wonderland" and things like that. Personally, my religious views are set to "Why with all the yelling?".

So I do agree that religion is diminishing in the coming generations since it's not necessary anymore. The church used to influence an entire kingdom, even promised salvation in Heaven in return for loyalty or even cheddar.

Of course, I'm not saying religion is pointless or stupid or nonsense, but it is not relied on as it was before.

Mines Jedi/Elemental/Magic... I think I like yours better...

Yeah, I was just on another forum and brought this up. I was then informed that this theory can just be reversed to why atheists are controlling people, and how religion is the way to go. Ya, srsly, I failed

Legion of Anonymi would be better.

[spoiler]Jesus dies on the cross.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]If it harms none, do what you want.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Muhammed is visited by Gabriel.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Nayru creates the laws of physics.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Buddha reaches nirvana.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]There is no God.[/spoiler]

http://www.400monkeys.com/God/

I don't know what I believe, specifically. My parents want me to be a Jew, so I kind of make vague attempts at it, but really, I believe in lots of things. Mostly, I just go with the flow. I wasn't raised with a religion; we never went to church, no crosses, no stars of david, nothing. Just whatever.

I think you should all learn about the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It is the one true god.

[spoiler]He likes pirates more then ninjas[/spoiler]

Pastafarianism.

I'm getting a slow, but sure, interest in Discordionism.
Hail Eris! That sort of stuff.
FNORD
but for now Agnosticism works well for me.

I, for one, only believe in Ford.