Religion

[Archsage]

Atheist here.

Well, atheism is not a religion. Neither is theism for that matter. But can I ask you, are you religious? Maybe religion means something different to different people. But here's what Religion is described as in Christianity:

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. [James 1]

So, in Christianity's terms, do you think of yourself as religious?

[Braked]

Atheist here.

Well, atheism is not a religion. Neither is theism for that matter. But can I ask you, are you religious? Maybe religion means something different to different people. But here's what Religion is described as in Christianity:

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. [James 1]

So, in Christianity's terms, do you think of yourself as religious?

I know atheism is not a religion. But Ill just say I dont believe in any gods.

[Sparkysparkyboomman]

im better described as agnostic.

[Archsage]

Atheist here.

Well, atheism is not a religion. Neither is theism for that matter. But can I ask you, are you religious? Maybe religion means something different to different people. But here's what Religion is described as in Christianity:

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. [James 1]

So, in Christianity's terms, do you think of yourself as religious?

I know atheism is not a religion. But Ill just say I dont believe in any gods.

Haha, yeah I figured at least that much when you said you were atheist. I just wanted to know if you were religious. i mean, not all religions are theistic you know? (Like, say, most forms of Buddhism.) But if you're not up for answering the question then that's fine, I didn't mean to pry.

im better described as agnostic.

I guess the same question that I posed to Braked I'll ask you. It's interesting to see that you are agnostic, but theology aside, are you religious? And by religious I'm using it in the way as defined in Christianity:

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. [James 1:27]

So in this sense, (showing your love for people in need and keeping yourself pure from a pretty 'mean' world) are you religious?

[Sparkysparkyboomman]

Since im not a christian, christianity doesnt define the definition of religion for me. but i try to be good person, i dont cheat, steal, hurt people. i help if i can and i try to be a good person. i have morals and do my best to do whats right. I make mistakes sometimes for I am a man. But I'm a good person.

[Archsage]

Since im not a christian, christianity doesnt define the definition of religion for me. but i try to be good person, i dont cheat, steal, hurt people. i help if i can and i try to be a good person. i have morals and do my best to do whats right. I make mistakes sometimes for I am a man. But I'm a good person.

That's real nice, but I'm sure I didn't ask you if you thought you were a good person, lol.

What I'm asking is, knowing that Christianity defines religion as two-fold, (caring for others and purifying yourself), I wanted to know if you are religious according to Christianity's definition of the term. It's more of a 'yes' or 'no' question. Of course, like I said to Braked, if you'd rather not answer then don't feel pressured to.

I ask this because many people like to pridefully boast, "I'm not religious!" or "Religion sucks!" or something like that. But when these same people see what religion means in Christianity, I wonder they would say then? If Christianity says that: pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world, then I wonder if are you against that? Though I suppose people are afraid of Christianity, for whatever reason, and would rather reject love and purity then to admit that Christianity's definition Religion is a very good, or at least admirable, thing.

The whole response would be pretty funny if it wasn't a bit sad.

[BlackInk]

I think what Sparky said isn't sad at all and is what anyone should try to be like, religious or not, christian or Asgardian. And not letting something you don't believe in define what you believe is pretty much the right way to go.

^ But that is mainly just adressing your last sentence. That other stuff about question-answering I'll leave to you..

[Archsage]

I think what Sparky said isn't sad at all and is what anyone should try to be like, religious or not, christian or Asgardian. And not letting something you don't believe in define what you believe is pretty much the right way to go.

^ But that is mainly just adressing your last sentence. That other stuff about question-answering I'll leave to you..

I didn't say that what sparky said was sad at all. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough but the subject of my last sentence was "the whole response". If you reread my post you'll see that "the whole response" isn't referring to Sparky's post but to what I said in the sentence right before that (in bold). Here, look:

I ask this because many people like to pridefully boast, "I'm not religious!" or "Religion sucks!" or something like that. But when these same people see what religion means in Christianity, I wonder they would say then? If Christianity says that: pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world, then I wonder if are you against that? Though I suppose people are afraid of Christianity, for whatever reason, and would rather reject love and purity then to admit that Christianity's definition Religion is a very good, or at least admirable, thing.

The whole response would be pretty funny if it wasn't a bit sad.

[Uncle_Iroh]

Honestly, religion is kinda the reason for most of the wars of the past. So one could say that it is a bad thing, except a persons beliefs gives them faith.

[Archsage]

Honestly, religion is kinda the reason for most of the wars of the past. So one could say that it is a bad thing, except a persons beliefs gives them faith.

No, the reason for "most wars of the past" was just human nature regarding 'us vs them' mentality, greed, and hatred. I really find the cop-out that 'oh religion is the cause of our problems' to be indicative of how oblivious mankind is to its own depravity. Fact of the matter is, religion doesn't start wars. People do. When they finally come to grips with that, maybe we can start fixing the problem.

As in, getting rid of religion won't end wars. But teaching people to be more self-less, to love one another (even their enemies), to be at peace with all people [you know, all that Christian stuff that nobody really does], then we'll see wars diminish into peacefulness. Or we can have a completely totalitarian government and conquer the world and squash everyone's belief systems forcing no one to believe what they want but only what you want them to. That'd be great.

But when you say "religion" what do you mean? And you can take note to see the difference between what Christians call "religion" and what you do.