Religons

[Richie]

I'm really confused, I was raised a catholic but hold my own strong views on some things.

For example I don't believe a man has the right to take away anothers no matter how evil they may be. But in the bible it states "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". I honestly don't know if I'm just an atheist that holds my own beliefs or is there really a religion out there that I fit into?

I agree with some things in the bible but I am strongly against others. Another example is I don't believe that we are one to judge another's sexuality but in the bible it basically says it's wrong to be gay. Who are we to judge?

Am I just a crazed lunatic with crazy beliefs or is there actual religions out there that I may fit into. I'm not going to go all crazy and start attending churches / whatever I'm just curious. What religion do I believe in?

[Conservative,]

Your views sound fairly similar to mine.

There is normally a bit of differing of opinion in religions, however I myself am a Liberal Protestant - which is someone who doesn't take the Bible literally, but takes the morals and lessons from it and uses them in the modern world.

For example: They still follow the 10 commandements.
They accept homosexuality
They accept sex before marriage
They accept divorce
They accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour

That's just a few off the top of my head lol.

[Inseriousity.]

The problem with any holy book is that if you take little chunks of it here and there, you're going to get a distorted view of what it really is and could really justify anything. So yes "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" is in there but on the Sermon on the Mount for example Jesus said something like if someone hurts you, offer them the other cheek (something along those lines, basically the complete opposite). It also condemns homosexuality but also says on the same page 'don't eat seafood' - they didn't have fridges in those days!

I do believe (and there are many religious people who'd disagree) that it is healthier to take the messages and themes from religion and apply them to your life in general: love, tolerance, social justice etc etc. The beauty of it being that you don't actually need to practice a religion to do any of those things.

[ifuseekamy]

These days you can have a no strings relationship with religion and just believe in an afterlife.

[Red]

Well I think you don't fully understand the bible because it doesn't teach that.

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:

"38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you."

and it doesn't say to judge people either. Jesus' message was one of love and respect for people.

[Eoin247]

I'm really confused, I was raised a catholic but hold my own strong views on some things.

For example I don't believe a man has the right to take away anothers no matter how evil they may be. But in the bible it states "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". I honestly don't know if I'm just an atheist that holds my own beliefs or is there really a religion out there that I fit into?

I agree with some things in the bible but I am strongly against others. Another example is I don't believe that we are one to judge another's sexuality but in the bible it basically says it's wrong to be gay. Who are we to judge?

Am I just a crazed lunatic with crazy beliefs or is there actual religions out there that I may fit into. I'm not going to go all crazy and start attending churches / whatever I'm just curious. What religion do I believe in?

The problem with any holy book is that if you take little chunks of it here and there, you're going to get a distorted view of what it really is and could really justify anything. So yes "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" is in there but on the Sermon on the Mount for example Jesus said something like if someone hurts you, offer them the other cheek (something along those lines, basically the complete opposite). It also condemns homosexuality but also says on the same page 'don't eat seafood' - they didn't have fridges in those days!

I do believe (and there are many religious people who'd disagree) that it is healthier to take the messages and themes from religion and apply them to your life in general: love, tolerance, social justice etc etc. The beauty of it being that you don't actually need to practice a religion to do any of those things.

I'm not really religious, but in the bible it says that Jesus said: "Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone", when some jewish religious figures wanted to stone a woman for commiting a crime.

So it's not always "an eye for an eye" in the bible, at least not in the new testament.

[HotelUser]

I went to an Anglican church when I was little, I don't go anymore but I still believe in god.

[FlyingJesus]

I love it when people say they're believers but they don't follow the religion. If you truly believed then you would follow scripture to the letter - out of absolute fear if nothing else. How could you possibly claim to believe that a deity capable of these feats exists and rules over us yet still say "actually, I'm not gonna do what he commands"? I'm not saying there are no gods, in fact my own beliefs definitely involve deific characters, but for people to call themselves Christian when they don't accept (or in most cases even KNOW) what the Bible says is utterly ridiculous. It's like saying you're a Hindu but you love beefburgers

[Slowpoke]

I don't believe in religion, at all. Especially religions that are forced upon people. Pisses me off. People should be left to develop their own views on things, not take them from books

[FlyingJesus]

I don't believe in religion, at all. Especially religions that are forced upon people. Pisses me off. People should be left to develop their own views on things, not take them from books

Whilst I agree that religion should be taught, not imposed, I've always found that hardline atheists are the most pushy and annoying people in any religious debate that last bit doesn't make much sense though, should we tell people nothing that's written in books and leave them to explore absolutely everything by experience only? Dunno about you but I've found quite a lot of useful things in books