The next Pope will "not" be the last Pope, nevertheless, the demise of religious institutions has

reply to post by Xtrozero


Iam not saying an atheist world is what we need far from it Iam just against Religion not God, Religion like I said is just a club another thing invented by man to divide us we need to do away with all these clubs because they are far away from God and are deceiving people away from God.
Many have this "believe what I say and you will go to heaven and If you do not you goto Hell because my religion is the only true one" attitude going on which is just using scare tactics to get more money in the coffers.
Man made divisions which still to this day make people not trust each other because of what club they belong to.
At least many years ago when people worshipped the sun it was a physical thing which really does give us life, why bother falling for something that people just made up.

Originally posted by boymonkey74
Iam not saying an atheist world is what we need far from it Iam just against Religion not God, Religion like I said is just a club another thing invented by man to divide us we need to do away with all these clubs because they are far away from God and are deceiving people away from God.
Many have this "believe what I say and you will go to heaven and If you do not you goto Hell because my religion is the only true one" attitude going on which is just using scare tactics to get more money in the coffers.
Man made divisions which still to this day make people not trust each other because of what club they belong to.

I don't go to church, I don't get anything out of it, but many people do go to church and get a lot out of it. We're ALL in different clubs. Clubs that divide us all the time, YOU are in clubs too.

I don't know...maybe it is the pack mentality we all desire due to evolution.

One part of religion is what happens after you die, and how does one's life affect that. Though I think most religions are breaking away from the traditional hell and heaven picture those questions are not going away anytime soon.

The demise of religious institution is already written on the wall. For too much tragedies had been done in the name of man-made and twisted teachings for personal agendas.

'Religion' ordained, controlled and misused by flawed man, will end.

But moral and ethical guidelines, as is what true religion is all about, to help mankind progress and evolve, willl never die as long as man - neither animal or robot and realizes it, seeks to be free and live up to his full potentential.

It will be those moral and ethical guidelines that our future progress and evolution will be based upon, as was intended all along.

Our common Creator, known by many names across different cultures, geological barriers, time and space, NEVER sought to have his form sculptured, or painted, or even known. He cares not about the form, but the heart and will of humans to live up to mankind's destiny, the very purpose we were created for.

Originally posted by Xtrozero

It has done much good too...When other factors are infused with religion, such as greed, power, politics, hate, insanity...etc it seems to keep the religious label but is it really religion anymore?

Yes. Especially since there are so many evil acts done specifically in the name of religion. I do agree with your overall point, just not with this↑ particular loophole.


An example:
Let's say I'm walking with 2 cheeseburgers.(one in each hand)
I dropped one of them into a mud-puddle.

It didn't transform into something different.
Even though it is now dirty, it's still a cheeseburger.




We can't really know whether or not there would be more or less violence in the World today, if there was no religion, but I do believe that religion has kept many people 'in-check'. The fears which are instilled by religion are capable of keeping some people 'good'.

reply to post by boymonkey74

Originally posted by boymonkey74


Just to point out not all Religions are Religious (odd but hear me out) Buddism is at its core anti God and more about yourself which is a good thing.

So is Satanism, yet it is so widely frowned upon.

Ж

To us, Satan is the symbol that best suits the nature of we who are carnal by birth—people who feel no battles raging between our thoughts and feelings, we who do not embrace the concept of a soul imprisoned in a body.

He represents pride, liberty, and individualism—qualities often defined as Evil by those who worship external deities, who feel there is a war between their minds and emotions.

All Gods are thus externalized forms, magnified projections of the true nature of their creators, personifying aspects of the universe or personal temperaments which many of their followers find to be troubling. Worshipping any God is thus worshipping by proxy those who invented that God.

Since the Satanist understands that all Gods are fiction, instead of bending a knee in worship to—or seeking friendship or unity with—such mythical entities, he places himself at the center of his own subjective universe as his own highest value. We Satanists are thus our own “Gods,” and as beneficent “deities” we can offer love to those who deserve it and deliver our wrath (within reasonable limits) upon those who seek to cause us—or that which we cherish—harm.





[color=6DBED6]But such self-deification is not for everyone, since it requires total responsibility for one’s choices and actions, and the realization of a social contract which makes for a civilized state of being.

So Satanism is not meant to be “The Way” for all people, since we consider it a sad truth that only a small percentage of our species has the intelligence, adherence to reason, and self-discipline to handle our perspective.

Ж

I think REAL belief (in God even, if you will) can only happen WITHOUT the effing institutionalized church.

If anything, "church" is what makes people blind to see a real God and the wonders of creation.

Church is an abomination of all that.

Being spiritual, believing in a God etc. is MUCH MORE than reciting bible verses and waste time on bible dogmas and rituals. It's a distraction which ONLY brings out negatives (for centuries already!) often quite the opposite what a belief/faith is supposed to be about.

reply to post by BrokenCircles


Thanks dude didn't know that gonna have to research further.

reply to post by boymonkey74


To be honest, I don't really know much about it, aside from it being greatly misunderstood.

Originally posted by boymonkey74
reply to post by Xtrozero

 

God should be a personal feeling, why do we need another person to tell us who God is? with searching you can find him/her/it yourself.
Religion is man made and other peoples idea of God which they mess up to use it as a tool for control and to make money.
You can be a believer and I do not mind anyone believing what I do not like is people trying to brainwash others to join their club and all those people who threaten Hell etc If you disagree.
We as humans are just inteligent apes, how can we even comprehend God? we can try but Priests etc talk like they know and lets face it we do not.
Just reading about what organized Religion has done over the years sickens me, The OP is right many people are just finding their own way nowadays, I do see a future without all the major Religions and that future is bright that future is humanities next step.

edit on 2-3-2013 by boymonkey74 because: (no reason given)

The "future" is being written about right here on AtS - and if you think that hundreds of religions across this planet have sickened you, why are you not applying the same discernment to the ultimate religion, "self", which is growing every day. It's self love, "I am divine", "I am creator" - by far and away the most brutal religion known to man. Do you have an inkling what happens to the poor, the innocent, the ugly, the disabled, the elderly, the moral, and the weak when men who think that they are "gods" come into power? Beauty, sex, intellect, youth and wealth become valued and exalted, but the opposite groups become burdens. They get reclassified as "useless eaters". The unborn innocents are slaughtered. Euthanasia gets brought in. The elderly are ostracised, the poor are all called lazy and thieves and it is always these groups which are sacrificed. See the rise of the pyramids? It's merely the rise of the "religion" which saw the ungodly destroyed in the flood.

Our God states that religion is taking care of the orphans and widows which are the helpless and oppressed. Why? Because wicked and evil men are hunters and their prey are them. You can see it now if only you look around. One day soon some will understand that all of those religions kept relative peace in the world.

reply to post by WhoKnows100


Sorry but Goodness and morality is not just for the religious you know you do not have a monopoly on it.

reply to post by BrokenCircles

A complete lack of worldwide communications was most likely largely responsible for the original creation and expansion of religious beliefs in the first place.

It is inevitable that the ever-increasing simplicity of communicating in this day and age will continuously weaken the church daily.

That's up for debate. If you have an iPhone, search for any religious theme in the itunes store and see what pops up.

Communication works both ways.

While my personal feelings are that religion is used as a means of control, communication actually supports and aides the end objective IMO. In the old days, they had to set up missions and send missionaries to do the same (after the political wrangling it takes with the state to allow them into the country).

This is still being done today, but there is a reason China has its great firewall, and it's not simply to block Facebook, et al.

reply to post by boncho

I'm not saying that religious beliefs might end anytime soon. I just think there is a slight chance of it eventually disappearing. At the very least, I think it will eventually transform into something far different from the religions of today.



Regarding communication, I was mainly referring to many of the supposed miracles that have allegedly occurred throughout the past,. They would be much more difficult to pull off, and would not be as successful in current times.




An overly exaggerated dramatic re-enactment, from a couple thousands years ago:

[color=D6C6A1]Mr. There-A, "Aww man, you shoulda been there. I've never before seen anything that wild. This dude actually parted the Sea, giving us a clear path to walk on."

[color=9CD9B0]Mr. MhhmSure, "MMhhmmm. Sure he did. You should stop smoking that crap."

[color=D6C6A1]Mr. There-B, "Seriously man, I was there too. I saw it."

[color=9CD9B0]Mr. MhhmSure, "You're both full of it. Don't you have somewhere else to be today?"

[color=D6C6A1]Mr. There-C, "It wasn't even slightly muddy. It was completely dry."

[color=9CD9B0]Mr. MhhmSure, "I'm not falling for it, so you may as well give it up already."

[color=D6C6A1]Mr. There-D, "We wouldn't lie about something this spectacular."

[color=9CD9B0]Mr. MhhmSure, "Seriously? You guys aren't just messing with me?

[color=D6C6A1]Mr. There-E, "Seriously man. It really happened. Scouts Honor."

[color=9CD9B0]Mr. MhhmSure, "Wow!! It really did happen. He actually parted the sea, with only his mind, and didn't spill a single drop. I gotta go tell my brother about this!

...and now there are 6 people to spread the lie.





The same conversation if started today:

[color=D6C6A1]Mr. There-A, "Aww man, you shoulda been there. I've never before seen anything that wild. This dude actually parted the Sea, giving us a clear path to walk on."

[color=9CD9B0]Mr. MhhmSure, "MMhhmmm. Sure he did. Let's see what Google has to say about that."


[color=DEBF90]Then Mr. There-A quickly ran away.......

[color=787878]Disclaimer: Since it never happened, no fishes were harmed during this dramatic re-enactment, nor were any harmed the first time it didn't happen.





P.S.

Originally posted by boncho

If you have an iPhone, search for any religious theme in the itunes store and see what pops up.
daily.

I don't even have A phone, yet alone an iPhone.

So what is it that pops up daily?
lol. let me rephrase that.....
What would be the results from that particular search?

The Catholic Church is very old and has been around for centuries. One can argue that it pre-dates Jesus because some of its infrastructure, rituals, and facilities were co-opted from Roman religious institutions that existed centuries before Jesus.

I agree with others that the Catholic Church as it exists today does not have much of a future. The Catholic Church as it existed at the time of Galileo or Martin Luther did not have much of a future, either. The Church somehow found a way to reform itself and make itself relevant again numerous times over the last centuries. The Church will most likely continue to survive if it changes its stance on issues like birth control and married priests. The big question comes down to how much of an overhaul will the Church need to survive.

By the way, I am not a Catholic and have many issues with the Catholic Church. I am not here to defend its handling of child molestation issues, birth control, or any of that stuff. I also think the pope has no direct life line to God or any saint.

reply to post by BrokenCircles

The same conversation if started today:

Try starting that conversation in a Pentecostal Church, the backwoods, or anyplace they dink Malt Liquor, have fun not getting flogged to death.

I agree technology gives us the ability to learn if we choose to use it, gives us the ability to have vast resources at our fingertips, but don't forget...

Most people use it for twitter and Facebook, and ironically, believe things more stupid than a man parting seas.

FB Hoaxes

Twitter Hoaxes

Eagle snatches baby hoax.

Harold Camping End of the world hoax.

Let's not forget all the Nibiru, Space ship sucking the sun, Zombies, 2012, mayan mystic, Higgs Boson blackhole hoaxes... We all saw during the last year.

People can Google whatever they want, but people push BS ideas and others believe them. I watched it all last year in this forum.

Even when presented with evidence backed with data from reputable sources, they still fought. (Maybe they are pushing the idea for money, whatever...) but, in any case, some dumb ass will read it and actually believe it themselves.

reply to post by BrokenCircles

So what is it that pops up daily?
lol. let me rephrase that.....
What would be the results from that particular search?

I was merely pointing out that religion isn't lost on technology. If you want a Christ-O-Metre that tells you how good you're following the bible that day...well, there's an app for that.

reply to post by boncho

Originally posted by boncho

I agree technology gives us the ability to learn if we choose to use it, gives us the ability to have vast resources at our fingertips, but don't forget...
Most people use it for twitter and Facebook, and ironically, believe things more stupid than a man parting seas.

Let's not forget all the Nibiru, Space ship sucking the sun, Zombies, 2012, mayan mystic, Higgs Boson blackhole hoaxes... We all saw during the last year.

True, BUT the amount of people who believed in any of those,is nowhere near the amount of people whom stand firmly behind their strict religious beliefs. For many, those beliefs last a lifetime. That other crap doesn't stick around very long. Those are more like fads, unlike religion which has stuck around for quite some time now.

Originally posted by boncho

Try starting that conversation in a Pentecostal Church, the backwoods, or anyplace they dink Malt Liquor, have fun not getting flogged to death.

I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to say with this↑. I can't really tell if you're agreeing or disagreeing with me.

Originally posted by BrokenCircles
Especially since there are so many evil acts done specifically in the name of religion. .

Can you name some of these acts that are strictly religious?

reply to post by Xtrozero

Originally posted by Xtrozero

Originally posted by BrokenCircles

Especially since there are so many evil acts done specifically in the name of religion.

Can you name some of these acts that are strictly religious?

Holocaust

Originally posted by BrokenCircles

Holocaust

Hilter wanted to wipeout the Jews because of religion?

Originally posted by hotpinkurinalmint
The Catholic Church is very old and has been around for centuries. One can argue that it pre-dates Jesus because some of its infrastructure, rituals, and facilities were co-opted from Roman religious institutions that existed centuries before Jesus.

I agree with others that the Catholic Church as it exists today does not have much of a future. The Catholic Church as it existed at the time of Galileo or Martin Luther did not have much of a future, either. The Church somehow found a way to reform itself and make itself relevant again numerous times over the last centuries. The Church will most likely continue to survive if it changes its stance on issues like birth control and married priests. The big question comes down to how much of an overhaul will the Church need to survive.

By the way, I am not a Catholic and have many issues with the Catholic Church. I am not here to defend its handling of child molestation issues, birth control, or any of that stuff. I also think the pope has no direct life line to God or any saint.

If you really want to get technical:

I worked with a guy ; a bit mysterious...guy.

He told everyone at work he visited the basement of the Vatican once.
He said he had a professor friend who knew people ; who got him in there....

Well, this guy I worked with at one time told me something I will never forget
and I tell you this here;

The catholic cult ; predates our own culture...by a many many years ; even a thousand years...

This cult has been around longer than known history!!