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I missed most of the religion talk, but religion seems like insurance or maybe a protection racket.

Posted by Spawn Mar 12 '10, 08:08

If you are not *in* you are sol. And to be in, you have to help each other, yet the racket itself has all the power in the world but when it gets right down to it, fails to deliver.

Responses:

You don't have to do anything to "be in". There is no requirement for good works, etc. to earn your way - oblique Mar 12, 08:24 42
- except not sin, or at least confess your sins -- nm - tRuMaN Mar 12, 08:29
- [deleted] 25
  - Generally speaking, we're all sinners in one way or another. God welcomes all of us despite our sin - oblique Mar 12, 08:29 24
    - [deleted] 23
      - Here's how I tend to define sin, and let me know if it helps: sin is more broadly defined than a list of actions. - TFox Mar 12, 08:38 4
        
        very interesting. thank you for sharing that. -- nm - oblique Mar 12, 08:44 1
        
        no prob. i mean, really, what it boils down to for me is, there are only two entities that know when any one person is sinning: that person and God. - TFox Mar 12, 08:52
        
        the closest parallel to an idea of "sin" in my worldview... - znufrii Mar 12, 08:42
        
        [deleted]
      - Like I said, it is a part of my faith and belief that I still struggle to understand - oblique Mar 12, 08:34 15
        
        The issue for many is that homosexuality, even if not railed against, is still seen as a failure. There is judgement inherent in that label. -- nm - TWuG Mar 12, 08:39 14
        
        Not any more than I am a failure as a liar or a gossip or when I yell at my kids or am selfish or steal Netflix movies or whatever - oblique Mar 12, 08:43 13
        
        Everything you just listed is something you've chosen to do. People don't choose to be gay. - TWuG Mar 12, 08:45 12
        
        People choose their actions, not their natural desires. I may desire to have lots of sex with lots of women - oblique Mar 12, 08:50 11
        
        So, be gay, just don't have gay sex? Would gay sex be okay in a gay marriage? - TWuG Mar 12, 08:53 7
        
        He flat out said the opposite of this under the word "DISCLAIMER" in all caps. fwiw. -- nm - TFox Mar 12, 08:54 6
        
        "It is simply one example of how our naturla inclinations don't run in line with God." I.E. being gay=failure to God. -- nm - TWuG Mar 12, 08:57 5
        
        but since everyone is set up to fail, it's not like gay people are unique in that regard... -- nm - znufrii Mar 12, 08:58 3
        
        Sure. I just don't know that I can accept the denouncement of relationships that are obviously based in love for another human being - oblique Mar 12, 08:59 1
        
        just trying to understand this - what relationship is being denounced? and gay relationships/marriages are based in love just like hetero ones. - Andei Mar 12, 09:13
        
        I'm set up to want to jam every chick on Chuck. If I didn't want to jam them, it would be easier not to sin, for sure. - TFox Mar 12, 08:59
        
        I have not made up my mind on the subject. I see the rationale for what you say, I simply don't know if I accept it for all the reasons you give as - oblique Mar 12, 08:58
        
        [deleted] 2
        
        I have not made up my mind on the subject (as I've said) - oblique Mar 12, 08:55 1
        
        (who saw that one coming?) - TFox Mar 12, 08:56
      - yes and no - Danedukenuuk Mar 12, 08:34 1
        
        [deleted]
- You have to do quite a lot to be "in". - Spawn Mar 12, 08:26 13
  - Nope. Faith is the only requirement God puts on us (it's hard to be in a relationship with God if you don't have faith in him) - oblique Mar 12, 08:28 12
    - not not really hating god all you'r life gives you a relationship with god too - Danedukenuuk Mar 12, 08:33
    - And of course, that whole "do not sin" part. -- nm - Spawn Mar 12, 08:28 10
      - trust me, we *all* will fail at that over and over and over again -- nm - oblique Mar 12, 08:30
      - no, you can "sin", you have have to apologize for it. nm -- nm - groiny Mar 12, 08:29 8
        
        if you'r a chatolic yes - Danedukenuuk Mar 12, 08:35
        
        But see, does he ever apologize for famine? Natural disasters? Cancer? - Spawn Mar 12, 08:30 6
        
        This is where the argument went off the rails yesterday. - TWuG Mar 12, 08:31
        
        None of those are God's fault. They are part of the universe that he created that runs on a natural order, not by his whim from moment to moment -- nm - oblique Mar 12, 08:31 3
        
        and in the process, give us the opportunity to show the godly part of our own selves, through compassionate works for others. -- nm - znufrii Mar 12, 08:32 2
        
        I would like to see the godly part of you stop an eathquake, please. -- nm - Spawn Mar 12, 08:47 1
        
        now you're just being silly. -- nm - znufrii Mar 12, 08:49
        
        someone has to thin the herd. nm -- nm - groiny Mar 12, 08:31
- in the christian belif system that is right? -- nm - Danedukenuuk Mar 12, 08:25
[deleted] 5
- my last trip to Chruch did not go well.... - groiny Mar 12, 08:18 4
  - I love that our Pastor says, every Sunday, "If you're a guest here, we don't want you to put anything in the offering plate" -- nm - oblique Mar 12, 08:25 3
    - seriously, I damn near got up and walked out. - groiny Mar 12, 08:26 2
      - Personally - oblique Mar 12, 08:32 1
        
        see, it is a conflict. It is a good school, it is the church I have the issue with. - groiny Mar 12, 08:34
And while it certainly was not clear yesterday, I am mostly anti-religion, but indifferent to a general belief in a god. - TWuG Mar 12, 08:11 6
- Exactly. Faith is a great thing. A belief that your faith gives you the power/authority to do things against others... not so much. -- nm - Spawn Mar 12, 08:14 5
  - [deleted]
  - which does not universally apply to all religions, or members of particular religions. -- nm - TFox Mar 12, 08:16 2
    - at some point it does - Danedukenuuk Mar 12, 08:23
    - [deleted]
  - very well put. -- nm - znufrii Mar 12, 08:15
That's certainly one of the more accurate ways of looking at it. Some of the sects and cults have done positive things, though. - Beryllium Mar 12, 08:09 1
- Yeah, I speak more for the, uh, "Leader". - Spawn Mar 12, 08:11

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I missed most of the religion talk, but religion seems like insurance or maybe a protection racket.

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