[Zanth]

skippy: you seriously crack me up! I laughed for a good 3 minutes over that one.

 

[eric343]

skip: ROFL!!!

 

[Onix]

I used to hate to go to church (catholic) when I was a kid. But when I was 21 or 22, I had a mormon girlfriend and once before being inducted to her church (we were going to get married) I could feel God touching my soul, something really beautiful touching me, tender, loving and wonderful. In was baptized, but the relation did not progressed, so we didn't get married. I have felt the same sentation a couple times, but I guess I am to wicked to be a good cristian. With my wife and kid I go to church every Sunday (catholic, again, back to the roots), and now I enjoy the services, specially since there's a rock band playing and my baby loves rock music, sometimes "singing" with the band. It's so lovely to se him like that.

As for God, I don't believe all that's being said about him/her, but I think he/she is for real. Or maybe it's just that my brain is wired for religion, I don't know.

 

[dhwilkin]

Not currently. I'd rather pray outside on the deck.

 

[Audio Redneck]

Twice every Sunday and just about every Wednesday night these days. Occasionally other days. Now, I admit that I am a dumb redneck and not very articulate, but I'll try to explain it.

I know Jesus. (I'll wait for you stop rolling your eyes & laughing

) Didn't think a thread like this would get over without someone bringing up the big J.C., did ya?

Now before any of you say I am trying to make myself out to be better than any of you, lets get a few things straight

1. I am not better than ANYONE one this forum or anywhere else. I don't think that I am and I know that I am not. You see, I KNOW just how really rotten to the core I really am. I know what I've done when no one else was looking. Maybe I haven't done some of the things that some of you have done, but so what, you maybe haven't done some of the things that I have done.

2. Why do I believe generally in Christianity? Well, it’s the only one that gives me any hope for the afterlife for starters. And I believe in the God of the Bible – He is the only one Big enough to explain existence and the only one Merciful enough to explain why this crapty world is still here (“if the word fits…”). All other religions are either “work your way to heaven” or “guarantee your spot in hell”. The first I’m not capable of and the second isn’t such a great deal from the sound of it.

3. Why specifically am I one of those “Jesus Freaks”? He takes anyone regardless of their politics (liberal, conservative, republican, democrat, libertarian, communist, capitalist, socialist, apolitical, redneck, party animal). He doesn’t sugar coat it: in this life He is offering a cross (not the gold one on a chain, but a big wooden one with spikes) and the sharp end of the sword, or in other words, most folks aren’t going to like you very much. He doesn’t care what you’ve done, but what you REALLY want to do and is willing to forgive when you screw up royally, and are sorry – as long as you mean it. He also cares more about you than just your feelings.

So thats why I spend every Sunday morning and night, and most Wednesday nights, in a room with 600+ grandmas and bikers, businessmen and street people, wives and prostitutes, smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts, liars, thieves, gossips, geeks, rednecks, politicians, cops, ex-cons, white-folk, black-folk, Mexican-folk, Korean-folk, Nigerian-folk, Moldolvian-folk, and any other label you want singing songs about and TO the Creator of everything and the only person that never did a selfish thing in his life, and praying that the Creator will help someone else as much or more than he’s helped us.

So that ends my blatant, judgmental and self-righteous attempt to push my religion off on you.

If I'm crazy at least I'm the happy kind.

 

[john_jcb]

I have thought about religion on a few occasions. I came to the conclusion long ago that if there was a superior being sitting somewhere he (or she) could care less if I was kneeling in a church chanting and singing. This being would know if you had lived a good and honorable life or not. In the end an hour or so a week in church would not matter in the least. So I choose to enjoy the great outdoors when I can. Sunrise on a cool fall morning, sipping a coffee as I await my tee time, practicing my putting is as close as you can get to the ideal place.

I try not to judge others as Kelly mentioned earlier. I do have little patience for those that feel compelled to tell me how their church is the one and inflict their pious words on me. I usually just smile if they persist and go off on a diatribe on how the earth was visited by aliens. It usually quiets them down.

 

[Mr.PD]

Dear Mr. Redneck;
Thank you for that nice post. I myself am not into religion. I very much appreciated the light hearted manner in which you stated your position. I did not feel that you were attempting to push your religion off on me. You just stated your position in a non-threating way. ...............................Very good

 

[x1lexure]

MY classmates and I we're just having a discussion today. The discussion was between a Christian, a Jew, and an atheist. It was pretty fun. Sometimes I feel like the Atheist feels bad because she is one. It's hard for me to comprehend a world with no God or a God who doesn't care about us.

 

[elipsis]

Quote:

Originally posted by x1lexure MY classmates and I we're just having a discussion today. The discussion was between a Christian, a Jew, and an atheist. It was pretty fun. Sometimes I feel like the Atheist feels bad because she is one. It's hard for me to comprehend a world with no God or a God who doesn't care about us.

No, most Atheists actually feel bad that there are so many self-righteous Christians in the world.

 

[x1lexure]

And that arguements based on what?

 

[RickG]

Quote:

Originally posted by Audio Redneck Twice every Sunday and just about every Wednesday night these days. Occasionally other days. Now, I admit that I am a dumb redneck and not very articulate, but I'll try to explain it. I know Jesus. (I'll wait for you stop rolling your eyes & laughing ) Didn't think a thread like this would get over without someone bringing up the big J.C., did ya? Now before any of you say I am trying to make myself out to be better than any of you, lets get a few things straight 1. I am not better than ANYONE one this forum or anywhere else. I don't think that I am and I know that I am not. You see, I KNOW just how really rotten to the core I really am. I know what I've done when no one else was looking. Maybe I haven't done some of the things that some of you have done, but so what, you maybe haven't done some of the things that I have done. 2. Why do I believe generally in Christianity? Well, it’s the only one that gives me any hope for the afterlife for starters. And I believe in the God of the Bible – He is the only one Big enough to explain existence and the only one Merciful enough to explain why this crapty world is still here (“if the word fits…”). All other religions are either “work your way to heaven” or “guarantee your spot in hell”. The first I’m not capable of and the second isn’t such a great deal from the sound of it. 3. Why specifically am I one of those “Jesus Freaks”? He takes anyone regardless of their politics (liberal, conservative, republican, democrat, libertarian, communist, capitalist, socialist, apolitical, redneck, party animal). He doesn’t sugar coat it: in this life He is offering a cross (not the gold one on a chain, but a big wooden one with spikes) and the sharp end of the sword, or in other words, most folks aren’t going to like you very much. He doesn’t care what you’ve done, but what you REALLY want to do and is willing to forgive when you screw up royally, and are sorry – as long as you mean it. He also cares more about you than just your feelings. So thats why I spend every Sunday morning and night, and most Wednesday nights, in a room with 600+ grandmas and bikers, businessmen and street people, wives and prostitutes, smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts, liars, thieves, gossips, geeks, rednecks, politicians, cops, ex-cons, white-folk, black-folk, Mexican-folk, Korean-folk, Nigerian-folk, Moldolvian-folk, and any other label you want singing songs about and TO the Creator of everything and the only person that never did a selfish thing in his life, and praying that the Creator will help someone else as much or more than he’s helped us. So that ends my blatant, judgmental and self-righteous attempt to push my religion off on you. If I'm crazy at least I'm the happy kind.

Ditto...Audio Redneck. You did a wonderful job .

Amen.

 

[elipsis]

Quote:

Originally posted by x1lexure And that arguements based on what?

Nothing. It's not an argument, it's just an observation, no different to yours.

 

[dohminator]

i go to church on sunday and throughout the week (Catholic)

I can attest that when I went through my atheist stage a year ago that I didn't much like it. Of course I'm still going through some of the baggage of that. Thinking that you will cease to exist is damn depressing. I literally sat in bed and cried when I thought about that.

It is hard to get that thought out of your head even if you do believe. Now I also think about how close I came to not existing and trying to comprehend that. Abortion makes me sick now that I think along that line.

 

[elipsis]

I'm still going through my atheist stage. About 24 years so far.

 

[dohminator]

I challenge you to go to a church and sit there and talk to God. Even if you don't believe just start discussing your problems with him. And then ask for guidance.

That's kinda how I came out of my athiest stage.