What exactly am I buying into?

[Ganj]

A thought occurred to me as I struggled to deny them. Can I accept Jesus Christ as the divine being he is portrayed as in various religions? And my answer came with ease--yes, I can. What exactly am I buying into?

I believe in many things. I am influenced by man on a grand scale, much greater than I am willing to accept. Then I asked myself, "what am I really buying into?"

I suppose my greatest concern is the thought that my lifestyle (what I like and what I do) would fade as I submit to the word of God. As it is, my lifestyle is not one of praise and I do not condone it to anyone--but my obsession for a hedonistic way of life has more strength that I give it credit for. I like to think that I am in total control of my life. When the truth is, no matter which way I go, which God I turn to, I am still merely following principles of someone else's beliefs. Of course, the control there is choice--my choice. So despite the path--I take it. I choose it. The way I see it: no one should be persecuted for choosing the path of self-improvement. If it will make you a better person--a righteous person--then by all means, your decision should be supported.

Ganj Reviewed by Ganj on 09-08-2007. What exactly am I buying into? A thought occurred to me as I struggled to deny them. Can I accept Jesus Christ as the divine being he is portrayed as in various religions? And my answer came with ease--yes, I can. What exactly am I buying into? I believe in many things. I am influenced by man on a grand scale, much greater than I am willing to accept. Then I asked myself, "what am I really buying into?" I suppose my greatest concern is the thought that my lifestyle (what I like and what I do) would fade as I submit to Rating: 5

[jdmarcus59]

I think what you had to say was very good.but I was wondering, are you looking for a
relationship with Him, are do you just want to be a good man. PEACE

[angry nomad]

The problem I have with the bible is that their god condones slavery, genocide, oppression of women, and says gays are going to hell. The problem i have with christianity is the whole religion is based on fear of hell. I see fear in my mother's eyes when she looks at me, because she believes I might be going to hell, and that is very sad.

[snowblind]

jd if a man lives a good life, but doesnt have a relationship with god, with they still be allowed into heaven ?

just curious

snow

[jdmarcus59]

well I can only tell you what jesus said, " in less a man becomes born again he can not see the kingdom of heaven" and Ganj was talking about jesus so I refered to Him. and becoming born again is a personal relationship.

[Ganj]

No, it's not that, jd. Forgive me if my post is misleading but it just seems to me that those who deny religion are blind and confused. How can something so vital to our species be a lie? Religion is not some grand scheme to coerce you into submission. And those who think that need to realize they are submitting to a more subtle evil without even knowing it.

[Coelho]

Religion is not some grand scheme to coerce you into submission. And those who think that need to realize they are submitting to a more subtle evil without even knowing it.

AMEN, bro. I agree whole-heartedly with that.
The evil is in the eye of the beholder, so if they see evil in the religion, they are just seeing their own evil reflected, they are only seeing the evil that appears when reality passes through their evil-stained eyes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When i say "religion" i mean rather spirituality, the belief in another realities beyond the material and physical realm, and not what is commonly called "religion", like Christianism, Buddhism, Islamism, and so.
I agree that many "religions" today are so corrupted that they are indeed schemes, for profit, submission or whatever. But it doesnt mean that all spirituality is for evil purposes, like domination, coercion, or whatever.

[mfqr]

Coelho, I agree with spirituality, and what you have said in your above post. Like you said, religion is corrupt. But I do believe in the possibility of an afterlife, but I do not think that it will be hell or heaven.

Spirituality is indeed different than religion. I don't really understand how Ganj can say that if you don't believe in religion that you are submitting to a more subtle evil. But there is some truth to it, in a way. No matter what way you go, no matter what you do, you are submitting to something. Call me paranoid, but there is a scheme in just about everything we believe in - good or evil. Our world is filled with deception, and in my opinion, if someone doesn't think that religion is deceptive, then they are oblivious to what is happening.

Although I don't really believe in God, and believe that if he does exist then he is evil, I am a spiritual person. I am very open-minded. I used to frequent Untitled Document, and practice the techniques there. Haven't done it much lately, but I do not doubt that there could be an astral plane. That, and it's very interesting, unlike the bible (in my opinion).

[Coelho]

Coelho, I agree with spirituality, and what you have said in your above post. Like you said, religion is corrupt. But I do believe in the possibility of an afterlife, but I do not think that it will be hell or heaven.

Well... as you said in the end of your post, you have no doubt about the existence of an astral plane. Me too. So, lets suppose that there is where we go when we die.
From what ive read about it (Robert Moroe - Journeys out of the body), in the astral plane we have not the "protection" of some part of our mind, so our deepest thoughts, fears, desires and such are "unburied" and comes to the surface.
So, imagine an "evil" people, who didnt knew about the existence of the astral plane, going there after death. Being an evil people, it would have all kind of fears, distrusts, hatreds, and so, which would surface. I think the mere fact of being confronted with all this negative "load" would be the Hell...
Now, imagine a "good" people going to the same place. If the people were really good, it would have overcame all this negative things, and would be full of good thoughts, of love and peace. Being confronted with all this things, what would be? I think it would be Heaven.

Spirituality is indeed different than religion. I don't really understand how Ganj can say that if you don't believe in religion that you are submitting to a more subtle evil. But there is some truth to it, in a way. No matter what way you go, no matter what you do, you are submitting to something. Call me paranoid, but there is a scheme in just about everything we believe in - good or evil. Our world is filled with deception, and in my opinion, if someone doesn't think that religion is deceptive, then they are oblivious to what is happening.

I like to think he meant spirituality, not religion, like me... And i think that the evil in not submitting to spirituality comes from the fact that (i believe) we will face the "spiritual", "astral" (or whatever) world when we die. So, if you dont believe in spirituality, you dont believe in the existence of this "another world", and so, dont prepare yourself for the day you will enter there. So, you come there unprepared, with all your negative things with you, and so dooms yourself to eternal suffering, suffering created by your own evil.

Although I don't really believe in God, and believe that if he does exist then he is evil, I am a spiritual person. I am very open-minded. I used to frequent Untitled Document, and practice the techniques there. Haven't done it much lately, but I do not doubt that there could be an astral plane. That, and it's very interesting, unlike the bible (in my opinion).

Well... i think the Bible is a practical thing. If you follow it rightly, and frees yourself from every evil, then you go to the "Heaven". It doesnt explain why, or what is this "heaven" or "hell", or the laws of the astral plane, or whatever. It only says "do it.".
It seems very authoritary, i know. But in the time the Bible was written, people were more adept to following rules without much questioning... today we ask more questions, we dont want just obey, we want to know why to obey. In my opinion, that why much people ask answers in other "religions"...
In my own case, almost every answer i obtained in another places that not the Bible were not contradictory to it, i almost always could make a link between the two. So, i could say im a "Mystical Christian" or somewhat like that...
Anyway... thats a very personal thing, of course.
BTW, thanks for the link... i will visit the site, and maybe i start to trying astral project again...
And, if you will try it too, good luck! May The Force Be With Us! :thumbsup:

[Ganj]

My point is that religion should not be the target of people's disparaging comments. Many of you would agree that the bible is an imperfect, contradictory text, as it is written by man through "divine inspiration." If such a thing exists is irrelevant. None of us know the true path our spirits must take, just as none of us know what worlds await us in our afterlife. Logic simply doesn't apply, and our only hope to unearth the truth is through deep, circuitous speculation. Even in thought--we are limited to what our senses have gathered. And beneath it all, the whole purpose of it all is to have an enriched life. Half my mind thinks that someone who is wholly devoted to God's Word must be a kook. Remember the pasty guy from the DaVinci Code? How much more devoted can you be? And still, even he succumbs to the weakness of flesh! I realize it's only a movie but there were puritan, God-fearing people who'd punish themselves for the mercy of God.

Now, the bible doesn't demand your blood for the sins you have committed. It asks for merely your faith. Suspicious how such an ancient text has remained convenient for a changing society, is it not?