Quote Originally Posted by willystylle
Great post braddog10! You actually reminded me about the other facet of religion - spirituality. Kudos to you, as I'm not easily swayed.

I admit that I am a bit forward in my posts regarding God and religion. I just so disgusted at the way we have turned it and used it for personal and financial gain.

I regard myself as my own personal God. I have the power to create life. I have the power to take it. But most importantly I make my own desicions and in everyone else's eyes (including the eyes of the law) I am responsible for my own actions. (That's fine, just don't lump anyone elses on me!)

So when people who make shit in their life (and continue to do so) go to church to 'get forgiven', just so they can screw people again from Monday, I tend to lose my faith... in humanity. I am an aetheist because I don't like the idea of hiding behind God. So I choose to believe there is no God. Who are you going to hide behind now???

If people could realize that they are the cause of their own misery then at least the world would be a better place... not perfect, but better.

Willy, I find that I agree with you in many ways, Certainly, using God, for personal gain is just another cheap trick of manipulation.

(That's fine, just don't lump anyone Else's on me!) I think I know what you mean, are you referring to laws?

Hiding behind God.... are you sure you are no less hiding behind atheism? I'm not trying to get a rise here, I question the difference. As Biblical Christianity goes, We are actually more free to be who we are, and the heart change from God, would wish no Ill upon anyone else.

Hiding behind anything? Hiding was always exposed in "the Book". Jesus made many references re: hiding especially as it related to religious people that He was in constant conflict with (self covering, sheep in wolfs cloths, behind whitewashed tombs), sounds like you and Jesus have a lot in common, or at least have the same beef. Be careful, you are at risk of hypocrisy your self.
I must also exorcise care.

These 6 passages of Isaiah 58, answer most of your protests.
People were doing outwardly religious things, (Fasting in this case)

Of the same religious people, God said, 6"Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
7"Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8"Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am '
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
10And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
11"And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

This does not sound like a prick to me, he was pissed as you are ~ at the same ~

~ intolerance of others ~ clearly on either side, should be considered a Lt. shoe, and a Rt. shoe, of the same pair.


We must be very, very, careful.
Typically, when we accuse, we describe ourselves.