This is EPIC. Read.

[Ragnaroc]

oh i can show u. and I do get that it should not be taken literally even though many people do it.

:Murder, rape, and pillage at Jabesh-gilead (Judges 21:10-24 NLT)



So they sent twelve thousand warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children. "This is what you are to do," they said. "Completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin." Among the residents of Jabesh-gilead they found four hundred young virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.


The Israelite assembly sent a peace delegation to the little remnant of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon. Then the men of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the four hundred women of Jabesh-gilead who were spared were given to them as wives. But there were not enough women for all of them. The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the LORD had left this gap in the tribes of Israel. So the Israelite leaders asked, "How can we find wives for the few who remain, since all the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead? There must be heirs for the survivors so that an entire tribe of Israel will not be lost forever. But we cannot give them our own daughters in marriage because we have sworn with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God's curse."



Then they thought of the annual festival of the LORD held in Shiloh, between Lebonah and Bethel, along the east side of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem. They told the men of Benjamin who still needed wives, "Go and hide in the vineyards. When the women of Shiloh come out for their dances, rush out from the vineyards, and each of you can take one of them home to be your wife! And when their fathers and brothers come to us in protest, we will tell them, 'Please be understanding. Let them have your daughters, for we didn't find enough wives for them when we destroyed Jabesh-gilead. And you are not guilty of breaking the vow since you did not give your daughters in marriage to them.'" So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. They kidnapped the women who took part in the celebration and carried them off to the land of their own inheritance. Then they rebuilt their towns and lived in them. So the assembly of Israel departed by tribes and families, and they returned to their own homes.

all I am saying is that we dont need god like before, when we were stupid and did not understand the laws of nature. and saying that beliving in god makes you go through the day is bs. there is no such thing and people should lay it off. the world would be better without religion. lol

see the problem with reading the book of Judges is that with the exception of the Jewish, all Christians follow the New Testament because when Christ was crucifix, God created a new covenant with his subject which is the New Testament. The books of the Old Testament, where is where the book of Judges is, are now just stories and not to be followed because they no longer part of the Christian covenant with God.

Now I realize you are Atheist, but to really continue this debate, because i'm actually enjoying myself, I'm going to ask you to actually learn about the Christian religion because it seems you are just picking things from the Old Testament of the Bible and that is no longer relevant to the current Christian Religion.

 

[~Rerrando~]

i feel like im in church when i come to this thread

 

[Ragnaroc]

i feel like im in church when i come to this thread

oh yeah? well i'd offer you communion but i don't have any wine or crackers

 

[Goddess]

oh yeah? well i'd offer you communion but i don't have any wine or crackers

Lmao!

 

[~Rerrando~]

oh yeah? well i'd offer you communion but i don't have any wine or crackers

i'd prefer just the wine

 

[Rei]

My opinion lies within science and karma, Religon just hides your fears.

My belief also.

it is possible to be scientific and religious at the same time, and you can't just assume that einstein was an atheist at any point in his life, especially when he himself never said anything of the sort (for public record anyway.)
it's one of those "i was the first to write it down and tell everybody" situations xD
i definitely agree with your statement, however i do believe that science and religion (specifically christianity) can co-exist.
how is it a test of faith to not take part in religion? i'm not saying you are wrong i have never heard this statement before and wish to hear more about it.

I agree also that its possible to be scientific and religious at the same time, but i think that it is sort of hypocritical. If you think God is the answer and the question then why trying to explain the laws of nature or correct things that go wrong? Since He created them, He is always right and He knows what he did etc etc etc. I don't think it gets you anywhere, it's like pre-set borders.
And i think that Mino means that the real struggle for humans is to find the truth in their lives. The one and absolute truth, which is of course different for everyone

T_T i believe in Science and Religion and I'm sanish 0_0


well its a relief that you actually know what atheism is because I have dealt with a lot of atheist that don't know what it means and than argue about it U_U

the biggest thing you are forgetting is the fact that it wasn't the actual religion that was killing people, but the culture of the times that was dictating the beliefs and norms for the people of that times.

lets use a modern example to show what i mean, now if religion dictating our beliefs, that nearly every christian, catholic, jew and i believe even muslim worshiper would be extremely against gays and gay marriage..however, the religious sects are divided against whether or not gays should be allowed to be legally married, and with the exception of extremest (who always ruin everything), i can honestly say that most religious people are extremely tolerant of other peoples beliefs and accept them.

My belief is that there is only one God, and that she, yes i said she because if a guy did all this, we would be a lot worse than we are (i'm sure Rei will be happy when she reads this <3). anyways, i believe that God created everything over tillions of years and over those years God refined everything till she was happy with what she had created, thus evolution and that includes every different race, person and even sexual differences, and by that i mean gay, straight and bis. it is completely rational and ok to mix religion and science because without some type of religion, science wouldn't have been created because people are curious by nature and i believe that the early scientists were religious people who wanted to know more about the world and what made it up.

<3
I like the argument but if God is a woman I bet she wouldn't have let humans invent bras and high heels. I mean, that's like the best example why God must be a "he".
Jk everyone, calm down

How can the world be better without religion?If people can love and help each other because of the teachings of there religion then wouldn't that be great?and also in christianity whether or not you believe it.., If we are obey God and His teachings we are promised eternal life and that brings hope and faith so that we will love and help each other to attain that promise and even if thats not true whats it to lose?you had a good and honorable life just because you believed in your religions teaching and you will be remembered by the people you loved and helped and yea in those time's they actually do that but that was in the PAST you cant do that in the present anymore lolz xd

That's the problem here. You need a religion or a faith to a God to be good and loving and caring? I don't need that and I will cry the day this point is proven correct.

Also, the bolded part really annoys me when i hear it. You restrict yourself and the community as in whole, you live your life by rules someone else created (and you cannot be sure who that was and what got edited anyways) and you think it's okay if you are wrong cause you got nothing to lose? You have the most important thing to lose. Yourself.

It's time to face it. Not only Christianity but all religions are based on restrictions. Don't do this, don't do that, even the rules/commandments are negatively given. There is a "No" everywhere. I would never allow myself to fall into a "no" trap. I am here to live my life and be myself, not restrict myself and lead half a life.

I don't mean to offend anyone, if you believe in a God, then good for you, I hope you will always be happy. Doesn't mean I have to do the same though.

 

[Shunsui]

after all man created GOD, and Rei is absolutly right, u dont need to be religious to be good and caring, also Bible says to much NO ... makes ur life not funn...at all U_U

 

[-Ventus-]

That's the problem here. You need a religion or a faith to a God to be good and loving and caring? I don't need that and I will cry the day this point is proven correct.

Also, the bolded part really annoys me when i hear it. You restrict yourself and the community as in whole, you live your life by rules someone else created (and you cannot be sure who that was and what got edited anyways) and you think it's okay if you are wrong cause you got nothing to lose? You have the most important thing to lose. Yourself.

It's time to face it. Not only Christianity but all religions are based on restrictions. Don't do this, don't do that, even the rules/commandments are negatively given. There is a "No" everywhere. I would never allow myself to fall into a "no" trap. I am here to live my life and be myself, not restrict myself and lead half a life.

I don't mean to offend anyone, if you believe in a God, then good for you, I hope you will always be happy. Doesn't mean I have to do the same though.

Thats not exactly what I'm implying lol to be precise I was pointing at the teachings of religions that can help improve a mans attitude or if by believing can change him for the better

Well in my opinion Rules and Commandments are created for only 1 purpose and that is to support and defend lives,have you ever seen a rule that threatens life?(except the mercy killing of course which I'm against)Thats why for me for me the fullest way to live is to follow the two great commandments and that is 1.to believe God with all your heart and strenght and 2 Is to love your neighbors as yourselves..,And yea I also dont have any intentions to offend anyone in such way U_U

after all man created GOD, and Rei is absolutly right, u dont need to be religious to be good and caring, also Bible says to much NO ... makes ur life not funn...at all U_U

well to you Man created God,to me God created Man..,and also the Bible's teaching can be summarized into 2 sentences and rules
1.Believe in God with all your heart,Mind and soul
2.Love your neighbors as yourselves
Pretty simple really,and I dont mean to offend you also just sharing my opinion^_^

 

[MS_Evolution]

very interesting

 

[sabbyxx]

it all seems a little fake to me not to discredit you or any thing idk if einstien really said that but it was awsome either way.


agnostic for me

 

[Shunsui]

well to you Man created God,to me God created Man..,and also the Bible's teaching can be summarized into 2 sentences and rules
1.Believe in God with all your heart,Mind and soul
2.Love your neighbors as yourselves
Pretty simple really,and I dont mean to offend you also just sharing my opinion^_^

i respect your opinion, u should do the same, i dont need to belive in GOD to be a good person

 

[MS_Evolution]

we all have faith wether or not we're religious or not. faith is the link thatbinds us to something. in this case it everone either has faith that there is a God, or that there isnt a God. either way faith doesnt have to be linked to religion, just to what you believe in.

 

[Dean-Winchester]

we all have faith wether or not we're religious or not. faith is the link thatbinds us to something. in this case it everone either has faith that there is a God, or that there isnt a God. either way faith doesnt have to be linked to religion, just to what you believe in.

What snoop dogg siad
i agree with him 100%

Spoiler

but i will say this

i noticed something about religion & atheisim

Religion
is it there to form law & order & if u dont abide by these rules you go to hell
is it a form of control
theres a thought why did god truly make evil in the 1st place
like for example in christain beliefs Revelations it stated & Micheal slayed the serpent which was lucifer sent him down into hell and imprisoned him
but the earth is now his domain . 1st it was not god but the strongest archangels of them all 2 Micheal now like i said believe in god but i thought a human being created the English language where did the names micheal & lucifer come from we as human beings are naming god jehovah or in Muslim sense allah ) i read the bible but i will be honest with you and wont lie to myself it all seems like a story book
it is possible that god the being with infinite power to have people write his thoughts and also there where Prophets BUt there is a thought that
We werent there and most religions give out punishments because in there sense of pride the believe its right and end up killing the person for that sin which would wrong .
U should watch supernatural season 5 its all about this faith a thought where god is does he care :

IN my thoughts god wants you to have faith even when u feel unfahton unquestionable pain and true despair

& also to end it my whole idea and gods final plan is Purification




Atheisim

Spoiler

in a sense people have been judging other ppl for far to long thinking they have a right or a better then that person like a young christian boy talked to a buddist on 20/20 saying your going to hell because her religion believes on peace and other certain things
shoot i will just say this i dont go to chruch but i believe in God & believe
The bible are showing prophecies which men can easily make true
send a jet to make the sky look red like Armageddon is coming
not really sure
man of science they have determination i will give them that but all the what is proof pure facts that god really exists
but they are naming stuff from periodic tables and its true that our body most of it is water so they go to the evolution stages & the big bang theory and even exploring space to see what else is there to support their facts This is all my opinion atheist look @ facts i look through faith and an understanding and religons look through FAIth & loyalty i honestly would like to see what we get if we combine those to sense of ideas

who ever wants to have a debate or dissucsion about this PM me or Vm me or add me on MSN

 

[Mino]

How can the world be better without religion?If people can love and help each other because of the teachings of there religion then wouldn't that be great?and also in christianity whether or not you believe it.., If we are obey God and His teachings we are promised eternal life and that brings hope and faith so that we will love and help each other to attain that promise and even if thats not true whats it to lose?you had a good and honorable life just because you believed in your religions teaching and you will be remembered by the people you loved and helped and yea in those time's they actually do that but that was in the PAST you cant do that in the present anymore lolz xd

oh so we cant live good honorable lives without religion remember that nearly every war these past 3000 years have been based on religion.. if everybody on this planet was logical then it would not be so overcrowded for example. religion is a tool for the dictators. like kim jong ill's father made the northern korea believe that he could do magic and that he was a good. they have no rights in north korea. but they got faith and are living good. wrong. just an example as karl marx said : religion is the opium for the people..

 

[Mino]

see the problem with reading the book of Judges is that with the exception of the Jewish, all Christians follow the New Testament because when Christ was crucifix, God created a new covenant with his subject which is the New Testament. The books of the Old Testament, where is where the book of Judges is, are now just stories and not to be followed because they no longer part of the Christian covenant with God.

Now I realize you are Atheist, but to really continue this debate, because i'm actually enjoying myself, I'm going to ask you to actually learn about the Christian religion because it seems you are just picking things from the Old Testament of the Bible and that is no longer relevant to the current Christian Religion.

haha ok... just so you know I was raised in an christian kindergarten and I know what I am dissing. atheist? nope I'm no such thing. must we always label persons. I just simply believe in nothing. or you could say that i believe in our existence as whole. nothing more.. I knew that the bible was divided and that stuff, but remember that the new testament was put together by the pope and some other dudes who skipped some evangelic texts like the judas evangelist texts just because it did not benefit their power benefits of the religion. what are you yourself. I would like to know.

 

[Ragnaroc]

haha ok... just so you know I was raised in an christian kindergarten and I know what I am dissing. atheist? nope I'm no such thing. must we always label persons. I just simply believe in nothing. or you could say that i believe in our existence as whole. nothing more.. I knew that the bible was divided and that stuff, but remember that the new testament was put together by the pope and some other dudes who skipped some evangelic texts like the judas evangelist texts just because it did not benefit their power benefits of the religion. what are you yourself. I would like to know.

oops wrong person

and the New Testament is based off of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and I'm sorry, but being raised if that's the extent of your biblical teachings that you are ignorant to many of the more philosophical and psychological meanings to many of the stories that were told because a mind as young as yours would have been could not fully understand the subtle meanings behind those stories and lessons.

And every holy text, from the Christian and Jewish Bibles to the Muslim Koran have been altered from their original words whether its through mistranslations or people in power changing them to suit their needs, which is why you shouldn't base your faith 100% on holy texts, but on your own beliefs that you have developed through the lessons in the Bible, both good and bad.

I'm a Methodist and a Youth leader in my Church, I have grown up in the same Church, but I have always been sort of a rebel, a long with the pastors son when it comes to my Christian beliefs and have always been interested in learning as much as possible about the other religions like Judaism, Islam, Shintoism, etc... because that's my way of understand my own beliefs better.

 

[Pesh]

Well, I think that this argument was started out of nothing because the creator didn't mean to change your beliefs or anything, but to show a senseless argument, since, if people really have faith in their beliefs, there's no way that anyone could change that, even if it was Einstein or an intellegent professor. So if you are religious you shouldn't be picking fights, because, as much as I know, all the religions, especially the Christianity, are teaching to love everyone.

Oh, yeh, you can ignore me
P.S. Im an atheist

 

[Ragnaroc]

Well, I think that this argument was started out of nothing because the creator didn't mean to change your beliefs or anything, but to show a senseless argument, since, if people really have faith in their beliefs, there's no way that anyone could change that, even if it was Einstein or an intellegent professor. So if you are religious you shouldn't be picking fights, because, as much as I know, all the religions, especially the Christianity, are teaching to love everyone.

Oh, yeh, you can ignore me
P.S. Im an atheist

I'm not arguing, i am having a friendly debate is all

 

[Pesh]

I'm not arguing, i am having a friendly debate is all

Dont you know that themes such as Religion shouldnt be discussed in public? Theres always someone who ends up hurt :3

 

[Ragnaroc]

Dont you know that themes such as Religion shouldnt be discussed in public? Theres always someone who ends up hurt :3

people only get hurt when extremists tell them that their opinions are wrong and that they are scum for not believing what the other person believes, which is horrible; however that has not happened so far and when it does happen, i will personally see it that this thread is closed and cleansed of any other that...you have my word