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Post by christopher on Mar 15, 2005 6:22:37 GMT -8
Hey, everyone. This may be opening a can of worms--religion seems like a big taboo for some reason. I'm just curious to know how many of you are religiously minded and what your religious persuations might be, whether you're christian, hindu, muslim, jewish, atheist or whatever. I'll get the ball rolling. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...in other words, I'm a mormon. I have been all my life. Contrary to the opinions of some, mormons are christians. So that's me, anyone else care to identify themselves with a faith, belief, or philosophy? Just curious --Chris
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Post by Carlton the Barbarian on Mar 15, 2005 6:50:36 GMT -8
Hey, I'll play with the can of worms, if everyone else lets them out. But as of right now, I don't want to be a martyring crusader...
I'm afraid that a lot of people here are Heathens... and you forgot to mention Scientology, in your list.
I must admit that when I was younger, I always liked those commercials (but probably for the wrong reasons)...
Were you raised near utah, and will you have more than one wife (like Henry the...)? Just curious. I saw something on Dateline about this..
I'm about ready to guess. At least 70% of membership here must be Heathens...
-Carlton
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Post by pmrsim on Mar 15, 2005 7:08:25 GMT -8
Do you live in utah, and do you have 8 wives? Just curious. I saw something on Dateline about this.. Isn't this how cans of worms are opened? But you do raise an interesting point (..not sure if you're aware of it though) : many prejudices exist towards different cultures and religions. This thread could potentially clear up some of those ideas we have of other cultures. From movies like "Witness" we have a certain image of the Mormon community that may be completely wrong (or may have been correct at the time of the movie, but I suppose nowadays will be somewhat different). If we can let the worms in the can, this can* be an interesting, revelating thread (* pun intended). pete.
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Emily
Ghostwriter
Posts: 239
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Post by Emily on Mar 15, 2005 7:34:07 GMT -8
From movies like "Witness" we have a certain image of the Mormon community that may be completely wrong (or may have been correct at the time of the movie, but I suppose nowadays will be somewhat different). I was really confused by this example, as I've watched Witness many times and was almost positive that it focused on the Amish community, which is different from Mormon. After a quick google search, I see that "Amish" was mistranslated into "Mormon" when the movie was dubbed in other languages. I'm guessing you watched a mistranslated version, Pete. And to add to this thread, I'm a Christian (Methodist). Em
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Post by pmrsim on Mar 15, 2005 7:59:47 GMT -8
After a quick google search, I see that "Amish" was mistranslated into "Mormon" when the movie was dubbed in other languages. (long silence) Well damn! See, there ya go. One misunderstanding cleared up! ;D Thanks Em. And sorry for the confusion. pete.
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Post by Jon Broxton on Mar 15, 2005 8:13:07 GMT -8
Well, this is potentially the most controversial thread we've had on here so far so, with Score God hat on, before I reply, I'm saying this:
KEEP THIS THREAD CIVIL. IF I DETECT ANY HINT OF ANOMOSITY DEVELOPING, ANY MY-RELIGION-IS-BETTER-THAN-YOUR-RELIGION COMMENTS, OR ANY SORT OF DISCUSSION THAT COULD BE VIEWED AS GETTING TOO "HOT" THIS THREAD WILL BE LOCKED AND DELETED IMMEDIATELY! I WILL NOT ALLOW THE FEINTEST HINT OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE ON THIS BOARD. THE SCORE GOD HAS SPOKEN!
;D
OK.. from my own point of view, I was born and brought up a Christian, in the Church of England (Anglicans to the rest of the world), and I attended church up until I was about 14 or 15. However, as I got older, and as my life experiences began to alter and expand, my views on religion changed too. I have witnessed first-hand the hypocrisy and narrow-mindedness in certain aspects of "traditional" church life (some of which affected me personally, and which I'm not going to go into here), and I now feel I do not wish to be associated with an organisation that literally does not practice what it preaches any more.
I guess now you could call me an "agnostic who's willing to be convinced", and I take bits and pieces from various religions that interest me, although I cannot call myself a true follower of any of them. The self-reflection and personal growth of Buddhism is appealing. The pagan notions of respect for the earth, and the ability to connect with others on a deeper level that comes from certain kinds of witchcraft also interest me. And, of course, the Christian doctrines of morality, of being a "good person" to yourself and to others, still ring true, but the ways in which I now choose to express these aspects of my life are totally different from what they were.
Interesting topic, Christopher.
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Post by Mr. E on Mar 15, 2005 10:12:08 GMT -8
Raised a Baptist. Later married the prettiest Seventh-Day Adventist in the world & was "converted." That's why I refer to the Adventist church as the "mafia" of religions. You're either born into it or marry into it. Not all of their doctrines necessarily align with what I personally believe, but they come pretty close. Plus I like having Sundays free. ;D
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Post by Mr. E on Mar 15, 2005 10:15:24 GMT -8
By the way, PT: your avatar is AWESOME!
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Post by Jens Dietrich on Mar 15, 2005 10:28:42 GMT -8
I was raised vaguely Catholic, though I've now officially left the Catholic church and joined the Church of England. However, I regard the Church of England (or "Episcopalian Church" as we call it here in the States) mostly as a neat little social club I like to visit. In reality I am what Douglas Adams liked to call a "radical Atheist". In his interview with American Atheist magazine, he explained the term thusly: I don't think I could possibly put my own position any better. Well, there is one of my all time favorite Red Dwarf quotes, which I think fits wonderfully into this discussion: Oh, and Mr. E: Double-posting makes baby Jesus cry.
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Post by pmrsim on Mar 15, 2005 10:33:52 GMT -8
By the way, PT: your avatar is AWESOME!Thanks... I'd like to say it represents my religion... but let's not go there. ;D I'm not really a religious person. Like Jon, I'm somewhat interested in various elements from various religions. Buddism or Hinduism probably coming closest to how I feel (though, this is something I figured out quite a few years ago; and right now I wouldn't be able to remember why those religions appealed so much to me). Anyway.., my family has a Roman-Catholic background (as most families in the south of the Netherlands; northeners being mostly protestant); and I was baptised accordingly. By the age of 14 I had pretty much lost my interest in religion (never had much faith to begin with). It's a comforting idea, believing that a God watches over all of us; unfortunately I cannot wholeheartedly believe it (nor disbelieve it, for that matter). I guess I'm nonchalant to the existence of a God. If there is one, cool. If not, cool too. pete.
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Post by Carlton the Barbarian on Mar 15, 2005 15:17:21 GMT -8
Sometimes a cat knocks over a can, when he's being curious. I, Ummm... was just being curious. I didn't want to spend my time staring out a window. A cat has to get into a fight sometimes... MEOW (says greykitty). MEOW, Please don't domesticate me. ;D Let freedom ring and let the cats purr, in this thread...
I am aware. I asked the question because of my limited knowledge of the subtle differences between the varying Protestant sects. When Chris indentified himself as a Momron, I thought he must have been raised somewhere in the West, and that this particular branch of religion pratices polyagmy, if I'm not mistaken. I rarely watch Dateline, but I have seen them do like two shows, on this polyagmist Mormon, from Utah, who was emboiled in a battle, with the state of Utah... I just wanted to get the Mormon perspective, and to bring up a couple of related issues, if the worms starting spreading out and digging holes in the ground...
I also said that I didn't want to be a "martyring crusader"- someone who sufers greatly as a penalty of refusing to renounce a religion as his crusade... And by crusade, I mean "an enterprise undertaken with great zeal". ;D In the secular battle occuring in the States, (10 commandments, the Pledge, Evolution vs Intellectual Design, the constant doxologies of the POTUS, Squarepants Bob controversy, Stem Cell Research, Gay Marriage, and so forth), I feel that my side is under constant attack. The Right is trying to make us Wrong. The Mormon polyagmy question was another way to highlight another state/religion debate.
I'm sure that most praticing Mormons are fine people (have you seen thier commercials). I think the founder of the Mormons was one of those legendary people from the past... I'm sure that Chris wouldn't mind talking about this mythical hero (from Utah), and how the Polygamy thread entered his Religion. I also tried to emphatize that most of use here are Heathens- "unconverted members of a people or nation that doesn't acknowledge the God of the Bible" I didn't mean to introduce worms of hostility to this pure native soil of the UK board.
The Amish try hard to hold onto thier traditions, so I doubt that they have changed much since the Witness movie... If Chris was Amish I would have asked him if he was from Ohio or Pennslyvania... Is that opening up a can of worms? I also would have asked him another question about thier lifestyle. Why he choose to leave the Community? It's also a fascinating story to hear about someone leaving thier religion or becoming the next John Walker. It shows tremendous growth...
But earthworms revitalize the soil, so let them Out. Please Jesus, I mean ScoreGod Correspondent... Please give Me and the Captain free will. We come in Peace... ;D
-Carlton
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Post by Hook on Mar 15, 2005 15:52:46 GMT -8
Once you realize there are no worms, the can is no longer worthy of opening. KEEP THIS THREAD CIVIL. IF I DETECT ANY HINT OF ANOMOSITY DEVELOPING, ANY MY-RELIGION-IS-BETTER-THAN-YOUR-RELIGION COMMENTS, OR ANY SORT OF DISCUSSION THAT COULD BE VIEWED AS GETTING TOO "HOT" THIS THREAD WILL BE LOCKED AND DELETED IMMEDIATELY! I WILL NOT ALLOW THE FEINTEST HINT OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE ON THIS BOARD. THE SCORE GOD HAS SPOKEN! You're a pussy.
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Post by Carlton the Barbarian on Mar 15, 2005 16:09:26 GMT -8
Then you have to get crafty and figure out ways to introduce worms into the can...
Stop it, You're making me...
All kidding aside, What should we do? Should we stick and poke things around it, Should we brazenly aim for the center? Come on, you're a crafty Captian. What should we do with God's vagina?... Should we have a monologue with it. I hear those are popular...
-CG
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Post by Brendan Anderson on Mar 15, 2005 17:44:41 GMT -8
I suppose you could call me the opposite of Jens, as I am absolutely convinced there is a God and that he sent His son, Jesus, to die for the sins of mankind. Because of that fact, I can live my life in the happy-go-lucky lend-a-hand manner that I do, free from worry about the future or fear of my past. Want to know how? Have a good read through the Bible....the New Testament especially. The instructions are really pretty simple. Contrary to the opinions of some, mormons are christians. Well....yes.........I guess..... But I guess this is where I need some education. This is the part of the core Mormon beliefs I have a question about: "Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can return to live with God if we keep His commandments."Source: www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1082-1,00.html This "we can return to God IF..." part confuses me as it doesn't really fit with the unconditional promise of everlasting life Christ made during his time on Earth. Thoughts? -Brendan, curious
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Post by Carlton the Barbarian on Mar 15, 2005 18:44:41 GMT -8
Just Curious. What convinced you of this? Was your conviction passed onto you by birth or was it something else...
But aren't "the wages of sin," DEATH. I would have thought that someone like Jens could live thier life in a more happy-go-lucky lend-a-hand manner, worriless, and fearless condition, since they do not have to worry about this stuff called "sins" and the vengeful God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, (and Job, Peter, and Jesus). Anyway, I am glad that you are living your life NOW, instead of worrying about an afterlife... Because no matter what side of the book you come down on, this life is the only we can be Fully Guaranteed of. So Enjoy it, while it last...Be Happy, Generous, Understandng, etc (and break the law every now and then if you really Must do so ;D)
I'm getting more curious now. How many of these New Testament guidelines and instructions do you actually follow... And what's your take on the last BOOK?
Well, education isn't everything. People can be educated, but if they refuse to change thier behaviors or ways of thinking, it doesn't really help much (see smoking, drugs, etc). Wrt to the commandment question, I though Jesus was clear in his notion that you won't see God, unless you obey the commandments (maybe I'm misinterpeting his decieving parables). And I hate to liberalize this discussion, but didn't somebody ask Jesus what they must do, in order to get to Heaven... What was his response?
Maybe you've been spending too much time in the Book of Romans ;D Christian dogma usually states that God loves us unconditionally, but if we keep knowlingly sinning, God will turn his back on us and codemn us to Hell, even if we knew him. Didn't Jesus say something like "it will be as if I never knew you"
-Carlton
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