It's palm ash! This is special stuff!:P

But perhaps even if you don't believe in life after death, the religion can have significance in how it affects the living and the quality of life of members of society. It's that interplay that can be improved in general, and to be compassionate towards those in need, as we all can commiserate with someone else's circumstances. It's a reminder, of a shared humanity. To me at least, the spirit is in the living, and the interplay of all life.

Religion's all about what happens after you die anyway plus a moral code

It's palm ash! This is special stuff!:P

 

I know it is, but it took me about 18 years to get repectful about catholic rites and traditions.. yeah such a long time. I know :shame:

To Cobalt: That's just to keep you interested! Besides, eternal damnation or salvation makes for a pretty stiff pair of motivators!:P (absolute fear of perennial torment, or eternal bliss? Enough to frighten the bejeesus out of any poor soul!:laugh3:) Why not a milder tone, and a Tiddly Pom principle?

But to me, it's the interplay and the outcomes that matter most - life is where the life is, and where the answers are. To be remembered for the good things we've left with family and friends - the lasting memories, ideas, and other things.

Hello Carla!

Oh well, say 5 hail Mary's and you'll be absolved of all sin!:)

How's the land of Sand and Surf??

As per usual your posts are fantastically bewildering

 

I salute you sir. *salute*

 

The land of sand and surf is on fire where I am

I find the "afterlife" is the thing that I am least worried about at this point in life. I'm more focused on "the fields ripe for harvest" in front of my eyes now.

If all "religion" is about is the afterlife, well then I regret signing up because its going to make this life right here, right now pretty pointless.

As per usual your posts are fantastically bewildering

 

I salute you sir. *salute*

 

The land of sand and surf is on fire where I am

I thought by now that was all under control pretty much?:stunned::shocked2: Sorry to hear that.:( Please be well, and I can only imagine the intensity of the fires! In nature, some things we can control, and others we can only do our best to deal with; life is a perilous adventure at times, and I wish you all the best of safety through the drought times.

There's still five major fires burninating away

A lot of reductionist generalizations about religion flying around.

 

Religion in its definition doesn't necessarily entail an afterlife or even a God. When (I think it was) Aristotle first theorized about the "unmoved" mover he didn't do such in order to furfill his hopes of eternal life. As the Greek's didn't really have much of an afterlife. At least not a desirable one...

While a large percentage of the "religious" population are fickle and easily scared, I think there have been enough rational, truth-seeking minds in the world that have subscribed to religious ideas to question the validity of broad-stroked dismissal's like "They just want to find a way out of dying." Though that may be the truth for some people.

 

I've been at a pretty religious college for a couple years now, but I'm a lot more agnostic-minded than the vast majority, and I tossed away any care about threats of heaven or hell long ago (hope I did anyway), as fear of such notions only twist one's perspective and hinders rational thought on such matters. I much rather face a horrible truth than knowingly allow myself to live a blissful illusion.

 

Otherwise I'd probably start my own religion where the doctrine reads: No mattereth what thy doeth in life, thy art ensured an infinite supply of cupcakes and smores in the fluffy hills of candyland when you die.

That was what, how many years ago though? (on the no afterlife thing)

:laugh3:I think we all need a blissful illusion now and then just to calm our nerves...;)

But truthfully, religion may be a product of a fruitful human imagination, but nobody truly works alone. It's usually the deified models and ideals of a society, which can provide roles to follow. True, I think fear does do that, and has been used by some to coerce otherers into conforming to an acceptable pattern of behavior, and I prefer just an honest approach of cause and effect, rather than fear of some entity.

But perhaps one can go too far in the school of pessimistic thought as well. We may dismiss to easily what is possible, or the improvments wrought by a given religion or philosophy. If the Easter Bunny brought great joy to childhood, even though it's fictitous, I think it has value in some unusual way..

That was what, how many years ago though? (on the no afterlife thing)

 

Does it matter in this case? And it's not like I'm just scraping for the only example I can find. Plenty of people are agnostic, some atheists, some theists. It'd be ignorant to assume there's some fine line saying this whole half is just ignorantly swayed by their wishful desires. Not all religions are theistic or have a blissful afterlife to offer (though they're seen more as "philosophies"). There's a case to be given on all sides, and quite a few choose a religion like Christianity without using Pascalian logic, or simply choosing the one with the best possible outcome.

 

Some simply believe what the Bible and historical texts say about Jesus and deem it to be true based on the old testament predictions and the fact he and his disciples were willing to be crucified for what they believed.

 

Others are convinced by philosophical arguments like the ontological, cosmological (unmoved mover) or watch-maker proofs for the existence of a God, and take it from there.

Why are my drive-by-and-drop-a-comments being analysed thoroughly and everything these days :bigcry:

lol, sorry. I wasn't trying to overly critical. I ws just using you as an excuse to keep running my err...fingers.

I see what you did there.

Christians melt in your mouth, not in your hand.

Christians melt in your mouth, not in your hand.

 

...

 

XDXDXD

 

...I'm not even sure if I totally got that and it's funny.

They did a great cover of "Harvest For The World", and "Forgotten Town" was a gem.:rolleyes: