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Brownbeauty123
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Brownbeauty123
Post Number: 84
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 09:08 am: | 
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First, what is everyone's religion/beliefs/views?
Any atheists? If so, what marked your decision to become one? And how did your family react to your choice (if you weren't raised that way)?
How does everyone feel about Christian/Catholics values in general?
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Rastafurious
Regular Poster
Username: Rastafurious
Post Number: 26
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 11:20 am: |
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Rastafarian |
Msprissy
Newbie Poster
Username: Msprissy
Post Number: 25
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 12:00 pm: |
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I believe all peoples should worship as they choose. I believe in freedom of religion. Or none at all or part or whatever moves you. I was raised as a Christian, however, I don't attend church often and may go to any religious insitution if I feel the need. Don't get mixed up in political-religious institutions. |
Brownbeauty123
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Brownbeauty123
Post Number: 86
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 12:41 pm: |
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Could you please explain more detail about that Rasta?
Were you raised that way? |
Doberman23
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 306
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 12:57 pm: |
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i believe ...the children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way... show them all the beauty they posess inside* damn that randy watson can sang!
seriously though ... all christian based religions are businesses that capitalize on people's fears and deprived dispositions. |
Moonsigns
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Moonsigns
Post Number: 1087
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 12:57 pm: |
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I believe in God. I don't believe in "religion".
Brownbeauty:
"How does everyone feel about Christian/Catholics values in general?"
Moonsigns:
To me, marriage is a very sacred union. Therefore, in regards to sexual morality, I think Christian/Catholic values are healthy and beneficial for mankind/womankind in general. I think a healthy, monogamous marriage between a man and woman provides the best environment possible for procreation as well as the opportunity to enjoy an incredible sexual relationship minus the risk of STD's.
However, on the flip side, I think that there are many other Christian/Catholic views/ideas that are so traditional (and stuffy) that it suffocates the joy that God wants people to experience (and share).
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4312
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 02:03 pm: |
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U so Krazy, Doberman. When you post your incisive comments, the truth doesn't hurt. It amuses. ROTFLOL.
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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 2045
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 02:30 pm: |
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One should never discuss politics or religion. |
Shyfox
Regular Poster
Username: Shyfox
Post Number: 35
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 05:18 pm: |
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I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. |
Shyfox
Regular Poster
Username: Shyfox
Post Number: 36
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 05:30 pm: |
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I believe that Christian values are sound. Just look at the high rates of crime, illegitimacy, HIV/AIDS and see how our society, our people in particular, has suffered because these values have been rejected by so many. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 930
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 09:46 pm: |
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Being Christian and being moral are not synonymous. Seriously, my pagan and hindu friends are more moral and "Christian"-like than most Christians. It says a lot that illegitimacy and spinsterism is more prevalent in predominantly christian countries than it is in predominantly hindu and buddhist countries. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 931
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 09:47 pm: |
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"are" more prevalent |
Abdi85
Newbie Poster
Username: Abdi85
Post Number: 10
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 04:16 am: |
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Religion is a loaded topic that's for sure lol and you can't seperate religion from politics. Organized religion scares the hell out of me to be honest from Abrahamic religions (christianity, judaism and Islam to Brahminic Hinduism) they all reek of intent to subversivly control. Not that I am denying the validity of people's beliefs and spiritual experiences, I just don't trust anyone who claims to know the word of God.
Moonsigns:
To me, marriage is a very sacred union. Therefore, in regards to sexual morality, I think Christian/Catholic values are healthy and beneficial for mankind/womankind in general. I think a healthy, monogamous marriage between a man and woman provides the best environment possible for procreation as well as the opportunity to enjoy an incredible sexual relationship minus the risk of STD's.
Abdi85
Moonsigns you seem very homophobic and not accepting of humanity's sexual diversity. I could be wrong but in all your posts when it comes to sexuality you pretty much fall in line with Pat Robertson. I totally understand some of your points though, yes human sexuality is created for the express purpose of procreation, but as sentient beings we have evolved to the point where sex isn't used for that purpose only, (I think we can all name the reasons people have sex). And yes your right, gay people are prone to deadly STD's like HIV/AIDS, but you make it seem like participating in gay sex creates STD's out of thin air. I think your smart enough to know that two monogamous gay men have just as low risk of contracting STD's as anyone, forget lesbians as they aren't even on the STD radar most of the time. Its all about behaviour and rate of sexual promiscuity, which is heavily influenced by sociological factors. I mean its not surprising that gay men are so sexually promiscuous first off, thier guys lol and secondly they live in socities that fear and reject them most parts, I think alot of these guys are suffering emotional/psycholgical torment due to treatment they have recieved because of thier sexuality and sex seems to be an outlet for many of them. As we all know STD infection is all behavioural/sociolgical from ostrasized gay men in the west to straight women in Africa and Asia who have no control over thier bodies and everything in between. I want to leave with you what my anthro prof said in the first lecture of my human biolgical evolution class, "Biology loves diversity, society hates it" (he's probably a plagerist but it still rings true). |
Moonsigns
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Moonsigns
Post Number: 1089
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 09:42 am: |
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Abdi85,
I'm not homophobic. America is about freedom--and I respect the fact that people (here) are free to love, live, and worship as they choose. However, it doesn't mean that I don't find some ways of living disagreeable as well as emotionally, mentally and spiritually unhealthy/imbalanced for my life. It's one thing to disagree with particular ways people live their life and it's another thing to discriminate against those same people for their beliefs. I don't discriminate.
And you're correct, I am smart enough to comprehend that two, monogamous, gay men have just as low risk of contracting STD's as anyone else.
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Doberman23
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 313
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 01:42 pm: |
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thats not true! gay dudes chances of catching the vapors are much higher than straight guys ... u need to google some stats to prove to me i'm wrong on that.
now back to my marshal mathers cd 
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Zuriburi
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Zuriburi
Post Number: 123
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 02:43 pm: |
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Abdi85 - Great post
I have always been disgusted by Hinduism because of the 'religiousizing' of their caste system.
This religion successfully ensures a permanent underclass that are virtual voluntary slaves from the cradle to the grave for centuries. In addition, the lowest class tend to be the blackest skinned.
But, is Brahamanic Hinduism different from Hinduism in that this branch supports the caste system while regular Hinduism does not. |
Abdi85
Newbie Poster
Username: Abdi85
Post Number: 12
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 09:38 pm: |
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Zuriburi that is a tricky question and although your post is dead on in terms of what is happening in many parts of India today its a little off when looked at historically. For starters, there really isn't anything called Hinduism beleive it or not, its pretty much a recent phenomenon. The term Hindu was prescribed to everyone who lived beyond the river Sindh and later during muslim rule all non-muslims were 'hindu' including Jains and buddhists and a vareity of different ethnic Indic religions. It's really when the British came that this idea of "Hinduness" meaning seperate from muslims really was amplified and used by the colonial order to divide and conquer Indians as a whole. Now in terms of your question, Hinduism is essentially based on the caste system its about keeping the order of the universe (sanatana dharma) and caste is apart of that. Where in ancient India is it wasn't heridetary and more vocational, so what you were mentally inclined to pursue was your caste rather than what you were born with. However, the brahmin priests were hereditary, but being a teacher also makes you a brahmin and that wasn't herditary so go figure.
However, Hinduism as a philosphy is very eclectic there are contradictory schools of thought, and spiritual concepts and no single holy texts which unites all Hindus (if you really twist thier arms maybe the 'Vedas'). The idea that there is a uniform religion known as Hinduism is really a creation of the British colonial order and Indian reaction to it. So there are technically many diverse ways of being a 'Hindu'. But I have to concede that majority of Hindus in India practice some form of Brahminic Hinduism as that the priests are essential in that philosphy to connect to the Gods. But you can also practice brahminic hinduism and not even worship the Gods or go to temple you can just contemplate and meditate on Brahman (the ultimate reality not the priests).
I've probably been talking in circles but, "Hinduism" is really tricky subject because its so misunderstood and at the same time were trying to understand it from the paradigm of a uniform religious structure that Abrahamic religions have and it doesn't work. Also the constantly changing features of Hinduism coupled with the recent reactionary measures and changes it went through during the colonial period make it a very difficult topic to answer in one post or in any coherant manner. |
Rustang
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Rustang
Post Number: 272
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 10:44 pm: |
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It should also be noted that the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita are counted as being their equivilant of scriptures.Also that Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha) was a hindu, later trying his hand as a Jain monk, after seeing that Jainism, in his opinion, wasn't about anything, he he began a life a disciplined meditation until achieving perfect enlightenment under the bodhi tree.Early Theraveda Budhism was a stripped down version of hinduism with the emphasis being on enlightment rather than the religious rituals.As the Mahayana school of Budhism became the more prevailent, the theravedans began diminishing in number until the time of Bodhidharma (5th centuryA.D.?)and he brought about another stripping away of ritual and brought in a methodology that became known as Zen,which much more closely resembles the Theravedan school than the Mahayana.All forms of Budhism can rightly claim hinduism as it's ancestor. |
Abdi85
Newbie Poster
Username: Abdi85
Post Number: 13
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 02:41 am: |
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Your right Rustang the Upanishads and the Bhagvad Gita (which is in the Mahabhartra)are important scriptures however, not all Hindu's ascribe to the teachings of both. No one single scripture or philosphy is considered to be 'THE' hindu scripture, like I said the Vedas maybe as they are the most ancient and are the source of modern day Hindu tradition. The Upanishads are extremly thought provoking and beautiful and unifies the entire universe and all universes into one, we're all a peice, sparks of Brahman(the ultimate reality). The Bhagvad Gita is remarkable too, I mean the section where Arjuna realizes that his friend and chariot driver, Krishna is really God incarnet and he asks him to show his trueself, its got to be the most beautiful description of the undescribable ever written. Learning about other cultures forms of spiritual experience is really an eye opener in terms of your own spirituality, people should do it more often. |
Zuriburi
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Zuriburi
Post Number: 124
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 10:11 am: |
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Thank you Abdi85 and Rustang for making things more clear.
I had no idea about the history of the word Hinduism.
If possible please suggest any reading material re: Hinduism and its history.
I have always been so conflicted regarding the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita, which are as you said are so beautiful and comforting on the one had, but then when examining the travesty that is their caste system, the footprints of human, selfish, ego driven desire is appearant. It's so puzzling to me how these two extremes of spiritual maturity/immaturity can exist within the same spiritual tradition.
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Abdi85
Newbie Poster
Username: Abdi85
Post Number: 14
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 01:40 pm: |
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Yeah Zuriburi, Hinduism and India in general is pretty fascinating and full of contradictions. I mean they have Goddess worship along side bride burnings, child marriage and dowry. I think spiritual maturity/immaturity is evident in every religion, guess that's just indicative of the fact that religion itself is man made and prone to mistakes such as contradictions. But its peoples experiences on a deeper spritual level that really matters, not how or the way they practice (that's just my liberal arts education talking lol). |
Shyfox
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Shyfox
Post Number: 102
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 09:11 pm: |
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"Your right Rustang the Upanishads and the Bhagvad Gita (which is in the Mahabhartra)are important scriptures however, not all Hindu's ascribe to the teachings of both. No one single scripture or philosphy is considered to be 'THE' hindu scripture, like I said the Vedas maybe as they are the most ancient and are the source of modern day Hindu tradition. The Upanishads are extremly thought provoking and beautiful and unifies the entire universe and all universes into one, we're all a peice, sparks of Brahman(the ultimate reality). The Bhagvad Gita is remarkable too, I mean the section where Arjuna realizes that his friend and chariot driver, Krishna is really God incarnet and he asks him to show his trueself, its got to be the most beautiful description of the undescribable ever written. Learning about other cultures forms of spiritual experience is really an eye opener in terms of your own spirituality, people should do it more often."
Shyfox: Now, why is this not a fairy tale? |
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