[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Yes of course, impregnating a virgin with his son, to tell the world that he's Gods son is a far more effective way of convincing us all then say banishing poverty or stopping a tsunami

Yes, it does all seem a little farfetched

Originally Posted by Stu

My favourite above all of that though is that the worlds most important message - to believe in God and accept him or you are going to roast in a lake of fire for all eternity - was delivered not in the minds of all human beings the world over simultaneously ... but left to this one carpenter in the middle of Desertsville, Middle East, and a group of his posse to write down and hand down through the generations. You might as well trust a kitten to explain the plot of Oceans Twelve.

There are still to this day parts of the world where the 'great message' has not extended to. God is hardly giving those poor saps a fair chance at redemption, is he?

Haha yeah that's true, I've never really thought of it like that before

[LemonJam]

I'm agnostic, but I'm also a strong supporter of religion when growing up. I was bought up a Christian and even though I kind of doubted it my whole life I can't deny that it's played a huge role in who I am today.

Religion can teach children to respect others and live with love for one another and is (in general) a good way for your children to be bought up. The ten commandments are a great example of guidlines for children when maturing into an adult. It's only when people take it too literally and not as a moral guideline when things go tits up.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by LemonJam

I'm agnostic, but I'm also a strong supporter of religion when growing up. I was bought up a Christian and even though I kind of doubted it my whole life I can't deny that it's played a huge role in who I am today.

Religion can teach children to respect others and live with love for one another and is (in general) a good way for your children to be bought up. The ten commandments are a great example of guidlines for children when maturing into an adult. It's only when people take it too literally and not as a moral guideline when things go tits up.

I was not brought up with religion at all, although a lot of my family are firm believers in spiritualism, and through a staunch belief in evolution and living in continual wonder at the world around us, I too have grown up to respect other humans, treat others equally and to live with love.. You don't need religion to grow into a good person in my opinion.

Selflessness, a good heart, strong morals and good social awareness makes people good which I don't think comes from having religious beliefs, but from having an upbringing which teaches you these things plus right from wrong.

I do however completely respect peoples religions and beliefs

[Stu]

Originally Posted by LemonJam

I'm agnostic, but I'm also a strong supporter of religion when growing up. I was bought up a Christian and even though I kind of doubted it my whole life I can't deny that it's played a huge role in who I am today.

Religion can teach children to respect others and live with love for one another and is (in general) a good way for your children to be bought up. The ten commandments are a great example of guidlines for children when maturing into an adult. It's only when people take it too literally and not as a moral guideline when things go tits up.

Surely you can teach kids the same basic principals anyway without the quasi spiritual rubbish attached? I always thought the Ten Commandments were a pathetic moral code. A good few of them are purely to do with God's ego.

A heavy religious institutionalization from childhood can lead to people becoming ignorant sheep when they grow older if they decide not to grow out of the fairy tale mom and dad happily spun them. In America right now so called 'Jesus Camps' are hugely popular and those children are not going to grow up to be shining beacons of morality and acceptance. They are being brainwashed from an early age when they don't know any better. It's mental child abuse.

Religion, IMO, should never be an acceptable substitute for good parenting. Leave it until they are older. It just shouldn't come into a childs life.

[LemonJam]

Originally Posted by happyland

I was not brought up with religion at all, although a lot of my family are firm believers in spiritualism, and through a staunch belief in evolution and living in continual wonder at the world around us, I too have grown up to respect other humans, treat others equally and to live with love.. You don't need religion to grow into a good person in my opinion.

Selflessness, a good heart, strong morals and good social awareness makes people good which I don't think comes from having religious beliefs, but from having an upbringing which teaches you these things plus right from wrong.

I do however completely respect peoples religions and beliefs

Oh, absolutley LOL, I didn't mean to sound like all non-religious people were compelte bastards haha. Becoming a good person is definatley due to upbringing, but I do think that being bought up around the guidelines religion gives is something that could factor into that.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by LemonJam

Oh, absolutley LOL, I didn't mean to sound like all non-religious people were compelte bastards haha. Becoming a good person is definatley due to upbringing, but I do think that being bought up around the guidelines religion gives is something that could factor into that.

You did didn't you?! You think we're all brushed with the devil!

[LemonJam]

Originally Posted by Stu

Surely you can teach kids the same basic principals anyway without the quasi spiritual rubbish attached? I always thought the Ten Commandments were a pathetic moral code. A good few of them are purely to do with God's ego.

A heavy religious institutionalization from childhood can lead to people becoming ignorant sheep when they grow older if they decide not to grow out of the fairy tale mom and dad happily spun them. In America right now so called 'Jesus Camps' are hugely popular and those children are not going to grow up to be shining beacons of morality and acceptance. They are being brainwashed from an early age when they don't know any better. It's mental child abuse.

Religion, IMO, should never be an acceptable substitute for good parenting. Leave it until they are older. It just shouldn't come into a childs life.

Certainly they can learn to be a good person from other ways. All depends on the parenting and what they grow up around. In general, the Church is a loving community where people do care for each other [in most cases]

I see religion almost like alcohol, it has to be taken into moderation. Most people I know who have been bought up in a specific faith take it as a guideline rather than the whole 'believe or die' kind of thing. And alike with alcohol, if you intake too much of it, you just become a social mess.

[LemonJam]

Originally Posted by happyland

You did didn't you?! You think we're all brushed with the devil!

-sprays with holy water and recites John 3:16-

[Vicky.]

I dont believe in god.

But I was christened...so apparently I'm a protestant

[InOne]

At least none of us live in an Islamic country, be thankful for that.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by LemonJam

-sprays with holy water and recites John 3:16-

*melts*

"I'm MELTING! I'm Melting! Oh cruel World...

[seanraff07]

I don't really have a religion although i bring Ireland flags to Hibs games so i suppose in some people's eyes that makes me Catholic.

[Novo]

Protestant

[Patrick]

Well I'm brought up as Catholic and go to a Catholic school and have Catholic friends etc etc

But I don't really believe in the whole Jesus and God bull tbh, but I do believe in the afterlife, whether that's heaven or somewhere else, I don't believe we fail to exist when we die.

So I don't think I'm atheist in that sense, but then it's hardly Catholic not to believe in God is it?

So does anyone know what religion that would be?

If there isn't a religion already I'm going to make it up now just incase, Cathoesit.

Love it.