Is this a Christian Only Section?

[vraiblonde]

Well I'm of the raised "Christian" but then I grew up faith. I have studied many of the exhisting and older religions and found that their main fault is that they were founded by man. And I'm not being sexist...i'm talking humans.

To include Christianity, Judeaism (i know i spelt it rong), and Islam!

They all have their place for those that need to believe in them. But not everyone Needs to believe in them. and that doesn't make us wrong, stupid, or poor pitied souls. It usually makes us more enlightened, happier beings. Better intuned with ourselves and our world.

Was just looking for any like-minded sorts, didn't know if I'd find any in So-MD.

Not sure I understand what exactly you're looking for and what you want to talk about. What makes you more enlightened and happier - a different religion than the traditional ones, or no religion at all?

Not trying to be smart - just wanting to understand your views.

 

[Toxick]

Sounds like you've been schooled on Mormonism by the Baptists..

Nope.

I am not a student of "the Baptists".

But thanks for the all the well-deserved credit you're giving me.

After all, being a non-thinking sheep is basically what I'm known for around here... always blindly accepting everything I'm told with no research into a subject whatsoever.



BTW:

Maybe you should read the book of Mormon and not just believe what someone told you.

Maybe I did read it, and you just don't like my conclusion.

Maybe you should get to know me before you accusing me of being a blind lemming.

And maybe you should knock that effing chip off your shoulder, because I'm done talking to you until it's gone.

 

[vraiblonde]

I wasn't sure at first how asking if any one here was of a "old" faith would be understood or received. I was looking for people who were open minded to what we now call pagans. But were simply the old ways before the Romans decreed that they were banned as they were too strong and there for had to be banished. The best way to destroy a people is to destroy their beliefs.

But if you've ever looked, many were just incorporated into modern day practices.

Just trying to find people to chat with. NOT trying to cause trouble, down anyones religious beliefs, or anything like that.

Start a new thread about this where there isn't so much other conversation going on. I'm interested in what pagans believe.

 

[PelyKat]

where would you suggest?

 

[kwillia]

Not sure I understand what exactly you're looking for and what you want to talk about. What makes you more enlightened and happier - a different religion than the traditional ones, or no religion at all?

Not trying to be smart - just wanting to understand your views.

Based on Pely's descriptions... I found THIS info...

Pely... is this your religion?

A more encompassing term for witchcraft would be paganism. It has been called "man's first attempt at technology or his initial effort to gain control of his environment. Paganists chose certain people to be in charge of these efforts who were called shamans or Witch doctors.

Shamans gave human names to natural forces and then would use various means to attempt to communicate with these environmental units. When the Shaman's efforts failed, he would inform his followers that the "gods" required or demanded a sacrifice or gifts. Confusion began during the middle ages when Paganism and Christianity met head on. There was a blending of beliefs in an attempt at compromise to keep the peace and encourage social acceptance.

Many of the Pagan traditions in force in America today are easily identified by religion and philosophy dating back to Greek, Roman and Egyptian worship and beliefs. There is a difference however in religions which derive some sort of "divine revelation" and natural religions.

Paganism centers around goddess worship or worship of the "earth mother" or the "huntress." The most common form of goddess worship is wiccan, which is a masculine noun. The feminine form being wiccee, with the performance of wiccee beliefs being called "wiccee-craft" or witchcraft. There a number of forms of the Wiccan religion which include Gardnerian magic, Crowlish magic, Druidism and neodruidism, and Shamanism.

 

[itsbob]

Nope.

I am not a student of "the Baptists".

But thanks for the all the well-deserved credit you're giving me.

After all, being a non-thinking sheep is basically what I'm known for around here... always blindly accepting everything I'm told with no research into a subject whatsoever.



BTW:





Maybe I did read it, and you just don't like my conclusion.

Maybe you should get to know me before you accusing me of being a blind lemming.

And maybe you should knock that effing chip off your shoulder, because I'm done talking to you until it's gone.

I have read it, and I don't recall ANYWHERE being mention of blacks or anyone else being subverient to the wites and asians..


You saying that it does brings me to think you didn't read it.

 

[vraiblonde]

where would you suggest?

In the Religion forum is fine - just make a new thread devoted to this topic.

 

[Toxick]

Of corse not, i formed the opinions i have over my lifetime, just as you have,

What was it that made you hold to these opinions and not others?

 

[Midnightrider]

What was it that made you hold to these opinions and not others?

that i believe them......basically a feeling.

what does that have to do with wether or not another persons opinions are valid?

 

[itsbob]

So the founder found so gold tablets burried in upstate new york and had them translated by a salamander.

Actually Ummin and Thummin, two "seer" rocks.. not a salamander, that would be too far fetched.. a talking Slamander... be almost as bad as a talking gecko..

 

[Midnightrider]

Actually Ummin and Thummin, two "seer" rocks.. not a salamander, that would be too far fetched.. a talking Slamander... be almost as bad as a talking gecko..

I did get the salamander bit from a Fiction about the morman church and a real case of document fraud and forgery---> mail bombing.

 

[itsbob]

I do remember that, and the church swallowed hook line and sinker and bought all kinds of "Lost" forged documents..

 

[Midnightrider]

I do remember that, and the church swallowed hook line and sinker and bought all kinds of "Lost" forged documents..

and the forger ended up with a spree of mail bombing to try to cover his tracks. UFB, but an interesting read nontheless.

 

[Toxick]

I have read it, and I don't recall ANYWHERE being mention of blacks or anyone else being subverient to the wites and asians..

If you read what I wrote, you will see that I didn't attribute that quote to "the Book of Mormon" - I attributed it to Smith's translation of the Egyptian papyri which was later shown to be frauds.

You saying that it does brings me to think you didn't read it.

I've actually read more on the subject than JUST the Book of Mormon.




And after all this - I've also never said that Mormons weren't real Christians.

I've said they've added to the Bible. If you want to argue that the Book of Mormon is not part of the bible, then fine... However, it is that very book which sets Mormons apart from other Christians - and that book was written by a man who has, as far as I can tell, no divine authority, and has been proven to be a fraud at least once.

 

[PelyKat]

Kwilla...No I'm, not Wicca, that too is a religion...that worships the Goddess of creation in her 3 phases. I do not "worship" any GOD or Goddess. I simply believe there is a universal energy that we all started out as and will return to.

Nothing sinister, or evil.

 

[kwillia]

Kwilla...No I'm, not Wicca, that too is a religion...that worships the Goddess of creation in her 3 phases. I do not "worship" any GOD or Goddess. I simply believe there is a universal energy that we all started out as and will return to.

Nothing sinister, or evil.

Gotcha... you threw me with "pegan". I am a non-religious person, but I too believe in a simplified "universal energy". I believe when a person dies their body releases energy and that person is no more.

 

[kwillia]

Okay... I gave this thread some more thought while working out on the eliptical...

My fiirst thought was that I completely get where Pely is coming from... but I failed to see why she would think this discussion belongs in the "religion" forums.

Then after reading the posted definition for the religion forum is "Discuss spirituality and religion in this forum. Post information about worship services and events", I do think that though we believe that defined religions were created by man, our belief in "universal energy" qualifies as spirituality.

I believe that there are a lot of self-proclaimed non-religious folks on this board that also believe in a "universal energy" or whatever they chose to call it.

 

[bdh802]

Okay... I gave this thread some more thought while working out on the eliptical...

My fiirst thought was that I completely get where Pely is coming from... but I failed to see why she would think this discussion belongs in the "religion" forums.

Then after reading the posted definition for the religion forum is "Discuss spirituality and religion in this forum. Post information about worship services and events", I do think that though we believe that defined religions were created by man, our belief in "universal energy" qualifies as spirituality.

I believe that there are a lot of self-proclaimed non-religious folks on this board that also believe in a "universal energy" or whatever they chose to call it.

Just curious....Do you think Wiccanism or Scientology are types of religions? I think it is a stretch to put either one in the religion category. I may believe there are aliens from other planets out there but I am not going to turn that into a new religion. I think it's neat to watch old rerun of Bewitched but I am not going to pray in front of my TV when it's on.

 

[Penn]

Kwilla...No I'm, not Wicca, that too is a religion...that worships the Goddess of creation in her 3 phases. I do not "worship" any GOD or Goddess.


I simply believe there is a universal energy that we all started out as and will return to.

Nothing sinister, or evil.

I recently read of the same parallel thought in "Gnosticism", or Gnostics.

A group of early theologians, a sect of Christianity, who claimed "special worldly knowledge", held this belief, way back in the 2nd or 3rd century AD.

Is this the theory of which you speak of?

 

[kwillia]

Just curious....Do you think Wiccanism or Scientology are types of religions? I think it is a stretch to put either one in the religion category. I may believe there are aliens from other planets out there but I am not going to turn that into a new religion. I think it's neat to watch old rerun of Bewitched but I am not going to pray in front of my TV when it's on.

re-li-gion

–noun 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

Based on the above.... yes.