Religions

[J70]

Is it a coincidence that the more educated one is, the greater the chance is that one will reject one's inherited religious beliefs?

Well it will be the more intelligent people who will be seen to question various aspects of various religions in the media anyway.
I think most people, regardless of intellect will at times question their faith be it a simple farmer annoyed that his crops have failed to a practising professor of theology that can't quite get his head around something that would be way beyond most of us anyway. Some of the most intelligent people i know have the deepest and strongest faith. The reason for that i think is that they were willing to make the effort to fully explore their faith before dismissing it. Most lapsed Catholics in Ireland for example are lapsed becasue they have allowed their opinions on Catholicism to be coloured by a few sick perverted priests and of course they have got caught up in the consumerist way of life. That to me is just lazy and is unlikely to lead to inner peace.
For the record - i'm a practising Catholic

A life defined only by how much money one earns and the goods he can buy can become very hollow, of course, if that is all that the person has or seeks. I don't see that as much of an argument for or a reason to seek fulfillment in religion though. If you don't find the evidence for the existence of a god convincing, there isn't much point in going through the motions of religious practice. You don't need religion to find inner peace.

[blast05]

You don't need religion to find inner peace.

Fair point, but i think on the balance most people need something and i feel a huge amount of people in Ireland don't have that inner peace (when they get a spare moment to sit down and think about it that is) and yet haven't made any effort to explore their 'hereditary' or other religions.

[Aghdavoyle]

I'm a jedi knight. why are we not listed? we made the census...

[theskull1]

You don't need religion to find inner peace.

Fair point, but i think on the balance most people need something and i feel a huge amount of people in Ireland don't have that inner peace (when they get a spare moment to sit down and think about it that is) and yet haven't made any effort to explore their 'hereditary' or other religions.

Agreed (if exploring includes just reflecting on what they want to get from their lives beyond something from a shop)...but that is something they have to think about. If they are all consumed with the heavily prevalent consumer society's wants and needs then their minds are not in the right place.

I'm an athiest btw and don''t feel the need to cling onto to what "I" can only see as a "fairy tale" to live a meaningful life. I think anybody who, with an open mind, took the time to study the history of the Biblical canon, who wrote the gospels, when they were written and what language they were written in before they even moved onto science (and what questions it raises about our existence in the cosmos) would have grave doubts that Christianity (and religions in general) is nothing more than a "crutch" to help many people through their and their communities lives and in that respect I can understand the positive role played by religions. I think most "Christians" have realized that this faith in a diety is a long shot but understand that secondary role that religion provides so they stick with the routine.

[Louth Exile]

I'm a jedi knight. why are we not listed? we made the census...

May the force be with you.

[Gnevin]

Ive read quite a few books on native Americans and while some of thier religous beliefs and practices were a bit mad ie: witch doctors, magic derived from leaves and stones, scalping(which meant that the scalpt persons soul would not reach heaven) and sacrificial killing etc...

A bit of that going on in our own old testament....

On the pagan thing... my understanding is that an atheist chooses not to believe in a God an Agnostic is not sure which one to choose, but a Pagan has never heard of God? Is this an oversimplistic view from a childhood of Catholic teachings??

I don't think anyone "chooses" to not believe in a god. You either find the evidence convincing or you don't. Its a judgement call.

But religion is not based on evidence, it is based on belief.

Are your beliefs never challenged by evidence?

Aside from the indoctrination almost every child receives to the effect that there is a god watching and controlling everything, once you reach adulthood, your opinion on the existence of gods has to be influenced by the information and evidence you are exposed to, if you weigh the question at all. Is it a coincidence that the more educated one is, the greater the chance is that one will reject one's inherited religious beliefs? Of course you can decide, as many fundamentalists do, that anything that contradicts what you were/are taught about religion and gods is, a priori, erroneous or part of some conspiracy,  but I doubt if many fair-minded people would consider their approach intellectually honest or open-minded.

First of all, I am highly educated (well I think so anyway!) I have never rejected the religion I was raised in (Roman Catholic) and would consider myself to be what is the rare breed nowadays, the practicing catholic. My beliefs are not challenged by evidence because of the simple reason that I have blind faith. I can explain it very simply, I believe there has to be an almighty being that created everything in the first place, I also like the thought of there being an afterlife. I was raised in the Catholic faith and see no reason to think that I have backed the wrong horse.

The last part of your post is a bit flipant. As although I follow my faith, I am under no illusion that I have chosen the right one! There is nothing to say that any of the other faiths are more or less suitable way to follow god. I have never been motivated enough to question my own faith, that does not mean that I don't understand why others don't!! (Now silence infidel or I Kill You)

With drawn comment apologises for any offensive caused ,none was intended

[Louth Exile]

Ive read quite a few books on native Americans and while some of thier religous beliefs and practices were a bit mad ie: witch doctors, magic derived from leaves and stones, scalping(which meant that the scalpt persons soul would not reach heaven) and sacrificial killing etc...

A bit of that going on in our own old testament....

On the pagan thing... my understanding is that an atheist chooses not to believe in a God an Agnostic is not sure which one to choose, but a Pagan has never heard of God? Is this an oversimplistic view from a childhood of Catholic teachings??

I don't think anyone "chooses" to not believe in a god. You either find the evidence convincing or you don't. Its a judgement call.

But religion is not based on evidence, it is based on belief.

Are your beliefs never challenged by evidence?

Aside from the indoctrination almost every child receives to the effect that there is a god watching and controlling everything, once you reach adulthood, your opinion on the existence of gods has to be influenced by the information and evidence you are exposed to, if you weigh the question at all. Is it a coincidence that the more educated one is, the greater the chance is that one will reject one's inherited religious beliefs? Of course you can decide, as many fundamentalists do, that anything that contradicts what you were/are taught about religion and gods is, a priori, erroneous or part of some conspiracy,  but I doubt if many fair-minded people would consider their approach intellectually honest or open-minded.

First of all, I am highly educated (well I think so anyway!) I have never rejected the religion I was raised in (Roman Catholic) and would consider myself to be what is the rare breed nowadays, the practicing catholic. My beliefs are not challenged by evidence because of the simple reason that I have blind faith. I can explain it very simply, I believe there has to be an almighty being that created everything in the first place, I also like the thought of there being an afterlife. I was raised in the Catholic faith and see no reason to think that I have backed the wrong horse.

The last part of your post is a bit flipant. As although I follow my faith, I am under no illusion that I have chosen the right one! There is nothing to say that any of the other faiths are more or less suitable way to follow god. I have never been motivated enough to question my own faith, that does not mean that I don't understand why others don't!! (Now silence infidel or I Kill You)

I'm sorry Louth  but do you know how stupid that sounds .

Explain??

[blast05]

I'm sorry Louth  but do you know how stupid that sounds .

Atheist isn't it Gnevin ? Which to me is an extremely stupid position - particular when i get up in the middle of the night feeding a new baby daughter and on one occassion sat looking at her perfection asking myself - "life: a 1 in a trillion trillion chance occurrence in the cosmos?"  ..... don't be mad i thought as i continued to look at her in a completely besotted manner.
Atheism - also somewhat confused when you have for example the "worlds greatest atheist" Richard Dawkins who felt the need to get his children baptised years back and still would have done it, (paraphrase) "without it being a need to confirm with society."

[Gnevin]

I'm sorry Louth  but do you know how stupid that sounds .

Atheist isn't it Gnevin ? Which to me is an extremely stupid position - particular when i get up in the middle of the night feeding a new baby daughter and on one occassion sat looking at her perfection asking myself - "life: a 1 in a trillion trillion chance occurrence in the cosmos?"  ..... don't be mad i thought as i continued to look at her in a completely besotted manner.
Atheism - also somewhat confused when you have for example the "worlds greatest atheist" Richard Dawkins who felt the need to get his children baptised years back and still would have done it, (paraphrase) "without it being a need to confirm with society."

In the cosmos such as ours that 1 in a trillion chance happens/happened a trillion trillion times and is still happening

[Gnevin]

Ive read quite a few books on native Americans and while some of thier religous beliefs and practices were a bit mad ie: witch doctors, magic derived from leaves and stones, scalping(which meant that the scalpt persons soul would not reach heaven) and sacrificial killing etc...

A bit of that going on in our own old testament....

On the pagan thing... my understanding is that an atheist chooses not to believe in a God an Agnostic is not sure which one to choose, but a Pagan has never heard of God? Is this an oversimplistic view from a childhood of Catholic teachings??

I don't think anyone "chooses" to not believe in a god. You either find the evidence convincing or you don't. Its a judgement call.

But religion is not based on evidence, it is based on belief.

Are your beliefs never challenged by evidence?

Aside from the indoctrination almost every child receives to the effect that there is a god watching and controlling everything, once you reach adulthood, your opinion on the existence of gods has to be influenced by the information and evidence you are exposed to, if you weigh the question at all. Is it a coincidence that the more educated one is, the greater the chance is that one will reject one's inherited religious beliefs? Of course you can decide, as many fundamentalists do, that anything that contradicts what you were/are taught about religion and gods is, a priori, erroneous or part of some conspiracy,  but I doubt if many fair-minded people would consider their approach intellectually honest or open-minded.

First of all, I am highly educated (well I think so anyway!) I have never rejected the religion I was raised in (Roman Catholic) and would consider myself to be what is the rare breed nowadays, the practicing catholic. My beliefs are not challenged by evidence because of the simple reason that I have blind faith. I can explain it very simply, I believe there has to be an almighty being that created everything in the first place, I also like the thought of there being an afterlife. I was raised in the Catholic faith and see no reason to think that I have backed the wrong horse.

The last part of your post is a bit flipant. As although I follow my faith, I am under no illusion that I have chosen the right one! There is nothing to say that any of the other faiths are more or less suitable way to follow god. I have never been motivated enough to question my own faith, that does not mean that I don't understand why others don't!! (Now silence infidel or I Kill You)

I'm sorry Louth  but do you know how stupid that sounds .

Explain??

When you blatantly ignore the evidence , I'm sure a man such as your self uses rational and deductive thought all the time , Would you sit with your peers in a jury and apply that logic?

I was raised in the Catholic faith and see no reason to think that I have backed the wrong horse .

Catholicism has more fractures that a good socialist party.  How do you assume you've the right blend of Catholicism left alone the right faith?

I know it's faith so not much point in talking about it i just thought that posted looked all most Neo Conservative .

[blast05]

In the cosmos such as ours that 1 in a trillion chance happens/happened a trillion trillion times and is still happening

No, life as a whole on this planet is what i mean, back in some Pre-Cambrian cess pool or other, which has evolved hundreds of millions of years later to where we are now. That to me and many sceintist is the trillion trillion (or some proposterous figure like that) to one chance  ...... and i just can not accept, using any logical reasoning, that that was a chance random happening without the input of some greater power - particular when i sit admiring my feeding baby daughter in the middle of the night 

[Puckoon]

Theres a difference between being devoted to a religion, and being a believer in god. The catholic church has many problems, but if an individual can stomach that - more power to them. Im a catholic, probably the worlds worst catholic, but I take from the religion the things I need, and I give it what I can. I dont fret about the many pointless rules, nor do I any longer get upset about the many fractures. That was the advice given to me by the priest that brought me back to the fold.

Regardless of whether you believe in him Gnevin - God still loves you... God loves all the worlds atheists, and it drives a few of them mad!

[lynchbhoy]

I would agree with you Louth.

Also Religion can do a lot more good than bad in this world, religion even to help create soem sense of right and wrong for kids is better than raising them like animals with no moral code (as is seen througout the world).
Religion tends to help create this moral code more than hinder.

[Gnevin]

In the cosmos such as ours that 1 in a trillion chance happens/happened a trillion trillion times and is still happening

No, life as a whole on this planet is what i mean, back in some Pre-Cambrian cess pool or other, which has evolved hundreds of millions of years later to where we are now. That to me and many sceintist is the trillion trillion (or some proposterous figure like that) to one chance  ...... and i just can not accept, using any logical reasoning, that that was a chance random happening without the input of some greater power - particular when i sit admiring my feeding baby daughter in the middle of the night 

Well if their was imput for a higher power they did a pretty shit job

[Gnevin]

I would agree with you Louth.

Also Religion can do a lot more good than bad in this world, religion even to help create soem sense of right and wrong for kids is better than raising them like animals with no moral code (as is seen througout the world).
Religion tends to help create this moral code more than hinder.

Where in the world are kids raised like animals with no moral code? Because you know for damn sure i can point to a dozen of places in the world where a religious moral code had corrupted the youth