Interesting post Finny61, thanks for sharing. I think a lot of Christians are more like you than the radical evangelical types.
I do have a few disagreements though
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Originally Posted by Finny61
In the end the Bible is written by man so it is inherently flawed BUT it is an excellent book of morality.
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This I disagree with.. while there are some portions of the Bible that do have good moral ideas (not really original ones), there are some portions that are morally bankrupt and I would be loathe to use those portions to educate my child in morality. Humanity has moved past much of the morality of the Bible.
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Originally Posted by Finny61
Keep in mind folks yes religion is the belief in the greater being and that you must conform to a way of life, but what supersedes it is that religion provides hope. Life should be viewed as a gift and that it should made of use and not 'you live and you die and then there is nothing'.
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Religion provides hope of what? See I find that belief in an afterlife has the opposite effect. If I think I've got an eternity to enjoy, and I've settled the question of my salvation, what drives me in this life? Why take care of myself, I'll get a new body anyway? Why spend time with my family, I've got an eternity with them.
Where if this is all there is, that's highly motivating to make the most of each day! Make sure I enjoy my family because today might be the last day I get to see them. Take care of myself, I want to be around for as long as I can. Do something that makes a difference today, I might not get another day to do that.
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Originally Posted by Finny61
The reason I say it'd be a darker world is because I think morality would take a backseat. Science and IQ doesn't make one a better person it is only tools to advancement, why do you think there is the term 'smart ass' right?
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Why would morality take a back seat? And in reality that notion doesn't pan out, there's no evidence to to show that being religious ends up with better morality. There's many countries that are far more secular than the U.S. for example and appear to be
more moral, and definitely not "darker".
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Originally Posted by Finny61
In closing I'd probably just argue that you can't judge what you've never tried.
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That's a bit foolish, there's clearly things I can judge without trying. I know not to drink draino, join one of the apparently many gangs in Calgary, and avoid paying my taxes without having actually try those things.
Most people posting in this thread come by their opinions quite honestly, many have tried.
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Originally Posted by Finny61
You believe in what you believe, and I'll believe in what I believe just be open to the world and realize that everyone has to find their own way you just hope that it's done with some sanity.
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I think that's the sticking point for some; they would say engaging in religion for some means sacrificing the sanity part.
You obviously haven't sacrificed yours, but you admit that your views are a bit heretical. What do you think would happen if you asked your pastor for some time and preached a message similar to what you posted here, including the notion that the Bible is flawed, incorrect in places, and that non-believers don't go to hell? Would your relationships in the church change?
I used to do quite a bit of preaching in church, I know if I'd taught some of the things I thought at the time I would have been removed from the pulpit, and many of my relationships with people would have ended. That tells me something about what religion is capable of doing.