So, I have been reading the bible and.....

[Tracy]

I reject it and I understand more about it than most people who support it. Religion is the worst thing to happen to spirituality - PERIOD. To each his own though.

Whatever makes people sleep better at night for their 80 years here is fine by me, as long as it doesn't cause problems for me. G/L Tracy, and if you have questions I think that studying religion (MANY, not just Christianity) in college, and having a grandad who is a preacher I am sure I can get you the answers you will need... although a lot of the answers leads to new questions. It's quite the mind fuck, but some people make it work (in part) for them. It's written in a way that you never "arrive" - u die somewhere along the way before you get there.

Thanks

This is also one of my points when I say I am generally a good person and I think God is fine with that. That's what makes me feel ok about religion and how I have handled it. I have my complete view on what I think is true. It's a mix of things that just make common sense TO ME. It would be cool to pick up a book that verified what I believe in my heart...I don't expect it to happen, but it would be nice. I sleep just fine, Bible or not

[bu villain]

Thanks

This is also one of my points when I say I am generally a good person and I think God is fine with that. That's what makes me feel ok about religion and how I have handled it. I have my complete view on what I think is true. It's a mix of things that just make common sense TO ME. It would be cool to pick up a book that verified what I believe in my heart...I don't expect it to happen, but it would be nice. I sleep just fine, Bible or not

First off I want to say I am always happy to see people who ask "Why do I believe this" and to search for truth. I was agnostic for many years until I really started studying religion and philosophy more in depth which has now led me to atheism. Who knows, maybe in 10 years I will believe in God. The important thing is to never stop asking questions and learning. Anyways...

What I found particularly interesting about your post above is that you seem to be very comfortable with your beliefs and actions but yet you are looking for a book to affirm you. Why are you looking for agreement from a book? Do you feel that your beliefs are any more or less valid because someone else wrote them down on paper? I completely support reading religious writings but I am just wondering what you are hoping to find and what would you do differently if you find what you are looking for. Good luck with your search.

[Tracy]

First off I want to say I am always happy to see people who ask "Why do I believe this" and to search for truth. I was agnostic for many years until I really started studying religion and philosophy more in depth which has now led me to atheism. Who knows, maybe in 10 years I will believe in God. The important thing is to never stop asking questions and learning. Anyways...

What I found particularly interesting about your post above is that you seem to be very comfortable with your beliefs and actions but yet you are looking for a book to affirm you. Why are you looking for agreement from a book? Do you feel that your beliefs are any more or less valid because someone else wrote them down on paper? I completely support reading religious writings but I am just wondering what you are hoping to find and what would you do differently if you find what you are looking for. Good luck with your search.

There is a mixed answer for this for me. I probably am kind of looking for something. I'm not completely sure what it is. I do know that I am afraid to die. It has scared me since I was little. Dan says it's because I have no faith. I also know that I am ready to start THINKING about kids. I need to figure out how to answer their questions (if and when they have them) and that means I have to be educated. That is important to me.

I already said this one, but I like to argue, as you well know . That being said, I like to be educated on what I am arguing about. Right now, I only know the bits and pieces of the Bible that I have heard around the camp fire. I can't have a valid argument with facts and examples if I don't read. Religion seems to come up often (along with politics and I am going to learn that next ).

[bu villain]

There is a mixed answer for this for me. I probably am kind of looking for something. I'm not completely sure what it is. I do know that I am afraid to die. It has scared me since I was little. Dan says it's because I have no faith. I also know that I am ready to start THINKING about kids. I need to figure out how to answer their questions (if and when they have them) and that means I have to be educated. That is important to me.

You are afraid to die because you do not know what comes next. It is natural for people to be afraid of the unknown. And your friend Dan may be right. If you have "faith" that you will go to heaven then you will feel better about death. Unfortunately, simply believing something because it makes you feel better does not make it true. As far as kids go, it's good that you want to be able to educate them and you should persue that. If you think reading the bible will help then thats great. Just remember that just because it is written in a book doesn't make it true (doesn't make it false either) and no parent has all the answers to everything. Its okay to tell your child that you don't always know the answer to all their questions. Be honest with them.