I'm a Pedestrian.
 

via Moxie

I think the religious website www.crosswalk.com is run by Pedestrians. ;)

Moxie? ;)

Cool, looks like my letter got published. Along with two other letters who sarcastically agreed with the person but intentionally ridiculed them at the same time.

Excellent, job well done!

Religion vs. Philosophy?
 

Just a question, but doesn't it make sense to not choose one set religion or philosophy, but take a bite from each and suit it to your own taste? I mean it's like clothing... I can buy a shirt that matches yours, but is a different size, right? Or buy the same brand/style of shirt, but in a different color.

I used to believe in christianity until they couldn't explain ancient "myths" which appeared in various cultures all over the world, which were similar but a tad diffeent. How could all these spread-out countries all have the mythos of elves, faeries, etc and yet a religion with no such stories is going to tell them they are all wrong. I got into witchcraft thinking that they might have the answers - I found a few more than I expected, but at the same time, witches were as divided as christians...

So, I turned to eastern philosophy, specificly tao and zen. Only here did I find my "final" answers. Tao teaches "your way may not be my way. we all walk different roads, but all roads lead to tao".

So, if we are all going to the same destination, but taking different paths there, who says we have to take a specific road?

Any thoughts on this?

All religion is nonsense.

Everyone wants to know the answers to questions. The problem is that anyone can make up an answer. The solution, therefore, is to have extremely high standards of proof. That way, you can be assured that you either know the answer, or you don't.

This whole, "Well, I believe <i>this</i>" waffling is just nonsense. Simply believing something requires nearly no proof at all, yet instills the believer with the sense that they don't need proof. This is so dangerous, IMO. Seek knowledge, yet be certain that what you find is actually true.

thats the thing about most religions. faith requires acceptance withouth proof. you will never *ever* disprove the existence of god, or a god or whatever. just as no one will ever prove the same thing. so to say "simply believing something requires no proof at all" is hitting the nail on the head. people who choose to follow religion choose to adhere to that. it doesnt make them gullible, its just a choice they make.

my father-in-law once told me "james, i have to believe in god. i have to believe that one day i will see my daughter again." (his firstborn daughter died at age 3). everyone has different reasons for their beliefs.

~james

"Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business."--Jesse Ventura

It's certainly an interesting take on things, but I don't fully agree with it. I believe Juju and I had this discussion a few weeks back...religion gives many people a way to explain the ways of the world. And if that's what some people need to get themselves together, it's cool...just don't force it on me, mmmkay?

One of the incredibly few things I liked about Catholicism was the contextual interpretation of the Bible: The Bible is a great book of faith, but is NOT a history book. The world was not created in 6 days. Abraham and his posse did not roam that small-ass area of Palestine for 40 years. The world will not end as described in Revelation. I can dig that.

But it doesn't matter anyway, since I have my own religion, of which I am a god. ;)

"Professing themselves wise, they became fools."

-the bible

i follow the path of the beam.

all roads lead to the dark tower.

i will die on the quest, if needs be.

"Who is more foolish? The fool? Or the fool who follows him?"

- Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars IV: A New Hope)

someone being followed?


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when a science fiction n*rd leaves the closet, entering the real world, one may hear, if he listens closely, a placental sound: tearing, rending, followed by a sizzling sound, as the sun touches his skin.

Found these a while back - figured some of you might be interested in a humourous read.

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/5001/5001_01.asp

It does make them gullible. They're believing in something without first checking to see if it's true or not. Some people may think that's noble, but it's just dumb if you ask me. Doesn't anyone want to be right anymore?

jack chick is a nutjob. there are nutjobs on both sides of the argument. religion is not a "crutch for weak-minded people" and mr. ventura would have us believe. yes, there are weak-minded people who use religion as a crutch. but broad generalisations and uninformed judgement are just as dangerous. to say that anyone who follows any religion of any kind is weak-minded is as arrogant and ignorant as any of the nonsense chick writes.

~james