MABB v6.6.6

Ya or nay. I turned towards the dark side in January 2007 and never looked back. Too much going in the universe for it to make sense.

Never have

Bullshit. Your parents must have raised you religious.

No


Was forced to go to Sunday school and confirmation as a child and teen.


About 11-12 when I started thinking for myself/was able to think abstractly, I immediately knew it was bullshit.

You had a headstart over me splendid mate of mine

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank Horrigan" data-cid="539541" data-time="1427521880">
Bullshit. Your parents must have raised you religious.</blockquote>


No bullshit. I've only been in a church for weddings and funerals.

I was raised in a Methodist Christian family with strict religious beliefs. I studied in Roman Catholic parochial schools all the way through high school. I started questioning my faith around 10th grade and that's when I became an atheist.

Congratulations splendid mate of mine

The constant passing of the round tray asking for money was a decent sized clue for me.


And after all those church services/sermons watching the adults around me supposedly forgiven of their sins and after taking communion, they still looked pretty uptight, pissed off and ready to get the fuck out of there.

[quote="Nick"]
Never have
[/quote]

we stopped attending church when i was in kindergarten. after that i didn't really think anything of religion until i was 13 at which point i decided that it was pretty silly and wanted nothing to do with it.

You guys make it sound so easy

It was


USA USA USA

I don't feel the need to believe in the christian god. I'd rather believe in the sumerian mythology and/or extraterrestrial influence at the dawn of humanity. They aren't tainted with the abrahamic bullshit.

I don't know, honestly

To me it would be strange and even disapointing if there was not an order to existence beyond human comprehension.  If you want to call that order God - I think that's what a lot of physicists are searching for without wanting to admit it - then go right ahead.  If you don't that's fine too.  You might as well boil the question down to "does infinity exist?"
 
Religion is a completely different animal, and for the most part I don't think it has much of anything to do with god.  Some people depend on it, some people don't need it, some people abuse the institution for profit, etc.  I would put all that in the category of culture.

None for me thanks

nope. never have. never will.

Nay

I often wonder what kind of society we would live in if we had the chance to never know of any unearthly deity offering their version of inner peace and tranquilty.


Im quite certain it wouldn't take long for someone to dream up a figurative being to fill our souls with empty promises to satisfy the void of this questionable prescense.


I've never been one of those people because i truly believe that you die when you die. Which is all that will happen.

no

nay and also i agree with this. some people just can't cope with the fact that we don't know all the answers.
 
[quote="Frank Horrigan"]
Too much going in the universe for it to make sense.
[/quote]
 
does the bible even justify any of the insane stuff that occurs in space like black holes or other galaxies?

That was funny

pretty much

I remember when we were made to memorize particular bible verses and such during Sunday school. Apparently they never tackled the whole 'why/what/how' scenarios during bible readings. It was always about this particular bible verse and how would that particular bible verse apply to your everyday normal life. Needless to say, none of it ever really made sense.

 
[quote="jorsh"]
No


Was forced to go to Sunday school and confirmation as a child and teen.


About 11-12 when I started thinking for myself/was able to think abstractly, I immediately knew it was bullshit.
[/quote]
this is basically me as well

No, I have no supernatural beliefs. I was raised Catholic in name only. My parents didn't force it and it wasn't a religiously strict home, but the notion was taught. In my early teens, I decided it was stupid and then checked out a number of other religions (which makes me now). I settled in as a Luciferian and stayed that way into my early twenties. It was somewhere in my mid-to-late twenties that I really started drifting away from spirituality altogether (about when I started reading about logic and gained access to more science info; I began reconfiguring how I assess information) and close to 30 maybe I decided to identify as an Atheist. 
 
I would love for there to be an afterlife, for my consciousness and awareness to survive my death and to see how Earth and humanity play out and other galaxies and everything right up to the heat death of the universe... then start all over again from the big bang, watch galaxies and stars and planets form, watch humanity emerge, observe the great minds and events of our history, and everything right up until my birth and begin my cycle again. But that shit ain't how it is. I hate the idea that my consciousness and awareness will cease. I truly hate it. I would love the comfort that a spiritual belief could provide, but I cannot bring myself to self-deceive on that.

[quote="H4T3M4CH1N3"]
I don't feel the need to believe in the christian god. I'd rather believe in the sumerian mythology and/or extraterrestrial influence at the dawn of humanity. They aren't tainted with the abrahamic bullshit.
[/quote]
What's the difference?

that is some ripe cherry picking right there

[quote="Abzu"]
No, I have no supernatural beliefs. I was raised Catholic in name only. My parents didn't force it and it wasn't a religiously strict home, but the notion was taught. In my early teens, I decided it was stupid and then checked out a number of other religions (which makes me now). I settled in as a Luciferian and stayed that way into my early twenties. It was somewhere in my mid-to-late twenties that I really started drifting away from spirituality altogether (about when I started reading about logic and gained access to more science info; I began reconfiguring how I assess information) and close to 30 maybe I decided to identify as an Atheist. 
 
I would love for there to be an afterlife, for my consciousness and awareness to survive my death and to see how Earth and humanity play out and other galaxies and everything right up to the heat death of the universe... then start all over again from the big bang, watch galaxies and stars and planets form, watch humanity emerge, observe the great minds and events of our history, and everything right up until my birth and begin my cycle again. But that shit ain't how it is. I hate the idea that my consciousness and awareness will cease. I truly hate it. I would love the comfort that a spiritual belief could provide, but I cannot bring myself to self-deceive on that.
[/quote]
 
You weren't on that Covenant of Death forum with all those occult practicing weirdos were you?

[quote="Frank Horrigan"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Abzu" data-cid="539782" data-time="1427676001">
<div>
No, I have no supernatural beliefs. I was raised Catholic in name only. My parents didn't force it and it wasn't a religiously strict home, but the notion was taught. In my early teens, I decided it was stupid and then checked out a number of other religions (which makes me now). I settled in as a Luciferian and stayed that way into my early twenties. It was somewhere in my mid-to-late twenties that I really started drifting away from spirituality altogether (about when I started reading about logic and gained access to more science info; I began reconfiguring how I assess information) and close to 30 maybe I decided to identify as an Atheist. 
 
I would love for there to be an afterlife, for my consciousness and awareness to survive my death and to see how Earth and humanity play out and other galaxies and everything right up to the heat death of the universe... then start all over again from the big bang, watch galaxies and stars and planets form, watch humanity emerge, observe the great minds and events of our history, and everything right up until my birth and begin my cycle again. But that shit ain't how it is. I hate the idea that my consciousness and awareness will cease. I truly hate it. I would love the comfort that a spiritual belief could provide, but I cannot bring myself to self-deceive on that.
[/quote]
 
You weren't on that Covenant of Death forum with all those occult practicing weirdos were you?
 
</div>
</blockquote>
Not familiar with the forum, no. 

I went to church (Episcopalian) as a kid because I wanted to nail a chick. When that became unobtainable I said fuck it, all this shit is gay anyway Haven't set foot in a church since

Yeah, because what good are churches?
 

To be fair, beautiful architecture was going to happen whether religion existed or not.

as to the intent of this thread, i oscillate on the question
 
so i suppose my answer is "probably"

[quote="Abzu"]
To be fair, beautiful architecture was going to happen whether religion existed or not.
[/quote]
True, but I'm trying to keep the topic somewhat balanced, and at least feature some positive things that have come about as a result of organized religion.
 
I have a soft spot for it because I do think it does a lot of good for a lot of people, even though I'm not one of them.  And as I stated earlier a part of me does believe there is some higher order to life.  Plus mysticism and whatnot strikes me as interesting, and there's some intersection there even if you get into Catholicism.

[quote="Paste Human"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Abzu" data-cid="539837" data-time="1427714676">
<div>
To be fair, beautiful architecture was going to happen whether religion existed or not.
[/quote]
True, but I'm trying to keep the topic somewhat balanced, and at least feature some positive things that have come about as a result of organized religion.
 
I have a soft spot for it because I do think it does a lot of good for a lot of people, even though I'm not one of them.  And as I stated earlier a part of me does believe there is some higher order to life.  Plus mysticism and whatnot strikes me as interesting, and there's some intersection there even if you get into Catholicism.
 
</div>
</blockquote>
Did good things come about because of religion, in spite of it, or regardless?

[quote="Abzu"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="H4T3M4CH1N3" data-cid="539571" data-time="1427525878">
<div>
I don't feel the need to believe in the christian god. I'd rather believe in the sumerian mythology and/or extraterrestrial influence at the dawn of humanity. They aren't tainted with the abrahamic bullshit.
[/quote]
What's the difference?
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
You need to ask yourself what's the source of inspiration for them to draw all those beings and stuff. Human see, human do, after all.

i believe in bunger
 
 
church of bunger

[quote="H4T3M4CH1N3"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Abzu" data-cid="539783" data-time="1427676260">
<div>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="H4T3M4CH1N3" data-cid="539571" data-time="1427525878">
<div>
I don't feel the need to believe in the christian god. I'd rather believe in the sumerian mythology and/or extraterrestrial influence at the dawn of humanity. They aren't tainted with the abrahamic bullshit.
[/quote]
What's the difference?
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
You need to ask yourself what's the source of inspiration for them to draw all those beings and stuff. Human see, human do, after all.
</div>
</blockquote>
I studied Mesopotamian mythology for 4 years. They simply personified those forces of nature to try and make sense of a world they did not have the science and means to study.


They drew deities that could fly... therefore aliens? Dude, come on. 
 

[quote="Paste Human"]
Yeah, because what good are churches?
 

[/quote]
 
Wouldn't it have been a better monument to our humanity if the money used to build that church was used for improving the lives of the ordinary people instead? Maybe, provide scholarships to great thinkers, food for the poor to prevent their starvation, build a library or university, or improve public works and infrastructure etc.

what would you do with a million dollars ironman

Some son of a bitch would pay.

[quote="Holocaust"]
what would you do with a million dollars ironman
[/quote]
 
I know exactly what I would do with that money. But I won't say that on here.

a great deal of european/western musical tradition was centered around religion too. would the great works of music history still have existed in the absence of religion? quite possibly, but we're stuck in a universe where the two are bound together, so we'll never get to know.
 
and underground metal would have lost something crucial in its formative years if it weren't for its staunch opposition and wonderful anti-religious imagery
 
but again, that's talking about religion and not god which aren't really the same thing at all

The rich have and always will find things to blow their money on. Back then it was commissioning great works of art. Now its yachts and soccer teams/clubs. Religion is nowhere to be seen today behind those disgusting displays of wealth. Nor was it anywhere to be seen when that Maharaja built the Taj Mahal for his wife. 
 
So I think I agree with Abzu that the presence of religion behind the great works was accidental and easily replaceable.
 
It boils down to greed and vanity in the end.

[quote="Abzu"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="H4T3M4CH1N3" data-cid="539924" data-time="1427745433">
<div>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Abzu" data-cid="539783" data-time="1427676260">
<div>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="H4T3M4CH1N3" data-cid="539571" data-time="1427525878">
<div>
I don't feel the need to believe in the christian god. I'd rather believe in the sumerian mythology and/or extraterrestrial influence at the dawn of humanity. They aren't tainted with the abrahamic bullshit.
[/quote]
What's the difference?
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
You need to ask yourself what's the source of inspiration for them to draw all those beings and stuff. Human see, human do, after all.
</div>
</blockquote>
I studied Mesopotamian mythology for 4 years. They simply personified those forces of nature to try and make sense of a world they did not have the science and means to study.


They drew deities that could fly... therefore aliens? Dude, come on. 
 

 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Just because your school of thought told you that doesn't make it the definitive truth, c'mon dude. Don't let your mind narrow to what others "taught" you.

i believe in sard
 
lord sard

now theres a movement (or lack thereof) that I could get behind.