Religion and me
Feb. 26th, 2004 02:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
woodfaceAh, you know there seems to be a religious debate coming up. I should just stay far away from it but perhaps it's best to explain for once and for all why I don't believe and what my views on religion are.
I grew up in a catholic society. I spend 12 years of my life being taught about god and catholic religion. I did my communion, went to church and I believed. I was a very religious kid, more so than my sisters. I used to pray every evening before I went to bed. I loved reading my children's bible. I might not be an expert on religion, but I do know it to some degree.
I stopped believing one day. I don't know how, it just happened. Probably gradually. I just don't believe I will ever go back to it.
Why not? Because I hate to think that I would take on a religion to get redemption. To be free of my sins and end up in heaven. I refuse to better myself for a god and his promise to eternal life. I want to be the best person I can be for myself. I want to live for myself. And when I believe again, I want it to be for the faith itself and not for an ulterior motive.
I don't believe in the bible, not the way some people do. It's a text, written by humans with human flaws. It reflects the convictions of a society from over 2000 years ago. Sure, some basics still stand now and the world would be a better place if we followed it. But some things are really not applicable to this age anymore.
So, I don't believe. I don't deny or acknowledge the existance of god. I just stand beside religion because I need to believe in myself first. I admire people who draw strength from their faith. It's just not something that I will ever experience. Sometimes, I wish I could believe but I'd find myself a hypocrite to pray just in order to get something back. I'll probably go to hell for it, but then I would still go to hell for a lot of my behaviour. Then again, I don't believe in hell, so I'm not that bothered. I'd like to believe that I'm a good person despite not going to church.
The debate on homosexuality? I think I pretty much covered it when I talked about the bible here. I'd just want to get one thing of my chest. It hurts me to believe that people I care about (and in part myself too) are judged for it. And yes, perhaps you don't judge the person but if you believe their actions condemn them to hell (even if they don't believe in hell to begin with), that's judgement to me. I respect everyone's believes, you are free to think whatever you want. But I reserve the right to disagree as you are allowed to disagree with me. I'm sorry if this offended you, it's just how I see it.
I grew up in a catholic society. I spend 12 years of my life being taught about god and catholic religion. I did my communion, went to church and I believed. I was a very religious kid, more so than my sisters. I used to pray every evening before I went to bed. I loved reading my children's bible. I might not be an expert on religion, but I do know it to some degree.
I stopped believing one day. I don't know how, it just happened. Probably gradually. I just don't believe I will ever go back to it.
Why not? Because I hate to think that I would take on a religion to get redemption. To be free of my sins and end up in heaven. I refuse to better myself for a god and his promise to eternal life. I want to be the best person I can be for myself. I want to live for myself. And when I believe again, I want it to be for the faith itself and not for an ulterior motive.
I don't believe in the bible, not the way some people do. It's a text, written by humans with human flaws. It reflects the convictions of a society from over 2000 years ago. Sure, some basics still stand now and the world would be a better place if we followed it. But some things are really not applicable to this age anymore.
So, I don't believe. I don't deny or acknowledge the existance of god. I just stand beside religion because I need to believe in myself first. I admire people who draw strength from their faith. It's just not something that I will ever experience. Sometimes, I wish I could believe but I'd find myself a hypocrite to pray just in order to get something back. I'll probably go to hell for it, but then I would still go to hell for a lot of my behaviour. Then again, I don't believe in hell, so I'm not that bothered. I'd like to believe that I'm a good person despite not going to church.
The debate on homosexuality? I think I pretty much covered it when I talked about the bible here. I'd just want to get one thing of my chest. It hurts me to believe that people I care about (and in part myself too) are judged for it. And yes, perhaps you don't judge the person but if you believe their actions condemn them to hell (even if they don't believe in hell to begin with), that's judgement to me. I respect everyone's believes, you are free to think whatever you want. But I reserve the right to disagree as you are allowed to disagree with me. I'm sorry if this offended you, it's just how I see it.
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looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 09:19 pm (UTC)Seems like there's a few of us out there that think like that. I've always believed in God, and in 'heaven' (however you like to imagine heaven). But I believe that how you revere Him (Through church, prayer, etc) isn't important, so long as you are intrinsically a good person (kind, compassionate, giving, thoughtful, loving, caring yadda yadda yadda). To me if you are that kind of person, then I don't think God is going to boot you just 'cause you didn't go to church.
I was actually thinking about this on the way to work this morning (must have been psychically linked, or something) and realised that while I don't get on my knees and say five 'Our Fathers', I do pray. Everytime I say 'thank you' (that could be to a person, or just outloud when things go well) or smile at a work colleague, donate to charity - It's not ritualised, formalised, but it's still (to me, anyway) a form of prayer.
I always think back to the saying: Doing evil in the name of good is still Evil. Doing good in the name of Evil is still good. - you can translate that into basically what we're talking about now.
Hmm - always interesting to have a philosophical debate on line. Am now going to wait for flames to warm me.
Bec.
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 09:36 pm (UTC)I think it's a great way to look at religion and while I don't believe anymore, this is how I looked at things and in a way still do.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 09:58 pm (UTC)Maybe I'm jewish with all the guilt (ooh, lookit ma, a stereotype!). There are times when I envy people who have the kind of faith that I've seen on lj lately - when I wish I could have that kind of faith.
Anyway, this is all WAY too deep to be thinking on a FRIDAY morning!
It's FRIDAY!
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:11 pm (UTC)I respect people who believe, I admire it sometimes and wonder how it would be. But I don't envy it because I like the freedom not believing has given me. Okay, so I'm conflicted ;o)
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:27 pm (UTC)Of course, that works backwards as well. we'll be waking up to Monday when you're just finishing Sunday. Or something like that.
My head hurts now, thinking about it.
*g*
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:28 pm (UTC)Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:29 pm (UTC)Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:39 pm (UTC)*snarls and storms off to sulk in corner*
Wanna holiday, dammit!
*g*
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:40 pm (UTC)Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:44 pm (UTC)Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 10:45 pm (UTC)Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 11:07 pm (UTC)Poor hon. Have a hot chocolate, I'm sure that will help....
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 11:09 pm (UTC)Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 11:10 pm (UTC)Oooh look - right back where we started at the beginning of this conversation!
*G*
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 11:35 pm (UTC)Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 11:37 pm (UTC)Hakuna-Matata, Hakuna-Matata
Sorry - I think I need to go out and buy The Lion King and get it over and done with.
*facepalms*
Re: looong reply!
Date: 2004-02-26 11:40 pm (UTC)