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Arach's posts are rarely relevant, as he likes to try and turn almost every conversation to his pet 'theory'. This 'theory' is supported by the use of irrelevant science phrases Arach does not understand, and anyone who points this out is immediately put in the anti-religion, socialist inspired group. Arach (complete with tin foil helmet and a stick with a virus on (do not ask)) then fights this group of straw men to save the US.
wrong again harry.
just another anti-religious iron curtain lie to try and deceive people into your ideology. and when its too late, its to late.
remember who leaves your type of society first harry. the "intellectuals".
Not your fault. I on the spectrum so not uncommon for things like this to go over my head.
Not understanding AA is not your fault. It's just the way it is for most people.
He's a one trick pony and you had to have gotten a very special saddle in order to stay on...if you even tried to mount in the first place
I've always found Thomas Paine's approach to faith quite moving. He rejected institutional religion in favour of deism; and the arguments he employed to do so, at least in my eyes, made his faith so much more sincere and stronger than any that could be built on scripture, traditions, and customs.
If you are interested, I highly recommend his 'The Age of Reason'. At first glance it may appear to be quite heretical but he lays down a very moving defence of deism.
Deism is for people who don't like the idea of God being real and active in their lives. As if God is too old fashioned to understand contemporary issues.
Thank you for the suggestion. I started reading the introduction and I like it so far.
I hope you do read it. It is challenging in parts not because of the language or the subject but the instinctive defensiveness one might experience to having their beliefs challenged. If you do manage to power through it (it's only a small book) then it could reignite a whole new kind of faith in you or at least a new sense of wonder. Whatever happens I hope you find peace, wherever your search takes you.
just another anti-religious iron curtain lie to try and deceive people into your ideology. and when its too late, its to late.
remember who leaves your type of society first harry. the "intellectuals".
guess whos ideology they come too?
The OP and responses were about struggling with religious belief, until post 26, which was by you. the conversation continued until post 33, when once again you started with the anti-religious BS. You even admitted you could only 'speak to atheism', which has what to do with struggling with religious belief?
So if you would care to get back on topic, as I am interested in learning about something I never personally experienced.
Thanks everyone. I was away for the weekend and am just getting back to my thread.
I just want to be clear that I am not so much asking if there is a God or not. I don't think I am going from Catholic to atheist. I am feeling more agnostic. I am questioning organized religion. How much of it is just man-made (with a non-God/mostly political agenda associated with it). And I am not talking modern politics (although that's there too). I am talking ancient politics that is so lost on many people that they don't even know why it's done/why certain books were not added to the bible when others were/why we have the customs we have/etc.
Someone mentioned transubstantiation/transmutation earlier. That's core to Catholic belief. But I've never believed that the Eucharist literally goes from being from bread, to flesh, but by a miracle still looks and tastes like bread. I always figured it was symbolic reflection of what ancient Jews used to when they sacrificed lambs (and ate them) as part of Passover. So my Catholicism is pretty weak to begin with.
Anyway, thank you for the feedback. It's given me more to think about. I will also do the reading suggested (some posted here and some in private messages).
Thanks everyone. I was away for the weekend and am just getting back to my thread.
I just want to be clear that I am not so much asking if there is a God or not. I don't think I am going from Catholic to atheist. I am feeling more agnostic. I am questioning organized religion. How much of it is just man-made (with a non-God/mostly political agenda associated with it). And I am not talking modern politics (although that's there too). I am talking ancient politics that is so lost on many people that they don't even know why it's done/why certain books were not added to the bible when others were/why we have the customs we have/etc.
Someone mentioned transubstantiation/transmutation earlier. That's core to Catholic belief. But I've never believed that the Eucharist literally goes from being from bread, to flesh, but by a miracle still looks and tastes like bread. I always figured it was symbolic reflection of what ancient Jews used to when they sacrificed lambs (and ate them) as part of Passover. So my Catholicism is pretty weak to begin with.
Anyway, thank you for the feedback. It's given me more to think about. I will also do the reading suggested (some posted here and some in private messages).
Welcome (not that I did a lot). We understand that you problem is about which church (if any) and not about God per se. There are a lot of irreligious theists here and we atheists can get along very well with them. The wrangles about God or not were not intended for you so much, but are the inevitable derail into the only discussion subject there really is, here.
Thanks everyone. I was away for the weekend and am just getting back to my thread.
I just want to be clear that I am not so much asking if there is a God or not. I don't think I am going from Catholic to atheist. I am feeling more agnostic. I am questioning organized religion. How much of it is just man-made (with a non-God/mostly political agenda associated with it). And I am not talking modern politics (although that's there too). I am talking ancient politics that is so lost on many people that they don't even know why it's done/why certain books were not added to the bible when others were/why we have the customs we have/etc.
Someone mentioned transubstantiation/transmutation earlier. That's core to Catholic belief. But I've never believed that the Eucharist literally goes from being from bread, to flesh, but by a miracle still looks and tastes like bread. I always figured it was symbolic reflection of what ancient Jews used to when they sacrificed lambs (and ate them) as part of Passover. So my Catholicism is pretty weak to begin with.
Anyway, thank you for the feedback. It's given me more to think about. I will also do the reading suggested (some posted here and some in private messages).
I went from Catholic to atheist as a teenager and I am now 75 and still atheist. Very little of the teachings of the church make sense, imo.
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