That's Not Religion, That's a Relationship

Sophus · March 10, 2009, 02:05:38 AM

I wouldn't know if members of other faith are doing this as well but Christianity in its attempts to present itself superior to other religions is no longer categorizing itself as a religion. No, instead it's a relationship with god (see funny link http://www.notreligion.com/ ). Of course this means believing Jesus is the truth, the light, etc. So call me crazy but a basis of truth or religious dogma that rests upon divine revelation is the very definition of religion.

It just goes to show how involuntary it is to notice the absurdities in religion even when you're religious. I suppose that's what allows them to so easily become such arrogant spiritual elitists.

I say "That's not schizophrenia. That's a relationship with imaginary friends."

Kevin · March 10, 2009, 02:18:17 AM

Quote from: "Sophus"I wouldn't know if members of other faith are doing this as well but Christianity in its attempts to present itself superior to other religions is no longer categorizing itself as a religion. No, instead it's a relationship with god (see funny link http://www.notreligion.com/ ). Of course this means believing Jesus is the truth, the light, etc. So call me crazy but a basis of truth or religious dogma that rests upon divine revelation is the very definition of religion.

It just goes to show how involuntary it is to notice the absurdities in religion even when you're religious. I suppose that's what allows them to so easily become such arrogant spiritual elitists.

I say "That's not schizophrenia. That's a relationship with imaginary friends."

Hah! They had to take it one step further. Just like on my thread with "He". They go past proper grammar to make themselves more notice (dang I'm dizzy it feels while typing this), now they are trying to go past the lines to make their religion sound better, it seems. If only they knew that to their followers and potential followers, it sounds better. To people like us, who see past their bullshit (sorry for the language), it just makes them that much stupider.

EDIT: This was my 100th post

dr.zalost · March 10, 2009, 12:45:07 PM

For years it was trendy among those who were attracted to Buddhism to claim that their faith was really a philosophy or a psychology more than a religion. For the last decade or so many evangelical Christians have picked up on this. They've been trying to disassociate their particular brand of beliefs with "religion". "Religion" in this context is rarely defined but they seem to mean anything with rituals, lots of old people, what they call dogma (any belief that isn't theirs) and musical forms that aren't modernized.

VanReal · March 11, 2009, 02:02:21 AM

I saw an argument on another message board just the other day on this very subject. The christians were stating that the word religion and it's definition was something man came up with the categorize things but that in fact christianity was a personal relationship with god rather than a religion. Hmmm, I wonder if it's a personal relationship then why do they band together in churches. When questions were asked for clarification two people were banned swiftly and the others were mocked as just not being bright enough to understand since they hadn't given themselves to god and formed that relationship. Arggh.

karadan · March 11, 2009, 10:43:49 AM

Quote from: "VanReal"I saw an argument on another message board just the other day on this very subject. The christians were stating that the word religion and it's definition was something man came up with the categorize things but that in fact christianity was a personal relationship with god rather than a religion. Hmmm, I wonder if it's a personal relationship then why do they band together in churches. When questions were asked for clarification two people were banned swiftly and the others were mocked as just not being bright enough to understand since they hadn't given themselves to god and formed that relationship. Arggh.

haha. Getting blood out of a stone would be an apt comparison for talking with these people

Ninteen45 · March 11, 2009, 05:23:05 PM

Does this make being a christian an act of Necrophilia?

Will · March 11, 2009, 05:37:13 PM

Kinda changes the meaning of "servicing Christ". Yikes.

Maverick9092 · March 17, 2009, 05:06:20 AM

Quote from: "Will"Kinda changes the meaning of "servicing Christ". Yikes.

That is disgusting and offensive to Christians. This site is meant to develop dialogue between people about religion, but this is just downright rude. Servicing God is not an act of necrophilia, but a great life calling. It is something that I am proud to do, and not in the disgusting manner that you are suggesting it.

curiosityandthecat · March 17, 2009, 05:12:07 AM

Quote from: "Maverick9092"That is disgusting and offensive to Christians. This site is meant to develop dialogue between people about religion, but this is just downright rude. Servicing God is not an act of necrophilia, but a great life calling. It is something that I am proud to do, and not in the disgusting manner that you are suggesting it.

It's disgusting and offensive to people lacking a sense of humor.

Maverick9092 · March 17, 2009, 05:12:47 AM

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"
Quote from: "Maverick9092"That is disgusting and offensive to Christians. This site is meant to develop dialogue between people about religion, but this is just downright rude. Servicing God is not an act of necrophilia, but a great life calling. It is something that I am proud to do, and not in the disgusting manner that you are suggesting it.
It's disgusting and offensive to people lacking a sense of humor.

That's not about having a sense of humor, it's insulting something that some people base their entire lives around. That's not about being funny, that's insensitive.

curiosityandthecat · March 17, 2009, 05:16:43 AM

Quote from: "Maverick9092"That's not about having a sense of humor, it's insulting something that some people base their entire lives around. That's not about being funny, that's insensitive.

Nope, sorry. It's about having a sense of humor. Now, if it was, "Kinda changes the meaning of "servicing Christ" because all Christians are idiots and want to have sex with corpses", then it's insensitive, unfunny and obviously false. The joke resides in the exaggeration, the obvious discord with reality. You gotta learn to laugh at yourself.

Kodanshi · March 17, 2009, 01:30:08 PM

Indeed. Why can we make jokes about, and poke criticism at, everything dear to a personâ€¦ except their religion? What about a personâ€™s spiritual belief automatically demands respect?

Ihateyoumike · March 17, 2009, 04:24:29 PM

Quote from: "Maverick9092"That's not about having a sense of humor, it's insulting something that some people base their entire lives around. That's not about being funny, that's insensitive.

Nope, it's about being funny. It's even funnier when you religious nuts have thin skin about it. :banna:

Will · March 17, 2009, 04:56:18 PM

A small joke from someone you've never met offends you, but having someone trying to turn your religion into a cheesy marketing campaign doesn't?

dr.zalost · March 17, 2009, 06:44:32 PM

Maverick9092 wrote:

QuoteThat is disgusting and offensive to Christians. This site is meant to develop dialogue between people about religion, but this is just downright rude. Servicing God is not an act of necrophilia, but a great life calling. It is something that I am proud to do, and not in the disgusting manner that you are suggesting it.

That must be where I'm going all wrong then. I thought the site was for atheists could find some happiness. If it is for developing "dialogue between people about religion" well there's a lot of that going on elsewhere. Saying you can't offend people of a religious bent on an atheist forum is a slippery slope I'd rather not go down.

News:

That's Not Religion, That's a Relationship