nankerphelge wrote on Aug 7
th, 2009 at 3:42pm:
If someone is immoral, it is not because of their homosexuality.
If someone is heterosexual, they can still be immoral.
That sounds like me.
And I don't really know the differences between agnostic and aetheist.
I know me.
What will likely be a surprise to fuman, is that as a trained engineer/scientist, I too believe in science over aligning myself with any religion.
And I don't mean "junk science" used in legal, political or theological skirmishes - anyone will say anything for the right "reward" - money, prestige, publicity, etc. I mean science of what we are, where we come from, how we got here, etc. that is based more on understanding the facts than spinning certain of them to push an agenda. I realize that can be a tough line to draw, but I trust in my ability to draw it.
And over the years I have balanced that understanding with my understandings of religion.
My mother came from a devout Catholic upbringing. Church every day and twice on Sunday.
She hated it - it drove her from the church.
I married a Catholic woman and my kids were raised Catholic.
I went to church with them on occasion - and while I did not hate it, I could never get past things in it that just didn't add up to me. Things I could not reconcile.
And to me, it came down to logic.
#1
If there is a heaven, and a god, and a life everafter, and I don't believe in it, I know what I am getting - a full and fun life unencumbered by "sins". And if I am wrong, and there is a heaven, well I lived a fun life and when I die I pay forever in hell.
VS
#2
I should lead a life based in measure on my belief that I need to reject "sin" and lead a wholesome, Wonderbread kinda existence, with the understanding that any straying into sin costs me, but in the end, if I am forgiven, I will be in heaven for eternity. Unless there isn't a heaven, and you just die and spend eternity in the ground rotting, and you didn't have that fun cuz it was "sinful", and the fun you did have you were taught to feel guilty about, and now I have all eternity to not be able to think about what a bad choice that was!
BUT I don't know if I am right or wrong, and so I try not to be so presumptious as to discount someone else's decision to believe in religion, and god, and heaven.
That's all I have to say about that.
Agnostic would fit you, we are much alike in this regard... the only difference may be, I still beleive in God and follow no religion...
"I realize that can be a tough line to draw, but I trust in my ability to draw it."
That very same thing, is what I call my god conscious. An intuitive thought or feeling, to do the right thing, with no thought of self or reward.
"and while I did not hate it, I could never get past things in it that just didn't add up to me. Things I could not reconcile.
And to me, it came down to logic."
While i respect people of faith, from all religions and denomintations or lack of... I do not as a whole like or trust large religous institutions. I can reconcile God, just by simply remembering a feeling, like seeing my children born, and feeling connected to something, and that was good enough. yet, I'm unable to accept policies and histories of the big religions. I had to reconcile those things, yet it was easy, to divorce god from that... I have never seen an act of god that I consider aligned with the horros commited by men, in the name of god. We will all die, so floods, fires disease are all part of life, and of god. It is when I see slfishness and self interest, put bfore God, in the name of God, is when you will see a rejection from me. I do not believe you have to tolerate something that offends you as a human being. If that was the case, there wouldn't be a debate on many things. most of us aren't directly effected by certain moral issues, it isn't until a person who seeks power, inserts said issue into society, that debate, and friction begin. A perfect example, for me is, an abrotion happens all the time, a disturbing horrible thing. The truth is, it has been a long time, since anyone I knew was directly effected by one. That for me is where I use alot of logic and try to reconcile religion, and overthink it. I have come to the conclussion, no matter what side anyone is on, even with that one issue, it is usually not really their business to begin with...
On a side note, it's no surprise to me, all religions have a certain take of the golden rule, and most people of faith and religion are kind peaceful people. It's very small numbers who corrupt and pervert those beliefs. Most of what you will get from me, is my direct experience with those who pervert them... white christianity is what is most in my life experience... and too bad for them, that's who I least tolerate. Tolerance is most overstated and misused. No ne should be forced to tolerate something they find offensive. If I see two dudes making out, I just move on... i found it didn't really bug me that much, same if I see some street corner preacher telling me of the worlds sin... I just move on. My home is my castle!!! All tolerance ends at my door, just ask peddlers and mormons!!!