I’ve heard this argument twice that not believing in God or questioning certain actions somehow makes me so arrogant as to believe I have the power to create a universe? Or that I’m self serving or believe I’m above God?

Now this excuse, or very frustrating reasoning is used by both Muslims and Christians as I’ve seen. So why?

For background, I should mention that I'm not a Christian but am aware of some of the features of Protestant and Roman Catholic services.

I visited a Seventh Day Adventist Church for the first time on a recent Saturday and was surprised by one aspect of it, which caused me to leave the Sabbath service early. The program's music, prayers, and community announcements all seemed normal and even positive; however, when the Pastor gave his sermon, I was surprised by the tone of his speech and content of the message. He constantly shouted and sounded angry, which -- for me -- was a huge turn-off. The content of the sermon was not exactly "fire and brimstone" but focused on the judgmental and angry side of their God.

I know that not all Christian churches feature ministers or pastors who are like this...but why are some of them this way? Is the point of it just to fire up the faithful or invoke fear of their God to keep members in line?

Earlier today I just learned that the American Humanist Association created what is called the "Ten Commitments" of Humanism, an implied alternative to the Ten Commandments of Judaism/Christianity. I find the commitments to be more universal, or at least suitable across secular democratic societies. I thought it'd be fun to share the list of commitments here as they are listed on the AHA website https://americanhumanistcenterforeducation.org/ten-commitments/

Altruism: "I will help others in need without hoping for reward."
Critical Thinking: "I will practice good judgement by asking questions and thinking for myself."

Empathy: "I will consider other people's thoughts, feelings, and experiences."
Environmentalism: "I will take care of the Earth and the life on it."
Ethical Development: "I will always focus on becoming a better person."
Global Awareness: "I will be a good neighbor to the people who share the Earth with me and help make the world a better place for everyone."

Humility: "I will be aware of my strengths and weaknesses, and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of others."
Peace and Social Justice: "I will help solve problems and handle disagreements in ways that are fair to everyone."

Responsibility: " I will be a good person -- even when no one is looking -- and own the consequences of my actions."
Service and Participation: "I will help my community in ways that help me get to know the people I'm helping."

Hi, I am currently searching for a volunteer so that I can have a double-sided interfaith dialogue with him/her for educational purposes.

I will basically ask several religous questions related to faith, religous practices and so on. I am searching for a representative of buddhism.

Your help is much appreciated😊

Can someone from hindu religion tell me with reference. Where did meditation come from? Im doing my tesis and im stuck at history part.

Asslamwalikum I Get thoughts to perform sujoood by lowering eyes because of thoughts I lower my eyes but i have 0 belief in it also I don't believe I am done it too worship someoen?

Hello, I live in fort campbell TN and I was on a trailhead in clarksville running at around 1956 and the sun was nearly down. Now I am heavily in connection with the gods especially Odin, Freyja and Thor. I live by the phrase victory or Valhalla. Now I have my own branch of Norse paganism that has slight differences that do a lot to make it big differences despite heavily following the main branch. Ever since I was pulled into Norse paganism by the entire Norse Pantheon. I have had little stress and I only have had a few encounters with evil spirits only 1 being on me. Now in celestial realms I am one of Odins unspoken daughters Ylva Odinsdottir. I have great powers enough to kill any God or anything in a heartbeat. And I am well watched over by the gods.

On the trail about half a mile in. Something felt off the woods got real quiet and something or someone was staring at me. I started to look ready to face it. That was till Odin himself told me to get out of there. So I obeyed his order. He eventually told me to get off the trail and walk the streets back to my car. I could still feel the things eyes on me and it following me. I asked the gods and the many valkyries bestowed to me to protect me and fend this thing off as I don't have access to my powers. I had no fear I was told to leave by the gods. Whatever this thing was it followed me back to my car and followed me home. It kept its distance as if it didn't want to mess with the valkyries. I got back home on fort campbell and it still followed me. Once I got to my room in the barracks where I have major viking decorations and my altar the feeling stopped as I was now in sacred territory.

I have dealt with 2 different instances. 2 was with a friend the demon didn't want me but my friend I was the only thing keeping us protected as it feared the valkyries watching over me. Even when I told the Valkyries to leave temporarily it dared not attack. I don't know if it continues but that was an experience.

The other instance is me and my other friend decided to do the 11 miles of hell ritual. Yes we are supposed to be alone in the car yet the ritual started. Nothing happened until the end. Where we are supposed to stop and close our eyes and cover our ears and wait and supposedly what we most desire should appear. Now this didn't turn out how I thought it would. I was scared not knowing the strength of the demon we were about to mess with but at the end I felt it's hand touch my shoulder and pull back on the instant as if it got burnt proceeded by a major yell of excruciating pain as if it just got stabbed. The car moved a little and we went home. On the way home while driving it tried to touch me again 3 more times only for the burn and stabbing to get worse and worse as we left that trail on a road sign a clear imprint of Odins raven was seeable. A mark that it wasn't the valkyries protecting us but rather Odin himself.

What I experienced today was different it wasn't afraid yet didn't dare come close enough to be in combat with the valkyries and gods. I believe that it knows who I am in celestial realms and the power I hold and knows that me being stuck in mortal body is the only thing keeping me from killing it. What catches me wrong here is the fact that Odin told me to leave the area and go home. I didn't really see this thing but I could feel it eyes. Could it have been a wendogo or a skin walker? Probably not as I would have seen it.

Just looking to see what yall have to say about this. And you're thoughts on why Odin told me to leave instead of facing it.

Dragon, element, egg, "energy" (e.g. qi), and gem-related tropes

They seem to stick out from other tropes in terms of their appeal and how widespread their appeal is, and it feels like marketers know this.

They notably show up in video games, anime, and western animation but also some other media as well as some toylines and board games.

I would think it has something to due with the human mind, soul, spirit, or psyche (not in a psychoanalytic or modern sense) and something supernatural, transcendent, preternatural, or spirit world related, but I'm not sure what, and I'm not sure on the details.

Are we allowed to talk about the Amish in this reddit group, because I have some experience with the Amish Community from a vacation.

I have a few friends who once asked me what my religion was. I told them I was a Christian. But when they found out that my father follows another religion, they told me I'm not Christian and I was confused. They told me I'm half Christian and half my dad's religion. I told them that it's not like that but they didn't agree with me.

I don't think religion is inherited like that. It should be everyone's choice or what they want to believe in.

I don't see myself as any other religion than the one I follow. Why would a child having parents of different religion is in any compulsion to have both the religions?

So I think the argument in this article is worth considering. It's actually pretty thought-provoking. The great prophets and spiritual leaders tend to rely on "ought" statements and not "how to" statements. Was Jesus Portrayed as an Imperfect Teacher of Moral Growth in the Gospels? - The Good Men Project

So a great spiritual hero might say, "You ought to turn the other cheek" but does not explain how this might be possibe.

Everyone is just left wondering, how do I do this? Why should I do this? Is this the best our best spiritual guides can give us?

.

Older than the story mentioned in bible

Here’s the thing to remember: Hamas ≠ Palestinians or Muslim faith. Israeli State government ≠ Jewish faith. Nationalist Christian Politics ≠ Christian faith.

There are bad actors in power that are influenced more by money and lust for power than true faith.

We see the same pattern in Trump with Evangelical Christianity as we have decried of national leaders like Ayatollah Khomeini.

The problem is not the religions, it’s their misuse to further economic and political gain. Compare MLK, Mahatma Gandhi, Thich Nhat Hanh, Dalai Lama, (feel free to mention others). Notice that the greatest perpetrators of evil are not grassroots religious leaders; they are statesmen globally and international economic powers. How many of the more peaceful religious figures mentioned here ended up living a life without persecution? Why were they being silenced?

I believe that God, the ultimate creative power, wanted to experience himself (it's easier to give a gender here), so he split himself into multiple pieces and each of the pieces has a different role to play, some just exist and experience, some get an identity, some get complete individuality and free will, but it doesn't matter what they are, white, black, good or evil, human, animal or just an atom, whatever they experience, all experience and exist.

Now that the psychedelic stuff is out of the way, I will talk about the role of humans, which I personally can relate to most. Humans have a personality and individuality, which makes them able to forget what they are. They can live a life without ever remembering that they are part of the universe. They live a life set and determined, which isn't bad, it's just an experience. However, people who remember what they are, like children do often, can use their free will and creativity, which makes them seem like they don't fit into society and the set roles we have. They can change something that was already determined.

That's it, my belief isn't that complex, I just try to keep it as open minded as I can. If anyone tells you that something must be like this or that, listen to yourself if that is true or false. There is no limit to the number of worldviews, so everyone can have their own and be right and at the same time be wrong in the view of everyone else.

I remember mentions of celebrating the new moon in the Hebrew Bible, and I think some neopagans celebrate it too. Any other religions?

And if your religion marks it, why? What's the significance of it to you? And how do you celebrate it?

Thanks!

meat eating hindus who don't eat beef, would you eat lab grown beef?

Hello, this is a relatively simple post, I am looking for people that differ in religion and belief to share it with me.

I'm on my own journey, and I would like to understand what and how other people from around the world believe.

In return I'm willing to share some of my beliefs that I find are more universal through a spiritual level.

Feel free to DM me! It doesn't have to be overly serious, a light hearted chat is also good!

For anyone interested I'm a 20 year old, European.

I heard my pastor say that the Beatles were comparable to gospel, in both influence and in terms of substance. John was a very kind-hearted man, and was even polite to the man who killed him. Giving off a very ambivalent aura.

When he compared himself to Jesus, it made me think, "that's outrageous", but the more that I think about it, who would want to silence him more, if not the people that would kill Jesus in the first place???

So it made me think, it's possible right? As Elvis Presley once said, "I don't want to miss out on heaven due to a technicality."

The character Neo's journey parallels themes of fate and free will, reminiscent of Christian interpretations of divine providence. When Neo learns about the Matrix from Morpheus, he initially struggles to accept the reality of his predetermined role as the "Chosen One," questioning the validity of fate and his own agency within the system. Morpheus's teachings echo themes of predestination, suggesting that Neo's path is predetermined, akin to the concept of God's omniscience in Christianity.

However, Neo's journey also embodies existentialist themes, particularly in his quest for self-discovery and liberation from the constraints of fate. As he gains mastery over his abilities and challenges the boundaries of the Matrix, Neo transcends the deterministic confines of his predetermined role, embodying the existentialist notion of individual freedom and self-determination.

As Eren and his comrades navigate the treacherous landscape of their existence, they are confronted with the harsh reality of their predetermined destinies. Despite their efforts to defy fate and forge their own paths, they are inexorably drawn into a web of events dictated by larger cosmic forces. This struggle mirrors the Islamic concept of Qadr, which emphasizes the belief in a preordained fate ordained by a higher power.

Eren, in particular, grapples with the weight of his destiny as the protagonist destined to play a pivotal role in humanity's struggle against the Titans. His journey becomes a poignant exploration of the tension between individual agency and the immutable decree of fate. Like a pawn on a cosmic chessboard, he finds himself swept along by the currents of destiny, struggling to reconcile his desires for freedom with the inescapable pull of fate.

Throughout the series, characters are forced to confront the limitations of their autonomy within a universe governed by predetermined outcomes. Their battles against the Titans, both literal and metaphorical, serve as a metaphor for humanity's struggle against the forces of fate. Despite their efforts to resist, they ultimately come to accept the inevitability of their paths, finding solace in the belief that their actions are part of a larger divine plan.

The tragic irony of Oedipus's plight serves as a stark reminder of the limits of human understanding and the inherent unpredictability of fate. Despite his noble intentions and valiant efforts to alter his destiny, Oedipus finds himself ensnared in a web of fate from which there is no escape, underscoring the tragic nature of his existence.

In many ways, Oedipus's journey mirrors the themes of fate and free will found in certain interpretations of Judaism, which emphasize the belief in a predetermined destiny guided by divine providence. Like Oedipus, individuals in Jewish tradition grapple with the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency, navigating a world where fate and free will intertwine in complex and often paradoxical ways.

In this journey, Kathy and Tommy become emblematic of humanity's perennial quest to assert control over their lives in the face of external forces beyond their control. Their evolving understanding of fate serves as a poignant reflection of the human condition, inviting readers to contemplate the intricate interplay between destiny and individual choice. Like characters in a divine drama, they navigate the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency, questioning the extent to which they are masters of their own destinies.

This thematic resonance with interpretations within Christianity, particularly those emphasizing predestination, adds layers of complexity to the narrative. Much like believers wrestling with the paradox of divine will and human freedom, Kathy and Tommy confront the limitations of their autonomy within a predetermined framework. Their struggle becomes a microcosm of the universal human endeavor to find meaning and purpose in a world shaped by forces beyond comprehension.

In essence, "Never Let Me Go" transcends its narrative confines to become a meditation on the fundamental questions of existence. Through Kathy and Tommy's journey, readers are compelled to confront their own beliefs about fate, free will, and the nature of human agency. In this way, the novel becomes not just a story of fictional characters but a mirror reflecting the complexities of the human psyche and the eternal quest for understanding in the face of uncertainty.

How should I write this to make it sound accurate and correct?? (yes I used AI I'm getting desperate and I didn't do much research)

does religion unite or divide people?

im aware of the fact that islam suggests that islam suggests that there will be no prophet after Muhammad but why wasn't there a new religion in the christian world that for example aims to perfect the christian faith and fix it just like islam did but rejecting islam at the same time.. was there any historical factors?

My take on following the Bible literally

A lot about how most of these old books were written in such different times. And trying to apply them today is not always straightforward.

And I think most people agree these books were written by people, right? They were probably inspired by God but it went through people. And of course things get changed up when different people say the same thing. Just look at how many different versions of the Bible we have.

Like, those Letters of Paul, for instance, they're attributed to him - a person. There's a whole debate about whether he wrote all of them, or if it was other people, but that's not really the point here. The point is that God did not come down here and hire a literary agent to send his original manuscript of the Bible to Simon and Schuster.

Either way, they might not be completely accurate, given the passage of time and all.

I've come to believe it's really important to think deeply about what these books are trying to convey before just accepting the words in them at face value.

Blindly following them without question? That doesn't seem quite right.

We should be asking why they say what they do, considering the context of when they were written, and how the world has changed since then.

I mean, some of these books were penned way before the scientific method was even a thing.

Why I stopped going to Church

I stopped going to church when I was 19.

It just felt like a lot of people there weren't really living by what they preached, you know?

Like I said, parts of the Bible are unclear in how they should apply today. But there's plenty in those texts that is pretty clear-cut, like not listing, um, Matthew 5:28. I knew way too many people who weren't even trying to follow that.

But I knew so many people who weren't even trying to follow those guidelines.

Luke 12:15 says not to be greedy, and I knew so many people who went to church and this part was a joke.

Even some of the preachers weren't living up to what they were preaching.

I know this is just my experience talking, not some universal truth or anything. But I can't help but think that a religion's essence is reflected in how its followers actually live out its teachings. From what I've seen, a lot of them aren't really doing that.

I'm not always following the rules either. Like, the Bible talks a lot about modesty for women. I don't adhere to that nearly the same. I can wear shorts if I want to. Of course I have limits based on what's reasonable, but I'm not following the Bible exactly how it's written.

It's 2024, you know? Things change.

But I want to hear from you. How much do the sacred texts in your religion guide your actions?

We may have some significant theological differences but I think that we have more than enough common ground for peace. People need to be less impulsive, aggressive and incomprehensible in their approach to different ideas. Only then will intelectual confrontation be the norm rather than war/terrorism. We don’t know who God will allow in Paradise in the end, but my heart tells me that it will not be exclusive to people of the right religion. Although we are made in the image of God, we are fallible beings. Would it really be one’s fault if he comes to the wrong conclusion? If one truly desires to follow God and practices the Ten Commandments with that intent, would he go to hell for simply not choosing the right religion? God is the most forgiving, the most merciful. In perspective, I think two enemy soldiers who kill each other simultaneously in war will find each other in Paradise as both were willing to die for their idea of God, albeit one of them was wrong. With this said, I think people just really need to become people again, be compassionate and comprehensive, to look at their neighbour not for his weird religious views but for his faith and feed off that faith to become better in his religion. Let us bond for everything we have in common and let’s be civil in regard to everything else. All praise be to God.

I guess I am somewhat Lutheran, I believe in a higher power, and I believe in the ability of certain individuals who may have some sort of gift or influence. I have no idea what is said in the bible. And I apologize if this should be posted elsewhere. I am truly here for the discussion of any and open to all opinions.

I have been thinking a lot about theories of earth being some sort of ”limbo”, or even a kind of hell- especially for so many human beings who are suffering, those that have to endure pain every single day.. whether it’s war, famine, natural disasters, humans suffering at the hands of another person… things like human trafficking, kidnappings, children in abusive homes. Even in terms of mental health issues, such as severe chronic depression or anxiety, a parent losing a child... When I really think about it, it’s hard for me to not to believe otherwise, if there is a reason for human life..

The theory that “hell” could be “a state of mind” or that earth is a state of “limbo” in some ways… is this in any religious text?

I like to think heaven on earth would exist, but maybe for like (a made up number I just came up with)11% of the population. Which sounds about right in terms of quality of life, money, comfort, blah blah

Also, are there theories that adopting any of the seven capital sins or the seven cardinal sins could lead to a “hell” on earth type of cycle?

Does it still apply today?

I look at countries like Australia, I wouldn’t call them religious in general. Most Aussies I know, 90% don’t go to church or any places of worship. I’m trying to think hard of people who are religious, it would be the oldies that I met when I used work at the nursing home.

Even the place I’m living now, which has a lot of hetirees, the boomers, they don’t go to church either. On Fridays and weekends, they tell me they go shopping 😅😭

How do I explain it to a kid?

I have a question for atheists. Why do you not believe in a god or an afterlife? You believe that death is the end of the line right? There is nothing after death. So what’s the worst that could happen if you choose to believe in a certain faith? If it’s not true anyway, then you didn’t lose anything. But if you follow a certain religion and it happens to be right, all the better. By picking just any random religion to believe in, your chances of continuing life after death go up by an infinite amount. Why take the chance, by eliminating all chance? This is a genuinely something that I am really curious about.

Edit: This got more comments than I thought it would so I would like to clarify some stuff:

1. This is not meant as an attack on atheists. I posted this purely out of curiosity and eagerness to see people’s views. Please don’t take offense, at any replies I’ve given as I just like to get as much information as I can!

2. I did not know what Pascal’s wager was before this. But even if I did, it has still been nice to get actual information from people with all different perspectives.

3. When I said “choose to believe” I think some people misinterpreted it, although I can see how it happened because my way of describing it was not good. What I really meant by that was: actually work to understand and follow the religion. Not just “ah I believe, now I can go back to what I was doing and not be worried”.

I try to reply to most of the comments to get information or provide feedback on your response, but I can’t get them all. Thank you to everyone who has taken time to give these well thought out and informative responses.

Are you looking for suggestions of what religion suits your beliefs? Or maybe you're curious about joining a religion with certain qualities but don't know if it exists? Once a week, we provide an opportunity here for you to ask other users what religion fits you.

A little back story: I was bored this weekend and copied the Bible, Quran, Book of Mormon, Communist Manifesto, and Declaration of Independence into a giant text file. I then wrote a python script that took each group of 2 words and stored the words that were likely to come next. By providing it a starting phrase, it would begin to generate religious sounding gibberish. To generate the one true Lord’s Prayer, I provided it the starting words of each line, generated 10 different conclusions to that line, and chose the best one. Here are the results:

Our Father which art in heaven, and there hath played the harlot. Hallowed be thy master's son's wife. Thy kingdom is divided. Thy will be done against a reactionary governmental party in earth, as it has been made drunk with the wine of violence. Give us this day against Goliath and his brethren. And forgive us our debts, as we were allowed of God in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the manner. And lead us not into their mouths, as Allah hath cursed them for a hundred and twenty times, but deliver us out of Macedonia. For thine is the kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. Amen.