religion and hippies

What I mean by sinful is we are not perfect, and God is; so compared to God, anything below that is sinful and wretched, starting from the day a person is born.

 

I don't think it keeps you from being free but it does depend on which religion you believe in.
i have alot of wiccan beliefs but i don't keep it from restraining me from what i do everyday.
Although, some religions do keep you from doing certain things because it may be looked upon as sinning. It just depends on what you believe in.

 

i just have to say i'm glad i'm a Zen Buddhist and don't have to walk around feeling like a "wretched, sinful" person. i'll take karma over the guilt trip any day of the week. i like being responsible for my own actions. Plus the Buddha taught us to think for ourselves; don't believe something just because someone tells you it's true. Check it out for yourself. ((peace))

 

THE ONLY WAY TO BE FREE IS TO QUESTION YOUR BELIEFS OVER AND OVER. than you will surely know if your belief is right. its a psychological rule 101.

 

I don't believe in listening to a book written by people who still thought the Earth was flat.

I think everyone should have their own religion that fits them perfectly instead of it being written for them, and they just listen because their parents told them it was right. think for yourself.

 

to the person who believes we are wretched, god is perfect, and that we can't save ourselves: according to your beliefs, god is omnipotent. this means god is everywhere and all knowing. if god is everywhere, god is everything. if god is everything, god is you and me and the air in between. the bible also states that god resides in us, further making this point. our bodies/minds may be imperfect-wretched if you like, but god is not a seperate figure that can reach down and make us better. god is us. it is up to us to grow and purify ourselves. this is what it means to "walk with god". it is all a process of dropping the false and the impurities to come closer to your true state of being. i feel that jesus was trying to show us this process through his actions. guilt has its temporary place in showing you that you have done something that did not aid in your growth, or may have hindered someone elses, but shame is sin. there is no place for it in my life.

 

I don't know enough about all religions to say that they all stop people from being free, but I think that my former religion does.

I could say so much about this subject, but basically... I was raised as a Catholic, but do not identify as Catholic anymore. According to the Church, I am a sinner because I am queer, I am not good enough to be a priest because I am female, and I am supposed to aspire to be pure and perfect like the Virgin Mary. None of those beliefs make me feel free or welcome in the Church.

And then there are the religious extremists and the people who use their religious beliefs to condemn others...

 

I got kicked out of a christian church for being myself.... >_<

 

You got kicked out of a church?

....

Wow.

That's horrible. =|

Awful people..

 

What kind of a church was it, anyway?

 

Just some random christian church that a friend invited me to...

The old ppl in charge didn't like me...but the youth pastor loved me...

I hitchhiked just to get there, I took cig breaks, I brought friends, and I gave hugs to everyone...which then they thought I was a whore and was sleeping with all the guys...I was a virgin!

Also, they took us to some christian rock festival...and my friend and I made some guy friends there too...wore "free hugs" tshirts after they were somewhat banned...and we made ninety bucks off people because we were broke...all we did was ask for change...its not our fault some people gave dollars...

 

I'll second that

 

Religion constricts you, and binds you to a set of rules, that are some time racist, sexist, and unsuitable for the XXI century.

Stop fooling your self, become an atheist!

 

atheism is also a structure of belief.

 

Religion is not dangerous or wrong because you're believing in something which can be proved, it gets dangerous when people treat others different because of it or just listen without thinking to other people in their religion, like leaders, that tell you what to believe and what the rules are. Nothing wrong with believing, people! Just keep an open mind.

 

Seems religion is a way for folks to clear their conscience too. You do something you're taught or you think is bad, then you feel guilty, then next you need to feel redeemed. So you pray for forgiveness to make yourself feel better about yourself.

Me... I just live with the stupid and bad things I have done.

 

I think that, by stereotyping religious people, you yourself are displaying behaviors similar to those you apparently abhore. Though personally an atheist, I have no problem with religious people unless they try to press their beliefs on others. However, when people truly believe that their religion is the only right and true religion, violence typically follows. In a perfect world, people could believe whatever they wanted to and never feel the urge to apply it to others.

 

Which then leads to the next question, why would a perfect God create an imperfect creation?

 

But then you run into another problem, because if you keep questioning yourself then you become a prisoner of your own intellect.

 

Forgiveness is pretty much living with the stupid and bad things we've done and that others have done. It's not simply about feeling better about yourself, it's about acceptance. Some people use prayer to help them forgive and remind themselves that they also need to be forgiven. Some people have other methods. But it all boils down to what you said: living with the stupid and bad things you've done.