@Religious people

So why be religious at all then?

I'm not christian, but I am religious, I'm pagan, and the pagan religion doesn't discriminate against gays

He says that he believes in the religion, and also that he's not afraid of hell.

If you believe in all religions, you're fucked anyway you go. Christians are right and you're not Christian, go to hell. Buddhists are right and you're not enlightened when you die, restart the circle of suffering. Islam is right and you're not a good Muslim, go to hell. It's a horse race with infinite horses to bet on, and you only get to bet once. If you lose, you're screwed. It doesn't matter if you're afraid of hell, because there exists some form of punishment for not following the religion in almost all religions.

Quote from: Beorn on February 25, 2011, 01:27:19 AM

So why be religious at all then?

I'm not christian, but I am religious, I'm pagan, and the pagan religion doesn't discriminate against gays

Paganism is not a religion. Unless you are telling me that Norse worship is the same as Druidism and the classical belief system.

That all depends, Hazbollah. There are lots of definitions of religion, but the ones I've heard are that they observe rituals, are public, and believe in the supernatural. Thus, Paganism is a religion.

That all depends, Hazbollah. There are lots of definitions of religion, but the ones I've heard are that they observe rituals, are public, and believe in the supernatural. Thus, Paganism is a religion.

But then religions have to have a set of beliefs. Pagan denominations have next to nothing in common. Pagans are religious, but there are different religions under that umbrella of paganism. It's like saying that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the same religion, only they all worship different Gods.

that is a very christian point of view, it is only since the rise of christianity that the "pagan religions" have been grouped

pagan is a religion, the word pagan is like the word christian
christian covers differing religions, and pagan covers different religions
but a catholic would count himself or herself a christian
as would an anglican, lutheran HELL even a seventh day adventist(or a six day atheist)
as to does druidism, nordic and wiccan religions fall under pagan

What? Christian denominations all share a common theme (God, Jesus his son). Those religions have next to nothing in common.

Quote from: Nightshade on February 25, 2011, 04:52:05 AM

pagan is a religion, the word pagan is like the word christian
christian covers differing religions, and pagan covers different religions
but a catholic would count himself or herself a christian
as would an anglican, lutheran HELL even a seventh day adventist(or a six day atheist)
as to does druidism, nordic and wiccan religions fall under pagan

What? Christian denominations all share a common theme (God, Jesus his son). Those religions have next to nothing in common.

most of them are polytheistic, most of them involve spellcasting and/or rituals, but it's mostly used recently as an all inclusive term for non-christian religions.

Quote from: Hazbollah on February 25, 2011, 06:40:19 AM

Quote from: Nightshade on February 25, 2011, 04:52:05 AM

pagan is a religion, the word pagan is like the word christian
christian covers differing religions, and pagan covers different religions
but a catholic would count himself or herself a christian
as would an anglican, lutheran HELL even a seventh day adventist(or a six day atheist)
as to does druidism, nordic and wiccan religions fall under pagan

What? Christian denominations all share a common theme (God, Jesus his son). Those religions have next to nothing in common.

most of them are polytheistic, most of them involve spellcasting and/or rituals, but it's mostly used recently as an all inclusive term for non-christian religions.

Christianity involves spellcasting. And most of that proved my point. Thank you.

Quote from: stume on February 25, 2011, 06:50:00 AM

Quote from: Hazbollah on February 25, 2011, 06:40:19 AM

Quote from: Nightshade on February 25, 2011, 04:52:05 AM

pagan is a religion, the word pagan is like the word christian
christian covers differing religions, and pagan covers different religions
but a catholic would count himself or herself a christian
as would an anglican, lutheran HELL even a seventh day adventist(or a six day atheist)
as to does druidism, nordic and wiccan religions fall under pagan

What? Christian denominations all share a common theme (God, Jesus his son). Those religions have next to nothing in common.

most of them are polytheistic, most of them involve spellcasting and/or rituals, but it's mostly used recently as an all inclusive term for non-christian religions.

Christianity involves spellcasting. And most of that proved my point. Thank you.

And rituals.

I am not sure how to reply, every time I try to type something either I will think it's not true or a dozen other points will come to mind... first off I am a firm believer in my religion, and though there is no "end goal" like heaven or whatever, it suits me well.

As for "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved," that depends on the meaning of "believe," I believe he was a great man, I believe that he was a great healer, and I believe he had some good points of view, but I do not believe that he was an all powerful divine being that took on human form to save humanity.

Also, many of the Christian religions say that I am unable to be saved as I am gay, and I am not giving up a part of myself for the chance that Christianity is actually right.

Don't worry. You're no worse off in the great cosmic Jewish zombie's eyes than a straight guy who wears a condom.

  I do ask God to help me be a better person,and to protect me.

This might be a silly idea but how about working on becoming a better person instead of asking God for help?