As far as Harry Potter goes, I have read part of it, and the concept is good enough, I myself, however, would rather read Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, Ravlenloft, or something more mature like those.
Organized religion gives people a way to say "Hey, I'm right and you're wrong. You should start believing this way, cause my Bible/Koran/Torah/etc tells me to do it." What people don't realize is that if you study different religions, you'll see they *all* have a flood myth, or some other big catastrophe that destroyed the world. They all have a "main" being, God, Allah, Zeus, Jupiter, Buddha, etc. The stories in all those books are just the way that people of that time explained things they didn't understand.
Think back to the Middle Ages. A lot of the fantastical things of that time were just ways for the people to explain what they didn't have the knowledge base to understand. Think how they'd see a plane today, or neon lights. It's the same concept with biblical text. It was all written by a human, so it's subject to flaws.
So who's right? No one really knows if they're right, but no one really knows if they aren't, either. When you organiz religion,it does more to pit one religion against each other than it does to bring people together who think the same and worship the same.
Not saying anyone shouldn't practice the religion they feel in their hearts is right. People should always do what is comfortable for them. But you don't need a church or a book or a set of pronouncments of how you should spend your life to live a good one.
Lyinar Ka`Bael, Piney Fresh Druidess - Luclin
quote:
Star Collective wrote, obviously thinking to hard:
I realize I'll probably get flamed for this but I need to get it off my chest.Shame on "organized" religion. The world would be a better place without it. In fact, why not just call it "organized" crime. I can't speak for the rest of the "organized" religions but I know for damn sure that the Catholic Church isn't the monster you'd like to pretend it is. No one "makes" you put money in the collection basket, which by the way, goes to good causes and the maintenance of the local Church. No one says "This is what the bible says and you have to do it this way!" Thats ridiculous. As for the Holy Wars, you're right, that was all our fault. The Muslims didn't do shit, I mean, whats burning a few towns and slaughtering a couple thousand or even million inncocents? The Church should have just rolled over and let them devour the world. As for looking down on others because they don't believe the same way I do, everyone looks down on everyone else who doesn't believe the same way they do. I have yet to hear the Pope order the world to stop thinking and bow down. I am not intolerant of others' beliefs, but I will not tolerate them bashing the Catholic Church. You claim that we are in fact intolerant, and yet you are the on perpetrating that very evil. Shame on us, for having a faith that connects people and brings them together. Shame on us for praying for the world. Shame on us for believing something contrary to your beliefs.
Shame on us for being generous, loving, and kind. Since we are a group of people sharing the same belief with a hierarchy that has lasted for millenia, we are obviously wrong.
Wow! Extremely well put!
quote:
Maradon? Wrote, in his *sarcasm*infinite*saracsm* knowledge:
Even today many people are manipulated into giving a percentage of thier income to thier "church" so thier ministers can drive around in mercedes's and wear diamond rings.
I bed to differ! I know not 1 priest who wears a diamond ring or drives a mercedes! And we're not "manipulated" into giving money, we do out of the goodness of our hearts! Priests make LESS then minimum wage because they devoted their lives to doing good, and HELPING people. Do you really think helping people is a bad thing?
I didn't respond to get your feathers ruffled. Don't make it an attack on you personally when its not, nor is it an attack on Catholics. Read my statements again with an open mind. If you'll notice, I never said "Believe the way I do." I stated my 5 reasons why I don't like organized religion, as was Requested. Granted Im not Maradon?. At any rate, don't take it personally as it certainly wasn't meant to as an attack on anyone.
quote:
Elspeth had this to say about Cuba:
I bed to differ! I know not 1 priest who wears a diamond ring or drives a mercedes!
I was talking about a couple types of baptists who do this sort of thing. "The Church" demands a certain percent of the family's income in exchange for thier souls.
But like I said;
quote:
Originally posted by ME:
I'm not suggesting that ALL organized religion will invaribly stunt the mental growth of it's follwers and manipulate them, only that it frequently does.
The fact remains that organization in religion really isn't needed. It provides no enlightenment that you couldn't accomplish on your own and frequently only accomplishes the opposite, turning you into a closed-minded, hateful, gullible person. Case in point:
quote:
Originally posted by Star Collective:
As for the Holy Wars, you're right, that was all our fault. The Muslims didn't do shit, I mean, whats burning a few towns and slaughtering a couple thousand or even million inncocents?
You would have a point if that were true.
It isn't.
During the crusades the muslims did nothing but defend thier land against invading crusaders. They never even left thier borders.
Aside from that I really have nothing to say to you. You're incapable of seeing any flaws in your way of thinking because you're already a victim of "Organized Thought". Your opinion is based on nothing more than the idea that "It's the way the Church tells me it is" and is thus meaningless. [ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: Maradon? ]
Let people worship what gods they will..
and I add to that.. so long as it doesnt infringe on other people's rights in any way.. harmful or otherwise.
quote:
Maradon? had this to say about Captain Planet:
During the crusades the muslims did nothing but defend thier land against invading crusaders. They never even left thier borders.
I hate it when people use religion as an escape clause for doing something wrong. Or when they try to force it onto others. That's not right.
When/if I get around to having kids of my own, I'll have 'em read the books as soon as they possibly can. Anything that prompts a love of reading and an inquisitive approach to the world gets thumbs up.
Religion: Those who judge the religious beliefs of a group based on the actions of a few are no less guilty of closed-mindedness and preconception than those they accuse. The whole point of freedom of religion is that everyone gets to choose.
"Question everything"
"Why?"
quote:
Maradon? had this to say about Captain Planet:
you're already a victim of "Organized Thought". Your opinion is based on nothing more than the idea that "It's the way the Church tells me it is" and is thus meaningless.
Oh my lord, are you ASSUMING you think I'm going by, as you say, "What the church tells me"? Let me sum up what you're saying here:
People that go to church have no opinions of their own and then obviously their opinion is "meaningless".
That is perhaps the most idiotic thing I have heard in a looong time, a LONG time. Jeesh Maradon, think of ALL the people in the world that go to Church. You're saying ALL of them are close minded. Well sir, you are WRONG
quote:
Maradon? had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
Aside from that I really have nothing to say to you. You're incapable of seeing any flaws in your way of thinking because you're already a victim of "Organized Thought". Your opinion is based on nothing more than the idea that "It's the way the Church tells me it is" and is thus meaningless.
YOU LOSE
That's the lamest way out of an argument I think I've ever seen.
quote:
We were all impressed when Elspeth wrote:
Oh my lord, are you ASSUMING you think I'm going by, as you say, "What the church tells me"? Let me sum up what you're saying here:
People that go to church have no opinions of their own and then obviously their opinion is "meaningless".That is perhaps the most idiotic thing I have heard in a looong time, a LONG time. Jeesh Maradon, think of ALL the people in the world that go to Church. You're saying ALL of them are close minded. Well sir, you are WRONG
Read the full thing before putting gasoline in the fire. That comment was aimed at someone, not at every single religious out there.
quote:
Woody had this to say about Jimmy Carter:
Note: as I have stated before... and will state again.Maradon is an idiot of immeasurable proportions.
That is all.
Riiiight. Yet, he has a valid argument here. Go back to trolling EQ threads. 
I love Woody he makes me sweat and I like to dream about him. I know you thought I was diggin on him... but I really just want to touch his butt. [ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: Woody ]
You tell 'em Woodsters
quote:
Woody had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
Careful who you call troll junior.
Spank me again verbally Woody? Please? I love you. [ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: Woody ]
So I don't choose to not have a religion because I refuse to "put forth the effort". I choose to not have a religion because I have my own way of worship and there's no group out there for me to gather with.
Not that I would. I'm a singular type of person. I'd rather believe how I do, and leave it at that. I don't need like-minded people around to make my beliefs valuable to myself.
That's one reason a lot of people get into organized religion. They have to have their beliefs validated. Not all, but when I *did* go to church, I saw that at times.
Lyinar Ka`Bael, Piney Fresh Druidess - Luclin
