I know this is not the religion forum, but I also know some of you consider yourself Christians so I just like to get opinions and share my own with you guys here Jesus' teachhings have been so badly misunderstood. It really makes me sad how people have given up on following His advice to meditate and better yourself through direct God-Communication. The entire concept of what He was getting at with repentance, is highly misunderstood and lacking half of the original meaning behind His words. The English word repent, which is deriven from the Latin word paenitere meaning "to be sorry", is actually about giving up attachment to material things, a yoga lifestyle, considering the fact that the word is used tp translate from the original Greek in which this New Testament was written, and the Greek word being metanoein, meaning "to turn ones mind in the opposite direction, to change ones mind by adopting a new view". From meta-"to change, to be in opposition to", and nous- "mind". Obviously this does not mean to directly feel sorry for our sins and beg for God's forgiveness, like that one sacrament practiced in churches, confession or whatever. It means that we should turn our mind away from selfish ego desires and attachment to material possesions, and instead directly concentrate on the temple of God within us using meditation, or yoga. Simply saying your sorry for your sins, doing some rounds on holy beads, and telling a preist of your wrong doings, does not give you an exucse to go right back out into the world, forget your connection to God, and live an un-Godly lifestyle. Learn the real meaning behind the Book and the Christ's teachings before you go ahead and assume you are a follower of that which you may not really even understand.-
I think what has turned me off of religion is people that assume they know the real meaning behind the book. the extremist christians that preach hate not equality and the hypocritical christians
Well, I agree Johnny. (My name is John too, btw) I dont claim to understand the entire esoteric meaning behind Jesus' words, but I have studied them to a pretty great extent, and continue to study them almost daily, along with many more spiritual teachers. Christians today generally have some weak grasp on the origin of their own religion, and the words of the New Testament are either taken as literal, or are taken as symbolism but alluding to, what? They dont even know, themselves. I love the multitude of different responses you get when you ask Christians what the Holy Spirit actually is. Nobody seems to know :tonuge:
Not wanting to offend anybody but. In my eyes what has been written in a book thousands of years ago about someone who claims to be the sun of the almighty seems to far fetched too me. I only believe what I see and feel I do believe in a higher power or as in Buddhism an Ultimate Reality. But a man who claims to be the son of god in the middle of a desert with a few followers who's story is written by writers hundreds of years later to crush and dissolve paganism from Europe. Does not appeal to me as the whole truth. But hey, each to their own.
Shamanic Steve, the problem is that people believe that Jesus was the one and only 'Son of God'. But what I brought this topic up for is to show that when you read between the lies, there is a MUCH greater and deeper esoteric meaning behind the teachings.
^^He is right. As much as I am agnostic, for the reason I am not sure which is right, I do believe that a religion is more of a way to think, than of how you got here. If you take a biblical text and read it, I bet you will learn morals and thoughts on living, more than you would believe the text. I treat all biblical texts, no matter the religion, more of a story. Than a non-fiction book.
That's a good way to look at it Vactom, rather than to simply dismiss it all together as a work of fiction.
I think the reason im turned off by religion is because.. I'll rebel to anything.. jk.. but seriously.. fuck.. thats all you hear about half the time.. if its not terrorism.. or war.. or politics... its fuckin religion.. if people kept religion to themselves.. i might respect it more(same goes with war/politics/terrorism).. but everyone seems they need to push it on to the next person.. like its the best thing ever.. so i'll just wait til i die and then i will truely know whats what.. until then.. im livin my life by whatever standards i set MYSELF to.. i don't need no book to tell me how to live.. if i did.. i'd read a Tony Robinson(i think thats him) book before i read a bible...i can only hope some christian will die.. and after they die they will see Buddah and he'll be like "Haha fucker.. should've become fat and lazy.. thats Jesus talk is BULLSHIT" or ya get to the gates and theres Satan and he goes "Ya really thought some long haired hippie ran the show up here?"
I think the problem with the misinterpretations of religions stem form how people look to be taught faith objectively rather than to experience it subjectively. This opens it for people to warp it to serve there own agendas.
Exactly Fallout. When religion is dealt to the masses by sermons led by presits who do more reading of books than spend time in prayer or God-communion, their speeches are just that, void of any authoritive personal experience with God, and the people blindy accept what they have to say. People need to experience God for themselves first, before they speak to others. If God is used commercialy, or to gain reputation or boost ones ego, the user is not only fooling himself but is damaging what could be people's path to virtuous living and choosing good activity over bad. -
I'm leaning toward the belief that there is in fact a God, but I'd say I'm still a fence-sitter right now... If I were to believe in a God, I dont need some organization telling me how to. Much less an organization as fucked up and brutal as the roman catholic church.... But yeah, I do like to think that there is life after death and whatnot. I totally support people who believe in a God, but I just find it foolish if they are going to do it based on what some corrupt and sensationalized book says. I also dont think religion is something that should be preached... I never understood how I could be wrong, simply because my interpretation of God is different than a preachers. My beliefs are simple; you live a decent life, you go to heaven. So much damn controversy is caused by religion and for what? I mean, as long as we try to be good people, and live a good and honest life, I strongly believe thats all we need.
Atheist right here. Though Relayer's religious views are imo more acceptable than others. From what I can tell he believes in the power of meditation to improve the self. He calls it connecting to god, I'd call it meditating to better oneself. Christians, Jews, and Muslims believe what they do because that is what they were taught/"brainwashed" into believing from a young age(in most instances). Santeria, Raelians, scientologists, and other crackpot cults are ridiculously stupid and I think anyone who is foolish enough to believe in them deserves to drink some kool-aid.
