patrick.net

New renter says

I vote for my religion.

Warren Jeffs is that you?

Dan8267 says

There is only one religion that is led by Yoda and has cool plasma swords.

Yeah, and a bunch of prudes. Besides wouldn't you rather have a double sided plasma sword?

The person of Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, makes all other faiths irrelevant.

Let's ask Anton Lavey...

New renter says

In my religion I tell you what you want to hear and you give me LOTS of money and your hot wives and daughters. I am not taxed on the money because I am the head of a religion. You do whatever I tell you because you believe in me and my righteousness. You vote the way I say and you say whatever I tell you to.

That would make you a typical born again christian minister wouldn't it. You forgot about the hot teenage and/or pre puberty boys that some ba family values types seem find irresistable.

bob2356 says

That would make you a typical born again christian minister wouldn't it. You forgot about the hot teenage and/or pre puberty boys that some ba family values types seem find irresistable.

Gee ya think?

I'll pass on the hot teenage and pre-pubecent boys. In fact I may send them all off to far away lands to preach my awesomeness. Less distraction for the hot wives and daughters...

theLandlord says

I just never subscribed to the fact that I have to believe in something to go to heaven or whatever. That's ludicrious.

To the fools who say your beliefs are more important than your actions, I say (in the church lady voice), "well,...isn't that conveeeenient."

leoj707 says

Dan8267 says

There is only one religion that is led by Yoda and has cool plasma swords.

Yeah, and a bunch of prudes. Besides wouldn't you rather have a double sided plasma sword?

Jedi and Sith are two factions of the same religion. Practically all Sith were at one time Jedi.

If I convince others that mine is the right religion, Will I be responsible ?

I am afraid I could be duped into this kinda worship. OH GOD !

TMAC54 says

If I convince others that mine is the right religion, Will I be responsible ?

I am afraid I could be duped into this kinda worship. OH GOD !

How much invested ? How much back ? What's the risk ?

TMAC54 says

If I convince others that mine is the right religion, Will I be responsible ?

I am afraid I could be duped into this kinda worship. OH GOD !

Yeah, She'll do.

Depends on what you mean by best. The religion that draws one closer to the creator. One that promotes brotherly love, mutual respect, etc., etc. That is best. Religion is more than a building, or a group of people. It is a journey in faith and personal revelation. If you don't keep striving, keep searching, you will end up stuck. At the end of the day we have far more in common than we care to admit to. Even the major Western monotheistic religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) have common roots in the person of Abraham.

Certainly, my personal affinity is for Catholicism. I think that the catholic church is misunderstood in many regards, particularly its teaching on other religions. For the record they are more open minded than many realize.

"Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation."

(http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM, section 847)

When it comes to Catholicism, I am reminded by the Gandhi quote. Someone once asked him what he thought of Christians. He answered, "I don't know, I haven't met one yet."

I know churchgoing people who are all style and no substance. And self-proclaimed atheists who live humbly and are far more in tune with the tenants of a Christ centered live then they would ever care to admit to.

I think that God's law is imprinted on the hearts of men. It's from whence many of our moral laws are derived. And inasmuch as I would love for all to be passionate followers of Christ - the reality is that there is more than one path to get to the destination that is eternal salvation. Fanaticism in any religion - my way is the only way. Leads to narrow-mindedness, divisiveness etc. Christ preached tolerance. He taught that God was a god of love. That the kingdom of heaven was within all of us. That following him would bring us to a better place.

Now - even if you don't believe in the theology behind HIM and his mission - its hard to argue the inherent good borne from his philosophy - which is still as radical today as it was 2000 years ago.

So as far as best religion - the best religion is like the best government. The government which governs best governs least. The religion which is best is the one that is most humble in serving all of Gods people.

I vote for Hindusim. There are so many cool gods. There is a different god for everything. You can choose the god for what you are into this week. There is no heirarchy telling you what to do and asking you for money. For the most part you can just pray at home and hopefully get closer to the godhead. There is no heirarchy telling you who to hate or telling you you are going to hell if you don't follow their rules. The other cool thing is they are pretty tolerant of other religions. Many could easily have a picture of Jesus along side the other gods in their arsenal. So basically you can have your gods and godesses and a little Jesus on the side as well. You can make what you want of it and there is no requirement to prosletize or try to convert others.

MsAnnaNOLA says

There is no heirarchy telling you who to hate or telling you you are going to hell if you don't follow their rules.

Perhaps no one has told you about the caste system.

I never got how, if I killed somebody or stole some stuff, how Jesus could take the responsibility off my shoulders. I still did it.

MsAnnaNOLA says

There is a different god for everything.

There isn't a god for Premature Ejaculation, but I hear he's coming soon.

(apologies to Mel Brooks).

The Masonic Order was great before it was pussified by those Anti-Mason bastards. It was blood in, blood out, back in the day bitches.

Before that, the Church of England. Before that, the Roman Pantheon of Gods.

Men of stature and merit now worship in a sect so secret, even I cannot divulge the name. You cannot join our fraternal order without being asked.

Huntington Moneyworth III, Esq says

Before that, the Church of England. Before that, the Roman Pantheon of Gods.

Hmmm, you're skipping more than 1,000 years between Church of England and Roman Pantheon.

Some embarrassing secret in there?

Helloeeze says

Christianity -- FORGIVENESS, Baby!!!!!

Heck I'll forgive you too - for a price...

Indulgences anyone?

Patrick,

This was a bad idea. "Give ceasar what is caesar's and God what is God's". Your forums are clearly within the ceasar's world.

Why do you say this was a bad idea? I don't see it.

It is wrong to debate the merits of different religions?

leoj707 says

Perhaps no one has told you about the caste system.

Caste system is not necessarily codified in Hinduism. Caste system is a societal custom not a requirement of Hinduism. Caste system is now outlawed in India, though some people particularly in rural areas still practice it.

Oh another cool fact, there are Athiest Hindus. So basically you can make what you want. The athiest Hindus live by the philosophy of life but do not believe in god.

thunderlips11 says

There isn't a god for Premature Ejaculation, but I hear he's coming soon.

How about Skanda, son of Shiva who is god of war and virility? I am just saying...

MsAnnaNOLA says

Caste system is now outlawed in India, though some people particularly in rural areas still practice it.

Ah, ha, right... have you been to India? Have you had much exposure to actual practicing hindus?

Yes, the caste system is "outlawed" and perhaps it is "better" than 50 years ago, but every Indian is still very aware of the caste every other Indian they come into contact with -- and they act accordingly.

Have you ever seen how much caste plays a roll in arranged marriages?

You ever want to really piss off a hindu (note: this only works if you were born a non-hindu)? Tell them that you are a hindu convert, and your caste is brahman.

MsAnnaNOLA says

Caste system is not necessarily codified in Hinduism.

Correct. the operative phrase here is "not necessarily". In religious text, depending on how you want to interpret them, an argument can be made either way.

MsAnnaNOLA says

Caste system is a societal custom not a requirement of Hinduism.

No, it is not necessarily a "requirement", I am sure there is a minority of hindu sects that reject it (probably not attended by any brahmans), but as a whole hinduism has chosen to define the Varna system seen in hindu text as the caste system we see today.

But do you get to worship fire?

Fire worship has a lot going for it. Think of all the support already built into our society to ease the transition to fire worship. Every city and town in the United States has a Fire department, many cities have several. If we converted to fire worship, we have a network of places of worship fire already installed. A leadership structure is also already in place, with Fireman (also called Fire fighter), Crew manager, Watch Manager, Station manger, Group Manger, Area manager, Assistant brigade Manager, Deputy Brigade Manger and the high priest the Brigade Manager. There's also Fire Marshall's, they often carry carry a weapon and wear a badge to enforce the faith. Show me another religion with such a support infrastructure already in place.

MsAnnaNOLA says

I vote for Hindusim. There are so many cool gods. There is a different god for everything. You can choose the god for what you are into this week. There is no heirarchy telling you what to do and asking you for money....

I saw yet another remake of Clash of the Titan's on HBO the other night and it got me to thinking. The Greek Gods would make for a great miniseries. With all the Gods infighting and intrigue it would make for a lot of material for a show, hell maybe even a miniseries. (After looking up Greek mythological figures, the there be enough material for 20 seasons of a series) Hell just introducing the major gods at one a week would give you 14 weeks of material. Then there's all the legends they could bring to life, monsters, epic tales, minor gods, maybe even some screen time for those puny morals as well.

TechGromit says

I saw yet another remake of Clash of the Titan's on HBO the other night and it got me to thinking. The Greek Gods would make for a great miniseries. With all the Gods infighting and intrigue it would make for a lot of material for a show, hell maybe even a miniseries. (After looking up Greek mythological figures, the there be enough material for 20 seasons of a series) Hell just introducing the major gods at one a week would give you 14 weeks of material. Then there's all the legends they could bring to life, monsters, epic tales, minor gods, maybe even some screen time for those puny morals as well.

Why stop there? After you introduce the gods and other myths, you've got the Homeric epics and the Aeneid. That might be at least two years worth of material right there. Who needs Harry Potter (even though it can be quite entertaining) when you've got the classics? There have been some updated translations in the recent past that make these tales actually accessible to us mortals ;)

And for you born agains, it isn't un-Christian to read (and actually enjoy) pre-Christian history.

I'm changing my vote. No offense to the Setians.

I think that I'd be happier as a Pastafarian.

All Hail the Mighty Flying Spaghetti Monster!

TechGromit says

...with Fireman (also called Fire fighter), Crew manager, Watch Manager, Station manger, Group Manger, Area manager, Assistant brigade Manager, Deputy Brigade Manger and the high priest the Brigade Manager.

This is excellent. A religion/ workfare program. And, unlike Amway, nonbelievers will contribute even more than the chosen!

You could be the founder of that religion!

Could you please include cellphone excutives and corporate lobbyists?

And all of Microsoft.
And drug and insurance company executives.
And Fox News, Burson-Marsteller, and the Koch brothers.
Just to start.

Do we need a religion? Are we so hard-wired to believe in the divine that we have to look up to something other than our predecessors?
Religion is an instrument of control; we don't need any more of that.

theLandlord says

I follow the golden rule, just treat others how you want to be treated.

I hope you're not a sadist or a masochist!

My god is Mammon. I think that's essentially the dominant deity in the US now anyway.

Sorry sports fans, Judaism is the best religion. 13 million Jews out of out of a world population of 7 billion produced 10% of us college faculty, and 178 Nobel Prize winners. Of course, a lot of these are not religiously observant...maybe that's another good thing about Jews is that so many of them aren't really believers :-)

Just my $.02

Honestly, I'm surprised at the sheer number of people that still believe in any of the popular religions. I mean, really.. come on.

Religion who's teaching is based in the Holy Scripture is the true religion: check this out:
http://www.truthcaster.com/

This link will lead you to true religion:
http://theoldpath.tv/
"seek and you will find;" Mat 7:7

monkframe says

Do we need a religion? Are we so hard-wired to believe in the divine that we have to look up to something other than our predecessors?
Religion is an instrument of control; we don't need any more of that.

Yes, we do need religion - look at the bad things happen when we don't have it; for examples look to Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao, etc.
Civil Society needs an external common moral reference to be sustained.

chemechie says

monkframe says

Do we need a religion? Are we so hard-wired to believe in the divine that we have to look up to something other than our predecessors?
Religion is an instrument of control; we don't need any more of that.

Yes, we do need religion - look at the bad things happen when we don't have it; for examples look to Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao, etc.
Civil Society needs an external common moral reference to be sustained.

Yes, thats the same argument Adolf Hitler (lifelong Roman Catholic, at least publicly) made:
"Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith."
Nazi-Vatican Accord, 1933

i worship xenu! he rules all.

next meeting at his spaceship, 3 stops past jupiter.

I'd prefer a religion who's central claims are actually true, rather than just wishful thinking or speculation about "mere possibility." To me, it's harmful to believe something that simply isn't true.

Is there any way to verify the claims of the various religions? Or are they all just what philosophers call "technically meaningless" i.e. "not even wrong"?

wthrfrk80 says

I'd prefer a religion who's central claims are actually true, rather than just wishful thinking or speculation about "mere possibility." To me, it's harmful to believe something that simply isn't true.

Is there any way to verify the claims of the various religions? Or are they all just what philosophers call "technically meaningless" i.e. "not even wrong"?

Good point. Here is some footage which might help:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/152270/abandon-all-hope

Budhism is it.Budhists don't make war and live to improve the richness of thier spirit .all other religions spawn war pigs and control freaks.Americans are christian and eat babies for breakfast.Problem is they don't even grasp the contradiction so I say that there is something about christianity that drives people insane and out of touch with the boundries of good and evil.Just ask the 3 million dead vietnamese peasants.100,000 guatemalans,60.000 el salvadorans,30.000 Chileans,30.000 Nicarauguans.1.3 million Iraqis.etc...the most civilised countries have the least practicing religious populations and the best access to higher education so runner up to Budhism would be non religious agnostics or athiests perhaps.much richer in spirit.Empty your cup and I will fill it up.humble yourself before others to enrich your spirit.Charity .compasion .empathy etc...simple truths that organised religion can't get a handle on.I read the bible three times before I was 15 and I liked it but the same Knowledge is abundant in literature poetry and Philosophy in prechristian cultures.Maybe I should start a new religion.I could sure make one more interesting.