Religion Pole

[YellowSnow]

Grew up Lutheran. Loved my church. It was pretty progressive for the time/area (didn’t take the Bible literally, gays weren’t going to Hell, and encouraged interfaith dialog - even with those shady papists!)…good old fashioned hymns, potlucks after the service, and you got out early enough to watch the afternoon NFL games. The congregation was a great community: little old ladies hand sewed us quilts as confirmation gifts, and we did charity work. I can confidently say that place had a big part in shaping my moral compass.

But when I got to college, I finally popped open the hood of my theological car and took a look at what was inside. I realized that I didn’t actually agree with/believe a lot of it. Plus my social circle now mostly consisted of the non-religious or atheists. I only went to church when I visited my parents, and even then it just felt like theater to me. I entered my spiritual “desert period”.

After visiting lots of other houses of worship and reading a ton of religious texts I ended up going with Team Buddhist (fortunately my family respected my decision). I loved forming a meditation practice, there were services during the week so I had my weekends free. But what I loved most of all was that questioning was not only allowed, but encouraged. That being said though, anything that delved too deeply into the metaphysical (including the existence of a “God”) was downplayed, as it was a distraction from the practical real-life work of finding calm, being a good person, and breaking the cycle of suffering.

But then 2020 happened.

Between Trump, COVID, all the civil unrest, my sangha (congregation) went WAY political. We talked less about the dharma (teachings), and more about what was in the news. I’m a big believer of separation of church and state, so I left…not to go to transfer portal, but with the intention of becoming a sole practitioner. And that’s what I did.

I still meditate everyday, try not to be an asshole, and am currently reading a lot of books on Western philosophy. I miss having a community, but this feels far more authentic.

Anywho, thank you for coming to my TED talk. Interesting thread @dnc.

Sam Harris tells me there's no mutual exclusivity between meditation and atheism.

You’d be correct. Buddhism (or any religion) can’t lay exclusive claim to meditation practices.

And there’s many that believe the historical Buddha himself was an atheist.
https://tricycle.org/article/was-buddha-atheist/

Secular Buddhism is in fact one of fastest growing ways to practice. All the tasty mindfulness/virtue of original recipe Buddhism without all those pesky karma/rebirth calories.

I'm trying to take more deep breaths these days and not yell at my computer or the kids as much.

I didn't even yell at the TV once during the UCLA game, but that was partly due to @PurpleThrobber 's fruity little edibles.

#YellaMindfulness

 

[MikeDamone]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

 

[YellowSnow]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

 

[MikeDamone]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

 

[YellowSnow]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

 

[BleachedAnusDawg]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

Is there a rule that any matter has to exist? That seems to be the underlying basis of the Big Bang theory, but with no explanation of where that stuff came from.

 

[YellowSnow]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

Is there a rule that any matter has to exist? That seems to be the underlying basis of the Big Bang theory, but with no explanation of where that stuff came from.

I don't know. I'm not an astrophysicist. I'm just a pretend sales guy, shit poasting on backwater college football message board.

But I'm comfortable with not having an explanation. Maybe humanity will figure out the answer someday or maybe not. It doesn't really matter.

 

[chuck]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

Is there a rule that any matter has to exist? That seems to be the underlying basis of the Big Bang theory, but with no explanation of where that stuff came from.

Matter can come into existence first in the form of energy, or something like that. The debate isn't about how matter came into existence. What provided the energy though?

 

[Mad_Son]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

Is there a rule that any matter has to exist? That seems to be the underlying basis of the Big Bang theory, but with no explanation of where that stuff came from.

Matter can come into existence first in the form of energy, or something like that. The debate isn't about how matter came into existence. What provided the energy though?

Where did God come from?

The fact that God is a cop out of "magic doesn't have to make sense" doesn't make it a good answer.

 

[RaceBannon]

Eternity isn't just no end it's no beginning. Beyond human comprehension at this point. It's why faith is faith and science is science. Looking through the glass darkly. We all are

 

[YellowSnow]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

Is there a rule that any matter has to exist? That seems to be the underlying basis of the Big Bang theory, but with no explanation of where that stuff came from.

Matter can come into existence first in the form of energy, or something like that. The debate isn't about how matter came into existence. What provided the energy though?

Where did God come from?

The fact that God is a cop out of "magic doesn't have to make sense" doesn't make it a good answer.

What if god was one of us ? Like a stranger on the bus.

 

[Mad_Son]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

Is there a rule that any matter has to exist? That seems to be the underlying basis of the Big Bang theory, but with no explanation of where that stuff came from.

Matter can come into existence first in the form of energy, or something like that. The debate isn't about how matter came into existence. What provided the energy though?

Where did God come from?

The fact that God is a cop out of "magic doesn't have to make sense" doesn't make it a good answer.

What if god was one of us ? Like a stranger on the bus.

Trying to make his way home?

 

[MikeDamone]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

I'm an atheist. But I realize that takes faith, not lack of it. Precisely because of your argument.

I don't think Christians and/or people who believe in god are idiots and I can see how religion, on balance, has benefited civilization. Immensely.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CRUSADES!!!12!!

 

[YellowSnow]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

I'm an atheist. But I realize that takes faith, not lack of it. Precisely because of your argument.

I don't think Christians and/or people who believe in god are idiots and I can see how religion, on balance, has benefited civilization. Immensely.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CRUSADES!!!12!!

Where have I ever called Christians idiots or implied such in this thread? I PM’d a true believing sermon seeker to post this poll.

I am thankful everyday that I was born in a country founded by English speaking Protestants.

 

[YellowSnow]

My basic elevator speech hasn't changed much since HS...

Earth = 4.5 billion years old

Simple life emerges 600 million years ago

Dinosaurs for like 200 millions years

Early modern homo sapiens don't arrive until 200,000 years ago

Then 2,000 years ago in the most bass akwards part of the world (not Rome or China mind you) amongst a bunch of bronze age goat herders, the most important even in the history of the planet occurs, followed by a Roman Emperor needing a new state religion three centuries later.

I need more evidence guys and can't take on faith. But that's just me, and believing that we're simply worm dirt when we die ain't for everyone.

Mrs. Snow is a confirmed papist, but more of a deist these days. I told her she can take on a new boyfriend in heaven if I don't get in.

ATBSJBS, I'm thankful for the Protestant Reformation and the good that it did in creating the modern world.

Somehow life started. That’s the most simplistic reason why I believe in God.

All of the Heaven/Hell and afterlife stuff is difficult for me because nobody actually knows.

I suppose where I differ with you god guysm, is that “somehow life started” doesn’t suggest to me magic and/or divine plan. The origins of life seem totally random, haphazard and disorganized.

That position requires a lot of faith.

Not really.

We’ve covered this

I don't find the "we don't know = God" argument compelling.

It's no big deal. We can still be e-frens.

I'm an atheist. But I realize that takes faith, not lack of it. Precisely because of your argument.

I don't think Christians and/or people who believe in god are idiots and I can see how religion, on balance, has benefited civilization. Immensely.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CRUSADES!!!12!!

The biggest benefit that Western Civ is missing at this point - and what is most concerning to me - from declining levels of faith, is the collapse of fertility. People with faith tend to make more babies. Think #FuckTheMormons and Evangelicals. Israel, for example, is the only Western Industrialized nations, with fertility levels way above replacement. The US was above 2.0 per woman until about 2007, but even we are crashing now. Demographics is destiny and this is scary stuff.

In spite of being an atheist fag, I still did my part and made 2 genetic copies. But a lot of people who should be breeding more aren't.

 

[YellowSnow]

Eternity isn't just no end it's no beginning. Beyond human comprehension at this point. It's why faith is faith and science is science. Looking through the glass darkly. We all are

As it relates the human comprehension, I like the ask the question: Does God even exist in a way that humans can perceive or understand? And if it does note, what the hell are we all arguing about?

 

[PurpleThrobber]

Eternity isn't just no end it's no beginning. Beyond human comprehension at this point. It's why faith is faith and science is science. Looking through the glass darkly. We all are

As it relates the human comprehension, I like the ask the question: Does God even exist in a way that humans can perceive or understand? And if it does note, what the hell are we all arguing about?

No. That's why He's God and we're not.

Our respective peabrains can only handle the spoonfed stories in the Bible.

The sequel is gonna be lit.

 

[YellowSnow]

Eternity isn't just no end it's no beginning. Beyond human comprehension at this point. It's why faith is faith and science is science. Looking through the glass darkly. We all are

As it relates the human comprehension, I like the ask the question: Does God even exist in a way that humans can perceive or understand? And if it does note, what the hell are we all arguing about?

No. That's why He's God and we're not.

Our respective peabrains can only handle the spoonfed stories in the Bible.

The sequel is gonna be lit.

I just need a sign and I will repent.

 

[PurpleThrobber]

Eternity isn't just no end it's no beginning. Beyond human comprehension at this point. It's why faith is faith and science is science. Looking through the glass darkly. We all are

As it relates the human comprehension, I like the ask the question: Does God even exist in a way that humans can perceive or understand? And if it does note, what the hell are we all arguing about?

No. That's why He's God and we're not.

Our respective peabrains can only handle the spoonfed stories in the Bible.

The sequel is gonna be lit.

I just need a sign and I will repent.

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[RaceBannon]

Eternity isn't just no end it's no beginning. Beyond human comprehension at this point. It's why faith is faith and science is science. Looking through the glass darkly. We all are

As it relates the human comprehension, I like the ask the question: Does God even exist in a way that humans can perceive or understand? And if it does note, what the hell are we all arguing about?

No. That's why He's God and we're not.

Our respective peabrains can only handle the spoonfed stories in the Bible.

The sequel is gonna be lit.

I just need a sign and I will repent.

@dnc can bully you with the exact verse on those who demand a sign