What is your Religious position?

**Robin** · 29-01-2012, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by Richard Hitchens

Don't forget, for many years the holy book was not allowed to be read directly by the believers. They had to take the word of their priests as fact. In addition, many were brainwashed from birth to believe in this faith, and were indeed punished if they seemed to oppose it in any way. It is only relatively recently that people have been able to freely read and study the bible and notice the obvious lies and inconsistencies.

Did you also find the idea of Santa Claus ridiculous as a child?
As a child in the past you would not have been allowed to doubt. Y

I didnt find the idea of Santa Claus ridiulous as a child . I do now though . Does that make me a Buddhist ?

**Richard Hitchens** · 29-01-2012, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Northumbrian

Not at first, but I soon reached an age when I stopped believing. Religion came a little later.

Now imaging that all of society believed in Santa Claus. He was talked about as fact not just to children but amongst adults. He was fully accepted and not just preached at you one month a year, but constantly all year round. He was prayed to in buildings built in his honour and any questioning of this or of his existence is snuffed out and banished. Everyone believes in Santa, and you should too.

That is what it is like to be brought up in a religious country. With Santa we get to an age where parents stop pretending, or your friends already know, or a tv show mentions he doesn't exist or you notice people giving each other 'don't tell him' looks. All sorts of clues. With religion it was different, and in many countries still is.

**Richard Hitchens** · 29-01-2012, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by Robin

I didnt find the idea of Santa Claus ridiulous as a child . I do now though . Does that make me a Buddhist ?

No, it makes you sensible and shows that you have matured somewhat from your childhood.

**Lolkitten** · 29-01-2012, 09:56 PM

**Aardvark** · 29-01-2012, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Robin

I dont want to spoil a good read but the main bloke in it dies in the end .

I think you'll find he gets better....

**angelman** · 29-01-2012, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Aardvark

I think you'll find he gets better....

Didn't that happen to Bobby Ewing?

**Aardvark** · 29-01-2012, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Richard Hitchens

Although I assume that you believe you will be rewarded after death and I will be punished, and that this applies even if I spend my whole life being good and moral?

Why do atheists always assume they know what religious people believe? There are billions of religious people on our planet. They all come to God in a different way. I wouldn't assume anything if I were you.

I note, Richard, that you arrived on this forum and said 'greetings' before commencing a religious debate with your second post. Your poll is not really well framed and so I have not responded.

Although you have asked people to talk about their religions, it seems you are here to promote your own views over theirs and to critique those who have religious beliefs.

**rjt** · 29-01-2012, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Richard Hitchens

Although I assume that you believe you will be rewarded after death and I will be punished, and that this applies even if I spend my whole life being good and moral?

What I beleive is that both of us are sinners and I have no more right to entry to the Kingdom of heaven than you.