I just wanted to say that reading this thread has given me some hope for the future, seriously. :D I'm glad we can have conversations like this on Menewsha. It makes me really happy. :D

I wish more Christians (or actually, people in general) were like you Angel. :yes: I really appreciate your open-mindedness and the way you think about things. It's so... refreshing!

I don't know if there is a God -- I can't prove it, and it's hard to have faith in something you've never experienced. Faith requires a giant leap that I am not yet willing to make. Perhaps when I die (or maybe just come close), I'll know for sure. But right now, I can't say if that omniscient power exists. However, I do believe in myself, and my ability to change my own life and circumstances. I like being in charge of what happens to me. I can't say there's a God up there that's causing good or bad things to happen, but I can embrace life's ups and downs. I can help those around me, be the best person I can be, and lead a good life; and I think that whatever happens in the end, I'll be okay. :D

I've always been very interested in religion. I was baptized Catholic as an infant, and grew up in a Methodist household. Religion wasn't shoved down my throat or anything like that. We just went to church and Sunday School every week for many years. I actually got confirmed and everything. But as I grew older, I realized I hadn't gotten confirmed for me, but for my mom... And I didn't really believe everything I'd been taught. That's when I started researching other religions. I looked into wicca, and while that was appealing to me at the time, it just wasn't right for me. I liked the idea of embracing the goddess figure and nature, and now that I've gotten older, I do believe there's a continuous flow of energy in the world that connects us all -- energy we can tap into and use. Anyways... getting off on a tangent here...

In college, I continued my research by taking a couple of Eastern religion classes, which were all really interesting. I also did some considerable research into Scientology for an article I wrote for my college paper, and followed that up with reading and learning more about Mormonism. Online, I RP in a Gaia B&C shop about a pantheon of gods reborn, struggling to gather believers and recreate religions.

Sooo yeah, I find religions to be really interesting! XD

I think that if a God really does exist, he/she/it sent its messengers to Earth to spread the word of unconditional love. That's why there are so many religions. I think it makes sense; each cultural group/language group needs a messenger who speaks their language, shares their values and is someone they can relate to. Most major religions have tons of similarities already, so I just think that's the way it'd work. :D

Anyways, great topic. I really just meant to post a sentence or two, but I got all typing-happy. XP

Originally Posted by Sizzla

I just wanted to say that reading this thread has given me some hope for the future, seriously. :D I'm glad we can have conversations like this on Menewsha. It makes me really happy. :D

I'm happy to make you (and others) happy :D

Originally Posted by Sizzla

I don't know if there is a God -- I can't prove it, and it's hard to have faith in something you've never experienced. Faith requires a giant leap that I am not yet willing to make. Perhaps when I die (or maybe just come close), I'll know for sure. But right now, I can't say if that omniscient power exists. However, I do believe in myself, and my ability to change my own life and circumstances. I like being in charge of what happens to me. I can't say there's a God up there that's causing good or bad things to happen, but I can embrace life's ups and downs. I can help those around me, be the best person I can be, and lead a good life; and I think that whatever happens in the end, I'll be okay. :D

I believe God created your soul, and sent you down to earth to be born. When you die, God will take you back.
I believe what happens to an individual is based soley on their choices and actions, people do control their own destiny, but God is there to help you along the way as well. Wether or not you choose to acknowledge this is your choice, and God understands this.

Originally Posted by Sizzla

I've always been very interested in religion. I was baptized Catholic as an infant, and grew up in a Methodist household. Religion wasn't shoved down my throat or anything like that. We just went to church and Sunday School every week for many years. I actually got confirmed and everything. But as I grew older, I realized I hadn't gotten confirmed for me, but for my mom... And I didn't really believe everything I'd been taught. That's when I started researching other religions. I looked into wicca, and while that was appealing to me at the time, it just wasn't right for me. I liked the idea of embracing the goddess figure and nature.

The way I see it, God appears to us as what most appeals to us. I know plenty of people who see God as a woman. I'm actually talking with a Wiccan girl here on Mene who worships god as the Greek Goddess Artemis.
God is not a man or a woman, God has no gender, but many people refer to god as a 'him', so why not a 'her'?
So It's good that you would like to see God as a woman, it just means you are an empowered female who is proud to be a woman.

Originally Posted by Sizzla

In college, I continued my research by taking a couple of Eastern religion classes, which were all really interesting. I also did some considerable research into Scientology for an article I wrote for my college paper, and followed that up with reading and learning more about Mormonism. Online, I RP in a Gaia B&C shop about a pantheon of gods reborn, struggling to gather believers and recreate religions.

Sooo yeah, I find religions to be really interesting! XD

I do too, and I REALLY want to take classes on different religion... however, my mother would NOT like that at all, nor would my aunts or grandmother, and I really don't want to strain my relationships with my family for that. So, I mostly learn via word of mouth, and though I don't learn as much, as fast, I find it is just as effective as a classroom.

Originally Posted by Sizzla

I think that if a God really does exist, he/she/it sent its messengers to Earth to spread the word of unconditional love. That's why there are so many religions. I think it makes sense; each cultural group/language group needs a messenger who speaks their language, shares their values and is someone they can relate to. Most major religions have tons of similarities already, so I just think that's the way it'd work. :D

I believe that there was a time God spoke to humans directly, and because people are different, they interpreted Gods message differently. That's why there are so many faiths in the world.

Originally Posted by Sizzla

Anyways, great topic. I really just meant to post a sentence or two, but I got all typing-happy. XP

You know it's funny, I meant to reply with only a sentence or two, but your type-happiness is catching.

Anyway thanks for your input.