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Originally posted by noticingthemistake

I think religion in it's barest definition is something to believe in. Your religion is stating what you believe in, not who you are. Even if your a nilihist and you don't believe in anything, you still have a believe.....

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I truely agree with you statement. that's why i always believe that if everything else fails, people will always revert back to a religion of some sort. You will have your fair share of good and bad since religion is not perfect but even so, its one of those things that you just either learn to live or hate because it will always be there. And you are right about that one- religion can make certain evils look right. But I don't see why we should condemn real christianity for it. The crusades and the war, the jews and muslims that were massacred- although done in the name of christianity, are not the real works of real christians. the bible never promoted killing. These folks are simply assholes hiding under the cloak of christianity. That's why I don't condemn christianity. I only condemn those who pretend to be one- especially those who kill in the name of christ. The Bible has warned of this. That's why in the end, when these people present themselves to God, the lord will say to them that I do not know you- they will be ignored by the Lord.

Like you, I'm also very pissed off with certain christians- The way some christians look at you when you don't believe exactly what they believe and all the threat about hell and stuff if you don't follow. Real christians don't do this.
I strongly believe that the christian god is not like this. Rather, i c the christian god as very loving, forgiving, and merciful father. Whatever hell awaits for us is something that we create for ourselves. Read my post about the TAO- i've provided a very good analogy of this.

@ sambob

if you are referring to me, i don't feel/ think like I'm smarter than myself or anybody else. i am merely asking questions- not stating answers- just like a good philosopher. even the stuff that i say here isn't even mine. i'm just sharing the works of many philosophers and theologians that i've read. i claim no absolute knowledge. like everyone else, i'm still in my own personal pursuit of a god.