Okay, so we know the names and dogmas of many religions but knowing it from the outside with a filter ready for rejection and from the inside with an deep understanding of what is real and what is dogma that is left over from the old days is what matters. I am religious but if someone were to show me clearly that all I believed in was wrong, I would basically say. "Wow, is that true? Okay, what's for lunch?" My beliefs and my beliefs because of my world experience and I need no crutch for I am not disabled. We all need something like to know the sun will come up tomorrow. but to me religion means how I live and frankly, that is no different from how most people live. I just find the words are clearer to me when I look at the major religious systems. Atheists live the exact same way and accept the same values but they do not associate them directly with any one religion. I believe in immortality because it makes sense to me. I see humans more as tulips than marigolds. It is just that simple.  Do I need this as a crutch because I fear death? No, I love to sleep. Being unconscious does not scare me. I just don't think it is reality.

 I just don't think it is reality.

 

 

when speaking of religion, I would agree with this statement.

 I just don't think it is reality.

 

 

when speaking of religion, I would agree with this statement.

------------------------------

Now this is too broad a generalization for anyone to make about religion. Religion has its teachings about how to live and most of them say what we all believe anyway. My atheist friends live pretty much by the same code of ethics as taught in religions. I am the monkey 9n the middle in the religious vs. atheist debates simply because I think the two extremes are wearing blinders about each other and life itself. And both take religious dogma too literally and as a religious person, I shun dogma and use my spirituality in more of a wondering than a knowing way. Still, I believe in the continuance of life and see it in nature. I am in essence one bulb with many flowers who follows the teachings of Buddha and Jesus.

most of them say what we all believe anyway. My atheist friends live pretty much by the same code of ethics as taught in religions.

Exactly, we would all live just the same way without religion.

most of them say what we all believe anyway. My atheist friends live pretty much by the same code of ethics as taught in religions.

Exactly, we would all live just the same way without religion.

----------------------------------

I think we would be better off without the strict dogma. I will always believe in a higher intelligence that permeates the universe and all in it. That is my belief but what I object to, is the forcing of anyone's beliefs on others. I don't need people coming up to me and judging what kind of Christian I am and telling me I am I am going here or there. Just let me believe and lets discuss it all without condescension. I will always be a spiritual person but that is my personal business.

Just let me believe and lets discuss it all without condescension.

 

Saying that we could all live the same way without religion is condescension?

Just let me believe and lets discuss it all without condescension.

 

Saying that we could all live the same way without religion is condescension?

---------------------------------

No what I said is that we all get to believe as we chose and no one forces their belief on others. I am tired of people saying they don't agree with me and thus they do not hate my but they pity my ignorance or that sort of thing. I was referring to those who must always evangelize. I may have used the word you meaning a person, not you personally.