Lent

[Chalgrish]

Since the topic of lent has come up a lot recently, I decided to do this.

When you think of lent, what comes to mind almost immediately? (besides driers and belly buttons)

[vampirehunter42]

It means I have to get a cross of oil and palm ash on my forehead, then go to church on Wednesdays, then on a Thursday, then on a Friday, and then one early morning service on a Sunday. And once again going through the last days of Jesus. Oh yea, and having to hide a bunch of eggs for kids to find. But its main deal is the remembering Jesus and the gift he gave us.

[Fyre]

and if you don't believe that Jesus gave "us" a gift, other then a darn good set of morals to live by, it's a time of change. I view it as the time where spring is just springing and the seasons are changing.

in this sense it's a good time to make a new start, try to stop a bad habit try to form new good ones.

I was raised in the church of england and I don't really buy into it much now. I respect the morals they teach and the stories in the bible are just that, great stories, with good lessons anyone can access if they go about it in the right way.

[+ Silver - Orbs +]

hhmmm...i don't believe in lent as it were (being a pagan) but i think the idea of giving up something you love for someone else is good.

[Jake]

i dont really believe in that sort of stuff anymore since i found out that i am agnostic(religion test)

[White Dragon Alorith]

So you let your beilefs be dictated by some the results of some quiz you take?

[Neco the Nightwraith]

I resist being religious. But Lent reminds me of stories I've read.

One also knows you are confusing "Lent", a religious time *resists the thought* with 'lint', the common nuissance.

[Tempest]

- Lent -
Well, passing up on the luxuries once or twice and reminding yourself about people who are less fortunate isn’t a bad idea in itself. But thinking that not watching an episode of American Idol or praying means god is really going to help those people is kinda stupid.


- Religion test/quiz -
Tests and quiz are usually just eyes opener, they don't "dictate" anything and it's not really surprising that some people's belief do not match those of the religion they think they belong. Just two examples that can put you on the agnostic list:

1- A reporter asked a holocaust survivor how was his faith after his experience in a concentration camp. He answered that he didn't believe any god who pretend to be doing good would just have watched when these atrocities happened. Do you agree with this statement?
If your answer is yes, then you're either saying god is wicked or that he doesn't exist.

2- Are you afraid to die? I can safely say that a majority of people are especially when they realize that time is running out. But if you are a true believer and if you didn't do any major crime like going on a homicidal rampage, robbing banks or using contraception then chances are that you will be in a place of everlasting happiness. Then why people do fear death? I mean, it’s like fearing an invitation to the destination of your choice knowing you will be living in a first class hotel, all expenses paid with unlimited room service (and even that sounds like crap compared to everlasting happiness). It simply doesn’t make sense, true believers would be glad and even looking forward to die... unless of course, you are not sure and in then end, this what being an agnostic mean: one who doubt or isn't sure about the existence of god.

[Neco the Nightwraith]

I avoid religion. I find it to be generally offensive to my sensibilities, because many religions have a tendency to be God fearing, and I don't believe that you should have to fear a God to gain his favor.

It just doesn't cut it with me. If I'm going to believe in a God, I don't want to have constantly fear being a 'sinner' in his/her/its eyes.

I've enough stress as it is.

[Jishdefish]

I think that if you are good in this life you will be elevated to a better existance in the next one... and so on so forth untill you reach your ultimite dimise or existence.....

...

Makes sense to me....

[niño de los dragones]

i am burning in hell already so i now long fear or care about god as he has damned those who would rather be happy with some one of the same sex the misrable with someone from the oppisit sex. so i no longer care.

[wut2say]

im really religious so i take lent seriously. it reminds me of wut Jesus didi for us when he died. he saved us so we should be willing to give up something for just forty days.

[Firuweata]

Wow...

No offense, but I think I know why religion looks badly on dragons...

...

Anyway, I follow the teachings of Lent, and have given up burning things this year (No, I'm not kidding)...

As for that Holocaust thing posted by Tempest, the veiws of that one person do not reflect on what is really going on with an afterlife, God and whatnot. If you really think about it, it is entirely impossible for the universe to exist without being intervened by a greater being. The energy it takes to support The Universe(tm) is so great, it would be easier for The Universe(tm) to just not exist at all...

As for why this greater being would let people suffer...well...

Have you ever had a Chia Pet??? Picture Earth, or even the universe, as a giant Chia Pet. If you take a glance, and see that it is doing badly (Soddom and Gommorah), you intervene. If you glance and see nothing wrong with it, you pay it no mind. However, it doesn't mean that dozens of little plants aren't dying (The Holocaust)...

[John]

Uh...ok...If i must throow in my two cents, I think that this thread is getting kinda wrong, because this is a dragonboard, not a church, and B. Im a jew...so, nyeah.

[Tempest]

As for that Holocaust thing posted by Tempest, the veiws of that one person do not reflect on what is really going on with an afterlife, God and whatnot. If you really think about it, it is entirely impossible for the universe to exist without being intervened by a greater being. The energy it takes to support The Universe(tm) is so great, it would be easier for The Universe(tm) to just not exist at all...

As I told you in another thread, it would take energy to support a gawdly being but apparently you seem content to left this part unexplained.
The energy it takes to support god(tm) is so great, it would be easier for god(tm) to just not exist at all...
If the opposite of your statement sounds logical, maybe it's because it's not really an argument in the first place. Until you can explain how your deity was created, I don't want to see this illogical argument on the board.

As for why this greater being would let people suffer...well...

Have you ever had a Chia Pet??? Picture Earth, or even the universe, as a giant Chia Pet. If you take a glance, and see that it is doing badly (Soddom and Gommorah), you intervene. If you glance and see nothing wrong with it, you pay it no mind. However, it doesn't mean that dozens of little plants aren't dying (The Holocaust)...

So you think that maybe god is/was busy with his dinner, and when he is finished, and wipe his chin clean, he will get around raising a finger to prevent the daily atrocity occurring around the world, so we just have to wait for him to picks his napkin from his lap, right? Is this really the way you think an omnipotent being work?

Millions deaths were not enough to attract his attention, Hiroshima crater wasn't big enough for him to notice but hey, god had time to destroy two cities that may never have existed because there was *gasp* homosexuals, greedy people and *double gasp* people having sexual relationships without the godly seal of approval of marriage (and a few other things they call "depraved"). This god have some strange priorities since despite all this, he still listens to every prayer (or so they say) and takes notice of everyone who won’t eat chocolate for lent.


@John: You’re entirely right.

Topic is closed since it drifting into personal religious beliefs and it’s board about dragons.