If you mean Christian burial practice then it goes back to when Jesus was wrapped and "buried" in a cave. Although I'm pretty confident that, just like marriage, this practice had existed in similar forms before the birth of Christ and had been adopted from this other source as does many other similar Christian practices. This was an Egyptian practice in how kings were buried. If you want to enclose a close friend or family member in a pyramid or [anything] then you are free to do so if you have the moolah (££/$$). The scriptures say that Jesus died for all of our (and I mean "our" as in those of us who believe/practice Christianity) sins throughout the whole passage of time...not just for one specific generation before us.
I understand that it was the some shaking-an-Etch-a-Sketch for Christians, but I'm just saying that lives are connected and sins of those in the past will remain in memories or physical effects. And though it wasn't ONLY for the previous generation, I believe they would be included as well. It's just another way to take what was said.
Well, I believe that I'm trying to say that regardless of Jesus "forgiving and forgetting", that doesn't do a whole lot for the rest of society that must still live with what happened. It's not like he died and then history was erased. Or something like that...
I think you're being misinformed here. The whole point was that if you follow in the Church of Christ then you will also benefit from him sacrificing his self so that all our past sins are forgiven. But this also comes with a "condition" that his ultimate sacrifice meant for people to stop sinning. At least that was the theory.
But see, this is where the heart of the discussion is. You don't know that God or god(s) exist or do not exist. If they don't, they don't. But if they do, they do. My point is that if a God exists (which is possible) than he does and that has extreme implications. How so? Care to elaborate? I don't feel that that is a fair comparison. Religion in general, perhaps; one only has to look to Scientology to see that. But all religions? No. I mean, Christianity has documented writings of several people and other evidences that, at the very least, give it more substance than fantasy creatures. Would you not agree that it'd be best to intelligently reason, explore, and research all the possibilities before deciding on the atheistic mindset?
I would agree that the only way to be 100% certain is after death. Even so, with time, these things will fade as well. Firstly, this is not reincarnation by it's popular definition. Secondly, I would potentially agree with you on the burial concept. But, even with coffins, they'll eventually rot as well.
Okay... I'm justing saying while that may be all fine and dandy in some ethereal sense, it doesn't do much for others -- just a personal relationship with god. Which I would like to rename Jiminy Cricket simply because I can. While that force may forgive you, it doesn't much affect what others think and feel of those sins. If you cheated on your wife and then told her you joined Christianity, it wouldn't just wipe the slate clean for either of you -- regardless of what those in the great beyond think.
It's not an absolute certainty that they will fade -- nor are we assured that anything of ours will ever be published. Regardless, you'll have to have influenced someone by your actions, and I do believe it will cause somewhat of a domino effect. Maybe something you taught will be given to another young grasshopper one day? Yeah, it's not the popular definition of reincarnation, but it is a recycling of the body and mind (or at least it's physical counterpart(s)). And I know the coffins will rot (except those damn pyramids that keep coming into my conversations), but it really slows down the process. IF YOU WANT TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING, DON'T USE A COFFIN. Haha, putting so much money into keeping the body preserved just reminds me of the ancient Egyptians though -- I want to take my belongings as well. A car, my Xbox, my pets, some toasted Ritz cheddar chips -- party in the afterlife at my place!
ultimate silliness... as noted by adamant in a later post... and max, jesus was just entombed according to the established practice in that time and place... what people do now with lead-lined coffins, silk padding and such nonsensical stuff is not an outgrowth of that... it's merely the latest ludicrous elaboration on what humans have been doing with their dead for countless millennia in all parts of the world... peoples at all levels of so-called 'civilization' have buried and are still burying their loved and revered ones with pompous pomp and ceremony... more intelligent 'lower' species don't bankrupt themselves like that... only our supposed most 'superior' race does... i'd be more proud of being an amoeba...
ok... here's just a few: farm tractors/tanks symphonies/battle marches nuclear medicine/wmd religions/the inquisition/religious wars/suicide bombers the automobile/smog/possibly global warming art/porn/kiddie porn literature/hate lit/bondage mags and the list goes on... for any 'good' thing you can name, there are countless 'bad' things that came from it... don't tell me what i can and can't do... i could tell you to stop being so blind to reality, but i wouldn't... that's your choice to make... love and hugs, maia
And then avert your attention to all the things that we've destroyed with those creations. Isn't it a least quasi-ironic that we literally fuel our everyday life with death? or should I say, something that has died. Will humans become the next fossil fuel? That'd be awesome if I powered some jet that could fly faster than light... or at least past Mach 7. edit: Oh no... I'm starting to believe that Maia and I are riding on some similar brain frequency!
That is an incredibly skewered look at those things. Why would creating tanks be a bad thing? They were used for counter warfare without which tyranny would have had an advantage over us. Religious wars and suicide bombers act on behalf of their religion but it actually isn't their religion. The Crusades is something I'm sure Jesus would have been horrified of. The consequences of automobile production are incidental. That is way too absurd to make any sense. I take it you have never researched one iota of fact about those who live and experience alternative sexualities/lifestyles re; bondage mags. If you had done so you would also find out a well utilised mantra that kinksters call "safe, sane and consensual". If people tie each other up for sexual thrills it's completely absurd and totally bigoted to encapsulate them with people who kidnap and abuse their victims.
If man (humankind) is created in god's image (assuming everything about him is of the highest order) then the proof of existence of ETs as far-outdone compared to us is plausible explanation that god does not exist. Ets is something that religious people of a past time could not possibly have comprehended. So if they make up this mantra about us being in god's image it's then entirely flawed in our times.
But isn't that the way of nature in the first place? The lion must kill the deer to survive. The tree must grow taller than the next to receive the most sunlight and survive. What do you think the food chain is man? Nature is more or less built on death in the first place. Without death, there is no life! I laughed at this one especially. People don't go marching into battle because some old composer made a stirring piece of music. This one I probably do agree with. But it's about the only one. For someone who classes themself as a philosopher, your views on religion seem a little skewed. Religions help so many people in their own ways; of all the people who follow a religion, who are helped by religion, only a small minority are extremists or suicide bombers. As Max Vantage said, if someone like Jesus knew some of the astrocities that had been comitted by Catholics or Christians, do you think he'd be happy? Or do you think he'd be pleased about the fighting between Protestants and Catholics? Of course he wouldnt. The way people interpret the religions and the way extremists interpret them are often very, very different. Turn off all your lights. Turn of all your appliances. Turn off your computer. Now go and live without electricity. Could you do it? Pollution was an unforseen effect of industrial growth. At the time there was simply no way that we could've even known it was going to happen. But now we do, we can change it for sure, and we are. There are already much cleaner, greener and more efficient cars on the market, with more flooding in. And lets face it. Cars are damn useful machines to have. You can't be serious. Show me an artist, a true artist, who then goes and makes porn. Thats just straight up silly. Max has covered this already. No doubt, we humans have done some stupid stuff. We've been hateful, we've killed without cause. We've polluted. But look what we've created! If you want to be pessimistic about your outlook on life, by all means go ahead. But in reality, sure these are some troubled times we live in. But hey, we're still free for the most part. I found it sort of ironic, that the internet was created for the US army, and now, it houses wonderful forums such as this. There, something good from the potentially bad. Sometimes, more bad comes from the bad, like the sex stories from World War II, designed to stir the soldiers. But we learn to live with it. I just feel, your being very "doom and gloom" on your outlook on life. Surely it can't hurt to brighten up a tad
Well, to me, dude sounded kinda megalomaniacal. [You shall not bow down to them or worship them (others that make themselves an image); for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.] Maybe he (God) would have been alright with it had it been in order to spread his own 'empire'. Though with Jesus, I could see it being otherwise. But at the same time, he can just die again and make everything alright... right? Looks at the previous quote (and also remembers what I was talking about regarding the coffins). Yeah, we build off of death, I just thought it was at least a bit ironic... but at the same time, we're always building off of yesterday's beta versions. I think I just became lost in my own metaphor.
Today's technology was based off of yesterday's experiment. That just about summed that up in a way that someone might understand.
To be honest, we should all respect eath other's choices. I also think this thread should be locked because I can see this turning into something that it shouldn't. I believe in many things and should not be insulted for my beliefs just because I'm a damsel in distress. I found that insulting and offensive. I wasn't trying to push my beliefs onto others. I was meerly stating what I believed in and what I have experienced. I don't mind that others specifically believe in God or Jesus or Buddism or the Koran (however spelt) I don't judge on religeon. I judge whether I like someone because they are nice people. ~Doz. I have my beliefs and I have my opinions. We all find out in the end.
Do whatever the hell you want to do, really. I was simply saying that maybe you should look INSIDE instead of turning to an external force to make you feel better. Or saying that when you prayed to one god and nothing happened, that the religion wasn't for you simply due to that fact. To me it just seemed like you were going to a religion with a wishlist and whenever you got what you wanted while praying to x god, that you seemed to believe in the effects of that religion. Just makes it seem like you're casting negative things upon other sources that may not have as much influence as you believe. But whatever floats your boat. That's the way that I interpreted what you had said, if it's wrong, then speak your peace. I never said you were promoting your own religion either.
Fair enough. I can see it from your point of view. I just still believe that there's something out there, no matter what name we put to it, that's laughing at us trying to guess what religion is 'the one'! But I'm still getting the little niggling feeling that people are going to get overly defensive about their choices and this is going to end up bad, that's why I suggested that this thread be closed!
I think it's best left open actually. No one has really gotten all that defensive about their religion, and if there is a case of something like that, everyone should be allowed to speak (sans hostility) and sort it out like we just did. As long as everyone acts all adult-like, it shouldn't get out of hand. This is a topic that I can say just about everyone is interested in, and things like this help connect the e-community a bit.
True in a way, but I'm just worried it's going to turn into a flame thread, which can easily happen with this sort of topic. I hated it when it was happening before when half a dozen threads were locked because of hostility. That's all. But other than that, it's intersesting to see each other's views, thoughts and beliefs.
