Deep Deep thought / question

Here is one for you all to think about

GOD.... Yeah or neigh?

I have been brought up by a christian family who beleive in god, jesus holy spirit etc. I have lived my life for most part outside these peramiters that have been tought to me.
My wife and i started to go back to church recently and the mrs is all systems go. i am struggling with the whole thing, which is weired as i have grown up with a beleif and now seem to have lost it.

What is you HONEST opinion on the subject?

I am not looking for people to sway my opinion i am just intesested in yours

i was brought up in a family that sent me to sunday school thinking it was the right thing to do, but we never went to church. I'm completely atheist now- for the past 5 years or so, and accepting that was initially scary. But as a man of science there was no way i could believe in any of it.

My girlfriend and family are christians, and as such i went to a cathedral service last christmas day. I have to admit i found it hideous - terrifying - cult-like. I could not wait to get out, the mind tricks played, the emphasis on 'you've done wrong' 'church will heal you' followed by the collection box terrified me. Its mind control!

i believe church can bring many positive aspects to peoples life, but this faith is also matched by fear and segregation. Society would benefit without religion.

For anyone religious
If you are a christian in this country would you still believe in the same christianity if you were born in to a muslim family in iran?
is it not mind control to suggest thoughts of questioning your religion is satanic? (this is the traditional position of a pastor)
how can we have so many differing religions?
if god is perfect why did he give us a set of rules to correspond to that don't follow human nature?

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

I have to admit i found it hideous - terrifying - cult-like. I could not wait to get out, the mind tricks played, the emphasis on 'you've done wrong' 'church will heal you' followed by the collection box terrified me. Its mind control!

i believe church can bring many positive aspects to peoples life, but this faith is also matched by fear and segregation. Society would benefit without religion.

For anyone religious
If you are a christian in this country would you still believe in the same christianity if you were born in to a muslim family in iran?
is it not mind control to suggest thoughts of questioning your religion is satanic? (this is the traditional position of a pastor)
how can we have so many differing religions?
if god is perfect why did he give us a set of rules to correspond to that don't follow human nature?

^^^
what he said

i'm not trying to belittle anyone here- that is my opinion. I just hope anyone religious can drop their defence for a while to question it themselves in a neutral, challenge-free environment and possibly benefit from the answers they find; asking yourself these questions could confirm your faith afterall. I just get angry at a lot of the negative aspects religion throws around

I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field controls my destiny.

i understand the whole " there is no great power etc" opinion, but i seem to have this inner thing that controls me. i mean it controls my thoughts on right from wrong and i am not just talking society right and wrong, im talking deeper than that. swearing, white lies etc, although i do both there is always this nagging feeling of being wrong

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Razor

I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field controls my destiny.

So I've been brought up as catholic my whole life. I think you're missing the point. Religion is there to stop 90% of normal people going off the rails REGARDLESS OF WHICH RELIGION you are.

There are muslims etc, that agree Christ and others, were prophets. The point is religion is supposed to be life's moral compass. regardless of your religion, how could any god expect you to only worship him in a man build church. Personally I think (other than razors Starwars quote above) theres no evidence that a supreme being exists.

and quite frankly anyone who thinks a god who rules the universe with its millions of planets, cares one iota. about individual lives... well even as a catholic I find that idea idiotic.

in the name of the father, son, and holy ghost.. amen

Originally Posted by Viper

i understand the whole " there is no great power etc" opinion, but i seem to have this inner thing that controls me. i mean it controls my thoughts on right from wrong and i am not just talking society right and wrong, im talking deeper than that. swearing, white lies etc, although i do both there is always this nagging feeling of being wrong

you don't need religion to have morals

Originally Posted by sarah

you don't need religion to have morals

but dont morals stem from religion?