Faith and Religion

[VladimirIlyich]

Is there a difference?

 

Discuss.

[Acid]

Yes.

 

Counter argument.

[melons]

A massive one, but i'm off to bed and to a certain game tomorrow, this'll have to wait till sunday for a decent contribution from me.

[VladimirIlyich]

Yes.

 

Counter argument.

 

I agree with that but was hoping to get a few more replies before I give a better answer myself.

[brucespanner]

Is there a difference?

 

Discuss.

 

Yes, a massive one.

 

The former is a personal interpretation of the world around you, the latter is the exploitation of the uncertainty in the former.

[VladimirIlyich]

Yes, a massive one.

 

The former is a personal interpretation of the world around you, the latter is the exploitation of the uncertainty in the former.

 

As clear as mud!

[brucespanner]

As clear as mud!

 

What would you like?

 

Faith is a personal enterprise brought about by our all consuming fear's of the unknown.

 

Religions and Philosophies exploit our base need for a collective interpretation of these fears.

 

The two are intwined, but can be treated as separate entities.

[VladimirIlyich]

What would you like?

 

Faith is a personal enterprise brought about by our all consuming fear's of the unknown.

 

Religions and Philosophies exploit our base need for a collective interpretation of these fears.

 

The two are intwined, but can be treated as separate entities.

 

Faith doesnt have to mean religion,although its often used in that context,it can be used in all walks of life and is,as you said a wholly personal thing.

 

Religion is a collective interest and generally finds that many become one and are united in a certain belief.This can also lead to individuals becoming persuaded into following the belief of the crowd over the individual.

[brucespanner]

Faith doesnt have to mean religion,although its often used in that context,it can be used in all walks of life and is,as you said a wholly personal thing.

 

Religion is a collective interest and generally finds that many become one and are united in a certain belief.This can also lead to individuals becoming persuaded into following the belief of the crowd over the individual.

 

You've just repeated what I said in your own words.

 

What sort of answer are you looking for, or did I nail what you wanted to say?

 

If we equate faith with hope then the significance becomes more profound, the hopeless cling to the ideas of others through fear (Religion), that's my take on it anyway, I'm sure other will argue about the subtleties of the distinction, but being non-religious I don't understand the thought process involved in belief, apart from my own fragmented belief system which is a broad church (No pun intended) and incorporates many of the traditional world religions/faiths, maybe we're just all the same and are to scared to admit it?

[razor]

Faith is a personal belief.

 

Religion is the formal practices / rigmarole / hoops to jump through associated with an organised, formalised belief system.

 

Faith is about God, religion is about 'man'.

 

Ironically, Jesus hated religion.

[VladimirIlyich]

Faith is a personal belief.

 

Religion is the formal practices / rigmarole / hoops to jump through associated with an organised, formalised belief system.

 

Faith is about God, religion is about 'man'.

 

Ironically, Jesus hated religion.

 

I think its the opposite way round myself,faith is about man and religion is about god.

[Jairzinho]

Both of them bore me to tears.

[Horus]

Faith means believing in something without any proof, and often in the face of evidence.

 

Religion is what happens when enough people take the faith approach, and a group of people want power and privilege to do whatever the fuck they like, without any repercussion.

 

After all, when you have permission and free reign to rape and slaughter, from the creator of the universe himself, who gives a fuck about justifying to other humans, never mind themselves.

[VladimirIlyich]

I have never been and maybe never will be religious but ive definitely changed my view over the past 20 years or so.

Being middle aged and having a large extended family ive been to many more funerals than weddings in that time.

 

But ive seen the comfort having faith in something brings to family and friends to help them deal with difficult situations and a certain family member effected by an event 22 years ago that we are all familiar with.

Some people would say that because they go to a church that its religion that comforts them but I insist that its faith in there being something guiding their lives and protecting them and giving them a reason to exist.

 

Saying that i believe religion is a cause that can be used in either a positive or negative way. Its used positively mainly but we usually only hear of the negative aspects of different religions and thats unfair in my view.

[lifetime fan]

God loves a sinner.

 

I'm fucking sorted.

[brucespanner]

Even if we don't believe in religion/gods/ethereal beings we are still under the instruction of these religions because they are so pervasive in society, the ten commandments, apart from the divine ones, are the basis for the laws and customs in this, and damn near every other, country.

 

Now the question that should be asked is are these divine prescriptions of an omnipresent, omniscient and omnibenevolent god, or are they the response of humans to the difficulties of existence? Have humans worked out a theory of morals, over millennia and unwittingly that is a benefit to most, some will obviously be excluded, through selfish and altruistic actions, or have we an inherent set of predefined moral standards, which emotions convey?

 

For me the world we have created is the culmination of trial and error of each and every person who has ever existed, mental evolution, and is based on all the teaching which appeal and the one's we have expunged.

 

The basis for every world religion is about peace and sacrifice, it may be a generalisation, but it's pretty true, and collectively that is in the best interests of everybody.

[Horus]

I have never been and maybe never will be religious but ive definitely changed my view over the past 20 years or so.

Being middle aged and having a large extended family ive been to many more funerals than weddings in that time.

 

But ive seen the comfort having faith in something brings to family and friends to help them deal with difficult situations and a certain family member effected by an event 22 years ago that we are all familiar with.

Some people would say that because they go to a church that its religion that comforts them but I insist that its faith in there being something guiding their lives and protecting them and giving them a reason to exist.

 

Saying that i believe religion is a cause that can be used in either a positive or negative way. Its used positively mainly but we usually only hear of the negative aspects of different religions and thats unfair in my view.

 

Our lives come and go in the blink of an eye, and 99.9% of us will never make any kind of imprint on history at all. Whilst I'm here I want to face life as it comes, despite the pain it regularly dishes out.

 

I don't want any comforting from an imaginary friend, I'll take my pain raw, and connect with humans that mean something to me, in my life. I don't want someone to forgive me of imaginary sins, or forgive me for things they are not capable.

 

You can't, on one hand be comforted by god in times of tragedy, when in the background, god is actually allowing these events to unfold, and often directing them (if people believe god to be a creator).

 

Tsunami's/earthquakes/floods/famine? All gods great work. Children-killing parasites? Praise be.

 

It's like an abusive father/husband who repeatedly beats his loved ones, but then comforts them afterwards.

 

It's insane and makes no sense.

[Horus]

God loves a sinner.

 

I'm fucking sorted.

 

I think he's been misquoted. It should be "god loves his dinner."

[lifetime fan]

I think he's been misquoted. It should be "god loves his dinner."

 

Me too.

 

Then I have my tea in the evening.

[VladimirIlyich]

Even if we don't believe in religion/gods/ethereal beings we are still under the instruction of these religions because they are so pervasive in society, the ten commandments, apart from the divine ones, are the basis for the laws and customs in this, and damn near every other, country.

 

Now the question that should be asked is are these divine prescriptions of an omnipresent, omniscient and omnibenevolent god, or are they the response of humans to the difficulties of existence? Have humans worked out a theory of morals, over millennia and unwittingly that is a benefit to most, some will obviously be excluded, through selfish and altruistic actions, or have we an inherent set of predefined moral standards, which emotions convey?

 

For me the world we have created is the culmination of trial and error of each and every person who has ever existed, mental evolution, and is based on all the teaching which appeal and the one's we have expunged.

 

The basis for every world religion is about peace and sacrifice, it may be a generalisation, but it's pretty true, and collectively that is in the best interests of everybody.

 

Thats much better than I could ever come up with and hits the nail on the head for me.

 

The last two paragraphs are absolutely spot on.

[md1892]

Religion is faith with an organised belief structure and hierarchy.

Everyone has some kind of faith, but not everyone follows the structure ordained by any of the set religious structures.

[Strontium]

Faith is the delusionary belief.

 

Religion is the framework established to instil, reinforce and propagate that delusionary belief in the population.

[Strontium]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/08/07/christian-broadcaster-ebola-could-cleanse-us-of-atheists-gay-people-and-sluts/

 

Christian broadcaster: Ebola could cleanse US of atheists, gay people, and sluts

 

A Christian radio host who enthusiastically looks for signs the world will end welcomed the Ebola virus as a cleansing force.

 

“This Ebola epidemic could become a global pandemic and that’s another name for plague,” said broadcaster Rick Wiles on his “Trunews” program .

 

“It may be the great attitude adjustment that I believe is coming,” Wiles continued. “Ebola could solve America’s problems with atheism, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, pornography, and abortion.”

 

Wiles was enthusiastic Tuesday about the arrival of Ebola, but Right Wing Watch reported that he warned the previous day that President Barack Obama may intentionally spread the deadly virus through a mandatory and mysterious vaccine.

 

That would somehow then allow Obama to declare martial law and force Americans into FEMA camps, the religious right broadcaster theorized.

 

“If Ebola becomes a global plague, you better make sure the blood of Jesus is upon you, you better make sure you have been marked by the angels so that you are protected by God,” Wiles warned. “If not, you may be a candidate to meet the Grim Reaper.”

[stringvest]

Let's hope Mr Wiles gets bummed into the next century by some delirious 6'7'' Nigerian straight off the plane.

[Bjornebye]

Let's hope Mr Wiles gets bummed into the next century by some delirious 6'7'' Nigerian straight off the plane.

 

This. Absolutely.