bwak link=topic=504.msg7773#msg7773 date=1159487697]


*does anyone know if the catholic church is still exempt from paying taxes?


they basicaly survive on government funding, what would be the point of paying taxes. Its like giving someone 20 buck and then asking for 10 back. Why not just ask for 10 in the first place

i'll probably come back as a lentil

Do u mena this lentil...

The lentil (Lens culinaris) is a brushy annual plant of the legume family, grown for its lens-shaped seeds.

whats a legume, does it come in cans?

lentils...as in the little things that go in dahl curry...LENTILS!!

yes i suppose they are legumes.

it was a young ones joke. all they eat is lentil casserol because theyre poor uni students...and lentils are dirt cheap. its a bit like rice for poms hahaha

Got Ya!

hahaha, legumes...

Rivers Cuomo link=topic=504.msg7826#msg7826 date=1159546319]
i'm a lutheran

we're easygoing


That's a joke right? I used to go to a Lutheran church (now I'm Presbyterian) and it was all strict and everything. Maybe it varies.

My parents were Catholic, and my dad took my family to church every sunday. I believed in God when I was little, but in high school I started questioning whether there really was such a thing or not. Afterwards I wavered between agnosticism and deism, but I also recognized nature as an amazing thing worth worship. Recently I've come to realize that all religions (including atheism) are essentially the same.

I also agree with many of the things you're trying to do, dougy, it feels like institutions have been zapping away the enjoyable aspects of religion. And I also agree that it's sad that horrible things have been done in the name of religion, but I don't blame religion itself. Rather, I blame people's stupidity for blindly going along with things that advocate hatred and misunderstanding.

As for homosexuality, I can see how people might be uncomfortable with it, but I don't think they merit harsh judgements for their opinions. Homosexuality, although rare, is still a part of nature. So is death. And pain. And none of us are comfortable with any of those. So as long as the aim is not to alienate or destroy, I'm fine with whatever you may think.

venison link=topic=504.msg14048#msg14048 date=1166082235]
but I don't blame religion itself. Rather, I blame people's stupidity for blindly going along with things that advocate hatred and misunderstanding.


I strongly agree, everyone should be questioning, i became a christian through my natural questioning nature. Questioning why we should live our lives for ourselves alone, and why we should be drones of the system. I found God in the worst time of my life and i havent had a bad day since.

As for homosexuality, i dont blame homosexuals, in fact one of my very good freinds came out and said he was gay, i didnt judge him, i realy have a dislike for people that do. Homosexuality is no worse a sin than anything else. Except that the lifestyle cn often lead you down a path to more sin, and it is a constant thing, were as most other sins are more like a one off thing. I do think that all people are able to find help, from what ever trouble they might be in. Homosexuality is the same, they have a problem, and the solution is there if they wish to take it. I realise that homosexuality is apart of nature, but that doesnt make it right.

Religion is Toxic....
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5036590832646832869&q=david+icke

I cant say im religious. I used to be when i was a small child. One day i just thought "nah, this has to be a load of bollocks" and stopped believing in a god. Just as i had stopped believing in santa and the easter bunny. As crazy as the idea of a fat man in red suit visiting all of the world children in one night seemed, the idea of one being creating the earth and instructing me on how to live my life seemed just as made up... if not more.
Im fully convinced that the bible, god and jesus were created to keep society under control. Because they needed reasons for death, marriage etc etc.
I guess this might not be a good idea for a first post on this board hey? hope im not being offensive. but i guess thats my belief when it comes to christianity.

Christianity is so dead and dull.There is no spirituality in it anymore whatsoever.

I've never been a very reiligious person at all until recently, but even now I don't really follow a religion, I've just started praying sometimes, and today I went to church to think and pray for around 45 minutes. Despite whether you berlieve in God or anything, it was a nice quiet place to think and the priest was really nice.

its not for every one thats for sure it was very dull time for me i was forced to go as a child but i think of it as a waste of a day a perfectly good sleep in day then wake up for football in the afternoon or recover from the previous night hangover.

venison link=topic=504.msg14048#msg14048 date=1166082235]
I also agree with many of the things you're trying to do, dougy, it feels like institutions have been zapping away the enjoyable aspects of religion. And I also agree that it's sad that horrible things have been done in the name of religion, but I don't blame religion itself. Rather, I blame people's stupidity for blindly going along with things that advocate hatred and misunderstanding.


Most of the only religious people that get a voice are controvertial conservative types, that think that because they are a representative of God, they are freely able to judge people that they see as unfit, such as homosexuality (theres some minister i saw on a Michael Moore DVD that pickets with signs like "God hates fags". The reality of it is, we just don't know, and just because people believe in God does not give them the right to judge as God would. A person's choice of religion and sexuality is their choice, and just because I am a Christian does not give me the right to tell other people how their going to live.

Then there's the other end of the scale. I'm not trying to offend any Christians (as I am Christian myself), but there seems to be alot of churches that are "too happy" if you get what I'm saying. These are the churches that act like there's nothing wrong with the world and that they can commit no wrong. They tend to sensationalise God, and my opinion is, that if you have to sensationalise God, then your doing something wrong or your out of touch.

Thats exactly how I feel (RJK). I am a christian but I respect other beliefs as well as mine. My church is way too happy and I often feel it creates a distance between God and a person like me (more reserved/introverted). But I wouldn't trade my faith for anything. Besides there's no better explanation for the world, life etc. that ive ever heard.