mega thread Everypony's Religion And Why?

[CosmicHooves 2,705]

@@~Flash Brush~,

 

Also not all Christians consider it sinful. After all, people who are gay are born that way. Sin must involve choosing to sin, otherwise it's not the person's fault. So how can I call homosexuality a sin if it's not a choice? It's the same reason we have baptism, forgiveness for original sin. If a homosexual is baptized, than whatever sin is of their nature as opposed to their choice should no longer matter.

 

This is coming from a practicing Catholic, mind you.

I don't consider actually being gay a sin.

I mean, being attracted to the same sex is indeed something you're born with, so that alone cannot be a sin.

I just consider having intercourse with the same sex to be a sin, because scripture-wise that's basically all it says.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I don't consider actually being gay a sin.

I mean, being attracted to the same sex is indeed something you're born with, so that alone cannot be a sin.

I just consider having intercourse with the same sex to be a sin, because scripture-wise that's basically all it says.

 

And that's where, Christian to Christian, we have to agree to disagree. That passage, I think was more about the sin of lust, which can tempt us all regardless of orientation.

 

Still though, doesn't the fact that we disagree at all, and neither supports the notion of holding homosexuality as justification for cruelty, nicely illustrate that Christianity is not a single dogma hegemony?

[Pastel 7,630]

I'm atheist, and (I guess just like most people) it's because my family is atheist too, so of course they influenced me (plus there's the fact we're a family of scientists).

[CosmicMelody2112 209]

....................

Edited April 27, 2023 by CosmicMelody2112

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@CosmicMelody2112,

 

Fellow Catholic brohoof! /)* 

 

Agreed though. One of the biggest ironies of my life? I've met more Bible thumping, scripture quoting atheists than Christians.

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

When it comes to homosexuality and Christianity (or Judaism), people understandably have a problem with this apparent conflict:

 

Jesus advocated the "he who is without sin, cast the first stone" approach to non-judgmental attitudes.  However...Leviticus 20:13 states in no uncertain terms that gay sex is so detestable that people who do it are to be executed.

 

Now, many modern Christians are quick to point out that the Old Testament Law was designed to help the Israelites survive in a very different time, and that it was not entirely applicable to Jews during the Roman era, and even less so today.  But here's the problem: the Bible has set itself upon a pedestal, claiming numerous times things like Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." (Psalm 119:89)

 

The problem in this is it forces people to either accept that all of the Bible applies (including the bit about executing people for stupid reasons), or admit the possibility that some of it might be Bronze Age nonsense that is actively harmful to modern society.  The really tricky part is how to know which is which.

 

So...how do you decide which parts to follow, and which parts to dismiss?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

 

 

So...how do you decide which parts to follow, and which parts to dismiss?

 

Was that rhetorical or are you actually asking people to give their two bits on this very good point of yours? I just don't want to jump the gun and presume. 

[marshmallowminish 183]

I'm a Christian, and for me, I won't have it any other way. My life is so much better this way- of course, I'm not trying to push anything on anyone, but in my personal experience, having a relationship with Christ really helps!

Pure and loving Atheist because I was brought up in a Christian society and then I found out that they kill homosexuals. I love homos. They are cute together. I. Just. Love. Yaoi. Simple as that.

No, Christians don't kill anyone, I don't know where in the world you heard anything like that. If there have been accounts of "Christians" killing homosexuals, they are simply not real Christians, because if they kill someone, they are going completely against what the Bible says; to love, to not kill, and to not be a hypocrite. 

 

 

 

 

It offends me that you think we kill homosexuals, actually ;-; I don't want us to be perceived in that light. 

The bible says to kill Homos. I do not approve so I am now Atheist. I love all religions though. But places in the US do have Homo haters. I love them. But I love Christians who do love them. The friend of my friend is my friend! :3

 

Darling, the Old Testament says so- along with killing adulterers, rebellious children, and such; homosexuals weren't singled out. After Jesus came to Earth, the rules were changed, and basically, the Bible says that we shouldn't kill anymore. Claiming that /practicing, real/ Christians still kill today based on the Old Testament is like saying the Earth is flat. 

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

Was that rhetorical or are you actually asking people to give their two bits on this very good point of yours? I just don't want to jump the gun and presume. 

 

It's only partially rhetorical.  Most serious responses will involve posting links to apologetics that require mental gymnastics and rationalizing on a level that defies what most people would consider reasonable.  The more straightforward answers tend to rely on ignorance of what the Bible actually says or ignoring what it actually says when its answers result in cognitive dissonance.  After that, most discussions tend to devolve into shifting the burden of proof, shaky etymology or simply ignoring ideas that challenge preconceived notions.

Edited March 23, 2015 by PlunderSteed

[Steel Accord 6,660]

It's only partially rhetorical.  Most serious responses will involve posting links to apologetics that require mental gymnastics and rationalizing on a level that defies what most people would consider reasonable.  The more straightforward answers tend to rely on ignorance of what the Bible actually says or ignoring what it actually says when its answers result in cognitive dissonance.  After that, most discussions tend to devolve into shifting the burden of proof, shaky etymology or simply ignoring ideas that challenge preconceived notions.

 

Well I have my own take that's none of those but given what was said, I'm not sure if anything that I have to offer is actually worth expounding upon.

[Poetic Stone 1,040]

I am a proud Atheist, and I see there are alot here this is a good thing. Good to see ponies thinking for thereselves, and not buying the hype.

[King Sejong 859]

   Although I was not raised in a religious home, I am Jewish, a Reform Jew, and I did not become an observant Jew, until I got in high school, my father wanted me to be accustomed to a diverse society, and feel comfortable with being with different people. I may be perhaps one of the few Jews here on the forums, I still feel fine communicating with anyone, whether they are Christian or Atheist, I respect and understand people's feelings toward faith, or divinity, as long as we can enjoy My Little Pony, we can express ourselves and opinions, in a civilised manor, for this show has brought a diverse fandom, many points of view and wisdom, so if you have a religion or not, this is a great fandom to express your individuality, this is perhaps one of the few places, where I can say I am Jewish without worrying about backfire, so I say to anyone here, if there is a magic in this universe, it really is true, friendship is magic.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

   Although I was not raised in a religious home, I am Jewish, a Reform Jew, and I did not become an observant Jew, until I got in high school, my father wanted me to be accustomed to a diverse society, and feel comfortable with being with different people. I may be perhaps one of the few Jews here on the forums, I still feel fine communicating with anyone, whether they are Christian or Atheist, I respect and understand people's feelings toward faith, or divinity, as long as we can enjoy My Little Pony, we can express ourselves and opinions, in a civilised manor, for this show has brought a diverse fandom, many points of view and wisdom, so if you have a religion or not, this is a great fandom to express your individuality, this is perhaps one of the few places, where I can say I am Jewish without worrying about backfire, so I say to anyone here, if there is a magic in this universe, it really is true, friendship is magic.

 

Have you been treated poorly because you're Jewish elswhere? Online or in real life?

 

Oh I do agree with everything you said though.

Edited March 23, 2015 by Steel Accord

[King Sejong 859]

 

 

Have you been treated poorly because you're Jewish elswhere? Online or in real life?   Such news would distress me a great deal

No, I have never personally experienced negativity for being Jewish, in real life or the internet, but on-line is swarming with trolls, I try to avoid being cyber bullied, but I want to be able to speak my mind out, to everyone willing to listen.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

No, I have never personally experienced negativity for being Jewish, in real life or the internet, but on-line is swarming with trolls, I try to avoid being cyber bullied, but I want to be able to speak my mind out, to everyone willing to listen.

 

Perfectly reasonable. I think I speak for everypony when I say I'm glad you feel you can be comfortably open amongst those of the fandom. 

[pakicetus 312]

 

 

So...how do you decide which parts to follow, and which parts to dismiss?

Unless you follow something like "New Covenant only", then you don't. You ditch it entirely.

If you can find logical reasons not to believe in parts of it, outside of the Bible's context, you don't need to use it for morality in the first place.

[Taviscratch 453]

Was that rhetorical or are you actually asking people to give their two bits on this very good point of yours? I just don't want to jump the gun and presume. 

I'd actually like to ask the same question as PlunderSteed but in a non-rhetorical manner. It's something that's interested me for I simply have my own moral code which I've formed through my own thought processes but I wonder how people can find morality in a book that, as PlunderSteed said, does indeed state that people who practice gay sex are to be executed. We both lost our heads last time so let's make this a more amicable take-two.

 

So, in a non-rhetorical manner:

 

how do you decide which parts to follow, and which parts to dismiss?

Edited March 23, 2015 by Taviscratch

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I'd actually like to ask the same question as PlunderSteed but in a non-rhetorical manner. It's something that's interested me for I simply have my own moral code which I've formed through my own thought processes but I wonder how people can find morality in a book that, as PlunderSteed said, does indeed state that people who practice gay sex are to be executed. We both lost our heads last time so let's make this a more amicable take-two.

 

So, in a non-rhetorical manner:

 

I would suggest we carry such on our PM for fear of veering off topic. As this thread is not one of debate but of simple "my opinion and why." Knowing our correspondance, it could go on for longer than would be appropriate.

[Shou 100]

Wow nice to not feel like the only Buddhist in the room for once. The votes are very interesting to look at and see how all different religions can come together on a silly forum like this!

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Wow nice to not feel like the only Buddhist in the room for once. The votes are very interesting to look at and see how all different religions can come together on a silly forum like this!

 

I can't rightly claim to be a Buddhist myself but I do incorporate some of the teachings into my own religion. Daily meditations, the idea that the world is an illusion, and such.

 

I'm not surprised that we can all co-exist peacefully. We are bronies, if anyone could be harmonious with all of these disparate ideas, it's us.

[GreyScholar 1,584]

340 total Christians... sighs, though they are all spread out and thus seemingly not as many. I really wish there wasn't so many denominations, so much division.

Edited March 27, 2015 by EquestrianScholar

[Steel Accord 6,660]

340 total Christians... sighs, though they are all spread out and thus seemingly not as many. I really wish there wasn't so many denominations, so much division.

 

Well I don't see why the OP couldn't just collapse all of us into "Christian (any denomination)" I mean after all, for the differences that do exist isn't that we all believe Jesus was the son of God kind of the major thing we can agree on?

[MontagnaMagica 307]

340 total Christians... sighs, though they are all spread out and thus seemingly not as many. I really wish there wasn't so many denominations, so much division.

That's really more the fault of the poll's design. It thoroughly divides Christians up into many options (pick your flavor!); multiple are even redundant (Baptists and Lutherans are also Protestants. Orthodox and Anglicans are also Catholics). Meanwhile, other religions are not shown divvied-up as thoroughly. For instance, Islam has only one option, lumping Sunnis, Shi'a, Nation of Islam, Ahmadiyyas, Sufis, and more into just one option. Given the largely Western audience of these forums, maybe it does make sense to divide the dominant religion up. But it doesn't make for a great representation in poll form, IMO. I always wanted to reword the poll!

[Steel Accord 6,660]

That's really more the fault of the poll's design. It thoroughly divides Christians up into many options (pick your flavor!); multiple are even redundant (Baptists and Lutherans are also Protestants. Orthodox and Anglicans are also Catholics). Meanwhile, other religions are not shown divvied-up as thoroughly. For instance, Islam has only one option, lumping Sunnis, Shi'a, Nation of Islam, Ahmadiyyas, Sufis, and more into just one option. Given the largely Western audience of these forums, maybe it does make sense to divide the dominant religion up. But it doesn't make for a great representation in poll form, IMO. I always wanted to reword the poll!

 

At the same time, I doubt the OP had any malicious intentions on grouping some and dividing others. Likely he was trying to be inclusive and fair as he has added options in the past when requested.

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

At the same time, I doubt the OP had any malicious intentions on grouping some and dividing others. Likely he was trying to be inclusive and fair as he has added options in the past when requested.

 

This thread is very old, and if I recall correctly, most of the added fields were at the request of readers from years past.  The OP was simply trying to cater to what people wanted.