"I'm not a christian, but it feels good to be in The Chapel", Ed Kowalczyk Options

[livebat]

I've just listen again all my bootlegs of Live and right now I'm listen "I Alone" for the concert in the Chapel, date: 2000-03-13.

Just want to share, again, like everyone, how much I miss Ed... If this thread is repetitive, it's because all we are concerned in different ways... Like I said: It's not religions fault, but in a way the people who didn't know what to believe, finds the wrong answer on them.

Want my +Live+ back!!!

[deepenoughtodive]

Fair enough Steve. Faith is believing in the unseen. The unproven. I believe and you don't.

Its funny to me that you think you illustrated anything about my logic.

[Pokey]

Fair enough Steve. Faith is believing in the unseen. The unproven. I believe and you don't.

This is what fascinates me. Every religion then is "believing in the unseen". How does one person decide which unseen makes more sense than another? What makes one set of billions of people different from another set? Some people insist they have spoken with God. Other people insist they have spoken to Allah. How can they both be so right? Why is in the eyes of some is one person right and another wrong.

To me, no God speaks to any person because I believe there is no God, no Allah, no Buddha, no Krishnu, no Jahovah, no Zenu or whoever. I believe they're all equally wrong. But they all believe just as much as each other in such completely different things.

[deepenoughtodive]

I honestly don't know enough about other religions to debate what they believe.

This is what fascinates me. Every religion then is "believing in the unseen". How does one person decide which unseen makes more sense than another? What makes one set of billions of people different from another set? Some people insist they have spoken with God. Other people insist they have spoken to Allah. How can they both be so right? Why is in the eyes of some is one person right and another wrong.

To me, no God speaks to any person because I believe there is no God, no Allah, no Buddha, no Krishnu, no Jahovah, no Zenu or whoever. I believe they're all equally wrong. But they all believe just as much as each other in such completely different things.

[Pokey]

I honestly don't know enough about other religions to debate what they believe.

It's not what they do or don't believe. It's that they have the same level of conviction to their religion that you do based on about the same amount of "proof". But that raises another point. You don't know much about other religions but still know yours is the right one. How? What's your favorite band? Were they always your favorite band? What if you'd never heard your current favorite band and went on believing that your previous favorite was your favorite. Does that make your belief in that band right or wrong? Because your current favorite band would still be out there and exist, you just wouldn't know about them.

Not the perfect analogy, but you see what in getting at. How can you be so sure what you believe is right with so many other avenues to explore?

It's people who are brought up by patents/teachers to believe one wayfrom birth like I was that I struggle with. I find it amazing some people never have the "hey wait, maybe there is something else.." moment that I did. Although it's the born agains that piss me off more because they're generally the ones trying to sell god to me. And in the end that's my real gripe, believe what you want. Just don't knock on my door at 9am on Saturday morning to tell me about the love of Jesus Christ because I am most likely hung over from a big Friday night.

[deepenoughtodive]

Pokey,

I think that is a fair analogy. I certainly fit the profile you describe of growing up being raised to believe in Christ. I actually have had a couple of times in life where I've wondered if Christianity is real, is there something else? I wonder but I never abandon my beliefs. I'm not very good at apologetics so I can't really defend my faith. I could give you some quotes from books I've read about the historical accuracy of the Bible and the prophecies in the old testament that came true but i'm sure you and others could give me quotes that i wouldn't have an answer for. The bottom line is I believe the Bible.

I also believe you have the right to your beliefs.

It's not what they do or don't believe. It's that they have the same level of conviction to their religion that you do based on about the same amount of "proof". But that raises another point. You don't know much about other religions but still know yours is the right one. How? What's your favorite band? Were they always your favorite band? What if you'd never heard your current favorite band and went on believing that your previous favorite was your favorite. Does that make your belief in that band right or wrong? Because your current favorite band would still be out there and exist, you just wouldn't know about them.

Not the perfect analogy, but you see what in getting at. How can you be so sure what you believe is right with so many other avenues to explore?

It's people who are brought up by patents/teachers to believe one wayfrom birth like I was that I struggle with. I find it amazing some people never have the "hey wait, maybe there is something else.." moment that I did. Although it's the born agains that piss me off more because they're generally the ones trying to sell god to me. And in the end that's my real gripe, believe what you want. Just don't knock on my door at 9am on Saturday morning to tell me about the love of Jesus Christ because I am most likely hung over from a big Friday night.