yup, this is an ad!
Napalm Riot Forums > Life > Theology

Theology

    Avatar
    Rank
    Recruit
    Creed
    MMO
    Joined
    12.31.07

ɤRastaban

Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

Alright, so the atheist thread was getting rather cluttered...took forever for it to load, and then to scroll down to the bottom...And it was getting rather off-topic. So this thread is for theology overall, and to have open, NON-FLAME discussions about the various world theologies.

For the sake of this thread, let's say that theology applies to the major world religions of the day (ie the Abramic religions, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, ect...). Let's leave the pagan and ancient religions to a mythology thread, if anyone wants to start that.

So let's continue the discussion from the atheist thread.
---
9 of 10 voices in my head are telling me to pull the trigger; the tenth says, "No! Throw the grenade!"
02.01.08 2:23 am
    • Avatar
      Rank
      Staff Sergeant
      Creed
      Action
      Uber Subscriber Joined
      12.18.07

    ʊIrishancest (#7879)

    Legally Certified Warthog Operator

    Actually, I know quite a few pagans that converted because they were so disgusted about the way the Catholic Church was being run in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, so I think that it can be somewhat applicable to world religions. Especially because I am somewhat Druidic in my Christianity, because Druidism has changed into more of a philosophy rather than a religion
    ---
    Beware. The Internewt is real!
    I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
    Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
    02.01.08 8:08 am
      • Avatar
        Rank
        Recruit
        Creed
        MMO
        Joined
        12.31.07

      ɤRastaban (#8023)

      Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

      Yes, I know that pagan religions and philosophies are on the rise; many of my friends are Wiccan. And I know that both Druidism and Taoism are gaining influence (I even have a copy of the Tao De Ching within a few steps of where I am now). However, I don't really want to have seven different conversations going at one time...that's really the only reason I said to exclude the pagan religions.
      ---
      9 of 10 voices in my head are telling me to pull the trigger; the tenth says, "No! Throw the grenade!"
      02.01.08 10:08 pm
        • Avatar
          Rank
          Staff Sergeant
          Creed
          Action
          Uber Subscriber Joined
          12.18.07

        ʊIrishancest (#8162)

        Legally Certified Warthog Operator

        Sounds good. You said you were looking for a specific denomination...did you have any ideas what you wanted ideologically for it to have?
        ---
        Beware. The Internewt is real!
        I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
        Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
        02.02.08 5:29 pm
          • Avatar
            Rank
            Recruit
            Creed
            MMO
            Joined
            12.31.07

          ɤRastaban (#8413)

          Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

          I hope to find a sect that teaches what seems the closest to the Bible's words - the Bible does teach an absolute truth, but the book is so large and so much and there are so many different views on it, that whatever that truth is probably impossible to discover. The biggest ideas are easy to find - Jesus is the Son of God, God created everything, ect...There are many smaller things that can be more difficult to find; for example, the relative time and speed of the Rapture.

          So far, the youth pastor of my church has yet to teach anything that disagrees with the Bible. It would be great if I could find an entire church that does that as well. I've found a few things about various denominations that I don't like, and for the baptist church there's (currently) only one, and that is the actual people who call themselves 'baptist.' I could go further into later, if anyone wanted.
          ---
          9 of 10 voices in my head are telling me to pull the trigger; the tenth says, "No! Throw the grenade!"
          02.03.08 10:43 pm
            • Avatar
              Rank
              Staff Sergeant
              Creed
              Action
              Uber Subscriber Joined
              12.18.07

            ʊIrishancest (#8439)

            Legally Certified Warthog Operator

            Yeah, I personally don't believe in Rapture as set down by Protestants (i.e. described in the Left Behind series) and I'm pretty sure that is the Catholic Church's view as well. I would have to check my facts exactly, but I think the church says that the anti-christ will only come if the world is bad enough to warrant it, and that the faithful will not be taken directly to heaven and miss the tribulation. I'll need to verify that, but i'm 90% sure on those facts.

            And I think that the absolute truth in the bible is completely relative because everyone that reads it will come up with their own ideas about what it means, and because of this ability to be constantly reinterpreted every church will have slightly different views on what it means and how to follow it.
            ---
            Beware. The Internewt is real!
            I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
            Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
            02.04.08 3:15 am
    • Avatar
      Rank
      Private First Class
      Creed
      MMO
      Joined
      12.18.07

    ɤcrazycycoclown (#8189)

    Artist

    Well ok. (ha this is the last place i thought this subject would come up but i am cool with it)

    I know one thing like with me and the catholic church is that they hide so many things and make so much stuff up it is rediculous.

    me... i am pentacostal
    ---
    BUCK FUTTER!
    Those who do not game only wish they can!
    02.02.08 8:19 pm
      • Avatar
        Rank
        Private First Class
        Creed
        Action
        Joined
        11.18.07

      ɤFyrel (#8224)

      Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

      Penta-what? That's something I haven't heard before.
      02.03.08 1:06 am
      • Avatar
        Rank
        Private First Class
        Creed
        MMO
        Joined
        12.18.07

      ɤcrazycycoclown (#8248)

      Artist

      Pentacostal

      The day of the pentacost the 140(i think) (that is including 11 desciples) were baptized in the holy spirit.

      tis just another thing of christianity... like lutherans or baptists...

      their is 1 devide in christianity really..

      catholics and protestants

      now their are different types of catholosism and their are different types of protestants... like pentacostal and lutheran
      ---
      BUCK FUTTER!
      Those who do not game only wish they can!
      02.03.08 2:54 am
        • Avatar
          Rank
          Staff Sergeant
          Creed
          Action
          Uber Subscriber Joined
          12.18.07

        ʊIrishancest (#8253)

        Legally Certified Warthog Operator

        Actually, I think there are three divides officially. The catholic church is one, the protestants are another, and the final group is the orthodox churches. The two splits occurred for different reasons, but the orthodox and catholic churches are the closest.
        ---
        Beware. The Internewt is real!
        I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
        Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
        02.03.08 3:17 am
          • Avatar
            Rank
            Recruit
            Creed
            MMO
            Joined
            12.31.07

          ɤRastaban (#8414)

          Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

          Yes, but traditionally the Orthodox church really only exists in Russia and Greece...but not so much in Russia ever since Stalin (a violent atheist) came to power.
          ---
          9 of 10 voices in my head are telling me to pull the trigger; the tenth says, "No! Throw the grenade!"
          02.03.08 10:45 pm
            • Avatar
              Rank
              Staff Sergeant
              Creed
              Action
              Uber Subscriber Joined
              12.18.07

            ʊIrishancest (#8438)

            Legally Certified Warthog Operator

            It still exists in Russia (in spite of Stalin), but it is also fairly common in much of Eastern Europe and also there is a church in Africa (I forget what it's called) that split off for the same reason but not the same time, and is more or less the orthodox church.
            ---
            Beware. The Internewt is real!
            I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
            Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
            02.04.08 3:02 am
              • Avatar
                Rank
                Recruit
                Creed
                Role-Playing
                Joined
                11.14.07

              ɤCrazyEddie (#14196)

              The Cake Is A Lie

              You'd be surprised at how large a presence Orthodox Christianity has in the States. I'm a member of my college's branch of OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship): the branch has about 100 members in a college of around 5000. Not enormous, I know, but significant enough to be counted.
              02.24.08 8:03 am
                • Avatar
                  Rank
                  Staff Sergeant
                  Creed
                  Action
                  Uber Subscriber Joined
                  12.18.07

                ʊIrishancest (#14198)

                Legally Certified Warthog Operator

                Yeah, one of the teachers at my Catholic high school was orthodox, and another was byzantine which is more or less the same thing. And yet another was marion catholic which is like the middle east version of orthodox
                ---
                Beware. The Internewt is real!
                I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
                Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
                02.24.08 8:07 am
      • Avatar
        Rank
        Staff Sergeant
        Creed
        Action
        Uber Subscriber Joined
        12.18.07

      ʊIrishancest (#8255)

      Legally Certified Warthog Operator

      A lot of what they say though is just opinion/rules of the current ideologies in the rulers of the church. What is set down as law is only the dogma of the church which never changes.
      ---
      Beware. The Internewt is real!
      I'll have a loil, on the rocks.
      Come Riot over in Napalm Chat: http://www.napalmriot.com/chat/
      02.03.08 3:19 am
    • Avatar
      Rank
      Recruit
      Creed
      Adventure
      Joined
      02.02.08

    ɤdreamkin (#8325)

    Nameless One

    So what about Theology? All you heathens are going to burn in hell anyway... Muhahahahahahaha.. okay..

    Really... To be technical Theology doesn't really apply to Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, because these religions do not have Gods. Then again.. The line is blurred.

    Anyway. I didn't see any question... Just dropped by to say I can be your local islam expert in case you have any questions.
    02.03.08 11:16 am
      • Avatar
        Rank
        Private First Class
        Creed
        MMO
        Joined
        12.18.07

      ɤcrazycycoclown (#8378)

      Artist

      I do find that interesting...

      that those "religions" do not have gods... (i put "" around religions because in my views they are not religions but just a way you live your life)

      so i find this funny

      Judaism, Islam, Christianity all with their different sects and sub-religions all believe in the same God... just different belifs about him
      ---
      BUCK FUTTER!
      Those who do not game only wish they can!
      02.03.08 6:38 pm
        • Avatar
          Rank
          Recruit
          Creed
          Adventure
          Joined
          02.02.08

        ɤdreamkin (#8382)

        Nameless One

        To me it is not that different at all. My angle here was because of the word "theology" It comes from the word theos, which means God. So a religion without God cannot be a subject of theology.

        Then again. A religion is basicly a way of life. It's a belief around which you base your reality. Some sects in islam are remarkably similar to taoism for instance.

        Every single religion is a theory on the nature of the universe. Sometimes you believe in that theory because you think it makes most sense. Or because you HOPE it is right. There is no difference. In my view atheism is a religion too. After all atheists strongly believe that God does not exist. And theists believe he does. Neither side has any scientific proof. (not that anything can be proven of course but that's another can of worms)
        02.03.08 6:56 pm
          • Avatar
            Rank
            Corporal
            Creed
            Action
            Uber Subscriber Joined
            11.07.07

          ʊchalkley3 (#8397)

          I go where I please, and I please where I go

          Ding, you are correct sir.
          ---
          Prince Phillp to a Nigerian diplomat in traditional Nigerian garb: "You look as if you’re ready for bed."
          02.03.08 7:40 pm
          • Avatar
            Rank
            Recruit
            Creed
            MMO
            Joined
            12.31.07

          ɤRastaban (#8416)

          Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

          I disagree with the scientific proof thing. A scientific argument can be made for both sides, though science (naturalistic in nature as it is) can never actually 'prove' God. And you're also right in that nothing can ever be proven - evolution included, contrary to many arguments. It's an edict of science that many people, including scientists, often forget in the case of evolution.
          ---
          9 of 10 voices in my head are telling me to pull the trigger; the tenth says, "No! Throw the grenade!"
          02.03.08 10:48 pm
            • Avatar
              Rank
              Recruit
              Creed
              Adventure
              Joined
              02.02.08

            ɤdreamkin (#8422)

            Nameless One

            Science can never prove ANYthing. Not just God. And it is not the goal of science to prove anything. Science just seeks to understand the way universe works with making approximations about it. These approximations have to be pragmatic enough for us to work.

            For instance, in daily life you can easily say the shortest route between two points is a straight line. You can even prove this with empirical evidence.

            The problem is that this is a wrong statement. Indeed the shortest route between any two different points in space is a curve, simply because there is no such thing as a straight line. Now this knowledge doesn't help you at all in your daily life so, in your daily life it is proven that the shortest route between two points is a straight line, but when you are traveling at light speed between galaxies it is proven that the shortest route is a curve.

            This may also be ultimately untrue, for this is only our current understanding of universe and the relationship between points relative to each other. One day our understanding may change.

            Regardless of our understanding something either is or isn't. Something doesn't exist just because you believe in it. God either exists or doesn't. You can't think "spiritually" If God exists, that means he is as real as me.

            Reality is. Our perception is an entirely different matter.

            100 years ago we did not know about Pluto
            10 years we knew it was the ninth planet of the solar system
            Now we know it isn't a planet.

            During this 100 year period Pluto's existence didn't change at all. It is our understanding that changes.
            02.03.08 11:25 pm
      • Avatar
        Rank
        Recruit
        Creed
        MMO
        Joined
        12.31.07

      ɤRastaban (#8417)

      Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

      I suppose in the technicality of that you are correct, but many Confusianists and Buddhists believe their respective founder is a god, though both of them openly denied it. And the Way ('Tao') of Taoism can be kind of assumed to be a god, since it is present in everything, is everything, and is nothing at the same time. Total paradox, which is really all that the Tao De Ching says. Makes for an awesome read.
      ---
      9 of 10 voices in my head are telling me to pull the trigger; the tenth says, "No! Throw the grenade!"
      02.03.08 10:51 pm
        • Avatar
          Rank
          Recruit
          Creed
          Adventure
          Joined
          02.02.08

        ɤdreamkin (#8420)

        Nameless One

        Not really. It is not a paradox, it is just an interpretation of the word "God". Words are made to simplify concepts so that we can communicate. It is amazing how far you can bend something.

        The word "God" usually refers to an sapient and sentient being with the power to create or make something out of nothing. It is the ultimate answer to the hidden questions :"Yes but where does matter come from?" and the answer to every other problem we cannot answer.

        Belief is not a factor here. We know pretty much that Buddha was a person and he never claimed to be a God. He just said some smart things and was clever enough to convert Taoism into a simple form so that stupid people can get it.

        Taoism doesn't really say there is God and in saying so it says there is only God. This is practically the same as as the Tasavvuf belief/philosophy of islam (to which faction I also sort of belong to) While this sounds like a paradox it really isn't and this is the problem about Tao. It is so simple that it is hard to understand for a person who hearing the concept for the first time. But to be short Tao does not refer to a God in terms of God as represented in the word Theology.

        Of course I have no objection to discussing Tao here. Belief systems are an exciting thing.
        02.03.08 11:15 pm
    • Avatar
      Rank
      Private First Class
      Creed
      Action
      Joined
      11.18.07

    ɤFyrel (#20358)

    Is In Your Base, Killing Your Mans

    *revives thread*

    I just had a discussion with a friend about Christianity last night, so I thought I'd post some thoughts...

    Talking to my friend, I realized exactly how different the interpretations of the Bible are. In the youth group snow retreat I went to, they explicitly stated that you cannot depend on good works to get you into heaven; only by accepting Christ as your savior can you get into heaven.

    From some interpretations I've heard, it seems what you do in this life doesn't count; as long as you've accepted Christ you can get into heaven regardless of how morally depraved you are.

    By this interpretation, how late would it be to accept Christ? A minute from death? An hour? How would it be determined?
    06.01.08 10:34 pm