Religion and Character

[sunny]

i was wondering how many of you think a person's religion (or lack thereof) is something by which to judge a person's worth or character?

[intimid8er]

Lack thereof does not affect the way I think of people at all.

I do not practice religion at all. For many varied reasons.

(Always remember boys-n-girls......Jesus is just an imaginary friend for grownups!!)

[viper94bite]

Originally Posted by intimid8er

Lack thereof does not affect the way I think of people at all.

I do not practice religion at all. For many varied reasons.

(Always remember boys-n-girls......Jesus is just an imaginary friend for grownups!!)

Right there with ya on that one. I don't need religion to make me a good person. Knowing the difference between right and wrong is common sense(most of the time) and I don't need anyone else to tell me that. There is also a little thing called morals. Those I learned from my parents.

[robertc729]

Religion or lack thereof can't really tell you much about a person, I mean you have the meanest, most disrespectful people you could imagine who only practice religion one time a week to make themselves better about everyone else they look down upon (this of course not referring to all). However, you have those who practice no religion that are the nicest, most considerate people who will go out their way to help you if needed.

[blackie1491]

Do mean' go to church on Sunday, sin the other 6 days.

One's character is expressed in one's action.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by viper94bite

Right there with ya on that one. I don't need religion to make me a good person. Knowing the difference between right and wrong is common sense(most of the time) and I don't need anyone else to tell me that. There is also a little thing called morals. Those I learned from my parents.

Right on Ray! You were reading my mind!

Bah...I got so much to say about this, but.......people get so damn feisty about this subject. I don't want to offend anyone.......I can do a fine enough job of that without trying!!

[Sandman]

No, because there are way too many hypocrites out there in ALL religions.

I consider myself a Baptist, what is your first impression? Bible thumping, hell fire and brimstone preaching?

If you ask about my beliefs I will tell you, but only if asked. I also believe in "everything in moderation."

Now lets go have a few drinks and talk some more about this.

[HAMMERPETE]

Originally Posted by robertc729

Religion or lack thereof can't really tell you much about a person, I mean you have the meanest, most disrespectful people you could imagine who only practice religion one time a week to make themselves better about everyone else they look down upon (this of course not referring to all). However, you have those who practice no religion that are the nicest, most considerate people who will go out their way to help you if needed.

Proof positive..my ex-wife is the spawn of Satan and she frequents the church atleast two times a week.
Has her attitude changed at all...nope she is twice divorced and will cut your throat when it come to money.

[HAMMERPETE]

Originally Posted by intimid8er

Lack thereof does not affect the way I think of people at all.

I do not practice religion at all. For many varied reasons.

(Always remember boys-n-girls......Jesus is just an imaginary friend for grownups!!)

Totally agree with you here Tim.

[stp1971]

I am Baptist. Have a Catholic mother and a Methodist father. We went to almost every church as a kid growing up. I have dated women from Batist to Morman to Jewish to no religion at all.

As a baptist I am supposed to spread the word and tell about all the good things that God can do for you and has done for man. That is spread the word and not force feed it. I don't force feed my religion to anyone. I respect people whether they go to church or not. Their choice and their life.

If they ask me what I believe in I will tell them. But I don't want them criticizing me for that. I will not talk bad or think bad about someone for their beliefs or lack of. But I also expect them to give me the same respect.

Human decency and respect for each other is what makes a man. Not what your religion is. The way I see it,, every culture has had their beliefs in whatever God they believe in. Who is to say that their religion is not the right religion??? And who is to say that is how God has chosen to manifest himself to that culture so that they will be able to understand or comprehend him????

Food for thought. But to answer you Sunny. No. Not everyone looks down upon those who are not saved, go to church, or do not believe in what they believe in. In my religion,, they are not supposed to. They are not to pass judgement. That is if you are a Christian.

[sunny]

to me, people's actions speak louder than their words.

i've been out of the broom closet for just a little while. but i don't talk about it at all to people in the town where i live. neither do i talk about it to the friends of my kids. i think they'd be rather quick to run me out of town if i went completely public.

as for my own opinions about people of other religions, if a person running for a public office starts talking about his/her religion during the campaign i start wondering about them.

[inspiron]

As I have mentioned in the past, there is a fundamental difference between faith and religion. I try my best to be a good person, a good partner, and a good citizen. I live my life according to what I feel is right.

I don't need a church or some organized form of religion to live my life. I don't need to give away 5% of my income to some organization which exists simply to make me feel guilty for something I had nothing to do with.

I honestly don't care if a woman is a Christian, Jew, Hindu, Muslem, Buddhist, or even a witch, as long as she is open minded and a kind, loving person (and doesn't cast any evil spells on me or my family).

[Time4me2ride]

I have been a Christian for a long time, but in my experience, the two are independent.
Religion - what organized group or type of spiritual doctrine do you follow? everyone has one whether it is christian, pagan, secular humanist, aetheist...
Character - who are you when no one is watching? Are you're actions consistent with the above choice even when you can't be caught in the act.

Character is more important in personal interactions, religion is between you and God. At least it should be, for many it is just a display for social purposes.

As for politics, actions are everything, words are nothing. But with the current trends, be prepared for a lot of liberal Democrats to have religion prominently displayed in their campains for the first time.

[dragbar]

Originally Posted by Time4me2ride

As for politics, actions are everything, words are nothing. But with the current trends, be prepared for a lot of liberal Democrats to have religion prominently displayed in their campains for the first time.

Yea, I'm sad that will be the case for some this year. But then again if some of the more middle road churches are brought into prominence vs the right wing it could reset a much needed balance. Plus Ralph Reed will hopefully be in jail by then..hehe

[Clint]

I believe you find more people of high moral standing at many churches, but that's not because they're religious. On the contrary, I think moral people often feel the desire to congregate in such a fashion. Of course, many of them simply want you to think they're moral, when the opposite is true.

[POE-BOY SAMICH]

Great thread.

I appreciate the civility being shown by forum members for the many varied views so far.

Me?
I'm more of an agnostic with just a few theistic leanings. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but as Time4me2ride indicated above, that's who I am when nobody's looking.

[Trapper]

I have been going to church fairly regularly in the past year. One thing I can say is that in some denominations, the message is not all about Jesus and what he did for us, but what the stories teach us about ourselves and each other. Whether you believe or not the bible for the most part sends a pretty good message.

I go to the United Church of Canada and it is very progressive as far as religion goes. We are the only church thus far to publicly stand up for the rights of same sex marriage. I have no problem with this. Better than a Pride Parade, which I don't necessarily agree with.

Last Sunday my minister had me riveted. He spoke of The DaVinci Code and urged people to read it for the mere fact that it was a great NOVEL and I agree. He also touched on the fiction of the Bible in that a lot of the stories are symbols of Christianity. He said that on Easter, he doesn't believe that the boulder moved and out walked Jesus, however he does believe that the people present did feel something deeply spiritual. I'll end my ramble now in saying that I don't judge people by there lack of religion and in turn I don't think atheists or agnostics should judge religious folk as all being holier than thou and narrow minded.

[drgibson]

Oh, my where do I start.



I'll be back.

[dragbar]

religion matters little if it doens't teach personal growth. Faith matters not if not backed by experience.

And now I wait for drg to get into his rant mode when he comes back to this thread..hehe I feel it coming already.

[blackie1491]

dr does not rant nor shoot from the hip, but somehow I think I will skip his second coming.