Oh look what you guys have made me do...

Figured since it got going in the other post about immigration, I'd just keep it going in it's own thread...

Religion... oh what a controversial subject that can be! Yep, I'm going there!

How does this song make you guys feel? I personally love the song and the lyrics and can totally understand how the writer came to write them... the lyrics are with the video...







here I go.... hittin' the submit key

and also curious... how do you guys plan to raise your children as far as religion goes?

When Aaralyn is of an age to comprehend religion a little better, I will get books and introduce her to different beliefs and let her take it from there... she can believe what she wants to believe or she can choose to be a "non-believer" as long as I do my best to instill in her to treat people right, never see herself above other people (or think she is better) but to just live her life in a good way with good intent and feel good about that!

Have edited to add more to this...

I'd also like to ask of you, if you don't mind, and I will not be offended if anyone chooses not to respond to this post either, What do you believe? and why?

Here is what I believe (since ya'll are my friends and all I feel comfortable sharing with you)

I believe in a 3 fold law, what ever you do, negative or positive in life will come back to you 3 fold... I believe this because I really think I've experienced it...

I believe that if you are honest with people about who you are then you must not be too ashamed of your life and so you must be doing ok

I believe in evolution, so therefore, I have a hard time with the whole Adam and Eve concept

I believe that if there is a God, and if there is, I'm really not sure, I'd like to think of God as not all male there are male and female aspects to almost everything in nature so why would God have to be a man?

As far as God is concerned, I don't know, religion is such a vast concept, it boggles my mind to think about it so I choose not to stress myself and just do right as best I can.

I also have a really hard time with having to fear God? What's that all about? If I ever choose to whole heartedly believe in a male God, I certainly don't want to fear him

I have no idea nor do I really want to put too much thought into how or when it all began nor do I want to put too much thought into when or how it will all end.

I'd like to believe that our souls are given new bodies when our old ones fail and an old Pagan belief is that our souls strive for kind of a perfection progressing in each life they live and then finally go on to a happy place called the Summer Lands... that seems kinda nice to me so I like to think that's what happens

I believe Jesus existed and was probably a pretty cool guy for his time but I have a hard time with the immaculate conception and he being the son of God, that may put some of you off and I totally respect if what I believe is totally opposite with what you believe but it's just how I feel.

So, there ya go, those of you who have chosen to read this have just gotten to know me even a little bit more

Please feel free to write honesty and freely about what you believe in if you choose to do so...

I shall not judge

I am not religious in any way.
I was baptised as a child and i dont practice any religion.
Charlotte was christened but it was through DFs choice. I didnt want her christened and tbh i dont believe in any religion esp as it seems to be the cause of all evil out there.
Thomas hasn't been christened yet but df wants him done to - im not going to stop df as its nothing that is going to effect the children's lives - when the children are old enough they can choose whether they want to pick up a religion or not, tbh atm i feel they are too young to understand anything about it and (please remember this is MY opinion no one elses) i dont think children should be brainwashed into a religion until they are old enough to understand it.
I will how refuse to let dd go on trips to religious places with school IF they are NOT going to visit various places. If they take them to various religious places fine.
When i was at school they organised a trip to a mosque (sp?) but no other relgious setting, so my mum said no as it wasnt fair - we should be taught about all not just 1 or 2 religions - to which the school took all the kids who werent allowed to go in a room and basically had a go at us sayong we were banned from any future trips the school planned!
I dont wish to offend anyone with my views - its how i lead my life and im not saying anyone should live like i do.

im not a practising christian but all mine have been christened i also have been confirmed but i will not judge if they choose a nother religion when older

well for those of you who have been following the immigration thread you will know how i feel about other peoples religious beliefs (got a bit carried away, sorry!lol)

Now, as for what i believe in myself (i really hope i don't offend anyone, apologies in a advance if i do) I believe that everyone here on earth is equal and we have the ability to be good or bad people depending on which roads we choose to take in life.

I also believe in evolution and as tammy said, therefor have a tough time believing in Adam and Eve. I do believe in Jesus - i believe he was a great guy who did great things in his time to help people much less fortunate than himself. i don't however believe he was here as the son of god.

As for god himself, i don't believe god is one entity looking over us all, i kind of believe god is in all of us, as our conscience. I don't believe when we die we go to heaven or hell, but believe we make our own here on earth. If you do bad things i believe you will have guilt deep inside and are therefor put in your own hell. And how good do you feel after you have helped someone in the day? - heaven!

I do kind of believe in the soul leaving the body and entering another one. Although for me it is more an imprint of our lives, that we leave behind? (not really sure how to explain this).

As for how i am going to bring the children up. Well neither of them have or will be christened/baptised or have any other kind of religious ceremony performed on them? I also believe when they are old enough they will make a choice based on their knowledge and experiences that will be right for them. whether that is a traditional religion or one that they have discovered inside themselves. I really don't mind what they will choose to believe as long as they are happy healthy children/adults. I do however think religious education is important, so as they will have some understanding of other peoples beliefs. I also hope that when they are at school they will be taught about lots of different religions. Which will help make them in to the well rounded people i am hoping they become.

gawd, look what you guys have done to me. That turned into an epic - sorry!

WOW i have been gone a week and look at all these debates (which i like by the way)
I was born catholic and am raising my children catholic BUT we are what you call arm chair catholics lol
My parents were raised catholic but were never forced to go to church or believe anything they didnt want to believe in and that is how i have been raised and how i am raising my children,i go to church (not to often)weddings,christenings,funerals etc and it doesnt bother me the ceremonies are often beautiful and vows,eulogys etc are writen by family,friends not out of a book.
I choose to believe there is a god/heaven i dont know if god is male or female but it gives me comfort to believe that all my deceased family and friends have gone to a "better place".
I would never force my beliefs on to anybody and i apreaciate not having other religions forced upon me but i am a very spiritual person and a great believer of karma and Tammy a big believer of three fold.
I will only be a true believer when i experience what ever happens to me when i am gone untill then i am a free spirit to live my life as i choose!!

Thank you guys for your responses, they've been very interesting, I appreciate your being open and honest about something so personal... I forget that not every body is an open book like me ...

I guess a few of you are choosing to bow out on this one and that's ok too!

and I edited to just add that I think most important I believe that people should believe what they wanna believe but if it can only be done with out any one else being hurt or made to feel bad about what they believe that would be great!

i dont really believe in anything really.

I go on fact so find it hard to believe i need prof about what is out there before i can put my heart into it and without putting your heart into it there is no point believing.

BTW i am the kind of girl who stayed up late christmas eve to prove to my friends he didn't exist.