Interesting and valid questions. I am looking forward to the answers!!

It depends on which God you are talking about. If you are referring to the God of the bible, then religion is needed because that God has many rules and regulations that followers must adhere to. The bible is the spiritual book for Christianity. For Christians, this religion is needed to manifest what they study in the bible. However, if one does not place God in a box, such as only believing in the God of the bible/ Jesus, then no religion is not needed to exercise faith in God.

The interesting thing is that religion causes separation. God unites us all. We are all created by a greater being or entity that some choose to call God. We are all one whether we believe it or not, we are all connected. Religion serves to disconnect and cause strife. So, the less religion the better.

Your passion for this subject matter is quite clear. And although you do not seem as open to others expression of their spiritual views, as someone who may not necessarily believe as you do, your enthusiasm for what you believe is great. Some people feel this way about sports, others about food, you about your spiritual beliefs and debate. And although you may mock the Muslims and atheists that you debate with their has to be some part of you that enjoys it, and those debates make the forum interesting. Your wife should be happy, you could be waking up early to do something much worse. As long as it does not become detrimental to your or your family's well being, there is no problem.

Reaping what you sow, is the same as cause and effect. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. What goes around comes around. This does not mean that if you kill someone you will be killed, but moreso, you will feel the pain that you caused that person in some way, shape, or form during your lifetime. The problem is, unless you are a really conscientious person, you may not always realize when you are receiving payback. But it will and does happen, it is a law of physics.

^^^^Well it is clear that religious beliefs are the one area where reason and common sense can be ignored and completely thrown out. People who are quite smart in other areas of life are afraid to think when it comes to matters of religion. Furthermore, the writers of the bible were so clever that they called any questioning of anything in the bible "rebellion" which helps to keep people in line.

These end of the world prophecies are becoming ridiculous.  As Christians you should be greatly alarmed because these false claims allow people to mock the bible and other Christian teachings.  Those who make these claims should be chastised and shunned publicly instead of being allowed to go and hide after the proposed "last day" has come and gone.  These false teaching are quite harmful to those who believe them.

^^^^^This is my point and that is why it is strange for people to attribute their being saved from such events to a god that meant to save them.

@Dr. Joe good point! My purpose in posing this question was to show how ridiculous religious thinking can be. The idea of being spared, chosen, elect, etc. It is all craziness when examined closely.

^^^^Interesting portrayal. But reason is difficult when people already have a notion in their mind that they refuse to reconsider. The debates become pointless.

@tedben So, are we not allowed to know what this purpose is? For example, one may conclude that he lost his job to fulfill a higher calling, etc. But one may never be sure. Are you saying that there is truly a purpose for everything, including entire cities and towns being destroyed by natural disasters? Or, are these just occurences of nature?

@tpia there is nothing wrong with thanking God for being spared. The point of the question is does this imply that the others were purposefully not spared if God had a hand in saving some and not others. Who should the people who were not spared thank?

@Kx If you read many of the holy books of most religions the teachings are very much the same. This brings one to think that there is not one true religion per se, but various paths to the same place, which is communion with God.

^^^As for your assertions and implications that is up to you. You are doing great great harm and we all plead that you stop. @mazaje @martian have also spoken to you as well as many others. You are doing a great disservice with your false claims and if all you can do is say just wait, then we all hope you will stop after January 1, 2012. At least think about what is being spoken to you, you do not even realize the harm you do. You do not even realize.

All must beware of this OP @HISchild, a true wolf in sheep's clothing.  May 21 is judgment day he wrote, the world will end this year he writes, a false prophet if there ever was one!!!  He continues to come on this website, and we can only wonder what his true motives are.  All should be careful!

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.  Mt 7:15

By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them."  Matthew 7: 16-20

^^^^ your assertion implies that those who believe and "call him father" are spared from pain and suffering. this could not be further from the truth. humans do not cause earthquakes and hurricanes and tornadoes that kill and harm millions each year. humans did not create these things.

^^^^Is this a serious response? If it is, it does not make any sense. How does this show love, mercy, or compassion?

@frosbel  the OP is truly suffering.  He has tried everything you have posted.  It is not working.  it truly is not working.  Some marriages do not work and it is best for all involved to separate.  This is not bad when all other options have been explored.  it isn't.  Some people are not team players.  his wife sounds like this.  

I acknowledge your advice to him, it really is good.  But he has tried all of this.  This woman and situation sound horrible.  Are you advising he just stay and suffer?  Why would God want that?  The OP has stated he has tried all that you have stated.  how much can he beat a dead horse?  If God is compassionate and loving I am sure he will understand.

@OP what you are talking about is called repression and it is dangerous. Women are beautiful, as are men. Members of the opposite sex look at one another. Even when married they look. So, if this is adultery that is just absurd. There is a saying that goes, I am married I am not blind.

This strict and dogmatic to the letter approach to Christianity is not spiritual or righteous and is often what leads people to "backslide."

The world is full of wonderful things. We must learn to enjoy them without feeling guilty. Guilt and shame are the cornerstones of religion and keep people locked and fear and not fully living.

What happens when people follow what you are prescribing is that they fall into whatever behavior it is at such as extreme because they have repressed their natural tendencies for so long.

Being able to live realistically in this world is key, not following doctrine for brief periods of time and then falling back into dysfuntional behavior.
Look at all the people who were once or are Christians who engage in out of control behaviors like sleeping with numerous women, homosexuality, child abuse, drinking, drugs, etc.

There is a reason for this out of control state, and it is this repression which you are advising. People need to feel what they feel naturally so they are aware of it and can deal with it to get to the root of the problem, not just pretend there is no problem, if one even thinks such behavior is a problem.

Enjoy life. No reason to pluck your eye out.

@OP I am sorry that you are experiencing this.  A bad marriage is like hell on earth.  When you have tried everything and there are no other options, then you may need to divorce.  It does not sound like you have any children which is a good thing.  People make mistakes.  it sounds like you have. no need to punish yourself forever.  move on.

OR, it is all nonsense. If Paul thought the last days were supposed to be 2000 years ago, then it is clear that the men who wrote the bible did so in order to keep people in fear. Disease, war, bad weather etc can happen at any time. So people will always be in fear when these things happen. The bible, a tool for control of human behavior.

@knowjack Yes, but what is the real point here! The lesson should be that Harold Camping interpreted the bible in his own way which led him to a May 21 judgment date. He led many people astray. But he also has many other false teachings about divorce, the church, etc that people are following. This is the danger of the bible. It is based on man's interpretation of it. And this man's interpretations have been quite dangerous.

If Jesus is black and had dread locks, does this mean that he gets his genes from Mary or does he get them from God or is he mixed with the two of them? Is Mary Black? Is God Black? Or, can we call begin to see that none of this makes any sense when interpreted literally and that the story of Jesus, just like Mohammed, and Buddha are just meant as teaching tools, nothing more?

It is clear that all logic and any normal thinking must be halted when discussing the bible. What Hischild wrote makes absolutely no sense. People who are wise in other areas of life, become mentally incapacitated when discussing the bible and believe this fairy tale as if it is true. Why? It is so clear that the bible was written by men, with no inspiration from anything but themselves. It is so obvious!

Follow your heart. Marriage is not always easy. Why make it more difficult by starting out with someone you do not truly love because of religion? The only time religion may be necessary for a successful marriage is when either person has no internal self control and needs external factors like church doctrines to keep them under control and well behaved. Everyone does not need this. If you and your girlfriend are mature and do not need the religious doctrine to behave and have a strong marriage, then follow your heart.

There is a saying that goes "everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die to get there." The question posed by the OP should definitely be directed towards the Christians on this site. Why when sick do you make such effort to find healing through earthly means such as doctors. If heaven awaits you upon dying, why not embrace sickness in every instance that it shows itself, so that you will die quickly and leave this earth that you hate so much. The problem with some Christians is that they are not fully present in their lives here on earth. The bible makes everything pleasurable appear wicked and based on interpretations many believers live a very narrow life, never truly enjoying the many cultures, beliefs, practices, etc throughought the earth. many Christians are just waiting to get to heaven, but do not want to die to get there. So really, the question that the OP has presented should be answered by the OP.

You may need to define what you mean by "atheist." I do not believe in the god of the bible, but I do believe that we are all spiritual beings having an earthly experience and based on our actions here on earth we will either transcend to a deeper level of being that is no longer on earth or not. Our purpose here is to utilize our gifts and talents to make this world a better place while we are here. Believing in the God of the bible is not necessary to do this. For those who are poor or suffering, we can offer them solace and peace as much as we can while we are here. This life is about learning the various lessons that we were sent here to learn, this differs for everyone. For some they have come to learn patience and charity, others must overcome covetousness and greed etc. Not everyone will be able to do this. Again for some the bible and god of the bible may be their path to transcending their lower selves and reaching a higher level of being or consciousness. But we all do not need to follow the bible or Christianity to live fully.

LOL I guess this means either HISchild and Harold Camping were wrong again and no rapturing occurred. Or, HISchild, has found an internet connection in raptureland. lol pure nonsense.

[b]Tomorrow is October 21, 2011.  Many have been waiting for this day because they believe it will be the rapture.  They believe that they will be taken away from their pain and suffering on this earth and go to join Jesus in Heaven. This will not happen.

The originator of this October 21 date is a man named Harold Camping who is the owner of family radio stations which plays here in Nigeria.  Earlier this year many of you may have seen billboards as well as topics on this site related to May 21 judgment day and the end.  As we all know, nothing happened.

For those of us who have witnessed the past five months, we have truly seen a false prophet and false prophecies at their best.  Harold Camping will most likely make another excuse as to why nothing happens on October 21.  He has already stated that May 21 was a silent judgment and his followers have accepted this.

For those who say they are Christians, what have you done to show the dangers of Harold Camping and his followers?

The reason why it is important to pay attention to someone like this is because some who are weak minded and gullible do follow him.  There are many who ruined their lives as a result of these teachings.

How do we hold a man like Harold Camping accountable?  Is it our responsibility to do so?  These teachings are dangerous and although the antics of his followers are at times humorous, the end results are heartbreaking!

So, for all of those who are waiting for the end tomorrow, it is not coming.  Please try to live your life in a better way so you are not living with the constnat anticipation of death, but instead are enjoying the wonderful gifts of this earth.

For those who have followed Harold Camping and spread his message, please reassess your actions and the harm that they have caused.  Your arguments are that these prophesies come from the bible.  They have all been wrong, so what does this mean?

I hope no one does anything silly tomorrow or Saturday or in the weeks to come when they realize they have to live and be respoinsible for their actions.  Everyone should be more vigilant in the days to come. 

For those who still stand by him, here are some more false teachings of Harold Camping:

Harold Camping proclaimed the Lord's return would be in 1994!
Harold Camping proclaimed the Lord's return will be on May 21, 2011!
Harold Camping teaches that the world will end in fiery destruction on October 21, 2011!
Harold Camping now teaches that the world will end quietly on October 21, 2011 and that sinners will not be punished for their actions!
Harold Camping taught that NO ONE was saved between 1988 through 1994!
Harold Camping teaches that the church age ended in 1994!
Harold Camping teaches that the Holy Spirit is NO LONGER working in the church!
Harold Camping teaches that EVERY church in the world is apostate!
Harold Camping teaches that there is no divorce for any reason.


None of these teachings are of the bible.  None of them are true.  Please  beware!  [/b]