Where Do You Find Faith?

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61

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]MartyMonster wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
But what about the people who’s faith is their steel?

[/quote]

Perhaps this…[/quote]

Perhaps you want to give a serious answer? I know you aren’t that vapid.

Because that is the most moronic, disingenuous cartoon I’ve seen thus far on the subject. Literally Militant Atheist fantasy drawn for the sole purpose of confirmation bias and self aggrandizing masturbation. [/quote]

Religion is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race. For proof, see: entire human history.

62

[quote]legendaryblaze wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]MartyMonster wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
But what about the people who’s faith is their steel?

[/quote]

Perhaps this…[/quote]

Perhaps you want to give a serious answer? I know you aren’t that vapid.

Because that is the most moronic, disingenuous cartoon I’ve seen thus far on the subject. Literally Militant Atheist fantasy drawn for the sole purpose of confirmation bias and self aggrandizing masturbation. [/quote]

Religion is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race. For proof, see: entire human history.
[/quote]

This is so utterly fucking stupid, biased and based on complete fiction it doesn’t even deserve the response it is getting.

Why I thought adults could talk like adults about this is beyond me.

63

[quote]legendaryblaze wrote:
Religion is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race. For proof, see: entire human history.
[/quote]

No, association with other people through various supposed/perceived similarities is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race.

For proof- WW1/WW2/virtually every fucking conflict ever fought.

65

[quote]magick wrote:

[quote]legendaryblaze wrote:
Religion is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race. For proof, see: entire human history.
[/quote]

No, association with other people through various supposed/perceived similarities is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race.

For proof- WW1/WW2/virtually every fucking conflict ever fought.[/quote]

This is a pretty good answer though the differences aren’t just “perceived” - they’re very much real and in most cases these differences are irreconcilable.

66

[quote]bulkNcut wrote:
For those of you who are not religious, where do you find your faith? More specifically what makes you trust that things will turn out alright in the midst of adversity?

[/quote]

By faith do you mean optimism? The strength to endure? A hopeful and positive attitude?

You will find negative or pessimistic people, and discouraged people across the religious/ nonreligious spectrum. If you look at the research, religious people do tend to do better in terms of coping with tragedy. Some of that may stem from a more hopeful world view, or connection to community.

Some of the things you said in your OP about your heath challenges sound like you either haven’t lived long enough to experience real tragedy, or have an immature view of this mortal coil. We’re all subject to illness and death. Bad stuff happens to good people all the time.

“Living a charmed life” or hoping that nothing bad will happen if you’re good, or thinking that bad stuff only happens to a different kind of person, like there is something inherently different about people who have a kid die of cancer? That kind of thinking won’t take you very far.

The hope isn’t that you won’t get hurt, or that bad stuff won’t happen - it will. The hope is that you’ll be able to cope, and that you’ll find strength, and often humility and compassion for other people in the process.

There is beauty in everything. Check out beachguy. I’ll bet if given the opportunity to know the future 30 years ago, he’d marry her all over again, even knowing that he would outlive her and there would be some serious pain involved in that. He feels blessed that she was in his life, and the world was better because she was in it. She left a legacy of love. That’s the positive view. There’s beauty in that. It’s living fully, not trying to go through life avoiding painful stuff.

Be brave with your life. Or to quote Bruce Lee, “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”

68

[quote]legendaryblaze wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]MartyMonster wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
But what about the people who’s faith is their steel?

[/quote]

Perhaps this…[/quote]

Perhaps you want to give a serious answer? I know you aren’t that vapid.

Because that is the most moronic, disingenuous cartoon I’ve seen thus far on the subject. Literally Militant Atheist fantasy drawn for the sole purpose of confirmation bias and self aggrandizing masturbation. [/quote]

Religion is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race. For proof, see: entire human history.
[/quote]

What a load of shit.

69

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
Thanks all, this is why I was MIA for a few months earlier in the year. We really were expecting a better outcome with Barbara’s cancer. The thing that shakes me is how good she was to everyone and everyone loved her. Nobody can say a bad word about her. I would have traded places with her at any point. I also have some women in my family, real pieces of crap and they’re still walking around. Good I only see some of them 2X a year.

I’m keeping the kids together, did all the insurance and financial stuff already, still more to do. Just a very surreal experience every step of the way. We were 13 days shy of being married 31 years and she died on 6/13… there’s those 13s again…[/quote]

Wow, very sorry for your loss.

70

[quote]Powerpuff wrote:

[quote]bulkNcut wrote:
For those of you who are not religious, where do you find your faith? More specifically what makes you trust that things will turn out alright in the midst of adversity?

[/quote]

By faith do you mean optimism? The strength to endure? A hopeful and positive attitude?

You will find negative or pessimistic people, and discouraged people across the religious/ nonreligious spectrum. If you look at the research, religious people do tend to do better in terms of coping with tragedy. Some of that may stem from a more hopeful world view, or connection to community.

Some of the things you said in your OP about your heath challenges sound like you either haven’t lived long enough to experience real tragedy, or have an immature view of this mortal coil. We’re all subject to illness and death. Bad stuff happens to good people all the time.

“Living a charmed life” or hoping that nothing bad will happen if you’re good, or thinking that bad stuff only happens to a different kind of person, like there is something inherently different about people who have a kid die of cancer? That kind of thinking won’t take you very far.

The hope isn’t that you won’t get hurt, or that bad stuff won’t happen - it will. The hope is that you’ll be able to cope, and that you’ll find strength, and often humility and compassion for other people in the process.

There is beauty in everything. Check out beachguy. I’ll bet if given the opportunity to know the future 30 years ago, he’d marry her all over again, even knowing that he would outlive her and there would be some serious pain involved in that. He feels blessed that she was in his life, and the world was better because she was in it. She left a legacy of love. That’s the positive view. There’s beauty in that. It’s living fully, not trying to go through life avoiding painful stuff.

Be brave with your life. Or to quote Bruce Lee, “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”

[/quote]

You’re right, I’m young. I sincerely hope I didn’t belittle others who have more severe situations. I’ve dealt with loss when my uncle (really close growing up) died suddenly, but other than that I’ve been very fortunate. And I know this is probably a meaningless gesture but I really hope I didn’t seem like I was comparing my situation to beachguy. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through and wish him the best

71

[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:

[quote]angry chicken wrote:
I’ll take teaching my kid to look both ways before he crosses the street over trusting in blind “faith” that “God will protect my kid” when he crosses the street any day of the week and twice on Sunday.[/quote]

Blaming the victim.

Drivers need to be taught to not hit kids crossing the street.
[/quote]

I don’t every “blame” or “shame” anyone. I believe in being responsible for your outcomes. OWN your results in life. That means not trusting the driver to slow down… You can’t trust or depend on anyone, only your self.

72

[quote]kenny-mccormick wrote:

there is no point…
[/quote]

You gotta have faith brother…prayer helps.

73

[quote]pushharder wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]legendaryblaze wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]MartyMonster wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:
But what about the people who’s faith is their steel?

[/quote]

Perhaps this…[/quote]

Perhaps you want to give a serious answer? I know you aren’t that vapid.

Because that is the most moronic, disingenuous cartoon I’ve seen thus far on the subject. Literally Militant Atheist fantasy drawn for the sole purpose of confirmation bias and self aggrandizing masturbation. [/quote]

Religion is one of the worst things that has happened to the human race. For proof, see: entire human history.
[/quote]

This is so utterly fucking stupid, biased and based on complete fiction it doesn’t even deserve the response it is getting.

Why I thought adults could talk like adults about this is beyond me. [/quote]

What exposes his ignorance is looking at human history and observing what happens where there is a lack of religion. But folks like him will continue playing their video games (to the exclusion of studying history) and humming Lennon’s “Imagine” as they constantly stumble toward the end of their meaningless life, moping about “what could have been” if only there were no religion.
[/quote]

I think it really is a matter of perspective. Is the glass half empty or half full? When you look at religion, do you see the Catholic Charities? or the Catholic pedophile priests and subsequent cover ups? Do you see beautiful Muslim architecture? or Terrorism? When we open the Bible, do we flip to Second Corinthians 4:16? or Psalm 137:9? Do we see the Church excommunicating early scientists (and thereby delaying key discoveries by perhaps centuries)? or do we see them caring for orphaned children?

One can point to both positive and negative things about religion. One position is no more “valid” than the other one. Religion is a powerful thing to be sure, but as with all powerful things, it can have a corrupting influence and can be used in a negative way - just as it can be used in a positive way…

Some of us, myself included, find the hypocrisy to be unpalatable and the suspension of logic to be too far fetched. But that doesn’t mean it’s “bad” or that other people are “wrong”, it just means that it isn’t for everyone. And that’s a perfectly valid position.

There are PLENTY of happy people who do good things and have wonderful, positive, healthy families that are not religious.

74

Beachguy, I’m sorry for your loss. Hang in there. Work the stages of grief fully and don’t shortchange yourself - that shit’ll bite you in the ass. Good luck.

75

Beachguy, I am unable to comprehend how deep your loss must hurt. My thoughts are with you and your family.

76

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I had faith that good things do happen to good people until my beautiful wife Barbara passed away from cancer 3 months ago. Even when she was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, we had faith in the best medical care and that she would be one of the 20% that made it to 5 years.

Even when things took a turn for the worse back in May, we all figured she’d somehow make a recovery. It was not the case though. I’ve always had a charmed-existence of sorts where even bad things would become not-so-bad and I’d get past them. Now my life is pretty much a shambles and I sure don’t believe in too much of anything ATM.[/quote]

There are no words. So sorry for your loss.

77

I happen to believe in God, although I don’t consider myself especially religious. I experimented with not believing a few years back, but the idea never really took.

In any case, whatever you believe, I think the only way to realistically have faith that things will be okay is to resolve to stay in the fight and be okay with however things are, come what may.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Henley

78

[quote]angry chicken wrote:
Some of us, myself included, find the hypocrisy to be unpalatable and the suspension of logic to be too far fetched. [/quote]

I think I find the hypocrisy to be like everything else in life wherein…some mother fuckers think JAYSUS doesn’t want you to drink booze, while I believe turning water into wine must mean Jesus would have really enjoyed sitting up with me and enjoying some green chartreuse…and…that’s kinda the great thing about Jesus…in that…he’s ready to meet you where you are…with that being said if where you are is thinking Jesus wants you to behead your son because he’s gay, or play with snakes then I think he really wants to to be somewhere else…

I may be a looser because I look at all other religions besides Christianity as more like cultural things to observe from afar and find ‘neat’, but not really religious, but…that’s just me.

79

[quote]angry chicken wrote:

Some of us, myself included, find the hypocrisy to be unpalatable and the suspension of logic to be too far fetched.
[/quote]

I’m pretty sure that makes it bad, when it colors your perspective and allows individuals to make decisions based on fiction. Stem cell research, abortion, euthanasia, gay rights, etc.

80

[quote]legendaryblaze wrote:
abortion, .[/quote]

lmao…

Yeah, religion is super bad because the frown upon the murder of innocent babies.

God damn your head is stuffed right up your as son this one…