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I am religious and believe in free will

71 (27.7%)

I am religious and do not believe in free will

10 (3.9%)

I am not religious and believe in free will

114 (44.5%)

I am not religious and do not believe in free will

61 (23.8%)

Total Members Voted: 251

[MaxTheFox]

That and also generally taking Jesus' teachings to heart as much as I can. I'm still not applying them fully (see my previous violent meltdowns here), but I can't help but melt down sometimes because I have borderline personality disorder and mild autism.

[Schmaven]

That and also generally taking Jesus' teachings to heart as much as I can. I'm still not applying them fully

Applying them fully is hard to do.  It seems we humans always fall short and miss the mark - especially when compared to a higher ideal way of being.  But in the trying, failing, and trying again, there is a lot to be learned, and it does get easier.  Since ultimately, it is we who have to encourage ourselves, it's helpful to not beat ourselves up too harshly for imperfect results, but to just be satisfied with what we are able to do.  Like planting an acorn, and expecting an oak tree: at first, it's just a little sprout.  No height, no girth, no protective bark... Useless for most tree purposes.  Better to be patient and tend to it, allowing it to grow, than to smash it for not being a mature oak tree right now.  Positive changes in ourselves start small, and have to be nurtured (also by us) to grow. 

[Rolan7]

Obviously, all patriarchal deities are bullshit.
If they had the strength to perpetuate their ideologies, they would do so.
As they did.
Now they don't.
Because half of us are women, and the time of the patriarchy has long since passed.

[MaxTheFox]

That and also generally taking Jesus' teachings to heart as much as I can. I'm still not applying them fully

Applying them fully is hard to do.  It seems we humans always fall short and miss the mark - especially when compared to a higher ideal way of being.  But in the trying, failing, and trying again, there is a lot to be learned, and it does get easier.  Since ultimately, it is we who have to encourage ourselves, it's helpful to not beat ourselves up too harshly for imperfect results, but to just be satisfied with what we are able to do.  Like planting an acorn, and expecting an oak tree: at first, it's just a little sprout.  No height, no girth, no protective bark... Useless for most tree purposes.  Better to be patient and tend to it, allowing it to grow, than to smash it for not being a mature oak tree right now.  Positive changes in ourselves start small, and have to be nurtured (also by us) to grow. 

Yeah.

Obviously, all patriarchal deities are bullshit.
If they had the strength to perpetuate their ideologies, they would do so.
As they did.
Now they don't.
Because half of us are women, and the time of the patriarchy has long since passed.

My sect isn't patriarchal.

[Strongpoint]

My sect isn't patriarchal.

Yeah, It is nice that your sect chose to ignore the clearly patriarchal* structure of the Bible. I'd say it is a good step towards ignoring all of the Bible.

*Including the original meaning of the word - autocratic rule of the oldest male in a family\clan in which God is meant to be the oldest of all Men, the supreme despot

[MaxTheFox]

Lol

[jipehog]

You found a welcoming and understanding community and started taking a conscious effort to improve your attitude, right?

Yeah, that is usual the case. People do all sort of things in pursuit of acceptance/approval, love/companionship, sense of purpose, fulfillment, etc. Often all we need is just something to keep us motivated or in more extreme case some structure to ground them and allow for some balance/distraction and opportunities for positive interactions.

[jipehog]

Obviously, all patriarchal deities are bullshit.
If they had the strength to perpetuate their ideologies, they would do so.
As they did.
Now they don't.
Because half of us are women, and the time of the patriarchy has long since passed.

What do have faith in ?

[Magmacube_tr]

What do have faith in ?

no

[Rolan7]

(sleepy)
I actually don't know, these days?  I actually have a lot more faith/hope in my life, but I'm not what one thing I most... "take strength from" or "prioritize most" or whatever meaning of faith we're talking about.

Despite everything I still have faith in people, I think.  People have so much potential, we grow and change and often for the better.  So I guess I'm still a secular humanist haha, as a general thing.
(I said "other people" at first, but nope!  I have faith in myself too now!)

[jipehog]

[..]we grow and change and often for the better.[..]

Sound great. In the context of your last post I would like to emphasize this part, as I have been arguing against reductionist notion that religion is about god but a tapestry of cultural traditions. If you happen to like history there are some interesting material on how these traditions have been evolving and likely will continue to grow in one way or another as people shape it to their own needs.

[TD1]

I was thinking about something similar earlier today. A lot of Christians assume that religion shapes history, but I've always found that history shapes religion.

[Strongpoint]

I was thinking about something similar earlier today. A lot of Christians assume that religion shapes history, but I've always found that history shapes religion.

Both are true, you can't argue that a leader of an obscure apocalyptic Judaism sect, Jesus Christ, (and to a larger extent the later leader of the sect - Paul) didn't influence history. Same for Muhammed and others.

But religions mutate and adapt to the world, too. The current in-progress adaptation of Christianity is the acceptance of LGBT. It didn't arise in the church(es) as a result of internal theological discussion, it is the result of external secular forces.

[Magmacube_tr]

Guys. Listen. This is stupid question, but it is also very, very important.

So, Apollo is an hot piece of ass the Olympian God of Youthful Radiance, Music, Medicine, and most importantly to this question, the Sun. He has a chariot that he uses to pull the sun across the morning sky. It is his gig. It is his job.

Then there is Helios, The Titan of the Sun. Literal personification of the sun itself. He is the sun.

Does this mean, Apollo drags Helios around the sky everyday? Like, is Helios literally tied to the chariot and flails around like a ribbon while Apollo rides the vessel in hypersonic speeds?

[Rolan7]

Yes, absolutely, and they're both very
hot
while doing it.

Never underestimate a twink!