I really, really, really need to find someone else interested in comparative religions, philosophy, and/or the Bible as history. If you are a closet philosopher, I'd love to hear from you. Any pearls of wisdom (yours or someone else's) are welcome. I know this can be a pretty deep subject but I also know there are some "golden oldies" who have something to say.

sniff. No one wants to talk to me. Not surprising, really, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

------------------
If you asked me what I came here to do, I would tell you that I came to live out loud. - Emile Zola

Don't feel sad....this is suppose to be a happy place.
I could discuss the problems of the middle east with you...but I warn you I am very pro-israeli.

Sypher

LindaK29,
I am new at this but I am interested in speaking with you about the subject that you mentioned. I have been studying this subject for many years. Is there a specific question that you are looking for an answer to? Or do you have an opinion that you would like to share? I am not sure if we just reply back and forth on this board or if we go to e-mail or chat. I tried to use chat the other day and really did not how to use it. Sandlewood.

Sypher and Sandlewood, thank you for answering my post!! I was beginning to think no one loved me anymore.
Here's what I had in mind, specifically, so let me know what you think. I have spent the last five (or more) years studying Jewish thought and history. I'm not Jewish so I have no pro- or con- arguments. As far am I am concerned, the whole idea of religion is interesting. I am interested in what others believe and how they came to their beliefs. People always say, "I was raised to believe..." but what does that mean? I was raised to believe certain things, too, but as one gets older one sometimes begins to question what one was taught. Have you questioned things you were taught? What do you still believe/ now believe/ aren't too sure about? I am always interested in others' viewpoints.
If you need a question to get you started, let's do something "easy." Ready? Creation. How, why, when, was everything created?
(If this is not what you had in mind, let me know. We can talk about anything related." If you prefer to email me, my address is: lknockers28@hotmail.com --thanks again.

I have only known one faith or belief and that is being Jewish. I am not a practicing Jew but if anyone slated my religion I would stand up for it. As far as creation is concerned...according to Genesis..God made the heavens and earth in 6 days and the seventh he rested. Hard to believe but anything is possible...I prefer the big bang theory myself.

Sypher

LindaK2,

Creation, Why?. So GOD could experience himself. How can you know what you are if you cannot experience what you are not? Or so it is an illusion. GOD is everything and everyone. No good and no bad. No right and no wrong. Only LIFE. Only experience.
Sandalwood.

WOW! At first I was going to interupt and ask what this topic had to do with books (other than "the good book"). But it's turning out so interesting!

I was raised a Roman Catholic. Today I call myself a "non-participating" Catholic. I practice the basic tenants of the religion but, I don't paticipate in services regularly. I guess I could translate that into being a Christian.

As far as questioning what one was taught...I think the bible is a storybook book. It was written to be an example; a template. How can we ignore science?

Carry on with this deep subject!

------------------
I gotta be me...everyone else was taken!

Okay, let's take the well-known story of Creation in the Bible. Most people will read Genesis and see one story of Creation. "In the beginning yadda yadda." But if you read Chapter 2, begininng with verse 3 or 4 (can't remember off the top of my head), there is another, seemingly contradictory, story of Creation. If you have a chance to read it, please do and comment.
to Sypher: I don't know how anyone can slam Judaism. If they do, they don't know enough about it and they would (unknowingly, perhaps) be slamming their own beliefs. So much of what we believe stems from Judaism.
to Sandlewood: why do you suppose god needed/wanted to experience himself? (herself, itself, pick your pronoun) If god is everywhere and everyone (and I'm not arguing that), why do you suppose he needs/wants us?
to Shuttlebunny: thanks for your input. I, too, was raised Catholic but decided many years ago that it was not true to what I really believed. I don't consider myself a Christian, either.
Here's a thought: some Biblical scholars believe that the god mentioned in the Old Testament and the god mentioned in the New Testament are not the same god. Any thoughts on this?
By the way, if you are interested, I recommend a book called "A History of God" by Karen Armstrong or "The Gifts of the Jews" by an author whose name eludes me. Sorry.

------------------
If you asked me what I came here to do, I would tell you that I came to live out loud. - Emile Zola

I can't comment on the new testament because I have never read it. But I would have thought there is only one god but goes by many names.
Maybe someone can answer this question for me.....
If Jesus was jewish and that was his only religion. Where did christanity come from ?
Why call it that ?

------------------
Deciphering the World as I see it !!

Sypher,
Christianity was created after the death (so called) of christ. How it began was that Jesus was trying to teach that you could have a one on one realtionship with God. In those times the priest ruled. People did not look within themselves for salvation. They believed that only a priest could talk to God. And therefore they were special,worshiped and honored. Then Jesus came and taught that we and the father are one and that we did not need the priest. Big uproar. Sadly, Jesus did not not quite get his point across and the people started to worship Jesus. Jesus chose to die on the cross to really get his point across about Life being forever and the limited minds in those day still really did not get it. So they went on with his teachings but, they were still limited and went from there. They misunderstood most of his teachings and only focused on the few that they thought they understood. Does this make sense to you? It is a terrible difficult incident to explain when written.

Linda,
As to why God wanted to experience Himself/herself/it's self, I use himself in small letters in reference to our own human life. I see it this way. If God, the origin of life was/is perfect all loving and all good. Whole and complete in itself why not fragment and understand all of it's self in pieces. Therfore you and I began. Each individual experience each of us has, enters into the heart of God. Adding to and completing the wholeness.We are only experiencing what has already been. If you read Job in the bible there is a reference that we were already with God in the beginning. I'm not sure where it is, I would have to dig up my bible and look it up, but, in there when God is asking where Job was when all was created, it say's something like, you should know you were there with me. Something to that affect anyway. I will try to find it later. Of course this is only my own belief.

Re: the deep end

Although this thread is entirely off topic, I'd like to let it go to see how the conversation progresses.

I will eventually add some 'Discussion' forums to the site, which will deal exclusively with touchy issues such as religion, death, social issues such as abortion, and politics.

By all means we encourage good discussion and exchange of ideas, but when dealing with sensitive topics such as religion, be as mindful as you can about hurting other participants of the conversation. It's certainly quite possible to tactfully have a good debate, and that's what we encourage.

As you post in threads such as this, remember that it is simply not fun to have people leaving a conversation feeling flamed/insulted by something they've heard.

Terry
The Webmaster

I don't want to/intend to step on anyone's toes with this. If I have, I am deeply sorry. This is what I read and I never have anyone to discuss this with. If this is not the right forum, again I apologize. Maybe we should only post interesting things we've read on the topic so as to not offend? I know religion is a "hot topic" but it is also my field of study. So we'll proceed with caution....
I think that what Sandlewood said about god experiencing himself is interesting. I've never heard anything like that. Did you read it or have you developed that belief on your own?
Sypher, my own personal belief dictates that there is one god but he is called many things. I think everyone sees him differently but he's still the same god. Much like you can look at a diamond and see a whole diamond or each facet of it.
Have you read any Maimonides (Rambam)? It is hard (ie. downright tedious) at times but a worthwhile read.

I am sorry if I have stepped on anyones toe too!!. This is such a deep subject with so many beliefs. I have developed my opinions of my beliefs in many ways. Reading, going within and observing life around me. Also watching closely in others lives. Again, I have been studing this subject since I was a child. I think I was born studing. The expression that the new age group uses is "I woke up very early in life". I was born knowing there was a God an that we were very close. To explain it any differently is difficult.I believe in God, Jesus Christ and many other reliqious figures.There is one series of books called "The Teaching Of The Masters Of The Far East" by Spalding that is very interesting. But, If you are not open to the material it can be mind blowing. I don't usually suggest such reading unless someone is really serious about learning. It can be scary because it challenges your belief system if your were raised in a conditioned religious home.

Thanks for the title. I'll try to find it. I'd love to read it!

Have you ever read "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn? I read it a few years ago and, at that time, it seemed so mind blowing. If you read it, you can agree with his ideas or disagree with them but, either way, it will show you a different view of things "we all know". If you can get past the weird "talking gorilla" idea in the book, it is worth a read. It's pretty short so you can probably read it in a day or so.

------------------
If you asked me what I came here to do, I would tell you that I came to live out loud. - Emile Zola

This is interesting! I, like shuttlebunny, was raised Catholic. I still hold to a lot of the Catholic beliefs, though I have strong disagreements on some, and do not attend Mass anymore. I am still developing my own system of belief. I am interested in many religions, but am afraid I have a lot to learn yet.
Sandalwood, you believe in Jesus, but do you believe in him as The Son Of God, or do you think of him as a Prophet?
Now that books are being mentioned, maybe the subject is on topic I am currently reading Deepak Chopra's "Lords Of Light", and finding it thought provoking at times.
I also read and collect books by Kahlil Gibran.

Sandalwood...thanks for responding to my e-mail! There was some talk among moderators as to where this type of discussion could lead. As the moderator of this forum I haven't found anything offensive and I'm enjoying the conversation.

Terry is planning some discussion forums for the near future. Within those forums will be areas to discuss the more controversial subjects such as religions and politics.

In the mean time...thanks for yours and LindaK29's and others contributions!

------------------
I gotta be me...everyone else was taken!

Hi Stjerne,

Yes, I guess I do believe in the son of God. I use lower letters in son because I am referring to the human being. I believe that we are all son's and daughter's of God as some people would say. But I truly believe that the soul has no sex. It just is. I think Deepak Chopra is a very loving being and I enjoy his work. I have always loved Kahil Gabran. I believe that I have almost if not all of his books.
LindaK29, I have not read Ishmael but I will look for it on my next trip to the library. I still have a couple books to read from the last check out. I will let you know what I think of it when I finish it. Thanks for the title.

I was raised in a home with secular Jewish values, but with no formal religious education or observance.I feel that this has made me very open about reading and exploring a wide diversity of religious thought--the Old and New Testaments,Buddism, Hinduism,etc. I believe that there is no one "true religion"--there are many answers to the questions concerning the purpose of life, appropriate moral conduct, the position of man in the great scheme of things, what happens after we die,etc. We have to be open to each others ideas and find what is right for each of us.In the end, it is all a matter of faith and not of dogma.We
can't argue faith, but we can challange dogma ---as long as we do it with respect for each other, and not demand that others believe or behave as we do.

Can this entire thread be moved to one of the new discussion forums? It is much broader than "book chat" and it is a topic that many people might care to comment on---but they might not be able to find it in its present location.

This topic certainly can be moved! All we need are two moderators for the new forum.

Any volunteers?? LindaK29? Sandalwood?

If you would like to join the elite moderators club just head on over to the forum and volunteer!

------------------
I gotta be me...everyone else was taken!

Shuttlebunny,
I would enjoy moderating the new forum. How do I head over to the forum and volunteer? I am real new on the computer and relativly new to Fun Trivia. Help me get around here. PLEASE.

Sandalwood,

Looks like Terry temporarily took them down
I'll let him know that you are interested in being a moderator and get back to you, either here or e-mail!

------------------
I gotta be me...everyone else was taken!

I'd like to be a moderator too...maybe. I'm not sure what that entails. Can someone help???