[LordKathen]

Originally posted by Maelakin: quote: Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: One thing I do disagree with you on is the feeling of the Holy Spirit washing over you having a perfectly biological explanation. I have felt both. There have been times before my Salvation when I would become giddily happy for no real apparant reason, but as good as that feeling was - it doesn't come close to comparing to the inexplicable peace and well-being one feels when the Holy Spirit indwells within them. It is an experience that cannot be fully and accurately described to one who has not experienced it.

This could be explained psychologically. In turn, psychological functions of the body often result in biological changes. Either way, whenever someone uses a feeling as a point of perspective, it is innately flawed. Feelings are just reactions within our bodies, they will and are just psychological and biological reactions.

In almost every religion they have some occurrence where feelings of this nature take place. Whether it is the Holy Spirit, Transcendence, or Enlightenment doesn’t really matter. It still all comes down to bio-chemical reactions in our minds and alternatively our bodies.

On the topic of source books and different viewpoints, Cerek brings up a good point. All these books people use and present as factual documentation have been translated, re-worded, and re-worked. While they may contain factual information, so do many fictional stories.

The biggest promotion I often hear concerning the Bible relates to the moral values it teaches. I don’t know about most people, but the morals taught in the Bible are for all intents and purposes common sense. There are no revelations in the teachings there. Any person that tries to live their life peacefully and respectfully ends up following some if not all of the moral teachings the Bible possesses.

The same goes for many prophets, many other religious works, and various other teachings.

The hardest time I have with various people of a religious background is how they answer my questions. I’m a person who came from an extremely religious background. Both my parents were Roman Catholics and we attended church every Wed. and Sun. I also went to CCD (Bible School) three days a week in addition to my normal schooling. It isn’t like I haven’t been open to the prospect of Jesus being the savior and God being the almighty. I was turned away because no one can ever answer my questions.

I have very simple questions concerning other possibilities. They only answers I ever receive tell me I should just believe, because if I do, this is how I will feel. Pieces of the various religions will be pointed out for me to ponder, that have absolutely nothing to do with the question I asked. Every religious person I encounter from multiple religions all KNOW they are on the right path, and all their proof lies in how they feel. Am I one of the few who sees a problem with this? Am I one of the few who realizes that if so many people from so many different religions have all found the correct path, more than likely none of them has? It is more likely they have found a seed of truth that needs to be further explored.

And yet, I am forced to search in the worst of all places for answers. The minds of the religiously enlightened, which are so set in their ways, it’s as if they had blinders on. They preach and speak of being open minded; yet, in less time than it takes me to begin speaking, they have already closed out what I am attempting to say.

Many here probably have preconceived notions pertaining to my personal beliefs. I challenge religion. I state religion stops people from thinking. I would say that if you needed proof that religion stops a person from thinking, look in this very thread and see how quick people were to put down ones beliefs to support his or her own. The fault lies not within the religious, but within the religion that teaches they are a true answer.

Some of you may disagree with what I say here. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I know there are many more people out there like me who just wish to explore every opportunity we have too understand. One day, we will find people of various faiths who are able to discuss possibilities and the correlations between the religions and theories. One day, we will find people who are able to say, “I’m not on the right path, and I’m on the correct path for myself.” [/QUOTE]I feel the same way. I was not raised in church, but have exposed myself to many religions looking for answers. Exactly what you say about the normal response is spot on. The most common answer is, "you need to pray about it". The way I see life and after life is completely natural, life then death. The burden of proof lies on the one who claims supernaturalality. All the scripts, books, texts, legends, etc., are still only stories of other people having this "feeling" and "faith" in supernaturality. It does not prove anything. Anyway, I respect anyone with any faith. I just dont bye into the unnatural realm of things. I dont need it.