ELENATION

Well, when you believe in something without evidence, you believe by faith, I personally find that humbling and I like that feeling....and as a Christian, I choose to believe by faith.... I respect your opinion though.... Also, when you mentioned that you tried to force yourself to believe, but it felt to you as if you were forcing yourself to believe in the Eastern Bunny.....well, in my humble opinion, big, big stretch.......... Easter Bunny= Rabbit, Jesus Christ = Man....... a man who lived an exemplary life, suffered much, and a book (Bibble) was written about Him and more..... and let's face it, the Bible, we2ther you agree with it or not, it's an extremely important book for millions all over the world...the Eastern Bunny....not so... I can't speak for any other religions that I'm not familiar with though...

I agree that it's ok to stand up for your faith, but not shove it in peoples faces all the time or try to conver others, so that man shouldn't have gotten so defensive and even rude by not letting others talk.... or even listen.... and I totally agree that it's your friend's son's choice! The part when he said that Buddha, Allah are dead and Christ is alive, you know I'm not too familiar with neither of those religions and I don't know if Buddha and Allah actually died and their followers worshipp their spirit? I really don't know, I do know that for the Christian faith, Christ is alive, because He rose from the dead... ect....so maybe that's what he meant....but still it doesn't excuse his rude behavior....

I can understand what you are saying... it sounds like you do believe in god, but you see god in a different way from most religions...and that's ok.... THere is one thing though....at least in my case, I don't see GOd as an angry, jealous, decietful, punishing, judegmental,violent, cursing, male dominating being AT ALL. in my case being Christian, God, the Father of Christ and Christ himself are the total opposite, GOd to me is like my own father, the one I lost when I was 15 years old...loving, caring, helpful, there for me, I may not always understand why he allows certain things to happen, but I know he sometimes teaches me lessons that may be hard, but I know that I needed to learn... I respect him, or at least I try the best I can, the same way I did with my own dad, and I love him as if He was my own dad.... this is exactly how I feel about God....

Thank you so much for your response and you said it perfectly, I can't even find the words to express what I feel in my heart as a Christian and you couldn't have said it better! Thank you so much! I also agree with you, I believe because He has shown to me in a very real way too.... GOd bless you! Elena

I tell you, I'm grateful for the anal grammar bitch in you, I learned something new today...."God" and "god"

I got you.....I think that's what I mean to say about different gods and God...

LOL!!!!!!!!!

I need to use my spellcheck.... I'm at work, so that's why I misspelled worshipper with work.... see what I mean.....LOL! can't blame me for trying.... I see your point....but mostly I can appreciate what you said: "I do not believe that "people" are without individual, etnic, cultural, etc. differences. And I do not that "believers" all believe the same thing."

For me, Christ is my God, but when I've talked to Muslims and buddhists, they refer to Allah and Buddha as their "God" which leads me to believe that people from all different religions think that their religion leader is "God" , in your opinion, why do you think that Allah and Buddha are not GOd? who would you consider GOd, or at least, who do you think that religious people could consider God? And thank you for answering my question from my previous post....I thought that would be the answer, but wanted to make sure...

I agree with that... different deity, though ultimately they workship their "God" whoever that may be... Since you are an atheist, and please forgive me, this may be a stupid question and I can probably guess the answer, but I'll ask anyway.... Do you think that Satan's workshipers and Christ workshipers are pretty much the same, because they workship something or someone that in your opinion doesn't exist? or do you see a difference because of their different deity?

I guess so...

hhhhhhmmmm, yeah I can understand that, for instance, in my own case, I don't really care for being rewarded one day , frankly I'm s darn far from perfect that I don't think I'll be rewarded, period...LOL! I also don't care for those who've done me wrong to pay in hell.... don't know why, but I don't care.... my main reason to believe is different a little.....I admit it's comforting....so I like that, but also I believe in a higher power, who for me happens to be God/Christ and I just feel it in my heart...it's hard to explain it in words...

Well, I don't think religions offer much leniency or tolerance, quiet the contrary...most will restrict our behavior in many ways... if we follow it and practice it.... and in fact I think it could actually make you even more aware of your responsabilities....

I didn't get that he meant that there is no God from his quote, besides, when you mentioned Buddha, Allah or God, they are really all GOd, only different names used by different religions...however I do get that he feels that it doesn't matter what you believe in....and I agree with you that it's human nature to want to be loved and taken care of...

Religion is a very effective means of accomplishing some outcome. It would make sense to say that religion works in so far as it is able to accomplish its outcome. The extent to which the outcome works for population& is dependent upon population's& desire to achieve the outcome. I don't think it can be made as a blanket statement that "religion works" - that leaves too many questions. Interesting point of view.... I think I could to say that Religion works in general, if I look into each one and it's details and the outcome among different populations I guess I couldn't be 100% sure.... if I'm making any sense here....

OK.........I do respect your opinion...

Hey there, This is the first time I've started a thread here on Rants...., but I'm so mad that I decided to let it out... I had to vent....First Sean Penn, now Kevin Spacey meeting with Chavez.....there are so many better causes for actors to embrace. I don't understand how these radical liberal actors gravitate toward dictators and bad mouth America. You don't have to be a flag waving patriot, neither being a republican, nor a Democract has to do with anything here, it's about recognizing that Chavez, Castro and a few others that we already know who they are...., are indeed our enemies and they hate America & Americans and they procalim it. Period! Why don't they do a little homework about these dictators before they get involved or side with them?? Are they that stupid and ignorant? Really, these actors could show a little class and stop doing the "Fonda". Go save Darfur, the Rain Forest, the artic, historical sites or something radically liberal and mainstream. Oh wait, can radically liberal and mainstream be used in the same sentence? It's a good thing Stalin isn't around anymore... now that would be a Hollywood Party! What do you think? Have a good one! Elena

Tienes razon! Chavez es un ignorante, da verguenza cuando habla.... esta haciendo to eso con la ayuda de Castro....los dos son unos salvajes y asesinos...!

Thank you so very much! I also wish the best for your wife's family, I really do. I know what they are going through.

Wait a minute Derrick.....I'm perfect too! hehehehe..........

Hey there, I saw the thread that Lauren started, but I'm confused, so I wanted to read your my space blogs to try to understand about this person, and I found your my space account, but it wouldn't let me read the blogs about this person, for some reason, I e-mailed Wendell to see if he can tell me how to do it....computers are not my thing.....LOL! Thanks! Elena

Your view make sense when you are just the spouse of someone that lives in Venezuela, I can tell you that it's different when you live through it....I'm cuban, lived in Cuba for 14 years, my father was stripped of everything he and his family worked for, I left Cuba and my mother had to stay behind, couldn't see her for 15 years, and so many thousands of people have suffered this and more in Cuba, what is going on in Venezuela now is pretty similar to what happened in Cuba back in 1959, with a few differences, and I can guarantee you that "socialism" which in reality is communism is not the answer for ANY country. I dont' care how many hospitals and homes Chavez may build for the poor, at the end, it will not work, let me tell you that the socialized medicine in third world country are far from decent, I can tell you horror stories about it....even when sickos like Michael Moore claim that Cuban health care is great, it's the biggest lie ever told! I lived through it, nobody can convinced me that is good, it's just not! Our country has problems, which country doesn't? but not nearly compared to a communist country under a dictator. I do worry about the problems around me in my country, but I also care for other problems that are going on in the world. I think everybody should.

Amen to that!!!!!!!!! SO true!

Exactly! If they lived in those countries there is no way in hell they will be expressing their stupid opinions....that's for sure and our country may not be perfect, but heck, it's still our country! and every 4 years we have a chance to elect our presidents, why bashing them? and bashing our government? It's still our government! fine say you don't agree, no problem, but nastly bashing it! inmoral in my opinion...... I was born in Cuba, I've lived (not by choice) and visited a few countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and I wouldn't trade our country and our government for nothing in the world! even if I don't agree 100% with everything they do, in my humble opinion, this is the BEST country in the world. And maybe that's actually they reason why they hate us in some countries abroad, not because our government, but because they are envious.... it's sad, but very possible.... I am very proud of this country, which I consider my country! I'd die for this country if I had to, my father was a WWII veteran, this country and it's government has given me more than I could ever dream of, and definitely much more than my country of origin provided....which was only pain to me and my family.... God bless America!

Thanks! we are in this together!