Do you enjoy religion? Is it a source of fun to you?

[nihilistic]

It was sometimes fun debating religious people (the ones not wearing tnt belts anyway). I don't know what it is like from the other side though.

Yes! I worship the vagina. It's almost omnipotent, very pleasurable & allot of fun.

I'm tempted now.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Yup, it's fun.

Also annoying/outraging/confusing people with my beliefs is also fun.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I dont consider what I do here or elsewhere "debating" necessarily. All that I debate is the validity of arguments against theism; my own beliefs are not something I can demonstrate to others.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

A question to religious people here:

Do you enjoy your religion?

Certainly I do!

How prevalent is this attitude in the West? How much genuine fun do you get out of your religion? How much do you enjoy it? And I mean genuine fun and humour, of the sort which cooks a snook at authority, not the "Rejoice that the infidels have been smitten!" sort of negative and perverse pleasure at reading of the misfortune of others.

Not prevalent enough by far. We need more people singing this:

Spoiler :

Long-haired radical socialist Jew


Well Jesus was a homeless lad
With an unwed mother and an absent dad
And I really don't think he would have gotten that far
If Newt, Pat and Jesse had followed that star

Refrain: So let's all sing out praises to
That long-haired radical socialist Jew

When Jesus taught the people he
Would never charge a tuition fee
He just took some fishes and some bread
And made up free school lunches instead
So let's all sing out praises to....

He healed the blind and made them see
He brought the lame folks to their feet
Rich and poor, any time, anywhere
Just pioneering that free health care
So let's all sing out praises to....

Jesus hung with a low-life crowd
But those working stiffs sure did him proud
Some were murderers, thieves and whores
But at least they didn't do it as legislators
So let's all sing out praises to....

(Modulate to A)

Jesus lived in troubled times
the religious right was on the rise
Oh what could have saved him from his terrible fate?
Separation of church and state.
So let's all sing out praises to....

Sometimes I fall into deep despair
When I hear those hypocrites on the air
But every Sunday gives me hope
When pastor, deacon, priest, and pope
Are all singing out their praises to
Some long-haired radical socialist Jew.

They're singing out their praises to..oooo..oooo..
Some long-haired radical socialist Jew.

© 1996 Hugh Blumenfeld/Hydrogen Jukebox Music

I often think that "modern Christianity" has been corrupted by power. Some of the small congregations in Africa, in their letters to us here in Norway where we collect money to send them, write "Please don't pray for the authorities to stop persecuting us". Persecution keeps them healthy.

Meh, my thoughts are disconnected today. More later.

 

[Shadylookin]

You are fundamentally wrong on what you mean by "West."Did you not say,"the religion of the West is Christianity?"The "West" is signified as being the nation-states of Europe and North and South America.Sometimes Australia,South Africa and New Zealand amongst others that share a commonality of culture,institutions and philosophy of tolerance of other religions etc.etc. can also be included as being the "West."

the "west" is generally considered to be western europe and the US. The "west" has been heavily dominated by the Christian religion. Since you're the religious scholar pray tell what other religious have so heavily dominated "western" institutions in the past thousand years like Christianity has?

 

[CartesianFart]

the "west" is generally considered to be western europe and the US. The "west" has been heavily dominated by the Christian religion. Since you're the religious scholar pray tell what other religious have so heavily dominated "western" institutions in the past thousand years like Christianity has?

It is more as being the subject of history than just being a scholar of religious studies.

 

[Shadylookin]

It is more as being the subject of history than just being a scholar of religious studies.

I contend that Christianity would be considered the western religion based off it's historical dominance in western politics, culture, and everyday life. You seem to disagree but I don't think any other religion had a significant impact. Sure other religions exist especially now, but they aren't part of mainstream culture and they aren't really western.

I think the first post should have asked if their were any other religions out there that you could laugh with instead of at without limiting it to western religion.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

He wasn't talking about "laughing with" religion, but enjoying it. Big difference.

 

[CartesianFart]

I contend that Christianity would be considered the western religion based off it's historical dominance in western politics, culture, and everyday life. You seem to disagree but I don't think any other religion had a significant impact. Sure other religions exist especially now, but they aren't part of mainstream culture and they aren't really western.

More like that the non mainstream are really somewhat westernized but this discussion is something more complex.

I think the first post should have asked if their were any other religions out there that you could laugh with instead of at without limiting it to western religion.

I agree;but,of course,most people in Civ Ot have a tendency to not think more fully before making a thread that is mostly unthoughtful and rediculous.

 

[Alan Bradely]

I definitely enjoy being a christian, though I am a bit too old to find bible stories funny.

 

[warpus]

I enjoy spirituality greatly but have always hated every single aspect of organized religion.