It amazes me the guys saying there is no proof of evolution. The entire body of evidence of biology and other sciences points to only that one conclusion. The fossil evidence is in the millions of specimens by this point. You think it's all a coincidence that living and past creatures have these overwhelming similarities and are made up of the same material? Boggles my mind that someone could just shrug that off. The quality of education nowadays really is abysmal.

uhmmm...did you just not say that you follow the philosophy of Buddha?

Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion.

LOL m'kay

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

# 6 religion in the world

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religions

http://www.uiowa.edu/~religion/majpros.html
listed under Asian religions

http://www.sacred-texts.com/time/origtime.htm


Sorry man, but it's a religion.

But my point was really, that some people choose to follow the "philosopy" and teachings of Christ, others Mohamed, others Oprah

I personally don't believe in organized religion. However, I don't see anything wrong with following the teachings of "prophets" and/or philosophers.

There's some good advice that you can find throughout various texts...but why shit on what teachings others follow...when there are holes just as big as the ones you follow.

You do know how Buddha was conceived right?

http://www.dharmathai.com/lifeofbuddha/index.html

Here are some paintings and carvings commemorating the event:

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6...00/Buddha2.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6...Queen_Maya.jpg

Don't just hate on people who believe different than you, just because you want to feel superior.

You're bagging on someone's belief in a magical being who's son was born of a virgin, yet you follow the beliefs of what you did not know was a religion, who's principal prophet was the product of a magical birth too..LOL

Micro-Evolution has been observed in the modern day and is accepted as Fact among the scientific community.

Macro-Evolution, cannot be observed as it occurs over millions of years, however there are many evidences that support the theory.

Here are 29+ evidences for Macro Evolution: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/comdesc/

Note that among any reputable scientist with a biology or paleontology background, both micro and macro evolution are accepted as fact.

The only people that believe otherwise are:
- Uneducated
- Misled
- Willfully ignorant

I had a similar problem. My kids started going to a church youth group with their friends, and the youth pastor was telling them all kinds of crazy shit about Jews going to hell, gays going to hell, etc. He was even completely fabricating historical facts that coincide with the Bible to convince my children to believe. My son saw through his horse shit right away, but my daughter, who has always been more temperamental and difficult, began arguing with me about it all the time. I didn't want to tell them they were forbidden to attend a church they wanted to go to, but at the same time I desperately didn't want them to go. I didn't know what to do, so I just waited it out.

It's been a couple of years now, and neither child is attending the church anymore. Neither of them believe any of it anymore. My daughter left on her own, because she has a lot of gay friends, and my son was kicked out for repeatedly playing his Iron Maiden 666 The Number of the Beast ringtone during youth group.

If you wait it out and let her make up her own mind, there's a good chance she'll grow out of it. And if all else fails, buy her an Iron Maiden ringtone.

Yes, I do. And I have called her out many times on it.

Why would I marry her? We have everything else in common. Beliefs in every other facet of government, politics, children, family... everything. She just believes in invisible men who created the world.

Religion hooks kids young when they are impressionable and... well... stupid. You got lucky.

My dad went to sunday school from age 5-11. Then one day he just said "This is fucking retarded" and told his mom he was NEVER going again. He got lucky and snapped out of it. Most kids (95%) don't which is why there are new generations of religious kids.

Get them while they don't know any better. It's a lot like smoking.

Not to burst your bubble man, but that just won't work out over time.

seriously, I'm not trying to be a prick, just realistic. Marriages / relationships have a hard enough time just getting through such mundane issues as money, sharing housework, who left the cap off of the toothpaste, let alone such a huge glaring divisive issue as religion.

youR Rite yall
do need help....lol ")

I had that shit shoved down my throat for 12 years of my life in Catholic school. As I continued to college and majored in Philosophy I started thinking more logically. As long as she stays in school and goes to college, plus you guys are raising her to think independently, I think she'll be ok.

Religion is not a bad thing, Its the fanatics behind it that twist religion for their own benifit, I myself do not beleve in a god but rather in evolution but I would also not knock other peoples beliefs we all have a right to beleive in what suits us.

:2 cents:

This is bullshit. When people believe in something that is just plain wrong is how you get assholes strapping bombs to themselves. Just because it suits them?

People need to stop tip-toeing around this shit. Anyone who thinks Mary was a virgin and that Jesus was the son of God is a fucking nut case in my book. If you believe in a magical garden where there was an evil apple and a talking fucking snake, you're a fucking nut case. etc. etc. etc.

Its not the relgion, its the people/fanatics who hide behind it or twist it, use it for their own benifits or as you say "strapping bombs to themselves" these people are fanatics and any fanatic is dangerous wheather its relgious motivated or motivated by something else.

ok, strap a bomb to yourself, blow up, party in the sky with virgins...

i would say that religion is motivating that...not common sense. get rid of the religion card and then they are just revolutionaries. it's a lot easier to systematically kill revolutionaries who want to kill us than it is to tip-toe around all of the religious bullshit and worry about hurting everyone's feelings.

It's a power game. A system of control. Like many other things. See Matrix and unplug.

:2 cents:

Yes you are right a lot of wars are religious or land motivated, but you have some fanatic who is teaching others to follow that specific religion who thinks it is good to go out and blow people up. There are a lot of elderly or sick people who believe in religion because it is a comfort for them before they die and to take religion away from humans would be a disaster, I still think religion has a part to play in any society and i dont knock people for what they believe in, even if you took religion away from suicide bombers they would still find some other excuse or motivation to go out and blow somebody up.

I am not sure what you are not clear about here. I think i was very clear. I FOLLOW THE PHILOSOPHY OF BUDDHA. Not the teachings and I'm not a Buddhist. The Philosophy that you live your life treating others how you would like to be taught. I live my life based on SOME of the concepts. I never said I was a Buddhist.

I never hated on anyone. In fact I clearly stated that i do not want to shit on her beliefs. I think the immaculate conception is just as ridiculous as the Conception of Buddha. Those things (like with Jesus) were created after his death by people who wanted to deify him. The stories are just as much fairy tales and I'd be writing this thread even If I were Christian or if her friend was telling her that Buddha was born of a virgin (which was clearly stolen by Christianity, so how can it have credibility?):

from Buddhanet.net
"Most religions become corrupted after the death of their founder, and Buddhism was no exception. Myths, traditions and superstitions grew up around the simple philosophical system. In fact, Buddha had no belief in the soul, personal immortality, or any supernatural realities. He didn't so much deny God as ignore any deity. He was an Atheist"

Following a philosophy or way of life is very different than "being a Buddhist" and regardless of it's classification by the world most true Buddhists will tell you it's not a religion.

From Wikipedia:
Buddhism is often described as a religion and a collection of various philosophies. To many, however, Buddhism is a set of spiritual teachings and practices rather than a religion."

Hope that opens a mind or two.

Well Said!! I hate when people don't read the entire thread and then post as if they know what you are saying. I am an Atheist myself, but I respect people's beliefs as long as they do not impose them on me. Problem is that a good number of religious people want to impose their beliefs on you:321GFY

Thank you all for the support!:thumbsup

Personally, I don't believe in "God".

It is interesting, however, that the idea of god develops in every culture independently.

It's also very strange how ordered life really is. Consider for a moment that in a closed system order never increases. That is to say if I pile wood, nails and hammers on my lawn, no matter how long I leave it there it will never build its self in to a house.

Things to consider.