What do you believe in?

[Dudecore]

Well it's important to be aware that freewill doesn't exist. While there are a number of individuals who frown upon the poor population saying "pick yourself up your bootstraps". When the real cause of such problems is a combination of different issues more then being "lazy".

On the death penalty. I am very much against it. I know everyone uses the "well what if it happened to your family?". While I might be angry, that doesn't make killing them right either. I don't believe anyone kills because "I want to", it's a combination of factors. I wouldn't have the same level of revenge if my family was trampled by elephants, or died from cholera, but in either scenario they're dead.

And on a political level, I don't like the idea of the government being able to kill people. Lifetime prision sentence is good enough.

[BlackJester]

A thread about free will. And yes my upbringing and luck just don't seem to be letting me make a thread about it! (and maybe a bit of laziness )

LOL  But as a Christian, surely you must believe in free will, mustn't you?  (I like using the word mustn't )

[Gorzo]

Completely unrelated to the current line of discussion (intentionally), but has anyone looked into any older, no-longer-practiced religions? I did a lot of reading of old Norse mythology. Now, I wouldn't follow it as a religion, but it's quite the good read. The characters and concepts are great. And much of our favorite "epic" themes trickled down from it, through hundreds of years and brilliant writers like Tolkien.

[BlackJester]

Completely unrelated to the current line of discussion (intentionally), but has anyone looked into any older, no-longer-practiced religions? I did a lot of reading of old Norse mythology. Now, I wouldn't follow it as a religion, but it's quite the good read. The characters and concepts are great. And much of our favorite "epic" themes trickled down from it, through hundreds of years and brilliant writers like Tolkien.

According to another poster, it would seem that there are people practicing the beliefs of Norse Mythology right now.

I love learning about religions/philosophies.  Took many post-secondary classes in both.  Never covered ancient ones though.

[Gorzo]

Considering the amount of human and animal sacrifice, I sure hope not. It would also require regular legitimate prayer to Thor for his protection, which I am skeptical this person actually does.

My guess is he just thought it was cool and stamped himself with it. Maybe just to wear the Mjollnir amulet and justify it. I dunno, it bugs me when people pretend to be something to be "cool," even worse if they don't really understand fully what they are pretending to be.

My apologies if this person is ligitimately practicing this religion. That's fine (just don't do the sacrifices, k?)

[Kareason]

Completely unrelated to the current line of discussion (intentionally), but has anyone looked into any older, no-longer-practiced religions? I did a lot of reading of old Norse mythology. Now, I wouldn't follow it as a religion, but it's quite the good read. The characters and concepts are great. And much of our favorite "epic" themes trickled down from it, through hundreds of years and brilliant writers like Tolkien.

According to another poster, it would seem that there are people practicing the beliefs of Norse Mythology right now.

I love learning about religions/philosophies.  Took many post-secondary classes in both.  Never covered ancient ones though.

That would have been me. A couple in my playgroup claim Asatru (Odinism) as their religion. They don't preform any animal sacrifice that I am aware of but I honestly couldn't say for certain what is involved.

[Coffee Vampire]

A thread about free will. And yes my upbringing and luck just don't seem to be letting me make a thread about it! (and maybe a bit of laziness )

LOL  But as a Christian, surely you must believe in free will, mustn't you?  (I like using the word mustn't )

I indeed do (although not all christians do...). However I like tossing different ideas around and typing it out enhances the experience!

[Coffee Vampire]

Completely unrelated to the current line of discussion (intentionally), but has anyone looked into any older, no-longer-practiced religions? I did a lot of reading of old Norse mythology. Now, I wouldn't follow it as a religion, but it's quite the good read. The characters and concepts are great. And much of our favorite "epic" themes trickled down from it, through hundreds of years and brilliant writers like Tolkien.

DUDE. I love mythology! I am currently flipping through a sort of dictionary of mythology. Basically I started on "Herecles" and whenever a new name or something popped up I flipped back to that, read it, and continued on herecles when I was done. I finished herecles and just doing that has given me a great experience and also the ability to point out all the horribly wrong things in movies like "Wrath of the Titans"!

[Xanzurth]

Completely unrelated to the current line of discussion (intentionally), but has anyone looked into any older, no-longer-practiced religions? I did a lot of reading of old Norse mythology. Now, I wouldn't follow it as a religion, but it's quite the good read. The characters and concepts are great. And much of our favorite "epic" themes trickled down from it, through hundreds of years and brilliant writers like Tolkien.

As I have previously posted the first commandment references mythology and the polytheism religions. So in conclusion if they didn't exist then there would be no need for the first commandment.

[Jbombard51]

I believe in magic.

[Xanzurth]

I believe in magic.

Prove to me it doesn't exist!

[Coffee Vampire]

I believe in Harvey Dent.

[smokin terry]

I believe in Harvey Dent.

But the truth.

[BlackJester]

I indeed do (although not all christians do...). However I like tossing different ideas around and typing it out enhances the experience!

You just blew my mind a little. 

How does that work?  How can you believe in a soul, a divine aspect given to you by your creator, the one who gave you the ability to chose to accept him as your god or not, and still believe that you don't have free will?  The cognitive dissonance is blinding me from here!  Plus it's like the ultimate trump card in the Free Will vs Determinism debate: "I have free will because God gave it too me.  Done."

[Coffee Vampire]

Some Christians believe that everyone is predestined and God controls what they do.

And again, I do believe in free will. I think God made us like him in ways. We are creative just like the creator, and have the ability to make choices. God wants everyone to choose to believe in him...or at least his existence. But he let people not believe if they want, so believing actually means something. That is one thing that sets humans apart from animals. Animals follow instinct, while humans make choices. Free will means choice. If someone does not believe in free will then they do not believe in choices. You think you chose a number 14 at McDonalds?