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Are all religions cults?

Are all religions cults?

  • Yes

    Votes: 19 38.8%

  • no

    Votes: 26 53.1%

  • I do not know

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • other

    Votes: 4 8.2%
  • Total voters
    49
99percenter said:
Of course he isn't going to say that in public. The american people back than were very religious just like they are now. Lincoln was a smart, intelligent man just like our founding fathers. He didn't believe in any particular religion.
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So you pretend to know what Lincoln didn't say in public? :roll:

:lamo
 
Josie said:
Weird.

"You desire to know something of my religion. It is the first time I have been questioned upon it. But I cannot take your curiosity amiss, and shall endeavour in a few words to gratify it. Here is my creed. I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His providence. That He ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render Him is doing good to His other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental principles of all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.

"As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupt changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the Truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and better observed; especially as I do not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in His government of the world with any particular marks of His displeasure.

"I shall only add, respecting myself, that, having experienced the goodness of that Being in conducting me prosperously through a long life, I have no doubt of its continuance in the next, without the smallest conceit of meriting it... I confide that you will not expose me to criticism and censure by publishing any part of this communication to you. I have ever let others enjoy their religious sentiments, without reflecting on them for those that appeared to me unsupportable and even absurd. All sects here, and we have a great variety, have experienced my good will in assisting them with subscriptions for building their new places of worship; and, as I never opposed any of their doctrines, I hope to go out of the world in peace with them all."


[Benjamin Franklin, letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale, shortly before his death; from "Benjamin Franklin" by Carl Van Doren, the October, 1938 Viking Press edition pages 777-778 Also see Alice J. Hall, "Philosopher of Dissent: Benj. Franklin," National Geographic, Vol. 148, No. 1, July, 1975, p. 94]
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99percenter? .......
 
Your Star said:
I would say all religions we know of today started out as a "cult".
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yes, but they have become the fact of millions of people.and now, many religions have lots of sects among themselves,and this is what we must refuse and regard as a real problem of todays religious life.A normal muslim doesnt hate any nation ,but if he is a member of a denomination,he is potentially a militant or radical.as for other religions,it is the same.ı take far eastern teachings aside.
 
in fact, hitler was an atheist,but his crimes arent related to his being religious or not...

But Vatican never did anything to prevent him from commiting holocaust, as he did for the bosnian genocide....
 
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Josie said:
That's all you have?

I might agree with him. Many churches do more harm than help.

And what is your comment on my quote from Franklin where he clearly states the exact opposite of your claim that he was an atheist?
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Click the link. Theres many more. I don't want to have to post them all.
 
Christopher hitchens one of my favorite atheists schooling religious nutjobs.





 
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Medusa said:
in fact, hitler was an atheist,but his crimes arent related to his being religious or not...

But Vatican never did anything to prevent him from commiting holocaust, as he did for the bosnian genocide....
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Yes, Hitler's pope pius XII didn't care about the holocaust. A very christian thing to do indeed.
 
99percenter said:
Click the link. Theres many more. I don't want to have to post them all.
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Annnnnnnd....your comment on my very lengthy direct quote from Franklin which completely obliterates your "factoid"....?
 
Josie said:
Annnnnnnd....your comment on my very lengthy direct quote from Franklin which completely obliterates your "factoid"....?
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Thats the myth of the founding fathers. Christians will believe they were christians. Atheists will believe they weren't. They were so vague you can make the argument they were communists if you wanted to.
 
99percenter said:
Thats the myth of the founding fathers. Christians will believe they were christians. Atheists will believe they weren't. They were so vague you can make the argument they were communists if you wanted to.
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Lovely. Another DP member who doesn't believe what's right in front of her face.
 
Josie said:
Lovely. Another DP member who doesn't believe what's right in front of her face.
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DP? what does stand for. I had to look it up. Its either Double penetration or donkey punch. Do you mean that I am a sex act?
 
99percenter said:
DP? what does stand for. I had to look it up. Its either Double penetration or donkey punch. Do you mean that I am a sex act?
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Yes. Yes, that's exactly what I mean. :doh
 
Treaty of tripoli clearly states we aren't a christian nation

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

Just more proof that our deists/atheists founders hated religion.
 
99percenter said:
Click the link. Theres many more. I don't want to have to post them all.
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He wasn't an atheist. He was a religious utilitarian and perhaps a deist. He would attend churches that preached helping your fellow man, and self-improvement. He would donate to them, if he appreciated the sermons. If he did not, he would not donate further. It is in his Autobiography.

Surely, a man such as yourself, would be open to the notion that primary sources should be closely read before commentary?
 
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99percenter said:
Treaty of tripoli clearly states we aren't a christian nation

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

Just more proof that our deists/atheists founders hated religion.
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*looks around*

Are we being punked here?
 
99percenter said:
Must be it. The intials DP don't mean anything to me.
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Then you aren't paying close attention to the very site you're posting on, ya doof.
 
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99percenter said:
Treaty of tripoli clearly states we aren't a christian nation

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

Just more proof that our deists/atheists founders hated religion.
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That doesn't prove they hate religion... if anything it just goes to prove our founding fathers wanted religious freedom. ;)
 
Fiddytree said:
He wasn't an atheist. He was a religious utilitarian and perhaps a deist. He would attend churches that preached helping your fellow man, and self-improvement. He would donate to them, if he appreciated the sermons. If he did not, he would not donate further. It is in his Autobiography.

Surely, a man such as yourself, would be open to the notion that primary sources should be closely read before commentary?
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I think josie is making the argument that he was christian which he clearly wasn't. Doesn't whether you agree that he is an atheist or not.
 
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