To Believe or Not To Believe? (SHOW RESPECT, OR RISK A BAN) - Part 2

[Defacto]

I am schizophrenic and bi-polar but I don't believe that had anything to do with my dream. I take my meds every day and if I don't after awhile I hear voices and can't sleep. During one of my episodes when I wasn't taking meds Jesus appeared to me and told me everything would be ok. I understand the logical explanations for these phenomenons but I choose to believe that it is my higher power working on my behalf. Who is to say that the people the suffer from "mental illness" aren't the ways that God tries to communicate with these days?

Interesting. I got a friend who is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, although he himself doesn't believe it of course. He thinks it was just psychosis and now it's the medication doing all the memory lapses and stuff. Anyway, he is cutting the meds down, with supervision though. Still, he is paranoid in my view. He also believes in god and has found comfort from his faith whenever anxious. BUT he also sees pentagrams everywhere and constantly looks at his little psalm book, because numbers are messages from god, obviously. And the devil is constantly on to him. That's what I hate most about his faith. Even though there is some comfort there to keep him "sane", there is that dark **** that is making him believe all this stupid ****ing **** about the devil and the hell and witchcraft.
His logic is that the devil prays upon the believers, because why would he bother with the atheists, who are already going to hell. I sometimes ask him why does God need to test his faith so hard all the time, since he has been a good christian. I get the answer above. It's frustrating as ****, and I think he would be better off without his stupid religion. Maybe then he would aknowledge that all that **** is in his head, the good and the bad. Much better chances of fighting it.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

That doesn't sound like his meds are working at all and it def doesn't sound like he should be reducing them

 

[Defacto]

That doesn't sound like his meds are working at all and it def doesn't sound like he should be reducing them

Agreed. But what do you think of his view that god speaks through numbers? He sees a number and checks the psalm for that number, and what do you know, it's a clear message just for the occasion!

He also thinks that there are no mental illnesses, but rather just god or demons in people's heads.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

When I was not on meds I thought the voices in my head were Angels and Demons. It's a very common interpretation of what goes on when schizophrenia is in full effect. But once he finds meds that work for him and no longer has those delusions he will come to realize how being normal feels. Even then it takes some time to adjust back and not see things everywhere. There are still events I think of occasionally that happened that weird me out. What I think is odd is that almost every person that suffers from mental illness ends up on God and religion. It's the same all around the world. Makes me wonder why the brain defaults to that when things go haywire?

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Hey Apollo or Human Torch. Either of you guys want to create an A.D thread to discuss the show? I think it would be fine to create on in the general TV show boards. But would maybe check with a mod since religious stuff hasn't gone over to well here in the past, but this thread proves that it can be respectful ( for the most part).

 

[Defacto]

What I think is odd is that almost every person that suffers from mental illness ends up on God and religion. It's the same all around the world. Makes me wonder why the brain defaults to that when things go haywire?

I would think it has to do with being raised in that sort of culture. I don't know what muslim or hindu schizophrenics feel, but I would think they see their gods and monsters.

My friend has been more or less religious all his life. I also think religion is a perfect veil for his illness. I would think religious people accept his crazier ideas more easily, because they too believe there are demons and whatnot. Not everyone of course, but I don't think it's a healthy enviroment to have mental illnesses. And since he himself is in denial about the condition, faith is the perfect escape route. All the weird ideas and hallucinations are either from god or demons, nothing wrong with my mind.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

For fellow believers in this topic. I definitely wanted to share this youtube video I found on sexual immorality. It's an issue many christian men struggle with (including myself) and thought I would share since its a embarrassing subject to talk about really. There are other good videos that talk about the subject on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PttQBsg1GMI

I know that is a challenge considering how sex is everywhere these days and society and media tells you that it's okay to view pornography and have sex before marriage. My christian friends who stayed pure until marriage says it only strengthened their bond. I know I struggled with pornography and it's definitely a tough thing to stay away from. But whenever I am tempted, I just think about how I love God more than falling into sexual sin for temporary pleasure. I am proud to say I am still a virgin at the age of 27 and plan to stay that way until I met the woman, God has for me.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Interesting article that I ran across from Time magazine.


http://time.com/77676/why-science-does-not-disprove-god/


But has modern science, from the beginning of the 20th century, proved that there is no God, as some commentators now claim? Science is an amazing, wonderful undertaking: it teaches us about life, the world and the universe. But it has not revealed to us why the universe came into existence nor what preceded its birth in the Big Bang. Biological evolution has not brought us the slightest understanding of how the first living organisms emerged from inanimate matter on this planet and how the advanced eukaryotic cells—the highly structured building blocks of advanced life forms—ever emerged from simpler organisms. Neither does it explain one of the greatest mysteries of science: how did consciousness arise in living things? Where do symbolic thinking and self-awareness come from? What is it that allows humans to understand the mysteries of biology, physics, mathematics, engineering and medicine? And what enables us to create great works of art, music, architecture and literature? Science is nowhere near to explaining these deep mysteries.Science and religion are two sides of the same deep human impulse to understand the world, to know our place in it, and to marvel at the wonder of life and the infinite cosmos we are surrounded by. Let’s keep them that way, and not let one attempt to usurp the role of the other.

 

[chaseter]

Science tries to answer those questions. Religion's answer is always: "Because God". God can be the meaning but he's not the mechanism. Science tries to answer the mechanisms of life, not the meaning of life. The religious refute Science's explanation of the mechanisms only because they somehow think Science is refuting the meaning, which it's not. Philosophy handles the meaning.

 

[moviedoors]

I know that is a challenge considering how sex is everywhere these days and society and media tells you that it's okay to view pornography and have sex before marriage.

That's because it is okay.

My christian friends who stayed pure until marriage says it only strengthened their bond.

And how would they know any different if they've only ever been with one person?

 

[jerkhero]

Science tries to answer those questions. Religion's answer is always: "Because God". God can be the meaning but he's not the mechanism. Science tries to answer the mechanisms of life, not the meaning of life. The religious refute Science's explanation of the mechanisms only because they somehow think Science is refuting the meaning, which it's not.

This.

The article was pretty clever in a sense that it was circling around questions like 'Why are we here?' without actually asking that.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Science tries to answer those questions. Religion's answer is always: "Because God". God can be the meaning but he's not the mechanism. Science tries to answer the mechanisms of life, not the meaning of life. The religious refute Science's explanation of the mechanisms only because they somehow think Science is refuting the meaning, which it's not. Philosophy handles the meaning.

Very well said

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Science tries to answer those questions, but who's to say they are the correct answer? The point of the article really is that science doesn't and probably won't explain all of life's mysteries. There is a place for both views and neither really trumps the other. Because both views have blanks in them.

The non religious say Christian use the "God" excuse for blanks in the universe. And that fact alone validates their opinions that God isn't real. But the stuff science has no explanation too should just be ignored until humans can try to piece something together that may or may not be correct. But it's definitely illogical to assume that maybe there more at work in the universe than what we know or understand. Again, I am not a Christian that is offended by science. Like most I marvel at what science has revealed to us. But I do think it's weird, people look down someone who believes differently, when science has just as many blanks and holes as religious views.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

I don't like the idea of using the bible to fill in gaps that haven't been answered. I'd rather we continue searching and even accept not knowing in the meantime, than place a made up answer from men in biblical times for gaps.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

That's because it is okay.


And how would they know any different if they've only ever been with one person?

Not to religious people. People that view pornogrogy only end up having unrealistic expectations of what sex is and a distorted view of women. Some of the vile and disgusting things seen in porn is even distributing when you realize that that girl is somebody's daughter. If I have a daughter one day, I would be appalled and heartbroken if she ended up in porn. Also you don't need to sleep around to "discover" your sexual identity. That's just an excuse people use to justify sleeping around with different people. All your doing is just going from on person to the next and comparing the current person to the last person. Not to mention the high risk of getting an STD. If you genuinely love someone the attraction/sex will be good. I rather share the experience of losing my virginity with a woman I love and will spend the rest of my live with instead of giving it to some random chick I met one night in a bar, just for the sake of "discovery" and temporary pleasure. It also helps that I have solid role models who remained pure and are doing marriage well.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

If you watch porn you are already committing a biblical sin I'm sure.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

If you watch porn you are already committing a biblical sin I'm sure.

I use to have a porn addiction. But thankfully I was able to break free from that life of bondage.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

You were into bondage?

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

So do you just view it casually now at a lesser rate, and ask for forgiveness or not view it at all?

 

[ShadowBoxer]

No I use to have a porn addiction. I haven't viewed that crap in a long while.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

That takes some discipline

 

[KevanG]

Not to religious people. People that view pornogrogy only end up having unrealistic expectations of what sex is and a distorted view of women. Some of the vile and disgusting things seen in porn is even distributing when you realize that that girl is somebody's daughter. If I have a daughter one day, I would be appalled and heartbroken if she ended up in porn. Also you don't need to sleep around to "discover" your sexual identity. That's just an excuse people use to justify sleeping around with different people. All your doing is just going from on person to the next and comparing the current person to the last person. Not to mention the high risk of getting an STD. If you genuinely love someone the attraction/sex will be good. I rather share the experience of losing my virginity with a woman I love and will spend the rest of my live with instead of giving it to some random chick I met one night in a bar, just for the sake of "discovery" and temporary pleasure. It also helps that I have solid role models who remained pure and are doing marriage well.

Obviously we know different religious people. Pretty much all the ones I've known have said "Have fun, be safe but don't be pressured into anything you don't want to do." They know people are just animals and they'd have sex anyway so just be safe. They're also big fans of sex ed due to that since they'd prefer people to know what they're doing and the consequences of the act rather than wind up with grandkids way too early.

When a local school tried to shut down the sex ed program for 'moral' reasons they were among the first to tell them to put it back on the courses or they'd get sued into oblivion, since a few of them were lawyers it wasn't an empty threat either. They know trying to enforce abstinence with ignorance isn't the answer because hormones will win out in the end almost every time.

Am I saying sleeping around with a lot of people is good? No. I'm saying as long as you are willing to understand and embrace the consequences of your actions the you should be free to try things.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Obviously we know different religious people. Pretty much all the ones I've known have said "Have fun, be safe but don't be pressured into anything you don't want to do." They know people are just animals and they'd have sex anyway so just be safe. They're also big fans of sex ed due to that since they'd prefer people to know what they're doing and the consequences of the act rather than wind up with grandkids way too early.

When a local school tried to shut down the sex ed program for 'moral' reasons they were among the first to tell them to put it back on the courses or they'd get sued into oblivion, since a few of them were lawyers it wasn't an empty threat either. They know trying to enforce abstinence with ignorance isn't the answer because hormones will win out in the end almost every time.

Am I saying sleeping around with a lot of people is good? No. I'm saying as long as you are willing to understand and embrace the consequences of your actions the you should be free to try things.

In many years of being a christian, I NEVER pastor, or bible study leader or anything like that say it's cool for us to go around sleeping with who ever because hormones. During the dating season, couples shouldn't put themselves in situations that lead to temptation, such as being alone in each others rooms alone etc. God clearly says to abstain from sex until marriage. Sex is an expression of love between a man and wife. Now, do christian's fall into temptation and have sex before marriage? Sure it happens, but it's definitely not something God approves of. No church leader or person who is serious about what they believe should be endorsing premartial sex. I think it shows character and incredible will power to follow what you believe and wait until marriage to have sex.

 

[KevanG]

I never said they encouraged everyone to just sleep around, what I said was they knew that almost every teenager is going to experiment because that's what teenagers do so they preferred that they be aware and knowledgeable about what can and would happen if they were unsafe.

Sex is about procreation, every single creature on earth that has babies/eggs/whatever has sex in one form or another. It's a natural thing and a large amount of animals also have sex for pleasure. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having sex as long as you are aware what it can lead to and take precautions.

 

[Greens]

Remember people, the creator of the entire universe cares about what you do in bed.