The Debating Society
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A place where ModDB members can debate civilly, and learn from each other's views.
Dr. Robert H. Bell, simply known as "Rob Bell" to many, is a Christian pastor who has become quite controversial amongst the Christian community for his radical views on sex, the afterlife, and the nature of God. Author of the books "Love Wins" and "Sex God", he has also given many lectures at churches and university. His opponents frequently accuse him of adhering to universalism and advocating moral subjectivity; his proponents praise for presenting the Bible in an gentle yet intellectual manner to those who have had bad experiences with Christianity as an institution, and for redefining the Bible without the "extra baggage" often imposed by the church of today.
Any thoughts on this highly controversial yet fascinating character?
If religion wants to last they'll continue to go the way of this guy. No one cares about how the church defines whatever holy nonsense they come up with. People now are often defining most of that for themselves because things like despising gay people don't come off as very wonderful principals.
Why do you think that guy who rambled on about marriage on Youtube got so much traction anyways? Its just all happy nonsense without the hate, people get all whinny and cry 'hater' the moment you so much as have a dissenting opinion now a days never mind dedicated hate towards something/someone. Then again he said something about relationships meaning nothing without Jesus so he's still a ****, just not a very blatant one.
In fact I kinda miss the hate, it was kinda entertaining when popular opinion was "you're going to hell faggots." That kinda thing reminds you how wretched our species can agree to be at any given time.
TBH I've met many Christians and I'd just like to know where this "they all say you're going to Hell if you don't agree with them" came from. The extremists simply quote from Bible verses and go on about love and forgiveness. Unless you're referring to the Bible Belt which TBH is more of an American thing and doesn't really sum up Christians elsewhere. Blame America for the Bible Belt.
Here in England the extremist Christian will just go on about the love of Christ.
Religion will always last. It's a delusion to believe it will ever vanish. Even if you somehow proved God didn't exist (good luck with that) religions will still exist. Religion doesn't need gods and humans - yearning for organisation - will always find religion to serve as a code for them to follow through with as they live life.
Christian Atheism, Hindu Atheism, Buddhist Atheism, Unitarian Universalists (can be atheists) and then there are pagan groups which can also be atheist. Elsewhere people have made their own religions. Religion is just a set of codes and doesn't require belief or worship of a god.
As for this geezer, I don't know anything about him.
Hu? I see several heavy contradiction in here. You cannot be an atheistic hindu for example. Maybe a Hindu on your pass port and a atheist in your mind or vice versa, but thats not really what you meant, isnt it? So enlighten me please.
So my personal codex (a set of rules and codes) would count as religion as well? I so much doubt it. Religions refer to spiritual experiences and events in cultures. A simple set of codes is not a religion, its not enough to be a religion.
4th paragraph is total ********, except the sentence "(elsewhere) people have made their religions." True. And sad, isn't it?
Okay...
Christian Atheism:
Bbc.co.uk
En.wikipedia.org
Hindu Atheists:
En.wikipedia.org
Buddhism and Atheism:
Buddhism.about.com
Unitarian Universalism and Atheists:
Uua.org
Come on guys. I thought you two had more knowledge on religion than this.
Christian atheists accept the teachings of Christ but don't believe God exists and therefore believe Christ was an ordinary geezer.
Hindu atheists may only reject the creator God but can extend this to all others if they please. They can follow only the rules and morals of Hinduism.
Buddhism doesn't need gods to be followed.
Unitarian Universalism is open for everyone to join regardless of faith or beliefs.
It couldn't be anymore clearer and yes Medusa, I would say you follow your own religion. What's wrong with accepting that? You adhere to your beliefs and codes don't you? As Buddhism and UU prove, it doesn't have to be spiritual experiences that make a religion.
Now I'm not saying you're religious. That implies your devout. I mean you can be a Christian and not religious. What you call philosophy I would call religion. What you call protocol I would call religion.
Live and learn. Thanks for advancing my/our knowledge.
I wouldnt care if it would be the case. Religion is an inappropriate definition of my codex since religion always include spiritual values. A set of moral standards with no spiritual content is not a religion. Even Buddhism (and maybe "UU", but I dont know what it is) contains spirituality because of Buddha's teachings which my codex hasnt either. Its rather more a personal legal framework which I developed during my years of socal criticism and I am orientating my moral standards to.
Anyway religion doesnt have to have a god or higher being, thats true. But spiritualitiy is one of key factors that makes a religion.
These so cold christian atheists rejected divinity, but still follow the fairytale. Calling them atheist maybe is correct according to definition, but they yet have to use logic.
What fairy tale would that be CommanderDef? Religion or Jesus? Well I've said what I had to on religion above but if you're calling Jesus a fairy tale then I suggest you read what actual historians and scholars have to say on this matter. Many prominent atheists (Richard Dawkins for example) have even admitted that Jesus existed. Then there's the agnostic historian Bart Ehrman who says Jesus existed.
Huffingtonpost.com
Those Christian Atheists believe Jesus was simply an ordinary man (and only follow his teachings - excluding the ones relating to matters of spirituality) and they don't believe God exists. They're the very definition of atheism.
Religion, as I define it, is belief in a divine figure/figures.
A code of ethics I would consider to be a moral philosophy, not a religion. The two often go hand in hand, but a moral philosophy without theistic beliefs is not what I would call a "religion".
Spirituality is where it gets a bit complicated, as it's such a broad term. People same to range from either being slightly animistic/believing in ethereal spirits, etc., to just being "spiritually fulfilled" despite not believing in a spirit nor a soul. How would you define it?
Generally speaking, religion is simply a set of beliefs and ethics regarding morality, spirituality, and/or the afterlife. There are a number for religions that have little or no regard for a higher power, thus disproving the notion that all religion must include the belief in a higher being.
bravo for this guy, adapt and survive or stagnate and die