The Energon Pub

I'm Muslim. But frankly, I don't see the point of telling people that, unless they ask.

I come from a very liberal (but strict) family, too. People are surprised when I tell them I'm muslim (if they hadn't already gathered from my last name... my first name is sarah, so it's ambiguous... anyway, off topic). But it's kind of cool that it lets people see a different side of the religion that's so hot in the news these days. I dress indie, but very conservative, and I have crazy long streaked hair and tribal earrings. Point being is that in any religion, people come in different shapes in sizes, and that goes for the extent of their devotion as well.

Sadly enough, all that gets into the news and classrooms is how much this religion is outdated, or that religion is extremist. The problem is is that we're attracted to these negative images, and it gives us a reason to disregard the good... or worse, not caring to to take the time to understand.

Yes, we do change with the times. Believe it...This is from someone who has seen both sides of muslims first hand, the extreme/outdated types, and the liberal/modern. The best thing to do is to stick with your own beliefs, and try to stay out of the politics.

My family tends to follow the old saying, "when in rome, do what the romans do". In our sense, do as Canadians do, while embracing our own culture and religion (to a lesser extent )

Which ever religion your from teaches you the basic principles of being a good person. And obviously, you don't need to have a religion to be that kind of an individual. Be cool, guys. At our core, we're all not that different... as long as you're not some sicko pedophile rapist murderer.

Rally Racer wrote:I'm Muslim. But frankly, I don't see the point of telling people that, unless they ask.

I come from a very liberal (but strict) family, too. People are surprised when I tell them I'm muslim (if they hadn't already gathered from my last name... my first name is sarah, so it's ambiguous... anyway, off topic). But it's kind of cool that it lets people see a different side of the religion that's so hot in the news these days. I dress indie, but very conservative, and I have crazy long streaked hair and tribal earrings. Point being is that in any religion, people come in different shapes in sizes, and that goes for the extent of their devotion as well.

Sadly enough, all that gets into the news and classrooms is how much this religion is outdated, or that religion is extremist. The problem is is that we're attracted to these negative images, and it gives us a reason to disregard the good... or worse, not caring to to take the time to understand.

Yes, we do change with the times. Believe it...This is from someone who has seen both sides of muslims first hand, the extreme/outdated types, and the liberal/modern. The best thing to do is to stick with your own beliefs, and try to stay out of the politics.

My family tends to follow the old saying, "when in rome, do what the romans do". In our sense, do as Canadians do, while embracing our own culture and religion (to a lesser extent )

Which ever religion your from teaches you the basic principles of being a good person. And obviously, you don't need to have a religion to be that kind of an individual. Be cool, guys. At our core, we're all not that different... as long as you're not some sicko pedophile rapist murderer.

Good on ya! I love hearing about other peoples cultural experiences, it must be quite tough at times being a contemporay Muslim living in America Jr. (aka. Canada)-personally i dont know if i would have the devotion to stay true to a faith if the pressure was on.

Essential i just wanted to say, respect!

Nico wrote:Im just asking it like i would ask your nationality. I know we got lots of American, Canadian and a few Uk guys....but i guess not much people here know whats religion we got the most.

I was raised Catholic....personnaly, i dont even beleiv anymore.

American myself. Was once also Catholic, but left after it did not fit with the Bible, alsong with the historical atrocities and arrogances commited by the church. Throw in a mere human who calls himself "infallible", and then you have a "Red Letter Christian" 20-or-so years later.

As I have said before, I am a Christian. I am an ordinary one, however I don't believe that the Earth is only 6,000 years old, I NEVER voted for Bush and am not a Republican. In fact I don't like Mr. Bush. I believe women are absolutely equal to men. My family ws not brought up in the church (in fact most are either agnostic, pagan, whatever) in fact I have a hard time going to church. I believe in the Bible, as a lot of Christians do, but am not a Fundie. (Actually fundies are a tiny minority in Christianity, and are even considered to be in error) Unfortunatly Fundies are the some of the most vocal, and sometimes the most extreme, and sadly they get focused on as the representative of Christianity. I don't belong to any denomination really, except being baptised a Catholic. I have been angry at God many times, and have even said to Him a couple times that I hated Him. I am only saying this, just to clear up that all Christians are not alike, that sometimes I am disapointed in my fellow Christians when they act badly, because the world is truely watching them and will judge them on what they see. None of this is meant to inflame or offend, I just wish to inform. My mother is not Christian, nor is a lot of my brothers and sisters, but I love them dearly even though I don't always agree with them on their religious views.

Zombie Starscream wrote:As I have said before, I am a Christian. I am an ordinary one, however I don't believe that the Earth is only 6,000 years old, I NEVER voted for Bush and am not a Republican. In fact I don't like Mr. Bush. I believe women are absolutely equal to men. My family ws not brought up in the church (in fact most are either agnostic, pagan, whatever) in fact I have a hard time going to church. I believe in the Bible, as a lot of Christians do, but am not a Fundie. (Actually fundies are a tiny minority in Christianity, and are even considered to be in error) Unfortunatly Fundies are the some of the most vocal, and sometimes the most extreme, and sadly they get focused on as the representative of Christianity. I don't belong to any denomination really, except being baptised a Catholic. I have been angry at God many times, and have even said to Him a couple times that I hated Him. I am only saying this, just to clear up that all Christians are not alike, that sometimes I am disapointed in my fellow Christians when they act badly, because the world is truely watching them and will judge them on what they see. None of this is meant to inflame or offend, I just wish to inform. My mother is not Christian, nor is a lot of my brothers and sisters, but I love them dearly even though I don't always agree with them on their religious views.

Is it hard being one of the only Christians in your family?

I'm not trying to be mean or anything; however I should point out that when speaking of religion the term Contemporary is synonomas with Hypocrit. Dealing with such people leaves an a far more sour taste in my mouth than dealing with fundamentalists does as they claim to belive in something they are unwilling to truely follow.

No Sacrifice givin for their beliefs

That is true. I can see flaws in myself, and Christianity isn't the easiest to follow. I wasn't meaning to disrespect fundamentalists, in fact they should be admired for their zeal. What I mean being that fundamentalists are consedered in error is that they take all of the Bible in a strict literal sense, even the Book of Revelation, and picture a literal Beast coming to rule the earth for 3 1/2 years. They are making too literal parts of the Bible that aren't meant to be taken literally. As I have said, Christianity isn't the easiest to follow, in fact it can be quite hard at times.
I was mainely trying to say that not all Christians are alike, and trying to dispell the myth that they believe the exact same things, and are not literate in science. This post was made to try and dispell myths cited by earlier posters in this thread when they had discussed Christianity.

To answer your question Leanardo, sometimes it isn't easy, some of my family think Christians can be the pits, and while they don't personally see me that way, when they do mention Christians, sometimes it isn't all of the time nice.

Tammuz wrote:Ancient Sumerian.

A Conan reference...very good.

Catholic by birth, buddhist/christian by nature, mandalorian by virture.

GrimSqueaker wrote:America Jr. (aka. Canada)-

Hum..*COUGH*COUGH*
Very insulting...very insulting...even if i don't have a big respect for the rest of the Canada...its STILL my country!
(My god...the very first time im patriotic for 100% of the Canada...****, what have i smoken!!!)

Well, its gonna take a few day to digest this one....

Hmm.. also must add that I am wild, and a loner. Basically like Kipling's "Cat who walked by himself." I would rather hunt for my meat then have it brought to me wrapped with plastic and styrofoam. So some of you who hunt, you guys are truely lucky in my book.

Since others have posted their religions, I guess I could mine. I'm a Spiritual Satanist. Has nothing to do with the church, as their views are different. We do a lot of medatations (sp?). We do what we feel is right for our lives. It's hard to explain. Pretty much, we believe we are in charge of our lives and don't follow certian rules like some religions do. But we do look for guidence when problems arise in our lives so that we can feel stronger and get through it.

Starscream's Girl wrote:Since others have posted their religions, I guess I could mine. I'm a Spiritual Satanist. Has nothing to do with the church, as their views are different. We do a lot of medatations (sp?). We do what we feel is right for our lives. It's hard to explain. Pretty much, we believe we are in charge of our lives and don't follow certian rules like some religions do. But we do look for guidence when problems arise in our lives so that we can feel stronger and get through it.

I wish they'd meditate on how to get their damned member cards out faster. 8 weeks? I had my ministry credentials delivered within 2 days!

CUY'VAL DAR wrote:mandalorian by virture.

Just curious, what's your view on members of the New Jedi Order?

'Cause Jango Fett was anti-Old Jedi Order, but they were pricks anyway.

New Jedi Order 4 LIFE!

YouFearGalvatron wrote:

Tammuz wrote:Ancient Sumerian.

A Conan reference...very good.

Conan was a Cimmerian, Krom judges you as lacking and throws you out of valhalla.

I'm catholic, tecnicly.
But I don't belive in God ore Jesus.
I'm more of an ataist.

Dead Metal wrote:I'm catholic, tecnicly.
But I don't belive in God ore Jesus.
I'm more of an ataist.

Supposedly the Catholic Church keeps tabs of you until you officially convert to another church (which isn't happening for me), so I might be in the same boat-- really haven't checked.

The Avatar of Man wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I'm catholic, tecnicly.
But I don't belive in God ore Jesus.
I'm more of an ataist.

Supposedly the Catholic Church keeps tabs of you until you officially convert to another church (which isn't happening for me), so I might be in the same boat-- really haven't checked.

"Don't turn em away until they officially walk away" is a pretty good policy.

Brakethrough wrote:

The Avatar of Man wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I'm catholic, tecnicly.
But I don't belive in God ore Jesus.
I'm more of an ataist.

Supposedly the Catholic Church keeps tabs of you until you officially convert to another church (which isn't happening for me), so I might be in the same boat-- really haven't checked.

"Don't turn em away until they officially walk away" is a pretty good policy.

Sure allows them to puff (or bluff) up their listings by a significant degree.

I was baptised a Protestant to a catholic mother.

Makes me smile all the time that.


But no, I don't really believe in any of this stuff. It sounds to far fetched for my liking and, as has been said, I'd like to see some evidence before I spend every Sunday in a large stone room with wooden pews.

I do believe in the good of people and karma though, but that's no really a religion is it?

I am a Christian. I detest idiot fundies who basically go about preaching 'turn or burn' and all kinds of crap like that. That does nothing but breed hate against Christians, and it is totally against what is said in the Bible. We can't go about forcing people to convert; only God can change someone's heart.

I was a Secular Moslem by birth who became an Agnostic Buddhist 23 years later. Believe in a single deity called as "Universe" which only set some rules of karma upon us, instead of ruling our lives absolutely like a puppet.

I hope some Moslems here are not offended by this post.

I've sorta developed my own belief system over the years. I don't believe in God of any description, but I do believe life (mine at least, I can't say about anyone else) has a balance of bad and good luck. When something bad happens, I know and usually experiance something of the same amount of good within a week. And vice versa if something good happens first. I also believe in the the afterlife, but not like heaven. People's spirits go somewhere, perhaps to another dimension, I don't know, but they can choose to stay and look after their loved ones. Yes, I believe my Grandad is still watching over me (he died when I was 2) as I have seen far too many 'coincidences' to believe otherwise.

I don't know if this is what you are reffering to, but it's the closest thing to a religion I have.

Vega wrote:I am a Christian. I detest idiot fundies who basically go about preaching 'turn or burn' and all kinds of crap like that. That does nothing but breed hate against Christians, and it is totally against what is said in the Bible. We can't go about forcing people to convert; only God can change someone's heart.

I'm a Christian as well. Grew up Baptist but I'm not going to claim an actual denomination at this time. But your post intrigues me, because I hear this a lot. Especially from atheists. My question is, what do even radical, current day Christians do to FORCE people to convert or believe in their way? Seriously? Do they knock on your door and ask you if you believe in Jesus? If so, is that "forcing" you? Do they have television shows that allow them to preach to a large nation wide audience? If so, is that "forcing" you to believe like them? I just don't know what even radical Christians, do to "force" anything on anybody. Obviously, I'm angered by this because I haven't seen a Christian "force" their beliefs on anybody ever in my life. You want to see "forcing" of beliefs? How about radical Islam. If you don't convert, they will kill you. Period. Even the most radical Christians in this day and age wouldn't even fathom killing you for not converting. Can some radical Christians annoy the holly living crap out of you with their beliefs? Absolutely. Do they "force" you to believe like them? No. That would be radical Islam.

Forcing was probably the wrong word. Hitting people over the head with it is more accurate.