Simtropolis Religion Thread

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Today is grocery shopping day and the bus will be along soon.  I'll see what I can do about discount chocolate, but I am not keen on milk chocolate.

[Sleeping Politician 32]

Religion to me gives me a reason to be in existence and is a way of life.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I understand the function of religion but as all i am aware of worship evil ideals from my data... I should have to create my own and one might as well become a god... Most religions are common institutions and backwards and thus... While not as week as pure reasoning... Strikes me as a drug for labourers and slaves. I myself be a pauper of no worth but i aspire to greater realms. And thus should the opportunity arise i should destroy our realm and create a proper world where windows 95 is used and i have a flat. Lol.

[Fatherted 129]

My relatives gave us way too much chocolate. Vom.

I want to make my own cult. It would be fun.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You could join me in the church of god the utterly indifferent.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I would create a cult if i had any followers. I mean strategic allies. I mean friends.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Mark, the church of god the utterly indifferent would welcome you with open arms.  We always use cylindrical chapels so the devil can't get you in a corner.

[AkemiAzula 280]

My church of Azula the lord of fire has cookies. Our churches are also bigger. Admittedly the whole church is a giant war machine designed for domination of the earth under a veil of charitable endeavour.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Sounds very much like the Vatican.

[AkemiAzula 280]

But we worship a pretty girl not a bunch of old men serving a 2000 year old bearded carpenter from some village that has donkeys. We have a cooler god. She can bend lightning.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

But god the utterly indifferent could do that if he wanted to bother.  The theory is that he was bored one day and everything was black, so he created a singularity which resulted in the big bang, and hasn't given a hoot since.

[Fatherted 129]

I think Nonny is actually God The Utterly Indifferent and He thinks Earth is one big feature-length drama repeated over and over with different characters, a different setting but the same plot.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I decline the nomination.  I am willing to speculate that there is some unknown and unknowable force that started up the universe as we know it and left it as a conundrum for any intelligent beings that arose to figure out.  The question of whether we are intelligent beings is moot.

[APSMS 1,892]

It sounds like you have a good understanding of the basics of pantheism.  Like most philosophies and religions, it has been debated over the centuries, including the question of whether it is a philosophy or a religion.

 

A variety of religions touch on pantheism at some point.   For instance, check out Psalm 86.  People have been trying to decipher that one for a while.  

<snip>

Hey Meg, I know this is an old post of yours, but I was wondering...I'm kinda familiar with Psa 86, and I'm curious which part of it references some modern understanding of Pantheism. It may be I'm just blinded coming from a conservative Christian perspective, but I just can't see it. I'd really like to know what you're referring to.

 

But we worship a pretty girl not a bunch of old men serving a 2000 year old bearded carpenter from some village that has donkeys. We have a cooler god. She can bend lightning.

 

 Mark, I know an Azula ruler might be pretty cool, but she's pretty unstable as far as gods go. Jesus and Yahweh are far more temperamental, and most Atheists/anti-Christians would probably agree with me on that point. Also, Jesus can stop raging storms and raise the dead. Lightning is in storms, so that means Jesus can bend lightning, too. I think that, all things being equal (i.e. source material as fact), Jesus has got Azula beat. After all, since both demand absolute obeisance, I'd much rather worship the one that's inclined to heal me rather than banish me or burn me alive (to death). Just saying...

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Ah mythology!  There is not one scripture, except maybe the Koran on which I also have doubts, that hasn't been sliced and diced and flavoured by several translators' agendas.  The first gospel was written some 80 years after the death of 'the Christ' and the writer was not one of the disciples.  A collection of word-of-mouth accounts, and we know how inaccurate they usually are.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I reckon id get along with Azula. And id rather be burnt by her than live in worship of a man lol. Id rather live in a world she made.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Now let's have a really good look at the Koran.

 

Is this really part of Sharia?  Is it supported by the Koran?  If this is true Islamic thought, they must really like the dark ages.

[Ocram's Razr 963]

1. Europe and Africa should redraw the borders in Africa. Europe really messed up Africa from its colonization but obviously they pass the buck to their more successful former colonies because we improved ourselves. Guess what, the USA did not divide and conquer the continent of Africa into nonsensical shaped countries. Europe is to blame and Europe is closer. Still Africa (either the civilians or the government) would need to be on-board for making the improvements and changing the borders, otherwise only war will change that and the USA will be forced to intervene.

2. I read somewhere that Sharia Law is as much a part of Islam as the Talmund is a part of Judaism. They are both codified sets of morals based off the holy book of each religion (Koran or Qua'ran for Islam, Torah for Judaism). I have read some translated parts of the Koran and it is far more brutal and violent than the New Testament and slightly more so than the Old Testament, despite being written later than either.

3. According to one part of the Koran, a Muslim man must raise his children as Muslim. If the father was never there for the children (either through death or a "Deadbeat Dad") and the mother was never Muslim, then it is less clear in Sharia law whether the children could be considered Muslim. Most people would say that they were never Muslim but there are some laws in some countries where the religion or ethnicity of the father determines that of the children.

4. According to most religions, remarriage after divorce is considered adultery.

5. I am really opposed to most theocracies (especially when you mix them with dictatorships or militarism). I am also opposed to "secular" countries commandeering religious terms for their own usage.

--Ocram

[AkemiAzula 280]

When i was at school i planned on creating a world and religion devoid of all boys. Religions tend to be idealistic. In this world i think it would be best to have a single scientific government. Religions can never coexist restfully.

[Yayie 311]

1. Europe and Africa should redraw the borders in Africa. Europe really messed up Africa from its colonization but obviously they pass the buck to their more successful former colonies because we improved ourselves. Guess what, the USA did not divide and conquer the continent of Africa into nonsensical shaped countries. Europe is to blame and Europe is closer. Still Africa (either the civilians or the government) would need to be on-board for making the improvements and changing the borders, otherwise only war will change that and the USA will be forced to intervene.

2. I read somewhere that Sharia Law is as much a part of Islam as the Talmund is a part of Judaism. They are both codified sets of morals based off the holy book of each religion (Koran or Qua'ran for Islam, Torah for Judaism). I have read some translated parts of the Koran and it is far more brutal and violent than the New Testament and slightly more so than the Old Testament, despite being written later than either.

3. According to one part of the Koran, a Muslim man must raise his children as Muslim. If the father was never there for the children (either through death or a "Deadbeat Dad") and the mother was never Muslim, then it is less clear in Sharia law whether the children could be considered Muslim. Most people would say that they were never Muslim but there are some laws in some countries where the religion or ethnicity of the father determines that of the children.

4. According to most religions, remarriage after divorce is considered adultery.

5. I am really opposed to most theocracies (especially when you mix them with dictatorships or militarism). I am also opposed to "secular" countries commandeering religious terms for their own usage.

--Ocram

 

2. Islamic and Judaism laws are identitical to each other. Both are brothers by history (Ishmael and Isaac pbuh), If you study more than just reading plainly on the surface of both Holy books, you'll understand why it sounds more "violent" as it was meant to be taken spiritually. Look around us, there are good both Jewish and Islamic as well as the bad. Both Torah and Koran mentioned that there are only two types of people in this world - The good and the bad. Read it again, if you understand what you understand, therefore ,that verse is what God wants you to understood that way -  because Holy Books such as these has two meanings (some have more than 2). We can't say that because you read it sounds violent than a million of followers of the religion are wrong. There are more to it.

 

3. Alright, Islam is an Arabic word of "Acceptence", Koran is just a book as well as Torah, Bible etc. Muslim is not Islam, its a term. Muslim is pious. Muslim is all about human rights and do good things. Lets keep this short, anyone can be a muslim even if they're Christians or Jewish or Buddism etc. To answer your question about what religion the child should have even if the father passed away and the mother is not a Muslim, I can't judge the fate of the kid, as he/she comes to age, he/she may choose his/her religion path regardless what the public Sharia says about it. Sharia law may differ in many Islamic countries, they are devided by culture, race and sect.

[APSMS 1,892]

1. Europe and Africa should redraw the borders in Africa. Europe really messed up Africa from its colonization but obviously they pass the buck to their more successful former colonies because we improved ourselves. Guess what, the USA did not divide and conquer the continent of Africa into nonsensical shaped countries. Europe is to blame and Europe is closer. Still Africa (either the civilians or the government) would need to be on-board for making the improvements and changing the borders, otherwise only war will change that and the USA will be forced to intervene.

 

<snip>

4. According to most religions, remarriage after divorce is considered adultery.

1. They should have done this when they gave it all up. Unfortunately the chance of this happening is really low due to power plays, but I agree with your intentions whole-heartedly. Africa has to be one of mankind's worst disasters yet in terms of land boundaries and unfortunate consequences of a situation gone bad.

 

4. Interestingly, the Torah doesn't make this claim. Women are allowed to remarry after divorce, though obviously in an ancient culture this would be unlikely. The Christian claim to adultery due to remarriage after divorce can be found in Matthew 19, and in general applies to both genders barring the case of adultery for the woman.

 

I agree with my statement about point 4, but notably the Christian religion prevents the mandate of any sort of physical punishment for the action (governmental or church-related). There are other ramifications for the "sin", however.

 

As an aside, I find the Torah (among ancient law codes) to be incredibly fair to women as well as generally classless. Obviously differences in practice occurred, but the Mosaic law never made a distinction between rich and poor when it mentioned eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life like Hammurabi did.

 

2. Islamic and Judaism laws are identitical to each other. Both are brothers by history (Ishmael and Isaac pbuh), If you study more than just reading plainly on the surface of both Holy books, you'll understand why it sounds more "violent" as it was meant to be taken spiritually. Look around us, there are good both Jewish and Islamic as well as the bad. Both Torah and Koran mentioned that there are only two types of people in this world - The good and the bad. Read it again, if you understand what you understand, therefore ,that verse is what God wants you to understood that way -  because Holy Books such as these has two meanings (some have more than 2). We can't say that because you read it sounds violent than a million of followers of the religion are wrong. There are more to it.

I'm not 100% familiar with Islamic law, but my basic understanding is that laws are supposed to be direct and unambiguous. It seems clear to me, particularly with Islamic and Jewish history that both laws were intended to guide spiritually, but were also meant to be real laws designed to be carried out literally. History bears this out for both (if you assume the OT as history, which is logical to do for comparison purposes). The Torah for certain is a literal code that was intended to promote internal change via the guidelines listed. According to the Bible it didn't work but if it is true that the laws are identical (I personally disagree), then it is also true that Sharia Law is meant as a literal law, meant to be understood as action rather than meditative spirit guidelines. I have hardly known any law that was written that was not intended to be carried out as specified. That defeats the entire purpose of a law, and then the name is a horrible title, yet I have not known any Muslim to object the term in question.

 

After all, "if God had wanted us to be permissive, he would have given us the Ten Suggestions."

 

And yes, while I don't necessarily agree with Ocram, you can easily say that 1 billion followers are wrong. Certainly Muslims and Christians can agree on this about Hinduism, no?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I won't comment on the religious arguments but, Ocram, don't you think the overhaul of Africa, if any, is now the responsibility of the OAS?  Europe has abandoned any colonial claims after WW II as empires were pretty much dissolved.  Africa is for the Africans.  They can make whatever mess of it they like.  Europe should butt out as they have enough problems.

 

To quote someone whose name I forget "Philosophy is questions that may never be answered; religion is answers that may never be questioned".

[Larks2242 251]

I don't normally ever comment on religion but lately I've been seeing so much of it that it is kinda getting to me.

 

I don't mean to offend anyone, that is not my intention, this is just how I feel about it.

 

First off I think it is incredibly selfish when there is a huge car accident and someone says "god saved me" when at the same time a 5 year old kid died in the crash, is that to say he was more important then the child?

 

Then people use religion to do horrible things and use it as a cover to force their opinions on other people, why not jut do good things for the sake of doing good things? You try to do good and you just die anyway so its rather pointless.

 

God would have to be the biggest sadist and bully if he existed, not something I'd be proud to be a "child" of.

 

I feel like shutting it out of my life entirly is the best way to deal with it, however its not always easy when being surrounded by it.

[AkemiAzula 280]

God is a big sadistic bully. Thats why even if religion is real im still siding against him.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

"God" and nature are one.  The deity figure is simply an excuse used to blame something for one's own misfortunes, self-caused or not.

 

One of the most sickening things heard on this earth is someone saying "God did this" or "God did that".  It is utter nonsense.  Any decent theologian who has wasted his energy studying the matter will tell you that it is impossible to know the mind of "God".  Theologically it is a serious "sin of presumption" to make any reference to "God" in interpreting any event whatever.

 

Shakespeare said it centuries ago:

 

"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

"Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

"To the last second of recorded time.

"And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

"The way to dusty death."

 

or perhaps you prefer Ecclesiastes

 

"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

[Yayie 311]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIhu4oVaDtg

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

"If God didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent Him." -- Voltaire.

[Ionic-Elm 13]

I'm not very religious myself, mainly because I disagree with a lot of things in the church (most churches), mainly on LGBT rights, but I won't get into that here. I simply just think that God could or could not exist, who knows? I respect other's beliefs though, I just happen to think he/she may not exist.

[unnamed 174]

Someone should make a houses of worship set for simcity 4, like simcity 5.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Let's see, I have several Catholic churches, a few miscellaneous Christian Churches and at least one Mosque as well as the default House of Worship in my game and plugins.  I don't think I've run across a Jewish Temple, nor any from some of the eastern faiths.  It is probably just a matter of searching on the exchanges.  Wouldn't be surprised if all are available because they are remarkable pieces of architecture, generally.

 

Of course, I think everyone knows that I don't subscribe to any organized religion based on myths mistranslated for centuries by people with various private agendas.  At best I might believe in the presence of Nature, but not as a superior being, simply an ongoing overriding force.