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Annael
Elvenhome
Nov 13 2012, 5:16pm
Post #51 of 77
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there is no way to prove or disprove this idea, so it is a matter of faith
To me that's real faith. I think that's what Christ meant with the parable of the mustard seed.
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Eowyn of Penns Woods
Doriath
Nov 14 2012, 4:40am
Post #53 of 77
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'Mormon' is a nickname for members of a particular church, not a religion.
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(And not a nickname of their own choosing or given them by friendly folk, either, BTW.) And it's The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so the 'LDS' would fall under 'Christian', anyway. :)
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zarabia
Dor-Lomin
Nov 14 2012, 6:29am
Post #54 of 77
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Thanks for getting my meaning even though I wasn't very clear :P
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When I re-read my post later I thought, "duh!" believing something without proof IS faith. But I think you knew I meant that I don't have any text that I look to as being the actual word of God; no person I see as being divinely guided to guide me in turn.
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Elvenhome
Nov 14 2012, 8:48pm
Post #55 of 77
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We've all been trained to play nice :-)
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It reminds me a bit of the time my school had a panel on religion and invited a bunch of us professors to be on it. We looked at each other nervously and said, "Is it OK to talk about this here?" because we'd all been taught that the classroom is no place to be spouting off about our personal religions, and rightly so. But on a panel it was fine, and we were awfully careful not to fight :-)
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Radagast-Aiwendil
Mithlond
Nov 14 2012, 9:46pm
Post #56 of 77
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Personally I find it hard to answer this question, although atheist would be my answer
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I've often felt that the world is too much of a wonderful place for its creation to be accidental, and am occasionally inclined to feel that I am in the presence of something far greater than my humble self. I try to do good out of a sense of what is right, although there is also a small part of me wanting to do good to gain passage to Heaven if I am proved wrong (I think everybody is self-serving to at least some degree, even if only to a small level).
However, when I search my own feelings I know that the only thing that I can imagine coming after this is complete oblivion. That is not something I want to believe due to its depressing connotations, but I feel that it is true, and because of that it is something that I must ultimately and honestly subscribe to.
If Heaven is a real place, then I would be also inclined to believe that Hell was a real place also, though I think that very, very few people would be considered evil enough to earn a place there.
(This post was edited by Radagast-Aiwendil on Nov 14 2012, 9:53pm)
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Misto
Menegroth
Nov 15 2012, 12:04pm
Post #57 of 77
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there is a piece of paper somewhere, making me a protestant Christian. Practically I can't even be bothered enough about religion to drop by the local church office and cancel my membership. So I guess that makes me an atheist of the I-really-don't-care kind
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imin
Doriath
Nov 16 2012, 12:43am
Post #58 of 77
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Been an atheist since i was around 10 years old. I didnt know that was what i felt was called but as i looked into it i was.
At first i was scared as i thought i shouldnt be feeling like this as i would be punished by god/not allowed into heaven but then i thought if this being/thing we call god is so awesome then he wont mind that i was not believing in him when he gave zero evidence for the entire history of the universe and felt better. If he did mind then he is too petty to be worshiped.
My parents were great and let me decide for myself through reading and talking to various people rather than pushing me one way or the other.
To me it was a defining moment in my life when i knew there was no god (imo).
I do think had i been born in a different part of the world i would most likely be part of the predominant religion in that area e.g. if i was born and raised in Pakistan i would almost certainly be a muslim.
I wish i would still 'see the light' and become an atheist (if born in a very religious country) but for most people they dont get the chance to think for themselves without outside influences. Whether they come to the conclusion their is one god, many gods or no god(s) to me doesnt matter, what does is having the opportunity to find out for ones self rather than being made to believe what your parents believe.
Ultimately people can believe whatever they want, if it doesnt hurt anyone and they try to be good people then they can believe what they like.
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alienorchid
Menegroth
Nov 17 2012, 7:42am
Post #59 of 77
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I generally call myself an atheist, but,
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I think I'm essentially agnostic.
I don't think there is any way I can ever know within my own lifetime, beyond any doubt, that there are supernatural entities. In saying that, I call myself an atheist because I think that it's so unlikely that any deity exists in the forms already established by human beings (such as the Abrahamic god, Hindu gods, greek gods, folk gods, etc), that I basically don't believe in any god or have any faith-based beliefs.
My parents are both atheist/agnostic, and when I was growing up they always told me that I had to explore and learn so that I could make my own decision about religion, faith and spirituality :)
I don't really have any issues with other people's personal beliefs - for me, what it comes down to is 'live and let live'.
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Xanaseb
Dor-Lomin
Nov 17 2012, 8:06pm
Post #60 of 77
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I very very much object to 'Catholic' being separated from Christian... absolutely ridiculous lol..
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Xanaseb
Dor-Lomin
Nov 17 2012, 8:10pm
Post #61 of 77
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precisely. Or just keep them together.. ..
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Faenoriel
Dor-Lomin
Nov 21 2012, 7:37pm
Post #62 of 77
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Discussion about religion? In TORn? It's truly 2012.
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I'm Christian. As are my Catholic brothers and sisters. Tsk tsk.
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DanielLB
Elvenhome
Nov 21 2012, 9:05pm
Post #63 of 77
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Your new avatar caught me off guard! Change unsettles me.
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DanielLB
Elvenhome
Nov 21 2012, 9:25pm
Post #64 of 77
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I've only just read all the other complements your had elsewhere on the forum.
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You have another one to add to your list now!
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burgahobbit
Nargothrond
Nov 23 2012, 7:45pm
Post #65 of 77
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Here Tolkien explains why he left out cults and religions in Middle-earth
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"The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like 'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism." – J.R.R. Tolkien (emphasis mine)
And this is why I love The Lord of the Rings so much: the task to destroy the ring, the characters' dealings with temptation and sin, the Eucharistic element in the Elvish lembas bread, the Divine Providence that Gandalf speaks of throughout The Hobbit/LOTR/Unfinished tails, etc. etc., are all so symbolic and beautiful. As Tolkien describes it, the religious element is "absorbed into the story" and also the characters. I loved the films (or what I was allowed to watch of them) and I loved the hobbit book as a young child when I didn't understand all of this, but I love them even more now that I do!
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burgahobbit
Nargothrond
Nov 23 2012, 7:48pm
Post #66 of 77
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I'm a Christian and a Catholic. 
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Eye's on Guard
Menegroth
Nov 23 2012, 9:54pm
Post #67 of 77
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I don't choose religion as a means in and of itself...
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but I do believe The Bible is true.
This is a matter of faith, and that's why logical argumentation never works when it comes to these matters. Glad to see there is none here. It's just too bad most school systems look down on faith and that hypocrites in religion give it a bad name.
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Fredeghar Wayfarer
Menegroth
Nov 24 2012, 7:53am
Post #68 of 77
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As far as religion in Middle-earth, there were several. The Elves and the Numenoreans worshiped Eru and honored his servants, the Valar. The Black Numenoreans worshiped Morgoth and were said to make sacrifices to him in Unfinished Tales. Other races of Men worshiped the Valar, mistaking them for gods according to the intro to The Silmarillion. The Dwarves probably worshiped their creator Aule and maybe Eru as well, since he breathed life into them.
By the way, as to your poll, I'm agnostic.
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Faenoriel
Dor-Lomin
Nov 27 2012, 5:23pm
Post #69 of 77
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Yes, that's the exact right way to handle religious themes in your fiction. //
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Kassandros
Nargothrond
Nov 27 2012, 6:49pm
Post #70 of 77
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"most school systems look down on faith"
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In what country do you live?
This is completely false in America. A vast majority of teachers here are Christian, just like the general population.
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Faenoriel
Dor-Lomin
Nov 27 2012, 7:20pm
Post #71 of 77
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It depends entirely on the country
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Many European countries are very secular.
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Kassandros
Nargothrond
Nov 27 2012, 7:49pm
Post #72 of 77
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But aren't there more Christian schools in Europe?
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I thought I've read that there are more religious schools in Europe, no? And that some are even paid for by State money? I'm no expert on the matter, though. I'm sure it varies quite a bit by country in Europe as well, but I'm thinking of the UK, Netherlands, and Germany at the moment.
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Kassandros
Nargothrond
Nov 30 2012, 6:59pm
Post #75 of 77
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A devout Catholic to be specific.
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It shows up very much in his work. Catholic virtues are everywhere and yet his writing doesn't clobber you over the head with religion. That's probably why people of such diverse faiths are big fans of his work.
(Personally, I am not religious. If you want to label me, "agnostic" would come the closest.)
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