Freedom of religion...Or not.

[Potter]

yea, exactly. I was baptised when I was like 6 moths old, and there's no way I could have decided that early. Cuz 14 years later, Im athiest. waste of my parents time. Im living proof that theres no way you can decide when your 6 months old, my parents just made me so it because there parents made them believe it is right. My parents still force me to go to church, but i don't. Last week my dad said if I don't go to church he wuld take my computer away. Well, I didnt go and when my dad got home HIS computer was gone and I told him to stop trying to push his fake bullshit on me. My parents know how much I hate this POS country, and it's crappy beliefs.

[Original Sin]

Just for the record, people that actually worship the christian devil are quite rare. Satanism, in it's true form, has nothing to do with christianity at all. It's simply a practice of raising yourself above others. Self gratification, if you will, through whatever means necessary. Some of these people practice black magic as well, which is where that idea comes from...but not all of them.
Also, black magic in itself has nothing to do with the devil either. The two are separate, unless you're studying from a book in which someone specifically tried to combine them. I believe some of them exist now. Old world magic in it's true form is hard to find. It's been rewritten, combined and diluted for so many years.

I believe a Foamy the Squirrel Cartoon put it best when it potrayed Wicca as the 'Hip religion for a young 'goth' teenager' and included books on love spells and ways to kill parents. If you care to view it, I might just let you have a link.

To see it click Here.
Oops I lied, you can click here!

For the love of Buddha, I hope you're joking...

[mexican ninja]

Just for the record, people that actually worship the christian devil are quite rare. Satanism, in it's true form, has nothing to do with christianity at all. It's simply a practice of raising yourself above others. Self gratification, if you will, through whatever means necessary. Some of these people practice black magic as well, which is where that idea comes from...but not all of them.
Also, black magic in itself has nothing to do with the devil either. The two are separate, unless you're studying from a book in which someone specifically tried to combine them. I believe some of them exist now. Old world magic in it's true form is hard to find. It's been rewritten, combined and diluted for so many years.

I believe a Foamy the Squirrel Cartoon put it best when it potrayed Wicca as the 'Hip religion for a young 'goth' teenager' and included books on love spells and ways to kill parents. If you care to view it, I might just let you have a link.

To see it click Here.
Oops I lied, you can click here!

I liked it when foamy allowed itself to be whored out by Hot Topic., the home for all bad goth sterotypes. Please, Shaun, before responding, note that I said bad goth sterotypes. I love you.

I'm catholic. I (frequently) go to concerts at churches. Many of the bands I listen to could be considerded christan bands. I think it was lame that the chariot wouldn't play at a christan skatepark, because the manager dosen't want them to play at a place that promotes christinaty (but they're playing at cornerstone ).

I don't believe a word of it though. I wouldn't say I'm atheist or anything drastic like that. I just hate being forced into things.

People just need to learn to be more open minded. Like the whole pledge of allegiance thing. People act like its a big deal to stand there, and say "...under god...". Man, get over yourself. This country was founded on religion, so there is always going to be a religious influence. Just learn to deal with it. You're not making a stand by not standing.

[Yume_Taira]

Well i belive somewhat in our "free" country but in school i never stand during the National Anthem nor the Pledge of Alliegence but thats because i belive our counrty has gone to shit in a handbag over the past few decades with all the fighting about religion and such ...I mean i understand that it may be litle but i just dont see why i should "respect" my country when its whole basis is crap... but thats just me

(Sorry for late quote)

My friend was sent to the dean's office every Monday for refusing to stand in someone's class...while half my Calculus class sat without a qualm. Such a strange place I live in...the most conservative county in America!! (No, I'm serious...it's a fact.)

[fpd]

Well i belive somewhat in our "free" country but in school i never stand during the National Anthem nor the Pledge of Alliegence but thats because i belive our counrty has gone to shit in a handbag over the past few decades with all the fighting about religion and such ...I mean i understand that it may be litle but i just dont see why i should "respect" my country when its whole basis is crap... but thats just me

(Sorry for late quote)

My friend was sent to the dean's office every Monday for refusing to stand in someone's class...while half my Calculus class sat without a qualm. Such a strange place I live in...the most conservative county in America!! (No, I'm serious...it's a fact.)

At first I didn't stand for the pledge cause I just was too lazy to stand, then in sixth grade I said, hey, this whole god thing is pretty retarded when the country isn't supposed to endorse any religion. I don't give a shit if the country was "founded on religion" the fact is (and I'm pretty damn sure I'm right about this) "under god" Wasn't even in it until what? the 50's or something?

But yeah, I never had to stand because a girl in my class's religion didn't allow her to like salute flags or something, cause it was like idol worship. I donno, but that let me sit without having any questions asked.

Also, even if it's not about religion. Making people stand is total bullshit to begin with. It is a "free" country, that's in quotes because of shit like this. If a person doesn't want to salute something and say the word god or something, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. I don't give a shit if you think we should just "swallow our pride" or whatever, YOU swallow YOUR pride and take the fucking words out. Either way, it's the same as any other discussion about religion, it won't end because christians and everyone else will never agree on anything, cause they can just make shit up that "god said" and say they're right. (my friend did this quite often, he is no longer my friend because of his bullshit)
*edit*
actually that's not quite fair He's not my friend anymore because he dated one of my best friends and treated her like shit. But yeah, the religion shit was a big part of hating him.

[AShatteredGrave]

Well i belive somewhat in our "free" country but in school i never stand during the National Anthem nor the Pledge of Alliegence but thats because i belive our counrty has gone to shit in a handbag over the past few decades with all the fighting about religion and such ...I mean i understand that it may be litle but i just dont see why i should "respect" my country when its whole basis is crap... but thats just me

(Sorry for late quote)

My friend was sent to the dean's office every Monday for refusing to stand in someone's class...while half my Calculus class sat without a qualm. Such a strange place I live in...the most conservative county in America!! (No, I'm serious...it's a fact.)

Had the same thing happened to me in my senior AP Physics class a couple years back.

I refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance. I told them I'm not pledging anything to the US or a god I've yet to see do his job. They sent me to the dean, called my parents and said I was going to be a problem in life.

I just think I shouldn't pledge when I'm not american and I don't like the nation and I don't believe in a high being. Basically, to me, it's conformity hidden within a lame excuse of patriotism.

[seveneleven]

Well also think of what is established in our acts of "fighting" terrorism its stated in the bible "thalt shalt not kill" well in war you would assume that your gonna kill people so...you dont call it that if you participate in the war you dont get called a murderer you get called by another name a hero now IMO thats not right..."Dont throw glances at stange people" is a stament said to my family throughout the years ....well i guess the government decided to "throw" bullets...and call it war... its true The Human race is full of stupidity..

[Blaze]

Well also think of what is established in our acts of "fighting" terrorism its stated in the bible "thalt shalt not kill" well in war you would assume that your gonna kill people so...you dont call it that if you participate in the war you dont get called a murderer you get called by another name a hero now IMO thats not right..."Dont throw glances at stange people" is a stament said to my family throughout the years ....well i guess the government decided to "throw" bullets...and call it war... its true The Human race is full of stupidity..

Did you know congress hasn't declared war since WWII?

War on Terror? Congress gave Bush the power to decide on war, going against the constitution.

[Original Sin]

Well also think of what is established in our acts of "fighting" terrorism its stated in the bible "thalt shalt not kill" well in war you would assume that your gonna kill people so...you dont call it that if you participate in the war you dont get called a murderer you get called by another name a hero now IMO thats not right..."Dont throw glances at stange people" is a stament said to my family throughout the years ....well i guess the government decided to "throw" bullets...and call it war... its true The Human race is full of stupidity..

Did you know congress hasn't declared war since WWII?

War on Terror? Congress gave Bush the power to decide on war, going against the constitution.

You're right. Since the President is also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, he doesn't need congressional backing to go to war. However, congress CAN limit his ability to make war. Now, will they? Of course not. But they can if they so choose to.

Also, all this talk of the pledge brings up another point. Being forced to say the pledge is nationalism, aka. Patriotism, and despite what you may believe, hard core patriotism is a BAD thing. Eventually, it can lead to Fascism. Look at Nazi Germany. Look at WWII ere Japan. All the product of hard core nationalism. You'd be surprised what people will do when their brainwashed into thinking their country is the greatest in the world, and they should do anything to support it.
Now, throw god into the mix and you create an even stickier situation. Nationalism, combined with organized religion makes things even scarier. You'll wind up with a bunch of over zealous, war mongering christians looking to destroy and rebuild (in their image) anything that doesn't believe in god, and hail to the american flag.
You wanna say the pledge, and you wanna say 'under god?' Go right ahead. But I sure as hell will not. It may be against your religion NOT to say 'under god.' But you know what? It's against mine TO say it.
To each his own, I say.

[UmmeiGenkai]

My parents never forced me into a religion, but they did send me to a christian preschool, which led me to believe i was suposed to be christian, and that it'd make my parents happy, so when a church was built close to my house, a joined the youth group and walked there every wednessday. However, I soon realized that I'd never really believed in it, any of it. Then my mom told me, they didn't send me becuase they wanted me to be christian, they just wanted me to be in a slightly more strict environment as far as preschools go (becuase I was a little trouble maker), and it was one of the best choices in town. For a while I still went to the church becuase I was still really young, and for the longest time the youth group had no leader, so it was three or four kids sitting in a barn, playing cards, pool, and catching things on fire. But I didn;t believe anymore, and when they finally got us a superviser I asked questions, and they threw them back in my face and made me feel like an idiot, they mocked me, and because of that, I decided they were assholes and stopped going. My mom was proud of me for that, and saying that I'd find something I really did believe in, instead of listening to what others told me was right.

As for the pledge, I think it's wrong to force anyone to say it. I stopped saying it when I was about ten. In middle school there was a kid in one of my classes that always asked one girl why she didn't say it, and I always hoped he'd not notice me, becuase he'd been making fun of me since second grade, and I didn't feel like being made fun of becuase of my beliefs. Our teacher told us to stand as to not be disrespectful, but never made us say it. I'm just really glad they don't have us say it in highschool.

[Ebola Gay]

I enjoy how many people now equiate "christian" with "warmongering facist".

It's a wonderful world.

Everybody should just do what I'll probably do: move to Canana

[Potter]

OOOOMFG EBOLA DFA 1979!!!!! I thought I was the only one who like, knew they existed.

[Mosh_Mosh_Revolution]

So I had to give my speech class a survey today to support my persuasive speech I'm giving next Tuesday.

I'm attempting to persuade my class to keep religion (particularly of Christian persuasion) out of public schools.

My parents are furious that I'm giving a speech on said topic.

It's interesting, though, that when I got my surveys bad, how negatively people answered. I guess I didn't realize that there were so many conservatives in my class...

I have a feeling that this will all fall upon deaf ears.

[Ebola Gay]

OOOOMFG EBOLA DFA 1979!!!!! I thought I was the only one who like, knew they existed.

Hecks yes, DFA 79. The main reason I linked to them (other than them rocking hard) was because most of the funds needed to release their latest album was provided by a grant from the Canada Music Fund. A government supporting wicked awesome music? Awaaaa?!

[XeroCi]

this is kinda gay. Just let people do what they want.. Convert em later by their own free choice..

The government will start a friggen riot if they force shit on us