There is always so much war between atheists, christians and muslims on this forum. Everyone feels their belief is right while the other is wrong. However, I personally feel that irrespective of one's religion and the issues surrounding it there is usually a personal benefit that comes along with. This thread is to discuss only the POSITIVE sides of our beliefs or religion with the hope that this will aid us understand better what every religion/belief has to offer and therefore make us more lenient towards each other's beliefs.

I'll go first. I'd say I'm non-religious and still on and off on the existence of God and of his responsibility towards us. That's a topic for another day. However, since I stopped following religion I've realised that most of the challenges that I find myself facing are either as a result of my own decisions or actions and simply because there's no possibility of life being always sweet and not because of some witch or wizard or "bad belle" in my village or community who is trying as much as possible to bring me down. As a result, I'm more concious of my actions and the feeling of responsibilty has been greatly increased. I no longer feel enmity towards people because I now understand that generally people are selfish and in most cases think of only themselves which is natural. With this understanding, its easier for me to deal with people and protect my interests because I can understand that they are only fighting for their own interests.

Also, I'm able to love and feel empathic towards everyone because I don't belong to a religion and since I can't take sides with anyone I can relate with every being just because that person is a human being and not because of the person's religious affiliation, tribe, etc. Being free from religious barriers has also helped me to see beyond racial, tribalistic or idealistic perspectives and I now see people for what they really are.

Kindly share the benefits your religion has had in your life.

Many musicians and artists get to work and develop their craft because they belong to a church wherein they are nurtured. In fact a significant amount of popular music we all enjoy today is a product of Church activities. Soul music from Ray Charles until the present day has been derived directly from gospel music honed in churches.

PastorAIO:
Many musicians and artists get to work and develop their craft because they belong to a church wherein they are nurtured. In fact a significant amount of popular music we all enjoy today is a product of Church activities. Soul music from Ray Charles until the present day has been derived directly from gospel music honed in churches.

Very true but I know I specified about "personal" benefits

The benefits I have gotten from Christ is huge. It is beyond what any book could contain. Ever since I know God a lot had change in my life.
I use to be this confused person but now a lot of things have become clear to me. I enjoy each day with my beautiful Lord, spend a lot of fun time engross in the search of the unsearchable one, and looking forward to a glorious future.

Religion made me mugu

religion made me mumu

hahn:


Very true but I know I specified about "personal" benefits

How much more personal than enjoying great music? Just because I share the benefit with other people doesn't mean its not personal.

PastorAIO:


How much more personal than enjoying great music? Just because I share the benefit with other people doesn't mean its not personal.

Hmmm. Bros, it won't hurt if you just say what effect it has on you personally. If Ray Charles was commenting himself, that would have been a different issue

Hiswordxray:
The benefits I have gotten from Christ is huge. It is beyond what any book could contain. Ever since I know God a lot had change in my life.
I use to be this confused person but now a lot of things have become clear to me. I enjoy each day with my beautiful Lord, spend a lot of fun time engross in the search of the unsearchable one, and looking forward to a glorious future.

Cool. Could you elaborate a bit more please. There are a lot of people who would gain from a more indepth explanation. Thank you for your comment

mumumugu:
Religion made me mugu

religion made me mumu

I'm sure this will benefit anyone who wants to be as mumu/mugu as you. Keep it up

hahn:


Hmmm. Bros, it won't hurt if you just say what effect it has on you personally. If Ray Charles was commenting himself, that would have been a different issue

Personally it has made me dance, it has made me feel many pleasurable feelings inside me. Is that enough?

PastorAIO:


Personally it has made me dance, it has made me feel many pleasurable feelings inside me. Is that enough?

Well, if that is all your religion has done for you then its enough. Thanks for your contribution

I I'd say I'm non-religious and disbelief the existence of any deity. That's a topic for another day. However, since I stopped following religion I've realised that most of the challenges that I find myself facing are either as a result of my own decisions or actions and simply because there's no possibility of life being always sweet and not because of some witch or wizard or "bad belle" in my village or community who is trying as much as possible to bring me down. As a result, I'm more concious of my actions and the feeling of responsibilty has been greatly increased. I no longer feel enmity towards people because I now understand that generally people are selfish and in most cases think of only themselves which is natural. With this understanding, its easier for me to deal with people and protect my interests because I can understand that they are only fighting for their own interests.

Also, I'm able to love and feel empathic towards everyone because I don't belong to a religion and since I can't take sides with anyone I can relate with every being just because that person is a human being and not because of the person's religious affiliation, tribe, etc. Being free from religious barriers has also helped me to see beyond racial, tribalistic or idealistic perspectives and I now see people for what they really are.

This is me

Hiswordxray:

So you agree with this statement:

This proves you know all this while that humanity is full of evil but you keep deceiving yourself by telling yourself that humanity is good.
Why do you choose lie instead of the truth?
Why do you prefer delusion than the reality?
I know the reality is ugly but telling yourself lies won't change anything.

Face the reality by dear friend, it will point you to Christ who is the solution.

U couldn't even explain clearly what u have benefited from ur religion, u just said its huge and beautiful... Now are quick to attack his contribution by falsely accusing him.

Now tell us what exactly u have gained from ur religion and stop playing dumb psychologist.

frank317:


U couldn't even explain clearly what u have benefited from ur religion, u just said its huge and beautiful... Now are quick to attack his contribution by falsely accusing him.

Now tell us what exactly u have gained from ur religion and stop playing dumb psychologist.

I would explain better but right now my battery is low a have now be able to charge properly for a while. And I have a lot to say about my benefits as a Christian.

PastorAIO:


Personally it has made me dance, it has made me feel many pleasurable feelings inside me. Is that enough?

Yes, that's enough. Although, since the only benefit are from "worldly" songs, I wonder why some people are criticizing Korede Bello.

hahn:


Well, if that is all your religion has done for you then its enough. Thanks for your contribution

hahn:

Yes, that's enough. Although, since the only benefit are from "worldly" songs, I wonder why some people are criticizing Korede Bello.

Why are you so desperate to score a point? Where did I say it was the ONLY benefit?

PastorAIO:




Why are you so desperate to score a point? Where did I say it was the ONLY benefit?

Since you've failed to give a single "personal" benefit you've gained from your religion its safe to say you've gained nothing.

I greatly marvel at so called christians on this forum.So there is not found a christian here that knowing God has:
1. Delivered you from Alcohol Addiction
2. Saved you from smoking
3. Redeemed you from sexual immorality
4. Delivered you from incurable sicknesses
5. Helped you to escape death in accident where others certainly die.
6. Recieved countless miraculous answers to prayers.
7. Saved you from drug addiction.
8. Shielded you from deadly attacks from occultic boss,relative, native doctor,powerful witch.
9. Helped you overcome irresposible behaviour or bad habit.
10. Enabled you defeat fighting and quarrelling and wickedness.
11. Countless other interventions.
-
So none among the christians commenting so far or are yet to comment have had a definite intervention from God? I deeply marvel!!!

Anomnity:
I greatly marvel at so called christians on this forum.So there is not found a christian here that knowing God has:
1. Delivered you from Alcohol Addiction
2. Saved you from smoking
3. Redeemed you from sexual immorality
4. Delivered you from incurable sicknesses
5. Helped you to escape death in accident where others certainly die.
6. Recieved countless miraculous answers to prayers.
7. Saved you from drug addiction.
8. Shielded you from deadly attacks from occultic boss,relative, native doctor,powerful witch.
9. Helped you overcome irresposible behaviour or bad habit.
10. Enabled you defeat fighting and quarrelling and wickedness.
11. Countless other interventions.
-
So none among the christians commenting so far or are yet to comment have had a definite intervention from God? I deeply marvel!!!

Not as marvelledd as I am. Apparently, we have shallow minded christians here OR the religion is bogus

Sorry. Didn't mean to double post

hahn:



Cool. Could you elaborate a bit more please. There are a lot of people who would gain from a more indepth explanation. Thank you for your comment

Before I gave my life to Christ I use to be the dumb and confused boy. I was so dumb that my mum thought someone must have stolen my brain spiritually (of course I didn't believe that).
I was in SS1 when I gave my life to Christ and that same year I became the must brilliant study in my class and the top maths study in my department. It was unbelievable. And ever since then a lot had happened that my mum confess that my life is full of surprises.

I was once confused of how my future will be but just few months after I gave my life to Christ, God came to me in a cloud and told me about my future. Now I have hope that my future will be fun and great.

My father died just a week before I wrote my WASCE but God had been a good Father to me ever since. There is nothing I ask Him that He doesn't give me. Sometimes I feel like the only person on earth because God loves me so much that he gives me so much attention and affection.
There was a time I was worried and God told me He listens to my every thought and it brakes His heart to hear me worried. It seems like God only has eyes for me.
There are many times God just spend time telling me how much He loves me. Even when I have done something that should make Him angry and I thought He is disappointed with me. He just scold me a little and tell me He is proud of me and He has hope in me. God Almighty have faith in me, why won't I have faith in myself. This had made this timid boy turn into a confident person.
God have been a wonderful and faithful Father to me and I am out of my head in love with Him.

Coming to understand God's love had made me able to love other. When God showed me how much He loves me and I later realize that He didn't love me more than He loves other. As a result I am able show love to other. I love others not because of who they are or what they have done but simply because of God loves them. I hardly ever get angry at people because my God is never angry with me. And no matter what someone do to me I am able to show them love simply because God loves them.
Just recently a girl I love broke my heart and it took me only 24 hours to deal with the pain. God came and comfort me, He revealed to me more of Christ. I got so lost in the sight of my beauty Lord that I forget I was suffering from a broken heart. And when I see this girl I feel no hatred for her, I smile at her and try to show her God loves her but the guilt of what she had done won't let her respond positively to my good gesture.
There are times sorrow piece my heart then sudden Joy will just come from no where and flood my heart. My God always want me to be happy, He feels my sorrow and I feel His grievance.

God had use me to change the life of many I have come across. I know of people who have come to me and told me how they are so grateful to have met me. They told me how their lives have change since they know me. I feel like God speaks to the lives of people that almost everybody I met seem to be impacted through me. I feel so blessed to be a blessing to others.

Just November last year God showed me more about my future. And It's so wonderful that I am going to be a blessing to many more people.

What life can be better than a life the impact and change many lives. And everyday I enjoy the endless love of my God and Saviour Jesus. I couldn't have had a better life than this.

Hiswordxray:

Before I gave my life to Christ I use to be the dumb and confused boy. I was so dumb that my mum thought someone must have stolen my brain spiritually (of course I didn't believe that).
I was in SS1 when I gave my life to Christ and that same year I became the must brilliant study in my class and the top maths study in my department. It was unbelievable. And ever since then a lot had happened that my mum confess that my life is full of surprises.

I was once confused of how my future will be but just few months after I gave my life to Christ, God came to me in a cloud and told me about my future. Now I have hope that my future will be fun and great.

My father died just a week before I wrote my WASCE but God had been a good Father to me ever since. There is nothing I ask Him that He doesn't give me. Sometimes I feel like the only person on earth because God loves me so much that he gives me so much attention and affection.
There was a time I was worried and God told me He listens to my every thought and it brakes His heart to hear me worried. It seems like God only has eyes for me.
There are many times God just spend time telling me how much He loves me. Even when I have done something that should make Him angry and I thought He is disappointed with me. He just scold me a little and tell me He is proud of me and He has hope in me. God Almighty have faith in me, why won't I have faith in myself. This had made this timid boy turn into a confident person.
God have been a wonderful and faithful Father to me and I am out of my head in love with Him.

Coming to understand God's love had made me able to love other. When God showed me how much He loves me and I later realize that He didn't love me more than He loves other. As a result I am able show love to other. I love others not because of who they are or what they have done but simply because of God loves them. I hardly ever get angry at people because my God is never angry with me. And no matter what someone do to me I am able to show them love simply because God loves them.
Just recently a girl I love broke my heart and it took me only 24 hours to deal with the pain. God came and comfort me, He revealed to me more of Christ. I got so lost in the sight of my beauty Lord that I forget I was suffering from a broken heart. And when I see this girl I feel no hatred for her, I smile at her and try to show her God loves her but the guilt of what she had done won't let her respond positively to my good gesture.
There are times sorrow piece my heart then sudden Joy will just come from no where and flood my heart. My God always want me to be happy, He feels my sorrow and I feel His grievance.

God had use me to change the life of many I have come across. I know of people who have come to me and told me how they are so grateful to have met me. They told me how their lives have change since they know me. I feel like God speaks to the lives of people that almost everybody I met seem to be impacted through me. I feel so blessed to be a blessing to others.

Just November last year God showed me more about my future. And It's so wonderful that I am going to be a blessing to many more people.

What life can be better than a life the impact and change many lives. And everyday I enjoy the endless love of my God and Saviour Jesus. I couldn't have had a better life than this.

Bravo!

Now, this is just lovely!

It has prevented me from being a wild-eyed psychopathic crazed killer

crusadistic:
It has prevented me from being a wild-eyed psychopathic crazed killer

Unfortunately, Hitler didn't get the memo

crusadistic:
It has prevented me from being a wild-eyed psychopathic crazed killer

can you elucidate on this?

lips sealed... you seated here to mock.

sonofthunder:
lips sealed... you seated here to mock.

Let them burn.

hahn:
There is always so much war between atheists, christians and muslims on this forum. Everyone feels their belief is right while the other is wrong. However, I personally feel that irrespective of one's religion and the issues surrounding it there is usually a personal benefit that comes along with. This thread is to discuss only the POSITIVE sides of our beliefs or religion with the hope that this will aid us understand better what every religion/belief has to offer and therefore make us more lenient towards each other's beliefs.

I'll go first. I'd say I'm non-religious and still on and off on the existence of God and of his responsibility towards us. That's a topic for another day. However, since I stopped following religion I've realised that most of the challenges that I find myself facing are either as a result of my own decisions or actions and simply because there's no possibility of life being always sweet and not because of some witch or wizard or "bad belle" in my village or community who is trying as much as possible to bring me down. As a result, I'm more concious of my actions and the feeling of responsibilty has been greatly increased. I no longer feel enmity towards people because I now understand that generally people are selfish and in most cases think of only themselves which is natural. With this understanding, its easier for me to deal with people and protect my interests because I can understand that they are only fighting for their own interests.

Also, I'm able to love and feel empathic towards everyone because I don't belong to a religion and since I can't take sides with anyone I can relate with every being just because that person is a human being and not because of the person's religious affiliation, tribe, etc. Being free from religious barriers has also helped me to see beyond racial, tribalistic or idealistic perspectives and I now see people for what they really are.

Kindly share the benefits your religion has had in your life.

Thanks for the offer, HAHN, I will kindly share the benefits of religion.

I know you hate my "religion" which stems from the awe inspiring practical demonstrations of the Holy Gospels and the Book of Acts flowing out of the Holy Scoan Church lagos Nigeria. For your sake I will make share my experience indirectly and I sincerely hope enlightened reader on Nairaland will understand.

Firstly, I would like to question your statements above to obtain clarity as we move forward. All great religions with thousands of years experience can prove that the spirit world is very, very real on both sides, dark and light.

1) Can you explain [/b]why you foolishly choose to deny that "some witch or wizard or "bad belle" in my village" can harm you ?

2) [b]You say the following "generally people are selfish and in most cases think of only themselves which is natural." Again I wonder why you hate religious guidance when atheism has not helped you to understand that selfishness is not natural o.
The consequences of selfishness is terrible and you think it is natural.
All the religions, from Buddhism to Islam could have effectively removed this ignorance.

3) You go on to say, "With this understanding, its easier for me to deal with people and protect my interests because I can understand that they are only fighting for their own interests." Your statement reveal your belief that selfishness is natural. All religions that you despise would have taught you and demonstrated the fact that you must do unto other as you would have them do unto you.

In practice, it plays out like this; first protect the interests of others and you you will be protected. You you see why there is do much stress and misery in the world ?

4)Lastly, you say, " Being free from religious barriers has also helped me to see beyond racial, tribalistic or idealistic perspectives and I now see people for what they really are."
Here you are repeating what you have heard from others like you. You never had real experiences to backup what you are saying here.
All great religions have never created the barriers you imagine. You are not able to see people for what they are because you already started wrong when you say it is natural to be selfish when it really is UNNATURAL to be selfish. It is like saying it is natural to rape a woman. or it is natural to steal.

There you have it: [/b]I have indirectly shared with you my experience gained from religion.

Dont despair HAHN, there are many famous people that also rejected teachings that stood the test of time for untried, untested teachings or there defiance resulted from pride/ puffed up ideas of self. I have added a few examples below:

[b]Charles Darwin – The master of faking evolution theories for personal status. He lived the greatest portion of his life in deep mental depression, there is a history of mental illness in his family. He believed his dad had the power of prediction; He had an endless catalogue of psychosomatic illnesses and lived as a semi invalid barely past thirty.

Sigmund Freud – During his insanity, He believed women wanted sex with their fathers and womens stories of rape and molestation were fantasies. Instead of victims these women were the villains.( shocking)

Sigmund Freud was the founding father of psychoanalysis, a method for treating a mental illness and also a theory which explains human behaviour. Freud believed a female is a failed boy.
He was obsessed with the sexual conquest of his mother and rivalry with his dad. The desire to have sex with his mother and kill his father haunted his dreams. He believed women wanted sex with there fathers and stories of rape and molestation were fantasies. Instead of victims these women were villains.

Fredrick Nietzsche His writings have increased - not reduced - human despair, suffering and dissatisfaction. Millions have perished in agony in ugly and inhuman concentration camps.
In the second half of his life he suffered from psychiatric mental illness with depression and a definite psychological pattern of insanity is evident. They were men whose dominating, overbearing and even abusive fathers led them to rebellion and renunciations of God.Fredrick

Nietzsche said,” 'I call Christianity the one great curse, the one enormous and innermost perversion, the one great instinct of revenge, for which no means are too venomous, too underhand, too underground and too petty — I call it the one immortal blemish of mankind. ... The only excuse for God is that he doesn't exist.' Nietzsche also professed himself to be “a follower of Dionysus, the god of life’s exuberance”, and declared that he hoped Dionysus would replace Jesus as the primary cultural standard for future millennia. Nietzsche claimed that his recommended path would lead to good mental health, he spent the last ten years of his life suffering from serious mental illness from which he never recovered! Does this not suggest that the man himself did not know and understand the path to good mental health?
No excuses can be made for this apparently hate-filled and despicable gentleman who formulated a philosophy of hatred
These guys hated their fathers, these spiritual wounds festered a rebellion against a hostile father they identified with a hostile God. They made it their lives work to destroy the God who had come to symbolize their father.

Thomas Henry Huxley - Apostle of Darwinism. Thomas Henry Huxley will be remembered by the public merely as the athiest man who held that we were descended from the ape, or as the apostle of Darwinism, The Big Bang.
Agnosticism is the philosophical position that it is impossible to know about the nature or existence of God. The term “Agnostic” was coined in 1869 by Thomas H Huxley

His father died in an insane asylum. Huxley’s hatred of God was rooted in the fear that the insanity in his family was caused by unclean spirits.
He believed he had been poisoned by vapours from a dead body. After his only son dies of scarlet fever he detested God and believed that God was cruel, hostile, angry and indifferent to suffering.

These four prophets of atheism and many more all had powerful domineering fathers. They were fearful, weak, submissive kids. They all grew up with a history of mental diorders, headaches, depression , obsessive fears, extreme shyness, intestinal disorders, and made it there lives work to destroy God who had come to symbolize there fathers.

Josef Stalin an atheist : for thirty years, until his death in 1953, Josef Stalin was the mass-murdering atheist dictator of Soviet Russia.

He was also a fool.
Muggeridge had collaborated with Svetlana Stalin, Josef Stalin’s daughter, on a BBC documentary about her God-hating father. She recounted his last act of defiant rebellion against the Creator: “As Stalin lay dying, going insane, plagued with terrifying hallucinations, he suddenly sat halfway up in bed, clenched his fist toward the heavens once more, fell back upon his pillow, and was dead.”

“His one last gesture,” observed Zacharias, “was a clenched fist toward God, his heart as cold and hard as steel.”
In my experience it is something common among atheists: an inexplicable, incongruent and visceral hatred for the very God they imagine does not exist.

Mel Gibson an atheist, is another famous person whose name was dragged through the mud because of mental illness – the celebrated actor and director struggles with bipolar I disorder, previously known as manic-depressive disorder. The condition is characterized by episodes of extreme mania and even more extreme depression. In addition to the disorder, Gibson also had severe problems with alcohol and was arrested on DIU charges in 2006 (he also attacked the sheriff and made scandalous anti-Semitic comments).