Exactly how I feel, my dad said he thanks god for keeping him alive in the time he didn't want to anymore....I told him bull, YOU are the one that DIDN'T pull the trigger not him!

Exactly. While I respect others' beliefs systems and what not... this just irks me.

It makes my parents mad when I say I'm agnostic, but I told them I'll respect their beliefs if they respect mine. The only time I usually get mad is when I'm at my uncles house and they ALWAYS say grace before they eat and I HAVE to join them, I told them I'm not religious but evidently when I'm at their house I have no choice, so simply....I don't go there anymore X'D

Eh, the grace thing is weird for me. I do like to say thanks, but not to any fully established or known 'God'. I just thank the Earth for making it possible to grow/kill/cook/eat the food we have. But that's mean that we, as people, didn't go out and get it ourselves. Yanno?

But that doesn't mean*

That's the thing, we are the ones doing the things we need to do to keep everyone in the world alive, we are all taking care for each other like we should do. Now if there wasn't money involved -_-'

I'd like it if money weren't involved. It's one of the reason why I'm hoping for a Government/Civilian/Zombie apocalypse. It'll clear the world of all material things and it really will go back to US doing what WE need to do in order OURSELVES alive.

I would hope it wouldn't be a zombie apocalypse, that would be the worst case scenario, would be fun a little, but bad @_@' Money should have just NOT been invented, they did it to keep the people below the government and some other things, can't remember entirely.

Yeah, money isn't really my favorite thing. And I'm not just saying that because I'm currently almost poor xD

I like having money and I would LOVE to do things and have money to buy games, a car, a computer, more computer games, recording device for my ps3, a laptop as well, maybe a electric guitar, some bass boosters, GREAT LONG LASTING headphones (most of the ones I get break within a month), and a ticket to Germany...and probably donate/help people out here on FA. :P BUT sadly money is the number one thing to have if you want to do/get anything. What would you do/get if you had money?

Why can't these particular people take a step back from what I have taken to calling a 'celestial delusion' and give /themselves/ the credit they deserve?

Best part of your journal and so true.

Cheers~ :3

They are not saying believe in yourself as if YOU are God, but believe in yourself as in have some self confidence. That is all. They are trying to encourage you to not doubt yourself. Nothing more.

I myself am a Christian. NO I am not a "religious" person as many would define it. I simply believe that Christianity got it right. And NO I do NOT believe in ANYTHING the Catholic "church" says because the two are not the same. I state this fact only to remove misinformation or confusion about what I am or what I stand for.

And no I am not one of those over zealous nut bars that screams at people telling them they are going to hell. That would be stupid of me.

Okay... given the perceived attitude of your response, I'm pretty sure you either read my journal wrong, or just decided to give it your own meaning and roll with that.

"They are not saying believe in yourself as if YOU are God, but believe in yourself as in have some self confidence. That is all. They are trying to encourage you to not doubt yourself. Nothing more."

If they are saying to believe in yourself/have self confidence why, then, do these certain people I've come across and see on a passing basis then turn to whatever celestial being they may possibly believe in give him/it/her all the thanks for coming to whatever success they achieve? Doing that, after telling someone else to have self confidence, or believe in themselves, or whatever the hell else they may say along those lines, is utterly hypocritical. I don't care what anyone believes in, your actions are your own. YOU, THEY, THEM, the tangible PEOPLE, the HUMAN BEINGS, the ANIMALS are to thanks for whatever achievements they make. Whether or not they sit there and prey for the help, it was still them who decided to prey, no? It was still them who decided to get the help they needed, be it from a therapist, or a teacher, or their parents or even some form of celestial being. It was THEM who took those steps, not some intangible thing floating about the skies pushing them along with a shuffle board pole. Every step you take, even it's finding faith in your hard time, are steps that YOU took, not some other higher power.

"I myself am a Christian. NO I am not a "religious" person as many would define it. I simply believe that Christianity got it right. And NO I do NOT believe in ANYTHING the Catholic "church" says because the two are not the same. I state this fact only to remove misinformation or confusion about what I am or what I stand for.

And no I am not one of those over zealous nut bars that screams at people telling them they are going to hell. That would be stupid of me."

The above blurbs from your comment were unneeded. Why? Because quite frankly, I don't care what or who you believe or what sect of whatever religion you're a part of. As long as you don't shove it down my throat.

I did not choose to be born into this world. So I thank my God for the life I have and the air I breath. These are tangible things I choose to use and yet have no control over.

Yes, the accomplishments we make are our own. I look at it this way. I accomplish things yes, and those people who thank God for every tiny little thing are a tad over bearing on that account yes but, it is like saying thank you to your Mom and Dad for lending you the car so you can drive to that job interview you just aced.

YOU drove there. YOU applied for it. YOU got there on time. YOU went in and interviewed. YOU aced the interview. YOU are going to be working there. YOUR PARENTS still own the car.

God is Mommy and Daddy and he owns the car. We are just driving it.

YOU are the ruler of this universe, but it still belongs to God.

So yes your accomplishments are your own but, it is still polite at least to say thanks for the opportunity and the tools to be ABLE to accomplish.

So YES those that give ALL their thanks to God are not really wrong necessarily, they are just not looking at the entire picture. Maybe call it being a tad over polite so to speak. It says in the Bible "give thanks to God in all that you do"; giving thanks to the one who made you is like thanking Mom and Dad for giving you the keys to the Mercedes so you look really awesome for your interview.

And yes my other comments were unnecessary but; I have been in many a theological discussion and it usually goes down that similar path, so I figured I would just go ahead and clear some stuff up. But yeah, you can disregard it then.

And please rest assure that I will NEVER try to shove my beliefs down your throat.

However, when you put a thread on the net like this...

... it is going to get comments from peoples of ALL walks of life. Including the religious nut job a-holes who DO try to push push push.