How do I force myself to stop being a skeptic and to start embracing God and Islam? Why Islam? Because I want community, I want to belong to something, to have people be excited to find out that I'm one of them; I want culture, because I don't have any, because I'm just one of many white Canadians that doesn't have anything to identify to; and most of all I want something that will drive me, to be as righteous as I can, to get a job and start a family, guiding principals to live by. Is it so wrong to force yourself into a religion for these reasons? Is there something else I can do? Some book that can help me?
>>8223822
Embrace a form of Christianity that rejects Apostle Paul and you'll be the best person alive (except the tentmaker part)
Submission of your mind, body and soul
>>8223822
Why not be a Christian?
lol nerb
>>8223822
Assuming you aren't trolling, this will be an interesting discussion.
Personally I think the reason you can't find truth in Islam is because you are genetically predisposed not to. Your blood could be the blood of a skeptic and your mind can't fight back against it. Especially since you're a white Canadian. You can find community and purpose in the state, your town, your family, and I assure you that you have a culture lying deep within that you can't access through Islam.
You don't need to force yourself to be a Muslim to find a drive, morality, etc. Becoming a Muslim will make you ashamed of your humanity and non-Arabness (as it is meant for Arabs). You need to direct what little will you have left towards self-mastery by reading and lifting and whatnot - religion will not suffice, and I am no atheist. Self-control is what separates us from animals, and the herd focus of Islam brings you backwards rather than towards your destiny as a superior, flourishing human.a fucking leaf
>>8223822
> canadian
not surprised.
Canada has rich history that has been slowly eroded into a blank multiculturalism. When you cease to hold your own culture in the highest regard, people drift to those who do.
>>8223853
Christianaity (pre-paul) was about removing the barrier between God and man and finding the beauty of holiness and compassion for fellow man
Paul claimed to change completely, but he couldn't stop holding coats when it came to groups he disliked (slaves, gays, women)
>>8223853
Read the New Testament.
Christianity is a metaphysical religion and the relationship you have with Christ is emphasised diffrently by each denomination.
It is most important to first understand Christ. Everything else will follow.
>>8223861
interesting.
why did he dislike them?
>>8223866
not sure, but he is the one to explicitly state that slaves and women should be obedient and gays are abominable and whatnot which flies in the face of the veil being rent in twain in the first place (his real contribution is helping Peter realize that jews weren't special anymore)
>>8223822
Steer very, very far away from anything even remotely Fundamentalist.
The Imam at the mosque you go to mentions the name "Ibn Taymiyya" in a positive light. Fucking run.
Alternatively if you join the Shi'a side, never go to one that thinks Khomeini "had some good points". Just don't.
This will limit your options depending on where you live. But at least you'll be on the right side of the pan-sectarian culture war.
>>8223822
>>8223876
> Steer very, very far away from anything even remotely Fundamentalist.
Is there any sect of Islam that doesnt hole their prophet in the highest regard?
You have to remember that most Muslims believe that Muhammad was the perfect man and the perfect example of their faith.
Study the life of Muhammad and think if this is ther person upon whom you will base your life.
>>8223830
>>8223836
For a couple of reasons, actually: (1) I'm simply interested in the Middle East, the food, the clothing, history, etc., and (2) I feel like in general there are more Muslims that take their religion seriously than Christians do theirs. I know that's a generalization but if I were to join a religion I would want to do it more "by the book", and I would want my religious community to do the same, so basically I think I'm more prone to find conservative-minded people in the Muslim community.
>>8223852
I think that's true, nobody in my family is religious and even as a kid I thought it was insane to believe in a "man in the clouds", as I put it once while not wearing a fedora. Finding purpose in the state or my town would be nice, but it's hard to when I've never felt very patriotic or particularly proud of being Canadian, there's just nothing I can point to and say "that's uniquely mine". My heritage is Scottish but it has absolutely no bearing on my day-to-day life nor do I feel any "muh heritage" connection to Scotland, perhaps unfortunately.
I'll respond to everything else shortly.
>>8223892
>Most of these are Hadiths
Quranism is the only way.
>>8223917
You're not religious, you've never felt patriotic, and you're not proud of who you are.
Why the hell would you think Islam would help you? You're deficient of will, not faith. You should really get in touch with your Scottish blood and learn how great Scotland is. Listen to Scottish music, discover Scottish heroes. You will have a much better connection with that than anything else.
You need to create, not submit.
>>8223861
>Christ thought fornication, even if your thoughts, was repulsive, but he would have been fine with gay sex
>Christ did not have a single female Apostle out of twelve, or have a single female at the last supper, but he thought men and women had the same roles
>Christ said be meek and humble and turn the other cheek, but Paul is distorting this when he says slaves are to do the same
>>8223822
Don't give in to the spooks OP, learn to love yourself
>>8223981
That isnt love.
>>8223966
>singling out gay like Paul did, didn't change the perception that it was somehow more than fornication when it isn't
>Not employing females is equivalent to insisting that they're silent and unworthy to ask questions, especially considering his (christ's) treatment of women in the gospels
>he is definitely distorting it
>>8223988
Sure it is. How do you define love, and why is the self somehow exempt from it?
>>8223958
Nationalism is a 19th century meme, not sn actual need.
>>8223998
That is self gratification.
To love is to will the good of the other as other despite yourself.
>>8223999
As long as he creates, I don't care if he's a patriot. He needs to reclaim his manhood and pride in being alive and nationalism is one vehicle of that. I personally don't think Islam will give him that.
Ignatius Press Bible with annotations is the best in English, or so I'm told anyway.
What are you smoking, Canada has a wonderful culture.
You just refuse to see it, or presume it's just stolen from the US.
>>8223892
Defending Christianity is a pain because the average person making an argument against it lacks even rudimentary knowledge of scripture (and is probably a literalist as well), won't understand the mysticism required for much of the arguments, and have been taught since birth that, somehow, faith in every form is negative.
So for every even modern-loved positive in the New Testament, the Millennial will pull out a 'conservative' negative in the Old Testament without understanding the distinction between the Father and the Son; and confusing Jews with Christians -- you know.
It's not even worth doing it on /lit/.
>>8223917
Canada is a humble nation full of kind people who enjoy hockey, nature, and Tim Horton's. That's definitely an identity you could assume.
>>8224002
Sure it's self gratification. What isn't? We're both posting now purely for the purpose of self-gratification. There isn't anything wrong with that. And what is love other than an affection and a caring for someone? Keep in mind that those two things come hand in hand. People need a reason to care for other people, even if that person is themselves. When you're ultimately indifferent or even loathing to yourself, you have no reason to take care of yourself other than for amusement, and because of that you get very little satisfaction out of life (or at least that satisfaction is very stunted). Indeed, that's the reason why so many people gravitate toward things like "a common culture" or "a higher purpose", because they won't allow themselves any self-indulgent pleasure. So what's ultimately wrong with loving yourself, and why not call it love?
>>8224009
>muh manhood
Fucking slugwizards I swear
>>8224025
I believe in a love that is not selfish.
>>8224030
>slugwizard
u wot
Men should be men because otherwise they're out of touch with their own essence. It's a surefire path to unhappiness. Past societies forced boys into the path to becoming men, now you can be whatever you want.
>>8224033
Not the guy you're talking to but all love is selfish.
>>8224033
It's a romantic idea, I suppose. It's your choice to be drawn to it.
>>8223892
He fought against people who fought him, executed people for treason, enslaved his enemies who tried to kill those he loved, and consummated his marriage with his arranged wife after she hit puberty. As all societies did before recently.
Morally grey at worst.
As long as the sects/movements don't think of him the way you do, theres no problem in revering him at all.
>>8224048
There were two incidents where terrorist groups took over a school. They took down their captives trousers to see if they had started puberty and beheaded them. They did this because it was seen as a wise act by their prophet. It is a religion where conflict is ingrained into its very essence.
Revered figures from history are morally grey, but you dont find people worried that they dont go to the bathroom the same way they did.
>>8223822
cowboy the fuckup and read the holy bible im on pg 212 noob git gud
>>8224077
It doesn't get good for another 500 pages.
Why are you forcing yourself to believe a fairy tale, you dumb shit? Not even trying to sound like a fedora clad cunt but seriously why? If you don't believe that drivel then so be it.
>>8224009
Nationalism is a stupid thing to take pride in as the person was not involved. Manhood is about pride in your own actions and deeds, not those of others.
Anyone that cites nationalism is a retard and should have all of their blood punched from their body.
>>8223822
Why would you want to be a terrorist?
>>8223990
>singling out gay like Paul did, didn't change the perception that it was somehow more than fornication when it isn't
Yes, yes it was. Paul was not talking to Jews, he was talking to pagans, who partook of little slave boys in brothels. You clearly have not clue was homosexuality was in the Roman Empire, it wasn't two gentle men in a loving relationship, that was considered demeaning.
>Not employing females is equivalent to insisting that they're silent and unworthy to ask questions, especially considering his (christ's) treatment of women in the gospels
He said they shouldn't teach (as in be bishops or priests), and that they shouldn't be chit-chatting during church (a problem that is still an issue in Orthodox Churches, considering the service lasts a lot longer and in many parishes you have to be standing for the whole thing, all this is more like original Christian worship).
>he is definitely distorting it
No he isn't. Paul was very close to Peter (who was illiterate, but dictated the basis of the Gospel of Mark) and was instructed personally by him, he knows what he's talking about. Christ said we should all be slaves to each other (but foremost to God). Christ was not trying for a political revolution--that doesn't mean he thought we should keep slaves, but he didn't support keeping any property for oneself.
>>8223822
>canadian
>wants to become a muslim
why am I not surprised at all
>>8223822
>I'm just one of many white Canadians that doesn't have anything to identify to
Cucks not welcome, become a faggy Buddhist or something.
>>8223822
Read Edward Fesers work the last supersition for a full refutation of Atheism being irrational and bunk
>>8224121
>it wasn't two gentle men in a loving relationship, that was considered demeaning.
desu it still is today and that doesn't stop it from happening all the time
I can't see why it would be different in 100-300 CE
>>8224033
How is that the case? Pic related
>>8223822
Allah is merciful to those who fear him. Do not force yourself, simply read, maybe attend a mosque, those who wish to learn of Allah will be embraced with open arms.
>>8224173
>desu it still is today and that doesn't stop it from happening all the time
They have legalized gay marriage today, they sure wouldn't in the Roman Empire. They have made boy slaves for prostitution illegal today, it sure wasn't in the Roman Empire.
>>8224180
Holy fuck*ng crap is this what philosophy is like?! I don't understand it but yet it sounds pretty and I want to hear more.
>>8224195
Anyway, all this is pointless: Paul most certainly does not go "easy" on fornication but give homosexuality a hard time. He's very explicit about condemning fornication in general.
>>8224171
That's his worst work desu, all his other ones are far better.
I also wonder if he knows that he became the go to Catholic author for philosophy on 4chan.
>>8224197
That's Max Stirner, moral nihilist and egoist.
>>8224197
Stirner is not just popular here because of the memes.
>I want to hear more.
Try this short lecture then https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvsoVgc5rGs
>>8224201
>That's his worst work desu, all his other ones are far better.
Different horses for different courses his other works whilst more scholarly would be terrible introductions to the area and this issue.
>>8223822
>it's a first world is very cold hearted so I join abarahamic religions edition
>>8224033
That does not exist. For love to not be selfish, you would have to love someone unconditionally. You would have to love someone without that person giving you anything of value in return. I don't mean like that person giving you sex, but something of substance that gives you happiness. How can you expect someone to love you back if they have no selfish interest in you? And how could you do the same? A love that is not selfish is worthless. You must have a hierarchy of values in which you place the thing you love above all others for it to become meaningful. Without selfishness, you have no hierarchy in which to set your love above other values.
>inb4 family love
That is also selfish.
>>8224180
>I love every one
If you love everyone, then you love no one.
Fucking Stirner.
>>8224210
Its surprisingly popular here
>>8224195
So was Paul against fucking underage prostitutes or against gayness in general?
You seem to be equivocating the two.
I don't know why I talk to the zealot christian trip fag on 4chan. I thought you mostly shit up /his/ now anyway.
>>8224211
>If you love everyone, then you love no one.
How so?
You can't force yourself to believe for the sake of identity, that is a slight to both yourself and the religion. A religion should only, and only truly, be believed when you without hesitation and doubt believe fully in the faith, whatever it is. Anything else is a mere lie to yourself for the sake of something to believe in, a half-assed posturing for aesthetics rather than a true belief.
>>8224211
>If you love everyone, then you love no one.
Not really loving people doesn't logically require an excluded group of people.
>>8224218
>I don't know why I talk to the zealot christian trip fag on 4chan
Because constantine although intellectually dishonest in his dealings here is nevertheless very very well read and can make engaging posts as a result.
Just be glad hes only going on about biblical interpretation and not the evils of anime and how all people should spend thier time anxiously praying for forgiveness in the presences of special pictures/
>I thought you mostly shit up /his/ now anyway
As posting on 4chan is his form of acceptable evangelising he posts on all manner of boards.
>>8224217
Of course it is
That's the price for trying to externimante traditonalism
>>8224219
Have you tried loving everyone equally? It's like dropping a drop of color in an ocean. You can only love people in separate standards within a hierarchy.
>>8224225
Then it's simply disingenuous and deludes the sentiment of love. To love is to value. You cannot value people you do not know or care about. Saying you love people simply because they exist, again, devalues the worth of loving someone.
>>8224234
>You cannot value people you do not know
Source?
>>8224234
>Then it's simply disingenuous and deludes the sentiment of love. To love is to value.
Well then simply not loving ideas or objects would fulfill you criteria. Even then the mere possibility of not being able to love a person also keeps it consistent.
>Saying you love people simply because they exist, again, devalues the worth of loving someone.
Nice, you base your view of loving all means loving none on the mere fact you feel that loving all "devalues" love as if scarcity is a requirement of its existence.
>>8224240
Do you value me?
The only merit of value is what I can provide to you, be it in something funny or entertaining, teaching you something you didn't know, or random enjoyment.
If a person cannot provide this, then what value are they to you? If a person text with the the message ''hi'', what value does that person have to you?
Would you love a person who sent you that message?
>>8224234
Avataring is against the rules.
>>8224244
>Well then simply not loving ideas or objects would fulfill you criteria. Even then the mere possibility of not being able to love a person also keeps it consistent.
You cannot value negatives. You can only criticize the lack of values.
>you base your view of loving all means loving none on the mere fact you feel that loving all "devalues" love as if scarcity is a requirement of its existence.
It's not about its scarcity, but its proximity, connection and value to you. Would you love the love of your life the same way you would for the billion of people in China?
>>8224245
I value humanity as literally part of my family (not that there needs to be an objective or rational reason to value something).
>According to the genetic bottleneck theory, between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago, human populations sharply decreased to 3,000–10,000 surviving individuals.[36][37] It is supported by genetic evidence suggesting that today's humans are descended from a very small population of between 1,000 and 10,000 breeding pairs that existed about 70,000 years ago.
>>8223822
>wanting to follow the religion of a illiterate and murderous pedophile
>>8224255
Humanity is not your family, no matter if you delude yourself into thinking that. You do not care about every single person as it is impossible to do so.
>>8224260
>Humanity is not your family, no matter if you delude yourself into thinking that.
You are literally my distant cousin.
![18774981[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/g69NtDt.jpg "18774981[1].jpg")
>>8223822
read this
>>8224263
And how does that affect your life? Or mine?
It does not, therefore it is irrelevant.
>>8224268
It does affect my life, it may not effect yours.
Read Sun and Steel
>>8224273
You have not explained how me being a distant cousin affects your life. How does my life, someone you don't know or will ever meet, affect yours?
>>8224206
I guess, but Aquinas is also pretty solid introductory material.
>>8224218
Paul was against all fornication and whoremondering, period, he makes that abundantly clear.
>Being religious in 2016
>>8224218
>So was Paul against fucking underage prostitutes or against gayness in general?
Sodomy in general. Gayness is a concept completely irrelevant to the Christian faith.
It's contrary to the natural law so it doesn't even have to be biblical to be unchristian.
>You seem to be equivocating the two.
For Paul they were similar enough.
>I don't know why I talk to the zealot christian trip fag on 4chan.
You are a progressive who can't understand how the pussy image Christ is portrayed like in the media is not what he actually is and that Paul only expanded on what was already there?
Or just a general interest in the subject?
>>8224300
>being a dumb grinchposter in 2016
>>8224312
Give me sufficient proof, empirical or logical, for the validity of your doctrine, and I'll join your denomination tomorrow.
Islam is a dying religion OP. Many young Muslims who are the first generation to have free access to learning resources outside of the mosque are realizing what an aberration Islam is compared to all other modern religions. Just become an Episocopalian, it's the most rational form of Christianity today.
The man that takes up religion for the world will throw away religion for the world.
>>8224320
now that's some gay shit right there and i bet you even felt smart about that
>>8224300
>It's the current year, I mean come on!
How about you go back to prepping your bull, anon?
>>8224313
>proof
Neither apply to the transcendental.
>>8224325
>Nigel Farage
>Alt-Right lingo
>Defending religion
Holy fuck, consider suicide.
>>8224300
>>8224313
>>8224330
upvoted
>>8224329
Got any other catchphrases from tumblr?
>kill urself for having the wrong opinion!
>Current year!
Let's see, are you going to call me Xphobic next? Shitlord or pissbaby maybe?
>>8224335
good job saving that image buddy
>>8224313
There's a meme in society of some kind of entrepreneurial post-capitalist industrial-scientific "productivity" thing, and they are expressing the meme because they are demi-conscious memebuoys floating on a slurry sea of currents you can only see if you zoom out
It's exhausting even trying to give an answer to this question. You need to like phenomenologically bracket every single word and write a book explaining that they aren't even people. They aren't even conscious. They aren't even having "opinions". STEM people are like robots with human skin stretched over them. To say "they are dismissive of the humanities" is implicitly to admit I think there's a "they". STEM people don't even fucking exist. They are a statistical gaseous nebula of random particles wafting across continents and periodically expressing junk they picked up along the way. Why would you even talk to them?
Talking to a STEMfag is literally like being some kind of Buddha, ascending reality, then coming back down and talking to bees who were dudes in past lives. I'm sure these bee niggas can be saved or whatever, but let's just wait until they're back in human form. Don't walk around going "BEES, STOP BUZZING, PUT DOWN THAT POLLEN, LISTEN TO ME ABOUT HOW EVERY CONCEPTUAL CATEGORY YOU HAVE FOR EVEN THINKING OF THINGS WAS SHAPED FOR YOU BY AN UNCONSCIOUS SLUDGE OF MEMETIC POLYALLOY THAT FLOWS IN PREDICTABLE CURRENTS FROM YEAR TO YEAR THROUGH THE HIVE IN WHICH YOU WERE CONCEIVED"
>>8224323
Unlike atheists I don't feel any sort of need of being superior or smug. I simply think that is the truth.
>>8224334
No you absolute faggot, I'm as anti-SJW as you are.
>>8224342
most pathetic post of the day
>>8224336
Aww, dang, I thought I had a coherent argument but now that I realize my image saving abilities subpar, I concede.
>>8224346
projection.jpg
I know application of logic is a foreign concept to you, anon.
>>8224252
>You cannot value negatives. You can only criticize the lack of values.
And this lack is manifested by comparision to objects as well a the ability for it to be withdrawn.
>It's not about its scarcity, but its proximity, connection and value to you.
This is a separate point to the one you raised which was loving all literally means loving none.
Now you are saying that you can only love all if you have sufficent proximity and value.
"Would you love the love of your life the same way you would for the billion of people in China?"
>Would you value a lump of coal the same as a lump of gold bullion? Ha value doesnt exist!!
>>8224268
>And how does that affect your life? Or mine?
Probably creates a greater and more general level of empathy, sympathy - gives a person an greater will to act for the future and others. Others benifit from this impulse.
>>8224363
Can't I just get a summary?
>>8224368
The book is a summary. It might surprise you but the existence and logical necessity of God is not something that can be condensed into a few sentences when you are unfamiliar with its axioms.
>>8224302
I'm not a progressive. Would I fuck a qt twink. . .yeah I would but so would Ernst Rohm. I don't want to remove all the kebab and day of the rope all the sjws and lose all my traps and twinks as well.
I'm interested in how you know so much about Jesus considering that we don't have any information about him except for some stories written by cultists hundreds of years later. Honestly, tell me why he wasn't a "pussy"
>>8224372
Surely the book is not just one long string of logical conclusions, come on, anon, I'm dying for some proof here. Can't you atleast try to explain why this lolwly heathen is wrong?
>>8224374
The gospels were written between 20-80 years after his death.
The information about him is more or less as good as they come for similar personas of the time (such as Socrates).
We don't need any more information about him because for all intents and purposes he was what he is in the stories.
>>8224404
20 to 80 years is a long time. People forget details, words. Have you ever heard your grandparents argue about details of events that happened in their youth? Why wait anyway?
Nobody attributes attitudes or actions to Socrates. He's just a character in Plato's dialogues. It seems like he was a real person, but we don't know a lot about him. It doesn't really matter because Plato's philosophy was secular/ecumenical enough not to cause any religious controversy. He wasn't a cult leader who inspired billions, he was a philosopher. Both kebabs and Christians read Plato.
>We don't need any more information about him because for all intents and purposes he was what he is in the stories.
A miracle worker? Do you believe in miracles?
Hey there OP, let me give you the perspective of someone who was raised Muslim, left to explore other religions, came back to Islam and then ultimately left again.
I'm someone who was raised Muslim. I was in a unique situation to where my parents weren't constantly super strict on the Islam thing, but they had many phases when they became increasingly strict.
In high school I basically removed myself from Islam and decided to look at a variety of religions from an unbiased perspective, without even following Islam. This lead me to learn a lot about Islam that a lot of people and even a lot of Muslims didn't know. Actually after my search the two schools of thinking I ended up respecting the most were Islam and eastern spirituality such as Zen. I became Muslim again, for a few years at least.
While I have a lot of respect for Islam, I am ultimately not a Muslim anymore. Feel free to ask any questions you'd like and i'll be happy to answer them.
>I'm just one of many white Canadians that doesn't have anything to identify to; and most of all I want something that will drive me, to be as righteous as I can, to get a job and start a family, guiding principals to live by. Is it so wrong to force yourself into a religion for these reasons?
The key word here is force. It looks like you just want something to keep you grounded in your life. The reason people go with Islam is because they BELIEVE in Islam. Why do you think you need religion for that?
>>8223822
>white Canadian
>wants to be Muslim
Even if its not an Arab religion based on the texts, it's very much an Arab religion and a lot of Muslims are more racist than you expect about non-Arabs coming in. (Persians are more racist, which is why they have their own special Islam)
They barely tolerate all of the Muslim Asians and Africans.
>>8224381
>Surely the book is not just one long string of logical conclusions,
For the most part it is however a good deal of it is dedicated to demonstrating the validity of Aristotelian metaphysics over natrualist metaphysics which underpins our current and flawed system. It then demonstrates the validity of the cosmological arguments.
>Can't you atleast try to explain why this lolwly heathen is wrong?
Cut the side false modesty, and just buy or borrow the book it can explain this in far greater detail and clarity.
>>8223822
>submit to Islam
>>8224081
no problemo
>>8223822
Just remember that you'll join some ethnoreligious community where you will be seen as a stranger and some sort of lesser believer.
Islam is not a religion to comfortably enter and take part in, it's an ever going struggle and has the most troubled history of any major religion. You may have theological qualms with other religions but these are less important than the day to day interactions and lifestyle choices you'll be making with your choice.
>>8224234
>Have you tried loving everyone equally? It's like dropping a drop of color in an ocean. You can only love people in separate standards within a hierarchy.
Loving everyone does not mean loving everyone equally you dingus. You can have a deep seated empathy for all living beings and still hate your neighbour. Randfag get out.
>>8224266
>Sam Harris
>>8223892
>was celibate
questionable
>>8223855
>few hundred year old French hypothermia penal colony
>rich history
>>8223822
>I want, I want, I want
>me, me, me
I think you have a few other things to work on before joining a sect, m8.
Create a cultural enviroment for yourself instead of accepting the idea that white=no culture.
I'd suggest to start with family, but I have a feeling that you are too far gone to have any hope of redemption.
>>8223866
Perhaps because he was raised in Roman culture? You know, the old master values against slave values.
>>8223861
>Ludwig Wittgenstein described the following differences between Paulinism and Jesuism:
>The spring which flows quietly and transparently through the Gospels seems to have foam on it in Paul’s Epistles. Or, that is how it seems to me. Perhaps it is just my own impurity which sees cloudiness in it; for why shouldn’t this impurity be able to pollute what is clear? But to me it’s as if I saw human passion here, something like pride or anger, which does not agree with the humility of the Gospels. As if there were here an emphasis on his own person, and even as a religious act, which is foreign to the Gospel.
>In the Gospels – so it seems to me – everything is less pretentious, humbler, simpler. There are huts; with Paul a church. There all men are equal and God himself is a man; with Paul there is already something like a hierarchy; honours and offices.
>>8224767
You just contradicted yourself in the same sentence. You can't love everyone yet also hate your neighbor.
I wouldn't want to become a Muslim but as a directionless young white american man I feel very similarly
It might be nothing more than anxious hormones, but deep down all I want is something to believe in wholeheartedly and devote my life to, to eventually die for. I look for it every day.
Maybe it's a religion, but I can't bring myself to believe. Maybe it's an ideology, but I can't find one without glaring flaws led by stupid mouthpieces. Maybe it's a culture, but the only one I belong to seems largely manufactured and to have lost its meaning. Maybe it's art, but I seem to be devoid of talent or anything truly unique.
So, on a daily basis, I read and look desperately for the Something and cover myself in irony to hide the fact that I have no strong feelings about anything whatsoever.
>>8226000
Dedicate yourself to hatred of evil, that's what I did.
Handily, evil includes the gods of all major religions. So instead of ever wanting to join the religious, you can forget about them as evil-worshiping scum with zero rights.
>>8225862
>You can't love everyone yet also hate your neighbor.
That presumes that love and hatred are fundamentally opposed concepts. Which they aren't.
I think that if you go through the routine enough times, and have a community around you, a concept of God you can embrace will emerge. What the fuck do I know though, I've never done anything like that, just seems logical.
>>8223822
If you think white Canadians have less of a culture than muslims then you're a retard and deserve whatever suicide bombing mission your new friends send you on.
>>8226295
Please tell me about the current culture of white Canadians, nlt including the Quebecois.
>>8226295
Still waiting.
>>8223822
30 percent of Muslims can't read or write and 99 percent blindly follow what the imams of the day say.Which is why Islam and the "history" and "politics" it teaches completly changes depending on the year. Enjoy your retarded cult filled with low iq disgusting human beings . The Quran itself is flawed with major historical mistakes. For example, it says Mary the mother of Jesus is the same person as Mary the sister to Moses..... even though they lived thousands of years apart.
>>8223822
How about you stop being a cynical faggot that is autistic enough to point out everything you perceive is wrong, and just go join the community. You don't have to be a fundamentalist to be part of a religious community.
You might have to have faith, to a certain degree, to actually derive pleasure or 'spiritual fulfillment,' but what you seek is simply a longstanding culture and community. All you have to do is go, meet people, do what they do, and not sperg out for people doing things that you don't like.
Seems like you want the values of religion, and you can use a religious community to drive you to live by those values, by making yourself desire to follow them to find a sense of belonging.
