Would you survive without religion?

@gicolet (1702)
United States
April 27, 2009 1:21pm CST
Philippines is a Catholic country and a lot of Filipinos are very religious. I personally think that if a Filipino has no religion at all he or she would somewhat feel like an outcast and would be thought of as "weird". Do you think that you would socially survive without religion? I know some Filipinos who are proud of being Christians but are doing something that is considered "not good" at all...like major gossiping. I mean why do that? That's total hypocrisy! Is it some kind of break being given to oneself to also be able to survive socially? So is it like Filipinos can't survive with or without religion? Why can't we just be true to ourselves, do what is right, and not hide behind religion?
2 people like this
6 responses
@edujccz (929)
• Philippines
28 Apr 09
What you are talking about is being hypocrite yourself, hiding from your true color, creating gossip such as this to build hate, why dont you see yourself in the mirror and not looking at the fault of others, this is what you call "not good "at all while you yourself is doing it. To me as a filifino, I proud of my culture for you cannot change history, be proud of who you are and what you are. Even americans have done mistakes, see you are suffering in crisis now, is that because of having no religion? I doubt if you are an american yourself, we have a saying" a fly on top of a carabao sees himself biger than the carabao. wake up will you? Thanks anyway.
1 person likes this
@gicolet (1702)
• United States
28 Apr 09
What are you talking about? You are totally missing my point. I think I hit a nerve in you by taking this personally which is childish. You sound defensive of something you can't even elaborate. I could care less about your stupid saying regarding carabao and fly. You're a total cry baby who is guilty of hypocrisy as far as this topic is concerned. I used to be catholic and religious and I quit being and doing so cause of the hypocrisy I have seen around me back then and guess what? I am surviving to this day because I'm not hiding behind some religion and you know what? You still are and that's pathetic! Attack the topic and don't attack me for addressing what is true. That's what grown ups usually do.
1 person likes this
@edujccz (929)
• Philippines
29 Apr 09
LOL, Thank you for your compliment, I am a hypocrite a pathetic cry baby whatever. But you dont realize this is gossip what you are doing, you call this social gossip, but still a gossip, you are telling the whole world that some filipinoes are gossiper, dont tell me we are the only gossiper, come on , all types of people gossip, it was you who have been hit coz you throw back words,real grown ups stay calm and keep quiet. Your topic is insinuating that filipinoes without religion will not socially survive and they are being look upon as weird, thats how pathetic you knew people are, we dont care about peoples belief, we respect each other no matter if they have or they have none. I am a filipino and i'm not ashame of it but you, you are hiding to be one , you call that true to self, LOL.
@gicolet (1702)
• United States
29 Apr 09
Wow I just realized that you don't know how to read and I am now LMAO. I was NOT generalizing the religious Filipinos. I said "I know some Filipino Christians who does major gossiping". It's a FACT based on my own experience. A fact is not a gossip if you have a big enough of a brain to tell the difference. It's the same as posting current factual news on Mylot and people tell their personal opinion about it. Read again my post or don't even bother if you don't know how to focus and understand it. Look at the other comments below yours. You were the ONLY ONE who did not understand my topic and who responded defensively. That's just tell you how WRONG you are. Shame, shame, shame on YOU who was trying to be a smart a**! Uh-oh, let me guess....you will be TOO PROUD to admit your mistake. Oooh...how embarrassing to admit your mistake isn't it? LOL How typical of a silly Filipino pride. It's NOT my fault if you did not get the meaning of my post and attacking me personally about it is so not fair but you know what? if you're up to it then heck I dare you to. Go ahead and attack me again you silly annoying fly. LOL
@zedlav23 (458)
• Philippines
28 Apr 09
I personally believe that religion is one of the most misunderstood concept. I believe that it is not religion that fulfills the social side of man, but it's the natural side of man that directs him to look for a religion where he can render his respect and reverence of a recognized being who is in control of everything. Christianity and Christians for that matter is such an object of scrutiny most of the time. And I must say that being a Christian is not a guarantee that the person will no longer commit sin. People must realized that real Christians are still in the flesh that is corrupted and filled with sin. Christians can strive to live like Jesus Christ but they will still have to struggle and fight the flesh that will make them sin. And true enough, Philippines is a catholic country not a Christian country. Because catholicism is a pagan religion not Christian.
@gicolet (1702)
• United States
28 Apr 09
You've got a point there that didn't cross my mind before. I sure hope other Filipinos view Christianity the way you do and that is to not consider it as some kind of organization where one simply want to belong to but rather something to express respect and recognition of God. You're right. I used to be surrounded by Christians in an office and they were very nice people. However there was this particular woman who made me feel bad about not acting like a Christian. I was just being true to myself and I know I'm not perfect like the rest of all humanity but she critisized me big time about my promotion and I realized later on that she wanted it herself cause she worked in that office longer than I have...and that's why she was acting so hostile on me? I thought that was pretty childish and unfair. Every single day she uttered the name of the Lord, my Lord, her Lord...praise the Lord and all the while she was doing something Christianly wrong! I mean why in God's green earth would she do things like that when she could just let go and be a bad girl for a while without using the name of the Lord every single day? Such people give Christianity a bad name. That's how I see it. Thanks so much for your response.
@zedlav23 (458)
• Philippines
28 Apr 09
Honestly, I would feel the same doubt if that person is indeed living up to her faith as a Christian. And that is very a natural reaction. But of course, we cannot judge her Christianity just based on that. I believe the better attitude is to bring in some psywar. Why not show her how she should act, then maybe, just maybe, she can get her act up and have the strength to apologize.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
28 Apr 09
I think if your parents were not very much religious I think you would survive. It totally depends on how you as a child were trained to be. I know families in here that were not as religious as they were not as pious as they were. They are not outcasts at all in society because there are people like that and they live as normally as they can. I think nowadays society has already tolerated this kind of families unlike before that they are considered an outcast.
@gicolet (1702)
• United States
28 Apr 09
That is true. My father is never religious and my mom was very religious (She passed away over 7 yrs ago). My father and our whole family used to go to church despite the fact that only my mom was so into it. I do not criticize religions but question how some religious people do not take it seriously by gossiping and making other people look bad to save their careers and social status. Whenever my dad was asked back then about his religion he would go "I'm not a religious fanatic" which at first I didn't understand myself but now I do. I think other people thought of him as strange for not regularly going to the church but you know what? I don't blame him. I've seen people back then in the church who were not really paying attention to what the priest was saying but instead looking around to see if their friends were around. Thanks for your honest response.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
4 May 09
I have been without faith before, and I do not really like to recall those times in my life. However, even through those times deep down I knew I was christian through and through. I am learning more and more each day, things I didn't bother asking, or wasn't sure whether I should ask, I am now learning. Religion isn't something one should hide behind, but it is something one should cherish and trust in if one does in fact believe in god, or gods, or however they may believe. Being a hypocrite isn't right, I'm learning to be a more positive christian every day.
@SeishiroX (1093)
• Philippines
28 Apr 09
That is something that I am increasingly frustrated about here in our country. We freethinkers often face the stigma of being labeled as "heretics" and "atheists" because we think differently from them when it comes to religion. I myself have had such extensive experience with that, to the extent that I've gotten used to the stigma and simply laugh at it. Philippines is still in its own Middle Ages, that I can say. Cheers~
@gicolet (1702)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Yes i think you're right. I don't know why religious people would think of non-religious ones as atheist just because they are not religious. I still believe in God but that doesn't mean I have to be so religious to "show it" and be part of the majority in society. Thanks for your honest response.
• Philippines
29 Apr 09
I think thinking differently from the Flock will make you an outcast, but thinking over such matters is not a call for concern. There are people who are despite being extremely religious, are open-minded and tolerant of other people's beliefs or religion. I, for one, am an atheist. My family knows I'm one, some of my friend know and I don't experience any form of discrimination from them. I get along with society pretty well, and I'm not yet arrested for being an atheist ahaha! This proves that people really don't need a religion in order to be accepted by society. Non-religious people are not scum of society, and in fact they are as efficient as many believers are.
@gicolet (1702)
• United States
29 Apr 09
Good for you. People should respect you for what you believe in. It's really not fair if people criticize others just because they don't agree with their own beliefs. My father and one of my brothers do not have a religion and they don't care themselves so why would others do, right? If they are not accepted by society then so be it. Thanks for your honest response.