How much time do you spend a week (Religious)?

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Winston
Well I don't believe in exercise. It's just an age old figment of some crazy person's imagination.

You are taking my statement, and comparing two unlike things. Religion is not in any way exercise. It is just mind wasting.

[Winston]

Yes, it was a terrible thing to do. I feel like a criminal now.

[Az]

I'm not going to study a book (the bible) that condemns me. It is not of particular significant to me. Religion is a complete waste of time.

...

wait, too easy.

Seriously though, you don't feel intrigued? I'd love to read the "Mein Kampf" (sp?). You have to understand it, so you can fight it.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Az

I'm not going to study a book (the bible) that condemns me. It is not of particular significant to me. Religion is a complete waste of time.

...

wait, too easy.

Seriously though, you don't feel intrigued? I'd love to read the "Mein Kampf" (sp?). You have to understand it, so you can fight it.

Oh I have read the bible, but I'm not going to study it at the present time as I know it has no case.

[Ben Kenobi]

Good question, it really depends on everything else. I used to go for a walk about half an hour everyday that would be my prayer time when I lived on my own and when I was down in Texas. Haven't kept that up during the winter here, so I'll have try to set another habit that will work. I like the peace and quiet when walking, it gets me out of the house and away from everyone else.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
studying god is different

JM

so if im studying man or the world im not studying God? Thats problematic. For ex, Im currently reading Franz Rosenzweigs "Star of Redemption" a work of Jewish (or Judeo-Christian) existential philosophy. Now he spends a lot of time discussing the history of Western Philosophy, and then proceeds to discuss the what we can and cant know about God, the world, and man. When Im reading the section on the world, say, Im not studying God, by your definition. But to the author, the entire discussion is important to understanding his view of God and religion. So im not sure how to allocate my "Star" time for this purpose.

Similarly my time in Synagogue includes prayers that are God focused - but it also includes a sermon that may or may not be God focused - any given week it may be an exhortation to charity or Social Justice, or a discussion of a point of Jewish law. To me these are all of a piece. Indeed, the time spent socializing there is also part of a commitment to a Jewish community, which I do not seperate from my commitment to Judaism.

How do i count the time spent, once a year, listening to the book of esther - which does not mention God explicity once?

OTOH, if I see understanding science, as looking into Gods mind, I could count ALL time spent on understanding the world - and indeed at some level i think approaching the world with interest and love IS holy - but its clearly not what you have in mind. Similarly dialoguing with fellow human beings may be the closest we have to speaking to God - but I dont think thats what you have in mind either.

Your question itself raises questions of definition of "religion", of what we call Kavannah (intention, focus) etc.

[Jon Miller]

ok

now lets make a difference between prayer type stuff, and actual study of the Bible... (I know this is for Christians here, Jews and Muslims can consider study of the Torah and Koran to work also)

how much time do you spend studying the Bible?

JM

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Winston
There's a special place in Hell for commies. They have to listen to eachother complaining about the unfairness of it all - for eternity. Ha!

"And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof. It shall be a jubilee for you: each of you shall return to his holding and each of you shall return to his family"


Return to his holding - IE all land that was "sold" is returned to the original (peasant) owner.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by BlackCat


Actually it does - it exercises the brain.

Have you ever studied the Talmud?

[lord of the mark]

"All knowledge of the universe [das All] begins with death, with the fear of death"

[The Mad Viking]

As of my post, more than 78% are not religious and spend ZERO minutes.

While less than 5% spend more than 1 hour per week.

(Clearly, this does not include posting on Abortion or Creation threads... )

[Winston]

If God has any sense to him, he'll surely torment the commies to no end.

I absolutely refuse to believe in any hand-wringing, bleeding heart God.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by The Mad Viking
As of my post, more than 78% are not religious and spend ZERO minutes.

While less than 5% spend more than 1 hour per week.

(Clearly, this does not include posting on Abortion or Creation threads... )

I didnt respond to the poll, for reasons that should be clear from the above posts.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by lord of the mark



Have you ever studied the Talmud?

I must admit - no. But I think that I could do it and get something out of it though not anything religious. I think that there are a lot of books, both religous and political, that is good exercise even when I disagree.

Oh, and I know that talmud isn't a single book.

[Boris Godunov]

Like Az, I frequently contemplate existence. I don't "meditate," per se, but do a lot of exploratory reading. Yes, even about metaphysical concepts such as God, despite being a nonbeliever. The more I read about God from various sources, religious or otherwise, the more resolute I seem to become in my nonbelief.