Looking for one in the greater Raleigh area. I'd prefer catholic groups but it's not a make or break deal. Just looking for a younger crowd, current group I'm with has an average age of ~45 years old....

11/15/2006 11:11:37 AM

Vintage21 is a young church with small study groups - interdenominational though, not Catholic

http://www.vintage21.com

11/15/2006 11:31:57 AM

im not religious, and i personally find church to be quite boring. of all the churches i've been to, vintage21 was the most easily digestible and i appreciated that a fair number of the people there came in jeans and tshirts.

11/15/2006 11:59:17 AM

So...yeah...I'm going to go ahead and shamelessly plug Vintage21 as well.

The Vintage21 college group meets every Wedneday night at the bowling ally on Hillsborough street. It starts at 7:30 and there's always some free food. Just follow the signs once you walk in. That is a more stuctured program led by the college director at Vintage21.

There are also home groups which are more autonomous and led by laypeople. I'm more of a fan of these kinds of groups because people take turns leading and they're generally more organic. Either one is good.

11/15/2006 12:14:30 PM

I frequent the CCF (Campus CHristian Fellowship). The weekly meeting is on Tuesdays on Hillsborough St on the level between the street and Pi Bar. However, they have weekly bible studies that the students run so its very informal and relaxed.

Not for everyone but has kept me coming for two years.

http://www.ccf-ncsu.org/

11/15/2006 12:16:08 PM

i'll second CCF. I went there when I was a student a few years ago. Good group of people to study/worship with. def not in the Catholic tradition though.

[Edited on November 15, 2006 at 12:56 PM. Reason : even if they have ripped to shreds the site i built for them © 2003 ]

11/15/2006 12:53:05 PM

i recommend packguy381's big tent revival

11/15/2006 12:58:42 PM

First Assembly of God on Blue Ridge Road has a young adults group Thursday @ 7pm. Look for the oxygen signs. Its more of a worship service with a speaker. http://www.raleighfirst.org

11/15/2006 2:01:01 PM

tj - i recommend v21 also and you should know how opposed to religion i've been in my past

11/15/2006 2:11:10 PM

I recommend reading the book yourself and taking what you like from it.

11/15/2006 3:54:54 PM

yeah but then you miss the opportunity to learn from and experience with others

i mean, i consider myself a pretty sharp guy, but there's no way i could grasp by myself all the wisdom from a book with so much depth to it. it helps to hear how others' experiences shape their understanding.

[Edited on November 15, 2006 at 5:04 PM. Reason : pick and choose]

11/15/2006 5:01:39 PM

I agree that others' viewpoints can help in understanding, but only once your own position/interpretation is solidified. Obviously, an opinion can change, but it shouldn't be swayed easily.

11/15/2006 5:32:42 PM

if you just so happen to be looking for a youthful, laid back church that'll probably have small groups, hit up the Four Square church just outside of Raleigh (google it, I can't recall its exact name)

they have a full band for music, show up in jeans, laid back...good stuff

edit: it's Hope Chapel in Apex: http://www.foursquare.org/locator/churches.sd?iid=30304

[Edited on November 15, 2006 at 5:39 PM. Reason : http://www.foursquare.org/locator/churches.sd?iid=30304]

11/15/2006 5:36:53 PM

Church of Euthanasia

11/15/2006 6:56:11 PM

Thanks for the info everyone.

Quote :

"I agree that others' viewpoints can help in understanding, but only once your own position/interpretation is solidified. Obviously, an opinion can change, but it shouldn't be swayed easily."

There's a difference between swayed easily and taking someone else's position as a starting point. There are plenty of passages in the Bible that make no sense to the common reader, that is until someone explains the meaning. You then have an opportunity to agree or disagree. There's no shame in asking about a topic you know nothing about. In fact, I highly recommend it, ya know, for learnin' purposes

11/15/2006 7:11:49 PM

i'm not christian at all, but i went with a friend one time to v21, and those people seemed really nice

i think sometimes they have their bible studies at a bar

11/15/2006 7:29:36 PM

http://www.ncsu.edu/chass/philo/rel_courses.html

Quote :

"Courses Offered in Religious Studies Below are the catalogue descriptions for REL. To see what courses are being offered in the upcoming semester see REL. REL (FLH) 101 Elementary Biblical Hebrew I. 3(3-0). The elements of grammar and syntax essential for a reading knowledge of Biblical Hebrew. Reading is drawn primarily from the Book of Genesis and some attention given to exegetical method. REL (FLH) 102 Elementary Biblical Hebrew II. PREQUISITE(S): REL (FLH) 101.3(3-0). A continuation of REL (FLH) 101 with increased emphasis upon reading selected prose passages. REL (FLH) 201 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I. PREQUISITE(S): REL (FLH) 102.3(3-0). Continuing development of vocabulary and understanding of grammar and syntax through reading of selected prose and poetic passages in the Hebrew Bible. Exegetical matters are considered. REL (FLH) 202 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II. PREREQUISITE(S): REL (FLH) 201.3(3-0). Exclusive attention devoted to reading and interpreting selected prose and poetic passages in the Hebrew Bible. REL 230 South Asian Religious Traditions. 3(3-0). Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Islamic, Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian religious traditions in comparative perspective. Religious and cultural history through literature, film, and art of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Afghanistan. Doctrine, practice, teaching tales, and issues of change and conflict in South Asia and the diaspora, especially the USA. REL 298 Special Topics in Religion. 3(3-0). Selected studies in religion that do not appear regularly in the curriculum. Topics will be announced for each semester in which the course is offered. REL 300 Religious Traditions of the World. 3(3-0). Major Eastern and Western religious traditions with attention to their basic teachings and practices as well as to the historical, geographical, social, and political settings in which they have arisen and developed. REL (SOC) 309 Religion and Society. 3(3-0). See Sociology Department. REL 311 Introduction to the Old Testament. 3(3-0). Study of Old Testament books, examining their content, background, and development. Comparisons of the biblical material with other Ancient Near Eastern literature. Assessment of contributions from archeology and literary studies to clarifying the text. REL 312 Introduction to the New Testament. 3(3-0). Literary and historical study of the New Testament in its Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts. Special attention to distinctive characteristics of the Gospels and their relationships, early controversies with Judaism and the emergence of church structure and teaching. REL 314 Introduction to Intertestamental Literature. 3(3-0). Intertestamental literature in the context of Jewish history, institutions, and beliefs of the Intertestamental Period (ca. 300 B.C.-ca. 100 A.D.) REL 317 Christianity. 3(3-0). Development of Christianity from its origins to the present; events, persons, ideas, beliefs, and practices which were most significant in this development. REL (HI) 320 Religion in American History. PREREQUISITE(S): 3 hours of History or Sophomore standing. 3(3-0). Representative people, movements, and thought in the major religions within the context of American society and culture. REL 323 Religious Cults, Sects, and Minority Faiths in America. 3(3-0). Religious cults, sects, and minority faiths in America, including Mormonism, Christian Science, and Jehovah's Witnesses. Also covers such alternate Groups, such as the holiness-charismatic movement and the Unification Church. Origins, development, and teachings of these groups within the context of American culture and religion. REL 327 Issues in Contemporary Religion. 3(3-0). Responses of contemporary Western religious thinkers to critics of religion and to challenges posed by the 20th century including the Nazi Holocaust, social injustice (liberation theologies - black, feminist, Third World), ecological crisis, threat of nuclear warfare, and conflicts between religions. REL 331 The Hindu Tradition. 3(3-0). Basic religion/philosophical concepts, social institutions, and individual practices of Hindu civilization from earliest Vedic times to the present. Focus on major traditions: Action (karma), Knowledge (jnana), and Devotion (bhakti), with emphasis on disciplines (yoga), myth, symbol, art. REL 332 The Buddhist Traditions. 3(3-0). History and structure of the Buddhist tradition analyzed through the "three jewels": the Buddha, the Monastic Community (sangha), and the Teachings (dharma). Emphasis on fundamental religion/philosophical concepts, social history and ritual practices of Southern Buddhism, early Mahayana development, and Tantric ideals. Growth of the traditions in China and Japan. REL 333 Chinese Religions. 3(3-0). Survey of Chinese religions from prehistoric times to the present. Confucianism, Daoism, primary Buddhist schools in China, spirit possession, divination and popular religious worship. REL 334 Japanese Religions. 3(3-0). Survey of various strands of Japanese religious life from prehistoric times until present. Kami worship; primary Buddhist schools in Japan; Japanese Christianity; Confucianism; and New Religions. REL 340 Islam. 3(3-0). Introductory survey of the Islamic religious tradition. Examination of the primary historical, literary, and theological sources for Islamic thought in global contexts. Topics include the Prophet Muhammad, the developmant of the early Muslim community, Islamic religious practice, Sunni and Shi'i Islam, Sufism, theology, law, and Islamic art and architecture. REL 350 Introduction to Judaism. 3(3-0). A survey of Jewish Religious traditions from the Bible through the present day. Evolution of major religious ideas through the classical texts including Torah, Talmud, philosophical and mystical literature, and contemporary fiction. "

11/15/2006 7:38:17 PM

Quote :

"REL (HI) 402 Early Christianity to the Time of Eusebius. PREREQUISITE(S): REL 312 and REL 317 recommended. 3(3-0). Growth and diffusion of early Christianity from the end of the first century up to the time of Eusebius and the conversion of Constantine (early fourth century); Christianity in its Greco-Roman environment; Roman policy towards Christianity; heterodox Christian movements; anti-heretical writings; orthodox institutions of authority. REL (HI) 407 Islamic History to 1798. PREREQUISITE(S): 3 hours of history 3(3-0). Credit will not be given for both HI 407 and HI 507. (See History Department) REL (HI) 408 Islam in the Modern World. PREREQUISITE(S): 3 hours of history or religious studies. 3(3-0). (See History Department) REL 412 Advanced Readings in the Christian Gospels. PREREQUISITE(S): REL 312 or REL 317. 3(3-0). Close study of the varieties of gospel writings, both canonical and non-canonical, in early Christianity. Analysis of the constituent features of the gospels (parables, healing narratives, sermons) and their "pre-history"; the use of the gospels in the reconstruction of the life and ministry of Jesus; and critical methods in gospel research. REL 413 The Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul. PREREQUISITE(S): REL 312 or REL 317. 3(3-0). Intensive study of the apostle Paul and his writings in their historical, literary, and religious contexts. Sources for the life and ministry of Paul; the structure and theology of the Pauline and deutero-Pauline epistles; the influence and image of Paul in early Christianity; and contemporary controversies and issues in the study of Paul. REL 423 American Religion and Politics in the 20th Century. Prerequisite: One 300-level course in religion. 3(3-0). Issues and problems in religion and politics in the United States since 1900. Historical, theoretical, sociological, and cultural approaches to religion and politics. Inquiry into the relations between religions and the state. Responses of religious traditions to American social and political issues. REL 471 (STS) Darwinism and Christianity. PREREQUISITE(S): One 3 credit-hour course in religious studies, biological sciences, philosophy of science, or history of science. 3(3-0). Evolutionary Biology and Christianity. Darwin's evolutionary theory; neo-Darwinism; conflicts between evolutionary theory and Christian thought; methodological parallels and differences between science and religion; proposals for divine action in an evolutionary world. REL (WGS) 472 Women and Religion. PREREQUISITE(S): 3 credit hours in REL or WGS. 3(3-0). Historical, literary, and theological sources dealing with portrayals of women and women's religious experience in several religious traditions of the world through different historical periods, from ancient to modern. Impact of feminist theory on the academic study of religion; methodological issues surrounding the study of women's religious history; role of religion in shaping attitudes toward women and their status in society. REL 481 Myth, Metaphor, and Religious Imagination. PREREQUISITE(S): 300-level course in REL, HI, or ENG. 3(3-0). Mythology from world religions; history of the academic study of mythology in 19th-20th centuries; disciplined techniques for interpretation of myth, including historical criticism, ritual study, structuralism, hermeneutics, psychoanalytic theories, Marxist and feminist criticism, and post-structural approaches; nature and role of metaphor in mythic language and religious imagination. REL 484 Myth and History in Religious Biography. PREREQUISITE(S): 300-level course in REL, HI, or ENG. 3(3-0). Cross-cultural typology of religious biography, including sacred biography, hagiography, confessional biography, autobiography, and myth; structure and function of myth in creating the biographical image of religious subjects; hermeneutic theory and methodological strategies for reading and interpreting individual life histories; multiple case-studies including Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Luther, and Krishna-Caitanya. REL 491 Advanced Readings in Theological and Religious Literature. PREREQUISITE(S): 300-level course in Religion and consent of instructor. Course may be used for individualized study programs by arrangement with the instructor. 3(3-0). Critical analysis of advanced theological works; close reading of primary texts; methods of interpretation (hermeneutics). REL 496 Seminar in Religious Studies. PREREQUISITE(S): 300-level course in Religion and consent of instructor. Open primarily to Religious Studies majors and minors. 3(3-0). Advanced research and writing in selected topics; application of contemporary and historical methods for the study of religion; hermeneutic theory. REL 498 Special Topics in Religion. PREREQUISITE(S): 6 hours REL. 1-6. Detailed investigation of selected topics in religion. Topics determined by faculty members in consultation with head of the department. Course may be used for individualized study programs. "

There are people who spend there lives studying religion and being held to academic standards. So you can get the quality & correct information, and still get access to peers feelings. Especially if you set up some sorta study group together. Access to the professors of the religion department in the largest school in this state seems like a good resource for anyone who is seriously interested.

[Edited on November 15, 2006 at 7:40 PM. Reason : .]

11/15/2006 7:39:44 PM

Quote :

"i'm not christian at all, but i went with a friend one time to v21, and those people seemed really nice i think sometimes they have their bible studies at a bar"

theology on tap is the 3rd tuesday every month @ mitch's - pretty sure it starts at 8:30pm

11/15/2006 7:47:33 PM

^ that sounds pretty cool.

11/15/2006 8:03:25 PM

yo if i've only been to church like 4 times ever in my entire life, am i going to hell?

i'm catholic if that helps

11/15/2006 8:15:29 PM

yes and no

11/16/2006 7:35:20 AM

it depends

where do retards go when they die

11/16/2006 7:43:58 AM

the same place a tree goes when it dies, or a broken tv goes when it dies... a landfill somewhere in new jersey

11/16/2006 7:27:21 PM

^^^^ bous is right...

you won't necessarily go to hell because you've only been to church 4 times

but you probably will because you're catholic

11/16/2006 10:15:05 PM

I'm taking Intro to the New Testament next semester. I'm kind of worried about being the only atheist in a sea of bible thumpers.

11/16/2006 11:21:00 PM

i took that class, and i didn't find it to be full of Bible thumpers at all

and i also maintain that atheism is a kinda ridiculous stance to take...agnosticism is a wholly different matter. I can understand having faith in God, but why go to the trouble of believing on faith that there is NO God?

11/16/2006 11:28:41 PM

Sometimes I think about whether I should be more open minded and embrace a more agnostic view.


But then I think about it and the idea of a higher power is almost preposterous to me, so I stick with my atheistic views.

11/16/2006 11:33:00 PM

i cant wait til we find life on other planets

the universe is so big there has GOT to be SOMETHING

11/16/2006 11:41:14 PM

you're absolutely right.

11/16/2006 11:56:33 PM

i'm atheists when it comes to ghosts & unicorns.

i don't think they exist.

i don't have sure faith that there is no way they could exist, but they just don't seem plausible to me.

i don't think god exists, atleast not any god as defined by in mainstream religion, and while thats not 100% faith that god doesn't exist... its still what i think of as atheism since i don't believe in god.

i think people of faith like ascribing faith to people without it because thats how they view the world. but you don't really need faith in "not god" to not believe in god. the faithless just don't always think in terms of faith.

11/18/2006 7:25:18 PM

The son of the Almighty God, and one associated with resurrection. Apollo. The one from the religion where a woman causes the downfall of man (Pandora), and the surviving pious couple have to repopulate the world (Deucalion story), the religion of immaculately conceived demi-gods who come back from the dead (Theseus, Hercules), and the one where gods do water to wine type magic (Athena & Dionysus, where the story actually represents the cultures achievement of creating wine as a way of preserving fruit nutrients throughout winter. The one where babies are abandoned or sent down rivers, and later come back as leaders (Oedipus). Why does the Vatican store pictures of Apollo that later artists used as a base on how to depict Jesus, why does every modern hospital, ambulance, and medical facility have the staff of Aesculapius (the Greek symbol associated with acts of healing and resurrection)? Because these are stock type characters that you’ll find in Zoroastrianism and the stories of Gilgamesh (had a great flood, flooding was a part of farming which is a big part of ancient life) and countless other myths before and after Jesus came on scene. And these stock type literary characters represent cultural achievements, physical migrations of people, economic changes, and people’s hopes and desires. Yahweh seems no different than any of the gods who came before him or after him.



Here's that sketch based of time, location, and other descriptions of what Jesus probably actually looked like, if he is a real historical figure and not just myth.
------


Things like that make me think based on the evidence, Yahweh isn't real. Its not a faith that "not Yahweh."

11/18/2006 7:27:00 PM

sounds like dude is tryna pick up chicks

11/18/2006 7:31:47 PM

the last several posts -> way off topic

[Edited on November 18, 2006 at 7:58 PM. Reason : ]

11/18/2006 7:52:34 PM

it was a response to this

"and i also maintain that atheism is a kinda ridiculous stance to take"

so i think it was called for.

and it was a discussion of religion, so i think it was on topic more so than a lot of threads and the paths they take

11/18/2006 7:58:47 PM

eh, so goeth the wolf web

11/18/2006 8:01:34 PM