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God+Skiing

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gakc
Posts: 244 - Karma: 40
so tonight i went to my usual youth group, everyhing was pretty normal we sang, i ate candy, then we went to small groups which is where kids my age all go in with our youth leaders and we talk about the topic. the topic today was distractions that steer you away from god. things such as video games, sex, porn, which were all understandable until they said sports/ hobbies... so in small group  i brought up the topic that there is nothing on this earth that makes me as happy as skiing. Now he kept trying to tell me that it wasnt healthy to have anything be remotly close to god which i understand but doesnt this seem a little messed up?? i think you should do what ever makes you the happiest on this earth but still respect god. but for him to tell me i should cut back on skiing, why? cus god is getting jelous... i do not believe that. what do you guys think? and im not taking a shot at my leaders, they are sick but it doesnt seem right to me.
Dec 3 2009 2:20AM
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Verno
Posts: 542 - Karma: 23
God would never tell you to do something completely healthy and good for you LESS.  Only leaders who feel second fiddle might.  The last time I checked, God didn't filter his opinions through anyone mortal.  And I mean anyone.  Stay spiritual, but go skiing....yes, even on Sunday.  God didn't invent Sundays....The Church did.
Dec 3 2009 2:25PM
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Wobby
Posts: 316 - Karma: 266
^I'm sorry to be that one guy, but I just don't understand religion.

Some guys who have been arbitrarily given power, and have no real evidence to back this except for the "word" of other people, are telling you how to run your life, and what you can and can't do.  By getting you to do this they are only strengthening their power, and taking you farther and farther from being able to think and make decisions for yourself.  If religion had its way, you would be completely under its control, sort of like a robot or clone meant for one purpose.  I have seen this happen to some of my friends.  One of the most extreme examples I can think of is BYU.  No hate on Mormons, they are very nice people, but walk around that campus and you'll notice something: they all dress, cut their hair, walk, talk, and completely act the same.  They all have the same general schedules.  It is like a massive army of clones controlled by the powerful religious leaders who can't be questioned.  Question the authority or way of life of religion and you are kicked out, shunned, completely wrong.  Their is no changing religion, everything is absolute.
This seems to be the opposite of the sport of skiing, or anyway I want to live my life.  I see skiing as a progressing sport, and a way to express yourself as an individual.  There are no absolute truths.

The real decision is up to you.  But if you choose religion over skiing its alright.  I like the hill less crowded on Sundays anyway.
Dec 3 2009 2:27PM
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Wobby
Posts: 316 - Karma: 266
Oh, and in summary, just in case I was unclear.  I think everyone is entitled to spiritual opinions.  I don't have any myself, but I respect others.  I just don't like the hold that religion has over our culture and country.  Believe what you want to believe, but don't impress it upon me.
Dec 3 2009 2:30PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
right, well, if you love skiing, and god doesn't love that you love skiing, then i would say fuck your god find a new one.
or you could just believe whatever you want to believe and not listen to those tools at your youth group.
Dec 3 2009 2:33PM
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philcote4
Posts: 225 - Karma: 10

All religions are based on beliefs. I dont understand why there are set/predetermined religions, such as christianity, buddhism, etc. Why should we shape our beliefs according to what the majority of our peers believe, what our parents believe, what people tell us to believe? The way i see it, there shouldn't be any religions. everyone thinks differently, therefore everyone should just believe what they believe and thats it. if you believe in god and that stuff makes you happy, then go for it. but if someone tells you skiing is against god's will, and you believe otherwise, why should you stop skiing because of what someone else thinks is right? in the end, if there is a god, no one is ever going to know for sure if he actually doesnt want us doing sports, watching porn, etc.

you just go out and do what you want to do bro. im sure god won't be mad if we go out and get some face shots or hit the park. do work.

Dec 3 2009 2:40PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
There's a difference between church/religion and god. You have your own personal spiritual experience with god or whoever/whatever, and no church knows exactly what this is. If you don't feel it, then ditch the whole thing. But to go back to the personal thing, the mountains let you be surrounded by nobody but your god, so that sounds more legit than a church to me. You can experience god without being lectured or brainwashed.
Who's to say that god is jealous anyways? If the figure in charge of the world, life and everything gets jealous that you enjoy his creations then fuck it, he's not worth worshipping man. If your church actually has a problem with this then you'd best move on.

By the way, I'm not religious at all, kinda hate organized religion to be honest, but I respect anyone who has a legit relationship with god or some spiritual feeling. I just haven't had anything lead me to belief in any way, so I won't pretend that I do like so many Christians that I know seem to.
Dec 3 2009 2:49PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
To the thread creator:

First, the belief is that it's not healthy to love anything as much as God. God should come first. However, you are saying that nothing "on this earth" makes you as happy as skiing. For whatever reasons it makes you happy, this world was created by God to have us be happy and enjoy. If God wanted everyone to just think about him all day long, everyone would be priests, nobody would get anything done or make any babies, we would go extinct. It's said that we were put here to enjoy the world, and if skiing is what does it for you then that's great. Just so long as skiing doesn't make you forget about God or take away from your devotion.

I was also going to point out that those people saying all those things are bad are not fully examining the real teachings. If they had gone in depth with them from a theological standpoint, I think they would understand it more in line with what I'm saying above.

This is coming from a Catholic standpoint. Religion and specifically western theology really interest me, and I've taken several classes at school dealing with theology from an objective standpoint.
Dec 3 2009 3:05PM
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Spam_Man_1500
Posts: 1358 - Karma: 12
Simple, worship skiing.

It makes you the happiest, something you can always fall back on, is always there, and will never abandon you.  Worship skiing.
Dec 3 2009 3:10PM
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H8CH
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 218

This makes me angry.... nobody - and i mean nobody should tell you what to do or what to think -

Biggest problem today with America and christianity - kids are taught WHAT to think and now HOW to think.... FMS

Dec 3 2009 3:13PM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,085
Read. There is nothing that you can do that will help you more than to consider the viewpoints of many different brilliant thinkers on religion in all of its contexts.

Each person needs to find their own way, their own name for God. Listen to as much advice as you can stand, and take what makes sense to your heart.
Dec 3 2009 3:19PM
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Uncle.Badness
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 55
Stop worrying about "what happens when you die" you don't know so don't pretend that you do. Live you life to the fullest and do whatever makes you the most happy as long as it's not at someone else's expense. Because what's better than that?
Dec 3 2009 3:22PM
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H8CH
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 218

This -

Read - read everything, by every author, be they athesist, agnostic or rbelievers in a faith.

The whole thing is fascinating, but can melt your head, so just go do what makes you happy.

The universe is HUGE, too big for the human mind to comprehend...   we are nothing in that vast-ness... who knows what it's all about, where it came from, where it's going - those questions are beyond the human brains capabilities or human technology to figure out, so don't expect to know or be told the answers .... because there are none really....

Dec 3 2009 3:27PM
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BroBrah
Posts: 83 - Karma: 8
It's not right. not at all. this is why church and religion are so fucked up. My religion is skiing, and my church is the mountain, and just as you say, nothing makes me happier or feel more spiritual than going skiing. I believe in God and have full respect for Christianity, but... what you've just explained is absolutely FUCKED.
Dec 3 2009 3:32PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
if he's already religious, all the anti-religious comments are pretty useless.
Dec 3 2009 3:40PM
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NotAnotherPhil
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
There's probably no god. So stop worrying and go skiing!
Dec 3 2009 3:42PM
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Chickendodo
Posts: 1426 - Karma: 33
this thread makes me sad that you would even consider that to be true... it's this kind of bullshit that organized religion tries to shove down your throat.  Why would you ever give up something that makes you happy because it's a distraction from your duties to god?  What a crock of shit.  Gah makes me so angry.
Dec 3 2009 3:47PM
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=FLO=
Posts: 1969 - Karma: 39
Man, my youthgroup would sponsor ski trips all the time.  God created beautiful mountains and snow for you to enjoy, just remember who to thank for it, and pray for protection. 
Dec 3 2009 3:48PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
look at it this way, your closer to god while skiing in the mountains then sitting in church down in town
Dec 3 2009 3:50PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
From the standpoint of religion, your answer is in your question.

If you are Christian and believe in all that goes with it, then you wouldn't want to have any distractions from God, because the point of life is to attain a glorious afterlife.

However, as long as you personally don't ALLOW skiing to become a distraction, you can ski as much as you damn well please.
Dec 3 2009 3:54PM
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BroBrah
Posts: 83 - Karma: 8
seriously. really does make me angry.
Dec 3 2009 3:55PM
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buddychaps
Posts: 1817 - Karma: 583
some churches fucking brainwash kids. do what you want to do God isn't gonna be jealous that you focus on skiing more aha
Dec 3 2009 3:56PM
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sk-nnn
Posts: 75 - Karma: 943
God didnt create the world for us not to enjoy. God should come first but enjoy skiing and thank god for it. 
Dec 3 2009 4:00PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
exactly.
Dec 3 2009 4:01PM
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mason-
Posts: 955 - Karma: 45

I cant help but think God loves skiing seeing how the headquarters of my church (yes im mormon) is in the place with the best snow on earth--utah

Dec 3 2009 4:02PM
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Chickendodo
Posts: 1426 - Karma: 33
It's all just so ass-backwards I can't stand it.

The fact that your post makes sense just makes me angrier.
Dec 3 2009 4:02PM
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Freeheel4real
Posts: 909 - Karma: 95
I agree with so many of these posts, its insane....
Dec 3 2009 4:05PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
hahaha,

well it's ass-backwards for some people. If you don't take time to sit down and figure out the reasons behind religious ideas they all sounds real dumb and pointless. If you do think about them from the standpoint of someone who believes they are (for the most part - not always) very reasonable.

It is true though - most people are taught WHAT to think, not HOW to think. which is why so many people, sound so damn dumb and ignorant.
Dec 3 2009 4:06PM
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skier_07
Posts: 326 - Karma: 51
I think this is a good answer here. I believe what they where trying to tell you is to keep your priorities straight. Which if you are Christian means that God is first and everything else comes after. That doesnt mean you can't do those things it just means you need to make sure you don't make them more important than God. Which if you are a Christian like you say you are you wouldn't want anything to be ahead of God. Now if you want things ahead of God maybe you should ask yourself are you a Christian or do you wanna be something else...

Thats part of the reason religion gets such a bad name is people say they are something that they arent.
Dec 3 2009 4:15PM
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Midwestjibski
Posts: 1676 - Karma: 77
I find God in skiing.
Dec 3 2009 4:19PM
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H8CH
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 218
Tom Wallisch IS god skiing
Dec 3 2009 4:24PM
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Pimp
Posts: 66 - Karma: 10
Don't be stupid, think for yourself kid! Thats why your "god" gave you a brain...
Dec 3 2009 4:25PM
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Chickendodo
Posts: 1426 - Karma: 33
The problem I have with religion is how men  try to tell you what god wants/thinks, and it's all based off of a book written by men.  It just seems backwards to me.  Beliefs are important and have helped and saved a ton of people, but I think when things like what the OP is about happen, it just shows how foolish the people teaching religion are.

You make a lot of sense because you're so objective about it, but the fanatics and the people who try to force their religions down your throat bother me.

 It's true that I haven't studied much religion, but I just get angry at people for having such blind faith.

I just feel that these religious organizations screw up when trying to teach the next generation.
Dec 3 2009 4:29PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,816
Everything we know comes from our experiences, and from things that others tell us. I'd suggest you to look at your personal experiences with God to make the judgment as to whether or not God wants you to ski. My guess is that your youth pastor is somewhat young, and though he means well, he hasn't lived your life or had your experiences, so he can't relate to your situation perfectly.

And personally, I think he's grossly misinterpreting an Old Testament passage when he says God is jealous of your skiing. Exodus 20:4 says “You shall not bow down to [idols] or worship them; for I am a jealous God." If we modernize this six thousand years, it means "Don't worship Paris Hilton because your life will suck." Instead, if skiing makes you happy, worship God by throwing down on the snow.
Dec 3 2009 4:42PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Truth. The Bible itself was written by men. Even if they are dictated to men by God, there's the fact that there is human error. Besides that, a TON of the Bible is accounts of people, not even stories that were supposed to be dictated by God. Most of the New Testament is that way.

The Church itself is human tradition, formed as a compass to help guide humans towards heaven, not an absolute all-knowing foundation on which to blindly base your beliefs. When people don't think about what they believe, that is ignorance, and that is the failing of religion in most cases.

Ignore the people who try to force it down your throat. They are generally people that are unsure of what they believe and are supposed to believe to begin with. Most religions Christian traditions don't actually support trying to force people to believe what you believe to begin with.
Dec 3 2009 4:43PM
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Fish_Sandwich.
Posts: 9108 - Karma: 16
!
Dec 3 2009 4:47PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
"I'd rather be throwin' down on the mountain and thinking about god than sitting in church and thinking about skiing"

yep.
Dec 3 2009 4:58PM
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.peter
Posts: 1222 - Karma: 63
STOP GOING TO THAT YOUTH GROUP. NOW!
I understand you may be deeply religious, and I agree that faith and spirituality should be your life, not just a small part of it. But when any entity tries to tell you that loyalty to that entity is so important that it is "unhealthy" to love something that is not physically harmful to you or others that gives you more joy than anything, then that is not something you should take part on, and you should convince your friends to leave as well. The point of life, (what God want's people to do) is enjoy it. Not to be servants. Why else would we get nothing but joy from good things.

sorry to sound really preachy, but it is so frustrating when people tell others that anything fun, or joyful in life cannot be good. Tell that guy that if it were not good to love something that makes you happy than maybe his God is not one worth believing in. and ask him if God is our father, then what father would not want his children to be happy doing something that benefits them. Then leave.

Good Luck, keep skiing/doing what makes you happy. It's just as important.
Dec 3 2009 5:20PM
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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
agreed

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Dec 3 2009 5:27PM
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daringharry8
Posts: 240 - Karma: 10
silly god
Dec 3 2009 5:27PM
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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
hahahahah sig'd
Dec 3 2009 5:28PM
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VT_FLO
Posts: 3806 - Karma: 147
lolz at organized religion.

but really? wouldn't god want you to be out in his creation, not sitting in your own?
Dec 3 2009 5:29PM
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ectreeskier11
Posts: 697 - Karma: 366
^yep. i could go on a rant right now, but i'll refrain.
Dec 3 2009 5:30PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
this is what I don't like about organized religion. you can interpret what God wants for yourself. you don't have to listen to what some guy says and believe what he tells you to. figure it out for yourself
Dec 3 2009 5:32PM
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ashamedkrew
Posts: 1194 - Karma: 424
thank you.
Dec 3 2009 5:44PM
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rynmartn
Posts: 2697 - Karma: 21
thats what I go for in my skiing, just me and God, no one telling me what to think or do but Him
Dec 3 2009 5:44PM
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jimmer
Posts: 3586 - Karma: 80

word kyle

"i'd rather spend a sunday on the mountain thinking about god

than in church thinking about skiing"

and for some reason i feel god thinks the same way

Dec 3 2009 6:55PM
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mezzy
Posts: 298 - Karma: 15

well i dont think that he means that u need to stop skiing or anything. hes just saying that u shouldnt let something like skiing interfere w/ ur relationship w/ God. Like if you find that ur doing bad stuff because of skiing or spending all ur time skiing and no time w/ God then u should probly cut back the skiing a little bit

Dec 3 2009 7:02PM
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Dick_Buttkiss
Posts: 302 - Karma: 16
Jeeeeeeeeeebussssssssssssssss

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Dec 3 2009 7:03PM
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Uncle.Badness
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 55
JESUSAURUSREX!!!
Dec 3 2009 7:12PM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
That's the ultimate misconception about Catholicism. I'm Catholic and to me this sounds like a protestant youth group. Catholicism has become a very open religion. In fact, the term "Catholic" essentially means "universal."

OP: I'm speaking from experience. I've had friends who are Protestants who will say things very similar to what you are relating. Which isn't the Catholic belief at all. My experience in terms of skiing + religion has been more one of "how are you wisely using God's gifts?"

In this context, nothing uses God's gifts more wisely than through recreation--skiing. So it fits.
Dec 3 2009 7:24PM
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