I gotcha just trying to let you know I didn't miss the point. Also i am admittantly verbose.

Actually Chimaeran I can only speak for my form of Christianity but yes we have other texts regarding miracles and lives of the saints. The bible in itself is a collection of books that was said to be inspired by "God's Word" so adding the lives of the saints etc. to it would be taking away from it.

As far as recognized saints in the Orhtodox Church I have visited a few historical sites where their remains are.

Namely and the one that I found the most interesting was Saint Nektarios on Aegina. The room where his body is kept is very fragrant like the most beautiful of roses but not overpowering.
Some info on him

I have also been to Monastary on the island of Patmos where the revelation was written and two other Saints whose bodies remain intact on the island of Kalymnos. This is really what set my belief for me.

Alyse dear, the word you were looking for is "reputable".

See, going to college does help you learn.

Edited to say:: Can someone please close this damn thread already? Isn't ten pages and 4 other similar topics enough?

With all due respect, I can acknowledge that it's always the rotten apples within a religion that smeer the image of the entire organization.

And although it may sound otherwise, I have respect for religious people, but only as long as they don't try to push their value onto us.

Especially how they try and convince non-believers into the ultimatum of damnation or belief.

It's usually the ones that preach the loudest that practive their own teachings the least.
(or don't know what the fuck they're talking about)

If every Christian truely considered JC as their example, and didn't use it as a wipe-clean sponge I'd have a hard time not converting myself.

I'm wiccan and always will be I have been for years. Plus I don't belive in jesus...

OH MY FUCKING GOD/GODDESS/ODIN/HECATE/CERNUNNOS/KALI/BUDDHA!

Close it, PLEASE!

There's actually a verse that says not to add to the bible.

I see religion in two possible lights:
One that there is truely something out there that we are 'catching' and with our own selfishness put bounderies and rules on it, giving birth to 'religion'. ('God' must be pissed off in this case)

Second that psychologically we have a need for guidance, and in our own unique human awareness and fantasy create this infallible being (kind of how we saw our parents at a young age) that gave birth to everything and we have to answer to.

And that is why I have a button/pin on my bag that says "God...protect me from your followers"

It seems about all that's left of this dead horse is a bloody skeleton from all the beating it's taken.

Unless someone has reason why this thread should remain open, in which case, they'll have to PM me to give me said reason, it's being closed.

Thank you and have a lovely day!