Your Religion

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: McAiden Kuldeep -- OK, yes, the subject is worth probing, it's just that I don't meet many cyber folks who read the books I read, have even been where I've been. They just continue hating religion, not knowing there's alternatives to giving up on God because of religion's fabrications, secrets, and this black fear spouted the second someone exposes the lies, or at the least misunderstandings. Someone once said that during the dark ages the east and west separated, leaving the western religion without knowledge of eastern. Essentially, The Church in Europe and US developed but has no roots. Protestantism has less and I note each year a little more Catholocism is added to the protestant doctrines. Now, do we wish to be controlled by one world religion without first probing until the truth is exposed?

I cannot say what exactly happened in dark ages, but yes there is some difference in eastern and western philosophies. I would also not debate which one is correct but, I am sure the reality would be only one. Therefore, answer to your question " Now, do we wish to be controlled by one world religion without first probing until the truth is exposed? is that it is not absolutely necessary to amalgamate all the religions before the start of probing. As pointed out rightly by Adams "Folkish religions cannot be integrated as universal religions can be" Ratioanilty and common sense would help all to probe at individual group religions level. Common factrors from all could be picked up, while uncommon ones eliminated reasonably. Then again, common ones need to be condensed to frame ultimate real faith or religion, which overs the time would be adopted as the only RELIGION. :eek:

The most common factor at the moment coming to my mind is "Humanity" which would teach one and all that we SHOULD behave in a human way adopting the saying "Do unto others what you expect others should do unto you"....simple logic. Till some reality is probed about God, heaven, hell, satan, Jesus, angels, dieties etc, let there be a commion belief that some unkown power is there which is master and guides and maintain the whole universal show, (next common factor). :)

My own belif is that there is no separate manifested identity as God, heaven or the like. Our infinte universe (as proved by science) in sum total is itself the only form of God. Mathematically speaking, anything added or removed from this infinite universe, it would still REMAIN infinity only.

But...I am an optimist and think religions will some day come together

You may be right, who knows!!! After all patience pays.

[McAiden]

Quote by: Kuldeep The most common factor at the moment coming to my mind is "Humanity" which would teach one and all that we SHOULD behave in a human way adopting the saying "Do unto others what you expect others should do unto you"....simple logic. Till some reality is probed about God, heaven, hell, satan, Jesus, angels, dieties etc, let there be a commion belief that some unkown power is there which is master and guides and maintain the whole universal show, (next common factor). :) My own belif is that there is no separate manifested identity as God, heaven or the like. Our infinte universe (as proved by science) in sum total is itself the only form of God. Mathematically speaking, anything added or removed from this infinite universe, it would still REMAIN infinity only. )

No, no, I don't suggest that of all religions one will prevail as the only. When I say that "maybe they will all come together" I mean that the Christian church has not presented the teachings of Jesus correctly. If and when those teachings are presented corrrectly then Christianity will be similar to the teachings of all other great religions, most especially Judaism and Buddhism.

Neither do I believe there is a separate manifested identity as God, outside of ourselves. God is within us, just as Jesus said. "It is the father within me who does the work." Since Jesus' life is an example for us, then the father is within all.

[Lotharia]

I'm an atheist. I used to say I'm a non-militant atheist, but as time passes and the religionists try to force their junk on me, I'm getting a bit ticked off about it. There's no use taking crutches away from the cripples - as long as they're not hitting you with them.

[So what]

I'm Bahai.

[Skollfang]

I am Norse. The Aesir and Vanir make more sense to me than those mainstream religions. I find that there are less religious arguments that punch holes in this religion than in many mainstream ones.

[GoldPheonix]

Really So What? Bahai Faith is an interesting religion.

I myself am an agnostic. I'm sure there's a God or some superior being, but as I can't prove it... Well, there's no religion I've found to be pure yet. So that takes care of any rational or intuitive proof I canprovide, lmao. (I am a very Socratic being)

[phoenix_fire]

Why does everyone always misspell "phoenix"?

[Skollfang]

Because of the unharnessed power of the spell checker lolzords

[GoldPheonix]

I initially had the intention, about 3 years ago, to have as sort of a trademark. However, after I found out that a lot of other people mispell the word 'phoenix', I went back to the proper spelling. But when I made this account, I felt like putting that signiture edit in there. *Shrugs*

[Captain Chaos]

I am a deist. I am a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church.

I believe that significant arguments for the existence of a creator(s) can be found in a number of different areas, including physics, probability arguments, and near death experiences. I also believe that the counters to these arguments nearly always depend upon a misapplication of Occam's Razor.

Basically, athiests tend to believe that atheism should be the default belief, and should be believed unless absolutely overwhelming evidence is shown to the contrary.

I think "I don't know" should be the default belief (which could include atheism, depending upon how you define the word) and that we should allow ourselves degrees of belief. While I think various arguments weigh in favor of this reality existing by design - if pressed, I would say that I am not terribly certain in that belief.

Nevertheless, my internal spiritual practices give me strength and inspiration, and help me overcome certain internal weaknesses - thus, I continue my spiritual practices even though I only consider them to be probably rooted in a true belief.

A western concept of reincarnation is part of my beliefs. I also think that not knowing the true nature of reality is key to the life experience. Basically, if we recalled our existence outside of this reality, then we would not have so much motivation to stick things out in this life. If we knew it was a game, or a school, and we remembered paradise, then we could very rationally choose suicide when things got tough. Keeping the nature of reality partially opaque would appear to be a necessary component for getting people to stick it out for an entire lifetime.

As a practical appoach, I believe that in all situations I should ask myself what will maximize my happiness, and minimize my unhappiness. The answer to that question can best be found by remembering to do all things with love.

[samsara15]

I am none of the above - I go my own way. However, as a moral relativist, I wish we could find a way to respect all points of view. That's hard to do when so many of us hold absolutist points of view, which makes conflict inevitable.

[Trotsky]

I'm nowt, even though the Scottish lads I play rugby with insist on calling me a papist.

[samsara15]

Skollfang - I once read, on the internet, a translation of the Norse creation story into modern Big Bang Physics - it was fascinating. I always loved Norse mythology because it was so beautiful and so sad. Still do. Perhaps it is true, after all.

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: Captain Chaos As a practical appoach, I believe that in all situations I should ask myself what will maximize my happiness, and minimize my unhappiness. The answer to that question can best be found by remembering to do all things with love.

Very good!! You have rightly bagged the best. To my mind, happiness is the purpose of every action Good or Bad. You need not ask youself what would maximise your happiness but just keep your self happy in all the circumstances, pleasant or unpleasant. This is surely a tough exercise, but practice of applying logic is the key.

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: samsara15 I am none of the above - I go my own way. However, as a moral relativist, I wish we could find a way to respect all points of view. That's hard to do when so many of us hold absolutist points of view, which makes conflict inevitable.

That is right! Then continue going your own way, why to bother for other's points of views. I can suggest only since you are relativist that you try to pick up best point of view suiting your way of view and tell your choice to have fun and also see what that choice is. :)

[Kuldeep]

samsara15, please provide the link to know more what Norse say about creation or just say in gist.

[peaceofthepie]

Religion is from man not God. We all that man lies. I fear God. That's it.

[Poledancer]

Universalist Unitarian

Kind of Christian in belief but accepting of most other beliefs

[free thinker]

Agnostic comes from the latin and greek meaning literaly" without knowlage" I have been observing the world and looking for any thing truly supernatural for fifty three years. At this point I kinda' know.. This is why I am an athiest. I have the courage of my convictions to tell any one who asks what I know and don't know. I don't hedge my bets wih half hearted shrugs of my intelectual shoulders.

[Jack]

Universalist Unitarian

I attended one of those churches when I was in high school. We used to tell people that you could believe in anything as a member of the Unitarian church, as long as you didn't believe in god. :)