Your Religion

[shunyadragon]

I am from an Irish Catholic family. I am a Baha'i

[Haethurn]

I have no religion right now, but I am still searching for one. My plan is to learn Arabic and read the Qur'an, Hebrew and read the Bible, Torah, Sanskrit and read the Bhagavad-Gita, Upanishads, Vedas, Avestan and read the Zen Avesta, etc. Then after examining each religion very closely, comparing the English translations with the originals and comparing each religion with the other, I will make my decision.

Right now Islam (Sunni and Sufi) is very appealing to me, as is Jehova's Witnesses, and Baha'ism. Even Zoroastrianism has some appeal, although I do not think I could join such a small religion.

[Haethurn]

Originally posted by shunyadragon, I am from an Irish Catholic family. I am a Baha'i

Where in the world can I get the writings of Baha'ullah? Could one buy them from Amazon or Ebay? I would like to read them, but I do not like to read things on the Internet and that is usually what people suggest I do...same with the Avesta...I can never find a COMPLETE copy of that in English. It is very frustrating.

you can probably look them up and read them online. if not, baha'i might sponsor you doing that.

[Sourena]

I am Shiite/Zoroastrian. Zoroastrianism was the world's first monotheic religion. We Persians beleieved in one god, Ahura Mazda, when the rest of the world was still pagan. I like Zoroastrianism because it is centred onhumanism and just plain goodness. The motto of Zoroastrians is "Pendarenik, Goftarenik, Raftarenik", translated: "Think good thoughts, speak good words, do good deeds", but I have yet to read the Avesta.

i'm pagan. in many ways. i am sure i do not have conflict with the spine of zoroastrianism. but i do reject many social behavior regulations from islam.

[shunyadragon]

Originally posted by Haethurn,+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Haethurn,)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin-shunyadragon, I am from an Irish Catholic family. I am a Baha'i

Where in the world can I get the writings of Baha'ullah? Could one buy them from Amazon or Ebay? I would like to read them, but I do not like to read things on the Internet and that is usually what people suggest I do...same with the Avesta...I can never find a COMPLETE copy of that in English. It is very frustrating.[/b][/quote]

I am in China and my friends usually get me stuff from the US. Look for a Baha'i Local Spiritual Assembly in your city or a large city near where you live. They often have a library or book store. They are usually in the phone book.

The Baha'i Publishing Trust is the main source for books. They have a web page I think. I will check.

[Golgo13]

Religion: None

Conclusions: There is no valid evidence to indicate the truthfulness of any particular religion, and we are all perfectly aware of the fact thet people make up religions all the time, so i have very little incentive to put stock in any of them being accurate representations of reality, to say the least.

[Paul]

Hello Giancarlo,

What is so laughable about my LOVE talk? EXPLAIN!

Peace be with you, Paul

[dotcoma]

He is gone, my friend...

[Impenitent]

hitler ruled with love for his master race

golgo, i respect the video game of your namesake. you are wise to question religions wholesale. but do not assume that the inaccuracy of religions means that there is no 'god'.

[Utah]

Born and Raised LDS (Mormon), though do not practice or involve myself in the religion. I do not believe in organized religion, but in no way feel if someone does they are weeker or stronger than I am. Organized religion is simply something someone needs or wants to feel good about themselves, or look good in their community.

[Haethurn]

Originally posted by Sourena, I am Shiite/Zoroastrian. Zoroastrianism was the world's first monotheic religion. We Persians beleieved in one god, Ahura Mazda, when the rest of the world was still pagan. I like Zoroastrianism because it is centred onhumanism and just plain goodness. The motto of Zoroastrians is "Pendarenik, Goftarenik, Raftarenik", translated: "Think good thoughts, speak good words, do good deeds", but I have yet to read the Avesta.

Okay, do you know where I can find a complete Avesta in English?

[PhanthomOps]

Well, I might as well get in on this one.

I was baptised Lutheran, went to a Baptist Sunday School - go figure. Became disenchanted, and began to read books on other religions, as well as talk to friends so I could make some sort of informed decision.

Ended up becoming a member of a Lutheran Church in the neighborhood where my wife, two children and I moved to.

I really wasn't what people refer to as "being grounded", so when I enlisted in the Air Force, subsequently experiencing combat and loving the killing, you could say I was lost.

In 1977 after a lengthly search to as some people say "get right" I became a Born-Again Christian / Pentacostal. And no I do not swing from the chandelers or bounce off the walls.

However, I am at total peace with myself, family and most with whom I come in contact. I am no longer agressively, blatently in your face, hardened, unsensative, cold-hearted, dead to the feelings of others, to hell with you person I once was.

In-as-much as most humanity is flawed, selfish, immoral, unethical, etc., I have found that I can live apart from it all.

Most things do not effect me, however, I am by no means docile, passive or inactive. I am very adament on some subject to the point of raising my voice, and getting a little hot under the collar.

All in all, I have found my place in the faith I have come to embrace.

As far as other religions including those athiests are concerned, that is your right and freedom of choice, and one of the reasons I enlisted in the military to protect.

Even though I might personally disagree possibly to the point of argument with the teachings of other religions, I do not feel it is my right or duty to belittle those teachings, or to attempt to browbeat someone into believing what I do.

[damnrad]

Originally posted by dotComa, Hey, I'm new to the forums, and I think a good way to get things rolling here would be to ask something personal about you. What is your religious affiliation, why, and what conclusions have you come to about your own religion. Do you accept other ones? If not why... I myself was baptized catholic, but I find myself in a state of disbelief. I tend to keep an open mind, and believe that I do not know enough about my surroundings to judge them yet. I hold an attitude of "if there's a God I've been a good guy, but I'm not going to drink the Kool-Aide" if you get my drift. so...how about you?

Hey, another baptized Catholic here -- and one until age 23. I spent my time as an atheist, then realized that that was as religious as Catholicism. I've long been an agnostic.

Now, there's the separate question of religious affiliation. Until last year, I was a Unitarian-Universalist, in fact was on the board of my church. I quit that church when it moved toward replacing religious education with Sunday chapel. I felt that that policy broke faith with those of us who wanted to see our children educated in a moral viewpoint, not indoctrinated in some ritualistic religious practices, no matter how nonspecific as to what they were to be religious about. Should I move to a locality with a UU church with a different approach, or with multiple churches with different approaches, I might well join a UU church or fellowship that remained true to the openness UUs are supposed to practice.

[damnrad]

Originally posted by Mozart1220, I am a "Frisbeeterian". We believe that when you die your soul goes on the roof and you can't get it down. seriously, I'm closest to an agnostic.

Ooh, sounds inviting! Where can I get some literature on Frisbeeterianism -- or is that also on the roof where one can't get it down? ;-)

And thanks for your post!

[damnrad]

Originally posted by Mozart1220,+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mozart1220,)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Originally posted by shunyadragon,@ <!--QuoteBegin-Mozart1220, I am a "Frisbeeterian". We believe that when you die your soul goes on the roof and you can't get it down. seriously, I'm closest to an agnostic. Not everyone ends up on the roof. Some end up in the trees, some are saved and born again, some go to the dogs and the worst, shudder, end up on the freeway.

Damned "reformed" Frisbeeterians! [/b][/quote]

But don't Frisbeeterian-Universalists believe that no matter where the soul goes in the interim, they all end up on the roof?

[damnrad]

Originally posted by dave654, I don't have any "beliefs" either. I try to live by the golden rule of treating others as I would have them treat me. OR there's the silver rule of don't treat others as you would not want them to treat you. Confucious.

Then there's the copper rule: treat others within the rule of law, or the coppers will get you.

By the way, when you say that you don't have any beliefs, do you know that for sure, or is it just your belief?

[Paul]

A person's belief is what they DO, regardless of what they say.

When we do not live according to what we say what we believe, we do not
believe what we say. Those that walk their talk are honest to the world, and those that don't are not. One may say, they believe this or that, but if there is no friut from what they think they believe, then what was the purpose of their belief. ( fruits --> the result of action )

Peace be with you, Paul