Religion

[Tracy Lord]

I thought I'd start an uncontroversial topic. lol

I'm sure there have been other threads about it, but I'm curious where everyone comes down on religion, gods, etc.

I don't have any use for organized religion myself and, really, I don't believe in any actual deities. But I do find the metaphor powerful and useful. For me, it's become the concept of the "Divine Feminine." I ascribe everything to the goddess that I felt was missing from the god I was raised with.

I worship at yoga and when I'm hiking out in the middle of nowhere. At night, she gives me a lovely maternal embrace. She's everything I'm not and everything I'm trying to become in terms of love, compassion, etc. And, in case anyone's interested, she's not a virgin. lol

[Zontar]

I dunno if this thread is gonna survive the first three posts, but I'm a fencesitting atheist.

There's one thing I'm virtually certain of, and that's that God is not here on Earth and never has been. All mainstream religions are bunk and all scriptures are bunk as well.

But I have doubts about a god not having made the universe though. I've read a physics book, about how Earth is possibly the only planet able to harbor life through an increasingly unlikely set of favorable events, and it really gets me thinking.

So, if there is a God of some sort, I believe he may have made the universe, and he works solely through the laws of physics. There are no exceptions to these laws, and hence, no miracles or communications or inspirations. If we wanna know who God is, and what he wants, I believe we should toss anything we refer to now and get to him through the study of reality just like anything else.

[Owen]

Before I get into my response, let me remind everyone that disparaging another member for their religious beliefs is strictly against our Code of Conduct. If you don't think you can be respectful of other faiths or lack-there-of's in your response, don't hit that "Post Reply" button.

I'm a very "I believe it when I see it" kind of person, as well as a very rationally oriented kind of person. As such, the idea of faith never really meshed with me. I remember back when I hadn't completely lost my faith, but was close to it, a friend of my parents told me about a bible verse that went something like, "Blessed are they who have not seen and who still believe." That should have tipped me off to the fact that my days as a person of faith were numbered, but it took a friend of mine telling me that the whole point of faith is believing something without any evidence for it (or else it wouldn't be called "faith") for me to realize it wasn't for me.

Now, notice how I only used the word "faith" in that last paragraph and never used the word "religion". I did that intentionally, because faith is only one part of religion. Religion also includes moral laws, guidelines on how to live ones life, general principles on how the world works, and other such mundane things, and my candid discussions with people of faith have shown me that I have a great deal in common with those of faith in all other aspects of religion. My mother, for example, is fond of saying that our thoughts create energy that the universe responds to, creating our future. When I discussed this idea with her and we got down to the nitty gritty of it, I discovered that her belief really wasn't all that different from the psychological idea of the self-fulfilling prophecy, something I do believe in. A lot of our discussions have gone down that road: when we get down to basics, the only thing we really disagree on is whether we call the phenomenon of interest divine or not (it's worth noting my mother doesn't believe in a man-in-the-sky kind of deity). I know not everyone of faith thinks that way, but I tell this story to illustrate that theists and non-theists have more in common than they realize.

Originally Posted by Zontar

But I have doubts about a god not having made the universe though. I've read a physics book, about how Earth is possibly the only planet able to harbor life through an increasingly unlikely set of favorable events, and it really gets me thinking.

This idea always rubbed me the wrong way as evidence for the existence of divine influence on the creation of the universe. While the conditions for life may have been incredibly unlikely, we wouldn't be able to consider how unlikely those conditions are had they not occurred and made us. If those conditions hadn't aligned just right, it's not like we'd be sitting here on our barren planet saying, "Well, it sucks that life never happened, but hey, it was pretty unlikely, anyways." We can only consider the improbability of those conditions because they did happen. And considering that our universe is 15 billion years old and the observable universe is about 4 nonilion (i.e. 4 thousand billion billion billion) cubic light years big, it's really not that improbable that those improbable events would happen at some point.

[Mogget]

Originally Posted by Zontar

I dunno if this thread is gonna survive the first three posts...

Just keep thing respectful, everybody, and it'll be fine. It's okay to say why you like your religion, but don't denigrate the beliefs of other ECers.

[DoriaN]

I'm Christian but I am currently exploring the Bible to get my own full understanding of how I feel about it, and what it means to me.

[QuestionMark]

Like Zontar, I too am an atheist. I don't believe that God has, is, or will ever exist on Earth. Now, that's not to say there isn't some driving force behind the creation and sustaining of our planet and its inhabitants, but I highly doubt that God created mankind, or that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after being crucified.

After all, the bible was written by several people over several centuries, and I don't see how there could be proof that they were able to communicate with the divine, yet billions of people take it as the truth, as the word of God (I don't oppose this, it can be a wonderful thing, I just don't really comprehend...I could go into the details of Science vs. Religion, but that would take FOREVER).

Although I don't believe in, or worship deities, there is absolutely nothing wrong with religion when it is used for good, to bring people together opposed to separating them. However, like most (if not all) significant concepts, ideas, practices, etc., it can easily be used as a basis and reason for doing bad (eg. the Thuggee Murders, The Inquisition, the Crusades, etc.) My father is also an atheist, and his deeply religious and conservative family in the south basically shuns us for not believing in God, some even going as far as saying that we'll 'go to hell' if we didn't believe in the Lord Almighty. Religion has saved many lives, but has ended many too.

Now that I've gone on my rant, it would probably be good to say that EVERYONE should be entitled to their own beliefs and religion, and should be respectful towards the decisions of others, even if they do not correspond with your own (I just find it sad that there is a total lack of this in our world, consequently leading to MAJOR conflict).

[Random Dent]

I don't like organised religion. It's great if it's for you, but please don't try to "save" me.
I try my hardest not to judge people (because I hate being judged) and I try to love my neighbors as myself. We only have one short life to live, I'd rather spend it celebrating love than spend it promoting bigotry and hatred towards people.

If there is a god, it can only speak for itself.

[Colton]

Religion is confusing >_<

I don't not believe that there is a God of some sort, but the thing is, what is a God? Some claim he is the Maker, some say He is only to judge where we go after death, some say He is here to protect us. Some say he is all of that. Same with certain religions. Theistic or non-theistic. One God or many Gods. Left-hand religions or Right-hand religions.
Who's to say one religion is the true religion? And if we eventually choose one religion, what happens to all other religions? (So many questions )
And there's so many different religious texts out there (obviously because of the thousands and thousands of religions out there). So, how do we know which , if any, is the true one?


Now personally, I don't believe God is a person or spirit, or anything like that. I believe that the universe, everything there is, is God. It's hard to explain.

[FJ Cruiser]

Originally Posted by JustImagine

Now personally, I don't believe God is a person or spirit, or anything like that. I believe that the universe, everything there is, is God. It's hard to explain.

That's basically a form of animism.


I feel like it would take me explain my views and experiences on faith and religion to my satisfaction. However, long story short: I'm a Christian, I've basically reconciled all issues with my orientation.

That said, if anyone ever wants to talk to me about anything (I seriously mean anything) dealing with religion, I'd be happy to discuss and share.

[Bibliophile]

Well my belief is interesting. I get my ethics from the Satanic bible as written by Anton LaVay. Or at least most of them. He had some views I didnt totally like but for the most part I agree with him. However when it comes to spirituality I tend to look towards the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Now I am not sure if they are simply a way for me to focus my will into the universe and hope that it has some effect as I act to make it real or if they are simply a way for me to connect with concepts I dont fully understand. I tend to worship the "dark" ones such as Anubis. However my belief system tend to be a mishmash of various things that work for me. So if I had to label myself I would call it an Eclectic Kemetic pagan with Satanic ethics..... yea that makes sense.

[Shmoe]

I'm Christian. My ideas of how god is or how he works may change from time to time but the basic idea is always true to me. I've had a great experience with the churches I've been to and made some good friends at bible camps and what not. I switch between two ideas of god. One is the ever loving one who'll accept you for who you are and forgive you when you're truly sorry. Then there's the Jokester, who is less forgiving.

[Just Passing]

I'm not religious, but I like some religious imagery. If I were to be religious, I would love to be a Buddhist, simply because I like their values and practices. So technically, I'm a part-time Buddhist.

[ICTOAUN]

i have labeled myself as a christian for the past 5+ years. because i have faith that there is a god and i believe in jesus christ. periodically through out my life i experience a very close relationship with him. however, when things take a turn for the worst in my life. i tend to rethink my beliefs . although i consider myself a christian, i have trouble attending church and reading the bible. church is great when they talk about love. but i get quite bored when the sermons r about finances or other random stuff. And i was an avid bible reader until the thought of me being homosexual arose. i dont want to use the bible as 'an instruction book for life' because i dont agree with many of the things written in it. i try to live a life that is loving towards everyone. i try not to judge others. stuff like that..

[Pseudojim]

Ex-christian, now agnostic, opposed to both atheism and organised religion. There is a place in everyone's life for spirituality, no agency required.

[ICTOAUN]

Originally Posted by Pseudojim

Ex-christian, now agnostic, opposed to both atheism and organised religion. There is a place in everyone's life for spirituality, no agency required.

well said

[FJ Cruiser]

Originally Posted by FJ Cruiser

That's basically a form of animism.


I feel like it would take me explain my views and experiences on faith and religion to my satisfaction. However, long story short: I'm a Christian, I've basically reconciled all issues with my orientation.

That said, if anyone ever wants to talk to me about anything (I seriously mean anything) dealing with religion, I'd be happy to discuss and share.

Wow. I meant to put "too long to" so that the sentence reads "I feel like it would take me too long to explain my views and experiences on faith and religion to my satisfaction." I need to get to bed...

[haelmarie]

Originally Posted by Gamer am I

Now, notice how I only used the word "faith" in that last paragraph and never used the word "religion". I did that intentionally, because faith is only one part of religion. Religion also includes moral laws, guidelines on how to live ones life, general principles on how the world works, and other such mundane things, and my candid discussions with people of faith have shown me that I have a great deal in common with those of faith in all other aspects of religion. My mother, for example, is fond of saying that our thoughts create energy that the universe responds to, creating our future. When I discussed this idea with her and we got down to the nitty gritty of it, I discovered that her belief really wasn't all that different from the psychological idea of the self-fulfilling prophecy, something I do believe in. A lot of our discussions have gone down that road: when we get down to basics, the only thing we really disagree on is whether we call the phenomenon of interest divine or not (it's worth noting my mother doesn't believe in a man-in-the-sky kind of deity). I know not everyone of faith thinks that way, but I tell this story to illustrate that theists and non-theists have more in common than they realize.

This is very true.

[aidan]

I don't see any point believing in something that can't be proven to be true, and in all likelihood isn't.

[James]

I'm a Spiritualist. The Wikipedia article below explains it better than I can. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a private message.

Spiritualism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[DarkClarity]

I'm an Atheist. My family are all christian but to be honest I never really believed it. If people what to practice their faith then they can go for it but, just don't impose your beliefs on anyone or try to "save" me either.