What religon/belief......

[amber]

Originally Posted by Serrart

That would be to listen to music or watching a movie without giving a second thought to a musician or an actor except saying " oh yes, he/she' s great". When you idolize someone (buying all his/her records, collecting things about her/him talking of him/her constantly, going to his/her concerts, trying to meet him/her, etc) you project on him/her much of your expectations and that's a very comfortable and easily marketable subform of belief, IMO. It makes the world more enjoyable , but the basic need is the same, I think.


Romy

Excellent Point.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by Lux

I still don't get it because I was referring to the need to have a greater plan in place by a being able to control us, so as to avoid confronting the idea that everything is random. I can idolise a musician and even put expectations in them but it doesn't cure the harshness of the lack of control I have and the randomness that I believe exists.

That's why I said on a smaller scale. The need of a greater plan is replaced by an olympus of lesser gods. In the randomness of the world they are a safe oasis, to look at when you need____ (emotions, peace, joy, etc). Moreover they're much less demanding and easier to control than a real religion, no risk to finish in hell if you stop buying their records.

Romy

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by amber

Excellent Point.

Thanks Amber, I wasn't sure it made sense in English (I had doubts also in Italian ).

Romy

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Serrart

That would be to listen to music or watching a movie without giving a second thought to a musician or an actor except saying " oh yes, he/she' s great". When you idolize someone (buying all his/her records, collecting things about her/him talking of him/her constantly, going to his/her concerts, trying to meet him/her, etc) you project on him/her much of your expectations and that's a very comfortable and easily marketable subform of belief, IMO. It makes the world more enjoyable , but the basic need is the same, I think.


Romy

That's a really interesting point! Thanks for that post!

[heyjupiter678]

Originally Posted by Lux

Ok, they do provide comfort on an immediate level but I don't turn to them as people/things that have my life set out on a path and I don't rest in the knowledge that they will love me and guide me to what is good. So I see what you're saying but I think the relationship is weak (that damn word again). I remember when the tsunami hit and somebody replied that it must have happened for a (greater) reason, which I obviously completely disagree with. I think that's a lack of comming to terms with just how harsh and random existence is. So I can gain quite a bit from idols, joy, comfort etc. but I don't know that it's entirely relevant in terms of placing one's trust in a greater plan. As I said, I think it's more a matter of occupying my time that I'm here for by filling it with those who can provide me comfort. And religious people obviously fill that hole with people and teachings that provide them with comfort, but it's a whole other level when the trust in a greater plan is concerned.

Well said, Lux. I agree completely.

[CelticGypsy]

I was raised a Catholic, went to Catholic school from first to fifth grades. Hated Catholic school and did terrible with my schoolwork. Nuns had favorite kids in our classes and they showed it. I hated the rulers that was smacked on our hands if one of the mean nuns felt we were not doing good work or not being quiet enough in class. Not all nuns were bad, but a few of them should not have been teachers around children. They had no patience I went to public middle school and high school My grades improved so much that I made Honor Rolls several times At 17, became interested in the LDS after meeting some kids in that church and I was a member of that church off and on for about 22 yrs. My hubby came from an LDS family so we had that in common and wanted to raise our children in the church until they were old enough to decide which religion they wanted to belong to when older. We were active in that church but didn't go to the Temples all the time like other members. We had always been pretty open to visiting other churches and being around regular people. Some LDS are so afraid to be around people who are not of their own faith. For example, my brother and sister-in-law who just go to church and do not have friends outside of the church and they even think my hubby and I are bad people because we are not active in the church anymore. Some LDS members are wonderful people and go out into the world, meet other people who are not LDS and they are great people to be around since they are more open-minded about life and the world. The narrow minded ones are the people I have problems with since they live basically in a bubble.

Hubby and I are not in any organized religion now. We believe in God and Jesus and we do pray on our own. We are more happier not being part of a religious group. I feel more spiritual just walking along the ocean or gardening than I did some Sundays when I attended three hours of church meetings and would come home too tired and not very spiritually re-newed. I just felt the church wanted my time, money and energy and the more I gave, the more they wanted from me.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Lux

I need to be more PC.

Oh and what is LDS. I read that entire post as referring to LSD, the least problem with which is that it does not make grammatic sense.

Latter. Day. Saints. (mormons)

[Miss Vicky]

Religion was never part of my upbringing. I don't even know what, if any, faith my parents adhere to. My family always celebrated the major Christian holidays - Christmas, Easter - but it had more to do with spending time with each other and the exchanging of gifts and didn't hold any sort of spiritual meaning.
Most of the older generations of my extended family, being Japanese, are Budhist but I really know nothing of that faith either.
As a child I had a sort of passive faith in God. I never attended church, nor read the Bible, nor prayed. But I had the kind of faith in things that young children have: I believed in God because adults (not necessarily my parents) and everyone else around me believed in him.
Time went on and I got older. Things happened. Loved ones became ill and in times of great grief I turned to prayer in hopes of finding solace or some sort of answer or resolution to what was going on. What I found was a realization that I had no reason to place any faith in something I couldn't see, couldn't touch and that could not provide me with the things I sought.
When I spoke of my experiences to people who do believe very strongly in God, I was told "You can't expect him to help you just because you asked for his help. You must do what you can to help yourself. He will do what he feels is right." If I cannot expect any help from him, then I have no reason to worship him or place any faith in his existence.
I don't believe that God does not exist but I'm not convinced that he does exist either. I don't live my life by what any established religion dictates, I go by my own set of personal beliefs.

[CelticGypsy]

Originally Posted by Lux

I need to be more PC.

Oh and what is LDS. I read that entire post as referring to LSD, the least problem with which is that it does not make grammatic sense.

Lux, you definitely have some good taste if you have Bono and Lindsey on your website. What............not a Stevie fan???
I am more like Stevie when she is confronting Linds on how she writes songs in the "Destiny Rules" DVD. I write how I feel and what is in my heart too. I am too old to really care about what is the proper way of writing/using correct grammer. Some people may understand what I was trying to say. What were you on when you were reading the message J/K

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by Lux

Ok, they do provide comfort on an immediate level but I don't turn to them as people/things that have my life set out on a path and I don't rest in the knowledge that they will love me and guide me to what is good. So I see what you're saying but I think the relationship is weak (that damn word again). I remember when the tsunami hit and somebody replied that it must have happened for a (greater) reason, which I obviously completely disagree with. I think that's a lack of comming to terms with just how harsh and random existence is. So I can gain quite a bit from idols, joy, comfort etc. but I don't know that it's entirely relevant in terms of placing one's trust in a greater plan. As I said, I think it's more a matter of occupying my time that I'm here for by filling it with those who can provide me comfort. And religious people obviously fill that hole with people and teachings that provide them with comfort, but it's a whole other level when the trust in a greater plan is concerned.

IMO, it's only a matter of how engaging answers have to be to fulfill your need to trust. Most of us, even many of those who declare themselves religious but can't really have a honest faith, are content with everyday and expendable answers like a fandom can be. Some of us are able to really believe. In a God, the power of science, the humanity, for example, and that's a gift, for me.

Romy

[Sugar]

I kinda don't think there's a guy in a white beard overseeing all of us keeping track of everything we do (Wait! Did I just describe Santa Claus??? ). Everything just seems too complex for that.

I've actually given some serious thought to the possibility of polytheism--that is, that there's a number of gods out there doing their thing (now I sound like Lindsey!) I know a witch who has proven herself to be fairly effective in making certain things happen, so that has really influenced my perception (Now I really sound like Lindsey! J/K!)

Ultimately I suppose I'm agnostic. I suspect there's something going on out there, but I don't know if there's any way we can really know about it. I have been known to pray, but I have no problem addressing my prayer to "whomever is listening." I suppose that sounds odd to many of you.

I just try to be true to my heart. It doesn't make sense to me (in my heart) to not accept gays, especially when I know so many wonderful gay people, so I can't embrace any faith that would expect me to. That sort of thing.

Just this reporter's opinion...

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Sugar

I kinda don't think there's a guy in a white beard overseeing all of us keeping track of everything we do (Wait! Did I just describe Santa Claus??? ). Everything just seems too complex for that.

or should I say "Ho Ho Ho" (Which is a copyrighted phrase for the Green Giant )

Ya know I never have believed that the higher power is a male, I prefer to think the higher power is a female, Cause males in this world sure love to f**k up everything...Right Presidunce Bush?

[Sugar]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

or should I say "Ho Ho Ho" (Which is a copyrighted phrase for the Green Giant )

Ya know I never have believed that the higher power is a male, I prefer to think the higher power is a female, Cause males in this world sure love to f**k up everything...Right Presidunce Bush?

Yes, that would seem to make sense since females are the "creators" of the species.

PS Glad to see you're holding up there, Brian. I'll pray to whomever's listening to cut you a break!

[wondergirl9847]

Originally Posted by Sugar

I kinda don't think there's a guy in a white beard overseeing all of us keeping track of everything we do (Wait! Did I just describe Santa Claus??? ). Everything just seems too complex for that.

I don't believe that God/Jesus is a man with a white beard or anything like that. I don't think Jesus was a "white" man either. I hate the term white...but anyways. God is not in human form, I see Him as an energy, a light....a being. I don't believe Heaven is above us or Hell below us, they are in other dimensions *cue Twilight Zone music*. I think a lot of people think in those type of terms, literally, because if you grew up like I did, you really did think Heaven was just above the clouds and Hell was below your feet. Now that I'm adult, I know that's silly.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I don't believe that God/Jesus is a man with a white beard or anything like that. I don't think Jesus was a "white" man either. I hate the term white...but anyways. God is not in human form, I see Him as an energy, a light....a being. I don't believe Heaven is above us or Hell below us, they are in other dimensions *cue Twilight Zone music*. I think a lot of people think in those type of terms, literally, because if you grew up like I did, you really did think Heaven was just above the clouds and Hell was below your feet. Now that I'm adult, I know that's silly.

Yup What she said