What religon/belief......

seeker007nmss · #1 04-01-2005, 11:12 PM

Okay, what religion or belief do you follow? (Now let's be nice and not pick on the responses....too much

) I think everyone has their own path and I can accept almost any belief as being valid - for that person- as long as they don't harm another, or try to "push" their views. I have problems with the "organized" religions as they tend to exclude many for silly reasons, or are used for crowd control. "Believe what we do or you are going to a nasty place forever". I don't think god/gods are that strict if your are sincere in your soul. If you find peace and fullfillment in your belief, more power to you. I don't think you need a book or another mortal to contact "a greater force" and that each path has it's own merits. (And then again some are just plain kooky....j/k) Okay...let the games begin.....

golden braid · #2 04-01-2005, 11:14 PM

I'm Jewish but I'm not religious at all. I don't go to temple or really celebrate any of the holidays.

amber · #3 04-01-2005, 11:24 PM

I was raised with native american religion, and baptized catholic. But basically the tenet i try to follow, is that everything on the earth has an important place, and some aren't more important than others, and that everything is connected. Also, I try to be accepting of as many things as i possibly can, barring the obvious things which hurt others. I try to respect other people, but it can be hard. It is easy for me to respect other life forms, though. I also believe that rampant consumerism is wrong, and that value should be placed not on what we can acquire, but on deeper, more fundamental truths. I try not to be jealous, or covetous, or cruel. I think that killing things is wrong, but that death isn't, it is a natural part of the cycle of everything. I, personally, believe that the more humans distance themselves from "nature" (of which we are a part) the more soul sickness will abound.
These are just thoughts off the top of my head....

GardenStateGirlie · #4 04-01-2005, 11:26 PM

My dad was raised Catholic and I can't recall what my mom was raised. At any rate, they chose to not bring me up in a church. I went to vacation bible school one summer when I was 5 or so with neighbors (my parents thought I should have a bit of exposure). Other than that, nothing. Of course, I have my own beliefs that I like to think come from various areas and honestly, i'm happy with that.

David · #5 04-01-2005, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker007nmss

Okay, what religion or belief do you follow?

I adhere to the belief that believing is distinct from knowing, & that education, as Epictetus understood it, is the only hope for my happiness on Earth.

GateandGarden · #6 04-01-2005, 11:41 PM

Technically, I was baptized in a Baptist church, went to a Baptist preschool, and attended vacation Bible school one summer. I've been to some Baptist church services here and there also, but that's the extent of it. I never really took any of it seriously. There was a time when I wanted to because I thought I should, but it didn't feel right to me.

I identify as a agnostic. I don't particularly believe in a god, but I'm not ruling it out, as I don't think we can be certain. I personally think there was some sort of creator that set everything into motion, but when it comes to believing that that creator is still involved in every day activities of man, I personally don't believe that. I believe in the human spirit, and I don't think that, as Ani DiFranco says, "...when we are dead we are just dead," I think we go somewhere, but I realize that I could be wrong. (That goes for pretty much everything I've said so far and will say in this paragraph). I personally don't believe that dead is the end. As Carly Simon says (though she borrowed it from someone else)--"Life is eternal, love is immortal, and death is only a horizon."

The human heart also has spiritual significance to me, a kind of significance that I can't really define but it is still very vital to me. I'm ultra old-fashioned in that I believe that the heart carries the essence of us in some sense. The ancient Egyptians felt the same way, and though they were light years behind us in terms of medical science and many other fields, I think they were an amazing people. This is a huge part of why I love stethoscopes and listening to hearts so much; I call that part of my religion sometimes. (Though I say that a little facetiously, as I don't have an actual "religion," per se).

Mad4stevie · #7 04-01-2005, 11:43 PM

I was raised in a conservative Christian home. I was expected to go to church every Sunday, unless I was on my deathbed. I was even enrolled in a private Christian school from 3rd - 8th grade where we had to memorize bible verses and could only wear shorts that were no shorter than 2 inches above our knees when kneeling (talk about controlling

). So I was raised in "one of those" homes.

However, I am proud of my ability to reach beyond that kind of upbringing, which obviously tends to be very sheltered. When I left home for college, I just went crazy and did alot of the stuff I never did while living "under my parents roof" for fear of reprisal.

That included challenging my religious beliefs on an intellectual level, which would never have been acceptable to do while living with my parents.

One issue that I have with organized religion in general (no matter what the faith) is that it is ultimately a business. Thus, some decisions are made based solely on power issues or money. However, by far the worst thing is the hypocracy. I HATE THAT WITH A PASSION. Some many people get up on their "high horse" and like to look down on others as if they are "less than" worthy to be at "their" church.

I don't believe that one church is necessarily the "right" one. However, I do have a belief system centered around the idea of forgiveness and salvation for anyone who seeks it. I will be the first to admit that this cannot be rationalized. It is a faith based belief system, and cannot be supported by any logical proof.

Mad4stevie · #8 04-01-2005, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

The human heart also has spiritual significance to me, a kind of significance that I can't really define but it is still very vital to me. I'm ultra old-fashioned in that I believe that the heart carries the essence of us in some sense. The ancient Egyptians felt the same way, and though they were light years behind us in terms of medical science and many other fields, I think they were an amazing people. This is a huge part of why I love stethoscopes and listening to hearts so much; I call that part of my religion sometimes. (Though I say that a little facetiously, as I don't have an actual "religion," per se).

This makes me think of that 21 Grams movie out awhile back. Kinda creepy idea that the body loses exactly that much weight at the time of death

GateandGarden · #9 04-01-2005, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I adhere to the belief that believing is distinct from knowing, & that education, as Epictetus understood it, is the only hope for my happiness on Earth.

An honest question:

For those of you who do not hold any spiritual beliefs whatsoever, and prefer to stick to what is true beyond any shadow of a doubt and not to worry with what cannot be proven, how do you cope with the death of someone close to you?

GateandGarden · #10 04-01-2005, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

This makes me think of that 27 Grams movie out awhile back. Kinda creepy idea that the body loses exactly that much weight at the time of death

I haven't seen that movie but I should! Someone was discussing it in another thread, the one about the afterlife, I believe.

amber · #11 04-02-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I haven't seen that movie but I should! Someone was discussing in another thread, the one about the afterlife, I believe.

yeah, you lose a certain amount of body weight (21 grams?) that cannot be explained, ie, where it goes, what it is. We were discussing whether it was the soul, etc. With the possibility that "the soul" could be just, the energy we are made up of, not necessarily something that goes to heaven, or whatever. Then I said energy (matter) can't be created or destroyed, right? etc.

DownOnRodeo · #12 04-02-2005, 12:09 AM

I went to Catholic and Anglican elementary schools & churches as a kid. I was raised Christian by my parents but (gratefully) I was allowed to ask questions and, in the end, make up my own mind about the whole thing.

I have no idea how to describe my 'belief' etc at this point. Basically, anything that works is good enough!

If I had to give it a name, it'd be 'Common Sense'.

I don't agree with organized religion, but on the other hand I applaud the function that a church plays in binding a community and the charity it offers.

Mad4stevie · #13 04-02-2005, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

yeah, you lose a certain amount of body weight (21 grams?) that cannot be explained, ie, where it goes, what it is. We were discussing whether it was the soul, etc. With the possibility that "the soul" could be just, the energy we are made up of, not necessarily something that goes to heaven, or whatever. Then I said energy (matter) can't be created or destroyed, right? etc.

Yeah, thanks for correcting me, it is 21 grams. I don't know why I put 27 grams.

My opinion - it is the soul.

GardenStateGirlie · #14 04-02-2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

An honest question:

For those of you who do not hold any spiritual beliefs whatsoever, and prefer to stick to what is true beyond any shadow of a doubt and not to worry with what cannot be proven, how do you cope with the death of someone close to you?

I do hold spiritual beliefs but this is interesting...If you're familiar with early American literature, William Cullen Bryant began writing a poem entitled "Thanatopsis" at age seventeen and continued throughout his life to revise it. It was sort of a musing on death questioning how we are supposed to live when a loved one dies and were faced with thinking about our own mortality. He says:

Thou shalt lie down
With patriarchs of the infant world, with kings
the powerful of the earth, the wise, the good,
Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
All in one mighty sepulchre.

To me, it's comforting when you think about it. Yes, it's an unknown but really, so is life until you start living it. He's basically saying that you can take comfort in those who died before you and that you should live with trust (everyone else is there) and that it's always been okay and will continue to be okay. People die and will continue to die. Life will go on but you'll not be forgotten--you'll be one with Earth and carry on and so will everyone else.

GardenStateGirlie · #15 04-02-2005, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

This makes me think of that 21 Grams movie out awhile back. Kinda creepy idea that the body loses exactly that much weight at the time of death

That movie made me cry like a baby...great performances in the film and really really touching. Definitely one to watch if you've never seen it and wouldn't mind a good cry.