I've been researching every religion I could find on the internet since I was old enough to understand (maybe since I was 8 or 9 and had a computer) and I've changed my mind a thousand times as to what I believe. All I know is, when I was little I renounced Christ because I just didn't buy it. I was obsessed with getting my hands on any info about Wiccanism and Paganism that I could find for years, I collected crystals, herbs, dead tree branches, and even had a chest I painted and kept these items in. And I was so sure about it that I did a self-initiation when I was around 13. I have never told anyone this. Since then I have given it up, wanted to become a Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh. I guess I'm just impulsive. Every religion is so beautiful in its own way. My point is I wish that I could decide what I believe. I am very open minded and my belief system comes from bits and pieces of all the religions I have studied, so I suppose I can't call myself anything but a spiritual person. However, I always come back to Wiccanism. Wonder if it's got anything to do with that ritual. Should I stop labeling and just be what I am, which is nothing but someone who likes to learn?
The quest for knowledge is wonderful. No matter what your beliefs it never hurts to be knowledgeable and tolerant of others. I'm Atheist, but that doesn't mean I shut myself out from other viewpoints. As long as you can differentiate the good from the bad you're aces.
You should have fun with this then, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD_Faith And always fun to browse through what the various Emperors and Kings had wanted cut from the bible over the centuries right? http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html Labels only stick if you let them. :cheers2:
Thanks Lodog, I agree. Always good to be open minded as opposed to closed. Tolerance is something everyone needs to have. And Fritz, I have read into the Bahai Faith before, and it's lovely. The only thing that I think doesn't mesh is that I don't believe in one god. I believe everything is the higher power. The rain, grass, soil, trees, etc. It can be one thing, it can be many things.
Make your own label. I'm a Christian Wiccan. Do Christians and Wiccans roll their eyes when I say this? Sure, but it's the closest I can come to describing who I am and what I believe and stand for, so rather than spell out a dissertation to people who can't possibly be me and know where I'm coming from anyway, I'll just say that and answer questions as they come, if they come.
I mostly did what you did: search and learn... I was baptised Romanian Orthodox, but I don't consider myself a Christian anymore. I don't know how to describe myself except as spiritual as well... I like to take things from every religion and piece them together into something that appeals to me, though paganism is probably the religion that fascinates me the most. I think you should just be yourself, and forget about labels, especially if they're regarding something as important as faith...
religion is just an excuse people use to feel like they belong where they are you just need to follow the voice inside you (although I may be biased on this due to my awesome Soul ) :sunny:
Mass consciousness is all the hope we can have. I do nothing more important for politics than know that the media are showing where the real power is today.:sultan::afro:
When talking to people I don't really know, I just tell them that I'm Unitarian Universalist. If they need more info I can go into all the other labels that fit me: Pagan, Agnostic, Humanist, Panenthiest, etc. Labels help people identify and categorize. But you shouldn't change yourself to fit the label. Eclectic and Spiritual are always valid choices if you feel they suit you best. You don't have to tell people your entire background if they are asking for your religion. Get into detail if they want to go in deeper.
