I consider myself atheist eventhough some ive told my specific beliefs to have labeled me agnostic. I believe that for certain there is no higher power worth worship and judging my morality but there may be some kind of all encompassing force. I don't really like the idea of that last thought necessarily making me have inclinations towards being a theist as it says nothing regarding creation or spirituality and is probably a scientific matter just not expressed well due to the limits of language. I do meditate (not very well) and use psychedelics for spiritual purposes sometimes. I also believe in something I guess you would call technologism? I think that technological advancement is somewhat sacred as it is only our species that has acheived this on planet earth and it may say something more about the universe as well. With A giant stretch of the Imagination (not that religion ever does that) it could link us to other species but more realistically it has and I think can increasingly continue to improve our own condition.
Consider this - all existence is enterconnected by "The Force" for lack of any other word. All conscious entities share this force to one degree or another. Some can tap it more than others - they are the masters that we acknowledge, both spiritual and physical. And, tho I don't understand it, physicists are always grasping at the spiritual because the physical universe is so far out it is spiritual. Now consider all the leaps of technology - they came from theory like that put down by our Master Einstein. So, who created the atomic powered submarine Nautilus? Jules Verne of course, in the 19th Century. You see, he invisioned it - therefore created the possibility of it. That vision was shared by all the readers of 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. The collective consciousness of all those ppl who grasped the concept put it into the realm of possibility. The rest was up to Einstein and the rest of the steel workers, electricians and plumbers to build the physical one in the mid 20th century. If you can't follow what I just wrote, drop another hit and come back to it.
It took me a long time to get over my mental barrier and finaly admit that Christianity isn't something I can believe. I knew it in the back of my mind for a long time, but didn't want to go to hell. Now I guess I'm more of an agnostic, but I love the teachings of buddha, touism, and Jesus. (I find that I agree with the message of Jesus, while the rest of the Bible seems to be full of hateful, angry crap. Even Paul's letters seem to contradict much of what Jesus taught.). But I have come to relize that there's no way that man can know exactly what's going on, while God is chillin up in heaven watching his favorite group believe the truth while the rest of the world thinks it knows what's going on, but in the end just gets sent to burn. Is the secret of the universe really that you just have to believe something? That's it? I just can't follow that theology any more. "Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man, living in the sky...who watches every thing you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten special things that he does NOT want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish where he will send to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry for ever and ever ´til the end of time... ...but he loves you!" -George Carlin
I completely agree with this. I got lost a little on your examples but I have some mescaline prepared for the weekend so I will come back to the rest of what you said and try to digest it then. One of the notions that interests me, and I think we have a terrible time coping with as a species, is converging the visionary with the innovative. If I was reading the rest of your post somewhat correctly, I think that example is what you were alluding to but I think there are many other examples where we can't seem to make them work. this is largely why we in the West have a tendency to view tribal visonary based cultures as inferior and it even extends to problems within the same culture. I think the visionary can often not be put into language and even harder to make reality and put into practice. It certainly does happen it just usually is not within the lifetimes of the original vision and can get transformed in time. One of the first posts I saw on here was your review of Avatar and I think that movie and Star Wars both address that issue.
I believe in being a good person. As long as you try to do things right, never be greedy and always be honest. You can't go wrong.
Did 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea come out before or after the US Civil War? I ask because I remember reading about the South having self propelled (I think it had pedals like a bicycle) one man submarines. They would propel themselves up to ship sides and drill holes in the hulls just below the water line. I know a little off topic but I figured I had to ask. Peace Out, Rev J
I would say that my beliefs are a conglomeration of useful practices. I will separate each by category. Buddhist: meditation, thinking that most aspects of life are meaningless except what I have manifested to myself. Hindu: Yogic practice; karma, the belief in reincarnation as a possible allegory to explain Life; and the many stages of living and dying. Paganism mixed with the concept of Karma: karma applies to plants and and animals, not just people, and also the whole universe. When consuming something from nature, we shouldn't take advantage of the thing, and should try and do something for that thing we consume instead of taking advantage of it every time. Plants have spiritual properties, plants have a spirit, it should be treated as a living thing. I believe that this view could be beneficial to anyone who partakes of herbs and substances. My own belief: That we are all asleep, we are creating the life that we will inherit after we have awoken. I have many other beliefs but I can't think at this moment.
I've studied so many religions and switched from one to another several times and could never make up my mind. I finally decided trying to pigeonhole myself would be pointless. Why do you need a label? God is God, whether you're Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Agnostic, Zoroastrian, Sikh, etc... I believe in reincarnation, power of nature. I don't believe in justice or karma. I believe the force of "God" is merely the feeling of strength, will, and love inside of us. The force that drives us is God to me. I'm not trying to fit into the requirements of any religion. Heaven or hell is a state of mind created by men to bring down others and make them feel guilty. I do have hedonistic views as well. I think if you enjoy something and it isn't harming anyone, go ahead and do it. Premarital sex isn't a sin. I do however believe it should only be shared with those you love. However, that's me and anyone else can enjoy what they please and not worry about judgment from me, for sure. Drugs should be used responsibly. Addicts harm themselves and others. Self-control is key. Those are pretty much my beliefs on life.
