Wat is ur religion?

I have none whatsoever... i wouldn't even call myself an atheist...

 

You religion is racism? Nice ::::Shakes head::::

 

Religion is poison. Not in the sense that I hate religion, but in that having strict beliefs in things unknown is foolish and poisons the mind. Like they said in "Dogma," beliefs are bad, ideas are good. Besides, I see every religion as having their own symbols for the same thing, and yet people fight or even kill over their symbology! How ridiculous.

I'm a freely spiritual person, generally atheistic but not a pure rationalist/materialist. Labels labels labels...blah, they are as bad as beliefs. Just another trap for the mind and spirit.

 

God, i can't resist the urge.....

Exactly. Maybe you should study religion before you develop strict beliefs about it...

And repeating someone's belief that beliefs are bad is not ridiculous.

Labels are only a trap if you believe them to be. You could instead look at them as a way to interact with other beings, which is the freedom by which your internal spirit exhibits itself to others.

 

I have my own religion. Well, it's not a religion (I hate religion) but it's my own faith.

It was called 'The Church of Dan', then changed to 'The Temple of Dan'. Just recently I've started calling myself pagan (as a lot of my ideas are very earth based), but in truth what I believe is diffrent to a lot of people.

As I said, I'm very much into nature. I don't believe in god. I believe that if anything should be worshiped as god it's the earth for protecting us. When I say worthip the earth, I don't mean dance around like a ninny or do silly things like pray to it.. I mean do pratical things such as conservation. Everytime I put recycle something, I'm worshiping the earth.

A lot of my views are very much the same as the established scientific views. I believe in energy. We are all made of energy, and you can't create or destroy energy, only convert it's form. Energy is the worlds only constant.

I would go into more detail, but don't have the time.

 

I am an agnostic. I believe that with our current level of consciousness (that is, my level of consciousness and the collective consciousness state of the human race), it is quite impossible to actually *KNOW* that a God or gods exist (in the essence that seems to be the popular stereotype).

I do believe that there is a higher power out there. I do not necessarily believe in a particular higher power (God, Allah, Satan, whichever) because the details of every one of these gods varies from individual to individual.

I do believe that this higher power is conscious, and I do believe that this higher power may very well exist outside of all logic and reason and that we may never come to understand this being's existance no matter what plane of consciousness we think upon.

 

I have studied religions, and though I can see their value, I can't see any value in being totally into any one of them, like a fundamentalist or something. They all say the same thing in a different way, for the most part, until you get hung up on symbolism. When someone start talking about their religion as being the One and Only True religion is when I stop listening, because it just means they've closed themselves off from true spirituality and from new ideas.

As far as beliefs being bad, I meant that it's bad to be so staunchly believing one way that you could kill or die for that belief. I don't think killing or dying for an unknown makes much sense.

you have a point on the labels. I just find them annoying because people like to pigeon-hole you when they hear your label. Plus, it's easy to get trapped in them, to the point where it might inhibit personal growth. But you're right, it doesn't have to.

 

I feel you... nice first paragraph.

The people who are killing or dying for their beliefs know why they are willing to do so. Is it reasonable to assume that there are some things you would kill or die for because of your beliefs about reality and morality?

It is necessary for you to label in order for people to 'pidgeon-hole' you. When someone 'pidgeon-hole's you, you learn to label (communicate your ideas) in a more careful manner and drop (or restructure) labels that have obvious faults. When you have a valid reason to use a label, it is better for you and those you talk with if you can explain the use of the label with valid and pertinent arguments.

A good 'pidgeon-holing' will get you out of the 'trap' of incorrect understanding of labels. A good 'pidgeon-holing' can be essential to personal growth.

'Pidgeon-holing', while painful the first bunch of times, can become a truly enjoyable experience, especially with someone who is good at it.

 

This pigeon-holing metaphor is starting to get tangled up. Could you define exactly what you mean by it? It's a little vague to me...

 

Why would you want to be affiliated with a church of such hatred?
That's horrible.

 

If you're being serious then I have no respect for you. Even if you're joking about, it's a foolish joke.

 

I think I could only kill in self defense or perhaps to save someone else from a grave injustice (rape, murder, etc). Never for an idea though. But then, I've never been remotely tested in that area, so I can't really say for sure. And I'd never be a martyr for an idea or a religion. Obviously even I have some ideas that I hold strongly, like, I love my human rights and freedoms. But I don't know if I'd be willing to kill for them...right now I'd say it's unlikely. Even stripped of my rights, I suppose they cant control my thoughts or spirit, and I figure death will find me soon enough without me going looking for it.

Yeah, but it's annoying. Like, if I call myself an atheist, which I am, people assume I'm not spiritual, hate Christians (another loaded label, as many of you know), some may see me as evil and immoral, or may think that I think I have all the answers to all The Big Questions. There's all kinds of baggage that goes along with that word. But do I want to get into some big discussion about the specifics of my beliefs every time I'm asked and answer "atheist"? I guess I shouldn't worry about what others think, their judgement is their problem, but still...I, like most people, like to be understood.

 

In the end don't all the faiths and beliefs and religions in the world boil down to one essential argument - their plausibility? Everything spiritual, religious, and philosophical is always based on theory, ergo by definition it's improvable.
The world is never going to agree on one single belief, or even one general belief...I believe that you need to find your own way and let others do the same. Who are we to condemn what we know nothing of?

 

If you were convinced, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the outcome of you doing the action would benefit the world, would you do it?

ok.... People will only understand you if you take the time to explain your beliefs. Big discussion time?

 

DaisaeFaerie-

Pidgeon holing someone is sorta... well.. bending them over and.. ummh..

I agree with your last post.

 

...atheist

 

Except maybe through direct personal experience. The catch is, at least for a lot of these religions, you have to believe first.

 

To your first point, I don't know. It's unlikely I COULD ever know that what I'm doing will benefit anyone in the long run...the world is random like that, things change, unintended effects, etc. If that's reasonable doubt, fine. Then...well, I might do it. There is that selfish will-to-live thing which is probably hard to overcome. I'll let you know if I'm ever faced with it. But, then, you'll only know if I fail, and choose my life over whatever else. Oh well.

To your second...not now, I'm tired

 

I'm Roman Catholic, so I think the whole notion of being born again is sort of nonsense.