What religion/non-religion are you a member of and Why?

[St Leo]

I am an atheist extremist, because the point of existence is the pursuit of truth, and all human religions have disproven themselves ages ago.

[johncmcleod]

Yes, people are confusing religion with spirituality.

I was raised Catholic but the more I looked into history I realized that I don't think the main beliefs are true. It is manmade just like any other religion.

I do think there is some high power. I don't think that there was nothing, and all of the sudden a little something appeared magically and the created a big explosion. But there isn't really any way to prove it one way or another as far as I'm concerned.

Right now my view of God is similar to the transcendalists. I believe that God is in all things. It is like an electric current that flows through everything. Spirituality is about connecting with this current. That is what nirvana, going to heaven, etc. is. And once you can find God in all things, everything becomes God and is beautiful. This state is euphoric and it should be strived for. In every intense spiritual experience (including my own) that I've heard about, the person saw God in all things.

Even if you don't necessarily believe in any type of higher power, or any type of force that I've described, you can still have similar beliefs. For example, I have a friend that believes everything is God. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, energy and mass are interchangeable. Everything is just concentrated energy, and if everything is energy, everything is God. So you could say that with this belief there is no God, but if you believe everything is God than you can still be spiritual and you will be happier.

I don't like religion, but spirituality is great. A spiritual experience is one thousand times better than anything you can experience in life that isn't. I think everyone, especially aetheists and agnostics, should learn about the teachings of all religions on spirituality (not on doctrine and rituals) and figure out what works best for you. Just try it. If that means going to Church, than great. If it means meditation, do it. If it means prayer, pray. If it means walking through the woods and letting the current fill through you, then do it. I think that all religions have some great ideas, you just have to find them.

So I think he who doesn't try spirituality is making a huge mistake. It is stupid to dismiss the ideas of the spiritual teachers without even taking a look at them and trying it out. The search is worth it, if you can have one hour were you feel God and/or beauty in all things, hours and hours of searching for it will be worth it.

I encourage everyone to read about all the religions of the world (their ideas, not the institutions).

[DrGerry]

What Blake says is true. Buddhism is not a religion. Is more a philosophy.

Tao the same.

I remember have read Taoism is not religion but a metaphysic

[Wycoff]

Originally posted by Gerar Dean
What Blake says is true. Buddhism is not a religion. Is more a philosophy.

Buddhism isn't monolithic; there are many different varieties of Buddhism, some more like philosophies (like Zen Buddhism) some very much religious. I can't remember its name (Pure Land Buddhism?), but there was a type of Buddhism prevelant in Japan at the time of first European contact that was very much like Christianity. Even the Preists commented on the similarities, remarking that it must have been designed by the Devil to be so close to Christianity so as to lead as many souls astray as possible

Does anyone know what I am talking about?

[Ancyrean]

I was born in a Muslim society to a not-so-practising family. All my life I've had the opportunity of debating religion (Islam in particular) with both atheists and fundamentalists. I also used to be an avid reader of popular science.

All in all, I came to a point where I discovered Islam as a religion is much more profound than what it looks like today in light of how Muslim countries live and their level of (non)development and technological/social backwardness.

As such, Islamic philosphy and the Qoranic explanation of God, universe and creation constantly and positively amazes me. I try to keep up my habit of following popular science, and without fail (including evolution) I find inspiration in the harmony between science and Islam, between the values of Enlightenment and the core of Islam (as opposed to what "Islamic" societies practice today), by the balance of humanism and society in Islam (as opposed to destructive terrorism waged in its name).

I also bet you could never imagine such a description of Islam.

In sum, although I'm not a hard-practicing person, I am nevertheless a Muslim.

[johncmcleod]

Ben Kenobi, what is with your avatar?

And you still owe me a response in the 'Do Christians fear death' thread.

[DrGerry]

@Wycoff: I know. What you say is true, but as I know, these are religions based on the (I dont' know the correct english word) ¿deification? of Siddartha Gautama (Buddah), not his philosophy.

[DrGerry]

Originally posted by Ancyrean
I also bet you could never imagine such a description of Islam.

I know that. In my country the muslim community is really small, but when Bush attacs Islam without discrimination, the argentinean muslims where at TV and expalin what you say.

[Ben Kenobi]

If only you had had a friend who inducted you into the delights of the Grateful Dead and wild animal jungle sex with hot girls.

How Apolyton would be different.....

I doubt I'd be here if that were the case.

And don't laugh. I had a friend who was like that. Trouble is that he took after me more than I him.

[Ben Kenobi]

Ben Kenobi, what is with your avatar?

Lost a bet. There's a thread floating around here either on the second or first page.

And you still owe me a response in the 'Do Christians fear death' thread.

Okay. I'll search for that. Part of the problem is that I post in enough threads that keeping track of them is cumbersome.

[johncmcleod]

Wycoff-I just read about the Pure Land Sect yesterday in my book. It is similar to Christianity for it has a personal God. I can't remember that much about it though.

Gerar Dean-not all Buddhist sects deify Buddha.

Ancyrean-Do you know a lot about Sufism? From what I've read about it, it is very similar to my beliefs.

[johncmcleod]

Lost a bet. There's a thread floating around here either on the second or first page.

The funny part is the 'together at last.'

[Pekka]

Lutheran. The ONLY real one. Every other religion or subset of Christianity is not only false but they are jokes as well and people participating and SATAN worshippers and clowns and will burn in HELL.

[Ancyrean]

Originally posted by johncmcleod
Ancyrean-Do you know a lot about Sufism? From what I've read about it, it is very similar to my beliefs.

I'm not an expert on it but I know generally what it's about. It's a very inclusive and universalist sect of Islam. Emphasising the love of God and creation, they assert the form of worship is not relevant, the essence of your love is. They call out for all, the Christians, the Jews, the Zoroastrians and basically anyone regardless of faith (or lack thereof) to come and join with them in their love. Whirling Dervishes are only the most aesthetic expression of their creed.

If I may attempt a rough translation of a well-known quote; "We love the created because of their connection to the Creator"

[MORON]

I believe in the sign of Zeta. ( kudos fo reference)

aka, I don't give an *insert some 4 lettered word*