What is you religion?

[Beef Jerky]

Parhaps a question that is a bit too personal but meh. I am not to sure of my religion.

[Raz]

I do not belive in religion. I belive in spirituality... Religions are philosophies with some good ideas and some fu**ing wierd ones... Just follow you heart and you will grow in the egg you are in right now... Earth is one... More and more people will be aware of this in the coming few years...

[Beef Jerky]

Define your meaning of spirituality please.

[Lucius]

My religion is love. I express myself through an open heart and soul ^_^ Compassion is my bible, my heart my temple. My spirituality is very practical. Spirituality is finding happiness in the simple things and letting go off too many negative emotions. Spirituality is laughing, smiling, playing, being at peace with nature, being there for others, staying open to everything, everybody. Just enjoying life can be spiritual as well. It doesn't have to be high up in the clouds, it can be very down to earth to me. Simple and pure, like a child I don't think we all have to be super enlightened oracles of truth and god to find 'heaven' or 'nirvana' or whatever you would call it Nor do we have to worship anybody. We just go with the flow and be at peace, and we'll find, eventually. My primary goal (and idea of spirituality) is to achieve peace of self and peace with whatever is around me. I let go of absolute truth and no longer find it most important to know whether god exists this way or the other way. Whether Jezus is what people claim him to be or how the afterlife looks. Instead, I only hold on to inner peace and love, and no matter where I go or what happens, this will always be with me. I don't believe in judgment based on our religious or spiritual beliefs (in fact, I don't believe anybody but ourselves are to judge ourselves). Spirituality (and religion for that matter) should be simple, understandable and accepting of everybody. For all humans (no, all souls). There should never be any fear or worship for the sake of rewards or fear.. just love in the broadest sense. Our highest goal is to be happy! Love makes us happy, so that's another reason for me to believe in love. My spirituality is not another's. I believe there are so many paths leading to the very same goal and people forget this sometimes and start arguments.. but still, all those paths should be paved with love. And again.. I use the word love but I mean many words: compassion, acceptance, an open heart, kindness, understanding, warmth.. But besides all that.. the most important thing to me is still and will always be: having fun and enjoying myself along the ride! (as long as it doesn't hurt others, as far as I can help anyway) ps. of course I do have personal ideas on concrete religious/spiritual matters.. like what god is, how the afterlife looks etc. But this isn't the most important to me, these matters come second to the above. Because the above is independent of the 'truth', which is ever changing as I go and learn. Because I never know everything and I'm never sure. But this something I've accepted, you can never know everything.

[pj]

The poll is flawed. Christianity is not religion. There are many religions based in Christianity... but that's not the same thing. General religious categories within the Christian tradition might include Protestant, Anabaptist, Baptist, Catholic, etc... If you were to list every one of them, I would have to pick other/not sure/none. I am not religous, and mostly dispise religion. I am a Christian, not as defined, granted or determined by any religion, cult or organization, but by the free gift of God. Period. .

[Alex D]

I'm an atheist, but I try to take a pantheist outlook on life. It's nice to think that everything is connected, even if it isn't. So I try to personify god in everyone and everything. This way I get to truly appreciate the world. I see god in all the flowers, in all the animals, in everyone I meet. Hell I see god in everyone... except that dude who lives in the sky. Because he's not real. :P

[Neruo]

'We've got the power' tuuu-duuu-duuuu-Duuuuu I think the atheists will win ^_^ However, intresting topic. Much much of america is reliigous? And how much of europe? Of africa? and christian?

[Gwendolyn]

Originally posted by Lucius My religion is love. I express myself through an open heart and soul ^_^ Compassion is my bible, my heart my temple. My spirituality is very practical. Spirituality is finding happiness in the simple things and letting go off too many negative emotions. Spirituality is laughing, smiling, playing, being at peace with nature, being there for others, staying open to everything, everybody. Just enjoying life can be spiritual as well. It doesn't have to be high up in the clouds, it can be very down to earth to me. Simple and pure, like a child I don't think we all have to be super enlightened oracles of truth and god to find 'heaven' or 'nirvana' or whatever you would call it Nor do we have to worship anybody. We just go with the flow and be at peace, and we'll find, eventually. I think you just defined my whole existance. I am officially Agnostic, but this is the whole basis of what I believe.

[wombing]

it is relevant to consider the etymological roots of the term "religion", which refer to a "(re)joining", "(re)uniting", "yoking", etc... The essence of religion is "love your neighbor as yourself". It is the relating principle, golden rule, compassion, karma...and so on, and requires no mumbo jumbo. the following is an excellent outline of just how similar most religious and philosophical systems are (from religioustolerance.org): Some "Ethic of Reciprocity" passages from the religious texts of various religions and secular beliefs: Bahá'í World Faith: "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf Brahmanism: "This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517 " Buddhism: "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353 Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18 Christianity: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version. "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version. "...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6. The Gospel of Thomas is one of about 40 gospels that were widely accepted among early Christians, but which never made it into the Christian Scriptures (New Testament). Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23 "Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3 "Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4 Ancient Egyptian: "Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to 1970 to 1640 BCE and may be the earliest version ever written. 3 Hinduism: "One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself." Mencius Vii.A.4 Humanism: "(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity." "(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings. " 4 "Don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you, British Humanist Society. 3 Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 5 Jainism: "Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2. "In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara "A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33 Judaism: "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18 "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a. "And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15 6 Native American Spirituality: "Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace. "All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk Roman Pagan Religion: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves." Shinto: "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form" Sikhism: Compassion-mercy and religion are the support of the entire world". Japji Sahib "Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone." Guru Arjan Devji 259 "No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend." Guru Arjan Dev : AG 1299 Sufism: "The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this." Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order. Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien. "The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49 Unitarian: "We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent of all existence of which we are a part." Unitarian principles. Wicca: "An it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what ever you will, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). One's will is to be carefully thought out in advance of action. This is called the Wiccan Rede Yoruba: (Nigeria): "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts." Zoroastrianism: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself". Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5 "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29 Some philosophers' statements are: Epictetus: "What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek not to impose on others." (circa 100 CE) Plato: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me." (Greece; 4th century BCE) Socrates: "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you." (Greece; 5th century BCE) Seneca: "Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors," Epistle 47:11 (Rome; 1st century CE) Examples from moral/ethical systems are: Humanism: "...critical intelligence, infused by a sense of human caring, is the best method that humanity has for resolving problems. Reason should be balanced with compassion and empathy and the whole person fulfilled." Humanist Manifesto II; Ethics section. Scientology: "20: Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you." This is one of the 21 moral precepts that form the moral code explained in L. Ron Hubbard's booklet "The Way to Happiness."

[Tom_Peace]

I believe that which is fun for me to believe

[OpheliaBlue]

Originally posted by Tom_Peace I believe that which is fun for me to believe lol you hedonist you I'm just playing..it's interesting how many religions and philosophies cross over eachother a bit...hard to classify some of them I suppose? Anyway I'm too pooped right now to clarify that. Oh yeah, atheist here

[Raz]

Originally posted by Lucius Lucius post above I could not have said it better my self :bravo: Now we need to remember that "love" is like a big spectrum of feelings. The word love has very different meaning from person to person. Depending on where you are in life and what you have experienced... Just think on how your view on love has changed and evolved trough your life... You can say "love"... Just as you can say "rainbow". But if I have never experienced the colors how can I relate to it? I also believe that the way we are evolving is to become more aware...

[boldtypespark]

Atheist.

[Haz]

Yep, an Atheist. Of course, I still respect each and everyone's decision. Lucius really did say what I've been wanting to say for a long time.

[InTheMoment]

A hardened atheist on the battlefield of Truth. Bleh...I sounded way too much like Boris there.

[OpheliaBlue]

well with the capitalized "Truth" i was gonna say, more like Leo

[Amethyst Star]

I'm a Christian, but I agree with PJ that we tie ourselves too much to a denomination and the actions and philosophies that are prescribed by that denomination, rather than following the fundamental principals that make up Christianity. The verses that may have been shared are excellent and I would like to read the apocryphal (sp?) gospels some time to see what they have to say. Another one of my favorite verses is as follows: 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." This translation is taken from the New International Version but is a common translation in most versions of the Bible. Basically, the way I see things is that if you truly have love towards others then the rest will fall into place.

[Barbizzle]

Lol, you left out judism dude Personaly, I am atheis but have a strong faith in the spirit of humanity; in goodness. I think humans can do anything they want to do if we work persistantly towards our goals.

[Tsen]

Y'know, I'd say atheist, but I'm beginning to like Tom's little philosophy... A lot.

[Ardent Lost]

I have no religion, or set of beliefs

[Leo Volont]

The list is missing a few. Firstly, Hinduism comprises much more than some people are religiously comfortable with -- their Caste System is extremely close to being a systematized form of racism akin to apartheid... the word 'caste' itself means 'colour' and was originally intended to form a wall of separation between the native Black population and the White invading Aryans from the North who became the Ruling Brahmin Priestly Caste. So, who then would want to be called a Hindu? But the Spiritual Practices that are called Yoga are most appealing and many people practice Yoga who would feel soiled to be called a Hindu. Then there are the Original Higher Moral Religions -- Zoroastrianism... that survives somewhat in the Sufi Sects and the Parsees in India. But a great good many people suppose that Sufism is a variant form of Islam... lending Islam an aura of respectability it does not deserve, as more often then not, Islam had persecuted its Sufi Orders. But many people are very sympathetic to the Sufis. Regarding Zoroastrianism, sometimes the First may be the Best. Higher Religion never improved much upon the original Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrian influences came into Judaism via Babylon. Zoroastrianism would have had a strong vein in Christianity, as Jesus was something of a Zoroastrian, but Paul's influence was a reaction against Righteousness and tended more to the promotion of Sin and its Forgiveness than in trying to actually Moralize a Civilization. However, Catholic Civilization, influenced by the penetration of the Sufi and Zoroastrian Orders in the same territories, and by the influence of the Messianic Christians and the Marians would shake off this Negative Influence of Paul, which the Protestants would bring back again in full force (giving no small hint the Paul had been the AntiChrist). Zoroastrianism, as a Higher Moral Religion would also come to influence the development of Mahayana Buddhism, turning Buddhism from an amoral school of Eastern Stoicism to being an actual Higher Religion. But where Zoroastrianism's influences have been all pervasive, there is hardly a complete lump of it to be found anymore. They do have a good website though: http://www.zoroastrianism.cc/mazda_ahura.html

[Tom_Peace]

Ooooo having fun and being Love feels great!

[Howie]

I am decidedly not sure. I am not unsure----> without an answer. I am unsure, free of form.

[Wolffe]

[quote]I am decidedly not sure. I am not unsure----> without an answer. I am unsure, free of form. I used to be a hardcore atheist, though I never wished to persuade people not to believe their own religion. Now I have the same view as you, I *think*, Howetzer, if you mean that you don't follow any religion as such, or are even sure that any of them are correct, but do believe there is something that has yet to be 'discovered', via science or other means

[Howie]

Originally posted by Wolffe I used to be a hardcore atheist, though I never wished to persuade people not to believe their own religion. Now I have the same view as you, I *think*, Howetzer, if you mean that you don't follow any religion as such, or are even sure that any of them are correct, but do believe there is something that has yet to be 'discovered', via science or other means Yep!