What Religion do you belong to?

[kinsey87]

I voted other, although I am not a part of any religion. I do however read as many documents and scriptures as I can of many religions.

 

[alantin]

JW also don't believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ or that salvation for believers (spiritual rebirth) is immediate and guaranteed upon death. How they get this translation out of the same Greek manuscripts as the Christian bible I have no idea....

I have been told that they themselves don't think of themselves as being Christians.

Ayu-youkou!

What do you say about this?

Trying to stay on the green zone!

Ps: I'm a pentecostal / baptist Christian

 

[Mars Man]

I have been told that they themselves don't think of themselves as being Christians.

That claim is incorrect. They very much think of themselves as being the 'true Christians,' and all other sects as being not quite Christian for not following a certain interpretation of the Christian documents making up what we call the New Testament at the present.

 

[Clawn]

I'm a Christian. I rarely go to church, save on Easter and Christmas, so I suppose you could call me a "non practicing" Christian in that sense. I do, however, pray often and like to think that my morals are mostly Christian, although I do draw from other belief systems when it comes to matters of non-violence and being open-minded. The short version: Spiritually I'm Christian; but in the realms of morality and thought, I'm more of a conglomeration of seperate beliefs.

 

[alantin]

That claim is incorrect. They very much think of themselves as being the 'true Christians,' and all other sects as being not quite Christian for not following a certain interpretation of the Christian documents making up what we call the New Testament at the present.

Yes. I know what you mean, but what I have in mind here is, how they feel about the term: Christian.

I have never heard a JW call himself other than a Jehowa's Witness. Never a Christian!

I'll have to ask them the next time they come to my door..

 

[Half-n-Half]

I find it interesting to note how many people are "none" or "other". I myself voted "none". Might sound kinda corny, but personally I choose logic, reason, and science over faith - although some science requires a little faith :-D. You never know though, any of those religions could be right...

 

[Mars Man]

Yes. I know what you mean, but what I have in mind here is, how they feel about the term: Christian.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, please do ask, however I can tell you from first hand experience from having associated with that organization and having studied some of their literature, that they do use the word Christian for themselves. I could go into detail, but it'd be off-topic, so. . .

I kind of go along the lines that you have pointed out, Half-n-Half san. I would say that what the religious belief-systems teach, in each particular, however, would have to be weighed in against what we have observed and learned from nature to be proven valid.

 

[arpee92]

I am the prophet of my own religion. But I don't have a name for it yet!

 

[Revenant]

Secularist! Scientism perhaps? Although from what I've read of neuroscience and psychology, I'd agree a lot with Buddhist meditations and techniques for becoming happier. I think the Buddhists simply came across some effective techniques for becoming happier and refined those techniques.

 

[bakaKanadajin]

By the way, OP forgot to add Scientology.

 

[Chi65]

I voted None, but only because I would not sign any particular one, and above all, none that says to be the only one...
Grown up mildly practicing protestant, mainly via singing in a choir for singing sake, hehe.
But other parts were kind of too narrow for my understanding, although less than with the catholics.
In the long run I came across many beliefs and methods (I find this better than just belief, because you can have very clear natural experiences, also seen by neurological observations, as I know now), and had many fine meetings with remarkable people, from sheiks to sufis to medicinmen to Shinto priests, Buddhist bonzes, Daoists, Jews, shamans, wiccas, aborigines etc., etc. not to forget fine scientists (religion? Well, some behave as if this is just another one already, really!)
I was or still am befriended with some of them all and thank them for all their mainly friendly exchanges, that showed that very much was nothing but another language or translation to explain some often very real experiences, that led them to join that particular method.
I tend to fly relatively freely over that round and spin my threads or change them again or find new keys, entries or "pictures", stories.
For me the whole aspect of mythology and fairytales also belongs into that scene, and as an artist I often used this freedom to express via picture, not via words. Some do via music, dance, etc. Thats as good for me and also on my "friend list".
I have a particular liking for the buddhist's eightfold (also ten stations, while the last three there are kind of simultan) path, which is the oneness with everything without any particular ego strive, yet not death at all. This is often misunderstood in the west, although it is stunninly easy, yet difficult in our times.
Psychology and many science interests added to this, so there are many ways of dealing with that theme, called religion.
I also appreciate and enjoy your analytic way, Mars man, I am as familiar with this, but its a very endless wide and wild field.
I am personally a mostly a laughter addict and very associative person as an artist and rather play along with it all than pin it down to something. Changing views (after questioning fixed points of) for better sight on the other hand is perfectly alright for me.

Thus this "none" also means everything AND nothing, which in itself is much more eastern. It just depends on how you just look at IT.

Now that was a full cup, let me empty it again for more listenings and learnings (according to Zen) ;-)

Good night everybody!

 

[White-Hexe]

Im wicca, but grew up Christian. I just started to get into Wicca in the past few years, but have been interested in it for awhile.

 

[alantin]

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, please do ask, however I can tell you from first hand experience from having associated with that organization and having studied some of their literature, that they do use the word Christian for themselves. I could go into detail, but it'd be off-topic, so. . .

Some more off-topic!

Thank you for this piece of information!

It seems that I'm just showing off my ignorance here then!

Might their thinking be a bit different in different countries then.. I have very little (read; none!) experience of them outside Finland and this really is the first time I can recall having heard them been called Christians.
Around here when you say "church", the word is immediately associated to the Lutheran state church and 90% of the people are Christians even if they didn't believe in anything that the church teaches.
Your thinking migh be wiccan but you'd still be a "Christian" if you never bothered to go and resign from the church..

The other churches in Finland (pentecostal, free church, etc.) often don't even call themselves churches in Finnish.

Might that kind of thinking be affecting the JW too around here..
Can' be sure though! I'll have to ask!

End of off-topic

 

[Haruspex]

Im a Catholic in my own way, although i don't follow the teachings of Jesus, my prophet is Emperor Constantine, and i follow Christianity how it was practised, and not necessarily how the Ten Commandments describe it. I follow the institution, and not the faith. Although I greatly agree with some issues regarding morality... but not all of them. For example, i strongly believe that celibate is to be preserved. But on the other hand, i curse all the Avignon popes to the pits of hell, as im very fond of Templars But Benedict XVI sure seems to be an interesting person.

 

[Mycernius]

i follow Christianity how it was practised, and not necessarily how the Ten Commandments describe it.

Then what type of Christainity do you follow? It was practiced in different ways when Augustine finally compilied the Bible and the Catholic church finally settled on more literal interpretation. Before that there where the Gnostics, as well as the literalists, who saw the Bible as more allergorical.

although i don't follow the teachings of Jesus,

Then in the eyes of a lot of more evangelical christians, or even those within the catholic church, you are not a christian.

 

[Haruspex]

Simple, the ignorant masses are to be led, they need something to unify them so they won't start fighting amongst themselves, and their attention can be directed wherever it needs to be directed. Although this sounds cold and heartless, but even at this moment, this is happening, only in a different form. Just look at the media for example, it tells people, just like religion in the old days what is wrong and what is right. So i vote for controlled bs, instead of the random bs of the media.
Debate it how you desire, but please, you have to admit that religions primary task is to restrict people in their deeds, so they don't go and murder each other just because they can.
I never claimed that I would be accepted by any christian faith. I simply don't need them to be able to practise my own way of christianity. I only need my own beliefs, and thats all. Jesus sure was a nice guy, but honestly, just by being nice you really can't survive through the centuries. I must apologize to all the believers, i did not mean to insult Christ in any way, im sure he was a great person with inhuman willpower, and balance. But let us admit, christianity doesn't necessarily reflect Jesus' views. I don't want to judge it, but honestly, if it was practised exactly how Jesus had said it should be, there would be like 10 christians in existence at the moment.

 

[SushiShin]

I'm Catholic, but I also wanna learn more about Shinto and Buddhisme. Because it really interests me.

 

[Homerduff]

Although I've been baptised, I don't feel Catholic at all. Neither my family is. I'm a so called Agnostic. Agnosticism is not believing in any religion, but then again not denying that there's no such thing as a god or a spiritual world far beyond ours.

I think there are things out there which can't be analysed or researched with scientific thinking. But I'm quite sceptic about the spiritual images that most religions have. Something I believe can be true is reincarnation. Then again I'm convinced that earth and mankind were created by nature.

I've never liked the idea of religions. Dividing a population in countries is one thing, but dividing them in big religion groups is dangerous in my opinion. Many wars were caused by religion, and I fear the next one will be too. I don't say that people are bad because they are religious. Christian people that follow the 10 commandments will definetly not make the world a bad place.

 

[Goldiegirl]

I am becoming free religion. I can see "God" in a sunrise, or a beautifully colored tree in autumn. I don't need someone telling me where and when I can talk to God, or how I have to do it. I think being the best person I can is ok, even if I fall short of others expectations.

 

[cohen avshalom]

i am jewish

i am jewish
so.......
you have anther one here.......

icarus

 

[alantin]

Simple, the ignorant masses are to be led, they need something to unify them so they won't start fighting amongst themselves, and their attention can be directed wherever it needs to be directed. Although this sounds cold and heartless, but even at this moment, this is happening, only in a different form. Just look at the media for example, it tells people, just like religion in the old days what is wrong and what is right. So i vote for controlled bs, instead of the random bs of the media.
Debate it how you desire, but please, you have to admit that religions primary task is to restrict people in their deeds, so they don't go and murder each other just because they can.

If you read the news from Finland the other week; some guy wrote something similar about ignorant masses to the internet, went and shot 6 or 7 people and himself at his school. I live in just the next town!!

I think the "primary task" is to give people hope an purpose so that they don't have to go kill each other..

I'm convinced that there is a purpose and design and if I wasn't a "believer", my ideology would pretty much be: "life sucks and then you die. In the end the sun will burn all its fuel, blow up in a supernova, everything left in the solar system will be sucked to the remaining black hole, and the universe will continue minding it's own business never remembering the insignificant little exoplanet that once existed. So whats the point.."

Maybe that was what that nutjob thought..

@Derfel
I'm not trying to oppose you or anything although I don't really buy your thinking. I think it's a bit much to call an average educated European adult a member of ignorant masses..

Just some thoughts that your post invoked.

 

[Mycernius]

I am becoming free religion. I can see "God" in a sunrise, or a beautifully colored tree in autumn. I don't need someone telling me where and when I can talk to God, or how I have to do it. I think being the best person I can is ok, even if I fall short of others expectations.

I sincerly congratulate you for that. I have found some people in the past who have given up religion really have a hard time of it, especially from the more conservative members of thier families, and usually in the US.

 

[Haruspex]

@Derfel
I'm not trying to oppose you or anything although I don't really buy your thinking. I think it's a bit much to call an average educated European adult a member of ignorant masses..

Just some thoughts that your post invoked.

I normally wouldn't post something like that either, simply because i know it is very provoking, but since i was asked to go into detail, I decided to do it, after all a forum is about sharing opinions.

As for ignorant masses: im just disgusted about the "i-don't-give-a-sh1t" behavior of some people. You know, people whose lives revolve around beer, tv and making their wives watch less soaps, either with words, fists or arms.
Its just that I feel that if you let this class hold the reins, we'll be finished. I say let them enjoy their lives as they wish, after all the strong and vigorous will rise even from the gutter, and someone who rose up from it is even more worthier.

 

[pugtm]

you can find god in many things in a sunset or a prayer book, it kind of funny how people say one thing but have trouble seeing it another way.
i find god both in the sunsets and in my traditions and prayers, and even in some foreign ones. i do zen meditation but am jewish... a sunset is no different than any other thing in this world that reminds us of god. and as for its to delude the ignorant masses, well even if it is. as long as it deludes them into being better human beings who cares.

i am jewish
so.......
you have anther one here.......

icarus

yay another jew its nice to see another one welcome to the forum

 

[safi sat]

im a muslim ...
i live in morocco but i love meet others and make a lot of relation with others in other country