What is your religion?

[Halei-Helai]

I suggest reading both articles that support AND articles that oppose what you think you believe, and then see what makes sense to you afterwards. That's what I did (and do) to figure out what I believe. The internet is the easiest source of information, but not the best; books are a bit better. Still, simply googling "argument for Christianity" and "argument against Christianity" will bring up some thought provoking articles. I wouldn't suggest watching YouTube videos if you're really confused: both sides get pretty venomous in them...

Just keep in mind that there's more than "Christian" or "Pagan": there's deism, agnosticism, Taoism, and a zillion actual religions. Plus, these are all just labels; it's not what you call yourself that matters, but your beliefs.

An easy place to start is just googling stuff like "deism", "agnosticism", and "atheism", or go to a philosophy site, such as this:

http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org (unknown bias)

Good luck on your existential journey! Mind the angst! =P

Thank you. Truth be told I don't know if an organized religion is for me, though I am not entirely closed off. I am pretty knowledgable in religion in general which makes my trying to find something perplexing given that nothing seems to "fit." Quakers are pretty cool, actually, but not quite right sadly, for me at least.

[Khaki (on hiatus)]

if i was going to choose a religion id be a Buddhist  but i am atheist so i understand why you chose Buddhism

I think Buddhism teaches you a lot about better ways to live well and tolerate others. Technically, its more like a way of thinking rather than a religion as it has no god or worshiping of idols.

[anoni]

See buddhism is an example of an atheistic religion, further clarifying that atheism is not a religion xD

[Dubaku]

California Spiritualist. I'll go with whatever, I see the sensibilities in many religions

[Paradox]

This has been an awesome, peaceable, and informative thread! =D It has exceeded my expectations!

[Dagmar1177]

ATHEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIST *trying to opera sing it* I don't really believe that we have evidence to support that there is a god but that doesn't mean I think that one doesn't exist or some other form of afterlife I just saying I don't know but what I do know is I don't trust churches.

[Celestial_Dragon]

i used to think atheist but i am to scared to think that life just ends, besides i hope atheist and agnostic belief becomes to big and start affecting countries that are 'in trouble'. Religion is the only thing that can unite a single species, and if there is no belief, there is only living, then the world would be seriously messed up...

After growing up a Christian (forced) for so bloody long i personally despise Christianity, but not the general believers just those who have major influence and use that influence to try to force their beliefs on others, and will not stop bloody going to my house and try to convert me to their Christian denomination. An example, yesterday (friday) my school had a holiday so teachers could get "re-educated" in what it means for someone to be " Married". Two weeks ago, my year had the same talk and i was SO BLOODY PISSED i had to be watched by my freinds because i wanted to cave in my principles and the teachers who are the main supporters head in......

( imagine me gasping for air after that spiel)

[tengu42]

 "Religion is the only thing that can unite a single species, and if there is no belief, there is only living, then the world would be seriously messed up..."

I very much disagree. People fight each other and do horrible things to each other in spite of religion. And sometimes because of it. I don't see how limiting the choices to only a single religion could help.
Although speaking of one religion uniting the world, there is one thing in particular I like about Islam (Muslims)
Apparently, once everyone on the planet is either converted to Islam (or killed) Heaven and Earth will merge, creating a perfect paradise where the devout living and their ancestors will spend eternity in bliss.

I like this scenario much more than the Christian Armageddon, in which everyone dies and the planet gets destroyed.

Post Merge: August 01, 2015, 06:27:53 PMAlso, what about schisms within a single religion? Just amongst Christianity a wide number of variants exist (Protestant, Baptist, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.)
What happens when some portion of the population begins to dissent? This has happened over and over and over throughout history.

[StealthSushi]

I was raised a Christian in the Bible Belt. My mother is a gospel singer so we have a lot of denominations that we can call our own. However, growing up, I started seeing how a good portion of these people we encountered were, and I started to see a pattern.


Either way, when I was a little older I started believing in All Path's to God. So many religions share the same basic structure, same basic stories, so on so on. So I think so long as you're a good person and y'know, don't hurt anyone, you're likely heavenbound.

[Paradox]

I'm just waiting on humanity to create a self-modifying AI which gets exponentially more intelligent, to become our benevolent "god"!

Or wipe us out, depending on the programming.

[Halei-Helai]

I'm just waiting on humanity to create a self-modifying AI which gets exponentially more intelligent, to become our benevolent "god"!

Or wipe us out, depending on the programming.

That reminds me of a quote from the AI Morpheus in the game Deus Ex.

"You will soon have your god, and you will make it with your own hands."

I always thought that was especially profound given how we are starting to wrestle with questions like if we can build AI, and if so what it would look like.

[CrazyCat]

So I'm more confused than ever.
I don't follow any particular religion. Was raised Catholic, but in a very accepting and open-minded home, fortunately enough. I've already turned away from churches, because of how much their message has been corrupted and twisted by the greed, selfishness and cruelty inherent in man.

Anyway, I find aspects of some religions appealing, but others push me away. For example, I like Christianity's emphasis on charity and helping those in need. But concepts such as eternal salvation/damnation just bother me way too much. For eternal salvation, yeah you're in paradise, yeah you're in peace, but you're there forever. Eventually you'll run out of things to do, say, or think. After a long enough time, boredom would turn heaven into hell. As for hell, I think it's unnecessarily cruel to have a person suffer eternally with no hope of ever getting out. Yeah some truly horrible people deserve punishment, but to have the punishment last forever and ever seems rather disproportionate, even for someone like Hitler. Especially coming from someone who is said to be as compassionate and merciful as the Abrahamic God.

The idea of no afterlife at all, that this life is all we get does not feel right to me either. Life, from what I've seen, is way too boring, harsh, unfriendly, cruel and full of bullshit to be worth much of anything. (Don't worry I won't commit suicide. I may hate my life but it's all I have so I'm playing it out to its bitter conclusion). You may stand being alive but that's you.

The Buddhist/Hindu idea of reincarnation really appeals to me. The fact that you get a chance each time you live until you get it right and learn to appreciate the beauty of life (which for the life of me I can't see) seems very fair.

But the idea of anything supernatural fills me with doubt, because since it's beyond the natural realm we inhabit, it is untouchable. The supernatural can't be proven, tested, identified and that bothers me.

Guess I'll find out when cancer kills me.

I have a migraine now.

[Paradox]

I'm just waiting on humanity to create a self-modifying AI which gets exponentially more intelligent, to become our benevolent "god"!

Or wipe us out, depending on the programming.

That reminds me of a quote from the AI Morpheus in the game Deus Ex.

"You will soon have your god, and you will make it with your own hands."

I always thought that was especially profound given how we are starting to wrestle with questions like if we can build AI, and if so what it would look like.

Sadly I never played it! May have to rent/pirate it

Honestly, I was introduced to this idea by a My Little Pony fanfic featuring CelestAI, which starts out just running an MMORPG.

So I'm more confused than ever.
I don't follow any particular religion. Was raised Catholic, but in a very accepting and open-minded home, fortunately enough. I've already turned away from churches, because of how much their message has been corrupted and twisted by the greed, selfishness and cruelty inherent in man.

Anyway, I find aspects of some religions appealing, but others push me away. For example, I like Christianity's emphasis on charity and helping those in need. But concepts such as eternal salvation/damnation just bother me way too much. For eternal salvation, yeah you're in paradise, yeah you're in peace, but you're there forever. Eventually you'll run out of things to do, say, or think. After a long enough time, boredom would turn heaven into hell. As for hell, I think it's unnecessarily cruel to have a person suffer eternally with no hope of ever getting out. Yeah some truly horrible people deserve punishment, but to have the punishment last forever and ever seems rather disproportionate, even for someone like Hitler. Especially coming from someone who is said to be as compassionate and merciful as the Abrahamic God.

The idea of no afterlife at all, that this life is all we get does not feel right to me either. Life, from what I've seen, is way too boring, harsh, unfriendly, cruel and full of bullshit to be worth much of anything. (Don't worry I won't commit suicide. I may hate my life but it's all I have so I'm playing it out to its bitter conclusion). You may stand being alive but that's you.

The Buddhist/Hindu idea of reincarnation really appeals to me. The fact that you get a chance each time you live until you get it right and learn to appreciate the beauty of life (which for the life of me I can't see) seems very fair.

But the idea of anything supernatural fills me with doubt, because since it's beyond the natural realm we inhabit, it is untouchable. The supernatural can't be proven, tested, identified and that bothers me.

Guess I'll find out when cancer kills me.

I have a migraine now.

Existential angst sucks pretty bad, huh?

I agree with most of your views! I definitely agree that eternity of heaven wouldn't work, and seriously: eternal torment is NEVER called for! As you alluded to, eventually, even Hitler will have paid his dues; should he burn for a year or two? Maybe. But who can say he ahould burn for a thousand years? Or a MILLION? Or a hundred trillion?! Eventually it's too much.

Personally I rather enjoy not believing in an afterlife or anything. I mean, I can't ever experience being dead, so it's not like it's bad; I simply don't want to miss stuff, like space travel or the longevity escape velocity.

I've been suicidal before... I got better by a combination of starting my own business, getting professional help, and letting loose more [removed content]! Use this advice as necessary, just don't use it as a crutch.

Personally I feel that everything will eventually be explained by science. If it's "supernatural" then it's just not been explained -yet.

[Halei-Helai]

Paradox, Deus Ex is a brilliant game and one of the very best I have ever played, if not the best of all. Sadly, it is quite old (I think it came out in the year 2000), but it should be widely available and pretty cheap. It is absolutely worth a look if you can stand old graphics and old gameplay for the sake of excellent writing and surprisingly deep philosophy for a game.

[Grovygrunge]

Paradox, Deus Ex is a brilliant game and one of the very best I have ever played, if not the best of all. Sadly, it is quite old (I think it came out in the year 2000), but it should be widely available and pretty cheap. It is absolutely worth a look if you can stand old graphics and old gameplay for the sake of excellent writing and surprisingly deep philosophy for a game.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is pretty great too and is kinda philosophical. I like the focus on the question of if it's right to augment people with machinery. Can't wait for the next one, so hyped. ..."I never asked for this". Anyway this is kinda getting off topic so let's just steer back onto the right track.


OT: If I was forced to choose a religion I'd say...I don't know. Maybe Satanism? Not the theistic one the real one that was called satanism basically to troll Christians