Which religion do you follow?

[Käthe]

Fun idea for a topic.

Why not start it?

Hmmmm, we could each list (and rank, and give examples of) our favorite music, and religious/spiritual/philosophical path.

[Aidyl Nurhadi]

I was born a Muslim like every other individual that has ever come into this earth. Fortunately, I was raised in a Muslim household, and I am still a Muslim and insya-Allah I will remain as such till the end .

[Operacast]

Originally Posted by Aidyl Nurhadi

I was born a Muslim like every other individual that has ever come into this earth. Fortunately, I was raised in a Muslim household, and I am still a Muslim and insya-Allah I will remain as such till the end .

Welcome Aidyl Nurhadi --

Since -- as I've perhaps implied here already(?) -- I changed from being an agnostic to a believer because of -- primarily -- intense and avid reading of the strongly pioneering ethical reflections in the earliest texts embodying the thoughts of figures like Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, and so on, I'm always curious which ethical insights from such historic figures remain most important to newcomers to this thread like yourself. Please? Many thanks.

Also, harking back to a relatively new aspect in this current discussion, can you name any particular composer or set of compositions in general that exert an especially strong pull for you, either because of a generally strong attraction in terms of simple enjoyment or because of deeper resonances that such compositions may hold for you, perhaps related -- or perhaps not -- to some of the associations you may already have in your mind with matters spiritual? Again, many thanks.

Best,

Operacast

[Eudaimonist]

I'm a Eudaimonist. It's a nontheistic philosophical path.


eudaimonia,

M.

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Aidyl Nurhadi

I was born a Muslim like every other individual that has ever come into this earth. Fortunately, I was raised in a Muslim household, and I am still a Muslim and insya-Allah I will remain as such till the end .

I don't recall being born a Muslim. I do recall being born a human, however.

[path_of_one]

Originally Posted by Dondi

I don't recall being born a Muslim. I do recall being born a human, however.

Since Muslim really means something like "one who submits to God's will," I'm guessing s/he means that all humans are born in submission to God's will. We choose to mess that relationship up and become non-Muslim (i.e., not in submission).

I don't know if that's right from the Muslims' standpoint here, but I'm currently teaching a Western religions class at the university and that's the answer I'd give to students.

[path_of_one]

I checked Christianity, but like some other Christians here, that's a difficult box to check for me. I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, and believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior. But... I follow very little of any Christian church's doctrine. I was raised as a mystic and continue to follow that as my primary path. I seek the experience of Christ- to know and be known intimately by God, and to gradually become better at letting this permeate my life. Since there should be no differentiation for me between ordinary life and sacred life, I'm not much about denominations and doctrines and such. I'm about a transformation of the self in order to unite with God.

I study all the major world religions and practice Druidry. I'm a panentheist. I agree with a great deal of Buddhism and Taoism. In short, I find all traditions that espouse love and forgiveness to be beautiful and hold truth. I do think Jesus is a special divine manifestation, but that's based on my own experience and not on doctrine, and I don't find it threatening if others don't agree.

There's a saying that "all mystics speak the same language." This is what I find to be very true. I feel that all who seek God, will find God. And I've seen far less disagreement among all the religions' mystics, who claim to experience God in some direct, personal manner, than I find among those who are concerned with doctrine.

This means some people in Christianity want to kick me out of the Christianity camp (not here, but in general). I am not a comfortable, tidy Christian to deal with. I'd don't fit nicely into the box. My vision of God, based on my experiences, doesn't always fit nicely into their box. I don't really care about the label- if someone says I'm not Christian, I won't argue. Really, I'd call myself a Christ-following mystic. (But that wasn't an option. )

[Operacast]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

I study all the major world religions and practice Druidry. I'm a panentheist. I agree with a great deal of Buddhism and Taoism. In short, I find all traditions that espouse love and forgiveness to be beautiful and hold truth. I do think Jesus is a special divine manifestation, but that's based on my own experience and not on doctrine, and I don't find it threatening if others don't agree.

Having already checked off a box here (Christianity), I may still be in a position somewhat similar to this newest writer's. That is, I'm comfortable in a Presbyterian church, but other traditions (such as Buddhism, cited above) hardly seem misguided, IMO.

As for certain historic figures being divine manifestations, not only do I take it as a given now that Jesus probably is, but I also feel it probable that Buddha is and that even Confucius (very likely) is -- although in the earliest stratum of the Analects, Confucius is sometimes at pains to point out that his is the "second order" of wisdom, since he claims that whatever "wisdom" he has is as the result of intense study of history only, with no admixture of initial personal insight at the outset (is he only being modest?).

At times, I've sometimes wondered if Socrates may be one too, although he does not appear responsible for any new traditions and actually says in the Apology (probably the closest we can get to Socrates' own voice) that Jove only is "wise" and couples that with a very serious approach to the Delphic oracle. All of this suggests someone who is much more strict with prevailing traditions in his community than we find in figures like Buddha (with his flouting of the caste system), Confucius (with his notion of respect for the "lower orders"), or Jesus (with his healing on the Sabbath).

My own instinct leads me to suppose that whatever figure seems most removed in tone and temperament from those around one is most likely a divine manifestation, and that, therefore, figures like that are also more likely to manifest a oneness with people generally scorned by the community (Buddha with the untouchables, Confucius with the poorest students, Jesus with the Samaritans). Moreover, any such figure will most likely be successful at establishing an altogether brand new tradition on the very broadest scale.

-- But hey, I could be wrong...........

Cheers,

Operacast

[Mason]

I have been absent from the forum for a while and on visiting today i realised that a few posts have been made in my thread (back in may).
Anyway, i just want to ad that i enjoyed reading your last post Path_of_one;.. it was nice.

^_^

[RubySera_Martin]

Originally Posted by Mason

Hello,
A couple of days ago i was wondering which religions are the most popular with the members here at CR, and so i thought a poll would be a good way to find out. I hope many of you participate, and only the kindest of comments are welcome. lol ^_^

Please could you also specify which religious denomination you belong to if your religion has them, and which religion you follow if yours is not listed. Ty

Hey Mason, I see it was a while ago that you posted this. Are you still here? How would you vote?

I voted Christianity. Protestant. No specific denomination. I see Christianity more as a culture, a way of thinking and organizing one's thought regarding time and space, than as a set of beliefs.

[Dor]

Christian of course.

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

This may be a little late, but I voted that I am no particular religion. Currently I do not feel particularly drawn to any religion or religious practice, but I have been studying a few just out of curosity.

Right now Islam has really peeked my curosity. Certain elements of "christianity" have peeked my curosity as well (Hence the avatar) . Reading some of the posts by members of so many different faiths and beliefs has really made me want to study more.

Soon I will be moving into eastern thought and other religious practices.

A little humorous side note here: Whenever some one asks me if I go to church, I say ,YES. When they ask what church I attend I say comparative-religion.com. I really get a "hoot" at the perplexed look I get.


Truly, I believe that studying religious practices and taking the GOOD from all of them is and of itself a way to understand humans and their relationship with GOD or ALLAH or what ever you call the "force" (if you will) that binds and animates everything in exsistence.

So, I leave you with this question.

1.Could the study of "religion" be in an of itself a "religion and religious practice" and if so how would one classify it?

2. Could being a "Watcher" like I like to refer to myself as (Hence the avatar name) be a religion?

Any thoughts?

[RubySera_Martin]

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

1.Could the study of "religion" be in an of itself a "religion and religious practice" and if so how would one classify it?

2. Could being a "Watcher" like I like to refer to myself as (Hence the avatar name) be a religion?

Any thoughts?

You might be interested in DrFree's thread Interfaith as a Faith.

[Operacast]

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

This may be a little late, but I voted that I am no particular religion. Currently I do not feel particularly drawn to any religion or religious practice, but I have been studying a few just out of curosity.

Right now Islam has really peeked my curosity. Certain elements of "christianity" have peeked my curosity as well (Hence the avatar) . Reading some of the posts by members of so many different faiths and beliefs has really made me want to study more.

Soon I will be moving into eastern thought and other religious practices.

A little humorous side note here: Whenever some one asks me if I go to church, I say ,YES. When they ask what church I attend I say comparative-religion.com. I really get a "hoot" at the perplexed look I get.


Truly, I believe that studying religious practices and taking the GOOD from all of them is and of itself a way to understand humans and their relationship with GOD or ALLAH or what ever you call the "force" (if you will) that binds and animates everything in exsistence.

So, I leave you with this question.

1.Could the study of "religion" be in an of itself a "religion and religious practice" and if so how would one classify it?

2. Could being a "Watcher" like I like to refer to myself as (Hence the avatar name) be a religion?

Any thoughts?

I couldn't agree more that an intensive study of all creeds can potentially be the best way to grow. The only caveat I would add is the earnest hope that you don't view those who are not 100% enthusiastic at the idea of such study with the same kneejerk suspicion that I did. Intensive study turned me into an arrogant and suspicious son of a bitch who viewed any demurs at such interfaith study, even the mildest kind, as a tacit argument in favor of virulent sectarianism and inter-religious differences of the most violent sort. Absurd inference, of course, but I jumped into it with both feet (http://www.comparative-religion.com/...dy-5496-3.html

&

http://www.comparative-religion.com/...dy-5496-4.html)

So, although you seem a much more level-headed person than I am, I might still be useful as Exhibit A of what can happen when the idea of comprehensive study of all creeds is exalted above all else, even other people, by someone prone to raise old texts to the level of an idol.

With sincere regret,

Operacast

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by RubySera_Martin

You might be interested in DrFree's thread Interfaith as a Faith.

Thanks for the thread, I wil sit down and read through it at as soon as possible.