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Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - Lost Section - Your religious beliefs | | | Thread closed |
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The Gift of Gabe Red Paragoomba Level: 13 Posts: 38/51 EXP: 8892 For next: 1375 Since: 03-16-04 From: Albuquerque, NM, USA Since last post: 260 days Last activity: 256 days |
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I was raised by atheists, and I would consider myself an agnostic. Somebody earlier in the thread said that agnosticism is just christianity with a safety net, but I disagree. I'm agnostic in the sense that I discard any kind of creationist or otherwise mythical explanation for things. If the *current* boundaries of our scientific understanding aren't completely in sync with the actual state of our environment, it's not because some deity is fucking with us or testing our faith, it's because we either haven't figured something out yet or the universe is simply behaving in more complex ways than we puny humans can comprehend. I mean, look at quantum physics. Did you know that by attempting to quantify or predict the outcome of a probability equation effects the outcome itself? That's how complex our universe is, and we can only peer a few hundred orders of magnitude above or below our level of perception. So if there is a god, or *whatever*, it is another function of the universe that has nothing to do with religion. Spirituality is just a description of people being aware of their own mortality, which is not a bad thing. It gets muddled, and people throw hissy fits and wars, when someone tries to affix permanent labels all over the universe and our concept of the unknown. Hopefully our race can learn to cope with the constant state of decay and renewal that is our ever-changing universe before we wipe ourselves out in the name of god. Bottom line, god is unknowable, science works, and we're just very, very lucky mold on the surface of a big ball of rock. thank *god* (i.e. the laws of nature) that we are self-aware, to a point. |
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Legion banning people for no reason sure is fun Level: 101 Posts: 90/5657 EXP: 10399737 For next: 317938 Since: 03-15-04 From: The Crossroads is under attack! Since last post: 5 days Last activity: 5 days |
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Originally posted by The Gift of Gabe Somebody earlier in the thread said that agnosticism is just christianity with a safety net, but I disagree. And I disagree as well. It doesn't work that way with Christianity. Hmmm, well this has certainly been an interesting thread. I'm surprised no wiccans or pagans posted yet. (Or if they did, I missed it.) Anyway, for me... I grew up Christian by my own terms. My mom taught me about the bible as a young child but I don't recall her ever saying she was any denomination. My parents have never actively gone to church. At least not when I was around. I should actually ask my mom some time how deep her religious beliefs go. Hmmm. Anyway, at around the time I started High School, I gradually became an atheist. Looking back on it now though, I would have to say I was more agnostic because I could never actually say "I believer there is no god" and actually believe it. There was always that little shred of doubt. Anyway, I spent several years like that and I just recently converted back to Christianity. (No denomination.) I'm not going to get into the whole details about it. I've been doing a lot of research lately and I've noticed that many questions I've had about the bible and spirituality itself are easily answered and many things that atheists throw at us are easily shot down and disprooven. I guess my unwillingness to learn about something I had turned against really didn't proove/disproove anything afterall. I always thought that science was infallible. Once we proove something through science, we KNOW that it's true. But then again, a few hundred years ago we KNEW that the Earth was flat. I also used to argue using the same worn out arguements such as "The bible has been translated so many times so it's inaccurate now." without even knowing what the Dead Sea scrolls were. (I heard about them, just never knew exactly what they were until now.) Anyway, I don't want to start a huge arguement here because we wont get anywhere. Science is based on fact and religion is based on faith. Reverse that and it doesn't quite work. I guess we'll all know for sure when we die. (Unless the Rapture happens during our lifetime. ) |
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Rin Koopa Level: 18 Posts: 28/112 EXP: 28935 For next: 962 Since: 03-16-04 From: Qld, Australia Since last post: 508 days Last activity: 339 days |
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I belive in stuff from all different religoins really. Meaning: -Reincarnation -Karma, and that if you do anything it comes back 3x -No hell -Goddess yup. I suck at explaining stuff, so i'll leave it at that. |
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Saber Goomba Level: 10 Posts: 18/29 EXP: 3784 For next: 630 Since: 03-25-04 Since last post: 502 days Last activity: 339 days |
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YOU GOT SERVED. Merc owned you all. I'm Catholic. Kind of. I take it with a grain of salt. Deep down i don't really know if i'm catholic and some days it just seems like im following the lead. It's not like i'm devout or anything, i dont go to church every sunday, i dont pray. I find myself agreeing with alot of athiest/agnostics all the time. |
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Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 42/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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1. Buddhist 2. Well, Buddhists believe that after you have lived your thousands of lives, lived your final life just right, and meditated enough to reach Enlightenment, you will be delivered to Nirvana. Nirvana is not heaven, it is annhilation. In this annhilation your are finally at peace with the rest of the universe and will never have to suffer another life for all eternity. During your last life you are known as a boddhistava and when you enter Nirvana, you are a Buddha. Buddha Sakyamuni was the first to ascend in this way, and was the one to preach the good gospel to India and China. 3. Heh. About all the differences are described above. One thing though, Buddha is not our god. He is a man who became enlightened and ascended to Nirvana upon death. We do not worship the Buddha Sakyamuni, we simply follow his way. 4. No, I was not born a Buddhist. I was atheist for much of my life and just recently adopted this religion. |
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kiwibonga Double metal axe Level: 27 Posts: 79/266 EXP: 106040 For next: 10119 Since: 03-15-04 From: Montreal, QC, Canada Since last post: 126 days Last activity: 3 days |
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1. What is your religious preference? Non-standard 2. What exactly are the key points of your religion? There is an afterlife, and an astral world exists beyond the physical world. In this astral world there is no god. Instead, everyone is equal. When one dies, one's spirit is purified -- the first step of the afterlife allows you to create, relive, do anything you want, for as long as you want, until there is nothing you haven't done, until there's nothing you want anymore -- call it heaven if you will... The second step is like a waiting room, where you wait for loved ones to die and join you. The third step is either reincarnation or eternal bliss, it's up to you. 3. What are the differences between your denomination and others? Not applicable, I guess 4. Have you always followed this religion since birth? If not, when did you come into your beliefs? I went from being totally agnostic (there is no paranormal, when you die, you disappear forever, everything is concrete) to this later on. The main factor in this is my mother. She has had a lot of paranormal experience, such as unintentional out of body experiences. She has also summoned spirits twice in her life (what we call ouija), the second time involved my father, and several members of my family. The spirit they summoned was none other than my grandfather, my mom's father, who suicided at age 40-something... My family is weird... My uncle is a self-proclaimed sorcerer, he's clairvoyant and can read people's minds, it's kind of scary... Anyhow the fact that my mother told me about this, and that a lot of people tell stories about similar experiences made me forge a belief based on all those accounts of contacts with an astral world. I've spent countless hours reading and talking to people about stuff like this, and it's pretty interesting. I can't verify all this first-hand, but somehow I feel that it's much more concrete than organized religion, mainly due to the fact that it's not based on a 2000 year old book, but accounts from people I've actually met. Oh and regarding that info about the afterlife? I talked with a friend of my mom's who had out of body experiences, and found very similar accounts (on the internet this time) from different people describing the afterlife in a similar way, after interrogating dead people in the astral world, and attempting to reach the different levels of subconsciousness which correspond to the different steps of the after life. I just don't find "God exists because we know he exists" very appealing. Also, a religion without a god makes it so much simpler, as well as logical -- to me an all powerful god who would have created us sounds like we're a bunch of toys, something to keep him entertained... I'd rather reject the idea altogether, and not worship something this selfish. My parents made me and I love them, and they're the only creators I will ever love. I respect all religions and their followers, as long as they don't use their religion to make a point when talking to people who don't share the same beliefs, because they're imposing it, and are not showing much respect. (edited by Kiwibonga on 04-20-04 06:53 PM) |
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Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 57/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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Wow, you really thought that one out. I agree with you on people imposing their religion on you. See how many friends a person has if all they do is try to convert everybody to their religion. The bigger the religion, the better it thinks it is. It also usually belives it has the right to annoy the hell out of you to try and get you to join. I really dislike overbearing people like that. | |||
tinzeee Permaban Repeated warnings and bannings about stupidity Level: 38 Posts: 466/618 EXP: 369695 For next: 752 Since: 04-02-04 From: Australia - Sydney Since last post: 553 days Last activity: 339 days |
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My family isen't really into religion, but i do attend a catholic school (for the good education). I have adopted the wiccan religion. I have been wiccan now for 4 years. In wicca you don't worship or celebrate Jesus or God, here we celebrate nature. But their is also many other forms in wiccan, some people like doing circles and doing spells and all this, and others just celebrate the god and goddess and the nature around us. |
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Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 63/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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I had a friend who was a pagan once. He was pretty cool, but I haven't seen him in a while, so... | |||
hhallahh Bob-Omb Level: 38 Posts: 108/607 EXP: 365476 For next: 4971 Since: 03-15-04 From: Portland, OR Since last post: 73 days Last activity: 60 days |
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Eh, I'm agnostic as well. There probably isn't a god or anything, but I can't prove it. It wouldn't matter if I could, though, right? So I don't try very hard. | |||
Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 83/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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You've got a point there man. That's what I used to believe. But Buddha is just something to modle myself after. | |||
The SomerZ Summer, yay! Level: 45 Posts: 175/862 EXP: 618182 For next: 41982 Since: 03-15-04 From: Norway Since last post: 2 days Last activity: 3 hours |
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1: Deist 2: I believe in the existence of God. I doubt that God does anything to interfer with how things are going on Earth (other than to be the designer, or the Divine Watchmaker, if you like). 3: I guess there aren't many denominations inside deism. It differs from other kinds of religions in its way of looking at God as the creator, and only the creator. While other religions believe in Divine Interference, and in prayer as a means to get what you want. 4: I used to be a Lutheran (Protestant Christian). I still call myself Lutheran, now and then, because I'm kind of in a transition period, being between things, not knowing exactly where I stand. I don't mind going to church now and then, either. I believe Jesus existed, but I am unsure if he was the son of God, which is why I'm going from my childhood belief in Lutheranism to my belief in Deism. So, to answer your question, you can say that I'm coming into my beliefs as we speak. |
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Squash Monster New Age Retro Hippie Togateiru Fohku Kohgeki!! GRUNGE no HAMSTER otona bite Peace love and turnpike! Level: 40 Posts: 69/677 EXP: 430507 For next: 10802 Since: 03-15-04 From: Maryland (of the Country Between Canada and Mexico) Since last post: 5 hours Last activity: 5 hours |
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1: Theist. 2: I believe in quite nearly everything, but have personal tendancies in religion. I was once agnostic, with many Zen Buddhist tendancies. I was slowely deciding that religion is an important part of the human experiance, and at the same time I realised that I was more Christian than many Christians I knew. I decided to become somewhat Christian, believing in God and Christ in addition to the basic, universal code I live by. When I die, I don't know what to expect, but I don't think completely ceasing to exist is one of the options. At the very least, I think a dying person's consciousness slowly expands outside of their mind and disintigrates into the universe as the final electric impulses from their brain scatter. I believe this version as a scientist, as I've experianced things that I could only explain with the idea that the chaos theory and certain other ideas allow the mind to effect and be effected by the surrounding environment. My ideal version of the afterlife is what Kiwi described, but I don't believe in thinking I know exactly what to believe about such things, and rather focus on this life. 3: I'm different from standard Christians becouse I practice meditation in addition to prayer. More importantly, I focus more on this world than the Christian faith. I believe experiancing all of this world is important and should not be restricted by attempts at a better place in the afterlife. 4: I was raised non-religiously by a Lutheran familly. |
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Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 100/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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There are some very distinct and cool religions out there. This could be a learning experience. | |||
Ramadan Roy Like Like ...Or you'll be wearing your ass for a hat. Renowned Otaku Level: 44 Posts: 169/816 EXP: 569705 For next: 41580 Since: 03-15-04 Since last post: 13 hours Last activity: 7 hours |
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1. Muslim, and damned proud of it too. 2. We believe in one god, Allah, the most Beneficient and the most Merciful. We believe in the five pillars, look them up. We believe in helping others, respecting others(religions, cultures, etc.), the afterlife, all of the prophets mentioned in the Bible+1 more: Muhammad (S). We believe that God does not force people to be Muslim, he just wants us to be good and to believe in him. Basically, in essence, following those two rules, you are a Muslim. Also, God gave you a brain, don't waste it. 3. We are not much different from Christianity and Judaism. There really are just a couple of differences here and there. In my form(the first, true one, Sunni), we abstain from things such as pre marital sex, alcohol, dating, haram foods, and exposing your body lewdly. 4. I've been raised by Muslims. However, I believe that your faith depends on you. Because when you grow older, you think freely. I have always believed in my religion, having some crises along the way. But recently, I have realized how logical Islam is. Every question about it that I think of has a reasonable explanation. I respect each and every one of your opinions. That's what good Muslims do. (edited by Trunxy/Dogan on 04-25-04 12:11 AM) |
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Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 219/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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Hmmm. I think Buddhists are supposed to listen to other opinions, respect them, and meditate on their meaning. The thing about Buddhism is that it can fit in anywhere. Buddha is not a god, he is simply a man who was Enlightened. So, Buddhism can fit into just about any religion. In Japan there is a growing Buddhist/Shinto/Christian faction. This features God as the overdeity, the Japanese spirits as lesser gods an goddesses that help humanity develop, and Buddha as the person after which one should model themselves. It actually seems pretty cool to me... | |||
Ramadan Roy Like Like ...Or you'll be wearing your ass for a hat. Renowned Otaku Level: 44 Posts: 172/816 EXP: 569705 For next: 41580 Since: 03-15-04 Since last post: 13 hours Last activity: 7 hours |
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Also, expanding on the Muslim thought that the brain is a terrible thing to waste, it is very important for Muslims to learn about other religions. Also, another thing is that science and other studies are incorporated into Islam. And there have been many great discoveries thanks to the Muslim population back in the Medieval era, I believe. (I wrote a paper on that) | |||
Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 224/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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Yeah, Muslims were making great strides back then. However, in most places Christians controlled everything and the church dictated what was "for God" and what is "blasphemous". That's why technology was stagnant for almost 2000 years in Europe. | |||
Ramadan Roy Like Like ...Or you'll be wearing your ass for a hat. Renowned Otaku Level: 44 Posts: 173/816 EXP: 569705 For next: 41580 Since: 03-15-04 Since last post: 13 hours Last activity: 7 hours |
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Well, there still is a lot that I need to know about religion and how it contributed to society, as my friend Mr. Brooks tells me. But, I believe that religion has to do about not just the principles or just the followers, but both. However, you should identify a religion through its teachings and not the people who "follow"(or say they do) it, because you really don't know what they're thinking. | |||
Cthulhu Rex Level: 36 Posts: 227/541 EXP: 302159 For next: 5951 Since: 04-04-04 From: R'lyeh Since last post: 123 days Last activity: 61 days |
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True. There were not very many Buddhists that made great strides back then. But Buddhists laid the cornerstones of all science long before other religions waaaay back in India and China. Buddhists invented and turned it over to other religions and cultures who did amazing things with it. Look at what Christians did with gunpowder. |
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