What religion are you?

Post Reply New Topic

I believe that religion is a hidden form of politics. However twisted that might sound.

i agree, Berta. religion and politics go hand in hand.

i'm not of any religion, but my faith is nihilism.

I think religion is a sick mixture of brainwashing, politics and clever psychology (brainwashing)

Religion and politics should not mix. Making the laws because of people's religions is wrong, as they should be based on proven facts. That's why George Bush is destroying the world.

i think your first statement is unachievable, as what many pople think of as "religion" is actuaslly power-brokering, which is what politics is about.

and your second statement, i disagree with - the sense of mysticism, of numinism, is all too lacking in the world today. and i certainly don't mean the namby-pamby, la-la, new age nonsense - i'm talking about the supramundane, whether you call is religion, mysticism, philosophy, quantum physics, whatever.

do i need to comment on what i think of your third statement...?

You support George Bush?

I know I could never support a psychopath....

I think it's largest purpose was to coherse people who were too corrupt and self-centered to do the right thing (at least morally speaking - not killing, raping, plundering, etc.) into not doing those things out of fear of hell. Problem is too many religions of the middle-east preach that any other religion from theirs is going to hell - christianity and islam both have those characteristics to a point. Back then police didn't have better artillary than the bad guys, they didn't even have guns, and the alphas would have pretty much destroyed society had they not lived in such fear.

I think the biggest problem we have in this day and age is that people can't seem to separate ethics from religious morals and too many just seem to wanna throw off all personal responsibility and any obligations to following moral or ethical guidelines by disbelieving in a god. THAT it something we have to work on unless we wanna be moving straight backward societally speaking. I can see removing the mysticism to a point and letting everyone have their own beliefs but people still need to respect the bottom line rhyme and reason of what religion was really supposed to encourage and establish (ie. order, peace, prosperity, etc. via virtues).

Last edited by techstepgenr8tion on 30 Jul 2005, 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I was raised and confirmed Roman Catholic but over time after I broke away from that I tried to do my own research into life to figure it all out for myself and figure out what made the most sense to me.

For me the "The Art of Happiness" really opened my eyes because for the longest time I never even knew that there was any kind of broad-based religion (or I'd probably more likely argue that it's a science of life and common sense) which coincided with my views. I wouldn't say I'm a fully-fledged buddhist though because I still think we have no way of knowing for certain whether there is a god or not. On the other hand though, even if there is, I've never gotten any personal fullfillment out of praying or trying to talk to him - I always got the impression that he'd be saying "So? I created you this way for this reason and that reason and meant for you to have the resources and obstacles you have - deal with it yourself!". In buddhism it seems like that would be more or less the nature of the universe but again, I can't say I'm real deeply studied on religion; I'm more of a spirituality type of guy and I still go more by feel than anything.

Very well spoken. I think as well that, as far as politics and religion are concerned, people should be allowed to believe what they want to, and practice as they want to, and simply be required to adhere to a certain moral code (not one established by religion, more of a utilitarian type of deal). When religions become mixed up in politics, it screws up the political field and it also screws up the religion itself, in my opinion. I might add, though, that forcing aetheism as the main religion of a country/the world would not be freedom of religion.

Additionally: I'm not surprised this thread started to generate into a sort of anti-religion thread for many people, I'm just glad that nobody called everyone out who listed a religion or belief system they didn't agree with and attacked them for it. ((Don't take that as an idea for a fun thing to do, by the way. ))

PMSL ! !!

erm...

no.

(the only answer i could come up with, after several minute's thought, which didn't involve swear words )

have you actually READ any of my posts...?

religion is so cool, it is my life. i live God. he is amazing, i could not live without him. he is always there 4 me and guides me.

I'm agnostic but agree with the ideals of Satanism as codified by Anton LaVey.

I have two ways of describing my religious beliefs. The longer one is a cross between an atheist, a neopagan, and Baruch Spinoza.

But when I was trying to fill in a rather short blank on a form, I came up with the perfect short phrase: Godless Pagan.

Basically, I'm an atheist in the sense that I don't believe in any sort of sentient, anthropomorphic God. But I do believe strongly in the connection between everything in the universe and I'm strongly attracted to modern neopagan ethics.

ever check into Tibetan buddhism?

I've read a lot about Buddhism, but I just can't agree with the Buddhist goals of eliminating desire and focus on earthly things. Asceticism (I can't spell) in general just doesn't fit with my worldview.

I'm not a big fan of hedonism either, and I think selfish desire is the cause of most of societies problems, but I think aligning personal desire to the good of the whole is a more positive change than simply trying to stamp it out.