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Help me choose a Religion (or at least educate me on the finer points)

P

Pastfinder

Platinum Member
Ok, I was born as a Roman Catholic. However, my family had a little disagreement with our Church after they sold out for 3 million dollars and moved about 20 more miles away from their site which already was 30 minutes away from my home. I have had first communion, ect. but as I grew older I began to disagree with the church and decided that I did not want to practice being a Catholic when at the same time I disagreed with the church (I don't like being hippocritical, at least I try not to be). I believe in a God, or higher power/force, but I have not found any religion to really follow. I find Buddism intriging as well as Confucianism (a philosophy, not really a "religion," but followed accordingly by some). I just wanted to get the opinions of ATOT on what religion say, means to you, or what you feel best expresses your religion or a religion ou are familiar with, so as to better educate me about other religions. Please, I don't want any flame wars or religious strife in this thread, I'm sure the Mods would agree with me (or at least nod in some accordance).
 
Pastfinder, if you still believe in God and Christ, you are christian. Doesn't mean you have to agree with the churches that represent christianity. I don't even go to church, but I'm really really chrisitainish.
 
Well...we can't just pick a religion for you... but I guess if you want to just get all of our thoughts...

I'm a Druid/Pagan/Treehugging hippie piece of crap... I don't really practice anything... but I just tend to believe more in the Earth centered religions more than all these formal, organized religions.

Why is it so important that you have a religion? If you just beleive in what you beleive, you shouldnt have to put a name too it. Don't think too hard about it.
 
My adivce: Read a book. Anyone here is going to be really biased. I'd recommend The World's Religions by Huston Smith for a really good look at all the major religions. He looks at the theology (in other words, "What is God like?") instead of the dogma (in other words, "Do this, and this, and this, or God will hate you").
 
I believe in a force/power, I never mentioned Christ. I'm just interesting other religions, trying to see something from other angles. I enjoy reading, Moby Dick and Heart of Darkness are two of my favorites.


This might help, these are the issues that I disagree on:
-Priests marrying: allow it
-Birth Control: need to advocate it
-Retirement for the Pope: for it
-Allowing Female Priests: for it
-Hiding of backgrounds (aka current scandal, ect.): see need for it
 
I was born as a Roman Catholic.
Click to expand...
Then, no matter what you move to, you will be trading up. 😉

I personally don't recommend buying a religion off the rack but I do understand not everyone can custom build their own philosophy. Buddhism is very interesting but most people lack the self-awareness and self-discipline for it (I really feel you need at least some of both before you can even begin to understand it).
 
Don't buy into any branded religions or dogmatic systems of merit. Zen buddhism tries to teach an "insight" that basically deals with all human problems where people never look for answers, their own conciousness, but there are many ways to peace. Read up, and discover your own spiritual path. Jesus said: "Find your life by losing it".
 
It's good that you are open minded about other religions, but you're not going to get spiritual guidance from a bunch of dorks on ATOT.

Read holy books of various religions and come to your own conclusions. Religion is the most important thing in many peoples' lives, so it is worth the extra effort to find the one you feel fits your beliefs.
 
Thousands of years ago the Greeks believed in myths about numerous gods which we now find laughable. Can't help but think that years from now people will think the same of our religions. I am Catholic by the way.
 
Originally posted by: MacBaine
Well...we can't just pick a religion for you... but I guess if you want to just get all of our thoughts...

I'm a Druid/Pagan/Treehugging hippie piece of crap... I don't really practice anything... but I just tend to believe more in the Earth centered religions more than all these formal, organized religions.

Why is it so important that you have a religion? If you just beleive in what you beleive, you shouldnt have to put a name too it. Don't think too hard about it.
Click to expand...

i beg to differ i will single handly choose this guys religion: i choose the ancient greek religion! you shall worship zeus and hera and posieden!
 
A religion should be "chosen" not on the basis of it's finer points or desired idealistic traits, but on whether or not it is true. Keep that in mind. My personal philosophy is that if you require someone to mandate truth about God to you, you're in trouble. (Financially? Politically? Spiritually? Depends... but they wind up screwing you somehow.)

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matt. 7:7-8
 
Personally, I'm a Christian though I don't identify with a denomination. I don't believe that we are called to. As far as what religion you are, if you believe in one God and in the divinity of Jesus Christ, then surprise, you are a Christian. If you want to start going to Church, give some near your house a call and ask them for a mission statement or a statement of their beliefs. Go to the one you feel are most comfortable, though this may change with time. Also, pick up a copy of the NIV Bible if you want to learn more. Start with the New Testament. Good stuff.

Ryan
 
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