What is your religion?
Such a simple, complex question, full of oxymorons, double standards, and confusion.
Let’s reword the question:
“What commonly accepted term would you use to describe your beliefs about EVERYTHING in the entire universe, what is moral or immoral, and what your responsibilities to society are?” Holy crap. Suddenly the simple, prefabricated answer that I had in my mind is wiped out, and I just freeze. One word? I could write a novel on this topic.
Religion is such a broad idea- ones religion commonly justifies an individual’s belief about everything, but for others, religion justifies nothing. Some people classify both cases as being “religious”, others classify only the first as “religious”. I don’t believe in God in the traditional sense, but I do believe in a higher power that created us. I don’t use the presumed existence or lack thereof of the higher power to influence my life decisions. Am I religious? Non-religious? Spiritual?
There’s no real answer. I can’t use one word to describe my religious belief, but all too often others try to do the same. If you inform me that you happen to be Baptist, this doesn’t tell me too much. In my mind, I form a picture of a person who does not dance, use vulgar words, have premarital sex, and gives 10% of all earnings to a church. However, I have yet to meet a Baptist who falls into this pre-determined set of rules imposed upon Baptists. The same goes for Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists, etc, yet we continue to put so much judgment on others just because of the word that they claim describes their religion.
SO…what is MY religion? Well, it’s complicated.
Cheers,
LQ
I understand where you are coming from. But don't say fuck religion. People are entitled to their beliefs, it is just what they believe it doesn't make them a different person. I am free religion. I guess that is what you seem to be. I don't try to label myself though or even you. I believe in a higher power like you do also but I don't so much believe the bible and what it has to say because someone can fabricate things in it. The world started with just one religion then someone decided they didn't like that so they would change something about it and create a new religion. Who knows what is really true? No one does even if they say they do. I understand where you are coming from but let people believe what they want it is just an opinion just like yours.
Something people should know about:
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Oh, I have nothing against religion. I think that the religious labels can go, but as far as the belief, everyone definitely is entitled to their own view. I just don't think that that view can be summarized in one word.
http://progressiveu.org/blog/leslieq
Check it out...it's a work in progress.
I very much believe that there is a higher power out there, and that it is God. However, I myself do not have a religion, nor am I very religious. In life religion is not the thing that satisfies you, it's the relationship that you have with the higher power. So to have people categorize themselves with just one word is simply cultural. They put themselves in a group where they think they belong. Where everyone can follow God according to their own rules or cultures, etc. I'm not judging those who have a distinct religion, I just hope that people understand that religion is not important, it's what you believe in and who you follow.
Jasmin Muniz
Oh yeah, and please rate my blog while you're here. It just takes a few seconds, and I'll return the favour.
cheers
F*** Religion. Read more here:
http://www.progressiveu.org/020528-f-religion
I do not label myself as a subgroup of Christianity, but in the sense that I believe that God is the one and only god and that he gave his son Jesus Christ for our sin is why I say I'm Christian. I am a part of a pentacostal church, but I do not label myself as such. I try to read the Bible as often as I can and I try to pray everyday, "but sometimes I get lost on the way".(Song lyric from ICP about religion.) If I followed everything in the Bible I would be a walking talking zombie. I love my God and try to keep a close relationship with him, but I know that others have their beliefs and I will not condemn them for it.
I am open to others belief and am not completely set in everything that I believe. When someone shows me a new idea or possibility, I look into it and form my own ideas and beliefs.
It sounds like you have a very good sense of your own spirituality, and are making your own interpretations of the higher power that started it all. Keep up the good work! Also, thank you for being tolerant of others views, even if they are different than yours. I try to always remember not to judge others based on what religion they label themeslves as, but to judge them based on their character and love for others.
Thanks for commenting.
Cheers!
F*** Religion. Read more here:
http://www.progressiveu.org/020528-f-religion
You are very articulate in your argument and I agree with a lot of the points you discussed. You are able to formulate an argument really well and organize your many thoughts (of which I do believe you could write a book on!!) But when I first read the title I was WAY thrown off by the language. I agree that the term "religion" and all the stipulations that accompany it create problems, because this does not uphold the real purpose of spirituality and the CONNECTION between people all over the earth, under one God, or if you believe, under no God, or many Gods, or another theory of a higher being. Essentially, religion creates a rift between the people of the earth that I believe, under my own faith, was not what God wished for. One thing that bothers me is when others try to advertise their "religion" and put it off on others, or "recruit" followers for their particular faith group. All of a sudden it becomes a competition and one faith is deemed "the correct, or the right, or best" faith, or way of regarding the world. Instead of fighting ignorantly about it, why hasn't there been created yet an international law protecting the freedom of religion for all peoples? That would solve a host of problems--I bet you could come up with thousands! So why not just pray for those who you hope will someday be enlightened by what you believe is the higher power instead of trying to convert the whole world (as every religion is probably aiming for, which creates the clashes we see today!). Btw, I practice under the beliefs of the Catholic FAITH--(is that any better?--it allows for personal interpretation), but I have my own beliefs that deviate from the rules of the church, such as I do not believe there is a Hell if there is a compassionate God who has mercy on all of his children. If you don't practice the same faith as me, I don't insist you are "doomed to the depths of the world for eternity." I think this kind of thing is going a little far... But I still am tolerant of ALL beliefs, and I think that's how it should be. Maybe some day the word "religion" will become "extinct", and people will realize there is just more than one way to regard the world in all its wonder.
I've actually considered writing a book, but unfortunately I'm so busy I barely have time to even post on here. Between coming out of poverty, working around people, and living in a small town in the uber-conservative Bible belt, I could spend the rest of my life writing. I might do one after I get my PhD, or after I get tenure if I do end up being a professor.
I'm completely open to the idea of spirituality, and I like the thought of an international faith law that would protect everyone from being persecuted based on beliefs. You should blog about it. I was shocked to read about a month or so ago that Saudi Arabians cannot display any religious icons whatsoever other than the national religion. I felt ignorant that I didn't realize this was still going on in modern times. At least something good came out of it- I've began to read up on other cultures and help others become aware of the things the media doens't want to show.
Pushing religion is a pet peeve of mine. It generally makes me lose a lot of respect for a person, and causes me to think that they have little to no tolerance to others or new ideas. I like it better when people talk about what they think the higher power is like, or why they don't believe there is a higher power in order to help someone strengthen their ideas about spirituality instead of trying to convert others. I always like to hear new interpretations, and oftentimes someone will mention something I've never thought of before.
As for the language, it's catchy. :)
F*** Religion. Read more here:
http://www.progressiveu.org/020528-f-religion
For many, religion is very important. I guess that having faith in something can oftentimes give you the strength to keep trudging along through the roughest of times. I wish my logic would stop getting in the way so I could have faith in something. Faith can do wonders in a person's life, regardless of the religion or the beliefs.
You gotta understand though, faith and religion are two completely different things that people have to learn to separate. I have faith in God, but I don't belong to any specific religion. Organized religion as a whole drives me crazy, but my faith in unwavering and nothing can change that. What I think about religion has nothing to do with what I believe in.
If your "faith" involves a belief in a supernatural being who you think created and/or controls the universe, then your faith is a religion (by definition). You might not participate in an organized religion, but the two are intellectually the same thing.
TTFN,
Blackout
-------------------------
Yes, I've changed my username from "percivale" to "Blackout." Go here if you want to know why.
You make a point, but I never pay attention to definitions. The way I look at it, my faith is all I need and I just don't think about religion. The way the world looks at religion is organized religion and I say screw that, which is why I agreed with this blog to begin with.
...then it is very probably that you will continue to be misunderstood. I appreciate your explanation, but I would suggest that a precise understanding at least of the terms most relevant to your opinions would help you express yourself more effectively.
TTFN,
Blackout
-------------------------
Yes, I've changed my username from "percivale" to "Blackout." Go here if you want to know why.
But many people need the guidelines and rules of an organized religion to guide their faith. I just think that many wouldn't know how to worship or profess their faith without some sort of structure.
Maybe try and think of it this way - if you went to school and had no required readings, tests, or any sort of structure, would you even bother to learn anything? There are a select few that are self driven and have no problem sitting down and teaching themselves the fundamentals of mathematics with no direction, but, honestly, these individuals are few and far between. Religion sort of sets up a "school" for faith and worship. Without the structure, I think many would be completely lost.
That's a good point. I would learn, but I'm self-driven. I think that religion is a little different because everyone asks themselves "why am I here" or "what is my purpose" at one time or another in life. The answer that they lead themselves to may or may not be traditional religion, but I think that everyone would develop an answer to these questions.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder
Indeed it is very true most people, don’t know any better, they are not be blamed for the believes they hold close to their hearts, because it’s their personal reality which has been formed, created and molded around their lives from the very first breath they took!
Believe has become their “i” identity, one which they can’t question without affection their true own self.
True “I” self lies within, how can any knowledge or experience of “I” possibly be found or gathered from surrounding sources outside of one’s very own manifestation and truth of being?
Is the path and direction to follow in life, a choice to be taken, made and dictated by an outsiders view and perspective?
To “chose” another path brings guild to come and knock at one’s consciousness, and pushes one straight down the ladder inside a dark clouded mindset of fear!
The outcome is already set and always the same within this invisible prison of reality many hold on too, all choices made in accordance to guidelines, rules and obedience are good ones, while one’s taken out of personal “I” intuition bring fear and confusion to arise, due to the strong emotion it brings to surface.
To untangle one’s own personal offspring in order to provide them with the gift of a personal choice, one in which they can create their own balance around good and bad, will make them to grow a rightful consciousness filled with beauty of who they really are, because it shows there is nothing to fear!
Self driven individuals, upon which fear has no meaning or hold to cloud their vision with endless doubt, will awake them who feel completely lost, to look and see, not morals, but ethic projected by this self driven individuals which walk around with a self-realization of “I”.
What other gift greater than “freedom of choice” can one offer to his own offspring?
To open the door inside for thought and intuition, brings us all one step closer to the joy of reality!
Like I said before, we used to walk around with a (hairy) tail, most amongst don’t recall it, yet!
Still, no one can ignore something is kicking in the back of our heads, deep inside the truth lingers and awaits patiently until one makes up his mind.
One way to get in touch is to open up emotionally for the beauty which surrounds us, despite of how things might reflect upon one’s thought,
It’s important to let go...
Soon many more will talk strange and weird the way I do, lol.
If one doesn’t catch this one, doesn’t mean one has missed the wave, there are more to come,
Let go and enjoy the ride,...
Need some emotional inspiration? check this out....
http://www.loveearth.com/uk/film/
:?!)
I have faith in Chemistry and Physics. They have never let me down. :)
F*** Religion. Read more here:
http://www.progressiveu.org/020528-f-religion
interesting, now i have to dig deeper into myself and find what i am.
Thanks for the rating!
Don't worry about who you are according to definition, worry about who you are in your own eyes.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder
What you're talking about is a characteristic of language in general, not just religious labels. ALL language massively oversimplifies... but at the same time, this generalization is what allows us to communicate. There is nothing about the world/ universe/ reality/ emotion/ experience that can be perfectly summed up in words- it's always a failure (and yet a failure essential to what we are). No word or group of words meets the standards that you criticize religious preference of falling short of.