To practice a religion you need to have faith in it. But what if you have faith in something that has no name? Is that your own religion? What if you have faith in yourself and have your own philosophy? - Are you then religious?
Some definitions of religion from dictionary.com:
"a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. "... "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects".... "something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience"
Religion is basically what you believe in, and what you don't believe for that matter, right?. I don't think it is possible for anyone to not have a religion, generally speaking. Everyone believes something whether it is their own philosophy on life, or love, or anything! Maybe just the word "religion" just has a bad reputation. Maybe I'm misunderstanding it. Maybe I'm wanting it to have a different meaning. Sometimes faith and religion are used interchangeably. Sometimes they are not. So I find it really hard to talk about the subject. Anyway, in my definition, it is strong faith and practice. Therefore, I think atheism could be considered a religion if it is applied a certain way, in a progressive way. I, however, am not an atheist, and I have some questions. Do atheists ever consider religions that do not involve gods? Am I, in fact, an atheist because I do not believe in god or any supreme being? Take Buddhism, for example, the religion or perhaps I should use the word faith, I am most familiar with. Many modern buddhists believe in this simple yet profound idea that, borrowed from the words of the Beatles,
"in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make".
Or in other words, your life-state is determined by the causes you make. That's just to sum up a whooole buncha stuff, just to give a little info on it for those who may not know about it. So many people get the whole philosophy of Buddhism wrong, thinking it's worshipping a fat man, and that's just not true. No where in my life as a Buddhist have I ever prayed to a statue or prayed to this fat man image.
Back to my point. Atheism, Religion, Faith. I wonder how they apply to one another. Is atheism a complete lack of faith or spirit? Or does it give more power to a person's life?
If you like the movie, I Heart Huckabees, you'll understand how one's thoughts can be in limbo, going back and forth between believing life is everything and nothing. Maybe you're one of those who is confused too. Maybe I don't like the word "religion". Maybe I'm an atheist. Maybe I'm annoying you, so I'm done for now.
Keep up the good work.
Your statement: What if you have faith in yourself and have your own philosophy? - Are you then religious?
THEY ARE THEY THEN THAT START THERE OWN CHURCHES . why do you think that there are thousand of different churches on the earth today .There own beliefs .THAT CORUPT THE REST OF THE WORD FROM THE TRUTH. Amen
Are you saying LDS is the one and only Christian truth and all other Christians are going to hell because they aren't Mormon?
Because after reading all of your blogs and comments, I wouldn't put it past you.
Didn't Joseph Smith have his "own faith" and start his "own church?" It's not like it's an ancient religion, it didn't start until the mid-1800's.
Sounds like you are being a hypocrite. Again.
So much for spreading the Love of Christ.
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
Your statement: all other Christians are going to hell .Why would you say such a thing. why do you talk about things that you know nothing about, for if you new God then you would know that your statement was false and you would not need to say this statement . For you would know the truth for your self ..Do you not know that God is a just God .How is someone to be Judge of something that they know nothing of. God is not like the unjust laws of the Land were if you break a law, and you did not know about the Law, the laws of the land will Judge you for breaking that law .and they will show no compassion for the wrong you did .God will not Judge you for not knowing his Law. If you break God laws and you new not the Law. God will not Judge you for something that you did not know .so God must be a Just God is he Not. so how is some one to be cast into hell if they no not the Law So then what would be Gods purpose for his people, if all who were not in his True and Living Church be cast in hell. You stated also .Didn't Joseph Smith have his "own faith" and start his "own church?" NO ,Remember that the bible has been tampered with. Those that started there own Churches took out from the Bible these words and many more so that man would not look forward to any changes in the world. Remember the Devil. What is his work to destroy God work. That in the Last days that the Lord would establish his Church on the earth .and Josephs Smith was called by God do this work. To restore the Fullness of the Gospel and the Priest hood and all of the ordnances .If this were not true then man would be utterly destroyed at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And please note that there is no such Church as a Mormon Church. Even those that belong to God true Church Give no respect to that what is Gods .and many there call them selves a Mormon .This is very disrespectful to God ,We are Latter Day Saints that have been called in the Last days to go for forth and preach the Gospel to all of Gods creatures. You stated are we the only true church Yes ,why ,Well think back did God have all sort of churches in Adams and Eve times No only his true and Living Church. Other Church started because God Laws are very strict and men wanted to do what they want .And that was the work of the devil to have the hearts of men turn away from there God. This is the Truth and weather in this life you will know the truth of in the after life it matters not Truth is Truth.
You're lucky it is snowing outside so i'm in a good mood. God must have granted us both that luxury.
I did not express that all other Christians are going to hell. If you listened/actually read anything that anyone else said, you'd realize that I eblieve the exact opposite.
I'm not going to sit here and try to defend myself or my faith. That is ridiculous.
You, friend, are a judgmental bigot.
And a hypocrite to boot.
Joseph Smith did the same thing as other religious figureheads who started new sects, only Smith decided that he "saw God" and heard all these new rules and laws and doctrines that no one had ever heard of. At least Martin Luther denounced other sects for straying from the bible and being unjust. Can you say that about Smith?
How are other sects wrong if Smith was able to start up a new "sect" of "Christianity"?
If you accept Jesus as your savior, you are forgiven and you go to heaven. That's what Christians believe.
You seem to think that people's deeds and works are what give them salvation. You make people believe that Christianity is unjust, that it is evil, and that everyone is going to hell who isn't Mormon.
At least that's what I get from what you say. But maybe I've read to much of your stuff and I know too much about how you think..
Ugh. I'm going to go outside and stare at the pretty. The stuff God made.
Because your words are definitely not His.
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
Religion should be called "theistic philosophy". That's all a religion really is, a philosophy with a deity tacked on, which is fine. I've known a number of Buddhists, all atheists. Which is more reason why religion needs a different name. I can't think of any other religions that do not teach belief in a deity.
I am an American and I don't give a fuck about anyone's Judeo-Christian roots!
I don't know...
Personally, I have faith in God, but I don't really believe in religion.
I consider religion a man-made social thing. The bible doesn't say "You must be Catholic and follow the following doctrines..."
I'm "Lutheran" when I have to identify, but I really don't believe that it's important to identify with a particular sect or religion if you know what's important in your heart.
I do see what you're saying, though. I mostly agree, but I don't think that religion necessarily means there has to be a deity. Religion is rules, and maybe morals, as far as I'm concerned.
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this is war. every line is about who i don't wanna write about anymore. [Brand New]
http://progressiveu.org/143541-how-to-survive-the-2008-elections
I'm more of an agnostic than an atheist; I'm on the fence.
For me, the existence of the pure language of mathematics, which has thus far been impossible for humans to corrupt except in interpretation, signifies the existence of a higher being or, in my personal opinion, energy source, that must have been much more knowledgeable than humans.
I simply don't ascribe to any existing religion; they all have histories of violence and evidence that they were created by man and not by God. I find organized religion to be unsurprisingly manipulative and obviously man-created, used as a crutch rather than something to lift you up and improve your life.
I'd rather see it left to the individual to interpret their beliefs based on personal experiences and interpretations of the world. However, I also recognize it is the nature of man to gather together and share, so religion will never really go away.
Religion involves unprovable beliefs and concepts that require a "faith" in them to even consider them believable.
Unprovable and a waste of time if you ask me.
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -F.N.
Damnit all im in limbo.
Thinking too much about life can drive a person crazy...