Beyond Lost

[Brinne]

Hello! I'm back (for those that remember my brief time here)

Anyways Im not entirely sure if this would fit here but I needed to vent my feelings a bit and hopefully get some advice.

So my beliefs have been all over the place really. For starters I am a theist but I'm not sure what kind. I believe that many gods could exist alongside each other -- whether they are all the same I have no idea. I also don't mind the idea of monotheism but I still think that even If I were to worship one God that other religions gods are no less or more valid.

I also enjoy having a connection with nature and the natural world.

That being said I also enjoy having a community and tradition. I like having lots of scripture to dig through and tons of reading. I really like the intellectual and historical side of the faith. Though that's not to say religions without lots of scripture or written tradition are any less intellectual or deep.

I've been wavering between Paganism, Buddhism, and more recently Catholicism.

I was kind of avoidant of Catholicism for a while but I went to the church of St. John the Baptist and im not sure if it was a spiritual experience or not but I felt in awe and not just the standard "wow this is an amazing structure!" Awe it felt like something more. I found myself staring at two stain glass windows in particular. One of the Second Coming which was stunningly beautiful and a smaller one of St. George who was intriguing to me.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Forget Buddhism. No deities unless of course you find Hinduism dressed up in Buddhist garb appealing or applicible towards your spiritual needs.

 

[Deeje]

Hello! I'm back (for those that remember my brief time here)

Anyways Im not entirely sure if this would fit here but I needed to vent my feelings a bit and hopefully get some advice.

So my beliefs have been all over the place really. For starters I am a theist but I'm not sure what kind. I believe that many gods could exist alongside each other -- whether they are all the same I have no idea. I also don't mind the idea of monotheism but I still think that even If I were to worship one God that other religions gods are no less or more valid.

I also enjoy having a connection with nature and the natural world.

That being said I also enjoy having a community and tradition. I like having lots of scripture to dig through and tons of reading. I really like the intellectual and historical side of the faith. Though that's not to say religions without lots of scripture or written tradition are any less intellectual or deep.

I've been wavering between Paganism, Buddhism, and more recently Catholicism.

I was kind of avoidant of Catholicism for a while but I went to the church of St. John the Baptist and im not sure if it was a spiritual experience or not but I felt in awe and not just the standard "wow this is an amazing structure!" Awe it felt like something more. I found myself staring at two stain glass windows in particular. One of the Second Coming which was stunningly beautiful and a smaller one of St. George who was intriguing to me.

Are you looking for a religion that suits God or just yourself? There is a difference you know.

Does God want you to be in awe of the stained glass windows or to understand his teachings in the Bible?

 

[Thana]

Hello! I'm back (for those that remember my brief time here)

Anyways Im not entirely sure if this would fit here but I needed to vent my feelings a bit and hopefully get some advice.

So my beliefs have been all over the place really. For starters I am a theist but I'm not sure what kind. I believe that many gods could exist alongside each other -- whether they are all the same I have no idea. I also don't mind the idea of monotheism but I still think that even If I were to worship one God that other religions gods are no less or more valid.

I also enjoy having a connection with nature and the natural world.

That being said I also enjoy having a community and tradition. I like having lots of scripture to dig through and tons of reading. I really like the intellectual and historical side of the faith. Though that's not to say religions without lots of scripture or written tradition are any less intellectual or deep.

I've been wavering between Paganism, Buddhism, and more recently Catholicism.

I was kind of avoidant of Catholicism for a while but I went to the church of St. John the Baptist and im not sure if it was a spiritual experience or not but I felt in awe and not just the standard "wow this is an amazing structure!" Awe it felt like something more. I found myself staring at two stain glass windows in particular. One of the Second Coming which was stunningly beautiful and a smaller one of St. George who was intriguing to me.

So what you're saying is.... you're stuck between a polytheistic religion, a non-theistic religion and a monotheistic religion?
I don't think you're lost, I think you just need to decide between what you truly believe and what you'd like to believe.

 

[vaguelyhumanoid]

Forget Buddhism. No deities unless of course you find Hinduism dressed up in Buddhist garb appealing or applicible towards your spiritual needs.

I'm pretty sure that the majority of Buddhists around the world are theists tho.

 

[Covellite]

Your beliefs are just yours, no need to over-analyze them, they are all branches of the same tree
Do what you like to do.
Enjoy your journey!

 

[allfoak]

@Jamesworth
The Catholic church uses ritual and symbolism to appeal to the intuitive nature of man.
It is something that is missing in the Protestant faiths.

But beware of the Catholic church, they have taken what happens on the inside and put it on the outside, leaving mankind empty, as well as giving the clergy power and knowledge gained through secrecy.
If one is able to understand the ritual and symbolism as representing the inner workings of the mind then perhaps Catholicism will benefit, otherwise it will have the opposite effect of keeping you from entering the kingdom due to not knowing how to find the entrance.

Religion is about the inner man.
Your experiences should be your religion.
Every experience has meaning which means every experience has the potential to transform us.
Organized religion has its benefits but it can be very destructive if followed blindly.

 

[Papoon]

Religion is about the inner man.
Your experiences should be your religion.
Every experience has meaning which means every experience has the potential to transform us.
Organized religion has its benefits but it can be very destructive if followed blindly.

Four of the wisest sentences I have read on RF.

 

[DawudTalut]

Hello! I'm back (for those that remember my brief time here)

Anyways Im not entirely sure if this would fit here but I needed to vent my feelings a bit and hopefully get some advice.

So my beliefs have been all over the place really. For starters I am a theist but I'm not sure what kind. I believe that many gods could exist alongside each other -- whether they are all the same I have no idea. I also don't mind the idea of monotheism but I still think that even If I were to worship one God that other religions gods are no less or more valid.

I also enjoy having a connection with nature and the natural world.

That being said I also enjoy having a community and tradition. I like having lots of scripture to dig through and tons of reading. I really like the intellectual and historical side of the faith. Though that's not to say religions without lots of scripture or written tradition are any less intellectual or deep.

I've been wavering between Paganism, Buddhism, and more recently Catholicism.

I was kind of avoidant of Catholicism for a while but I went to the church of St. John the Baptist and im not sure if it was a spiritual experience or not but I felt in awe and not just the standard "wow this is an amazing structure!" Awe it felt like something more. I found myself staring at two stain glass windows in particular. One of the Second Coming which was stunningly beautiful and a smaller one of St. George who was intriguing to me.

Peace be on you.
Best wishes.

 

[Brinne]

Thank you for all the input. And allfoak that was very well put.

I guess I have the problem of being attracted a religions culture and aesthetic without really minding about the theological concepts.

I practiced Shintoism for a while and really enjoyed the practice, I lived in Japan for a while and worked with a group of other American Shintoists and it was a very fulfilling practice. I couldn't help but feel very much like an outcast however being of mainly Western European descent. I tried Asatru to get over that but to me it didn't feel the same.

I'm probably not making sense but it is helping me get my thoughts together writing this and having people give advice so thank you all.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I'm pretty sure that the majority of Buddhists around the world are theists tho.

It would be at the discretion of practioneers at any givin point, and yes it's true there are theists as well as those who recognise no such thing.

A number happen however to be hybird traditions that prefer a Buddhist venier as opposed to labeling it something else like Hinduism or even Nat.

I wonder why?

Buddhism's practicality focuses on engaugement and realisation addressing the actuality of life and living through an approach of practice and meditations with an emphisises placed on the middle way, thus avoiding extremes.

I would think this approach applies as well towards speculative matters involving belief and denial over something or nothing that may or may not be true, as it would not be very advantageous or effective for such clinging, save for maybe some holistic benefit, that can be derived while simultaneously hanging off a branch of belief or disbelief based on this, that, or whatever.

My arm would get tired!

 

[Twilight Hue]

Thank you for all the input. And allfoak that was very well put.

I guess I have the problem of being attracted a religions culture and aesthetic without really minding about the theological concepts.

I practiced Shintoism for a while and really enjoyed the practice, I lived in Japan for a while and worked with a group of other American Shintoists and it was a very fulfilling practice. I couldn't help but feel very much like an outcast however being of mainly Western European descent. I tried Asatru to get over that but to me it didn't feel the same.

I'm probably not making sense but it is helping me get my thoughts together writing this and having people give advice so thank you all.

There you go!

Shinto in life.

Buddhist in death.

 

[Covellite]

I guess I have the problem of being attracted a religions culture and aesthetic without really minding about the theological concepts.

It's really not a problem, I find it's great, because you can see all beauty behind any interpretation.

 

[HeatherAnn]

Maybe feeling "lost" is ideal and the "narrow way" - not so much the well beaten path.
I don't feel so much lost, as I feel alone because I miss the sense of unity, but I can't stand illogically harmful herd mentalities.

I like what covellite mentioned about seeing beauty behind various symbols.
Life is meaningful through symbols - as well as perspective (interpretation).
I do attend an LDS church every week - and help out here and there (usually with music) but my beliefs have evolved to the point that I don't even believe in Jesus as human sacrifice/scapegoat.
I like to have a sense of community - especially for my kids - but I also feel the need to expose them to other perspectives.
I've taken them to various religious services - to instill in them respect of various ways of thinking, and that "God is no respector of persons" - including various religious persons.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

I practiced Shintoism for a while and really enjoyed the practice, I lived in Japan for a while and worked with a group of other American Shintoists and it was a very fulfilling practice. I couldn't help but feel very much like an outcast however being of mainly Western European descent. I tried Asatru to get over that but to me it didn't feel the same.

It looks very much like you're a pagan. I know what you mean about being the "ethnic oddity" - that's one thing that deterred me from going to a London Hindu temple (no Shinto one here, surprisingly). I too knew I was a pagan before I found the Greek gods, and I too didn't click with the Germanic ones.

Have a look here for Hellenism
http://www.theoi.com/
http://www.labrys.gr/index-en.php

and here for the Egyptians
http://www.cesidaho.org/

If you're looking for a community, that can be difficult, depending on where you are. In the USA, the Unitarians are often polytheist, but I get the impression that the British ones are less so.

 

[Sees]

Good to see you again

I would say focus on your ancestors and spirits of the land until the rest sorts itself. Those don't change when you switch other stuff around.

Also, values and practices always trump specific details of belief and labelling which can again sort out naturally after a while. It's no rush. Picking out something from a list definitely depends strongly on reasoning and the current perception and development of a person.

Most seekers will look for something that ticks a box for X number of beliefs (since subconsciously beliefs = Religion in Western culture) - almost as if they are trying to start at the end of a journey instead of the beginning or where they are actually at. The younger they are, higher chances it will be a swing and a miss...IMO.

As long as it is a learning experience, no harm or foul getting a feel from a few - but it can be confusing and end up in circles...never really having that foundation of belonging.