Death by Dogma

[Straw Dog]

Well, I don't think I would know much about any subject if I had to invent the wheel from scratch.

You would be exceptional in my eyes, which is possible. What have you figured out on your own regarding spirituality?

Well, I'm certainly not alone, and I feel free to learn from everybody and everything as teacher. I'm just wary of this idea of taking one guy's word on everything and the need to devote to his interpretation alone.

There's nothing exceptional about me. I'm not even particularly responsible yet. Everyone is capable of being their own spiritual teacher. Many of us already do this to a certain degree anyway. I just found peace and joy in realizing my own independence.

Perhaps I should take a step back. You were saying that it's a hypothesis? Could you please provide an example that I may contemplate and experiment with independently?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Fair enough, but I don't see how grasping at a Theistic Satanist identity helps with total independence. Your thinking must still conform to theology and Satanism.

Satanism is a DIY religion. If there is theology, it's one that you've created. No two Satanists have the same views of it.

 

[George-ananda]

Well, I'm certainly not alone, and I feel free to learn from everybody and everything as teacher. I'm just wary of this idea of taking one guy's word on everything and the need to devote to his interpretation alone.

So we don't differ that much. If there's somebody who really impresses me, I want to consider what he knows (not devote to his interpretation alone though as you say).

Perhaps I should take a step back. You were saying that it's a hypothesis? Could you please provide an example that I may contemplate and experiment with independently?

If it was easy to confirm then everyone would know it. The path of Self-Realization under the teachings of Eastern masters is a lifetime(s) project. However along the way you can be encouraged by incremental progress in the form of greater peace, contentment and happiness. You become intuitively convinced this is the right way and not just because someone else said so.

 

[Straw Dog]

Satanism is a DIY religion. If there is theology, it's one that you've created. No two Satanists have the same views of it.

What are your views regarding theology?

Do all Satanists share a belief in egoism?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

What are your views regarding theology?

Are you asking me to type out all my beliefs? Lol.

Do all Satanists share a belief in egoism?

No. That's mostly a LaVeyan thing. I mean, we generally seek empowerment for ourselves and consider our interests. However, you could make the argument that almost all behavior is egoistic at its root.

 

[Straw Dog]

If it was easy to confirm then everyone would know it. The path of Self-Realization under the teachings of Eastern masters is a lifetime(s) project. However along the way you can be encouraged by incremental progress in the form of greater peace, contentment and happiness. You become intuitively convinced this is the right way and not just because someone else said so.

I feel intuitively convinced now that going my own way is leading to greater realization and happiness. It probably will take exactly one lifetime. Sorry, I'll have to check your masters out the next time around, granted I don't realize my own independence again.

 

[Straw Dog]

Are you asking me to type out all my beliefs? Lol.

I agree. Beliefs are overrated.

 

[George-ananda]

I feel intuitively convinced now that going my own way is leading to greater realization and happiness.

What does your 'own way' look like? You've only told me what it's not; not following any one religion or teachings. But what is it?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I agree. Beliefs are overrated and funny.

Yeah, they can be on some levels. It's just that my beliefs are my own, formed from my own experience and study. You have to make up your own mind about things. I'm not trying to convert you.

 

[Straw Dog]

What does your 'own way' look like? You've only told me what it's not; not following any one religion or teachings. But what is it?

How can I describe it?

It's something that only belongs to me and cannot be taken away. It was given at birth and I'll gladly return it upon death. It's impermanent, but complete in and of itself. It's a spontaneous creation and self-determination. It's choosing mortality.

 

[Tristengarde]

A religion is not a person. It cannot interface directly nor reflect reality reliably for others. Religious dogmas sustain themselves through artificial and circular internal trappings, which is hardly conducive to an open relationship with reality.

Whenever somebody believes that their religion gives them a higher perspective over others, they'll often start making absolutist judgments, because they made a commitment that binds them to all later responses. So they pass through life going from a position of open-minded curiosity to learning, to comfortable knowledge, to fixed certainty, to prejudice, and, eventually to mental death. Death by dogma.

This is how I see it, also.
I don't understand how persons accept "revealed" religion as told by other humans.