Getting to know you: Discuss your faith

[Vinayaka]

This forum houses a lot of members of different faiths and different philosophies. I know I've engaged in discussion with some of you but I've unfortunately never went into detail in getting to know you and how your faith affects you.

In this thread if you would be so kind in explaining the following:

1) What is your faith (e.g. Religion)/If not religious what secular principles do you live by?

2) What aspects of your faith/philosophies enrich your life?

3) (Edit) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from?

1) I'm a Saivite Hindu following the subschool of monistic Saiva Siddhanta, as espoused by Tirumular.
2) Way too long to list, but primarily a personal connection to Siva. (Mystic, not easily explained)
3) You leave me alone, and I leave you alone. Practice your religion as well as you can and stop concerning yourself with what other people do or what other faiths are up to. Respect them. Don't make it my (your) business unless it's directly in your face.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

This forum houses a lot of members of different faiths and different philosophies. I know I've engaged in discussion with some of you but I've unfortunately never went into detail in getting to know you and how your faith affects you.

In this thread if you would be so kind in explaining the following:

1) What is your faith (e.g. Religion)/If not religious what secular principles do you live by?

Skepticism, humanism, secularism, and freethought.

2) What aspects of your faith/philosophies enrich your life?

All of them. I know that this is a cop-out answer, but it’s true.

3) (Edit) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from?

All of them.

Skepticism is really just the idea that people should use logic and reason when developing their positions.

Humanism is just the idea that we should recognize innate value in other human beings and should be motivated to respect and protect it.

Secularism is just the idea that the government shouldn’t be used as a tool to unfairly benefit or oppress people because of their beliefs.

Freethought is just the idea that we should follow what we think is right, true, and good, and not automatically accept uncritically beliefs and practices that are imposed on us.

I think that all of these are good ideas for anyone regardless of their religion or belief system. If their current beliefs are incompatible with any of these precepts, the they should take a long, hard look at their belief system and ask themselves why they accept it.

 

[Revoltingest]

Faith?
Barsh! Flimshaw!
I'm sure of nothing but math....but I get even that wrong at times.
So I observe, look for patterns, & try to figure things out.
All is speculation.
So I'm a strong atheist by inclination, & a weak atheist by reason, & a libertarian by golly.


Does this enrich my life?
Nah.....but it's good enuf.

 

[Vee]

In this thread if you would be so kind in explaining the following:

1) What is your faith (e.g. Religion)/If not religious what secular principles do you live by? I'm a Jehovah's Witness and I live by the moral principles in the Bible.

2) What aspects of your faith/philosophies enrich your life? Many, but I particularly like the principles of treating others the same way I want to be treated and the non violent attitude towards others. It is also very refreshing to be surrounded by people with high moral standards in general.

3) (Edit) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from? The ones I mentioned above.

 

[Rival]

1) What is your faith (e.g. Religion)/If not religious what secular principles do you live by?

2) What aspects of your faith/philosophies enrich your life?

3) (Edit) What particular aspect of your faith/philosophy do you think others outside your faith ought to live by, and would greatly benefit from?

1. I am a Noahide.

2. Knowing that everything is from G-d and remembering to be thankful. I also like that I am part of a community of monotheists, even if we agree on very little.

3. All the principles. All of them.The sexual ones in particular.

 

[David T]

Hmmm so you're not Christian by choice but by locality? How does something that is compelling, enrich your life if there was no choice to begin with? As far as what you mentioned about being born in other places in the world well, sure. If you were born in certain places you may be of that faith. But as I mentioned in another thread there are plenty of people who are culturally of their faith but are not religiously/spiritually of it.

That can be dangerous and a misrepresentation of that faith if one aspect is only shown.

My daughter didn't choose to be downs syndrome, I have no idea what you wrote it makes no sense, but the self labeled "higher functioning" part of the brain is generally completely dysfunctional. I am left handed.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I'm a pantheistic devil worshipper and LHPer. In layman's terms, a Satanist.

All of them. The main principle of my religion is that one should adjust it to fit one's own purposes.

Having a deity to pray to and to adore is a blessing in and of itself.
Believing in amorality, or rather, that one can't do wrong and that one's own will is an expression of the divine will, is a well-spring of catharsis, enjoyment, and inner strength.
I basically see the divine in everything, but unlike most kinds of Pantheism that tend to lead to either a stasis of nature-worship or to an ideology of wanting to improve the world, the LHP-approach means a focus on spiritual development and self-work, keeping one's inner fire burning for what one truly cares about.
It thereby also makes me more open-minded and encourages me in my pursuits of life-long learning, ultimately making me stronger, healthier, and more experienced and skilled.

I guess it could in short be summarized that it provides me the balance between self-development and self-care and supports me in both.

There are no oughts, and what people would benefit from will depend on the person. But some general virtues would be critical thinking, and self-love.

If your belief a mixture of secularism and spirituality?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

1) I'm a Saivite Hindu following the subschool of monistic Saiva Siddhanta, as espoused by Tirumular.
2) Way too long to list, but primarily a personal connection to Siva. (Mystic, not easily explained)
3) You leave me alone, and I leave you alone. Practice your religion as well as you can and stop concerning yourself with what other people do or what other faiths are up to. Respect them. Don't make it my (your) business unless it's directly in your face.

Can you explain in detail who Siva is?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Skepticism, humanism, secularism, and freethought.


All of them. I know that this is a cop-out answer, but it’s true.


All of them.

Skepticism is really just the idea that people should use logic and reason when developing their positions.

Humanism is just the idea that we should recognize innate value in other human beings and should be motivated to respect and protect it.

Secularism is just the idea that the government shouldn’t be used as a tool to unfairly benefit or oppress people because of their beliefs.

Freethought is just the idea that we should follow what we think is right, true, and good, and not automatically accept uncritically beliefs and practices that are imposed on us.

I think that all of these are good ideas for anyone regardless of their religion or belief system. If their current beliefs are incompatible with any of these precepts, the they should take a long, hard look at their belief system and ask themselves why they accept it.

I like your last paragraph. Logic and free thought are principles that I think society would greatly benefit from.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Do JW's participate in interfaith conferences and discussions?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

1. I am a Noahide.

2. Knowing that everything is from G-d and remembering to be thankful. I also like that I am part of a community of monotheists, even if we agree on very little.

3. All the principles. All of them.The sexual ones in particular.

Rival I like you but the last part made me chuckle. What do you mean by the "sexual ones" in particular?

 

[Rival]

Rival I like you but the last part made me chuckle. What do you mean by the "sexual ones" in particular?

All around me I see a lot of cheating and adultery. It ruins relationships and breaks families and is becoming more normalised. Also the exploitation of women in order to sell products is sick.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

My daughter didn't choose to be downs syndrome, I have no idea what you wrote it makes no sense, but the self labeled "higher functioning" part of the brain is generally completely dysfunctional. I am left handed.

Unless I am trippin in your original post you stated you are not Christian by choice but by your locality, your environment. I merely elaborated from what you said.

 

[David T]

Unless I am trippin in your original post you stated you are not Christian by choice but by your locality, your environment. I merely elaborated from what you said.

And you seemed to be confused about that.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

All around me I see a lot of cheating and adultery. It ruins relationships and breaks families and is becoming more normalised. Also the exploitation of women in order to sell products is sick.

I see.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

And you seemed to be confused about that.

Well in my opinion (and it's no judgment upon you) that being culturally religious is insincere. I am not confused at all actually which is why I brought up the culturally Muslim (versus religiously Muslim) as an example.

Typically people who use culture as a proxy of their faith tend to manipulate scripture to fit their agenda thereby inaccurately making false interpretations. Again this is from experience and observation.

 

[Liu]

If your belief a mixture of secularism and spirituality?

I would assume so. Trying to take the best of both.

I have a secular background, but since I like spirituality I try to incorporate more of it into my life. That might be easier than doing it the other way round.

 

[Araceli Cianna]

1. I'm a solitary eclectic pagan, currently dedicated to Goddess Diana, but I also work with Devi Durga, and lately Bodhisattva Quan Yin, and Christ Jesus sometimes too.

2. The freedom to practice in a way that suits me the best. The fact that doctrine and theology is not binding and can be up to each practitioner as they see fit.

3. Maybe not to see one religion as the only correct one, but able to honour all paths equally as valid.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I would assume so. Trying to take the best of both.

I have a secular background, but since I like spirituality I try to incorporate more of it into my life. That might be easier than doing it the other way round.

I am curious why is it called Left Hand Path?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

1. I'm a solitary eclectic pagan, currently dedicated to Goddess Diana, but I also work with Devi Durga, and lately Bodhisattva Quan Yin, and Christ Jesus sometimes too.

2. The freedom to practice in a way that suits me the best. The fact that doctrine and theology is not binding and can be up to each practitioner as they see fit.

3. Maybe not to see one religion as the only correct one, but able to honour all paths equally as valid.

Curious.....there is a pantheon of deities you acknowledge?