Getting to know you: Discuss your faith

[Liu]

I am curious why is it called Left Hand Path?

The term has a slightly complicated history, but in short:
It comes from the Sanskrit word of that same meaning which basically referred to heterodox approaches to spirituality, e.g. some forms of Tantra. Some westeners then in the 19th and early 20th century used it in their books on religions and basically equated it with their de-facto Christian concepts of Satanism. Then, it was taken up by Anton LaVey in the 60s in his Satanic Bible as a self-designation. From then it has developed so many different meanings/implications that many LHPers consider it basically meaningless, but it's a useful umbrella-term for Satanism, Setianism, Discordianism, chaos magick, etc.

Here's a more detailed account: Left-hand path and right-hand path - Wikipedia

 

[Jumi]

Tell me more about gnostic monotheism. At what point did you refer to yourself as one?

It was something that was growing on me even when I was an atheist, having experienced some things, though nothing convinced me that there really was God until I experienced something on another scale than I expected. I dropped my atheist label soon afterwards. It's taken some time to become comfortable with the new "label".

What happened was, that through the practice of meditation I reached a "place" I could call Heaven. It was there I knew that this was what was called God by those who had gone before me to this place. I also knew that there could only be one of these and that there was no place where God would not be where there are people who can reach Heaven.

What are your views on God in relation to humanity? (e.g. Is God personal or impersonal).

I only know that God isn't like humans and that humans, all of us, have the ability to reach God as long as we don't defile ourselves with hurtful and hateful deeds unnecessarily.

If God thinks thoughts in a personal way, they're not something humans could understand. We can only "guess" if we try to put it into words.

 

[David T]

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.

I have idea what, you are talking about. My daughters is downs syndrome, I mention john Muir and woosh apparently beyond all comprehension. I am going to church trees make more sense. My church is called God valley Road. It's a tillamook state forest access road I will be on my mule, klr650, will be hit the stations of the cross. It will be Various peaks and valleys But then again I am left handed motorcyclist so there ya go. Right handed people are so wierd, so normal.

 

[osgart]

I am a vitalist , I believe that is reality to where I almost know it's true. I strongly believe it.

What enriches me about my faith is that I am convicted to the fact that every human is a creator of who they are, and everyone totally has the ability to create their own selves having chosen the good path and not the evil path.

My only philosophy is that people do not choose evil, and if they don't become evil they are totally free to create their own selves.

Once people get past the good or evil stage, and choose good, life becomes very wide open and great freedom and individuality result.

 

[Fool]

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?

i believe in the golden rule, law of love, or law of reciprocity, service to all; which isn't exclusive to any one religion.

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

that things can come in many a myriad of forms, people for example and do not become exclusive to a at the expense of the behavior of the person. people aren't people because of what they wear, or don't, they are results of their actions.

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?

they already do, the golden rule.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I have idea what, you are talking about. My daughters is downs syndrome, I mention john Muir and woosh apparently beyond all comprehension. I am going to church trees make more sense. My church is called God valley Road. It's a tillamook state forest access road I will be on my mule, klr650, will be hit the stations of the cross. It will be Various peaks and valleys But then again I am left handed motorcyclist so there ya go. Right handed people are so wierd, so normal.

Hmmm okay (scratches head)

 

[Epic Beard Man]

i believe in the golden rule, law of love, or law of reciprocity, service to all; which isn't exclusive to any one religion.




that things can come in many a myriad of forms, people for example and do not become exclusive to a at the expense of the behavior of the person. people aren't people because of what they wear, or don't, they are results of their actions.





they already do, the golden rule.

Not everyone lives by the golden rule...Certainly none of the gang members around me I know hence the 3rd question.

 

[dianaiad]

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?

Just thought I'd throw a monkey wrench in this population of incredibly disparate belief systems...(wait...maybe I fit right in! shrug)

Mormon here..

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

All of 'em. We do emphasize the family, service to others and community.

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?

There are quite a few, but in all honesty, I find most of the things that we practice are also practiced by most others; the 'golden rule' is ubiquitous among the religious, mostly.

There is ONE thing we believe in, however, that seems a bit more rare, and is codified in one of our 'articles of faith.'

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

of course, we also send missionaries out everywhere to try to talk everybody into changing their minds and joining us, but in case they don't, we are fine with having them say 'no thanks."

After reading all the responses to this thread, I wanted to say something simple. This above is the best I could come up with.

 

[Vee]

Do JW's participate in interfaith conferences and discussions?

I don't believe so but it's not something I've ever asked about.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Do JW's participate in interfaith conferences and discussions?

I don't believe so but it's not something I've ever asked about.

They do when they pay me a visit.

 

[Araceli Cianna]

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

Just eclectic... I don't chose them, they come to me. I tried to find one specific pantheon but it just didn't work out that way.

 

[Vinayaka]

Can you explain in detail who Siva is?

Siva is God. (from the Saiva POV)

 

[Liu]

Can you explain in detail who Siva is?

Siva is God. (from the Saiva POV)

I'm quite interested in some forms of Shaivism myself - currently reading a book about Abhinavagupta. And I would assume that your form of Shaivism is different from that, even if monist. So I guess that you could give a more detailed account than you did.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Siva is God. (from the Saiva POV)

Would it be safe to say this is the God of all existence?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Just eclectic... I don't chose them, they come to me. I tried to find one specific pantheon but it just didn't work out that way.

So when you meditate or pray to the Goddess, what do you ask for? Is there an overwhelming sensation of power that you feel as if she is there?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Just thought I'd throw a monkey wrench in this population of incredibly disparate belief systems...(wait...maybe I fit right in! shrug)

Mormon here..



All of 'em. We do emphasize the family, service to others and community.



There are quite a few, but in all honesty, I find most of the things that we practice are also practiced by most others; the 'golden rule' is ubiquitous among the religious, mostly.

There is ONE thing we believe in, however, that seems a bit more rare, and is codified in one of our 'articles of faith.'

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

of course, we also send missionaries out everywhere to try to talk everybody into changing their minds and joining us, but in case they don't, we are fine with having them say 'no thanks."

After reading all the responses to this thread, I wanted to say something simple. This above is the best I could come up with.

My cousin is mormon.....Question do Mormons contemplate cosmology in relation to Almighty God? For example understanding the universe that God created?

 

[TransmutingSoul]

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

My Faith is in God through the Message of Baha'u'llah as a Baha'i.

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

Being given the opportunity to serve all humanity under the umbrella of the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Religion and the Oneness of Man, a Unity in our Diversity.

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?

That all Good in us is from the One God and not our own selves and that unity in diversity based on that source, will find peace.

Regards Tony

 

[Epic Beard Man]

This thread and those who've commented has given me hope in humanity. To answer my own thread I say the following:

1) I personally do not subscribe to any particular faith although I can say with conviction my views are both secular and spiritual. I believe in the God of Adam, Abraham, Noah (@Rival wink), Issac, Jacob, Moses, Muhammad, Jesus etc. I believe in a deity who created all living and non-living things in existence.

2) The aspects of my life as many have mention such as thw golden rule. More importantly if you do for others do it out of sincerity and not for acknowledgment. Knowledge about things in relation to science enrich my life along with knowledge of the metaphysics of spirituality.

3) I think more people ought to read this thread and understand the diversity of human belief.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

This thread and those who've commented has given me hope in humanity. To answer my own thread I say the following:

1) I personally do not subscribe to any particular faith although I can say with conviction my views are both secular and spiritual. I believe in the God of Adam, Abraham, Noah (@Rival wink), Issac, Jacob, Moses, Muhammad, Jesus etc. I believe in a deity who created all living and non-living things in existence.

2) The aspects of my life as many have mention such as thw golden rule. More importantly if you do for others do it out of sincerity and not for acknowledgment. Knowledge about things in relation to science enrich my life along with knowledge of the metaphysics of spirituality.

3) I think more people ought to read this thread and understand the diversity of human belief.

Well said, we will enjoy working for Unity in our diversity with you.

Regards Tony

 

[Vinayaka]

Would it be safe to say this is the God of all existence?

I have no idea what that means, so I don't know.