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Godless Religions?
- Thread starter Nihan
- Start date
Master Vigil
Well-Known Member
That depends on your definition of "God." Depending on that, Taoism could be included as well.
Then there's Spiritual Humanism.
Then there's Spiritual Humanism.
cturne
servant of God
In my opinion, there is no such thing as a 'godless' religion - everybody, and I do mean everybody - all religions and lack therof included, worships something. It doesn't have to be something you pray to - it's whatever is most important to you - yourself, nature, money, personal possessions, - everyone has a God, even if it is not a 'True God' in that sense.
justa_gurl
Member
If by 'godless' you'd be referring to an individuals literal belief in the existence of god, then i'd have to say that it's possible for every popular religion to be godless. i know many Christians and Buddhists who live their lives for the message, virtue, grace and love they reflect, but at the same time feel that claiming knowledge of existence is completely unjustifiable. Most Christians and Buddhists wouldn't claim them thanks to dogma and semantics but in my opinion, they are closest to the truth of those faiths than any believer i've met.
I guess it's all in how you look at things. </*stands on her head ]
I guess it's all in how you look at things. </*stands on her head ]
I tried standing on my head to see if I could see it your way, but my head filled with blood.........:biglaugh:justa_gurl said:If by 'godless' you'd be referring to an individuals literal belief in the existence of god, then i'd have to say that it's possible for every popular religion to be godless. i know many Christians and Buddhists who live their lives for the message, virtue, grace and love they reflect, but at the same time feel that claiming knowledge of existence is completely unjustifiable. Most Christians and Buddhists wouldn't claim them thanks to dogma and semantics but in my opinion, they are closest to the truth of those faiths than any believer i've met.
I guess it's all in how you look at things. </*stands on her head ]
justa_gurl
Member
Next time, don't wear cleats.michel said:
Original Freak
I am the ORIGINAL Freak
Scientology is all about Aliens, not god.
I can't give my opinion about (bitting lip hard) scientology or I'll get another warning, let's just say I don't consider it a religion, but others do.
I can't give my opinion about (bitting lip hard) scientology or I'll get another warning, let's just say I don't consider it a religion, but others do.
As a quick question have you ever questioned this narrative?
Secondly toward your overall theme how is this different from the Mahayana Buddhist understanding of interconnectedness?
And as a comment utopianism has never worked. How do you reconcile your views on that evidence?
Do any of you out there know of any Godless "religions" or spiritual teachings other than Buddhism? Many thanks. Much Appreciated.
Nihan
Well, I don't know. Let's see... There's also "Gaia-Dharma", or "Gaia-Dao", or "no need to label this particular mental framework". It has to do with identifying one's self as continuous with that which brought one into being to begin with. By realizing one's interconnected nature with other forms, we may begin to realize the nature of inter-being.
There is no need to destroy the ego. We must simply let go of the ego and let it flow freely in the natural course of things. One of the biggest questions of our time is: why have faith in nature?
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
*Points at the 2005 date and the members, including the OP, who have not been on in some time.*
I disagree. Would all come down to how you define 'worship' I suspect, but I don't have a central concept in my life that would approach that in my estimation. So, in my life, my girls would be the absolute most important thing to me. I love them, etc. I don't believe that means I worship them. I would suppose a Christian would similarly say they love their children but worship God? Anyways, I disagree.
To the topic at hand...ummm...Confucianism?
This is a somewhat arbitrary matter.
Some religions have gods of some kind but simply do not worship them to any significant extent - some varieties of Confucianism, Jainism, Taoism. It seems that both Confucianism and Taoism currently exist in both "godless" and "theistic" versions, even.
Then again, belief in God is used in varied, often clashing ways even on the faiths that do not make it optional. It is not always even a constructive belief.
One of these days I must write a text on the various ways how the concept of God is used. It might make a good thread.
Some religions have gods of some kind but simply do not worship them to any significant extent - some varieties of Confucianism, Jainism, Taoism. It seems that both Confucianism and Taoism currently exist in both "godless" and "theistic" versions, even.
Then again, belief in God is used in varied, often clashing ways even on the faiths that do not make it optional. It is not always even a constructive belief.
One of these days I must write a text on the various ways how the concept of God is used. It might make a good thread.
kiwimac
Brother Napalm of God's Love
Thread-Necromancy: Because some things just should not die!
John Martin
Active Member
Do any of you out there know of any Godless "religions" or spiritual teachings other than Buddhism? Many thanks. Much Appreciated.
Nihan
I do not think there are any Godless religions. All religions are God centered religions, including Buddhism. Some religions focus on the transcendent God and some religions focus on the inherent. Buddhism also focuses on the God inherent.
suppose three persons fall into different wells. One person believes that someone is up there and shouts 'help'. Help comes and that person is taken out of the well. This is worshiping the transcendent God.
The second person does not believe that there is someone up. He does not shout 'help'. He works out his own plans and comes out of the well. This is awakening of the divine within. Buddhism and other God-less religions emphasize on the inherent capacity of the human beings, inherent God. Buddhism belongs to this category. Atheism is also may
The third person first tires to work out his own plans and succeeds little bit could not make to come up. Then he shouts 'help'. Help comes and he is brought out of the well. This person is the combination of inherent God and also transcendent God.
hence i would like to say that all religions are God-centered religions. Some focus on the transcendent God and some focus on the inherent God and some focus on both.
Let's just say that I disagree. Emphatically. And wonder why one would even want to see some form of God in all religions.