How do I get started?

[Pavank]

Okay so I've researched almost every religion like a year ago because I was searching for one, but then I stopped because I couldn't decide on just one. Now I'm searching for my true religion again I have a few that pull on my heart that make my head say "pick me I'm the religion you want and need!" Haha but foreal I'm between like four without going into the different sects of each of the four. The four that really have stuck with me is Paganism, Wiccan, Hinduism, and Buddhism. I also am in love with Taoism but I feel its more of a philosophy than a religion. I guess what I'm asking here is how can I do more research on these four individual religions like its really hard finding reliable information online, but I don't have a library or anywhere where I could get books to read about them. So what would be the easiest way for me to do more research on these religions? Maybe if anyone here could give me a brief description of the four it'd be great and all their different sects and divisions like how there's many different sects in paganism such as asatru, etc. Thank you!

You need to pick the spiritual path you love to follow, not the religion.

 

[Animore]

Hello!

In my opinion, religion isn't everything. Religion can always be categorized, and you'll be lucky if you find a path that suits you completely. What truly matters is the way of life you live. Religion is just categorized set of beliefs, and it doesn't fulfill the beliefs of everyone. Nevertheless, you should pick the religion that suits you the most. Stick with it, and if you can't, it may not be the religion for you. Search your heart.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Okay so I've researched almost every religion like a year ago because I was searching for one, but then I stopped because I couldn't decide on just one. Now I'm searching for my true religion again I have a few that pull on my heart that make my head say "pick me I'm the religion you want and need!" Haha but foreal I'm between like four without going into the different sects of each of the four. The four that really have stuck with me is Paganism, Wiccan, Hinduism, and Buddhism. I also am in love with Taoism but I feel its more of a philosophy than a religion. I guess what I'm asking here is how can I do more research on these four individual religions like its really hard finding reliable information online, but I don't have a library or anywhere where I could get books to read about them. So what would be the easiest way for me to do more research on these religions? Maybe if anyone here could give me a brief description of the four it'd be great and all their different sects and divisions like how there's many different sects in paganism such as asatru, etc. Thank you!

I'm curious if you searched from a biblical point of view:
1. The people of Acts of the Apostles 17:11 searched (researched) the Scriptures daily to see if what they were learning was found in Scripture.
Jesus based his religious beliefs on the old Hebrew Scriptures even prefacing his statements with the words, " it is written...." in Scripture.
2. Jesus taught that we should pray for God's spirit to help us at Luke 11:13 B.
3. The Ethiopian official ( Acts of the Apostles 8:30-32; Acts of the Apostles 8:33-35 ) asked for help in understanding from a follower of Jesus.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

The four that really have stuck with me is Paganism, Wiccan, Hinduism, and Buddhism. I also am in love with Taoism but I feel its more of a philosophy than a religion. I guess what I'm asking here is how can I do more research on these four individual religions like its really hard finding reliable information online, but I don't have a library or anywhere where I could get books to read about them. So what would be the easiest way for me to do more research on these religions? Maybe if anyone here could give me a brief description of the four it'd be great and all their different sects and divisions like how there's many different sects in paganism such as asatru, etc. Thank you!

Well, for what it's worth, here's my fast-forward guide.

Paganism
Any religion that has "just grown" rather than being founded. The differences between pagans are mostly differences between the gods worshiped. For example, I worship Athena, a Heathen will worship Thor, an Egyptian reconstructionist Horus, a Chinese Xi Wangmu, a West African Shango, etc. But that's not a difference between gods believed in. I don't deny other gods and if one of them contacted me, I'd worship them. Pagan practice is basically living a good life and keeping in touch with the gods. As you say Daoism is a philosophy, but a philosophy whose adherents practice Chinese religion, Shenjiao.

Wicca
An example of a neopagan religion: founded but in an attempt to create something like a traditional paganism. The distinctive thing about Wicca is the importance of magic. I don't say there are no Wiccans who don't practice magic, just that I've never encountered them.

Hinduism
Pagan in many respects, but in its modern form it has scriptures and tends to be semi-monotheist. Many Hindus consider all deities are in some way manifestations of a supreme being (as do many Wiccans, for that matter). It also tends to be more emotional in its approach to the gods than some other paganisms — more like evangelical Protestantism than Catholicism, as it were. It also resembles monotheist religions in having more rules. Almost Hindus won't eat beef and many won't eat meat at all, while pagans generally eat whatever they like!

Buddhism
This was originally a philosophy of life (rather pessimistic) and a guide to how to escape from being reborn and having to do it all again. That view still exists in SE Asia, Tibet, and Mongolia. The Chinese and Japanese don't believe in rebirth and they have altered to goal to either achieving enlightenment (Zen) so that life doesn't have to be depressing, or to achieving an afterlife in heaven (Pure Land).

Reading
Look at the Hindu section here and ask them for advice. Also look at
http://www.manygods.org.uk/
http://www.labrys.gr/index-en.php
http://www.neokoroi.org/
http://www.heathengods.com/
http://www.daoistcenter.org/daoism1.html
http://sanskrit.org/
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccaandpaganismbasics/p/Wiccan_Basics.htm

http://sanskrit.org/hindu-primer/