If you had a choice?

[tetra46]

Stepping aside from my main debate's about religions I would like to know what you folk would do if you felt you needed a faith but did not know what to pick? Let's say you could chose a faith like shopping. State schools in the UK now teach all the main religions and so giving one an insight to the differences between the faiths. Being born into a religious family gives one no choice at all and personally' I'm so lucky to have been born outside of all religions. That gives people like me if I/we want to, shop for a faith. I've looked into the six main faiths, ie: Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Jewish and Christian. Again personally, I would not choose any of them as you should know I'm a non-believer but in this case I'll choose?

What would you choose?

My choice and brief reason why: Islam, Jewish and Christian. Not a hope, all 3 are based on a fairy tale books. No proof has ever been found outside of these books on any of these faiths. Wrote by man to control man. Not for me...no thanks.

Sikhism...A pathway to believe in what god you fancy (a choice within a choice, nice). I also liked the 'no ritual for the sake of rituals' linked to the faith. A nice solid form of religion.

Hinduism...A faith the worship form your home (nice). No fairy tale book needed and the believe in being reborn maybe quite nice.

Buddhism...No god is worshiped. To gain enlightenment which can be comforting to others around you. There is a nice warmth about this faith.

With my brief notes of above I list in order of my choice the following: 1 being the best and so on.

1...Buddhism
2/3...Hinduism
2/3...Sikhism
4...Christian
5...Jewish
and last 6...Islam

But....What's your choice on merit?
Or on the simple matter of having a choice.....Tetra

 

[Melody]

Stepping aside from my main debate's about religions I would like to know what you folk would do if you felt you needed a faith but did not know what to pick?

Can we separate faith and religion because you're naming religions, which have little to do with faith. You can have one with the other, but you can also have one without the other.

While you can shop for a religion, I don't think you can shop for faith. You either have it, or you don't. If you don't and you start shopping for it, it sounds as if you're shopping for a belief system/religion.

I believed unquestioningly that there was a God when I was a child because that was how I was raised. Then in my 20's, I believed there was a God based on my experiences and what I saw around me.

However, I rejected the religion I grew up with (catholicism) and went shopping for a religion. I went through all of the traditional protestant religions, Judaism and then headed into the non-traditional - Wicca, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. Wicca was my last and favorite. Probably because it coincided with my own personal ethics.

That wasn't what God had in mind for me though. Now, I don't have a religion although I believe in the promises of the NT that say salvation is ours if we just believe and accept. I reject religions. My faith was handed to me. All I had to do was accept it.

I guess that begs the question....if you're going shopping for a belief system, why are you?

 

[ThisShouldMakeSense]

....My choice and brief reason why: Islam, Jewish and Christian. Not a hope, all 3 are based on a fairy tale books. No proof has ever been found outside of these books on any of these faiths. Wrote by man to control man. Not for me...no thanks.....

I know this is off topic, but what are you on about? What do you mean there is no proof? Have you not done any research into the archaeological evidence that supports the places, names and dates mentioned in the bible?
People used to doubt the existence of certain people, such as Belshazzar, but then stuff was dug up with his name, proving he existed. This is outside of the bible. The prophecy of Daniel about Alexander the Great. Proven, outside of the bible. There are many more.

So it's not true that 'No proof has ever been found outside of these books on any of these faiths.'

And the mere fact that you say that makes me understand why you say you are an atheist.

 

[Engyo]

Stepping aside from my main debate's about religions I would like to know what you folk would do if you felt you needed a faith but did not know what to pick? Let's say you could chose a faith like shopping.
What would you choose?
Tetra

Tetra -

What I did (20+ years ago) was to sample the ones to which I was attracted on first blush. I visited different groups, talked to their members, and tested their practices. Ultimately that led me to becoming a Buddhist, where I have remained since.

 

[michel]

Stepping aside from my main debate's about religions I would like to know what you folk would do if you felt you needed a faith but did not know what to pick? Let's say you could chose a faith like shopping. State schools in the UK now teach all the main religions and so giving one an insight to the differences between the faiths. Being born into a religious family gives one no choice at all and personally' I'm so lucky to have been born outside of all religions

Hi Tetra;

i find your question amusing (please don't think that i am puting you down, or anything of that ilk). It was just the words "what you folk would do if you felt you needed a faith but did not know what to pick? " -

That presents a situation much like "I feel hungry, what shall I choose to eat ?"

To me, Faith doesn't work like that at all. the Faith is there in the first place; the 'brand' of religion, in my mind Comes very second place.

 

[tetra46]

What do you mean there is no proof? Have you not done any research into the archaeological evidence that supports the places, names and dates mentioned in the bible?
People used to doubt the existence of certain people, such as Belshazzar, but then stuff was dug up with his name, proving he existed.

Sorry my friend...But it's you who have not looked deep enough into the evidence. One place answers can be found is at the British Museum. A lot of bias archaeological evidence has been made public over the years and is only now being proved wrong. John McCarthy open a big window in his book 'It Ain't Necessarily So' which was also shown in 6 parts on British TV not that long ago. He was given the Bible when he was a hostage in the middle east. He read it all throughout from cover to cover and was quite surprised that it's evidence was really weak. So he read it again and on his release he made the above documentary with real unbias experts and the results found no proof whatsoever.

To give you a taste here is a reference to his works. You can buy 'It Ain't Necessarily So' on video. Also before I continue. I know I am stated as an Atheist but because I don't believe in any myths I like to be labeled a Bright instead. (For info on The Brights please look at the Brights site)

Part 1: Joshua fought the battle of Jericho- but no-one lived there. The Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land of Canaan - but it was an Egyptian province. J.M investigates startling new archaeological discoveries which challenge the whole story of Biblical Israel.

Part 2: If the Israelites believed in one invisible God, why did their homes contain idols of a goddess? J.M. investigates the new evidence that Israelites believed for centuries that God had a consort - Mrs God - and the Bible was altered to conceal her.

Part 3: Archaeologists now say that the Israelites did not come to Canaan as slaves from Egypt. Where did they come from? In this third part of this startling series J.M. looks at the new evidence of Israelite settlement, and the real reason why there are said to be "no human remains"

Part 4: Jerusalem is at the heart of the Middle Eastern struggle, yet archaeologists have been unable to find any traces of people living there at the time of King David. In this forth part J.M. looks at what that means - and also uncovers the truth about Goliath.

Part 5: Solomon built the Temple - but did he exist at all? In this fifth part J.M. visits sites that were supposedly built by Solomon, but which some archaeologists say were built by quite different rulers. Perhaps the tiny community of Samaritans have a more accurate history.

Part 6: The Old Testarment description of the ancient Israelites is quite different from the story now being revealed. J.M. concludes this series by investigating when and why the Old Testarment was written. Was it connected with events that led to the destruction of Jerusalem?

As I mentioned above you can buy his book. It does not give all the answers but it gives many like me enough to be a non-believer. Being bias to religions is really a weakness to living and yes you can have faith. Many in the UK have or have not faith in their Football side and in this country that is our biggest religion. tetra

 

[tetra46]

I find your question amusing (please don't think that i am puting you down, or anything of that ilk). It was just the words "what you folk would do if you felt you needed a faith but did not know what to pick?

Sorry Michel, after re-reading my thread you are right. it's not very clear is it? However I was playing Chess online at the time so maybe I rushed it. Sorry tetra

 

[Charity]

If I could pick a religion, Not a doubt in my mind I would pick the same one I have now......

 

[whereismynotecard]

I already got to choose my "religion" (Or rather lack of religion)

My parents aren't too religious, but they also never mentioned the possibility of there being no god. I decided not to believe in god anymore because Mulder on the X-Files didn't believe in him, and I found that his reasoning made very much sense.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

Buddhism. Though...I already practice it philosophically.

 

[Tau]

Well why not invent your own?

Everyone else does really!

No two perceptions of Christianity are exactly the same I have frequently noticed for example.

 

[Random]

I would pick Buddhism, but the idea of "shopping" for a religion is a consequence of modern consumerism, so don't do that. It'll only lead to disillusionment. If you convert to a particular religion or ideology, do it sincerely having given consideration to what it may bring to your life, for good.

 

[logician]

What's interesting is that most people don't "pick" their religion, they're born into it(tradition), or peer or social pressures push them into a certain religion.

Sad really.

 

[idea]

What's interesting is that most people don't "pick" their religion, they're born into it(tradition), or peer or social pressures push them into a certain religion.

Sad really.

Interesting that people keep what they are born with for the most part, honoring the traditions of their ancestors - the Bible talks a lot about who begat who, there are traits of different lineages, part of us does come from our ancestors. I think our spirits were placed with a specific person/time in a calculated way, different people need different environments to reach their fullest potential...

in any event, I was not born into my current religion, hopefully everyone will think and search and ponder for themself... there is no borrowed light, God has only sons and daughters, He has no grandchildren. In any event, I did not choose the LDS church, it chose me. It is where I felt the Spirit. Not that I enjoy now going without coffee sort of like choosing health food over junk food - the junk food tastes soooo good and we all love it, but our concious tells us to choose otherwise, so reluctantly, we go for the health food... of course after a while of eating health foods you see the benefits of it, and can actually start to like it... You go where deep down your concious tells you to go, what is right, not necessarily what you want....

 

[Hema]

I would stick to Hinduism.

 

[truth_seeker]

My choice and brief reason why: Islam, Jewish and Christian. Not a hope, all 3 are based on a fairy tale books. No proof has ever been found outside of these books on any of these faiths. Wrote by man to control man. Not for me...no thanks.

I know that this is not the point of the question, but I did want to address this comment. Your statement was made hastily and is incorrect. Regardless of your personal views of the Bible, there have been many different evidences that have been found supporting a lot of the aspects of Judaism and Christianity. I have traveled to Israel and have seen many first hand. For example, even non-Christians and secular historians admit that Jesus did exist. Granted, who exactly Jesus was is debated, but there is proof He existed. There are archeological evidences that prove the existence of countless people and places mentioned in the Bible, as well as many other historical documents that prove the truth to some of the events of the Bible. Perhaps the ways these evidences are interpreted can differ, but even secular historians have admitted that there are aspects of truth in the Bible that can be proven.

 

[truth_seeker]

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho- but no-one lived there.

We'll of course no one did...after the walls fell down. I have seen the ruins at the place where most historians believe this ancient city was. If no one lived there it sure was an awful waste of wall wouldn't you think?


Tetra46: For the rest of the points you mentioned...I can't even really begin to start addressing what sounds incredibly like false propaganda, holding about as much validity as the "Divinci Code." However, I will admit that I have never read the book or researched His claims, so at this point I cannot properly rebut them until I have done so. I will say though, that if McCarthy has really found any of this religion-shattering evidence, I would think that he would've put it in a book with a grammatically correct title.
__________________

 

[logician]

How many theists here have essentially the same religion as their parents?

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

How many theists here have essentially the same religion as their parents?

This should be interesting to see.

 

[lilithu]

Let's say you could chose a faith like shopping.

It seems to me that's what a lot of people do already.

Consumerism. If you're having issues with your current religion, pick a new one! If you're having issues with your current spouse, pick a new one! :sarcastic

Buddhism...No god is worshiped. To gain enlightenment which can be comforting to others around you. There is a nice warmth about this faith.

You either are not familiar with the "fairy tale books" associated with Buddhism, or feel that they can be ignored in a way that you won't do with the Abrahamic traditions.

What you're "buying" here is not Buddhism. It's "Buddhism Lite."