is there any religion or faith for me?

[willy1590]

Basically I'm an athiest,or deist but genreally don't believe in an all knowing god or creator.
-I think Reincarnation has something to it,but I also think like planes of existance after death,defo no hell,just we are fixed after death in one of these planes.
-i don't mind rituals
-not loads of books to read
-do not condemn homosexuality
-have proof they are right
-not based all in one country,basically allow any human to be in it or woship in its name
-finally,have compassion,respect,mindfulness and not require payed membership to be able to practise it

I hope someone can help me ,I've been searching for too long

 

[Quintessence]

With that list, there are really only two broad categories that are excluded:

- extremist Abrahamic religious traditions (aka, fundamentalisms)
- culturally exclusive religious traditions (e.g., indigenous/tribal or oathbound Paganisms)

Given there are relatively few paths that wouldn't potentially work for you based on that list, I'm going to recommend what I tend to recommend in general: go participate in a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Why? Because they are non-creedal and have members from a wide range of religious and theological backgrounds, as well as clergy who tend to be knowledgable in the world's religious traditions. Even if you do not stick with them, they are a great place for a seeker to go for guidance and information. Take advantage of the adult RE classes they have.

 

[willy1590]

With that list, there are really only two broad categories that are excluded:

- extremist Abrahamic religious traditions (aka, fundamentalisms)
- culturally exclusive religious traditions (e.g., indigenous/tribal or oathbound Paganisms)

Given there are relatively few paths that wouldn't potentially work for you based on that list, I'm going to recommend what I tend to recommend in general: go participate in a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Why? Because they are non-creedal and have members from a wide range of religious and theological backgrounds, as well as clergy who tend to be knowledgable in the world's religious traditions. Even if you do not stick with them, they are a great place for a seeker to go for guidance and information.
Take advantage of the adult RE classes they have.

Thank you ,I have looked them up a lot,but I heard there very christian centred:/

 

[Quintessence]

Hahah... no. I really wonder where people get that idea, because demographic studies of UUA congregations consistently show a ton of secular non-theist types. Almost 40% of members identify as secular, and only 20% as solidly religious. I will grant that the character and makeup of each UU congregation differs, but by and large, Christians are a solid minority. Abrahamic theology more broadly is often used for inspiration, but along side that you will see Sunday sermons drawing from all the world's religious traditions as well as current science research and social justice issues.

 

[Shia Islam]

Basically I'm an athiest,or deist but genreally don't believe in an all knowing god or creator.
-I think Reincarnation has something to it,but I also think like planes of existance after death,defo no hell,just we are fixed after death in one of these planes.
-i don't mind rituals
-not loads of books to read
-do not condemn homosexuality
-have proof they are right
-not based all in one country,basically allow any human to be in it or woship in its name
-finally,have compassion,respect,mindfulness and not require payed membership to be able to practise it

I hope someone can help me ,I've been searching for too long

With respect, It is not for us to tell God how his religion should be...:sorry1:

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Basically I'm an athiest,or deist but genreally don't believe in an all knowing god or creator.
-I think Reincarnation has something to it,but I also think like planes of existance after death,defo no hell,just we are fixed after death in one of these planes.
-i don't mind rituals
-not loads of books to read
-do not condemn homosexuality
-have proof they are right
-not based all in one country,basically allow any human to be in it or woship in its name
-finally,have compassion,respect,mindfulness and not require payed membership to be able to practise it

I hope someone can help me ,I've been searching for too long

There's no other religion you can belong to besides Willyism.

 

[LuisDantas]

With respect, It is not for us to tell God how his religion should be...:sorry1:

I suppose it isn't. But then again, it is not our place to tell God that he shouldn't have given us the earning for critical analysis either.

I know that there are those who are certain that there is a God and there is at least one "true" religion. I have no idea how that could be.

 

[Enai de a lukal]

Basically I'm an athiest,or deist but genreally don't believe in an all knowing god or creator.
-I think Reincarnation has something to it,but I also think like planes of existance after death,defo no hell,just we are fixed after death in one of these planes.
-i don't mind rituals
-not loads of books to read
-do not condemn homosexuality
-have proof they are right
-not based all in one country,basically allow any human to be in it or woship in its name
-finally,have compassion,respect,mindfulness and not require payed membership to be able to practise it

I hope someone can help me ,I've been searching for too long

Why do you feel you need a religion or faith in the first place?

 

[willy1590]

Hahah... no. I really wonder where people get that idea, because demographic studies of UUA congregations consistently show a ton of secular non-theist types. Almost 40% of members identify as secular, and only 20% as solidly religious. I will grant that the character and makeup of each UU congregation differs, but by and large, Christians are a solid minority. Abrahamic theology more broadly is often used for inspiration, but along side that you will see Sunday sermons drawing from all the world's religious traditions as well as current science research and social justice issues.

I see,thanks ,you woudnt know if any schools of Buddhism don't have hell would you?

 

[ignition]

I suppose it isn't. But then again, it is not our place to tell God that he shouldn't have given us the earning for critical analysis either.

I know that there are those who are certain that there is a God and there is at least one "true" religion. I have no idea how that could be.

I don't get it. So according to you, all roads lead to rome?

 

[LuisDantas]

I don't get it. So according to you, all roads lead to rome?

That is one way of putting it.

IMO choosing a religion is far more a matter of self-honesty and purpose than anything else.

It matters little even if you are only aware of corrupt religions; a sincere enough believer will redeem and correct his own faith, although having a well-chosen framework to begin with is certainly advisable and helpful.

 

[willy1590]

Well I see Buddhism as very close to me,but the belief in Hell realms puts it away:/,are there any buddhist schools without hell?

 

[LuisDantas]

A literal hell? Sure. I doubt there are any with it.

 

[ignition]

That is one way of putting it.

IMO choosing a religion is far more a matter of self-honesty and purpose than anything else.

It matters little even if you are only aware of corrupt religions; a sincere enough believer will redeem and correct his own faith, although having a well-chosen framework to begin with is certainly advisable and helpful.

I understand but religion is to most people more than a matter of life or death, since the consequence of choosing incorrectly has lasting effects (at least for the abrahamic religions).

 

[LuisDantas]

I understand but religion is to most people more than a matter of life or death, since the consequence of choosing incorrectly has lasting effects (at least for the abrahamic religions).

I don't know for sure how often people see it that way, but that sure sounds odd to me.

 

[ignition]

I don't know for sure how often people see it that way, but that sure sounds odd to me.

Sorry to be so direct but what is the point of Buddhism then? What's the end goal?

 

[LuisDantas]

Sorry to be so direct but what is the point of Buddhism then? What's the end goal?

To train one's mind so that we have the best, most effective and constructive approaches to everyday's existence that we can manage.

 

[ignition]

To train one's mind so that we have the best, most effective and constructive approaches to everyday's existence that we can manage.

But what difference does it make since we're all going to die anyway? In the long term it makes no difference whether one's mind is trained or not, since the mind is going to be buried along with the rest of the body. Does buddhism tell us what happens after we die? Whether or not god exists? Does it answer any of the 'big' questions?

 

[LuisDantas]

But what difference does it make since we're all going to die anyway?

All the difference that one can hope for, it seems to me.

Do you believe things have to be in some sense eternal to be worth existing?

I do not.

In the long term it makes no difference whether one's mind is trained or not, since the mind is going to be buried along with the rest of the body.

I believe that to be correct, but also to place an unnecessary emphasis on a very abstract long term.

Does buddhism tell us what happens after we die?

Yes, but that is not a very important part of the teaching, nor is there too much agreement about it.

Whether or not god exists?

It sure exists if you lend existence to it. Some people seem to have good use for the concept, so that is a good thing.

Of course, people should take care not to abuse or misuse that concept.

Does it answer any of the 'big' questions?

IMO yes, it does. But we really should consider what the big questions are in the first place. I don't personally think god or eternity have too much to do with them, but you may disagree.

 

[ignition]

But we really should consider what the big questions are in the first place.

That's true. Who's going to win the Spain-Brazil match tomorrow is a pretty big question