May I Ask, What Religion Are You?

[Aupmanyav]

I am a strong atheist and an orthodox Hindu.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Well that's a complicated question, walter and debbie. And it's compounded by what the definitions of the associated terms are, including the word 'religion' itself, 'spirituality,' faith, and how want to define what higher powers are. The more that one digs into all of that, the less sure a person can get about what any of it really means. But I guess after I dissect all of that, and find that I cannot really put it back together again, then I try to see if there is anything else that is more fundamental, that I can't toy with, and can't question as much, that will impress me more

And so, the two things that are underlying the surface of the water, where the surface of the water contains those definitional sorts of things that you can more easily pass around and take apart, and reconfigure how you like, and show other people, are above those deeper things, which are things you cannot so easily question, those deep things being experience and method. Because if you say that something actually works for you, then it is not faith, nor is it spirituality, nor is it really religion, but it is an experience that I cannot question.

Then you are closer to knowing something, rather than believing something, or needing to define a set of things. Even if you cannot really explain what it is that you think you know more about, though maybe you in fact can. And another thing is, I think effort plays a part as well, and I guess by that, I mean that 'religion' is something that you accumulate more of, in degrees, over the course of life

 

[Walter and Debbie]

There is only one truth as to the beginnings of the universe and it's orchestrator. Therefore, there are millions of heresies and apostates out there, but only one orthodoxy.
Anyone who is syncretistic, pluralistic, or polytheist, is confused about the earth's origins and source behind its existence.
Christianity is not exclusive, but, of course, the truth is. Hence, the question is: is Christianity true?

Since I label myself as a Christian, I am stating that there is only one way to the truth (axiomatic), and that Christianity is that way.
This sentiment is not one of arrogance, tyranny nor discrimination, but a logical induction.

Hello DNB, thank you.

Love, Walter

 

[Walter and Debbie]

I am a strong atheist and an orthodox Hindu.

hello Aupmanyav, thank you.

Love, Walter

 

[Walter and Debbie]

Speaking as a former Christian ─ what you might call a cultural Pisco ─ I've reached the conclusion that the meaningful part of "the Lord's commandments" boils down to "Do no harm, and treat others with decency, respect and inclusion." And if you do that because you think it's the right thing to do, without regard for postmortal rewards, I don't think you can go far wrong.

Hello blu2, Thank you.

Love, Walter

 

[Walter and Debbie]

Non-religious, here.
I'm also an agnostic atheist, a methodological naturalist, and a Boston Celtics fan. Not in that order.

Hello lewisnotmiller, thank you.

Love, Walter

 

[Walter and Debbie]

No

Hello Sedim, thank you.

Walter

 

[Walter and Debbie]

Hindu here.
We are all supposed to be Hindus obviously

Hello sayak, thank you.

Walter

 

[Walter and Debbie]

Well that's a complicated question, walter and debbie. And it's compounded by what the definitions of the associated terms are, including the word 'religion' itself, 'spirituality,' faith, and how want to define what higher powers are. The more that one digs into all of that, the less sure a person can get about what any of it really means. But I guess after I dissect all of that, and find that I cannot really put it back together again, then I try to see if there is anything else that is more fundamental, that I can't toy with, and can't question as much, that will impress me more

And so, the two things that are underlying the surface of the water, where the surface of the water contains those definitional sorts of things that you can more easily pass around and take apart, and reconfigure how you like, and show other people, are above those deeper things, which are things you cannot so easily question, those deep things being experience and method. Because if you say that something actually works for you, then it is not faith, nor is it spirituality, nor is it really religion, but it is an experience that I cannot question.

Then you are closer to knowing something, rather than believing something, or needing to define a set of things. Even if you cannot really explain what it is that you think you know more about, though maybe you in fact can. And another thing is, I think effort plays a part as well, and I guess by that, I mean that 'religion' is something that you accumulate more of, in degrees, over the course of life

Hello ideogenous_mover, thank you.

Walter

 

[icehorse]

Thursday 11-24-22 5th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Cheshvan 28, 5783 64th. Fall Day

We are Christians just trying to keep our Lord's commandments, but the reason that I asked this question is soo many people I notice have their beliefs but are we supposed to have just one faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Love, Walter

I am a spiritual, secular humanist and I also happen to believe that on the whole, religions do more harm than good. Welcome to RF

 

[Walter and Debbie]

I am a spiritual, secular humanist and I also happen to believe that on the whole, religions do more harm than good. Welcome to RF

Hello icehorse, thank you.

Love, Walter

 

[Polymath257]

No religion.

I don't believe in any supernatural. I don't believe in deities.

I believe that morality is about how we treat other people, not about whether our actions are agreeable to some supernatural entity.

I'm closest to being a secular humanist.

I believe the closest we can come to knowledge is by observation, hypothesis making, and testing.

I believe humans don't deserve dogs. And dogs don't deserve what humans do to them.

 

[sun rise]

atheists eat babies

Chocolate babies, of course:

 

[icehorse]

I believe humans don't deserve dogs. And dogs don't deserve what humans do to them.

Agreed! And that goes triple for horses! The extremely sad, inconvenient truth about the horse world is that it's overwhelmingly dominated by ancient ideas that are inhumane and unnecessary. So with vanishingly few exceptions, even the most compassionate horse owners do things to their horses that they wouldn't do to their dogs.

My wife's project is to try to change how the horse world works, and I'm happy to report that she's making a tiny, positive dent. But man oh man, horsemanship is the poster child for "I'm not listening, don't tell me the facts, I'm in denial, I'm going to dig in and double down", thinking and behaving

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I used to be a Christian, then neo-Paganism for awhile. Today it's Satanism with overtones and undertones of pantheism.

 

[Walter and Debbie]

No religion.

I don't believe in any supernatural. I don't believe in deities.

I believe that morality is about how we treat other people, not about whether our actions are agreeable to some supernatural entity.

I'm closest to being a secular humanist.

I believe the closest we can come to knowledge is by observation, hypothesis making, and testing.

I believe humans don't deserve dogs. And dogs don't deserve what humans do to them.

Hello Polymath257, thank you.

Love, Walter

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Thursday 11-24-22 5th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Cheshvan 28, 5783 64th. Fall Day

We are Christians just trying to keep our Lord's commandments, but the reason that I asked this question is soo many people I notice have their beliefs but are we supposed to have just one faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Love, Walter

Allah'u'abha Walter. I am a Baha'i and I see the Oneness of God is acknowledging that Jesus was the Christ. (Annointed One)

It is our One God that sends the Messengers, and all those Messengers are One, as they are all Annointed by God, they are in fact of the One Holy Spirit, given of our One God.

Thus you, I and all humanity can all now embrace the One God, live as brother and sisters, with our diversity, knowing we can give service to each other and thanksgiving to our One God.

Regards Tony

 

[Walter and Debbie]

Allah'u'abha Walter. I am a Baha'i and I see the Oneness of God is acknowledging that Jesus was the Christ. (Annointed One)

It is our One God that sends the Messengers, and all those Messengers are One, as they are all Annointed by God, they are in fact of the One Holy Spirit, given of our One God.

Thus you, I and all humanity can all now embrace the One God, live as brother and sisters, with our diversity, knowing we can give service to each other and thanksgiving to our One God.

Regards Tony

Hi Tony, thank you.

Love, Walter

 

[osgart]

I'm independently religious. I accept teleology as true. Beyond that life is a mystery from an unknown source. I don't believe in gods that are all powerful nor of a supreme nature. I don't accept anything supernatural.

I believe in virtues; words of good character and qualities of being. I also think humanity wars and struggles mightily between their animal nature and spiritual potential. I mostly believe death is not final. It's not final because I believe it takes intellect to create intellect, and any kind of logically constructed body is no accident.

Beyond that, I have no idea. Thanks for the question!

 

[Walter and Debbie]

I'm independently religious. I accept teleology as true. Beyond that life is a mystery from an unknown source. I don't believe in gods that are all powerful nor of a supreme nature. I don't accept anything supernatural.

I believe in virtues; words of good character and qualities of being. I also think humanity wars and struggles mightily between their animal nature and spiritual potential. I mostly believe death is not final. It's not final because I believe it takes intellect to create intellect, and any kind of logically constructed body is no accident.

Beyond that, I have no idea. Thanks for the question!

Hello osgart, thank you.

Walter