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New member in town

lewisnotmiller

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Dora Dee said:
Hello,

My name is Dora and I have a keen interest in religions. I am not practicing any religion myself, as I am a Deist, and Deists have no churches. I respect many religions and I believe that I can learn something from them.
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Welcome to RF, Dora. I agree, there is plenty we can learn from religions.
 
Daemon Sophic

Daemon Sophic

Avatar in flux
msledf_0903_outrageouschocookies_vert.jpg
Welcome to the forum Dora. Have some cookies!
 
Dora Dee

Dora Dee

Member
RPSTOVAL said:
What kind of afterlife? if I may ask.

I'm still largely agnostic (despite having pantheistic leanings) but I do have reservations on Reincarnation (in light of my interests in Buddhism and Hinduism, and as a Thelemite foremost) :)
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It is practically impossible to know what the afterlife will look like. But I believe it is a sort of spirit life, with "bodies" which are not made of the material of the known universe. However, those bodies look similar to the bodies we now have. I believe the afterlife will be a level up (towards God) or a level down (away from God). During my NDE, I was welcomed by people, all dressed in white, who had normal-looking human bodies.

In Buddhism and Hinduism, people are believed to reincarnate as humans on Earth, or in Heaven (temporarily), or Hell (also temporarily), or as animals, or maybe in yet another form, or they enter Nirvana, when they follow the white light.
 
Aldrnari

Aldrnari

Active Member
Dora Dee said:
I know almost nothing about Sikhism and Zoroastrism. As to Islam, It is a misogynistic religion, with a culture which belongs to the Middle Ages, not to the present time. Jewish and Christian authors are more interesting, in my opinion.

I had a near death experience when I was 4 years old. Ever since, I have believed and still believe in the afterlife. Our present life is just a "level" and after death we go up or down one level. The ultimate aim is to move up to the top level, when the soul reunites with God. I am not the only Deist who believes in the afterlife : Thomas Paine believed that as well.

The soul is an immaterial entity in the material universe.
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Oh wow. I've never had anything like a near death experience, though I have had other experiences that could be considered "divine" in nature; that said, I am largely agnostic myself.

When it comes to Sikhism, I'm with you. I'm largely ignorant myself as well, though from what little I know, it seems well worth getting to know better (especially for someone with monotheistic leanings).

As for Zoroastrianism, I understand that religion a little more, and I can say that one is well worth getting to know. The Gathic understanding of Ahura Mazda (god) seems like a more deistic version of Yahweh. The religion is incredibly ancient; it seems Zoroaster composed the gathas (judging by the language used) some 3600 years ago. Unfortunately, there is a LOT of misinformation about this religion out there, and the Gathic understanding of the religion seems more of a modern interpretation, imo. Still, there are plenty of free translations online if you want a copy of the Gathas (and it's a tiny book, so no time wasted slogging through scriptures). D. J. Irani and Ali A. Jafarey's translations are my favorites. :)
 
Frater Sisyphus

Frater Sisyphus

Contradiction, irrationality and disorder
Dora Dee said:
It is practically impossible to know what the afterlife will look like. But I believe it is a sort of spirit life, with "bodies" which are not made of the material of the known universe. However, those bodies look similar to the bodies we now have. I believe the afterlife will be a level up (towards God) or a level down (away from God). During my NDE, I was welcomed by people, all dressed in white, who had normal-looking human bodies.

In Buddhism and Hinduism, people are believed to reincarnate as humans on Earth, or in Heaven (temporarily), or Hell (also temporarily), or as animals, or maybe in yet another form, or they enter Nirvana, when they follow the white light.
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Thank you for sharing and again, welcome :)
 
Dora Dee

Dora Dee

Member
Aldrnari said:
Oh wow. I've never had anything like a near death experience, though I have had other experiences that could be considered "divine" in nature; that said, I am largely agnostic myself.

When it comes to Sikhism, I'm with you. I'm largely ignorant myself as well, though from what little I know, it seems well worth getting to know better (especially for someone with monotheistic leanings).

As for Zoroastrianism, I understand that religion a little more, and I can say that one is well worth getting to know. The Gathic understanding of Ahura Mazda (god) seems like a more deistic version of Yahweh. The religion is incredibly ancient; it seems Zoroaster composed the gathas (judging by the language used) some 3600 years ago. Unfortunately, there is a LOT of misinformation about this religion out there, and the Gathic understanding of the religion seems more of a modern interpretation, imo. Still, there are plenty of free translations online if you want a copy of the Gathas (and it's a tiny book, so no time wasted slogging through scriptures). D. J. Irani and Ali A. Jafarey's translations are my favorites. :)
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Thank you for the information about Zoroastrianism.

Deism is not a form of theism. Deists believe that God does not interfere with creation (while Theists do believe that). So Deists don't believe in God-given scriptures, such as the Bible or the Zoroastrian Holy Writings. I don't know if God is one Person only or many (comparable to the doctrine of the Trinity, but there could be 3000 Persons in it); I only know that She doesn't have a grey beard. :)
 
Dora Dee

Dora Dee

Member
Woberts said:
Hey, cool avatar. It looks remarkably similar to mine. I'm guessing your doesn't praise the sun, though.
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Nope, my God is more botanical in nature, as you can guess from my avatar, and She doesn't eat or incorporate meatballs, like the FSM does. :laughing:

My God doesn't praise the Sun, but caused it to exist (indirectly). According to a well-known Scripture, God first created the plants, and only two days later the Sun. :laughing::laughing:
 
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