Non-Theists Only: Why Are You or Aren't You Religious?

[MysticSang'ha]

Absolutly, some I already knew...like the laughing Buddha, what I don't get is why create all the seperation of spirits. I understand using the collected thought forms of many generations for their energy and enlightenment(Although I choose not to do this). But what purpose does it serve to you? Im probably not making alot of sense right now, I am experiencing a period of sleep deprevation so forgive my rambling...What is the end result in your belief?Maybe that makes more sense...maybe...lol

Without trying to sound like a cop-out, it all simply makes sense to me.



The Tibetan cosmology and study on the varying realms and who resides in them just makes perfect sense to me without any one ruling God for me to be taught to submit to. All of us have the potential to become fully realized and liberated bodhisattvas and to help all other sentient beings, AND that no matter how long it takes, that potentiality will be reached. So my belief gives me great peace of mind that it is not only entirely possible, but our destiny.



However, it's important to listen to what Chogyam Trungpa said when questioned about the road to enlightenment and what it feels like to finally reach that goal: Enlightenment is only the beginning. :bow:




Peace,
Mystic

 

[XAAX]

Without trying to sound like a cop-out, it all simply makes sense to me.



The Tibetan cosmology and study on the varying realms and who resides in them just makes perfect sense to me without any one ruling God for me to be taught to submit to. All of us have the potential to become fully realized and liberated bodhisattvas and to help all other sentient beings, AND that no matter how long it takes, that potentiality will be reached. So my belief gives me great peace of mind that it is not only entirely possible, but our destiny.



However, it's important to listen to what Chogyam Trungpa said when questioned about the road to enlightenment and what it feels like to finally reach that goal: Enlightenment is only the beginning. :bow:




Peace,
Mystic

Its funny, I have been told that a lot of my spiritual beliefs do at times border Buddhist's...It is not only the beginning but the ending. Once I attain spiritual oneness with God, I will transcend into a new state of being. Think of it as astral rebirth. From there the journey begins a new.

 

[eudaimonia]

However, it's important to listen to what Chogyam Trungpa said when questioned about the road to enlightenment and what it feels like to finally reach that goal: Enlightenment is only the beginning. :bow:

Beginning to what? What is your ultimate goal or activity, if enlightenment is only a step along the way?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[logician]

I think we're getting some theists posting on a non-theist thread.

How many religions are there that do not push a supernatural entity besides Buddhism?

 

[doppelganger]

How many religions are there that do not push a supernatural entity besides Buddhism?

All of them, depending on how you read them.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Beginning to what? What is your ultimate goal or activity, if enlightenment is only a step along the way?


eudaimonia,

Mark

Since I identify more with the Mahayana's take on the purpose of enlightenment, the ultimate goal is to help all other sentient beings. That is the action of the bodhisattva, which I aim to become.



Peace,
Mystic

 

[eudaimonia]

Since I identify more with the Mahayana's take on the purpose of enlightenment, the ultimate goal is to help all other sentient beings. That is the action of the bodhisattva, which I aim to become.

Interesting mission. What about after a few trillion years or so and all sentient beings have Awakened? What would you do then?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Kungfuzed]

You mean, people go to church for reasons other than God and eternal salvation? They'd have to have some really good punch and cookies.

 

[logician]

All of them, depending on how you read them.

I must be misreading them, I thought most religions were about worship of some entity, or trying to become one with some entity.

 

[Rough_ER]

No, I am not religious.

Why? Because of evidence.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I didn't know your were here to get.

Cute.....

 

[Sunstone]

I must be misreading them, I thought most religions were about worship of some entity, or trying to become one with some entity.

What entity is Buddhism trying to worship or become one with? Confucianism? Daoism? Zen? It's a fairly common mistake for people in the West to assume that all religions are very much like Abrahamic faiths.

 

[MaddLlama]

I'm not entirely sure, really. Sometimes I think that I am just a "spiritual" non-theist, but to be honest I don't know if there is such a big difference between being religious, and being spiritual. If there is one, I wouldn't know how to define it.
Even as an atheist I find myself atrracted to religious/spiritual activities and paths - looking for some way to satisfy that desire and my skeptic nature at the same time. Pantheism is wonderful and inspirational, but lately I've been finding myself moving away from Pagan paths, and actually moving more towards Buddhism.

 

[UnTheist]

I am not religious because.............
because.........
umm.....
I don't feel like it?

 

[logician]

What entity is Buddhism trying to worship or become one with? Confucianism? Daoism? Zen? It's a fairly common mistake for people in the West to assume that all religions are very much like Abrahamic faiths.

I had already mentioned Buddhism as an exception.

"Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion. At that time Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a deity." Therefore, there are some theistic notions in Taoism. Eastern religions definitely are different, and more uplifting in many respects, and seem more suited to Eastern culture.

 

[MdmSzdWhtGuy]

I can't really improve on what Robtex said. I think Robtex, Jay (who hasn't answered on this thread, but has many times expressed why he is an Ontological Naturalist) and others have said over and over why they feel as they do about the subject, and I just gotta say "ditto." I am not religious, because there is simply no reason for me to be so, and if I felt some inner need to be religious (which I don't) then there is simply no discernable reason why any one particular religion over any other. That being said, if there isn't any reason to buy into any individual religion, then why should anyone buy into any of them?

B.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

i agree with MdmSzdWhtGuy.

i'm not religious because there is simply no reason for me to be religious.

 

[pladecalvo]

For me:

Gods are not necessary to explain anything.

There is no evidence of any supernatural gods.

Most god concepts are incoherent when examined in detail.

"god" is not testable.

Faith is not a valid means of obtaining knowledge, but it is the only way to obtain knowldege about gods.

Gods don't do anything as far as we can tell.

There are thousands of conflicting god concepts floating around on this planet alone.

There is no rational basis from which to form the conclusion any gods exist.

There is no credible evidence of any supernatural beings, including gods

 

[Nanda]

I simply don't believe. Never been able to, really, and the more I learned about various religions, the harder it was to even pretend a belief. When Christianity didn't do it for me, I looked into Buddhism, then paganism... They all sounded very nice and interesting, but nothing ever sparked any actual belief. For a long time I was simply an agnostic by default, or a soft/weak atheist, if you prefer, but more recently, I've become a bit more focused in my views. I can't say that it was any one event that triggered it, just a general desire to know more.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

Does panentheism count as as theism? Most of the posts written by non-theists portray God as some kind supernatural entity "out there," as something believed in like the Easter Bunny. Making that assumption is like plunging off a high dive into a damp sponge thinking it to be deep water.

“The great majority of people, including even clergy and theologians of every school confuse the meaning of religion with is form, and when asked to explain the meaning give only a more detailed exposition of the form….The form of [religion] consists of certain doctrines and precepts based on a great extent on historical events. The meaning is God himself, the ultimate Reality, not as an idea conceived but as a reality experienced.” Alan Watts

Even the Abrahamic faiths, though strongly emphasizing supernatural theism, have mystical traditions that attempt to meet reality on its own terms by acknowledging the inner life as being at least as real and natural as the outer. Theology, beliefs, are the conceptual interpretation. How is that a kind of "supernaturalism"? Of course interpretations will vary. It's stupid to expect them to be uniform; we are, after all, finite beings from various backgrounds looking to the Infinite. "To know God," the knowers say, "stop dreaming (stop believing ideas are the real) and open your eyes."

God is only "out there" when he is conceived, but conceptions erect artificial boundaries that skeptics cannot see beyond.