Theism without religion

[Desert Snake]

Religion just means belief system, in actuality.

There are theists without varying degrees of what 'religion', can mean.

 

[shunyadragon]

This sounds like a western Christian version of "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him."
Tom

It more akin to the Taoist version; 'If you know the Tao it is not the Tao.'

 

[metis]

I was mistaken as to the author, it was not Aquinas but Augustine, "

NEVER EVER let that happen again!!!

Thanks for the correction.

 

[Spiderman]

I see too much good and God in Shamanism, Paganism, voodoo, necromancy, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism to believe myself smart enough to choose the right one (if there is one), so I just take the wisdom and spiritual exercises of them all.

 

[shunyadragon]

Religion just means belief system, in actuality.

There are theists without varying degrees of what 'religion', can mean.

Any Theist, Deist, Agnostic, Atheist, Humanist or whatever belief can be a belief system. An example of an organized belief system that includes Humanists, Agnostics, Atheists, Deists, and a variety of Pagans is the Unitarian Universalists. The dominant code of morals and ethics of UU is the Humanist Manifesto.

 

[Desert Snake]

Any Theist, Deist, Agnostic, Atheist, Humanist or whatever belief can be a belief system. An example of an organized belief system that includes Humanists, Agnostics, Atheists, Deists, and a variety of Pagans is the Unitarian Universalists. The dominant code of morals and ethics of UU is the Humanist Manifesto.

Therefore?

 

[shunyadragon]

Therefore?

Foolish claims that what I believe is not a belief, and what everyone else who does not believe like me is a religion and what I believe is not religion.

Sort of an amplified Made Hatter's Tea Party of not memes.

 

[SalixIncendium]

So I have a little question; If you are a theist who doesn't subscribe to religion, do you believe that religion is wrong about god(s) (by whatever name you prefer to call deity)? If not why did you turn away from religion?

While my beliefs may or may not align with a specific religion, I find labeling myself far too restricting, as my spirituality is in a perpetual state of evolution.

 

[Desert Snake]

Foolish claims that what I believe is not a belief, and what everyone else who does not believe like me is a religion and what I believe is not religion.

Sort of an amplified Made Hatter's Tea Party of not memes.

Are you agreeing with my original comment, or trying to disagree with it?

Seems like you're agreeing.

 

[Grandliseur]

I've never been a theist without religion.

When you say religion, I understand you to refer to Buddhism, Shintoism, Animalism, Ancestor worship, Christianity, etc.. Is this correct?
I do not understand it to refer to being in a church within Christianity!

I am a Christian who has turned away from all churches, each and every one. But, I go by the Bible.

 

[SabahTheLoner]

When you say religion, I understand you to refer to Buddhism, Shintoism, Animalism, Ancestor worship, Christianity, etc.. Is this correct?
I do not understand it to refer to being in a church within Christianity!

I am a Christian who has turned away from all churches, each and every one. But, I go by the Bible.

I would count going by the Bible or any other religous book as subscribing to a religion, even if it's without churches.

 

[Grandliseur]

I would count going by the Bible or any other religous book as subscribing to a religion, even if it's without churches.

Agree!

 

[shunyadragon]

Are you agreeing with my original comment, or trying to disagree with it?

Seems like you're agreeing.

I guess I agree, therefore belief, belief system and religion are just words that describe what people believe and not believe. They are not stones to throw at people who believe differently.

 

[HeatherAnn]

I would count going by the Bible or any other religous book as subscribing to a religion, even if it's without churches.

The "bible" or any religious text tends to be interpreted by many to be somewhat like false gods - infallible and worshipped.
But what are they really? Writing of imperfect people, who were trying to understand God - all written centuries ago.
Then some committee got together - after so many "councils" and said, "ENOUGH! No more - and no less!"
What if we did that with medical knowledge? We'd still be dying of what today is considered ridiculous causes!

Please don't think that it has to be "all-or-nothing."
IE: I no longer believe in Jesus as human sacrifice scapegoat & many other religious ideas, but I do believe in God - - intelligent design and that "the kingdom of God is within you" - I experience God within me. I go to church for the unbeatable sense of community. I try to take the best and leave the rest of scripture, church, philosophy, etc.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The idea of theism without religion confuses me. It's basically an "I accept that the gods are a thing, but it has no meaningful impact on my life whatsoever."

...if they are using your particular definition of the word "religion," but there's no reason to assume thay they are.

Personally, I recognize as a community of shared belief, so there's no contradiction at all in someone being theistic but not religious: it just means that whatever communities the theist participates in aren't centred on theistic beliefs. It's not about insisting that religion be organized or dogmatic.

 

[PureX]

Religion is simply a word that is used to describe what one believes or not believes (regarding "God").

I think that would be one's 'theology'. Religion would be the practice of that theological proposition in one's daily life. Though, I admit that over time these words have tended to become a bit of a blur of synonymity.

It may be organized, disorganized, sanforized, digitized, or simply one person's belief system. It is not a stone to throw at other people who believe differently,

Nicely said, my friend!

 

[shunyadragon]

I think that would be one's 'theology'. Religion would be the practice of that theological proposition in one's daily life. Though, I admit that over time these words have tended to become a bit of a blur of synonymity.

I do not believe the distinction is that clear, and religion could include both

 

[Mister Silver]

I was an atheist without religion. I was an atheist with religion. I'm a theist with religion. I've never been a theist without religion.

How does the "atheism with religion" thing work? Could you explain it for me?

 

[SabahTheLoner]

How does the "atheism with religion" thing work? Could you explain it for me?

LaVeyan Satanism, Jainism, and many sects of Buddhism either reject the existence of deity (the first two) or do not traditionally require a belief in deity (the other one listed). Many of such religions are based on philosophy. While LaVeyan Satanism is basically religious, reverse-Christ-and-Wicca ritual humanism with Randian and Nietzsche elements in philosophy, Jainism is a sect of Hinduism that rejects the Vedas (and therefore Brahman) but has an emphasis on ahimsa, or no-harm, to the point where vaganism is a necessity in Jainism. Meanwhile Buddhism claims action is more important than belief, and many practicing Buddhists are atheists (one of the staff is an atheistic Buddhist, I believe).

 

[Guy Threepwood]

I was an atheist without religion. I was an atheist with religion. I'm a theist with religion. I've never been a theist without religion.

I understand people exist who believe in a deity but don't exactly subscribe to religion. Even a mix of religion. To be honest I have a harder time putting that in context, probably because I never personally experienced it.

So I have a little question; If you are a theist who doesn't subscribe to religion, do you believe that religion is wrong about god(s) (by whatever name you prefer to call deity)? If not why did you turn away from religion?

It's an interesting question and I suppose I qualify as such

I was an atheist who became theist, but have no active affiliation, I never liked team sports or clubs. Nothing wrong with them, I just seem to be missing that group affiliation gene, I think we are all individuals to God, we are all given potential to fulfill, whether or not that requires religious affiliation- I don't know, I could be wrong, I have been at least once already!