I lean to the notion that religion is a practice shared
a list of prayers
rituals
ceremonies
congregation
I don't have any of that
I do believe in God
and I do conduct myself as if I might meet Him
but that takes me away from the everyday definition
I'm pretty much on my own
Me too I think. I also talked to lots of people and they seemed to not have any specifics like those you listed either.
I adopt freely from any of the religions, particularly Islam(s), Hinduism(s), Buddhism(s), and adaptions of Ancient Religions (From Mesopotamian to Norse, Japanese to Uto-Aztecan) and prayers and deity names and epithets. Maybe a dash of Zoroastrianism(s) and its reverse, Daevaism (which might just be Vedic religion again anyway).
I don't have any congregation or community and would feel a little weird about it maybe, but can sneak into various congregations.
The religion, like yours, is God, that I may have to answer for my conduct, and communication with and worship of God and using God for confidence, advances, luck, insight/knowledge.
I freely access and modify any scripture or interpretation or word as I may feel best suits my purposes or thinking.
Though I may consider myself as sufficiently inclusive of the essence of a twisted version or Judaism and Christianity, I'm pretty anti-Biblical and opposed to the contents of the Bible both old and new in big chunks so that would likely disqualify me from there. I abhor the Hadiths thus disqualifying me from mainstream Muslims, I abhor the Puranas which disqualify me from the mainstream Hindus, and the doctrines of the Jews and Christians, and of all religions, theologically, LDS Mormonism (Man-God mania) is the furthest from mine.
If any community heard my views they would throw me out. The "Heathens" and "Reconstructionist Pagans" were complete pieces of trash as far as I encountered.
I'm also racist probably, luckily towards the entirety of the race of humans, but also every single particular faction. They say that racism stems from ignorance about people, in my case I wasn't a racist until I encountered numerous people, then I started despising them, and their cultures, and the mindset and culture I absolutely hate the most is that of the Spanish speaking world and people under the Spanish linguistic mind or influence, I don't know what it is but its just full of really terrible things I've experienced, and never knew before, so actual interactivity and investigation and observation filled me with a lot of hatred and bias.
Hispanophobia. Its real, and I contracted it. I ear all kinds of hispanic and Central and South American food, and I get along fine with the people directly, but I really despise their behaviors, activities, productions, mentality, the things I've seen, the treatment of animals and children, the loud obnoxiousness, maybe its more specific to the type of deprived villagers who were created due to post-colonial complexes and poverty or whatever.
For some reason certain groups of South East Asians hate me and my family, no idea what they seem to notice and be reacting to, but I hate them back for the kind of random attacks they have made.
I have an appearance which can sneak into probably most places in the entire world or groups without any issue, but would not be identified as African or East Asian readily, but could appear like just about anything else in between those two places and facial stereotypes.
I've had bad experiences online with Australians and French, but get along fine with Australians in person. Something about Australians reading my words in text and they tend to **** themselves off, and French are some of the most frightened, untrusting, paranoid people I've encountered online.
Anyway, I fail to mention every group, but I have something nasty in my heart for all of them.
I like people who are like me, excluded, alienated, not belonging to any group, kicked out from the stereotypes. You, Freb, people like us, outsiders, heretics, looneys who are friendly and never really wanted to hate or feel bad (not saying you hate, I'm the hater).
Atheists of certain types have also lost their communities and comradery, but when they manage to get along with big gangs they become pigs again.
I think individualism and alienation is important to cultivate sincere humans. I love sincere people, soft people, thoughtful people, and I think or hope God loves them too. It may just be me, but I suspect God hates everyone I hate too, and thats whoever gets along as members of big groups and cliques, who treated me and my fellow outcasts like crap! They are cowards who always needed to hide behind groups and authorities and never thought much, who just bark and hide.
I envy them too. I just don't have the stomach to conform to what I see as lies and stupidity, and I'm so grateful for the freedom to be able to say the controversial things I do and worship my God.
I also savor and enjoy every time these people I dislike, these "types" who have mistreated me and other fine people of all ages, fall, and suffer, and drop dead, which is every single day!
I doubt you're as venomous as me, but I was just never used to being disrespected and mistreated growing up, and then in the last 3 years maybe, possibly more but never in such a high degree, I've been attacked all over online and seen young people be totally belligerent and obnoxious in person which has made me totally confused about the future, about productivity or service (why should I do anything for people like this that I hope stop breathing A.S.A.P?), and just an overall very cynical and pessimistic and bitter person when it comes to dealing with people. I've never been more misanthropic than in the last few years based on how people started behaving in so many places that I look.
Some guy tried to pick a fight with me in a store when I was looking at an item. I then noticed him, and I said "oh sorry" and I turned the other way so he could pass if he wanted to pass, then I left the entire aisle, and the crazy jerk just huffed and puffed and walked somewhere else. What the hell was he trying to communicate? Then he left the store without buying anything. Maybe he was just nuts.
Which brings me to another group I hate. Crazy people. Not crazy like us, who aren't really very crazy, but crazy as in making no sense and being belligerent for no reason and attacking out of nowhere. I consider a whole lot of people to be abnormal like this now, to the point where its seemingly the norm for people to just insult and threaten complete stranger.
If I could press a button without consequences to me or my family that could eradicate these people off the face of the Earth, omg I'd hit that button over and over and over and couldn't hit it enough even if once does the trick.
When I hear about literally thousands of people dropping dead per-day, I assume or imagine that these people were most likely garbage people like the kind I am talking about, and like a Westboro Baptist freak, I get a good feeling imagining that large swathes of terrible lives and interactions are just not going to happen by the hundreds of thousands.
It may be more unpleasant than that though, and the ones actually dying were the slightly older people, and the little ill-mannered munchkins will be left behind to terrorize unchecked (so what's the difference?).
So, with a sick mindset like that, its no wonder I'm unable to get along with society or feel part of anything.
"Change your mind" like my sexuality? I don't even know how or why, or if I'd even like myself really if I did. What I envy are the things they have that I don't and can't, but I find them hideous still and so would not have what they have in exchange for my own appearance, which to me is beautiful in its sincerity, authenticity, and whatever else seems to keep me apart from people and communities.
I even get disgusted when I see "bands" performing or groups dancing all together the same dance. It looks annoying, fake, stupid.
If anyone can help it, don't become like me. You might be a lot happier with a lot more things, but you'll not be able to perform in a Korean music video.
I believe my God is true through faith.
