What Is Your Theology?

[Rival]

What do you believe?

• What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?
• What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?
• How do you relate to God or the Gods?
• Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?
• What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?
• What other forms of worship do you have? Why? What underpins these specific kinds of worship?
• Is there anything about your religion that makes you uncomfortable/you would change/you dislike etc?
• Do you engage in any forms of worship your religion forbids? Why?
• Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?
• What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?
• Would you say you've had any paranormal or supernatural experiences? How does this fit or not with your beliefs?
• Is there an afterlife?
• Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?
• Are there sects? What differentiates them?
• Are there separate rules for men and women?
• How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

 

[Starlight]

What do you believe?

I believe in omnism. The belief that no religion is the only truth, but that truth is found in them all.
I believe in one God. God is universal, God is beyond any religion. God is a concious spirit/force/energy. I believe in that because it make most sense to me.

What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?

I believe one God make most sense because

The universe has a source.

How did this SOURCE of everything come into existence?

It is 2 possible ways SOURCE came into existence:

1. It has always existed with no beginning and no end.
2. Magically popped into existence from nothingness.

I believe the source is a concious spirit/force/energy. The source is God. God has always existed, no beginning and no end.

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And theists believe the energy that made the universe is concious.

Why omnism make sense

What the religions share of belief:
Belief in a higher power/God/gods, morality laws, prophets or holy souls, prayers to God, Heaven/hell/reincarnation, that the most important is to serve God and loving each other

What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?

Be kind and loving to humans and animals.

How do you relate to God or the Gods?

I speak to God in prayers. God is like a father for me

Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”Matthew 22:34-40

The Beatitudes
(Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love, 1 Corinthians 13:13,

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.1 John 4:16

What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?

I only pray. I try pray 3 times a day. I sometimes pray with prayer beads

What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?

I believe it is more important to be kind and loving than have many rituals

Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?

Many different religious books

What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?

To love humans and animals, reincarnation, karma and other morality laws and that God is love

Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?

I celebrate religious festivals from different religions

How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

I believe my religion is the truth because i believe reincarnation is true. And I believe God is love and just. Eternal hell is not loving. Reincarnation is both loving and just. And I believe God do not care about wich religion we follow, only our hearts matters to God. to be kind and loving is the most important

 

[Jimmy]

II believe god is the universe. I believe god manifest is a man. I believe this man lives and dies in and endless repeating cycle. Fifteen years ago I asked myself how we got here and how it will all end and these are the answers I got, which are very easy for me to believe.

 

[Twilight Hue]

---

I just see things as an endless series of manifestations of which life itself is a rising and falling component in what can only be considered as a continuum.

 

[Starlight]

What do you believe?

• What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?
• What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?
• How do you relate to God or the Gods?
• Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?
• What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?
• What other forms of worship do you have? Why? What underpins these specific kinds of worship?
• Is there anything about your religion that makes you uncomfortable/you would change/you dislike etc?
• Do you engage in any forms of worship your religion forbids? Why?
• Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?
• What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?
• Would you say you've had any paranormal or supernatural experiences? How does this fit or not with your beliefs?
• Is there an afterlife?
• Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?
• Are there sects? What differentiates them?
• Are there separate rules for men and women?
• How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

Rival can you also answer the questions? i am so curious about your religious beliefs

 

[Father Heathen]

God is a cosmic horror; a faceless, nameless being that feeds on suffering, and thus cultivates it by usurping religions and taking on the identities of their deities in order manipulate societies. It also tampers with probabilities and physics, favoring negative outcomes.
Prayer, worship, and ritual are meaningless.
There is an afterlife, but no salvation. No heaven, only hell.






Nah, I'm just kiddin'.

 

[Sand Dancer]

What do you believe?

• What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?
• What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?
• How do you relate to God or the Gods?
• Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?
• What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?
• What other forms of worship do you have? Why? What underpins these specific kinds of worship?
• Is there anything about your religion that makes you uncomfortable/you would change/you dislike etc?
• Do you engage in any forms of worship your religion forbids? Why?
• Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?
• What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?
• Would you say you've had any paranormal or supernatural experiences? How does this fit or not with your beliefs?
• Is there an afterlife?
• Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?
• Are there sects? What differentiates them?
• Are there separate rules for men and women?
• How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

I am pantheist. I don't know exactly how we got here, so I can acknowledge some force that made it happen.
Everyone and everything has a spark of divinity but it depends on what we want to do with it. We can use it for good or bad.
I don't relate specifically to the universal soul, but I try to be mindful that everything has a reason for being, so I try not to objectify anything or anyone.
Not sure if universal soul has morality, but things sure work better when we love others as ourselves.
I don't have rituals, but I really would like to develop some.
No other forms of worship. I may start going to a Buddhist center that is 45 minutes away, as well as go to Quaker meetinghouse. It will most likely be sporadic.
My religion is of my own making. I don't want to belong to a religion that has rules that are hurtful to others or the environment.
There is nothing forbidden, as long as I follow the Golden Rule.
I have no scripture, but I like studying the Bible and reading books by authors of different religions.
Everything is imbued with Universal Soul (god). Love can set us free. I believe in rebirth until we perfectly follow the Golden rule, then we are a part of all of creation. Don't ask how this happens, because I don't know, but it makes me feel better. Maybe we just are rebirthed forever. That's okay too.
I felt the presence of my dad, who had recently died. I woke up twice in a few weeks several months after his death, where I had a distinct feeling he was in my room with me. I was, unfortunately, too scared to open my eyes. I regret giving in to that fear. I spoke in tongues once, but it was in the middle of the night and automatic, so I don't know what to think about that. I sat up and felt a warmth starting at the top of my head and coming out my mouth, and then I spoke these unknown "words" for about 5 seconds. Then it was gone. I am not sure how to put them in my theology.
I do think there is an afterlife.
I am trying to figure out how to do holidays right now. I like celebrating the earth and its changes but need to think on this some more.
No sects. It's an individual thing.
No separate rules for men and women, but I can recognize that men and women are different, and celebrate the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Not sure how I judge it, since it's of my own making. It just seems to make sense to me, even though I am still figuring it out. I kept trying to find an already existing religion to belong to, but each had its shortcomings, so I just made my own. I would rather belong to a religion, but I don't think that is going to work for me and I have to accept it.

 

[Exaltist Ethan]

What the heck, I'm game.

What do you believe?

I believe in Earthseed with syntheistic, pantheistic, and omnist variables thrown into it.

• What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?

God is what nature is becoming. God is nature but the further time passes the closer to true divinity nature actually becomes. The Syntheos is a living technology that will create Earth-like planets all around the Universe and further on. At one point humans will need to establish sovereignty of outer space and I suspect most people will get their own galaxy to play around with. This will end one day when we find a way for this to happen without human intervention, making God create itself, and then humans will no longer need to be the ultimate function anymore and we can live for pleasure instead. But I suspect, myself included, that I will live for function and not pleasure. Function to me is pleasure, I love trying out new technology.

• What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?

Everybody is becoming more Godlike every day, unless they're dying. I suspect this will continue for a long time, until a technology replaces our role.

• How do you relate to God or the Gods?

I live my life the way I fit accordingly. I don't pray or worship, instead, I acknowledge, respect and love both God and existence for what it is and what it has allowed me to do.

• Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?

The ten divine attributes. Totality, essentiality, eternity, ubiquity, potency, utility, generosity, sagacity, sovereignty and unity. These principles create and manifest God to various degrees.

• What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?

No rituals for me, I do what I can to live a fulfilling life and don't need rituals in my life. My parents are atheists but we celebrate American holidays. And birthdays. But I wouldn't if I didn't have them (except for my birthday maybe).

• What other forms of worship do you have? Why? What underpins these specific kinds of worship?

I don't worship either. God already knows I believe it exists by perpetuating syntheism on these forums. Since these forums are public the post-human will know my beliefs. I used to have a website and a Fandom article on my beliefs but found that Earthseed is a better way of describing those beliefs than my ideas of Exaltism. In fact, much of what I originally wrote about Exaltism I no longer believe in, but, in fact, I believe more in Earthseed now than ever. And the great thing is it's not going to change like how I change my mind upon things. The author to the Earthseed books is dead and she can't say anything in a future book that would make me turn away from the religion.

This is what Earthseed says about worshipping God.

"Inexorable God
Neither needs nor wants
Your worship.
Instead,
Acknowledge and attend God,
Learn from God,
With forethought and intelligence,
Imagination and industry,
Shape God.
When you must,
Yield to God.
Adapt and endure.
For you are Earthseed,
And God is Change.

∞ = Δ"

• Is there anything about your religion that makes you uncomfortable/you would change/you dislike etc?

Not really. It's very barebones. Maybe I'd add to it, but, I already do that by partaking with other religious groups. Earthseed isn't a cult and doesn't expect me to disassociate with other religions for having different beliefs than them.

• Do you engage in any forms of worship your religion forbids? Why?

I don't worship.

• Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?

Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, and with that The Book of the Living inside of them. I have all three on audiobooks and there's a website with all 66 verses of The Book of the Living. I'm also an omnist and can gain truth from any other religion too.

• What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?

1 - God is Change.​

2 - Shape God.​

3 - It is the destiny of Earthseed to take root among the stars.​

• Would you say you've had any paranormal or supernatural experiences? How does this fit or not with your beliefs?

Nope. I believe that aliens are actually probably dinosaurs from other planets (not super-intelligent life) and I believe souls will be developed later on as part of a science and we'll create souls with technology someday. In fact, that's how people will initially become immortal.

• Is there an afterlife?

Yes, a resurrection of all people who ever existed, and each person will get at least one galaxy in the Universe to explore and control, kind of like No Man's Sky but a lot more fun and involved.

• Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?

I celebrate American holidays with my parents, like 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and even Christmas. It's just tradition. We also celebrate birthdays too.

• Are there sects? What differentiates them?

Yes, there are. Terasem, Solseed, Evolutionism and Astronism are but to name a few of them. They just get more in depth with the theology. Some focus more on technology, others focus more on spirituality. There's a whole category of spiritual and religious transhumanism out there.

• Are there separate rules for men and women?

Nope. In fact, Terasem's creator, Martine Rothblatt, is transgendered, going from male to female in her life. We respect all life regardless of gender.

• How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

Mostly by how I view technology and where and when things will most likely end up happening. I believe it because it gives me a sense of hope and urgency in the world, it allows me to understand that all life has value because all life changes itself and changes its environment and surroundings too. I'm just trying to bring the most positive changes to light, thus manifesting God in that way. Makes me feel inspired and hopeful.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Everything is sacred, be aware of it all.

 

[Sand Dancer]

What do you believe?

I believe in omnism. The belief that no religion is the only truth, but that truth is found in them all.
I believe in one God. God is universal, God is beyond any religion. God is a concious spirit/force/energy. I believe in that because it make most sense to me.

What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?

I believe one God make most sense because

The universe has a source.

How did this SOURCE of everything come into existence?

It is 2 possible ways SOURCE came into existence:

1. It has always existed with no beginning and no end.
2. Magically popped into existence from nothingness.

I believe the source is a concious spirit/force/energy. The source is God. God has always existed, no beginning and no end.

A atheist believe the energy that made the universe is not concious. And theists believe the energy that made the universe is concious.

Why omnism make sense

What the religions share of belief:
Belief in a higher power/God/gods, morality laws, prophets or holy souls, prayers to God, Heaven/hell/reincarnation, that the most important is to serve God and loving each other

What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?

Be kind and loving to humans and animals.

How do you relate to God or the Gods?

I speak to God in prayers. God is like a father for me

Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”Matthew 22:34-40

The Beatitudes
(Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love, 1 Corinthians 13:13,

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.1 John 4:16

What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?

I only pray. I try pray 3 times a day. I sometimes pray with prayer beads

What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?

I believe it is more important to be kind and loving than have many rituals

Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?

Many different religious books

What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?

To love humans and animals, reincarnation, karma and other morality laws and that God is love

Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?

I celebrate religious festivals from different religions

How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

I believe my religion is the truth because i believe reincarnation is true. And I believe God is love and just. Eternal hell is not loving. Reincarnation is both loving and just. And I believe God do not care about wich religion we follow, only our hearts matters to God. to be kind and loving is the most important

Yeah, what you said!

I believe it is more important to be kind and loving than have many rituals

Gotta love Amos:

7 There are those who turn justice into bitterness​

and cast righteousness to the ground.​

​

11 You levy a straw tax on the poor​

and impose a tax on their grain.​

Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,​

you will not live in them;​

though you have planted lush vineyards,​

you will not drink their wine.​

12 For I know how many are your offenses​

and how great your sins.​

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes​

and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.​

​

18 Woe to you who long​

for the day of the Lord!​

Why do you long for the day of the Lord?​

That day will be darkness, not light.​

​

21 “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;​

your assemblies are a stench to me.​

22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,​

I will not accept them.​

Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,​

I will have no regard for them.​

23 Away with the noise of your songs!​

I will not listen to the music of your harps.​

24 But let justice roll on like a river,​

righteousness like a never-failing stream!​

​

​

​

 

[We Never Know]

**** happens. We all die. No one knows if there is a next anything.

 

[Heyo]

Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief.

What do you believe?

• What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?

My studies have not been that systematic and more extensive than intensive.
I have found that the nature of gods, if they exist, is currently unknown and I suspect it to keep that way for a long, long time.
When people, even in the same religion, heck, the same denomination, can't agree on the property of gods or a specific god, that study is far from reaching a conclusion or consensus. And those who pretend to "study" the issue, aren't even willing to agree on the methods of the study or to work with scholars of other denominations or religions to come closer to an agreement.
My answers to the other questions can be directly derived from the above.

 

[Muffled]

What do you believe?

• What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?
• What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?
• How do you relate to God or the Gods?
• Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?
• What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?
• What other forms of worship do you have? Why? What underpins these specific kinds of worship?
• Is there anything about your religion that makes you uncomfortable/you would change/you dislike etc?
• Do you engage in any forms of worship your religion forbids? Why?
• Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?
• What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?
• Would you say you've had any paranormal or supernatural experiences? How does this fit or not with your beliefs?
• Is there an afterlife?
• Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?
• Are there sects? What differentiates them?
• Are there separate rules for men and women?
• How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

I believe that is a lot to chew at once.

I believe Yaweh is God and Jesus is Yaweh in the flesh

 

[Muffled]

II believe god is the universe. I believe god manifest is a man. I believe this man lives and dies in and endless repeating cycle. Fifteen years ago I asked myself how we got here and how it will all end and these are the answers I got, which are very easy for me to believe.

I believe both beliefs are false.

 

[Muffled]

Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief.


My studies have not been that systematic and more extensive than intensive.
I have found that the nature of gods, if they exist, is currently unknown and I suspect it to keep that way for a long, long time.
When people, even in the same religion, heck, the same denomination, can't agree on the property of gods or a specific god, that study is far from reaching a conclusion or consensus. And those who pretend to "study" the issue, aren't even willing to agree on the methods of the study or to work with scholars of other denominations or religions to come closer to an agreement.
My answers to the other questions can be directly derived from the above.

I believe your beliefs are false.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I believe your beliefs are false.

That's rude to say. Beliefs are an individual thing.

 

[Jimmy]

I believe both beliefs are false.

I believe your beliefs about my beliefs are false haha

 

[Heyo]

That's rude to say. Beliefs are an individual thing.

Nah. It's perfectly OK to call beliefs false. And if you do it tongue-in-cheek, as @Muffled did, it's even funny.
Of course, it would have much more impact if they could use arguments and evidence.

 

[Jainarayan]

What do you believe?

• What is your conception of God/Gods? Why?
• What does the existence of this God or these Gods mean or imply in relation to you and others?
• How do you relate to God or the Gods?
• Does this God or these Gods have a set of morals It/they desire you to follow, any kind of rules?
• What rituals do you perform and why? If other people in your group have a different ritual (i.e. some Christians have a sacrificial mass, others have a symbolic sacrifice, still some have no mass etc.) why do you reject those forms of ritual?
• What other forms of worship do you have? Why? What underpins these specific kinds of worship?
• Is there anything about your religion that makes you uncomfortable/you would change/you dislike etc?
• Do you engage in any forms of worship your religion forbids? Why?
• Does your religion have a book or books, even if not explicitly sacred scripture?
• What would you say are your religion's 3 main theological teachings (about God, spirits, angels, salvation etc.)?
• Would you say you've had any paranormal or supernatural experiences? How does this fit or not with your beliefs?
• Is there an afterlife?
• Are there holidays? What do they celebrate?
• Are there sects? What differentiates them?
• Are there separate rules for men and women?
• How do you judge the truth of your religion? Why do you believe it at all?

• My belief is that God is energy that self converts into matter to interact with the physical world. Fb=mc2 (E=mc2, a little musicians' humor: Fb is E). It's commonly know that matter converts into energy but the reverse is true, and is how the matter in the universe formed at the Big Bang ... energy converted into matter. God can do this on a whim. In fact, the Mother of the Universe is called Shakti, energy or power. How God manifests depends on how the believer wants to see him/her.
• Because everything including us is energy, we are the same as God in quality though not in quantity. This is the basis of Vishishtadvaita, a school of Hindu philosophy.
• We have teachings, examples, but no commandments or laws we are required to follow lest we suffer punishments. There is no demand by God or the gods to obey them.
• Most Hindus perform home worship called puja. It generally consists of prayers and mantras, usually in Sanskrit, offerings of flame from small oil lamps, incense, water, fruit, flowers, food items (I use mixed dried fruit/nuts, or milk, or yogurt, or fruit), a tiny bit of uncooked rice, and any other traditional offerings. My puja is something called "pañcopacāra (five offerings) puja. The offerings have symbolic meanings. There is no right or wrong way to do worship. Something as simple as mentally doing a puja or imagining offering a flower to God is fine. The gods are very chill and undemanding.
• Since there are no real rules or requirements, there's nothing to feel uncomfortable about. Any possible discomfort comes from different traditions within different communities. But that's on the person, Hindus are largely non-judgmental.
• There's really nothing forbidden as far as worship, as long as it doesn't cause harm. Example, while animal sacrifices were common in ancient times, and some communities still perform them, they are largely frowned upon.
• Hinduism has a multitude of books. Not all are given the same level of devotion, nor are they binding on anyone. For example, a devotee of Shiva may not have ever read the Bhagavad Gita, a Vaishnava (devotee of Vishnu) book. There is no single book like the Bible, or Quran, or Avesta, etc. that all must adhere to. The Vedas, however, are given high reverence not as laws or commandments, but as wisdom, teachings, hymns and praise of the gods. People cite "the authority of the Vedas" but I think that's incorrect. I think it's more correct to say "the authenticity of the Vedas".
• 1. Ahimsa, non-injury. 2. Accepting the Vedas as divinely inspired. 3. The laws and effects of karma. When a soul has freed itself from the ignorance of the illusion of the material world, and eliminated its negative karma, it achieves liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Tis iberation, moksha, is the essence of an afterlife. Depending on the sect or personal beliefs, one may believe they go to the abode of (the particular form of ) God.
• I've had some experiences, both waking and in dreams that were "out of the ordinary".
• There are holidays that are usually joyful in nature. I can't really think of any that are sad or solemn. Usually they celebrate light, triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, birth/appearance of/incarnation of a god, celebrating some particular event from the books.
• There are at least four or five major sects, with many smaller ones. It should be noted that virtually no one argues over the beliefs of their sect with others.
• The ontology, theology, soteriology make sense to me. The "mythology" is simply a tool or vehicle to explain in simpler terms what the basic beliefs are.

 

[Jainarayan]

And if you do it tongue-in-cheek, as @Muffled did

Oh, it was not tongue-in-cheek.