What part does your religion play in your life?

[Katzpur]

I chose "My religious beliefs define me and influence every aspect of my life." The only change I would make is to rephrase it, since I percieve it as more of a spirituality than a religion. Also, and this is a major change, but I would err on the side of 'I define my religious beliefs' rather than vice versa.

I see "I define my religious beliefs" as something very different from "My religious beliefs define me." I'll try to explain. Imagine all of the different aspects of your life as represented by a bunch of circles. Inside of each circle is a word describing a part of your life. The circles would be labeled "home and family," "career," "education," "politics," "volunteer work," "hobbies," "religion," "financial responsiblities," etc. Depending upon the relative importance of each of these things in your life, the circles could be different in size. For some people, "education" might be the biggest circle, with most of the others rather small. Some people might have a huge circle called "home and family," a smaller one called "hobbies," and a few other teeny, tiny ones for everything else.

For me, there would be one enormous circle called "religion." Inside of that circle would be all of the other circles. Some would be bigger than others and some might not exist at all. But they would all be surrounded by the one called "religion." This doesn't necessarily mean that I spend all my time at church. It means that my beliefs influence all of the other parts of my life to such an extent that I nothing I do is isolated from the way I see the world, my relationship to other people and to God. It's kind of like my spiritual self is always the part of me that controls the rest of me. Does that make any sense?

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I see "I define my religious beliefs" as something very different from "My religious beliefs define me." I'll try to explain. Imagine all of the different aspects of your life as represented by a bunch of circles. Inside of each circle is a word describing a part of your life. The circles would be labeled "home and family," "career," "education," "politics," "volunteer work," "hobbies," "religion," "financial responsiblities," etc. Depending upon the relative importance of each of these things in your life, the circles could be different in size. For some people, "education" might be the biggest circle, with most of the others rather small. Some people might have a huge circle called "home and family," a smaller one called "hobbies," and a few other teeny, tiny ones for everything else.

For me, there would be one enormous circle called "religion." Inside of that circle would be all of the other circles. Some would be bigger than others and some might not exist at all. But they would all be surrounded by the one called "religion." This doesn't necessarily mean that I spend all my time at church. It means that my beliefs influence all of the other parts of my life to such an extent that I nothing I do is isolated from the way I see the world, my relationship to other people and to God. It's kind of like my spiritual self is always the part of me that controls the rest of me. Does that make any sense?

That makes perfect sense! My circle is the same way, encompassing every aspect of my life. The only difference I was suggesting was that I am not defined by my religion because I am able to change it, just as it changes me (so perhaps I am defined by it, also). I could no sooner seperate myself from my spirituality as I could choose to stop breathing. It is who I am and it is an extention of who I am. So I think we mean the same thing, except that I was merely saying that I don't percieve religion as defining who I am, because it is such an integral part of me.

Hmm... I'm not sure if that makes sense, hehee.

 

[Engyo]

It definitely wasn't intentional because I'm not even sure what you mean. I tried to be as all-inclusive as possible. Note: I said, "Higher Power" rather than "God" (at least when I remembered to).

I wan't trying to chastise you......There are religions which do not focus on a "higher power" as such. Questions with "higher power" in place of "god" still retain a theistic focus, by virtue of having that concept in them at all. A Buddhist or Taoist (for example) isn't focussed on a "higher power" and thus is not found on a line drawn between the points "theist" and atheist"; they would form a third point defining a plane (3d) rather than a line (2d), if you remember your high-school geometry.

I think your response goes to show how we all tend to think inside the box. It hadn't even occured to me that a person could not believe in God but be religious. Would you mind elaborating on that statement. I'm really interested.

As a Buddhist, I am sincerely religious. My wife has been practicing Buddhism since the 1960's; I began in the early 80's. I am the president of our temple; my wife is in training to become a minister. We are very involved in the practice and operations of our faith and our religion on a daily basis. And yet neither of us believes in God as theists (of any sort) do.

 

[alowyn]

Forgive my ignorance, Engyo, but surely to an extent there is something considered a higher power, even if it is not a separate deity? Perhaps something similar to Brahma in Hinduism?


I consider myself spiritual, but not tied to a particular religion - rather, i try to take a broader perspective (which, as can be seen above, needs a bit more broadening :$)
however, as important as spirituality is to me, i'm still firmly bound to the real world, and politics, hobbies, career etc. are equally important.

 

[Darkdale]

For me, there would be one enormous circle called "religion." Inside of that circle would be all of the other circles. Some would be bigger than others and some might not exist at all. But they would all be surrounded by the one called "religion." This doesn't necessarily mean that I spend all my time at church. It means that my beliefs influence all of the other parts of my life to such an extent that I nothing I do is isolated from the way I see the world, my relationship to other people and to God. It's kind of like my spiritual self is always the part of me that controls the rest of me. Does that make any sense?

For me, there is Life. I experience life rationally, emotionally, spiritually, instinctively, intuitively, creatively... so my beliefs about politics, religion, philosophy stem from all these different ways of experiencing life.

 

[Engyo]

Forgive my ignorance, Engyo, but surely to an extent there is something considered a higher power, even if it is not a separate deity? Perhaps something similar to Brahma in Hinduism?

Alowyn -

There are certain schools in Buddhism where there is a great debate even today regarding self-power vs. other-power. Most schools, however, do not require outside intervention for the attainment of enlightenment. In the tradition (Mahayana) and the school (Nichiren) that I practice, there is no outside or "higher" power. Enlightenment (the goal), or at least the seeds thereof, is inherent in all human beings. It is something which we all have the potential to attain. This attainment requires practice, however. Just as someone may have great musical talent, but must still practice and develop that talent to become a world-class musician. We firmly believe that no outside force is necessary to "grant" enlightenment; it is only necessary for us to practice to develop what we already possess. Primarily, this development consists of practices which help eradicate the illusions which blind us to our own potential, and cause us to create the problems we each face. The only permission required for this change to take place comes from each person themselves.

 

[Katzpur]

I wan't trying to chastise you.

That's okay. I didn't think you were.

And yet neither of us believes in God as theists (of any sort) do.

Okay, but one of the choices in the poll was "I am an atheist." You didn't choose that one, evidently. Why? I'm sorry I'm so confused. I've just always thought that an atheist was a person who didn't believe in God (or any type of deity).

 

[Engyo]

That's okay. I didn't think you were.

Okay, but one of the choices in the poll was "I am an atheist." You didn't choose that one, evidently. Why? I'm sorry I'm so confused. I've just always thought that an atheist was a person who didn't believe in God (or any type of deity).

True - but I (perhaps wrongly) also interpreted the way the choices were layed out as meaning that Atheist = Areligious, and I am most certainly not areligious. Based on that I did not choose atheist. Maybe I could have done so and not triggered that conflation of concepts; if so, that's great, and I apologize for misunderstanding.

All of this, again, wasn't to beat up on anyone; just to point out the fact that many (most?)people don't consider religion and theism as being even possibly seperate concepts. I try to do this regularly, just to help keep these concepts from calcifying up.......