What religion do you find most attractive (NOT what religion do you follow)?

[Baydwin]

Shinto. It's beautiful, varied, syncretic, tolerant and subtle, all things I admire in a belief system.

 

[Paraprakrti]

Hinduism is too complicated
I'm not Indian
I dont have blue skin

I am drawn to the holy grail

but I do like a good curry

I don't think Hinduism is too complicated. But it is too general a term, in my opinion. You'd be better off narrowing it down to a specific school/specific sampradaya. And not all of them require you to have an Indian born body.

Funny with the blue skin joke.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Which religion entails that?

I suppose the same religion where attractiveness is a relevant criteria for belief.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

What religion catches your eye the most?
Why?

The Cathars catch mine.
I think because of the mystery surrounding them. They also have the whiff of heresy that appeals to me and I like the gentleness and tolerance that seems to have been there.

I like Buddhism it's much like Hinduism but more simple and in many ways more efficient.

 

[Paraprakrti]

The part about believing can be a problem :yes:

I understand this answer if you don't follow any religion. You might find a certain religion the most attractive, but still find your own world view more attractive than that.

My question is aimed at those who follow a religion different than what they find most attractive.

I suspect that most people in this thread are using the term "attractive" in a more limited way than I am. I would argue that if you follow a religion at all, it must be the most attractive to you.

 

[Smoke]

Why have you guys all settled for less attractive religions?

I haven't; Buddhism was my first choice.

However, I will say that some forms of Hinduism, Taoism, and paganism are more attractive to me than some forms of Buddhism.

 

[Paraprakrti]

Because Subramuniyaswami is too much of a traditionalist, and I'd have to change too much of what I already believe in order to follow the Saiva Siddhanta he taught. The Vedanta of Swami Vivekananda is more in my alley, for I agree with pretty much everything I've read of him so far.

Besides, I don't believe in literal gods as Gurudeva did. I believe Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, and Parvati (and Shiva's other consorts) are just aspects of Shiva Himself, who is not, in truth, different than Vishnu or Brahma, or any other Mahadevas.

I see. So although there are some things you find more attractive about Subramuniyaswami, you find what you follow overall more attractive.

 

[Mr Cheese]

I understand this answer if you don't follow any religion. You might find a certain religion the most attractive, but still find your own world view more attractive than that.

My question is aimed at those who follow a religion different than what they find most attractive.

I suspect that most people in this thread are using the term "attractive" in a more limited way than I am. I would argue that if you follow a religion at all, it must be the most attractive to you.

oh, well I answered as to what religion I find most attractive as opposed to the one I "participate" in...

 

[Paraprakrti]

I suppose the same religion where attractiveness is a relevant criteria for belief.

You're just thinking of the quality of attractiveness as something superficial. But I'd argue that we follow what we find most attractive because "attractive" doesn't just include appearances. It includes everything that compells a person toward a certain philosophy or certain way of life.

 

[Paraprakrti]

oh, well I answered as to what religion I find most attractive as opposed to the one I "participate" in...

I see. Yeah, I guess that's how one would have to do it. The thread question implies that there is a religion you find more attractive than the one you follow. So you just found the next best thing and used it as your answer.

 

[sandandfoam]

I see. Yeah, I guess that's how one would have to do it. The thread question implies that there is a religion you find more attractive than the one you follow. So you just found the next best thing and used it as your answer.

Let's say for argument sake I'm a Christian. Might I not find Shamanism the most attractive religion yet not follow shamanism because I don't believe in it?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

You're just thinking of the quality of attractiveness as something superficial. But I'd argue that we follow what we find most attractive because "attractive" doesn't just include appearances. It includes everything that compells a person toward a certain philosophy or certain way of life.

Ah, silly me. I was using the connotation of "attractive" as implied in the context of the OP. Guess I need to brush up my mind reading skills.

 

[no-body]

Sufism and all the beautiful art attached to it. I'd seriously give it a go if there weren't many parts of Islam I disagree with, that and I doubt I'd find any Sufi masters around here to teach me.

I respect Universal Unitarianism a great deal as well and if anyone asks I tell them that's my chosen religion because I don't want to sound like a new age fruit cake (maybe it kind of defeats the purpose though)

 

[John D]

British Israelism
Then I can believe I am right because I am white and don't give a tick what all of you says
*heh,heh*

 

[Humanistheart]

Bhuddism is the most attractive for me, in that it's principles and ethics seem to be the best any religion has to offer. Although, FLDS has a certian apeal. It has the whole polygamy thing going for it...

 

[gnomon]

What religion catches your eye the most?
Why?

The Cathars catch mine.
I think because of the mystery surrounding them. They also have the whiff of heresy that appeals to me and I like the gentleness and tolerance that seems to have been there.

edit: Upon consideration I would have to pick Buddhism. It holds a slight appeal.

Next question:

Why have you guys all settled for less attractive religions?

Ha!

 

[Paraprakrti]

Let's say for argument sake I'm a Christian. Might I not find Shamanism the most attractive religion yet not follow shamanism because I don't believe in it?

If this is the case, I think you and I aren't utilizing the term "attractive" in quite the same way. To sum up how I see it, you believe in something because you find it to be most true and truth is attractive to you.

 

[Paraprakrti]

Ah, silly me. I was using the connotation of "attractive" as implied in the context of the OP. Guess I need to brush up my mind reading skills.

I don't see how anything was clearly implied in the context of the OP. Attraction is attraction unless otherwise specified. The OP didn't say attraction solely in regard to a visual aesthetic or solely in regard to having orgasms. I just took the word "attractive" as all-encompassing, where the question becomes: if you are not mostly attracted to the religion you follow, then why do you follow it? Perhaps one answer would be, you are attracted to not being shot by the person holding the gun to your head who is telling you to follow that particular religion. Although, I doubt this is a common scenario.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I don't see how anything was clearly implied in the context of the OP. Attraction is attraction unless otherwise specified. The OP didn't say attraction solely in regard to a visual aesthetic or solely in regard to having orgasms. I just took the word "attractive" as all-encompassing, where the question becomes: if you are not mostly attracted to the religion you follow, then why do you follow it? Perhaps one answer would be, you are attracted to not being shot by the person holding the gun to your head who is telling you to follow that particular religion. Although, I doubt this is a common scenario.

He asked "what religion catches your eye?" This hardly implies an all-encompassing motivation to pursue something. But, whatever.

 

[Paraprakrti]

He asked "what religion catches your eye?" This hardly implies an all-encompassing motivation to pursue something. But, whatever.

You're right. I apologize. I was just looking at the title.