What religion or belief systen fascinates you the most?

[wabisabi]

Other that your own, of course. I am fascinated by a lot of religions, but most of all Judaism and Native American spirituality.

 

[Storm]

Hmm, that's a tough one. They all fascinate me.

 

[TheKnight]

Well, I believe in Judaism and it is certainly the most fascinating. Outside of Judaism though, I have been fascinated by Buddhism, Shamanism, Druidism, Taoism, and Secular Humanism.

 

[AlsoAnima]

Atheism. How can one live a life that has no meaning? It's very confusing to me.

 

[wabisabi]

Atheism. How can one live a life that has no meaning? It's very confusing to me.

Why would you think atheists' lives have no meaning?

 

[JMorris]

Atheism. How can one live a life that has no meaning? It's very confusing to me.

our lives have meaning. we simply create the meaning ourselves, rather than having it told to us in a book

 

[Joe_Stocks]

Catholicism for me

 

[AlsoAnima]

Why would you think atheists' lives have no meaning?

Hm? The logical extreme of Atheism is either "I only have so much time to live, so I should do what I want and noone else matters except those I care about." or "I only have so much time to live, so nothing I do will have any significance, because human life is an accident and doesn't contribute anything to the great cosmos." Both are equally scary thoughts in my mind.

 

[Sunstone]

Hm? The logical extreme of Atheism is either "I only have so much time to live, so I should do what I want and noone else matters except those I care about." or "I only have so much time to live, so nothing I do will have any significance, because human life is an accident and doesn't contribute anything to the great cosmos." Both are equally scary thoughts in my mind.

If you believe either (1) or (2), then you don't believe what many atheists believe.

 

[wabisabi]

If you believe either (1) or (2), then you don't believe what many atheists believe.

Exactamundo. I'd go so far as to argue that many of us try to make this world the best it can be because it's the only life we've got. Thinking this life is just some way station while we wait for some eternal 'afterlife' is what baffles me.

 

[JMorris]

Hm? The logical extreme of Atheism is either "I only have so much time to live, so I should do what I want and noone else matters except those I care about." or "I only have so much time to live, so nothing I do will have any significance, because human life is an accident and doesn't contribute anything to the great cosmos." Both are equally scary thoughts in my mind.

the question of god's existence (atheism) has nothing to do with what meaning or value an atheist assigns to his/hers (or mankind's) life.

1.) seems to be more like satanism (actually seems like mankind in general)
2.) seems to be more like nihilism

we arent all satanists or nihilists. the majority of atheists wouldnt include themselves in these groups. we can assign any number of meanings to ours and other's lives. an atheist can assign "love" as the meaning of their life just as easily as any theist. or anything else.

when a person says they are a christian, or muslim, or hindu, ect; you get a pretty clear idea of what it is they believe simply from the word (that is if you actually know anything about the religion, or people of the religion). but when a person says they are an atheist, all they are saying is they dont believe in god's. the label "atheist" says nothing to the value or meaning they place of life, their own, or other's.

 

[AlsoAnima]

the question of god's existence (atheism) has nothing to do with what meaning or value an atheist assigns to his/hers (or mankind's) life.

1.) seems to be more like satanism (actually seems like mankind in general)
2.) seems to be more like nihilism

we arent all satanists or nihilists. the majority of atheists wouldnt include themselves in these groups. we can assign any number of meanings to ours and other's lives. an atheist can assign "love" as the meaning of their life just as easily as any theist. or anything else.

when a person says they are a christian, or muslim, or hindu, ect; you get a pretty clear idea of what it is they believe simply from the word (that is if you actually know anything about the religion, or people of the religion). but when a person says they are an atheist, all they are saying is they dont believe in god's. the label "atheist" says nothing to the value or meaning they place of life, their own, or other's.

I'll reply in PM, since this is getting off topic.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Other that your own, of course. I am fascinated by a lot of religions, but most of all Judaism and Native American spirituality.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. I'm more fascinated with why people believe silly things than the silly beliefs themselves. In that regard, I find them all equally fascinating.

 

[blackout]

our lives have meaning. we simply create the meaning ourselves, rather than having it told to us in a book

You do that too?

Are you only POSING as an Athiest? :tsk:

 

[blackout]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. I'm more fascinated with why people believe silly things than the silly beliefs themselves. In that regard, I find them all equally fascinating.

Some days I've believed as many as six silly things before breakfast.

Does that mean you find me fascinating? :flirt:

 

[Zardoz]

Always, U.V.

As I said on another similar poll, Magick.

 

[Buttons*]

well, they all fascinate me! I particularly don't understand Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism... so those are the ones that fascinate me most at the moment.

As far as appreciation in fascination, that list would consist of Taoism, Native American spirituality, and Judaism.

 

[Andal]

Like the other posters, all religions fascinate me. Outside of my own, Shaktism fascinates me as well as Santeria, Buddhism, and Sufism

 

[LuisDantas]

Hm? The logical extreme of Atheism is either "I only have so much time to live, so I should do what I want and noone else matters except those I care about." or "I only have so much time to live, so nothing I do will have any significance, because human life is an accident and doesn't contribute anything to the great cosmos." Both are equally scary thoughts in my mind.

Neither, however, are very common among atheists.

Atheists are no less (or more) capable of loving and caring than anyone else. We simply do not believe in the existence of any gods.

It is only weird if you assume that believing in God is some sort of prerequisite for caring and/or loving. It turns out to be a wrong assumption.

As for the OP's question: Shinto. And for similar reasons, the Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). I do not necessarily support them, but I am fascinated by their perspectives, so community-based and so distinct from the Abrahamic faiths.

Edit: and, upon reflection, also Unitarian Universalism. Bahai Faith too, although I fear it is much too Abrahamic-influenced in the group that I met.

 

[JMorris]

You do that too?

Are you only POSING as an Athiest? :tsk:

one does not need to be a silly purple faerie to apply value to one's own life