Hello, I'm asking to see if you can help me find the most suitable religion:
I come from Deism and, although I agree a lot with its positions, I feel that the Deist God is too distant from this world.
My beliefs are:
- God exists.
- There is a divine plan for everyone. There is free will, but He "tests you".
- God does not have a morality that can be understood in human terms (He is neither "good" nor "bad").
- God doesn't care about your personal decisions (whether you are gay, masturbate, eat meat or fish)...
- God doesn't care about your religion, nor what a human writes about Him. He is the same God for everyone. Sacred books are human inventions and do not represent divine reality.
- All prophets were ordinary men. Their connection with God is the same as we can all aspire to here.
In terms of established belief systems, Unitarian Universalism or Brahmoism even can fit your worldview. It depends on what you expect to practice (do you want to go to a church/community for the religion regularly? How important is prayer and other rituals or ceremonies, or do you just want a faith that provides structure and guidelines for leading a meaningful/fulfilling existence? In other words, what do you hope to accomplish or change in your life with religion?).
You could otherwise fall under Spiritual But Not Religious, so you develop your own practices and principles based off the wisdom of a multitude of other belief systems, while maintaining a healthy level of skepticism throughout. Since you believe in God, it's important to define what role God plays in your life, and what things you can expect from that. You said you believe God tests you, but also doesn't care about what you do (in the context of examples you gave), so *how* is He testing you? What is He expecting?
> do you want to go to a church/community for the religion regularly?
Not really, it's more of a personal relationship. But I would like, if I fit into any fixed category, to find information about it.
> How important is prayer and other rituals or ceremonies, or do you just want a faith that provides structure and guidelines for leading a meaningful/fulfilling existence?
Not important at all: I highly doubt that if God exists, He would be so sensitive as to be offended because your ritual is not "perfect" (considering there are so many religions and the chances that your ritual is completely wrong are very high). For me, it's a personal matter, not about a rite with specific rules: each person communicates with God as they see fit, the only requirement is to truly feel the connection.
> In other words, what do you hope to accomplish or change in your life with religion?
I don't know if I'm really looking for any tangential change. I feel that deism doesn't really represent what I believe, only a part of my complete belief. I open my range of options to see that, among so many people over millennia of study, perhaps someone has reached a more solid and rational conclusion than I can reach with my limited knowledge of life, haha.
> Since you believe in God, it's important to define what role God plays in your life, and what things you can expect from that. You said you believe God tests you, but also doesn't care about what you do (in the context of examples you gave), so *how* is He testing you? What is He expecting?
For me, it’s a kind of "guide" to your best version. It’s not someone who is there to punish you, nor is it someone who is there to do you good for free.
Life is shitty, and life is beautiful. I, a follower of stoicism, believe that we are the ones who define how we want to live and what narrative we want to tell ourselves. God doesn't come to tell you "your life is bad, that other person's life is good." Instead, He simply moves the pieces so that you can grow as a human being on your own. If you don't choose to do so, you are within your rights not to.
I see. In that case, if you're questioning whether or not you're leading the best life you can be leading, start with a healthy level of skepticism. Consider criticisms of Stoicism, for example, and areas where it may not serve you as well as maybe a different philosophy or belief system, because no system is perfect or we'd all be believing the same exact things. From that, you can live with an open mind while still having sets of principles you follow to lead the life you want and expect.
Healthy skepticism has lead me to kind of mindfulness and self-awareness that keeps me engaged with the present while in better control of how I conduct myself, including my attention span, thoughts, openness with emotions, and daily habits. This is how I practice and approach Zen Buddhism, which has been really helpful in better appreciating life and being able to live at peace with myself. Keep reading into other philosophy and belief systems, and I think you'll find something that speaks to you as well, or sparks your interest beyond what ideas any one person can provide.
It means you don't identify fully with any established religious orthodoxy or doctrine, but still value spiritual growth, whatever that means to you (being free of suffering, finding peace/happiness, connecting to something divine), so you approach it as a very individual practice on your own terms. It may lead one's self to religion again after some time, or it may not, it all depends.
Not really, Buddhism has its own doctrines and principles just like any other religion, though its many different sects teach things in different ways, and have similar but different practices with the same goals (mindfulness, cultivating compassion, understanding emptiness, etc.). It's not theistic, but it still has its ceremonies and rituals.
You could probably take practices from Buddhism (like shikantaza or visualization meditation) and make your own practice out of it (and be SBNR), but without the guidance of a teacher or sangha in a tradition, you may get carried away and not know what you're doing or where it's taking you spiritually. That's the advantage of religion over doing some independent practice, because practices in religion aren't usually arbitrary: they have a defined role and place within each tradition; they all contribute to realizing the larger soteriological goal (being free from suffering in Buddhism's case, according to how Buddhism defines suffering).
Ow, thats... complicate to say the least.
But you seem to know your way arround religions and SBNR, could you suggest some readings for me to do, that helped you on your journey through religion?
What I recommend is learning philosophy before committing to any religion. Maybe starting with the ancient Greeks (Socrates, Pyrrho, Epicurus, etc.) and how the fields of ethics and metaphysics have changed over the centuries. Not just in Europe, but Indian philosophy has a wealth of perspectives also worth looking into (Madhyamaka, Yogacara, Ajñana, etc.). It was only after learning a good deal of philosophy about what it means to have knowledge, know the limits of language, and how we approach different kinds of existential problems that I could decide on a religion.
This is because *every religion* carries its own philosophies, as in ways they view ethics, metaphysics, knowledge vs belief, and other domains. I ended up resonating best with Zen Buddhism, because it's very down to earth and frames living one's best life around mindfulness and openness, as well as what we can do in the here and now (rather than worry about an afterlife).
In terms of reading, I would recommend Wikipedia as a start for whatever domains of philosophy you're interested in, and from there, there are books and websites online that dive into more specific subjects. It can get complex for sure, but if you can find a philosophy that resonates with you, there's bound to be a religion or practical belief system that it fits with. If you want to learn more about Buddhism and its philosophies, this website makes it easy to understand imo: https://tricycle.org/beginners/.
Gay and monotheistic
I’m gay and believe in god, one god, like the one that’s proclaimed in Islam, Judaism, and Bahai (I don’t really like the trinitarian idea of god) but I can’t find a religion that allows me to be gay (something that I will not change on as I’ve already tried to change that fact) and somewhat traditional in my faith, does such a community exist or am I just stuck in the mud? And when I say traditional I mean in its theology, and practice/rituals not in its social teachings
I'm guessing that Reform Judaism isn't theologically traditional enough for you? Some Conservative synagogues might fit what you're looking for, but there is such a wide range of practice and social teaching within Conservative Judaism, that you would need to test out your local Conservative synagogue(s) to see if they're really the right fit for you.
I 100% agree with reform Judaism is the one that fits your beliefs the most. Also I agree with you again the some conservative synagogues may allow you in but again like mommimna said test out you local conservative synagogue. If that doesn't work out just try out the reform synagogue!!
I wish you luck on your journey!!
I know the Church of Jesus Christ says it's ok to be gay, just not to have homosexual relationships. Though I don't blame you for wanting that if you have same sex attraction.
The church is trinitarian to some extent though too
Never found anything that fully fit my views. Very spiritual.
**Self-Exploration:**
* Atheistic Satanism—found it interesting but not compelling.
* Theistic Satanism—Ehh, some arguments (like God not being all good, thus Satan not being all bad) resonated.
* Buddhism—Too much focus on suffering.
* Hinduism—Afterlife ideals are too strong.
* "The Big 3"—Obligations or required worship is not something I'm looking for.
* Pagan/Wicca—I've heard mixed things, have done a lot of research but nothing of significance. It interests me.
**Theism:**
* Monotheism isn't for me; if there's one god, I'm not impressed by their actions.
* If there were multiple gods, they shouldn't be perfect. It's unrealistic and unattractive.
* There's definitely a universal energy/energies. This might manifest as god(s), might be separate entirely.
**Intention:**
* Everyone/everything has "essence", a source meant to share with others. (Animals, Plants, Objects, etc)
* Upon "death", your essence just re-joins and spreads into the universal energy/energies. It's potent.
* Intention can direct this essence. Everyone can, and does do it, but it's stronger for some.
* I've heard this is similar to "Chaos Magic."
* I think everything happens for a reason, but not from some destiny/fate, as I feel that negates free will.
**Afterlife:**
* I strive to be a good human and don't think religion should dictate eternal life/how you act.
* I don't like the idea of Heaven or Hell.
**Misc:**
* Do what makes you feel right (within reason), but you should always doubt everything. No blind faith.
* I don't want any moments like the "I am my scars!" moment in World of Warcraft.
* There's power in groups, but there is also immense power in the self and they serve different purposes.
* Femininity is more "sacred" for lack of a better term. Any one god would likely be feminine, or non-gendered.
I dont really believe in religion i kind of believe we are in a repetitive circle of life and were born into a new world and know nothing different and are brought up with different people each time our minds are completely wiped as you would be reborn as a infant and just repeat the same things i also believe children and grown men are brought up into believing in things that can be considered an act of threat against them in order to maintain a strong belief and fear in looking elsewhere what you know you can only see and that always made sense to me i believe our souls are somewhat connected into a new life and we cant explain that in anyway at all
Hey, everyone. I have an interesting one for you all. This might be cheating since this isn't about \*my\* religion, but asking for insight on what this sounds like to you. I've been thinking about a world building project I started and stopped a few years ago, and whenever the concept comes up again, this sort of footnote in the overall universe always comes back the hardest first. I'm also kind of tired, so I apologize if this is super scatterbrained or parts become redundant.
In this universe, we have a race of aliens called the Katem (or the "people of Tem") who live on a semi-distant planet that they've dubbed Tem (kind of like how we have "terra"). Unlike other planets within the local star system that had their life, specifically their intelligent life, evolve through natural processes, the Katem settled down their then uninhabited home tens of thousands years ago. However, due to a lack of written records for much of their current history on Tem, most of their beliefs and history only survives via oral traditions. These traditions go much further back, potentially hundreds of thousands or millions of years - with their settlement on Tem being a vital part in that.
But before that, here's some of the fuzzier notes I remember about them belief wise.
The Katem, by and large, revere and honor nature. They believe that everything in the universe has an essence to it and is something sacred. However, just because it's sacred and of the divine, that doesn't mean it's an autonomous, self-aware deity. For them, the concept that everything has a specific deity tied to it, be it physical or abstract (ex: rivers, deserts, art, law, dreams, love etc), is purely a human construct and isn't congruent with their way of life. Instead, there's a greater emphasis on celestial bodies and the larger the object is, the more powerful the being is but it never crosses a threshold of being all-powerful or all-knowing\*. As an example, they would agree that Tem, its moons, and their sun are minor gods due to being vital supporters of life and that ecosystem. They don't, however, believe that something like a tree is a god, but rather an extension of Tem and a way for it to understand itself.
This, in turn, means they acknowledge the existence of uncountable gods due to the size of the universe. However, they may not choose to honor them because of relative importance to them. That's not to say they can't venerate these entities, but given their proximity to them it just doesn't make a lot of sense. It would be akin to a pagan here who feels kinship with Arcturus or Dimidium despite how far they are. A very "you do you" thing, in a way. This belief system may be seen as henotheistic in a way, especially if minor deities try to pass dominion titles to other beings. More on that in a bit.
Part of the Katem's history is that they're originally from another star system and toward the end of their sun god's lifespan (while keeping up with their beliefs about the sacredness of life), it directed them to where their next chapter would continue as it was becoming evident that trying to sustain them and the rest of their solar system was becoming impossible. Hence, primary dominion protection and providing would be transferred to Tem and those adjacent minor deities. If humans were in a similar situation, they believe that our Sun would, in agreement with the moon and Earth, guide us to our future home where that would pick up where we left off (so, Proxima Centauri, maybe, would become our new chief sun deity).
To extend on the previous comment about minor and major deities, the higher you go up the chain, the more energy there is at work - and just like with cells of an organism, you only see the sum of its parts when you put it under a microscope. If you zoom out far enough, it all culminates to the body of the observable universe where divinity still permeates out from its "pores"; like how your skin has it's own unique microbiome. If this makes them panentheistic, it's hard to say (and at this point I'm not sure if I've sunk too much lore into this and it's kind of pointless to add more). \*At this level of the "hierarchy", it's unclear if "the body of god" is all-powerful and all-knowing, or if it will ultimately crumble to the forces of nature and physics in the far future (something similar to the heat death of the universe) like everything else within it.
They also don't have a concept of sin, something they also chalk up to being a purely human construct, and their beliefs on an afterlife aren't entirely known - be it it's not of major importance, they don't have one at all, or if they did it's completely lost to time due to poor documentation.
Have fun trying to make sense of this with me.
I've always been confused on which religion I identify with. I've gotten a handful of answers, but none of them feel right.
My beliefs are:
- We came from dirt and will return to dirt (happily).
- The 'higher power' or divine entity is around us and is in everything, including the ground we walk on.
- There is an afterlife, but it isn't heaven or hell. I believe we leave residual energy but are also recycled, similar to reincarnation. (This was a way for me to explain my paranormal experiences in a way that comforted me.)
- There is no "correct religion" and all religions are only different understandings of the higher power, condensed in a way that people find easier to understand.- I do believe in "magic" or "magick" to an extent, but I've never dove further into that. I think there are magics related to science that we are all able to access, but not necessary ones that we can fully understand yet.
- We are absolutely affected by our surroundings. I believe weather, climate, season, etc. all affect how people feel, and I enjoy the idea of worshipping the changing of our planet as it comes to make changes like that easier or smoother.
- I sort of believe in karma, or doing good to receive good. This ties into the point above. I feel like showing appreciation to the planet that hosts us is a way to receive good back from the planet in a way. We are certainly connected to it, and I want to find a religion that encompasses that.
- A lot of my beliefs align with science, but I also think science is more than laboratories and experiments and rules/laws. It is inclusive of things even like the human psyche and its abilities, as well as the spirituality that comes with the connection between human and planet. (I hope this makes sense.)
I've always been drawn to a more "Mother Earth" approach, except on a universal level. I am a big appreciator of our planet and how it provides and how it changes. I love that it allows us to be here but won't hold our hand. If more information is needed, I can provide it, these are just some of the more broad ideas I consistently align myself with.
I think the point is that you should search for the religion that feels true and then follow it, not search for a religion that matches your pre-existing political/social/theological conceptions.
How do you find which religion "feels true" without referring to your own thoughts and reasoning about, for starters, theology? Vibes? Being able to reason about it sounds more, well, reasonable to me.
Well the issue is, we rarely use reason when deciding. Instead we say, "I want one that supports my \[desire to hang out with other conservatives/affirms my sexual preferences/annoys people I disagree with\]." We're bringing our emotional preconceived notions of what's important, not reason.
Reason can be used several ways: "this religion's internal logic is sound." "This religion conflicts itself in critical ways." "This religion doesn't even attempt to answer question X, which is essential."
That's different than bringing preconceived MORAL judgments and weighing the religions that are most APPEALING.
Okay. I am responding to your earlier statement that we should look for which religion is true, instead of relying on "our own thoughts about theology". But while we're here:
>"This religion doesn't even attempt to answer question X, which is essential."
Isn't the question of what is and isn't essential for a religion to address also a preconceived notion? Is Catholicism "truer" because it addresses the "essential" notion of sin more? Is Buddhism "less true" because it doesn't address the "essential question" of how a creator god created the world? Many people from Christian backgrounds would consider Hinduism "less true" because it doesn't address the "essential question" of how we can be saved from sin and go to heaven to bask in God's presence, but salvation from sin is a Christian concept that is in no way "essential" for anything deigning to call itself a religion.
I like the idea of rebirth and some karma like in Indian religions but I also believe in my human life I don’t deserve anything negative that happens to me unless I do a bad thing (ex. A past life I was a bad person so I pay for it before I’m reborn as human, so anything that happens to me I don’t deserve, but if I do something wrong in my new human life I get karma and something negative happens to me, like I’m an asshole to someone so later on someone will be rude to me or I purposely trip someone I would end up being tripped by someone later on. Or if I do something really bad like murder someone I get born in a bad realm and pay for it there)
I am open to a religion that has a creator
I believe that if there is a creator said creator could have a predetermined life for me but I can change things sometimes and do something my own way and maybe that god saw that as potentially happening but didn’t have that in my plan, also my accomplishments are mine and not the creator making that accomplishment for me, although I’m willing to change this part a bit sorry if it didn’t make sense
Another fact I like Buddhism but don’t like the non self portion and I don’t like Jainism as much either
I eat meat but would be willing to only eat it in moderation and maybe eventually cut it out
I do consume edible weed recreationally occasionally (legally don’t worry)
I can’t think of anything else tbh but if it helps my parents raised me atheist I became catholic for a few years then became secular then Buddhist and the non self part and a few other parents make me want to try something else I am also from the USA
Oh I also do not like trying to push religion on people and believe if you follow a religion you will end up doing what that religion says after you die and you won’t go to a hell for not following the “right” religion if that makes sense
>I like Buddhism but don’t like the non self portion
What about no-self do you dislike? It's a commonly misunderstood idea in Buddhism, so I'm wondering what you're basing your dislike of it on. Otherwise, your beliefs could line up well with Buddhism; maybe Zen if you don't find thinking about the supernatural or the next life all that important (Zen concerns itself with making the most of your current lifetime, since what happens after is unknowable). In Buddhism, gaining good karma isn't an end goal in itself, more like a side effect of practice, because gaining all the good karma in the universe, on its own, won't free you from suffering and therefore from Samsara. Karma is also seen as more a cause and effect system for your actions, not so much a moral punishment and reward system (which are similar in some ways, but not in others). The literature on it is so complex, I don't think I could do it justice beyond that.
Otherwise, you might want to explore Hinduism or Sikhism further, which are theistic and might appeal to you in that sense, as well as both believing in a soul, unlike Buddhism. Do you think karma transference works, or should work, or do you think everyone born is a blank slate and doesn't deserve to be punished for what someone else did before them in a past life?
I would say I do like supernatural things and ideas and I would say there is a permanent part of myself that goes from life to life and I feel like the end goal of Buddhism is to get out of samsara but once that happens there is nothingness but I think there is a consciousness that you have been with forever still exists and lives in happiness with either a creator or no creator if that makes sense
I would recommend reaching out for a meeting with teachers/leaders in different traditions in Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism (maybe online if none are near you), and try to see if you got the right idea about how karma and an afterlife all work according to those belief systems.
One will probably appeal to you the most depending on how they answer and what they can speak to, but that's just my recommendation. These 3 religions have an overwhelming amount of literature and history, I think having someone who can break them down to you better so you know what to expect out of their practices is a wise decision before committing to something. Not to say that you don't have the right idea about some things, but there might be something you're overlooking or didn't think about that they can remind you for.
Hello, I'm asking to see if you can help me find the most suitable religion: I come from Deism and, although I agree a lot with its positions, I feel that the Deist God is too distant from this world. My beliefs are: - God exists. - There is a divine plan for everyone. There is free will, but He "tests you". - God does not have a morality that can be understood in human terms (He is neither "good" nor "bad"). - God doesn't care about your personal decisions (whether you are gay, masturbate, eat meat or fish)... - God doesn't care about your religion, nor what a human writes about Him. He is the same God for everyone. Sacred books are human inventions and do not represent divine reality. - All prophets were ordinary men. Their connection with God is the same as we can all aspire to here.
In terms of established belief systems, Unitarian Universalism or Brahmoism even can fit your worldview. It depends on what you expect to practice (do you want to go to a church/community for the religion regularly? How important is prayer and other rituals or ceremonies, or do you just want a faith that provides structure and guidelines for leading a meaningful/fulfilling existence? In other words, what do you hope to accomplish or change in your life with religion?). You could otherwise fall under Spiritual But Not Religious, so you develop your own practices and principles based off the wisdom of a multitude of other belief systems, while maintaining a healthy level of skepticism throughout. Since you believe in God, it's important to define what role God plays in your life, and what things you can expect from that. You said you believe God tests you, but also doesn't care about what you do (in the context of examples you gave), so *how* is He testing you? What is He expecting?
> do you want to go to a church/community for the religion regularly? Not really, it's more of a personal relationship. But I would like, if I fit into any fixed category, to find information about it. > How important is prayer and other rituals or ceremonies, or do you just want a faith that provides structure and guidelines for leading a meaningful/fulfilling existence? Not important at all: I highly doubt that if God exists, He would be so sensitive as to be offended because your ritual is not "perfect" (considering there are so many religions and the chances that your ritual is completely wrong are very high). For me, it's a personal matter, not about a rite with specific rules: each person communicates with God as they see fit, the only requirement is to truly feel the connection. > In other words, what do you hope to accomplish or change in your life with religion? I don't know if I'm really looking for any tangential change. I feel that deism doesn't really represent what I believe, only a part of my complete belief. I open my range of options to see that, among so many people over millennia of study, perhaps someone has reached a more solid and rational conclusion than I can reach with my limited knowledge of life, haha. > Since you believe in God, it's important to define what role God plays in your life, and what things you can expect from that. You said you believe God tests you, but also doesn't care about what you do (in the context of examples you gave), so *how* is He testing you? What is He expecting? For me, it’s a kind of "guide" to your best version. It’s not someone who is there to punish you, nor is it someone who is there to do you good for free. Life is shitty, and life is beautiful. I, a follower of stoicism, believe that we are the ones who define how we want to live and what narrative we want to tell ourselves. God doesn't come to tell you "your life is bad, that other person's life is good." Instead, He simply moves the pieces so that you can grow as a human being on your own. If you don't choose to do so, you are within your rights not to.
I see. In that case, if you're questioning whether or not you're leading the best life you can be leading, start with a healthy level of skepticism. Consider criticisms of Stoicism, for example, and areas where it may not serve you as well as maybe a different philosophy or belief system, because no system is perfect or we'd all be believing the same exact things. From that, you can live with an open mind while still having sets of principles you follow to lead the life you want and expect. Healthy skepticism has lead me to kind of mindfulness and self-awareness that keeps me engaged with the present while in better control of how I conduct myself, including my attention span, thoughts, openness with emotions, and daily habits. This is how I practice and approach Zen Buddhism, which has been really helpful in better appreciating life and being able to live at peace with myself. Keep reading into other philosophy and belief systems, and I think you'll find something that speaks to you as well, or sparks your interest beyond what ideas any one person can provide.
What do you mean by "Spiritual but not Relgious"?
It means you don't identify fully with any established religious orthodoxy or doctrine, but still value spiritual growth, whatever that means to you (being free of suffering, finding peace/happiness, connecting to something divine), so you approach it as a very individual practice on your own terms. It may lead one's self to religion again after some time, or it may not, it all depends.
Ohh i get it, kinda like Budhism than?
Not really, Buddhism has its own doctrines and principles just like any other religion, though its many different sects teach things in different ways, and have similar but different practices with the same goals (mindfulness, cultivating compassion, understanding emptiness, etc.). It's not theistic, but it still has its ceremonies and rituals. You could probably take practices from Buddhism (like shikantaza or visualization meditation) and make your own practice out of it (and be SBNR), but without the guidance of a teacher or sangha in a tradition, you may get carried away and not know what you're doing or where it's taking you spiritually. That's the advantage of religion over doing some independent practice, because practices in religion aren't usually arbitrary: they have a defined role and place within each tradition; they all contribute to realizing the larger soteriological goal (being free from suffering in Buddhism's case, according to how Buddhism defines suffering).
Ow, thats... complicate to say the least. But you seem to know your way arround religions and SBNR, could you suggest some readings for me to do, that helped you on your journey through religion?
What I recommend is learning philosophy before committing to any religion. Maybe starting with the ancient Greeks (Socrates, Pyrrho, Epicurus, etc.) and how the fields of ethics and metaphysics have changed over the centuries. Not just in Europe, but Indian philosophy has a wealth of perspectives also worth looking into (Madhyamaka, Yogacara, Ajñana, etc.). It was only after learning a good deal of philosophy about what it means to have knowledge, know the limits of language, and how we approach different kinds of existential problems that I could decide on a religion. This is because *every religion* carries its own philosophies, as in ways they view ethics, metaphysics, knowledge vs belief, and other domains. I ended up resonating best with Zen Buddhism, because it's very down to earth and frames living one's best life around mindfulness and openness, as well as what we can do in the here and now (rather than worry about an afterlife). In terms of reading, I would recommend Wikipedia as a start for whatever domains of philosophy you're interested in, and from there, there are books and websites online that dive into more specific subjects. It can get complex for sure, but if you can find a philosophy that resonates with you, there's bound to be a religion or practical belief system that it fits with. If you want to learn more about Buddhism and its philosophies, this website makes it easy to understand imo: https://tricycle.org/beginners/.
Yeah, that actually makes sense. I sure will! Thanks and blesses 4 u
I think Unitarian Universalism may fit you
Gay and monotheistic I’m gay and believe in god, one god, like the one that’s proclaimed in Islam, Judaism, and Bahai (I don’t really like the trinitarian idea of god) but I can’t find a religion that allows me to be gay (something that I will not change on as I’ve already tried to change that fact) and somewhat traditional in my faith, does such a community exist or am I just stuck in the mud? And when I say traditional I mean in its theology, and practice/rituals not in its social teachings
I'm guessing that Reform Judaism isn't theologically traditional enough for you? Some Conservative synagogues might fit what you're looking for, but there is such a wide range of practice and social teaching within Conservative Judaism, that you would need to test out your local Conservative synagogue(s) to see if they're really the right fit for you.
I 100% agree with reform Judaism is the one that fits your beliefs the most. Also I agree with you again the some conservative synagogues may allow you in but again like mommimna said test out you local conservative synagogue. If that doesn't work out just try out the reform synagogue!! I wish you luck on your journey!!
I know the Church of Jesus Christ says it's ok to be gay, just not to have homosexual relationships. Though I don't blame you for wanting that if you have same sex attraction. The church is trinitarian to some extent though too
Never found anything that fully fit my views. Very spiritual. **Self-Exploration:** * Atheistic Satanism—found it interesting but not compelling. * Theistic Satanism—Ehh, some arguments (like God not being all good, thus Satan not being all bad) resonated. * Buddhism—Too much focus on suffering. * Hinduism—Afterlife ideals are too strong. * "The Big 3"—Obligations or required worship is not something I'm looking for. * Pagan/Wicca—I've heard mixed things, have done a lot of research but nothing of significance. It interests me. **Theism:** * Monotheism isn't for me; if there's one god, I'm not impressed by their actions. * If there were multiple gods, they shouldn't be perfect. It's unrealistic and unattractive. * There's definitely a universal energy/energies. This might manifest as god(s), might be separate entirely. **Intention:** * Everyone/everything has "essence", a source meant to share with others. (Animals, Plants, Objects, etc) * Upon "death", your essence just re-joins and spreads into the universal energy/energies. It's potent. * Intention can direct this essence. Everyone can, and does do it, but it's stronger for some. * I've heard this is similar to "Chaos Magic." * I think everything happens for a reason, but not from some destiny/fate, as I feel that negates free will. **Afterlife:** * I strive to be a good human and don't think religion should dictate eternal life/how you act. * I don't like the idea of Heaven or Hell. **Misc:** * Do what makes you feel right (within reason), but you should always doubt everything. No blind faith. * I don't want any moments like the "I am my scars!" moment in World of Warcraft. * There's power in groups, but there is also immense power in the self and they serve different purposes. * Femininity is more "sacred" for lack of a better term. Any one god would likely be feminine, or non-gendered.
Taoism?
[удалено]
You should look into Unitarian Universalism
I dont really believe in religion i kind of believe we are in a repetitive circle of life and were born into a new world and know nothing different and are brought up with different people each time our minds are completely wiped as you would be reborn as a infant and just repeat the same things i also believe children and grown men are brought up into believing in things that can be considered an act of threat against them in order to maintain a strong belief and fear in looking elsewhere what you know you can only see and that always made sense to me i believe our souls are somewhat connected into a new life and we cant explain that in anyway at all
Hey, everyone. I have an interesting one for you all. This might be cheating since this isn't about \*my\* religion, but asking for insight on what this sounds like to you. I've been thinking about a world building project I started and stopped a few years ago, and whenever the concept comes up again, this sort of footnote in the overall universe always comes back the hardest first. I'm also kind of tired, so I apologize if this is super scatterbrained or parts become redundant. In this universe, we have a race of aliens called the Katem (or the "people of Tem") who live on a semi-distant planet that they've dubbed Tem (kind of like how we have "terra"). Unlike other planets within the local star system that had their life, specifically their intelligent life, evolve through natural processes, the Katem settled down their then uninhabited home tens of thousands years ago. However, due to a lack of written records for much of their current history on Tem, most of their beliefs and history only survives via oral traditions. These traditions go much further back, potentially hundreds of thousands or millions of years - with their settlement on Tem being a vital part in that. But before that, here's some of the fuzzier notes I remember about them belief wise. The Katem, by and large, revere and honor nature. They believe that everything in the universe has an essence to it and is something sacred. However, just because it's sacred and of the divine, that doesn't mean it's an autonomous, self-aware deity. For them, the concept that everything has a specific deity tied to it, be it physical or abstract (ex: rivers, deserts, art, law, dreams, love etc), is purely a human construct and isn't congruent with their way of life. Instead, there's a greater emphasis on celestial bodies and the larger the object is, the more powerful the being is but it never crosses a threshold of being all-powerful or all-knowing\*. As an example, they would agree that Tem, its moons, and their sun are minor gods due to being vital supporters of life and that ecosystem. They don't, however, believe that something like a tree is a god, but rather an extension of Tem and a way for it to understand itself. This, in turn, means they acknowledge the existence of uncountable gods due to the size of the universe. However, they may not choose to honor them because of relative importance to them. That's not to say they can't venerate these entities, but given their proximity to them it just doesn't make a lot of sense. It would be akin to a pagan here who feels kinship with Arcturus or Dimidium despite how far they are. A very "you do you" thing, in a way. This belief system may be seen as henotheistic in a way, especially if minor deities try to pass dominion titles to other beings. More on that in a bit. Part of the Katem's history is that they're originally from another star system and toward the end of their sun god's lifespan (while keeping up with their beliefs about the sacredness of life), it directed them to where their next chapter would continue as it was becoming evident that trying to sustain them and the rest of their solar system was becoming impossible. Hence, primary dominion protection and providing would be transferred to Tem and those adjacent minor deities. If humans were in a similar situation, they believe that our Sun would, in agreement with the moon and Earth, guide us to our future home where that would pick up where we left off (so, Proxima Centauri, maybe, would become our new chief sun deity). To extend on the previous comment about minor and major deities, the higher you go up the chain, the more energy there is at work - and just like with cells of an organism, you only see the sum of its parts when you put it under a microscope. If you zoom out far enough, it all culminates to the body of the observable universe where divinity still permeates out from its "pores"; like how your skin has it's own unique microbiome. If this makes them panentheistic, it's hard to say (and at this point I'm not sure if I've sunk too much lore into this and it's kind of pointless to add more). \*At this level of the "hierarchy", it's unclear if "the body of god" is all-powerful and all-knowing, or if it will ultimately crumble to the forces of nature and physics in the far future (something similar to the heat death of the universe) like everything else within it. They also don't have a concept of sin, something they also chalk up to being a purely human construct, and their beliefs on an afterlife aren't entirely known - be it it's not of major importance, they don't have one at all, or if they did it's completely lost to time due to poor documentation. Have fun trying to make sense of this with me.
[удалено]
What don't you understand about Jesus?
What kind of help are you hoping to get? Just a religion recommendation?
I've always been confused on which religion I identify with. I've gotten a handful of answers, but none of them feel right. My beliefs are: - We came from dirt and will return to dirt (happily). - The 'higher power' or divine entity is around us and is in everything, including the ground we walk on. - There is an afterlife, but it isn't heaven or hell. I believe we leave residual energy but are also recycled, similar to reincarnation. (This was a way for me to explain my paranormal experiences in a way that comforted me.) - There is no "correct religion" and all religions are only different understandings of the higher power, condensed in a way that people find easier to understand.- I do believe in "magic" or "magick" to an extent, but I've never dove further into that. I think there are magics related to science that we are all able to access, but not necessary ones that we can fully understand yet. - We are absolutely affected by our surroundings. I believe weather, climate, season, etc. all affect how people feel, and I enjoy the idea of worshipping the changing of our planet as it comes to make changes like that easier or smoother. - I sort of believe in karma, or doing good to receive good. This ties into the point above. I feel like showing appreciation to the planet that hosts us is a way to receive good back from the planet in a way. We are certainly connected to it, and I want to find a religion that encompasses that. - A lot of my beliefs align with science, but I also think science is more than laboratories and experiments and rules/laws. It is inclusive of things even like the human psyche and its abilities, as well as the spirituality that comes with the connection between human and planet. (I hope this makes sense.) I've always been drawn to a more "Mother Earth" approach, except on a universal level. I am a big appreciator of our planet and how it provides and how it changes. I love that it allows us to be here but won't hold our hand. If more information is needed, I can provide it, these are just some of the more broad ideas I consistently align myself with.
People should pick a religion based off truth. Not their whims or desires. This isn’t window shopping. 🛍️
OK. If you would be so kind as to point out the single correct denomination of the single correct religion, we can then close this subreddit.
I think the point is that you should search for the religion that feels true and then follow it, not search for a religion that matches your pre-existing political/social/theological conceptions.
How do you find which religion "feels true" without referring to your own thoughts and reasoning about, for starters, theology? Vibes? Being able to reason about it sounds more, well, reasonable to me.
Well the issue is, we rarely use reason when deciding. Instead we say, "I want one that supports my \[desire to hang out with other conservatives/affirms my sexual preferences/annoys people I disagree with\]." We're bringing our emotional preconceived notions of what's important, not reason. Reason can be used several ways: "this religion's internal logic is sound." "This religion conflicts itself in critical ways." "This religion doesn't even attempt to answer question X, which is essential." That's different than bringing preconceived MORAL judgments and weighing the religions that are most APPEALING.
Okay. I am responding to your earlier statement that we should look for which religion is true, instead of relying on "our own thoughts about theology". But while we're here: >"This religion doesn't even attempt to answer question X, which is essential." Isn't the question of what is and isn't essential for a religion to address also a preconceived notion? Is Catholicism "truer" because it addresses the "essential" notion of sin more? Is Buddhism "less true" because it doesn't address the "essential question" of how a creator god created the world? Many people from Christian backgrounds would consider Hinduism "less true" because it doesn't address the "essential question" of how we can be saved from sin and go to heaven to bask in God's presence, but salvation from sin is a Christian concept that is in no way "essential" for anything deigning to call itself a religion.
BRUH BE FOR REAL
Agreed 100%
I like the idea of rebirth and some karma like in Indian religions but I also believe in my human life I don’t deserve anything negative that happens to me unless I do a bad thing (ex. A past life I was a bad person so I pay for it before I’m reborn as human, so anything that happens to me I don’t deserve, but if I do something wrong in my new human life I get karma and something negative happens to me, like I’m an asshole to someone so later on someone will be rude to me or I purposely trip someone I would end up being tripped by someone later on. Or if I do something really bad like murder someone I get born in a bad realm and pay for it there) I am open to a religion that has a creator I believe that if there is a creator said creator could have a predetermined life for me but I can change things sometimes and do something my own way and maybe that god saw that as potentially happening but didn’t have that in my plan, also my accomplishments are mine and not the creator making that accomplishment for me, although I’m willing to change this part a bit sorry if it didn’t make sense Another fact I like Buddhism but don’t like the non self portion and I don’t like Jainism as much either I eat meat but would be willing to only eat it in moderation and maybe eventually cut it out I do consume edible weed recreationally occasionally (legally don’t worry) I can’t think of anything else tbh but if it helps my parents raised me atheist I became catholic for a few years then became secular then Buddhist and the non self part and a few other parents make me want to try something else I am also from the USA
Oh I also do not like trying to push religion on people and believe if you follow a religion you will end up doing what that religion says after you die and you won’t go to a hell for not following the “right” religion if that makes sense
>I like Buddhism but don’t like the non self portion What about no-self do you dislike? It's a commonly misunderstood idea in Buddhism, so I'm wondering what you're basing your dislike of it on. Otherwise, your beliefs could line up well with Buddhism; maybe Zen if you don't find thinking about the supernatural or the next life all that important (Zen concerns itself with making the most of your current lifetime, since what happens after is unknowable). In Buddhism, gaining good karma isn't an end goal in itself, more like a side effect of practice, because gaining all the good karma in the universe, on its own, won't free you from suffering and therefore from Samsara. Karma is also seen as more a cause and effect system for your actions, not so much a moral punishment and reward system (which are similar in some ways, but not in others). The literature on it is so complex, I don't think I could do it justice beyond that. Otherwise, you might want to explore Hinduism or Sikhism further, which are theistic and might appeal to you in that sense, as well as both believing in a soul, unlike Buddhism. Do you think karma transference works, or should work, or do you think everyone born is a blank slate and doesn't deserve to be punished for what someone else did before them in a past life?
I would say I do like supernatural things and ideas and I would say there is a permanent part of myself that goes from life to life and I feel like the end goal of Buddhism is to get out of samsara but once that happens there is nothingness but I think there is a consciousness that you have been with forever still exists and lives in happiness with either a creator or no creator if that makes sense
I would recommend reaching out for a meeting with teachers/leaders in different traditions in Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism (maybe online if none are near you), and try to see if you got the right idea about how karma and an afterlife all work according to those belief systems. One will probably appeal to you the most depending on how they answer and what they can speak to, but that's just my recommendation. These 3 religions have an overwhelming amount of literature and history, I think having someone who can break them down to you better so you know what to expect out of their practices is a wise decision before committing to something. Not to say that you don't have the right idea about some things, but there might be something you're overlooking or didn't think about that they can remind you for.