I'm trying to find a religion or something that will fit me. As far as my religious beliefs go, I believe in ghosts, yet I don't believe in creation. I believe in evolution, but i'd like some sort of religion that will guide my life and give me some structure without dictating creation to me (ie christianity, islam, judaism etc). Something that sets structure in your life that will help you rather than hurt you.

If this fails, I might as well just found my own religion or whatever... I have alot of my own beliefs, but I thought that it would be better to join something then just found something out of air.

Thanks, http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif)

http://www.scientology.org/

Scientology is what I call a very western and money-making religion. I researched it a few years ago.... Is that what you are?

quote:Originally posted by GunshySlycat1:

Scientology is what I call a very western and money-making religion. I researched it a few years ago.... Is that what you are?

Yeah, I'm OT-9. I'm so 1337.

Krishna, Buddhism,.... Wicca?

http://the-brights.net/

What is a bright?

A bright is a person who has a naturalistic worldview.

A bright's worldview is free of supernatural and mystical elements.

The ethics and actions of a bright are based on a naturalistic worldview.

We can break you of that "i believe in ghosts" thing. Never you fear http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

I think you should have more faith in yourself. I know that it is "nice" to be able to fit in, to call yourself something, but I think your life will be much better and be more your own if you simply remain aware and inquisitive. Doctrines and the like don't help much with that. If you have you say that you're something, I'd look into existentialism and authors like Sartre and Camus. I think you're right about scientology by the way; what a great example of the real dangers of religion!

quote:Originally posted by AngryFemme:

http://the-brights.net/We can break you of that "i believe in ghosts" thing. Never you fear http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

No thanks. http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/wink.gif) Ghosts exist, maybe you'd like to spend a night in my old house.

Just avoid Christianity.

Yup, I avoid creation-based religions. I think it's getting down to where I should just makeup a philosophy or religion for myself and be the only member.

Isn't like I lack any beliefs, I have a belief on every issue pretty much... But it might be a little eccentric, huh?

I believe that a country should run under a structured direct democracy. So therefore the people choose their path as humanity... But as far as philosophy goes, I think you need to abstract things from other religions.

For example, I believe meditation is a great mind-cleanser, and I believe that fighting-styles are great. So you could practice yoga, just not be into hinduism. That's what I believe in anyway... As far as political views, I believe that to be irrelevant since a DD would decide on that stuff.

The greatest challenge of a DD is to prevent "mob rule", and that's very feasable. With a good DD in place, anythings possible. But that's the basis of my philosophy........



[This message has been edited by GunshySlycat1 (edited 07-16-2005).]

Why does everybody seem to hate religion, specifically christianity, on this website?

I don't hate it, just don't agree with it. I tell ya what, if you took god/jesus out of christianity, then there's a really good chance that i'd be a christian!

Or perhaps "god" as a symbol?

[This message has been edited by GunshySlycat1 (edited 07-16-2005).]

I don't know of any religion that is going to help you rather than harm you.

Your mind is very powerful, just like every healthy human being. Use it to create structure and provide you guidance. Some predetermined body of beliefs may seem comfortingly larger and "more true" than what you could come up with on your own, but this is sincerely not the case unless you eventually drown yourself in a bog of delusions. I guaruntee you, you can be strong enough and smart enough to be alone, and being alone will only make you stronger and smarter.

Gunshy, pretty much everything you've said so far seems to agree with The Brights.

My God....

Why is it necessary for you to find something to latch onto? If you're trying to find "the meaning of life", investigate it from a different angle.

IMHO:

It has nothing whatsoever to do with any outside, ethereal or spiritual sources. The bigger, badder, million-dollar question shouldn't be "what is the meaning of life?". It should be, IMHO:

Why do I seek purpose?

Answer that, and maybe the rest of it will come more clearly when you're able to sort out your intentions.

I still suggest The Brights as a healthy alternative to the supernatural.

I'd recommend reading Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid. I have always maintained that this book is a very roundabout exploration of the phenomenon of self reference. In short, Hofstadter tries to explain why you (a clump of atoms) is alive whereas another clump of atoms (a rock, for example) isn't. If nothing less, the book provokes thought, which will only help you.

Hofstadter also co-authored "The Mind's I: Fantasies and Reflections on Self & Soul" with Daniel Dennett.

That too would be a good read. And it's really condensed.

GunshySlycat1 you don't need any religeons. A religeon is usually in 2 parts. one part being a story and the other part being concerned with the messages and teachings of that story. Those hidden messages and teachings are concerned with the spirit.

Therefore you can cut out the dogma by disregarding "The stories" and exploring spirituality.

Spirituality is about the spirit (the soul/ consciousness) and it's place in the universe. But there's a vast amount of things to learn. All of it completely fascinating.

Also, when you learn about spirituality you will find that you can understand what most religeons are talking about. You'll all see that each religeon and pretty much the same. Just explained on different levels.