How do YOU describe your religion, or lack thereof?

Question

I know all the textbook, dictionary based religious definitions, but what does your religion (or lack thereof) really mean to you? I'd like to hear from a wide variety, agnostics, christians, muslims, etc...Sort of a check on the evolution of faiths.

For those who do not follow a religion, what other sources for enlightenment and inner-peace do you use to balance yourself?

Answer 1

I strongly feel there is a God & feel every religion is man's imperfect attempt to understand & be closer to God.

There is a story of several blind mice who went out one day to discover what an elephant is like. Each one touches a different part, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. Depending upon where they touch, they believe the elephant to be like a water spout (trunk), a fan (ear), a pillar (leg), etc.

I compare this to many wise men who went soul searching to learn what God is like. As great & wise as these men were, they were like blind mice compared to the greatness of God. Each came away with a different perspective of God. And many different religions were started from these different perspectives. Neither are totally wrong, neither are completely right.

God is God, what ever name we want to assign to him

Answer 2

I describe my religion as a lack thereof.

I don't believe in any supernatural phenomena. I think that given the fact that every phenomena or effect we've ever studied with any rigor has either been explained by mundane natural causes, found to at least not violate known physical laws, or else not even been proven to have happened at all, even the position of agnostics is foolish. The sheer volume of evidence for everything being of the physical universe, and the total lack of evidence for supernatural phenomena constitutes overwhelming statistical evidence against such beliefs. They keep saying "oh, but we can't be *sure*", but the thing is we *can* be sure to a precision phenomenally greater than anyone knows their own height or weight.

I believe that realizing that all spiritual beliefs are total BS is the height of enlightenment in this day and age. It's time for another Age of Reason.

I find inspiration in learning new things about the world and the universe. I find it heartening to know that I am just a tiny speck in it all - the tinier the better, I say - because that just means that even if I live a billion years there will always be new things to see and do and learn about. The prospect of finally knowing everything, of running out of things to learn, would be very depressing.

Answer 3

I think a religion is something that people do, ie, rites, ceremonies, not stepping on black cats on sundays, etc. For me, being saved by Jesus Christ as the only way to God, He asks us only to love each other as God has loved us. This makes more of a personal relationship since we are not doing something like giving to the poor because this book says to, but rather since God gives to me, I can give to the poor.

Through the years religion has crept in to Jesus' teachings and there have been wars, crusades, witch burnings, all for the sake of religion. If they had used the relationship concept and loved as they are loved, history might be different.

Answer 4

The Baha'i Faith is a religion for which I would gladly give my life. It IS my life; because:

The Bahá'í Faith is an independent world religion. With more than five million adherents residing in over 124,000 localities, the Bahá'í Faith is established in 204 countries across the planet. The spiritual principles of the Bahá'í Faith affirm its overall purpose--to bring about the oneness of humanity. In cooperation with these same principles, Bahá'ís also believe that there is only one Creator and that the spiritual truth of all religions is the same. From a Bahá'í perspective, The Bahá'í Faith is the most recent of the world's great religions. It forms the next link in a chain of important, divine teachings, a progressive revelation that places Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, as the Messenger of God for this age.
Spiritual Beliefs of the Bahá'í Faith. How Bahá'ís view other religions.

Answer 5

My drift away from religion is a result of realizing that science and the scientific method, using reason and logic, are the only tools we have to combat myth, half-truth and superstition, and to begin to understand our world, our universe and our relation to them.

Faith, on the other hand, allows people to believe in just about anything -- and they do -- without proof and whether true or not. The Greeks believed in Apollo, the Romans believed in Zeus and so on. They each thought theirs was the only true god and the only true religion. And the faithful today are still doing it. and still putting down the other guy's religion. They can't all be right!

Answer 6

My lack of a "religion" is due to the fact that it allows people the mistaken belief that they don't have to take responsibility for the things that do and have gone (as we would describe) wrong. The truth of our responsibility seems to escape most, and I have no time for believing in an outside entity that demands my worship whom allows injustice to prevail in the world as a whole.

Answer 7

I once had the good fortune to live in Aspen, Colorado. Homeless teens sometimes find their way to beautiful places, it doesn't always have to be fear and terror in the streets... The little chalet on East Durant Avenue was perfectly suited to my needs, and the needs of the others with whom I resided. We were all of us free spirits, so this little mountain town suited us perfectly. I was not in Aspen to catch glimpses of celebrities. Not to hob-nob with the rich and famous. Not to be a part of such a high-profile town. I was drawn to Aspen for it's simple --yet breath taking-- beauty. I loved breakfasting on the veranda at Andre's (I wonder if it is still there?) chilled to the bone by the numbing cold, reading the Rocky Mountain News, sipping steaming coffee while enjoying Denver omelets as the first rays of the dawning sun peeked above the majestic mountain tops. My spirit soared when sailing over the mountains in hot air balloons, the joy of readying the balloon for flight, the feeling of freedom as I floated ever higher, the delightful champagne and croissant breakfasts upon landing. I loved hiking up through Cripple Creek, and was enthralled with the trout that flashed their colors when the sunlight struck them, shining like jewels in the mind-numbingly cold water. I was delighted with the almost-daily thunderstorms that rolled swiftly through Independence Pass, and dissipated just as quickly, moving on to other mountains, other places, to work their magic once again. I was captivated by the hot days and cold nights when the stars shone with a clarity not seen elsewhere on this earth, seeming so close you can almost reach out and touch them. I loved sunbathing in the snow, for at this altitude, the sun wraps you in warmth. I loved the way the snow fell silently, covering everything it touched with a protective blanket. The way the firelight glowed from the houses that lined the snow-covered streets. The joy of the people who choose to live here, because they want to be a part of such a splendid place. I was enraptured with watching eagles soar, marmots scurrying through the fields, the sound of Aspen leaves rustling in the wind, the scent of the mountain air, the way the sky turns fiery red just as the sun dips below the mountains. I was charmed by the ghost town of Ashcroft that is an easy ride on the back of an old black horse named Winston, who's sure foot carried me safely through the narrow mountain trails. I felt close to a God in whom I did not believe as I sat high on the mountain tops, surrounded by such a canvas of beauty that I was diminished in my insignificance while my spirit was next to bursting. I love this town and the people in it, who accepted without question the disheveled runaway who quite unexpectedly found herself a resident at the tender age of 17. I love all of Colorado, but when I am in Aspen, I have come home.

Answer 8

Really mean to me? Well, don't shoot me down, or put your little thumbs in the wrong direction...but it means LIFE to me. Eternal life, true life, beautiful life. Jesus Christ died to give me life, he shed his blood so that I could have NO fear of death. Death has lost its sting, and from the grave Christ rose victoriously. My "religion" aka my belief...means everything to me, its the very air I breath...without it I would be dead in a matter of minutes. My religion, my state of worship, my beliefs, my daily ritcuals...whatever you want to call it, is life. God is life, he is my love and my life and my EVERYTHING. Remember that, everything, my religion, means everything to me, I would die for it in an instant, if only to know that I would have proven my point as a martyer for JESUS CHRIST. Call me loony perhaps, crazy, whacked... nuts, stupid beyond all reason. I will live with it. I love God to much to let your words get to me, but listen to what I am saying... In all truth, atheists, do you have a passion for your religion? Agnostics...would you let someone die to prove you were really agnostic? Would anyone of you be willing to have another man's blood on your hands just to prove your point? Its not an easy thing to live with knowing I killed the only man that every truely passionatly, amazingly, loved me. But I did, I killed him. And yet he still loves me... Thats how I can be willing to love him with everything, he gave up EVERYTHING for me...and then some.

God bless you, and merry Christmas

Answer 9

I'm agnostic. I do not know if there is a higher power. Evolution and Creationism cannot be proved or disproved.

To centre myself, or for enlightenment, I focus on the good of people in general. I also donate time and money to charity. It helps me feel better when I'm blue.


Happy Christmas.

Answer 10

Religion means a phenomenon where the created obeys his creator.
Basically people dont want to accept some facts which leads to different religion.

Facts like creator is One and some stupids think creator has a son and one more religion there.

Some people say Budhdha or Ram is a creator.Why did they die? lol
Religions are many but except one all are false