Is there a religion that dosen't have so much to do with faith?

Question

I'm 14, and my mother is Catholic and my step-dad just never talks about it, and neither of them inforced a religion on me and for that I am thankful, because I got to search around for whats right for me. I'm kind of between Aithiest and Agnostic. I want to stay open minded about religions but somehow I just cant make myself belive in things like walking on water and all that magical stuff that needs a lot of faith to rely on. I'm more of a person who just belives in "having morals" and thats good enough, but lately I feel a bit empty because I don't have a religion. I really just want to believe in something but as hard as I try, I just can't.

Are there any religions or something that dosen't rely so much on things that are scientifically impossible but moreso just about being a good person and believeing in "good thigns happen to good people"?

Answer 1

nope. that's the very thing that makes religion

Answer 2

hey, you might just be onto something here..OH wait..I forgot you are only 14 and you still actually believe that good things happen to good people. I guess that is a type of "faith"

You don't sound like you've had a chance to experience many different religions. Most are about intolerance of anyone who does not share the same beliefs.

Believe whatever the heck you want to believe. If you want to believe that there is a higher being who would prefer it if you were good and kind to others and then there will be some sort or reward at the end, then great. If you just want to be a good person, also great.

How do you know, at the age of 14, what is and what is not scientifically possible. New scientific breakthoughs are happening everyday. What was "impossible" yesterday, is now the lastest thing...you know cell phones, the internet..

I would suggest to you that you stay open minded!!

Answer 3

All religions require faith.

Almost everything you do on a regular basis requires faith. Let me list a few for you:
1. When you turn on the kitchen faucet, you believe that water will flow.
2. When you go to bed at night, you believe that you will wake up in the morning.
3. When you step on a train from Queens to go to Manhattan, you believe you will get there safely, and on time.
4. When you plot a graph of sales for the last 5 years, AND EXTRAPOLATE to give a projection, you are using faith in that extrapolation.

O.K. I know you said that you are 14. But stay with me here. I'm going somewhere with this.

Your natural and very sensible response to the examples I have listed above would be, "But I do those based on the evidence of history". Right. That's EXACTLY my point.

Search the Internet for something along the line "Evidence for Christianity" ... for Islam, atheism, etc. THEN make a decision. That make take about a year. All religions teach you to be good persons and all religions require faith.

Oh, one more thing, macroevolution (the gradual changing of one species to another, and not to be confused with MICROevolution) takes a whole lot of faith.

Personally, I'm a conservative Christian of one of the newer denominations.

Answer 4

God is per definition beyond the theories of physics (which I'm guessing is what you think about when writing"scientifically possible"), which I think means that Deism is a possible answer to your question.

I wouldn't focus too much on the theories of physics in developing a religious view, though - first of all because you don't understand them yet - secondly, because there are groups out there that use a poor understanding of these theories to make some pretty screwy religions.

One important thing about atheism and agnosticism, at least as I see it, is the realization that you simply don't know. It isn't the most comfortable position, but it is a position where you're honest with yourself. To quote Voltaire: "doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd". Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to be both an atheist and an agnostic at once, atheism is the belief that there is no god, agnosticism is the belief that one can't know for sure - these aren't mutually exclusive, think about it.

Answer 5

You can invent a religion such as that.

The fact that you have free will and are able to make choices is not scientifically possible. Science has mathematical models that predict an effect given a cause. No where in all the models is there an opportunity for "self" to intervene.

What I am saying is that if you believe that you are real and can make real choices which result in real things happening, then you already believe in the supernatural.

I can show you that the same argument holds about all the things that you think are good such as morality and love. If the supernatural doesn't exist, they are just "feel good" illusions with no reality.

Answer 6

Buddhism. Traditional Buddhism does include things which are a matter of faith, such as reincarnation, however, you can be a perfectly good Buddhist without embracing any of that, and Buddhists are very accepting and won't mind. You are welcome to take what you like from it, and leave what you don't like.

It is a very practical religion. You can try it, and if it works, great, and if it doesn't, then you can discard it. But it really does work, I believe. They have great meditations and techniques for improving yourself and your relation with the world around you. It is totally logical.

I'm not even a Buddhist, but if you are looking for a religion that does not require so much faith, this is the one I would recommend for you. All the best!

Answer 7

I had the same problem, I thought I was missing something in my life and since everyone seemed to think religion make you whole, I decided to learn about every religion I could, I studied there texts and I studied historical facts. The more facts I learned the more I knew religion is a farce. If you really read the bible its a terrible book. With Lot voluntarily giving his daughters over to the people of sodum to rape. To moses conceiving a child by his wife's slave. Then there are lies like Jericho falling when Joshua blew his horn, its been prov en by carbon dating and artifacts at the ruins of Jericho that it had fell more than 150 years before Joshua was even born. The Mormons were responsible for more killings on the Oregon Trail than we were (Native Americans). And so on ...You shouldn't look at religion to fulfill your need to believe in something and faith shouldn't be hard to have. All religions have to do with faith.
You are pretty smart for a 14 year old, at night as you lay down to sleep and you think back over your day, your the one who has to answer for your deeds. People have a way of punishing them self's more than others could. All you need is good morals and you will surround your self with good people but if you don't only the worst of society will want to be around you.

Answer 8

Tibetan Buddhism
I am studying and practicing for the past 15 years
I believe it is in fact not a religion but more a science of the mind
It explaine right the cause of our sofference at any level
and the way to overcome and lead you all the way to enlightenement

in anycase is a very good 'science'
try Dalai Lama and Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
books at snow lyion publications online
Dzogchen on google

ciao good luck!

Answer 9

I don't know any religions that don't claim that magical things happened. The "magic" is the way religion tried to "recrute" people, and for a very long time it worked. But people are way smarter nowadays and have enough information, not to believe anything they hear. The religion with less "miracles" that i know would be buddism, also i apreciate it a lot because of all the moral it is based on, instead of talking about a God we have to obey to.

P.S. i am a chirstian

Answer 10

All religions of course speaks of faith. There is a religion because they believe of such faith. You cannot say that you are an Agnostic because it means you are doubtful and the same time you are an Atheist because it would mean you don't believe nothing.
Religion is just a guidance for your faith of what you believe. Any religion you can chose as long as it does not contradict to your belief and the good things you have started.

Answer 11

I should congratulate you for having a right approach to this very sensitive subject, and your parents for letting you be. Yes, there is a religion that does not rely on faith but encourages you to KNOW, by checking out everything you are told, trying them yourself. Since you already have the right attitude, you may as well check out the link below. It will not make you less whatever you are, but you may get even better. Good luck.