2007-10-24 02:12:40 · 21 answers · asked by ♥ terry g ♥ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know I am loved and accepted just as I am. I feel good when I do right when I want to do wrong. It helps me to love and accept myself.
peace
2007-10-24 02:21:49 · answer #1 · answered by Linda B 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
[This is really too long, but I couldn't find anything to cut.]
I am a member of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, which is part of the Ethical Culture movement. This started something over 100 years ago, when Felix Adler, a reform Jewish rabbi, decided to go a step further. His grandfather had been orthodox, also a rabbi, and so had his father, who was either conservative or reformed, I don't recall right now. But Felix decided that the part that was most significant to him was the sharing of ways to cultivate (hence the term "Ethical Culture") better ethics without having to subscribe to any dogma or doctrine.
We are basically humanists. What is nice about it is summarized in the slogan "deed before creed." In fact, most of us treat it like "deed instead of creed." We have a leader (ours is a lovely young woman who is very intelligent, creative, and just plain nice), but it's very much a participatory thing. We have a forum at 9:45 on Sunday, and there's also a more formalized thing called colloquey, which are arranged by the members.
I'm preparing a presentation for this coming Sunday [eeek! Gotta get my Power Point done!] on the topic of "Propaganda and Brainwashing." I got interested in this topic after purchasing two DVDs that added up to one big scare. "Obsession" is about fundamentalist Muslims; "Jesus Camp" is about fundamentalist Christians.
There is also a service called "Platform" from 11:00 to 12:00, which has musical selections, some things that are read every week, such as our statement of purpose, usually a speaker, who may be the Leader or more often is a guest. They often bring a film or Power Point or slides to illustrate their lecture. Unlike Forum, there is rarely a question and answer part to the Platform presentations. We take up a collection on Sundays, but we also make pledges to help support the group. We have a lovely new building and grounds, and they take maintenance, and we have a small staff in addition to the Leader.
So it's a very interesting, very trustworthy bunch of people who are supportive of one another, learn how to make important ethical decisions without the need for a heaven and hell reward/punishment metaphor, and have a pattern of celebrations and services for the main events in life: birth, coming of age, making a commitment to another ("marriage" if defined to include same-sex unions), child-rearing (we have the greatest Sunday school classes with truly charming children), and death.
We are also very into doing public service, and just about everyone has some sort of public service volunteer work they do. It's not required, but it sure is encouraged.
Still, you asked what is MOST appealing. Not to be trite, but perhaps to symbolize the rest of it, we dress as casually as we like to go to Platform, and there are plenty of tee shirts and jeans in the crowd. So I don't feel like I'm conspicuous even though I don't have dressy clothes, and would hate wearing them if I did. It's a very comfortable religion.
2007-10-24 12:56:05 · answer #2 · answered by auntb93 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The most apealing aspect of my faith is its acceptance of all religions contrary to what many think. Refer to Quran 2:62 or 5:69 at the web site www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran.
Embedded within my faith is the belief that Almighty Allah made one and all. Thus if I love The Artist, I would also love and value everything He made and the freedom He gave to everyone.
In my faith there is no racial superiority of one group over another based on things that are given to you by birth which you do not control, but is based purely on what one can do. My faith in contrast does not have this pernicious concept of honoring those of "high birth" (believe me they are born through the same mundane process that animals follow as well..lol), even when they are inferior or evil is wrong and is the cause of much injustice.
The last most appealing aspect of my religion is it is by and large rational, and does not expect you to believe in all kinds of crazy things to gain salvation.
Indeed I also understand that my mind that can not even fathom the extent of time and space that I constantly experience can not comprehend the nature or expanse of my Creator or how he could have existed for ever. But, this I attribute to the limitation of my own mind, and do not use reason in this area, until I can define the extent of time or length of eternity of the past or future.
I hope this answers your question.
2007-10-24 02:26:04 · answer #3 · answered by NQV 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The most appealing aspect of Vodou is that we have direct contact with spirit and recognize spirit moving in our lives on a daily basis. As a result, we can see our connection to the past through the ancestors and how that can impact the future through our children. Practiced well, Vodou can afford us opportunities to grow spiritually and emotionally and to learn more about ourselves through the study of the nature of spirit.
Be well,
Mambo Michele
http://www.vodouspirit.com
2007-10-24 02:19:41 · answer #4 · answered by mambomichele 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That I'm able to believe what I want to believe. My belief system is a mix of many different religions & ethics...because I don't believe that one religion is the right one, since they all serve the purpose of applying morality.
2007-10-24 02:16:24 · answer #5 · answered by gnomus12 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Christian and I feel the most appealing aspect of it is that God became a man to bear my sin on the cross so that I don't have to die for it. And that salvation is free to whoever wants to have it. No one is excempted.
2007-10-24 02:16:28 · answer #6 · answered by 1080 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not spending eternity in the heated section
strikes a bonus with me
2007-10-24 02:20:18 · answer #7 · answered by sioux † 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A beautiful Solemn High Mass with a Gregorian Chant choir in a Gothic Cathedral and plenty of incense rising to the rafters!
2007-10-24 02:17:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Miracles.
I am an Evangelical Christian...I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit...and of course in miracles.
My vision was restored. My wheezing chest of asthma was taken away. I have experienced many miracles, praise God.
You don't see Muslims performing miracles. Truly, miracle faith is what makes Evangelicals so appealing.
2007-10-24 02:19:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
the first appealing aspect is that it is pure, and the second appealing aspect is that it is scientific and logical, in other words it is pure science.
2007-10-24 02:33:26 · answer #10 · answered by FALLEN Soul 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋