A chance to tell us about your own beliefs, what are they?

Question

I like coming to the R&S section but it often seems that people feel that others are ignorant to their beliefs. (Ignorant as in, just don't know, nothing bad meant here).

I would like to know what you do or don't believe. I would like to better understand my fellow Y! A-ers.

So please tell me, What do you believe related to Relligion and Spirituality?

(And please, keep negative things about others OUT of your answers, I am trying to learn, let's be respectful of differnces?)

Answer 1

I believe that existence of god does not matter. Please respect that point of view.

I have always been an atheist. OK, that is not completely true. I am not an atheist. I am not a believer. I am not an agnostic. I am none of these because the answer to god's existence is unimportant.

People ask what would convince me that god truly exists. While I am not sure, I am certainly open to any tangible evidence. I do not know what evidence would convince me because I believe it is impossible to prove the existence of god. What evidence would convince you that god does not exist? See the conumdrum: it is difficult to answer their question! See falsifiability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability ) for an explanation of theory and the rules of evidence.

Do not quote bible passages as evidence of god's existence. This is my standard of proof, not yours. However, if proof were proffered that convinced me god exists, I would change absolutely nothing in my life or my behavior. The existence or not of god does not matter. Like many humans I live a purposeful life and god does not add more purpose.

What if evidence were produced that convinced you god does not exist with certainty (evidence according to your standards of proof)? What would you change in your life?

- Would you stop evangelizing?
- Would you start sinning more?
- Would you stop helping those less fortunate than you?
- Would you feel that life is meaningless?

Let us examine one area Christians think about atheists. Christians seem to think non-believers hope that their good deeds will get them into heaven, should heaven really exist. The Torah (Old Testament) has a word for this: mitzvah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitzvah ). Many atheists such as myself perform mitzvahs not for the sake of getting an admission ticket into heaven, but because performing good deeds and helping those in need is the right thing to do. In other words, these are selfless acts.

Christians sometimes proffer Pascal’s Wager (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager ) suggesting to non-believers that they should accept Jesus (John 3:16) as some sort of insurance policy against hell, just in case it turns out god really exists. The fallacy with this line of reasoning is that faith in god for some reward or to avoid punishment is not faith at all. It is a selfish act to receive something in return for a belief. The point of religious belief so that one becomes a better person, not to receive a reward or please a spiritual being.

Even the Torah addresses sacrifices or any other act in an effort to please god as displeasing god.

So why do you believe in god? If it is to enter heaven, that is very selfish. If god, heaven, and hell do not exist, would you still perform mitzvahs and follow the Golden Rule or would you say what is the point? Mitzvahs are not meant to please god.

Many Christians also claim that only those who believe can live a moral life and those who do not believe in god have no moral compass. That implies that one lives a moral life, not because it is the right thing to do, but because god expects us to be moral. Again, the fallacy with this reasoning is that mitzvahs and morals should be followed because god or a holy book dictates rules to us and not for personal philosophical or spiritual reasons.

In summary, I have no stake in god's existence. I do not see existence of heaven or hell as a reward and punishment system. If the whole purpose of the Golden Rule preached by Jesus was to treat others as I would like to be treated, I can follow his philosophy without believing in god. What type of god would want me to pledge my fealty to him or her simply for the sake of believing or proving my allegiance? I would expect god is beyond pride and the need for some following.

For all those thumbs down votes, I ask you to examine your personal motivation for believing in god.

Why is the concept that one can perform selfless mitzvahs and possess moral values without belief in god so difficult for many Christians to comprehend?

Answer 2

I'm a Dianic Witch, so I believe that the Universe is a living, parthenogenic female that gave birth to everything within Her. We are all connected within Her body, and everything we do affects us directly. Evolution is the birth process on a planetary scale.

Magick and psychic abilities are normal functions of a healthy human brain - everyone is psychic at birth, but most people are trained out of it. It's a skill like any other and can be developed with practice.

Magick is an old word for what science is studying as Quantum Mechanics and String Theory. Everything that ever was, is, ever will be, could have been or might yet be, all coexist at once. We only experience time-space in a linear fashion while we are in these bodies.

When we return to Spirit, our perspective will be more universal and we will understand that "All Space is Here and All Time is Now." Separation and distance are illusions of the fore-brain - we are perfectly capable of directing our intent to affect the past, present or future if there is a direct connection for us.

Answer 3

What an insightful question!! Thanks for asking!

I personally consider myself pagan and/or spiritualistic..

In all honestly, I'm a spiritualist. I use the term to describe someone who believes in a higher power, but doesn't necessarily feel the need to put a particular name to the divine. I believe that it's just there, out there.. that it responds to whoever calls to it, and seeks wisdom.

However, I love all the "trappings" of paganism.. I love the worship of the divine through nature.. this doesn't mean I "worship trees" so much as I worship the fact that trees are part of the earth, and the earth is part of the universe, and it all fits together in this beautiful order that had to be inspired by something divine. I see beauty and divinity in nature, in people, in animals.. I also love the ritual of paganism. The candles, and the incense, and the chants, and the symbolism. You see that in some Christian faiths too, mainly in Catholicism, but you see it a lot in paganism. I find it beautiful, and moving.

Some of the actual "stances" I suppose you'd say I take, in regards to traditional religious issues: I believe in reincarnation AND an afterlife.. it's kind of like your choice, I suppose. I believe mostly in reincarnation but I also believe you can choose to be done with the cycle, and become one with the universe too, once you're ready.. and that would be my version of the afterlife, I suppose. I believe in spirits and ghosts.. that they are souls that have chosen or were forced to linger on for some reason. I believe in the cooperation between science and faith: Why wouldn't god/dess have created the world THROUGH evolution? What a beautiful process to watch unfold!!! I believe in the power of prayer and magic, though I believe it's the same thing, done with differing rituals.. lighting a stick of incense and praying, or crossing your fingers together and kneeling before prayer, or rubbing candles down with oil before prayer.. isn't it all the same thing?

Hm.. can't think of anything else right off the top of my head! Hope you found the answer interesting!

Answer 4

My belief is that you need to have humility to admit that life on earth must have been produced by a higher intelligence, a designer, and his existence is appears from the creation of universe and everything on earth including us human.
If human knows how to prevent road accident by making traffic rule. For sure, there is superhuman power beyond everything to keep our universe well organized. Just think about the law of gravity even you can not see it or feel it you belief it is exist and you wont do anything silly against it. Who creates the law of Gravity?

The four fundamental forces: gravity, electromagnetism strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force come into play both in the vastness of the cosmos and in the infinite smallness of atomic structures. Yes, everything we see around us is involved and they are all finely tuning.
Elements vital for our life (particularly carbon, oxygen, and iron) could not exist were it not for the fine-tuning of the four forces evident in the universe. We already mentioned one force, gravity. Another is the electromagnetic force. If it were significantly weaker, electrons would not be held around the nucleus of an atom. ‘Would that be serious?’ some might wonder. Yes, because atoms could not combine to form molecules. Conversely, if this force were much stronger, electrons would be trapped on the nucleus of an atom. There could be no chemical reactions between atoms—meaning no life. Even from this standpoint, it is clear that our existence and life depend on the fine-tuning of the electromagnetic force.
Consider the cosmic scale: A slight difference in the electromagnetic force would affect the sun and thus alter the light reaching the earth, making photosynthesis in plants difficult or impossible. It could also rob water of its unique properties, which are vital for life. So again, the precise tuning of the electromagnetic force determines whether we live or not.
Equally vital is the intensity of the electromagnetic force in relation to the other three. For example, some physicists figure this force to be 10,000,- 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (1040) times that of gravity. It might seem a small change to that number to add one more zero (1041). Yet that would mean that gravity is proportionally weaker, and Dr. Reinhard Breuer comments on the resulting situation: “With lower gravity the stars would be smaller, and the pressure of gravity in their interiors would not drive the temperature high enough for nuclear fusion reactions to get under way: the sun would be unable to shine.” You can imagine what that would mean for us!
What if gravity were stronger proportionately, so that the number had only 39 zeros (1039)? “With just this tiny adjustment,” continues Breuer, “a star like the sun would find its life expectancy sharply reduced.” And other scientists consider the fine-tuning to be even more precise.
Indeed, two remarkable qualities of our sun and other stars are long-term efficiency and stability. Consider a simple illustration. We know that to run efficiently, an automobile engine needs a critical ratio between fuel and air; engineers design complex mechanical and computer systems to optimize performance. If that is so with a mere engine, what of the efficiently “burning” stars such as our sun? The key forces involved are precisely tuned, optimized for life. Did that precision just happen? The ancient man Job was asked: “Did you proclaim the rules that govern the heavens, or determine the laws of nature on earth?” (Job 38:33, The New English Bible) No human did. So from where does the precision come?
From personal experience, you likely know that all things tend toward disorder. As any homeowner has observed, when left to themselves, things tend to break down or disintegrate. Scientists refer to this tendency as “the second law of thermodynamics.” We can see this law at work daily. If left alone, a new automobile or bicycle will become scrap. Abandon a building and it will become a ruin. What about the universe? The law applies there too. So you might think that the order throughout the universe should give way to complete disorder.
However, this does not seem to be happening to the universe, as Professor of Mathematics Roger Penrose discovered when he studied the state of disorderliness (or, entropy) of the observable universe. A logical way to interpret such findings is to conclude that the universe started off in an ordered state and is still highly organized. Astrophysicist Alan Lightman noted that scientists “find it mysterious that the universe was created in such a highly ordered condition.” He added that “any successful theory of cosmology should ultimately explain this entropy problem”—why the universe has not become chaotic.

Another thing is what man-made computer can repair itself, rewrite its program, or improve over the years? When a computer system needs to be adjusted, a programmer must write and enter new coded instructions. Our brain does such work automatically, both in the early years of life and in old age. You would not be exaggerating to say that the most advanced computers are very primitive compared to the brain. Scientists have called it “the most complicated structure known” and “the most complex object in the universe.” Consider some discoveries that have led many to conclude that the human brain is the product of a caring Creator. There are millions of reasons and evidence to believe that Creator does exist and his name is Jehovah God.

Answer 5

You have to believe in yourself, your own abilities or no one will. You have to believe you can make a difference.

Irrespective of who your God may be, you still have the freedom of choice He gave you. The Church, religion, spirituality or whatever you want to call it, is not there to impede your life but to assist in helping you be a better person and grow strong in love and compassion.

Attending prayer one minute, then condemning others the next, is hypocrisy. Yet it's alarming the actual number of "religious" people that do excactly that. Which makes attending prayer little more than a social outing, like going to a football match where your team is playing the top of the league, away from home. You wear the colours but you don't believe they will win.

Answer 6

"The Grail Message" by Abdrushin is addressed to the individual human being, irrespective of religion, creed, nationality or race. He alone has to bear responsibility for everything he thinks and does.

It mediates the knowledge of the development of Creation. In simple words, it explains all connetions without a gap and gives a comprehensive survey of the happenings in Creation. Through cognizance of the perfect Laws of Creation which preclude any arbitrary action, the liberating understanding of present world events is open to man.

forther, it explains what the free will of man really is, what intellect, intuitive perception, soul and spirit signify and what are their tasks and their relation to one another.

This Work also deals cleadrly and objectively with important questions which move the seeking man: The meaning and purpose of existence, fate, hereditary sin, birth and death, the beyound, incarnation and reincarnation, the sexual problem, marriage. the mystery of lucifer, the last judgement and the cosmic Turning-Point.

Answer 7

I don't put myself in a religion, but I kind of follow bits of several religions (which seems blasphemous, I know, but I can't stay COMPLETELY religious to one religion).

I live my life by Christian principles, but follow karma (a buddhist principle) and I was born catholic. Also, I believe that there IS a God up there, but not the Classical God of Theism (omnibenevolent, omnipotent and omniscient). I actually am very interested in becoming a buddhist, but I'd like to know more about it before deciding on it for definite.

Answer 8

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (often referred to as Mormons)

We believe that the Bible is correct as far as it has been translated correctly. We also other works of Scripture that are part of the story of Jesus Christ. This is the Book of Mormon.

I have added a link to something we call the Articles of Faith.

We are what is known as a "Restoration" Church. Founded by our first Prophet known as Joseph Smith who translated the Book of Mormon at the command of God.
The second link is his testimony of how he received this command.

Answer 9

look!

the reality in religion and spirituality is that they have the same definition ,same ideaology and same text but in different meaning.
example : islam,christian,judasim,shintoism,bhuddism,hinduism,sikkism,zorastism,triballava. All of these have the same ideologies as mentioned
above but spiritually has or has not a different meaning in the same
ideology like hinduism (religion) yoga(spiritual meditation).
hope i have answered yur question.
in case if i have made a mistake then i am sorry.
thanks

Answer 10

I believe in the one and only almighty Flying Spaghetti Monster. I believe he created the heavens and the earth for us to use. I believe pirates are holy people because the Flying Spaghetti Monster says so. I think everyone should receive Him and let His noodley appendage touch their heart and soul.

Here is a link so you can learn more about FSM.

http://www.venganza.org/