What is your religion?

[Minipa]

Taoist.

[Guest]

I'm a omnist and I believe every religion is real in it's own way. I'm also a bit of a cynical misotheist who often wonders if God(s) is really as benevolent as we are led to believe.

 

I choose to live without religion.

Edited October 6, 2020 by Guest

[Mab]

I'm a common or garden pagan really, and have followed a few paths under that very large and eclectic umbrella, currently enjoying the encouragement, hilarity, expertise and weirdness in my coven.

I'm a chaotic neutral too.

[ilweran]

I have to admit I'm heading down a bit of a vaguely Dianic Wicca path. The seeming growth in misogyny (is the internet and social media making it worse or is it just giving a voice to those who had those views anyway?) is leading me to feel the need for something more female focussed.

[Helena]

I've sort of settled on an agnostic theist...I know there's something bigger. I just don't know what that is, and I have decided that not knowing is ok. I was raised strictly Christian, but life events caused me to question that it is the only way. I will admit though, that the loss of that structure in life really left me feeling a little untethered. Connecting with spirits, guides, angels, and my higher self has really helped. And working with the cycles of the moon is extremely grounding for me...especially as a female. I feel very drawn to the moon's energy. New moons are my jam. It feels almost like a womb to me. Beautiful. 

[Morsoth]

In short, I'm a Neo-Pagan, having a hard polytheist view on the world, and if I need to, I call myself a “Druid-Witch”, as I follow a new tradition called "Druidcraft". Druidcraft is a a spiritual practice embracing elements of both Druidry and Witchcraft, somewhat developed by Philip Carr-Gomm, the Chief Druid of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids in 2002, in his book Druidcraft: The Magic of Wicca & Druidry. My Druidic practices are mainly based upon the Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) tradition while my Witchcraft practices are more eclectic, but focused on Celtic-Irish Traditional Witchcraft.

 

I did the test with the link on the first page, and the results are:

 

100% - Neo-Paganism
78% - Unitarian Universalism
75% - New Age
73% - Taoism...

 

 

I also took the 2nd test for my alignment, and I'm True Neutral...!

[Anabiyeni]

I consider myself Roman Catholic, but the quiz on page 1 calls me a liberal Quaker. I found a lot of the questions confusing, though; the question would be about one thing and the answers (or some of them) would be about something else entirely.

[Decan]

And so "what is your religion?"

Such a winding topic for me through time, but I converted to Buddhism as I said in this thread previously.

 

But Buddhism is in itself a winding path, particularly in the west (my opinion as always!), so I also really needed to take some distance some time ago, with even a period of rejection!

But finally I'm still around, the difference is that I'm not "strictly" into it anymore, but "broadly", which isn't likely a bad thing. I see the benefits of Buddhism, but I know as well the cracks, and there are cracks, it's like everything. So no idealization, but it's okay!

The truth is beyond what I can undestand, it's a bit what I think. Ants we are, in some ways.

 

[Tarotmick8]

Hi All Brightest Blessings.

I was born a catholic but later in life turned,to (Buddhism/Spiritualist).🙂

[legendaryelement]

*smiling*

 

The one at BeliefoMatic says:

 

Orthodox Quakerism

Your beliefs match closest with Orthodox Quakerism!

(but I did not give my email address for anything further)

 

- - - -

 

The D&D alignment test gave me:

 

Chaotic Good- A chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he's kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society. Chaotic good is the best alignment you can be because it combines a good heart with a free spirit. However, chaotic good can be a dangerous alignment when it disrupts the order of society and punishes those who do well for themselves.

---

Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (20)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (25)
Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (17)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (19)
Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXXX (7)
Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)

Law & Chaos:
Law ----- XXXXX (5)
Neutral - XXXXXXXX (8)
Chaos --- XXXXXXXXXX (10)

Good & Evil:
Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXX (9)
Evil ---- XX (2)
 

- - - -

 

I do have a personal "relationship" level of worship/belief, but am not interested in "religion" structures. I think most of them are twisted by the humans who run them.

[devin]

On 7/27/2021 at 9:09 AM, Decan said:

And so "what is your religion?"

Such a winding topic for me through time, but I converted to Buddhism as I said in this thread previously.

 

But Buddhism is in itself a winding path, particularly in the west (my opinion as always!), so I also really needed to take some distance some time ago, with even a period of rejection!

But finally I'm still around, the difference is that I'm not "strictly" into it anymore, but "broadly", which isn't likely a bad thing. I see the benefits of Buddhism, but I know as well the cracks, and there are cracks, it's like everything. So no idealization, but it's okay!

The truth is beyond what I can undestand, it's a bit what I think. Ants we are, in some ways.

 

May I ask what type of Buddhism you practice(d)? Personally, I find the Tibetan variety very appealing. 

 

If anyone's interested, here's a great blog on the above, with a focus on tantra: https://perfumedskull.com/

 

Me, I try to be religious but am very, very bad at it.

Edited July 30, 2021 by devin

[Decan]

37 minutes ago, devin said:

 

May I ask what type of Buddhism you practice(d)? Personally, I find the Tibetan variety very appealing. 

 

If anyone's interested, here's a great blog on the above, with a focus on tantra: https://perfumedskull.com/

 

Me, I try to be religious but am very, very bad at it.

Tibetan Buddhism.

When you see a teacher who offers Buddhist teachings, it's important to search what is his specific lineage (there are several), his own teacher, his reputation etc. in order to be certain there is no particular problem with him.

Regarding the link you gave us, I didn't see that, but an emphasis on sexual practices, which is something suspect in my opinion.

I was part of a forum on Buddhism in the past to educate myself at the beginning, and really, people need (if there is an interest there) to be advised about what is Buddhism and the problems here and there. I wasn't aware myself about ALL the scandals which took place, the dubious sects and so on. This isn't only with Tibetan Buddhism (I heard there were some in other Buddhist approaches as well) but Tibetan Buddhism accumulates a few to say the least!!

Fortunately, there are forums about everything, so it's possible to ask to knowledgeable Buddhist practitioners.

There is an emphasis on visualizations and mantras (I make things simple!), at times I heard that it is really the way of mantras. Nothing sexual for anyone! From what I read on forums these things were only something to consider for a few rare very high yogis.

Currently there are teachers who try to adapt traditional practices to the Westerners, which means to simplify a lot things. It depends what people want.

[devin]

23 hours ago, Decan said:

Tibetan Buddhism.

When you see a teacher who offers Buddhist teachings, it's important to search what is his specific lineage (there are several), his own teacher, his reputation etc. in order to be certain there is no particular problem with him.

Regarding the link you gave us, I didn't see that, but an emphasis on sexual practices, which is something suspect in my opinion.

I was part of a forum on Buddhism in the past to educate myself at the beginning, and really, people need (if there is an interest there) to be advised about what is Buddhism and the problems here and there. I wasn't aware myself about ALL the scandals which took place, the dubious sects and so on. This isn't only with Tibetan Buddhism (I heard there were some in other Buddhist approaches as well) but Tibetan Buddhism accumulates a few to say the least!!

Fortunately, there are forums about everything, so it's possible to ask to knowledgeable Buddhist practitioners.

There is an emphasis on visualizations and mantras (I make things simple!), at times I heard that it is really the way of mantras. Nothing sexual for anyone! From what I read on forums these things were only something to consider for a few rare very high yogis.

Currently there are teachers who try to adapt traditional practices to the Westerners, which means to simplify a lot things. It depends what people want.

 

Thanks for the interesting info. Fascinating. The link I provided has an emphasis is on tantra and esotericism. So I know there's a lot of room for controversy there. But I don't think it's all about sex. Anyway, you'd know a lot more about it than me and I'm sure your warning is an important one. Potential Buddhists take note!

 

Interestingly, that controversial sect that protest the Dalai Lama's appearances set up a centre on the opposite hill from where I used to live.  The interesting bit is the exact spot they chose for their centre had been the location of a number of strange night-light phenomena and apparitions over the years. I have to wonder what drew them to that specific location. Bad mojo, maybe?

 

Anyway, for now, being a crap Christian (life is so very distracting) seems to be the right religious path for me. It is a religion drenched in pathos and appeals on a gut level. It's also a good fit with the few spiritual experiences I've had over the years.

 

Thanks again!

Edited July 31, 2021 by devin

[Decan]

13 hours ago, devin said:

 

Thanks for the interesting info. Fascinating. The link I provided has an emphasis is on tantra and esotericism. So I know there's a lot of room for controversy there. But I don't think it's all about sex. Anyway, you'd know a lot more about it than me and I'm sure your warning is an important one. Potential Buddhists take note!

 

Interestingly, that controversial sect that protest the Dalai Lama's appearances set up a centre on the opposite hill from where I used to live.  The interesting bit is the exact spot they chose for their centre had been the location of a number of strange night-light phenomena and apparitions over the years. I have to wonder what drew them to that specific location. Bad mojo, maybe?

 

Anyway, for now, being a crap Christian (life is so very distracting) seems to be the right religious path for me. It is a religion drenched in pathos and appeals on a gut level. It's also a good fit with the few spiritual experiences I've had over the years.

 

Thanks again!

There is probably a room for controversy here, indeed. It's a field where I'm very quickly on my guard too.

Actually I took distance with all these controversies and it's the main reason why I leaved forums on Buddhism. I'm not anymore completely into Tibetan Buddhism too, mainly but not strictly as I said. Tibetan culture is appealing but as well so different for westerners.

The word "Tantra" in Buddhism refers to the part of the teaching of the Buddha that deals with energies and deities. But this word exists in Hinduism and refers to something else, and it was picked up as well by the new age world and some people probably say they offer tantric trainings or something, I'm not aware myself about all things that exist, but there are so many stuff like that I guess.

The main purpose is to generate Compassion and to lead all sentient beings to liberation, even the mosquito that just stung you 😁

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by Decan

[euripides]

I found that quiz quite frustrating, because so many of the questions had a catch-all 'other' type bucket that atheism, agnosticism, and nontraditional forms of spirituality get thrown in together. I've a feeling the creator may also have categorized some of the religions based on poly/mono/a-theism, where many people would see themselves as more strongly aligned with one or the other for a collection of reasons that might not involve having the same understanding of deity.  In short, I found that my perspectives were not well aligned with many of the possible answers.

 

After a winding (and at times circular) path through many faiths and worldviews, I'd say at this point that I'm a pantheist. We are, as Alan Watts said - and Carl Sagan famously paraphrased - the universe experiencing itself. And I think that we are eternally part of that, but we don't continue as a single point of consciousness or self; I think this likely differs from many here on the forum - this is just how I see the world, at this present time - and that may change. It's not the most comfortable of places to sit; not quite the 'nothing' of hard atheism, but neither the warm arms of a loving god, or an everlasting summer.

 

I find that, looking for structure, I've circled back to the Anglo-Celtic stories of my youth, and to Druidism. It's not quite a perfect fit, but it's a religion that is quite accepting of diversity, so it's looking like I may find a spiritual home here.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by euripides

[devin]

This is such an interesting thread. I may warble away a little more.

 

I was a pantheist by default for the longest time. Isn't what I see, hear, smell, and taste just the appearance of the world in front of the world? It's an appealing idea and carries a certain cachet thanks to modern physics.

 

Over the years, though, I've become more and more convinced of the strengths of theism.

 

1) You can still have the holographic, everything in everything else, universe but with an aspect that lies forever beyond our cognitive reach.

2) The theistic distinction between creator and creation is, in fact, absolute non-dualism, as for something to be truly non-dual it can have no oppositions, it must include everything, and every possibility, including multiplicity, dualism, and differentness.

3.1) Holding to a personal God acknowledges that life certainly feels personal and at certain times acts as if it responds to us in a personal manner. By moving the ultimate beyond impersonal mechanism or force it also avoids a similar bind to that which the philosophical materialists face. That is, how do you get something personal (sentient consciousness) from something impersonal? 

3.2) Depriving divinity of a personal aspect, even if only an analogical one, makes it less than human, not more. A strange state of affairs, surely?

4) It acknowledges that the ultimate nature of reality may be supra-logical.

 

Of course, one's reasons for belief, or disbelief, are far more personal than all that.

 

Fox in the dusk, lightning, gnats in the evening air
They share the natural mystery,
Proclaim I AM, and remain nameless.

 

So, there.

 

Repent!

 

 

7 hours ago, Decan said:

It's a field where I'm very quickly on my guard too.

 

🤐😉

 

7 hours ago, Decan said:

The main purpose is to generate Compassion and to lead all sentient beings to liberation, even the mosquito that just stung you

 

And that is what makes it so completely and wonderfully beautiful. 

[Sar]

I am not religious at all. Never where. Do not have it in me. Grateful I live in times where it is allowed to be an atheist though.

[devin]

19 minutes ago, Sar said:

Grateful I live in times where it is allowed to be an atheist though.

 

That depends where you live, of course. Really, I think we and our societies are all still religious to a large degree, but with different gods, y'know: militarism, nationalism, capitalism, progress, freedom, social justice, the self, et cetera. They're all (for better or worse) examples of sublimated religious impulses if you ask me. 🤷‍♂️

[Sar]

8 minutes ago, devin said:

 

That depends where you live, of course. Really, I think we and our societies are all still religious to a large degree, but with different gods, y'know: militarism, nationalism, capitalism, progress, freedom, social justice, the self, et cetera. They're all (for better or worse) examples of sublimated religious impulses if you ask me. 🤷‍♂️

Yeah, Jupiter is dominating our world, even if the protestantic ethic was behind capitalism to begin with.

[devin]

1 hour ago, Sar said:

Yeah, Jupiter is dominating our world, even if the protestantic ethic was behind capitalism to begin with.

 

True. But Protestantism also gave us this guy.

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Hinn

 

So it has its up side.

Edited August 1, 2021 by devin

[Sar]

12 minutes ago, devin said:

 

True. But Protestantism also gave us this guy.

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Hinn

 

So it has its up side.

Yeah...

[violetann]

I was born into a christian house hold but I choose to become pagan when I was about 8/9 years old. I'm pagan - influenced from british paganism mix with wicca and mixed with some norse.

[Credenza]

I was baptized and raised Roman Catholic and went to church every weekend until I was 18, but I haven't identified as Catholic since I was a child.
I was always more drawn to mysticism, Gnosticism, and folk beliefs and practices while I was in the church anyway.
For a long time after that I would secretly identify as a pagan witch, but I don't fuss about labelling myself anymore. 
I will say that animism and pantheism seem to be the only two major consistencies when it comes to my spirituality, even while I was identifying as Catholic.
Well, polytheism, too... I do recall talking to people at church about the other gods and goddesses and getting an earful. 🙊 I've always had a special fondness for Diana. 😉

[nord_drache]

I was raised and identify as Lutheran (baptized, confirmed, married and buried 2 parents) - though not the fundamentalist Missouri Synod. I probably have a strong "new age" spiritualist leaning.

My take on it is definitely based on my departed mother's ways. She was born in Saxony near Poland in 1924.

She showed me the keys are an open mind, not to judge, do your best to be a good person (do as you would have done to you / love one another), the belief in God's grace through faith and the boundless power of love. Much of the time she couldn't get to church but she maintained her faith. Several Lutheran minister friends of mine showed me the ability to practice one's faith with an open mind (especially as my oldest family friend's career was in corrections).

I have always also believed that there is more on earth under God's eye than man will ever understand. Mom never batted an eye at conversations that went into strange "paranormal" directions (can't think of another term). She quite enjoyed hearing about my regular AD&D sessions - I think we could both be termed neutral good - where good is the most important thing.

 

My mind opened up as I gained some wisdom through age. A friend heavily into new age teachings gave me a set of Rune stones. I think experience with it opened my mind towards Tarot and Tarot lead to a meeting with a medium. Her identifying my entourage of spirits - those I had lost and the rest that session opened my mind a little more. At that time she mentioned a past life as some sort a reader / ("psychic?") . . . 

I am probably just one of your basic odd ball sorts 😀

Jim

 

[Marina]

I was born in a family that doesn’t care much about religion, but I was baptised a Catholic because it was very traditional to do so here. My Grandma from my mother’s side is an Umbanda “Mãe-de-Santo” (a priestess of a sort), and my uncles and aunts are sorta into it too, but no one is a radical. Umbanda is a highly syncretic religion.

 

I studied in a Franciscan Catholic school until I was 14, which made me learn and enjoy some aspects of the Catholic practice, like the devotion to saints. When I was a teenager I came in contact with Wicca, and from then one I chose (Neo) Paganism as my path. I am heavily inspired by Wicca, but do not consider myself one because I was never formally initiated nor been a part of any coven.

 

Most of my practice has been solitary because I never found a group to share… All neo-pagan inclined groups I tried to “join” had a lot of Ego-issues and subtle power plays which were a turn off to me. 
 

Nowadays I stick to “hedgewitchery”, focusing on my connection to nature, the seasons, the deities etc, not so much on “cerimonial” magic.