Recently I was contacted by highschool Freshman Anjelica who was conducting a little survey for one of her classes. She asked me to answer a few questions about religion and spirituality. I thought to myself, why should I be the only one here doing the work when I have all of you guys ;)
So if you would be kind enough, take a few minutes of your time and answer these questions for Anjelica. Yea, I never thought I’d be helping kids learn with this site either ;) But I love it!
Here’s Anjelica’s email to me along with her survey questions. I added the first question because I think it would be useful.
Hello, my name is Anjelica.
I’m a freshman in High School and I happened to stumble upon your website while
doing some research. You see, I’m doing this project for my talented and gifted
class on “Human Interest in Spirituality/Religion”. While reading your website,
I was so…amazed…to see that someone else agreed with practically every one
of my views.
The reason I’m contacting you is that I want to ask you a few questions. I read
that you went to Catholic school (as did I) and now, I guess you’re some sort
of Agnostic person. I identify the same way. But as I was saying, I’d really
like to ask you a question or two about spirituality. The questions I have are
from a survey I’m compiling and then distributing to people who are going to
participate in a discussion I’m having about spirituality.
ANJELICA’S SURVEY
1. What religion do you practice if any?
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
3. What would you define as spiritual?
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Related posts:
- Let’s Help Chris Get His PhD
- Muhammed Has Spoken!
- Creationism–A Veil Of Ignorance
- State Of The Union
- Atheists Are America’s Most Distrusted Minority
March 19th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Would love to help! :)
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None, as I am an Atheist. Some would say that evolution is my religion, but that just shows their ignorance in either subject.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I don’t want to write a book in this post, and to answer this question properly I would have to. I will just give the short version. Humans are a curious and inquisitive creature. They are scared of the unknown, and god was (and apparently remains :/) an easy way to explain away unknown events. The big one being what happens after death? I think most people believe “just in case” and they fear what happens after they die though they will often say that they don’t since they “know where they are going”. They know this because some book and some dude in a robe told them so. Sadly, they don’t see the humor in that.
The second reason is basically, it is a GREAT way for one person to convince others to give them free money and power. Just check the lifestyle of your local televangelist.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Belief in something not of the physical word, specifically dealing with the SPIRIT.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Even at the most basic level there are problems. Take the example of “thou shalt not kill”. This is problematic since some religions believe thou shalt kill, and kill lots. For instance the ancient Mayans. They believed in human sacrifices. This was a religious belief. If you want a more modern example, islam seems to believe it is ok to kill in certain instances. Like if someone draws a picture of muhammed, off with his head. Christianity has murdered and murdered throughout history, as a officially sanctioned act. I don’t think I have to give examples of this.
I guess the short answer is no. I think the primary problem is they ALL think they are right and everyone else is wrong. How can they agree on anything when they believe this?
March 19th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Hello Anjelica,
I love your name, even though I don’t believe in angles. You’ve asked some very good questions. Anyway, here are my answers:
1. What religion do you practice if any?
By and large, I consider myself non-religious, though I do occasionally attend a Unitarian Universalist (UU) church and believe in a God, of sorts. The reason is that religions usually have dogma and authority figures. I trust neither. The UU church I go to has no dogma and the congregation is the ultimate authority, not unlike a democracy.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
It gives them simple answers to very difficult and troubling questions. Questions like ‘why are we here?’ and ‘what happens when we die?’ are not easy to think about, much less answer. Religion not only provides simple, understandable answers, but provides answers that are comforting and feel good.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Spirituality are those beliefs and actions that give meaning and direction to ones life. Spirituality need not be religious, though it often is. I consider making art and other creative acts as spiritual pursuits. Helping people in need is another example of spirituality.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Of course. Almost every religion has a variation of the Golden Rule, which is a valid moral guideline. I think the invalid points/beliefs greatly outnumber the valid ones, though.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
If many of us participate (I’d guess so, as we are probably all way too egocentric not to) this will give the Religious Freaks community a better picture of itself. Might be interesting.
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Born a child of a protestant unmarried couple. Decided to be baptized protestant at age 13/14. Decided not to believe in God soon after, around 16. Still atheist today.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
We can clearly distinguish between our self (soul/spirit) from the outside (environment). This is one aspect of consciousness. Consequently, we feel divided from our environment, which accounts for a lot of suffering, feeling excluded, et cetera. Religion offers to heal this wound. Religious people have an idea of what their place is in this world. They may feel part of the divine plan (though not knowing the plan) or the global reincarnation party, whatever. In short: Religion offers inclusion.
This is what I think is one of the reasons and one of the most important today. In past times there may have been the wish to influence nature through worship.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Referring to the spirit/soul/consciousness of a human being. A spiritual event would be an event that makes a human feel his/her soul. Needs not to be directive (that’s ethical to me).
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Probably not if the “masses” in question are the masses of zealots under the rule of different religions. Most religions don’t accept other truths but their own. Personally, I think that making people feel better in their existence is a very good point.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Pastafarianism when I feel like some spaghetti-bolognese. No, seriously I’m Atheist.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I think in part because we feel we have a mind that’s separate from our body. We hope this mind (call it a soul) continues on after the body gives up the ghost (pun intended). Also, most people just follow what ever belief they had programmed into them without really questioning it. They just do what their folks or community does.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Studying fairies.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Well, the morality that religion claims is really just the obvious result of a species that successfully survived. If we went around stealing, abusing and killing one-another we wouldn’t be here to say that you shouldn’t kill, steal etc. The golden rule exists so that our species could continue.
So, I think religions have just claimed adaptive behaviour as their own. As for the rest of their points, most are probably nonsensical these days, but may have had some benefit at some point in history, e.g. not eating pork when pigs ate human effluent. But as religions don’t evolve well, they still cling to it…..
Hope that helps,
Have a good one.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Strike out that “between” in the answer to question 2.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
That’s a rather large assumption.
I’m not convinced most people actually do. I am convinced, however, that most people aren’t given a choice but are indoctrinated from an early age simply because their parents were, and so on and so forth.
You say you went to Catholic school. To what extent was this decision made based on your desires?
If you subscribe to the notion that people are hardwired for ‘gullibility’ then subjecting children to a particularly nasty superstition that punishes them for disbelief makes it hard for people to truly decide for themselves — by the time we’re old enough to make our own decisions we’re scared about being wrong.
For my part, I can’t help but believe that if we could convince just one generation of parents NOT to subject their kids to religion until they were 18 that religion would cease to exist in any meaningful, influential form. Noone ‘wants’ religion, they just don’t know any other way.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
See ‘Kooky’.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
That any person or group is wrong about any one thing is not a barrier to being right about something else, no matter how wrong they are about the first. So, yes, it’s perfectly reasonable to believe that they could all have something to say.
Unless, of course, you mean that they’re all right about mutually exclusive religious beliefs. I think the B’hai have a belief system that says sort of that god tells different cultures what they need to hear, and that each is correct within that culture. That’s utter crap.
You and I can’t both be right if we say totally opposite things. We can CERTAINLY both be wrong, but we CAN’T both be right.
So, to rehash an earlier response, almost all religions have the notion of a golden rule. That transcends religion, and is good for all people. On the other hand, Jews think Muslims are doomed for worshipping Mohammed, and Muslims think Jews are doomed for NOT worshipping Mohammed. Can they both be right? Of course not. Can they both be wrong? Of course they are.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
none.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
It could be for many reasons. Initially I thought that it was because they were gullible, or insecure (can’t face reality without a crutch, or go against the group), or superstitious, it makes them feel good (like drugs), or just don’t know any better. Now, I make a difference between organized religions and spirituality. I think religions are tricky, systematic attackers preying on any possible mind flaw you may have (e.g., fear of death), and then they brain-wash you. Spirituality has some basis in trying to understand the non-physical, but overall the kinds of spirituality I’ve seen were more akin to wishful thinking and make-believe.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
The silly wishful thinking that the self can subsist without a brain, as a “soul”, and all the constructs around that and the idea of “spirits”. I wish more people would ask themselves, what happens to programs when I turn off the computer? They want to think they’re so special; they are so egotistic and terrified of death that they don’t want to face the truth that they will vanish (I am terrified of death too, but somehow I don’t let that control my reasoning). I believe that a similar thing happens to programs in computers when our brain dies. Disorder takes over and it all fades away.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses).
I forget who said (paraphrasing) “The worst kind of lie is the one wrapped in truth.” So, yes, I think that most religions contain some truths, but they’ve been poisoned, tainted, or used as bait.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
1.What religion do you practice if any?
Life
I’m pretty sure this counts as a religion since many beleive it’s preferable to be alive, and practice it daily.
Really easy to follow laws as well: Try not to die today.
2.Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
It’s always seemd to be a “the grass is greener” kinda thing to me, it’s for those folks who can’t understand how cool just existing as a sentient lifeform is or do understand but can’t cope with the awesomeness ending.
3.What would you define as spiritual?
I personaly don’t believe in spirit. Understanding and knowledge are refreshing though
4.Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Yes, they all seem to agree that they are the only right ones.
I find this comforting for my religion.
My existance is the right one for me, another persons may have more cash,delusion,faith,purpose etc. (whatever is preferd) but I doubt I would dig that.
Basicly my life is better for me because I am living it, and your lives, though ok for you, are not my flavor of choice.
Not the most eloquent of awnsers, but it’s the best I can explain my view.
Living is by far the best way to pass time until you’re dead.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
WTF is a “talented and gifted
class” (on a subject, as opposed to a class of people)?
1. None
2. I do not think that most people want spirituality or religion in their lives. Why some people do, is a complex issue that rightfully starts with a definition of spirituality and religion. But shortly, there are a few reasons that may or may not occur in a given individual: Superstitious/magical/paranormal thinking, religion as a part of cultural/group identity, ignorance, probably others.
3. Since the word is rather vague, it is pragmatic to try to understand how the word is used. I believe spirituality is used to mean: a sense of awe in from of something somehow greater than oneself, immaterial values, adherence to a particular religion.
4. A belief widely accepted by people is not necessarily valid. And a point is not a synonym for a belief. I can’t say that there is much point in religion. To give one example, there appears to be no point to Christianity: Jesus died for peoples’ sins and believers make much out of that, but there is no single generally accepted point to it. Of course one can easily argue that Christianity isn’t an atomic religion, but even among people belonging to the same denominations there are differing opinions about the point of Christianity.
As to all religions having valid beliefs, even with your disputable definition of validity, I’d say that it’s doubtful. The fact that we’re all human probably leads to most religions having some values that are virtually universal, but should they be rightfully called beliefs? For example, if Christianity states that murder is wrong, because God says so and Buddhists say that it’s wrong because you get bad Karma, both represent the same near universal value (among humans), but they are distinct, factually incorrect beliefs.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
@Flakey
Gifted classes often cover more difficult subjects in contrast to what other children of their age are learning.
Many children in these classes are tested to see if they are “gifted” at a young age (around 3rd grade) or at least this is what it ment when I was in school
March 19th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I refused catholic religion and got removed from the baptezed list and now i’m on the highway to hell, or at least this is what the pope thinks. I’m an atheist
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Just for the fear of not being accepted, or because they don’t even see that it is religion, for it’s just … what is to be done, you know, drinking water when you are thirty, going to the church on sunday, eating when you are hungry..
3. What would you define as spiritual?
fear of the unknown
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Religion as virtually infinite, and everybody can say what they want, since basically, they mustn’t prove anything of what they say..
Religions are not acceptable, valid point can be found without having to be religious at all
March 19th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Hi, thanks for all the responses so far!
On a short note, I should’ve explained what the “Talented and Gifted” class is. You see, every year, the coordinator for this class “screens in” (even I’m not too sure of what that consists of, but I think it somewhat involves IQ scores, standardized testing grades, and other things) a select group of kids who qualify as talented and gifted. More formally, it’s called the “Gifted Education Seminar” but informally, we refer to it as “TAG”.
So, to put it shortly, I’m recognized in my school as a gifted student and was put into this class. Our task for this unit, following a unit on “What it means to be Human”, was to find an aspect of being human that we’d be interested in researching, and thus I settled on the topic of spirituality.
Once again, thank you for all the responses so far!
-Anjelica
March 19th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Born as a moslem, decided that God can’t be so naive as to hate people for something as silly as religion/sexual orientation…etc by the age of 13. decided that there really is no evidence supporting god at the age of 15. Atheist ever since.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Well, that certainly depends on the person:
1. Converts: Either felt left out because hey, having all those friends in church/mosque/temple love you because of some artificial(godly) standard is cool
2. Normal people: Indoctrinated by their parents or feeling a bit of what people in group 1 felt turned to religion for guidance(as a crutch to lean on I dare say)
3. Pope/Priest/(Any Other Religious Authority): One or both of the above + a lot of belief(which originates either from being highly superficial or feeling very left out/powerless without religion) or else just some greedy person who sees the benefits faith may have for him.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Spiritual: An experience during which someone believes(which doesn’t need to be true as long as the viewer is convinced it is) to be communicating/receiving guidance/seeing something divine which transcends the laws of space time they know to him/her/them.
I’d go as far as saying the girl in the movie Contact had a kind of spiritual experience when she saw the beauty of space directly through her own eyes, although it clearly doesn’t fit into the definition I gave(I am not a mathematician)
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Not sure what you mean with this one, but some religions do have a quite valid point, the problem is they are all more philosophy than religion. Tao Te Ching for example is an excellent spiritual book, and it does have a point by providing basic morals and some general wisdom.
So everyone can have a valid religion as long as they keep it to themselves. Modern religion is nothing but a book of principles, and everyone can make up his own as long as they don’t affect anybody but themselves. This site has some very good examples about what religion should not be. most religious people are unaware of the madness their religion teaches though, that makes them (usually) pretty nice people.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None, I am an atheist.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
There are a myriad of reasons, everything from cultural conditioning and indoctrination to wanting to feel like they are a part of something greater than just plain old reality. I think for those who really get into spirituality/religion the latter is the most important factor. There is something very pleasing to one’s personal ego to know that “God has a plan just for you” or that “you are a part of the Great Spirit.”
For the former group who are simply indoctrinated and follow along, I think they don’t really care much about “spirituality” in their lives and just go through the motions.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Believing in any connection to anything supernatural.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Every religion has valid points. Who wouldn’t argue with treat others with kindness, but these points stand on their own without any religion to enforce them if one applies reason, compassion, and empathy for our fellow humans on Earth.
As for a valid belief it would be impossible for all of the contradictory religions and sects within religions to be all valid, although parts of their beliefs could well be.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
What? When I started writing the post there were only 2 comments, you guys wrote 10 additional comments in such a short time? wow, the flying spaghetti monster’s noodly appendages must be with you.
Now if only I could get answers for my quantum physics homework so quickly:P
March 19th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Hey Anjelica
1. Was atheist, now a catholic.
2. I honestly don’t know why people want spirtuality in their lives. As for religion, it seems to me that people don’t want die. Even in the ancient times, there was some sort of re assurance of the after life where your deeds would be rememberd forever. The possiablty that all of our trials and drama and creations are just for nothing can be very deppersing for a lot of people. There is no shortage of people who don’t want to think that their life was for nothing. Thus the religions were created.
3. To me being spirtual is all of that “in touch with mother earth and the trees and harmony and vibes” new age junk. Very overused, very lame.
4. Every religion has to have some kind of vaild point or people wouldn’t follow them, it just depends on what that person is looking for. If it something that will piss of their family, maybe being satanic is valid. This is a likely reason why there are so many differnt ones.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Glad to put in my 2 bits worth:
1. What religion do you practice if any?
-None, I was previously Mormon, now atheist.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality / religion in their lives?
-I think it stems from a natural human fear of the unknown. Once a person can assign a label to something, even the wrong one, it settles that fear a bit.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
-That is a tough on to define. For some it is anything connected to the supernatural but I prefer to think of it as a primitive way of explaining the happenings of our intangible minds, or as I like to call it, the operating system that controls the hardware that is our brain.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
-In all honesty, they all have valid points in one area or another. For instance, most agree it is wrong to steal. You won’t here any argument from the atheists here whether that is a valid point. It is in forcing the other, more debatable and arguably inane points, that the religious cross the line into stupidity.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Atheist when it comes to any organized religion, but generally agnostic when it comes to the existence of a creator. The potential existence of a being that I may never be able to understand goes beyond me.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
The big one is that it gives us a sense of purpose. Life seems small and meaningless unless you have a system that helps you give meaning to things. Religion is one way to do that. For some it might be a self-preservation mechanism and help us live each day without being miserable. “God works in mysterious ways,” or, “You will be rewarded in the next life.” For some it brings happiness. Of course, there are some who just believe because their parents/friends/community does, and those who believe out of fear (of expulsion from a community/eternal hellfire/etc). Good religions also generally provide good moral systems as well.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
In a philosophic sense, a subject that isn’t concerned with matters of observable fact or a strictly limited experience. More subjective matters that have to do with purpose, meaning, etc. instead of a more mechanistic, materialist, or empirical explanation. So not just dealing with God per se, but dealing with what might be called “higher experiences”. What is mankind’s greater purpose? I can see a spiritual concern in that question, even if it doesn’t mention God. For the layman, however, it can simply be a strongly emotional experience, one that changes the way he or she thinks about things.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Most religions, I think, have lessons to be learned. Even if you don’t believe, you can obtain secular values or ways of life that are good from a religion. For example, I may not think Jesus rose from the dead, but his message was a valuable one that many of us (especially many so-called Christians who don’t understand their own religion) could do to learn from.
March 19th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Anjelica, before I answer,I’d just like to say how impressed I am by your writing skills. KUDOS! There is hope yet for your generation.
1. What religion do you practice?
I’m a secular humanist. I believe that the individual defines the community, not the other way around. In that vein, I attempt to raise the overall level of knowledge, acceptance, understanding, and compassion in my community by living as an example of those things to others.
Does god fit in there? Well, to me, god is the universe. All of it. I do not believe god takes an active hand in decisions made by humans. Why would he even want to get his hands on that train wreck? :-)
I was raised Catholic, baptized and confirmed. I’d be lying if I told you that dogmatic stuff has completely been erased from my brain. I must admit, I believe that in my final moments of consciousness Jesus will be with me. True, it will be a morphine induced hallucination, but it’ll be comforting none the less.
2.Why do you think most people want religion/spirituality in their lives?
Hmmm.. I’m not convinced that given a different societal structure people would be clammoring for religious guidance. We’re talking about 1000’s of years of manipulation by “elites” disseminating information ,true or false…real or imagined, to a populace kept deliberately ignorant.
I could give the old,”people need hope” or “it gives them answers to important questions,” but I believe hope can be found without boogy-men to scare us and answers are best when they’re true.
3.What would you define as spiritual?
Phenomena that, as yet, can not be explained by science.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief?
Valid beliefs do not require lies. Harsh, I know, but religions are all based on untruths masquerading as “gospel.” Pick your poison, Islam, Christianinty, Judaism, Scientology, Hindu, etc… untrue.
Good luck in school!
peace
March 19th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Mike:
“For my part, I can’t help but believe that if we could convince just one generation of parents NOT to subject their kids to religion until they were 18 that religion would cease to exist in any meaningful, influential form. Noone ‘wants’ religion, they just don’t know any other way.”
I don’t think I could phrase that any better. We could pretty much eradicate the mind virus that is religion if the above were to occur.
I mean the amount of people who believe in the Greek pantheon is about zero, yet it was once followed just as current religions are now. What happened? People were not indoctrinated (probably because they were forced to convert to christianity, but that doesn’t invalidate my point) and stopped believing the gods were real and now they are only myth…..
gabrielAmerican:
“it will be a morphine induced hallucination, but it’ll be comforting none the less.”
I love it! honesty! enjoy your hippy trip to the great beyond man!
March 19th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Intellectually, I am an agnostic. My gut feelings about the subject would make me an atheist.
I was born and confirmed into the Catholic Church. I don’t want to associate with them anymore, however.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I think that, for the vast majority of people, religion is only in people’s lives because it was in their parents’ lives. The whole thing got started because religion gave people a sense of hope and purpose in their otherwise hopeless and purposeless lives. Religion outside of poverty is, IMHO, simply left over from the time the people in question were in poverty.
Keep in mind that I am talking about the majority - there will always be a minority that defies such analysis.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
I would define “spiritual” as anything that is claimed and accepted by a large population with little (if any) supporting evidence.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
It is definetly possible for a religion to have a valid point/belief. As an ex-catholic, I still believe most of the morals taught in the bible are valid, and I similarly agree with many morals taught by other religions. Just not all of them.
March 19th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Hi Anjelica,
Forgive me; my answers may be slightly contrived, as I find the less you know about something, the less it applies to you.
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I meditate, and mostly identify with the wisdom/path of the Tao; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao (though I don’t attend services or beleive in it)
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I don’t think that most people want religion in their lives; I think that most people just want the love, support and “friends” that it comes with. Others are too scared to deal with real life and it’s constant changes; American society reflects this quick-fix mentality a lot.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
To be completely honest? Love.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
No; while some would see religion as a nessesity, I see it as a catalyst for segregation. The same way your country is divided politically between Democrats and Republicans, religions exist only to distract people from the obvious. That is the serious problems facing earthlings; poverty, hunger and homelessness are just a few of the issues that could unite us as a race.
So long as there is religion, there will always be faith. And so long as faith is in the minds of the beleivers, we will never have peace.
March 19th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I was raised United Methodist (and baptized) but am currently a closet agnostic/atheist. I currently have an affinity for Taoist beliefs but am not a practitioner.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
My general conclusion has been that it provides them with a sense of comfort by providing them with a purpose in life. If a higher power is telling you how to live your life and how to be a good person then you never have to worry about it. And ultimately, no one wants to be held responsible for their actions so if god takes the tab for all the “sins” you’ve commited in life then you’re free from retribution.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Spiritual refers to anything invovling an unseen power, ethereal entity, or dead being that supposedly has the power to influence your life. Spiritual experiences and or practices include praying, out of body experiences (if you believe they were meant to teach you something), speaking in tongues, speaking to mediums, believing in signs, etc.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief?
Sure it’s possible but that doesnt mean that all of them do. Frankly i think the basics of Christianity (meaning dont kill and love they neighbor) are alright and could probably do the world some good. Morals are good things to have, however, when those “morals” start encouraging you to see certain groups as “evil” and “sinners bound for hell” then it’s crossed the line and defeated the original purpose.
March 19th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I am an Atheist, almost 21yrs old. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a household that was free of religion. My mother is from a Methodist family and my father’s family is non-religious as far as I know. My father’s job relocated us to Utah when I was 5. We were completely surrounded by Mormons and the nearest Methodist church was an hour away. As such, we never went to church. Also, my parents never tried to personally indoctrinate my siblings and I. By the time I was in 2nd grade, around 8yrs old, I refused to recite the pledge of allegiance because it contains a reference to god. I also decided not to join boy scouts, even though my father was a scout master, because I didn’t like the authoritarian nature it tries to force upon young boys as well as its connections to religion.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I think religion exists because children are predisposed to believe and follow their parents. Belief systems are passed down through the generations. Most people who are religious remain that way because they have no means to question ideas that were forced into them in childhood. Religion provides a community for individuals to be part of. I find that it is not much different that the idea of “popularity†in middle school and high school.
My sister is currently in middle school. She has always excelled in her classes and I thought that she was following in my footsteps. Unfortunately, I recently found out that she is becoming religious. Her impetus is trying to remain in the same peer groups. Her friends are religious so she has decided that she needs to be as well. I suppose this could be considered conversion as she would be passively ostracized if she did not follow her friends.
The level of spirituality an individual maintains depends on how thoroughly they believe what is preached by their religion. Those who attend church to maintain social connections are probably not very spiritual. Zealots however, are very spiritual.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
I define spirituality as the belief in a connection with a supernatural power/being.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
I think that individual religions maintain valid beliefs, because they try to dictate behavior. Most of the behaviors proscribed are positive. However, most religions are mutually exclusive because they each claim to be the one true answer to the supernatural.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None - I am an atheist and a Bright
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Comfort. Most people find it comforting that something happens when people die, that there is some reason behind their pain.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Any belief that has little/no basis in fact or logic.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Yes with an if, no with a but. I believe every religion has the potential to offer a meaningful statement, eloquently put. In a perfect world, these common ideals would be publicly accepted. At the same time, that’s just not going to happen, and in reality the semantic differences between religions will prevent this. Most importantly, no matter how correct any religion might state itself, the dogma, doctrine and actions of the practitioners will never be publicly accepted in the global sense. But, you asked about validity, well, no, as a whole, no religion will be able to present a valid belief as a whole - there is always a completely invalid aspect to any religion. (Please except Buddhism, which is more a philosophy than a religion, in its purest form).
March 19th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Not many relgious types have commented. Where are all the religious types of the “one” (of many) true faith(s) who are so willing to call Atheists arrogant infidels who’ll go to hell? Come on, you know you’re right!!! Let us have it! :-P
Still, this has been an interesting discussion. Love reading peoples ideas on this. Well done Gasmonso and Anjelica.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
went to a catholic school but now after much consideration i no longer practice a religion
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
i think people use religion as a way to answer question, to fill a void
3. What would you define as spiritual?
that is hard, a belief or feeling for something that has no basis in fact
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
morality, i believe that to an extent all religions want their followers to be moral people. the problem comes in defining morality
March 19th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Welcome, Anjelica, and thanks for some great questions. Hope this helps you out.
1. What religion do you practice if any?
My practice is to follow the teachings and examples of Jesus. I do not regularly attend any religious institution.
If you meant “belief” as well as “practice”, I usually answer “Liberal Mainline Protestant”, because it’s the easiest explanation to give. In reality, I probably border on being a Deist.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
The materialistic answer is that our brains seem to be hard-wired to be religious/spiritual. From a selfish point of view, it’s simply to avoid an existence which is percieved to be “sterile” or “dry”.
If you over-analyse a joke, or you need it explained to you, it’s not funny any more. Similarly, there’s a perception that if you over-analyse the less material human needs, such as love or awe, it loses some of its “magic”.
People like that feeling of being part of something larger than themselves, and religion is one way to do that.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Part of me thinks that it’s not a useful word any more because it’s been applied to a bunch of stuff which is, quite frankly, stupid. So I’m going to take the historical route.
“Spiritus” is simply the Latin word for “breath”. It comes from a very ancient idea that our bodies are like vehicles for a “spark of life”, which we would call the soul or spirit. That idea may seem quaint now, but it’s still not a bad metaphor as these things go. The idea is that the “spirit” is whatever bit of us isn’t obviously part of our body. A more modern analogy might be that it’s the software that runs on our hardware.
So I define “spirituality” as being the care and maintenance of our largely metaphorical “spirit”.
The term covers a lot of ground, from academic disciplines such as philosophy and psychology, through to more personal-experience-like things which are largely in the eye of the beholder (”mysticism”).
Spirituality may or may not involve supernaturalism, but I do believe that every healthy person does it. Many people, particularly many atheists, are, quite understandably, unhappy to call it “spirituality” because of the cultural baggage that the word has attracted.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
I read this question as asking: Is there some kernel of correct thinking that every religion has in common?
Not having looked at every religion, I have no idea. But certainly the more mainstram ones do seem to have many elements in common.
One obvious common thread is the moral code which others have mentioned.
Another is asceticism: the idea that by denying “worldly pleasures” (possibly temporarily), you come to focus on “higher thinking”. The practice of fasting, for example, goes back for longer than we’ve had writing.
Ascetisism has a more scientific basis now. People who have jobs which require high focus for a short time, such as astronauts and elite athletes, are encouraged to forgo certain pleasures (e.g. sex and rich foods) before the burst of focus is required. For some reason, it seems to work.
Carl Jung studied the common threads of mythology in some detail. You can read about it in the works of Joseph Campbell, such as The Hero With a Thousand Faces. He, of course, believed that Freudian psychoanalysis was the “truth” that all religions merely approximated; while the dust has not settled on this, we now generally that Freudianism was itself yet another kind of pseudo-religion.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Never have, never will.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I think people lean towards religion as a means for hope. But the majority of people are raised on the religion of their parents and just don’t know anything else. Unless they begin to question their beliefs.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
I think spirituality doesn’t have to be connected with religion. Some people believe that there is simply something more to life than just physical objects. For example, the belief that people have a soul is a part of a spiritual belief not nessecarilty connected to religion.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
IMO the only good thing that religions give to people are simple morals and ethics. But having grown up without any religion in my family I know these are simple things that can be taught without any belief in any god/s.
March 19th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I would categorize why people want spirituality/religion into two over simplified reasons. 1) Parents. Often the religion people are raised with stays their religion in later life. 2) Real or perceived conflict. When facing conflict in life, people seek something better. This can be seen in the shift towards alternative medicine, religion, etc. The idea is something different exists outside of the “failed” mainstream and since their trust in the normal channels is lost, they try other methods.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
My idea of the spiritual is my mental well-being, which I define through my education, understanding of the world, and most importantly the ability to critically analyze the world.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Every religion has grains of truth in them, these points could be said to be valid and even beneficial to the overall wellbeing of society. But, the problem is that these truths are often intertwined with religious mandates based on nothing more than interpretation or so called diving inspiration, these lack objective reality but are said to be part of the one truth, which are often used for the marginalization, exploitation, and extermination of the “Other.”
March 20th, 2007 at 3:13 am
Here are my viewpoints.
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Islam
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Practically, I think because it provides easy answers to existential questions like “why are we here” etc. However, I don’t think people hold onto religions for that reason. They do either because they’re too afraid to give it up and get on the bad side of their whole support structure (family, community etc.) or (as in my case) because they genuinely believe (based on experience) that if practised properly, it will lead to a desirable state of being and being that’s unattainable through any other way.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Matters related to heart/soul ie. Of an experiential nature that falls out of the purview of the “body” or the “intellect”. Similar to saying that listening to music is a “spiritual” experience though not exactly.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
It’s quite possible that they have something to offer and that their teachings are beneficial to man/mankind. I however believe in progressive revelation and that it ended with Islam (which is one of the reasons why I follow it).
Good luck with your project.
March 20th, 2007 at 3:53 am
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I am non-practicing Lutheran by birth but as most people around my corner of the world, we are all Lutherans without being religious. It gives a spot to be buried in and place for some ceremonies (at reduced cost) but apart that, Lutheranism means nothing to me.
I think I am agnostic with some gnostic leanings, specifically the Simonianism, due the concept of human as the god and that we might have abilities within ourselves that organized religions would object.
But I have dabbled in many faiths by studying them and then rejecting them.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I see the want for spirituality/religion as example of humans herd mentality. Humans do not want to make hard decisions for themselves nor think critically of themselves.
Religions grant them an way to be led so the need for decisions is reduced. It applies in my opinion to personality cults also, not only to religions and spirituality.
Humans have a need for a guiding force which reduces the stress of making those decisions which might force you to take responsibility of your actions or those critical thoughts of yourself which show how flawed you really are.
Humanity is not out of the ancient instinctual behavior patterns as of yet, to be a truly a ‘thinking man’ we need to get rid of some limiting instincts.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Spiritual to me is the inner harmony of a human. I do not believe in separation of body and spirit but in the unity of the two. We are our spirit/body those cannot be separated and seeking or gaining balance of self is the pinnacle of spirituality.
I also believe that such state cannot be reached with any external force but it comes from self acceptance and from being integral part of the humanity.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief?
Most religions have one to few valid points but those are often ignored, circumvented or only used when religion is in a position of power in regards to others and there is no danger for being magnanimous.
When you strip the religious texts to the core tenets, then you can find valid points, the problem is the excess and the obstinate desire to find text to validate god.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:28 am
Hi,
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Because it makes them belong to a group (even if they don’t believe their dogmas). Because most people need to believe in something greater and more powerful than themselves, something which leaves room for the impossible, to cope with life’s tragedies.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Nothing. Love, peace, internal strenght, etc? But they are a product of your brain, the closest thing to a “spirit” that we have.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
There are thousands of religions and cults. There are thousand of followers of those cults, regardless of them having a point or not, being valid or not. People just need something to help them feel less weak or at least less on their own in the world.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:30 am
A very interesting thread indeed. With all the noble people gathered here we could start some utopian society. But that would make us a cult ourselves, blah blah, peer pressure, oppression, despotism. Period. Sorry for getting off-topic.
March 20th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Atheist: “But that would make us a cult ourselves”
Can I be the benign despot? I can make vague propheses that you guys could attribute to anything and then use that as “proof” that I am indeed a prophet, a la Mohomed, Jesus, et al…..Obey me, for I am to be obeyed…..
March 20th, 2007 at 7:22 am
I can bring the Kool-Aid!
March 20th, 2007 at 9:59 am
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None. I am an atheist.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
In a lot of cases, it is the path of least resistance. Many people are raised in a religious household and just never bother to examine those beliefs critically.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Spirituality is a connectedness with the “greater”, whatever you define that to be. For myself, the “greater” is the beauty and majesty of nature and the universe, which is all the more impressive when you think about the myriad chances and physical laws that evolved it into what we see today.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
To answer that honestly I would have to have a nailed-down definition of religion. Still, I would have to say that I sincerely doubt it, unless you define religion to be some really watered-down and vague concept, like eating or breathing. Few people would argue against those.
March 20th, 2007 at 10:18 am
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None. I was raised catholic but do not practice.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I think most people are religious because they know no other way. They were raised as young children to believe in their family’s religion and were discouraged from questioning it. Also, it gives people an easy way to rationalize the world around them. Explain why good and bad things happen without thought to cause and effect.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
I think of ’spiritual’ and ‘religious’ as two similar but distinct things. Spiritual, to me, is the act of giving meaning to the interconnectedness of the universe. There are no set rules, no good and bad, no bearded man sitting on a cloud with a bowl of popcorn.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
In theory Yes, on a very general level. But in practicality it would never happen. Someone standing outside looking in can find some common beliefs among all the different religions.
March 20th, 2007 at 10:36 am
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Basic human emotions like wanting to believe in what you learned as a child, wanting a place to belong, and similiar things we can all relate too.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
I think of spiritualiy as another work for the spiritual experiences people describe, which to me sounds like a sudden realization giving you a new look on things. I’ve felt it when suddenly understanding a mathematical principal that links together and explains several other mathematical principals, all within a few seconds.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief?
All religions i know have too many points and beliefs, meaning they can be used to describe anything and retionalize any ideas. So as long as religions have good leaders and teachers, they’re harmless, but if a “evil” person gains power, he can use the teachings to force the followers into doing evil things.
March 20th, 2007 at 11:33 am
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I follow Jesus Christ.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I tend to think people are reacting to the unexplainable in their lives; religion is what people develop to make sense of this mystery. Of course some people believe that all unexplainable things can be someday explained, and I don’t, but that is a completely valid opinion to have, esp. with historical example.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
The mystery - things that are unexplainable/unobservable according to science.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief?
‘Every religion’ is stretching it - I have issues with groups that think the Force is real and they can have Jedi powers. As far as major religions? Yes, I think it’s very possible - history has shown us that. Now, don’t read ‘valid’ as ‘true’ - many relgions have beliefs which to follow in their truest sense would negate other religions; but validity? yes.
March 20th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Steve:
As a founder and beleiver in the Jedi faith, I am appalled that you can’t see a workable future with us. You do know of course, that by declaring war on the Jedi order; you seal the fate for your religion.
Of course, if I really was a Jedi, I’d be able to control weak minds’ like yours easily. :)
March 20th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Skids
“Not many relgious types have commented. Where are all the religious types of the “one†(of many) true faith(s) who are so willing to call Atheists arrogant infidels who’ll go to hell? ”
Hey, if you want that kind of abuse I can provied it I guess, should i brandish my Jesus Whip? Maybe that can be the new cult, a bunch of people being subjected to pain, like a S&M parlor, by whatever religion they wished. I could dig that, Ill take the nipple clamps of the Jews and the Koran paddle. We could have spankings for christ, and even an occult room for the Jedis. I can’t drink kool aid however because sugar makes baby Jesus cry, but I can stare at a can of “tab” soda and pretend that I drank it(I know I am a rebel)
March 20th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I consider myself an atheist/agnostic. I know you technically cannot prove or disprove the existence of God(s), but I believe that the evidence ways heavily in favor of there not being one.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
I think for most people, life is just too scary without some “greater meaning.” It’s scary knowing that when someone dies, they’re gone forever, and when you die, that’s it. It’s scary thinking that the reason you exist is to reproduce, pass on those genes, and then you’re done. Since it’s really hard for a lot of people to still appreciate life without some greater meaning, I believe people just make one up. I also think part of it is evolutionary. People are programmed to be gullible as children. Gullible children are most likely to survive because when a parent says “snakes are bad,” then they’ll stay away from snakes. The same thing happens when a parent says “God exists” or “Don’t have sex before marriage.” The thing is, this is a case of evolution gone wrong. It doesn’t mean God really does exist or premarital sex really is bad - it just means that once someone put that idea out there, it got adopted and stuck. The original idea of a God could have come from either the tendency of people to create imaginary friends, or the tendency for people to try to explain something they don’t understand (ie, Zeus with lightening).
3. What would you define as spiritual?
I would define spiritual as the believe in some greater force or forces that are not bound by the laws of science.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief?
I think all religions contain at least some valid points. Obviously a lot of stories and laws set up good moral standards. On the other hand, you don’t need that religion to get those morals. The same things can be explained through stories like the Three Little Pigs and Santa, but everyone stops believing in those as the literal truth after a while. The thing is, a lot of the stuff they set up is utter rubbish and completely contradictory. I’m willing to admit that God could exist, mainly because humans are no where near smart enough to be able to figure that out, but I’m quite certain “religion” in itself is useless. The traditions and stories that go with Christianity, Islam, Wicca or whatever will all one day seem as silly as ancient Greek mythology. It’s because they’re just off the wall stories created by human beings.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None, agnostic.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Fear. The uncertainty of anything outside our short and insignificant (from a universe point of view) lives. The hope that there is more than the end of your existance after death.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Not neccecarily related to religion. It’s the calm, the feeling of happiness than one can achieve a number of ways. Sitting in a large cavernous church can be “spiritual” even for somone with no ties to religion. The same feelings can be evoked by standing in the rain with your head pointing upwards, or looking out to sea with the waves crashing on a beach.
It can mainly be explained away as awe at the majesty of something (real like the sea, or imagined like a god)
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief?
Small sections can be considered valid, but there are often views held by some members (sometimes a minority) that make it hard for people with other points of view to trust anything of the religion.
For example - and I paraphrase here - I recall reading an article in which somone of the Catholic faith derided an athiest for having no morals because he was not religious, and where else would morals come from? As if religion were neccecary for somone to be a good person, societally speaking. Startling ignorance like that makes me distrust all religions as having a “good” public image but within the religious population having large amounts of disinformation and propaganda being circulated.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Inspector Tiger: “I can’t drink kool aid however because sugar makes baby Jesus cry.”
Damn that baby Jesus to hell! Always spoiling my kinky plans.
March 20th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I don’t find that I have to practice, it comes naturally. I’m agnostic.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Simple - Hope.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
No idea. Perhaps becoming a bit unglued from all the earthly stuff that we’re living in.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Of course, it’s possible. It’d be uncommonly sad if all the major religions managed to come up with basically the same general idea, and all be wrong.
If it weren’t sad, it’d be terribly funny.
March 20th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
N says: ” I however believe in progressive revelation and that it ended with Islam (which is one of the reasons why I follow it).”
Well of course you do, otherwise you’d have to admit you follow a load of dogmatic dog sh*t. Just as Christians say they follow the true faith. Just as Jews theirs, just as the Vikings and their faith, the Romans, the Greeks, the whoseits, etc.
March 21st, 2007 at 1:18 am
@Skids: Yup I would have to. You saw through that one didn’t you?
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:32 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I am a free-thinking Presbyterian. I enjoy my church because we often have open debates and let everyone express their own opinions , so I find god to be an individual that wants us to have an open mind.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
Many people have religion in their lives in order to feel as part of an idea or belief system. It gives them comfort. The people on this site that this place talks about are people who use religion to gain power and authority. These people make me sick, but thankfully, they are a minority. Most people want to help others in their lives through religion, not control.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
I define spiritual as one who feels a believable connection to something that is still unknown. It also means that one is at peace with their inner self.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid
point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
Absoulutely! Despite the liars and crooks in every Religion, it is possible, if the religion is tweaked slightly, to be a productive part of the community.
Don’t assume that the people that are broadcast on this site speak for all of us, because they don’t. One can have religion and be accepting of others.
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:40 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
Christianity.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
One of the most significant reasons that many people are intrigued by, investigate or become involved with religion is that everyone has a “God-shaped hole” (kinda cliched, sorry, but it makes the point) which is not adequately filled by anything else you might try to fill it with. As a Christian who holds to a biblical worldview, that makes sense to me because I hold that we were created and designed to interact and fellowship with God (who is a spiritual being). I do not believe that anyone truly communes with God besides through Christ, and an indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
That’s a hard question to answer in a brief way. Informally, in humanity’s case, I believe that every single one of our real day-to-day experiences are spiritual, because we are, essentially, spiritual beings. I guess what I’m trying to say is that spiritual existence is something very real, in the same way that the physical world is very real (although I’m not equating the physical with the spiritual). It’s not some airy-fairy other dimension where floating people whiz around and play harps.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)
I will simply say that where two religions hold two contradictory beliefs, I do not believe that they can both be right. Moral/religious/existential relativism is (hopefully!) a passing fad which I don’t no one truly believes in… or even if one The reality is that some people choose to claim that everyone can make up their own truth because they do no not want to be accountable to any other being that may make demands on them which conflicts with their own personal lifestyle choices and beliefs.
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
None now. I was born Catholic, stopped believing at 12.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
They want something to look forward to when they die. We don’t have a lot of time alive. They want to believe that there is something bigger than them going on and that it will continue after their life on this world ends. They also want to have some kind of supernatural force guiding them, protecting them, and telling them everything will be all right.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Anything relating to a deity, “life energy” or a similar concept.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (ie one that is publicly accepted by the masses)?
Well, yes and no. The main point of many religions is “Please be good people and don’t kill each other.” However, to say that they are entirely true, or to say that they all have a common definition of a ‘good person’, is stretching it. So they may have A point or a few good points, but they are not entirely comprised of good points.
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:11 pm
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I was born Catholic raised Catholic, and then went Atheist at 11.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
People are naturally afraid of death. So there was an afterlife for the mortophobics. Secondly, the Greeks, who were leaders in science, Could not explain things like lightning, day to night cycles, phases of the moon, and other things, so they invented gods for that(GOD OF THE GAPS). At first, the Romans/Greeks/Babylonians/Persians/ Norse made gods for everything, which was a simplistic view of the One true god that catholics believe in. This god has now been rendered obsolete by everyone intellegent, and anyone who beleives in god because they can’t understand how the universe works is just plain dumb.
Thirdly, humans need for morals, social meetings, and a meaning to life was a big part of the start of all religions. Morals: if you are not taught right from wrong by your parents, your parents are not good ones. Social meetings: Just make and effort to get together! Meaning of life: TO LIVE. Why do you want to live? Because there isn’t anything else to do, now is there?
The Judeo-Christian-Islamic was a combination of a fear of death, a lack of knowledge of the world, and the need for a meaning of life. There was the God of an Afterlife and the God of the gaps(unknown). All of the gods put meaning into life. Those main two gods and last ideal were combined to make the one true god that Judeo-Christian-Islamic believers believe in. Its all bull to me, though.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Spend a month living in the wild. THAT and THAT alone is spiritual.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (i.e. one that is publicly accepted by the masses)?
The ten commandments: All of them are violated in one religion or more, and thats the basis of my arguement and I’m tired, so i wont say anything more.
March 26th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
[...] was taking a look-see at Religious Freaks and ended up reading a post about a school kid who needed a bit of help with her assignment. Some of the answers to her questions were quite interesting, but this one tickled me no end. Q1. [...]
March 28th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
I apologise in advanced to Anjelica lest my answers be useless, but they are nevertheless representative of my opinions.
1. Atheistic Discordianism since I was 23.
2. Reasons could include: fear, emotional trauma, indoctrination, coercion at gunpoint, inability to grasp fundamental physics, poor critical analysis skills, stupidity of crowds/”Me Too”-ism/”sheeple” mentality, etc.
3. Delusional state of mind. A fantasy. Ask a psychiatrist or a neurologist. I’ve known people who can get “spiritual” just by indulging in controlled substances.
4. Well, that depends. You could ask that of lots of things and get different answers depending on precisely how you ask it. I know Principia Discordia has lots of valid points.
April 6th, 2007 at 3:44 am
1. What religion do you practice if any?
I am a Catholic but regard myself more of a spiritualist than anything else.
2. Why do you think most people want spirituality/religion in their lives?
People need something to believe in that is greater than themselves.
3. What would you define as spiritual?
Spiritual is to believe in something that exists outside the confines of the human body.
4. Do you believe it’s possible for every religion to have a valid point/belief? (i.e. one that is publicly accepted by the masses)?
It depends on the person. Just because you belong to some organised religion dosent mean you have to believe everything they tell you.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:33 am
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