Describe your basic beliefs

[IIFerinusII]

Most of us have...unorthodox beliefs, compared to the major religions, so describe your beliefs.

My Beliefs
Regarding god:
I do believe there is a "god", but not in the terms of a ruler of the universe. I believe that god is simply the energy that makes up everything and flows through everything. I believe that everything is connected since everything is made out of this energy. I do not believe that people should be in fear of "god".

Sins and going to heaven or hell:
I do not believe in sins. Animals kill each other everyday and kill other animals, and people are just animals that were forced to develop mentally since we are so much weaker, physically, compared to other animals. I don't believe that gives people a liscense to kill, since ending someone's life for no reason is bad. I don't believe that there is a heaven or hell, I believe that you return back to the basic energy. I believe in reincarnation because since everything is made up of this energy, part of the energy that makes up you will be in something else. (Example that may hit home a little more to you reading it who consider yourselves to be therians. It explains how you feel as if your connected to a certain animal, because a large part of the energy that made up the animal you connect to and its old instincts and experiences are carried through the energy that makes up you, but that is just my theory to go along with my beliefs).

Prayer:
I believe praying is more of trying to manifest your hearts desires. Since I believe everything is connected, you should be able to manifest. This is why people who pray and truly believe that god will answer their prays get a lot of what they pray for, so they keep faith and keep on praying and manifesting.

The reason for the image of God now a days and Gods of the ancient times were created:
I believe that it was said that gods could kill you or God could refuse your entrance into heaven so that people would stay good and not commit murder, or break laws. It was basically a fear factor to keep people in line.

Who was Jesus?:
I believe Jesus was just a man that had been enlightened and realized he could manifest anything he wanted. He called god his father because we all come from this energy, and he says god is in all of us because we are all made up of this energy and it flows through us. Jesus wanted to enlighten others and show that you don't have to kill others and steal and be beligerant to get what you want.

If you analyze the Bible, a lot of my beliefs are supported by stuff in the bible, you just have to interpret it different than the normal.

Destiny?:
I do not believe that there is destiny, I do believe that when people say that they had been destined to do something and did it, I believe that they just found the thing that made their life feel like it had meaning (even if they don't believe the destiny was good, they had found meaning in it).

Some questions that you may ask after reading this are:

Q: How does energy carry experiences or instincts?
A: Scientists aren't completely sure how rocks skip across water (this is a true fact, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Extraoridnary Book of Facts And Bizarre Information). There are things in this world that are not explained and this question goes under the list of "$**t I don't know" or "$**t I can't explain".

Q: Couldn't people be considered superior to animals, and therefore god judges us?
A: Sure you could look at it that way since we are more advanced than any other animal, but I look at it completely different. Humans could actually be considered inferior to everything else because we are the one animal that doesn't coexist with nature. We destroy nature and kill animals and plants just so that we are able to survive. All other animals are in balance with nature. Also, if we are so special, then why are we so fragile and haven't been on earth for nearly as long as, lets say a cockroach. They can flatten themselves almost to the thinness of a piece of paper in order to slide into tiny cracks; they can be frozen for weeks and then thawed with no ill effet; and they can withstand 126 g's of pressure with no problem (people get squished at 18 g's). Humans superior...I don't think so.

I guess my explanations makes me fall as being really spiritual and almost non-religious, but those are my bliefs.

Feel free to leave feedback on my beliefs and share yours!

[DL Lycan]

I don't really follow any mainstream religions, and I'm still unsure as to the existence of any kind of deity, But I do agree that the bible has some good stuff in it about how to live. "Judge not lest ye be judged" and so forth, So I just try to live my life by a set decent morals, Which, so far as I know, Is actually what Christianity, maybe even all religions, are supposed to be about.

[IIFerinusII]

I don't really follow any mainstream religions, and I'm still unsure as to the existence of any kind of deity, But I do agree that the bible has some good stuff in it about how to live. "Judge not lest ye be judged" and so forth, So I just try to live my life by a set decent morals, Which, so far as I know, Is actually what Christianity, maybe even all religions, are supposed to be about.

I feel you on the morals part. That goes along with my belief that there is no sin, but I believe that everyone should still be decent to others and live their life to make themselves happy and others around them happy.

[EveOfDiscord]

What are my beliefs? Well, my friends, I am what is called an Anarcho-Christian.

Eh? Whats that? Whats an Anarcho-Christian? Good question. I shall tell you, my friends!

The Basics
Christian anarchism is the belief that the only source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable is God, embodied in the teachings of Jesus. Christian anarchists feel that government and sometimes established churches do not, or should not, have power over them or other people.
Adherents believe freedom is justified spiritually through the teachings of Jesus, some of whom are critical of the Church. They believe all individuals can directly communicate with God and will eventually unify in peace under Monotheism.

Wait a minute. Anarchy?
Not all Anarchists are Teenage Rabblerousers throwing bricks into the window's of Starbucks.
Many Christian anarchists are pacifists opposing the use of both proactive (offensive) and reactive (defensive) physical force. These individuals believe freedom will only be guided by the grace of God if they show compassion to others and turn the other cheek when confronted with violence.

Name ONE Famous Christian Anarchist, huh?
I'll name two. Leo Tolstoy, Author of "War and Peace" as well as "The Kingdom of God is within you", was a Christian who wrote about his Anarchistic principles, which he arrived at via his Christian faith.
Next, is Henry David Thoreau who was a famous American author, pacifist, nature lover, tax resister and individualist anarchist.

So you believe in the bible and stuff, eh? Aren't most Christians Conservatives?
An Anarcho-Christian cannot be a Conservative, nor a Liberal, seeing how they don't support ANY kind of government.
And yes, Anarcho-Christians believe in the bible, we just interpret it differently. The Golden Rules?
* Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31).
* Do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12).
* Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52).
* Do not judge, less you be judged (Matthew 7:1).
* Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone (John 8:7)

Being a Christian, an Anarchist, and a Rather Curious Person:
So, in short, I have an slightly Unorthodox belief system, I dislike government, what else?

Well, I believe Science and the belief of God go hand in hand.
Thats not possible? Of course it is!
I could explain all the reasons why, but I'll give on example;
The complex human consciousness and thought. Its not tangible, utterly complex, and no other "Animal" seems to possess it. Not that Animals don't have emotions, but they do not have them same degree of thought as we do. An Ultimate Power, such as god, that we are linked to, would explain this phenomena.

In Closing
So you learned a fraction of my core beliefs, but thats enough for now. I'm sure you'll find out the rest later.
Hope you found this, uhhh. Enlightening.

[Vagabond Flow]

I'm not religious, but if I was, I wouldn't adapt a scientific concept like energy to fit my faith.

[ThrasherCub]

I'm a Discordian, which is why I'm kind of bummed that the thread by Wray was deleted and it was stated that it wasn't all that religious.

I believe in the 'worship' of sorts in the forces of Chaos and, because of that being the core of my beliefs, there's not much to say about any of the rest. I do not think one thing is more sacred than the others, I do not think one thing is more profane than the otheres. I believe that nothing is true and everything is permitted, and anything else I could say would be pointless.

[MichaelCra]

Well im a christian i share some of what Eve belief's But basically i believe in god and Jesus his son died for your sin's and to be a christian you try to be like Christ now no one can be sinless like he was but you can be a good person and try not to sin as much your going to sin but you don't just keep going and say oh god will forgive me so lets keep going the second you here someone claiming there a christian say that, here's a secret there not. but ya that is basically what i believe cause im a little short on time.

[Loup-garou]

I am a die-hard Christian. Though I belong to the Methodist Church, I consider all churches, Babtist, Roman Catholic, Mormons, or even Latter day saints the exact same thing. We just have different bibles. We all believe in God and accept Jesus as our eternal Lord and Savior, right? The one thing I don't get is why God made it rain for forty days, he could've just let it rain for four days and then let the sewers back up.
(I ask those types of questions all the time) :)

[DarkHunter]

I just figured God wanted to be dramatic. I mean when you screw with people, forty days of rain is kind of hard to rationalize. Harder than backed up sewers anyway.

I guess I'm your typical Satanist. A lover of rationality and materialism and entirely selfish. Whats bad? Stupidity. Not using that gunk between your ears.

Satan=Force of Nature and a symbol of human nature

God=Me

Good=What you like
Evil=what you don't like

And Anton LaVey is the man.

Unorthodox? Well I'm not exactly unorthodox, though I do have a rather strange interest in Werewolves (often saying that I am one).

[LV426]

Seattle has had more than 40 days of rain and we didn't need an Ark.

[IIFerinusII]

:eek: I'm not religious, but if I was, I wouldn't adapt a scientific concept like energy to fit my faith.

Wow, nice to have someone bash my belief... :eek: ...jk, I don't mind at all.
What I believe isn't really religion per se, but rather just a guess to how the world works, like why prayer and positive thinking works, so the energy part isn't really dealing with religion.

[EveOfDiscord]

:eek:

Wow, nice to have someone bash my belief... :eek: ...jk, I don't mind at all.
What I believe isn't really religion per se, but rather just a guess to how the world works, like why prayer and positive thinking works, so the energy part isn't really dealing with religion.
Well, does it? Lets define Religion.
re·li·gion /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Noun
A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
So, unless what you believe follows that, it isn't a religion. :) Simple as that.

[RQ]

Early humans turned to religion and spirituality because they had no way to explain some of the things going on around them: meteorites, famine (angry gods!), epidemic disease, rainbows, natural disasters, spontaneous recovery (as from a disease; miracle?) bad things happening to good people (they offended god), lightning, the rising and setting of the sun, and the existence of the stars.

I believe the progression went something like this:
Crazy, unexplainable things are happening.
Humans don't cause them, so something/one else must.
These things have been going on so long that surely only a very powerful, very old being could be in control of them.
Some of these things are beneficial to humans, so humans feel obliged to show gratitude.
Ceremony and ritual come into being.
Select individuals claim a greater knowledge of/higher relationship with this being; they become the first spiritual/religious leaders.
The leaders gain influence and control over their subordinates.
Religion becomes a way of life.
Fanaticism is born.
Religion becomes an excuse to oppress and discriminate, and incidentally delays the progress of science and technology by a thousand years.

We know, now, why the sun 'rises' and 'sets.' We can explain weather, tides, disease, and famine. We know the origin and composition of the stars themselves, and can plot their courses throughout the universe. Through study in secular environments we can explain the unexplainable, and it seems to me that only through disregarding the self-important attitude that comes with religion can we take a completely objective look at the world and the universe around us. We need to realize that we are not the center of any universal way of thinking. We are a biological probability; a sentient eventuality, struggling to cope with our own mortality.

My beliefs then, can be summarised as the following: logic, reasoning, and science are perfect replacements for spirituality. I'm OK with there being no afterlife - why do we need one? Why isn't the time we get here on earth enough? Seems to me that if more people realized that this was their only shot at existence, fewer people would waste it.

Nobody more than me would like to believe that an afterlife exists, and we'll all be together again someday to spend eternity in the company of those we love most. I wish it were true.

My education just doesn't allow me to believe it.

[DarkHunter]

Best definition of religion ever: "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, a philosophy of life, and a worldview." (A worldview is a set of basic, foundational beliefs concerning deity, humanity and the rest of the universe.)

http://www.religioustoleran ce.org/rel_defn.htm

[IIFerinusII]

Best definition of religion ever: "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, a philosophy of life, and a worldview." (A worldview is a set of basic, foundational beliefs concerning deity, humanity and the rest of the universe.)

http://www.religioustoleran ce.org/rel_defn.htm

Okay, so since "a philosophy of life" and "belief about diety" means religion, then I guess I was mistaken and I guess I do consider it to by my religious view (my bad for not looking at the full definition earlier). Ya, I sort of agree with the progression stated in the 2-3 post above where people create an all powerful being that decides your fate and opresses, just to explain things and to keep people from doing whatever they want. I'm more scientific in my belief, though I don't believe everything can be analyzed and explained.

[deathjoker]

Hm, good thread.

God: I will deal with him, if there is a him, when i get there. Life is complex enough without religion.

Morals: I hold my own verse of morals. I use the 10 commandments as a set idea. It is all common sense... But I also follow some rules of chivalry and Bushido... But I allow myself to set those rules aside for "special" reasons, when the need calls for me just to fulminate on someone.

Evil: Everyone has evil in them, it is just knowing when to let it work. Evertday, I am (or try to be) a good person, but when i'm fighting, I let all the rage and evil I have explode onto the person I'm fighting... So it would explain why I rarely lose a fight.

Therianthropy: I use the general idea of therianthropy guide my daily life and tie all the above togather.

So, those are my beliefs.....