Religion Naive

[_wistful_]

One of the things that's always confused me the most is probably religion. <life story> I was raised in a Jewish home, but am currently an Athiest. </life story> It's probably a stupid question, but are there any religions not centered around a god/goddess/deity? Because as much as I would like to believe, I just can't find it within myself to believe something or someone greater is really up there, watching over us. But I'm looking for something to identify with. I did a lot of research on Wicca and some other religions that have a lot to do with nature, but all of them seem to involve a deity. Since this site seems to be dedicated to nature and the like, I thought maybe someone could help me out. Thanks,

[LGM]

Jediism (Yes, it is an official religion).

Whilst not exactly as George Lucas would have it, I do believe it centres around the basic ideas of a "force".

[Darth Cluich]

Jediism (Yes, it is an official religion).

Not that's just plain frightening...

[ArcaneWolf]

I believe that buddhism doesn't involve any sort of worship of a diety.

[LV426]

Jediism (Yes, it is an official religion).

Whilst not exactly as George Lucas would have it, I do believe it centres around the basic ideas of a "force".
A Knight of the Lucasian Order. Fear my purple lightsaber!

Ok on a serious note. Religion requires a deity traditionally however spirituality requires that you find your own path. One does not have to pick a god and worship them (unless you want to become one of my worshippers and contribute to my presidential campaign fund).

If you don't recognize a deity then don't, there is no law that says you have to choose a god or goddess. Just pick a spiritualistic way that makes you feel comfortable.

[Xzengrim]

I don't think I want to be part of a religion that tells me what I can and can't eat, or that wants to cut off or scar parts of my anatomy. Maybe I'm just selfish...

That, and it is true that Bhuddism has no creator gods or deities that one should worship. Bhuddism is twofold; it functions as both a school of thought AND as a religion. If you just want to practice harmony and do what the bhuddas believed would lead to enlightenment, that's fine. If you want to participate in the religious aspect, it is more linked to the nature of the universe and of the path that the spirit takes after death than it is involved in the worship of a creator (Bhuddism does not believe in creator gods). THere are the bhuddas... but they are merely the people who have found Enlightenment: they are very holy but they are not supernatural, nor do they have divine powers. Actually, anyone can be a bhudda... even you. It would take a lot of work, though.

At any rate, I WOULD like to be part of a religious order that fights or drinks a lot, like the SHaolin or the Franciscans. Monks invented beer AND karate. Actually, I think that if I could find some werewolves, I would worship them. Not because I explicitly believe that they are magical, but just seeing one would blow my mind. I'd totally become some sort of wide-eyed acolyte. You think I'm kidding, but I'm really not.

[Wolffy13]

SUPPOSEDLY that's how Satanism is supposed to work. They say that the whole "religion" is about power in oneself. The problem is that they turn around and perform rituals that seems to evoke the power of Satan. I don't know the nitty gritty details about Satanism, I got the info from my theologically knowledgable friend. Although, if one decides get in depth with such, you might want to be picky about the ones you associate with. On another board I belong to, the Satanists were discussing how "The Matrix" was a Satanist movie. That made me laugh pretty good.

[Xzengrim]

Satanism, according to what I have read, is different from devil-worship. Devil-worship is an inversion of the Christian doctrine: where you still believe the basic precepts of the religion, you just choose to side with the other team. Satanism is supposed to be the world's first carnal religion. It is all about independence from dogmatic thought and power in oneself. They don't really worship Satan, they use him as a symbol. Where Christianity stands for loving they neighbor, forgiveness, and altruism, Satanism stands for self-indulgence, retribution, and a general f**k-you attitude about others. Most of the Satanist doctrine goes something like... be decent to everyone (you don't have to be nice if you don't feel like it, but don't be mean)... but if someone rebukes your kindness, DESTROY THEM! I don't know what their problem is.

That, and LeVay is a pinhead. I don't believe in anything he says, although his ideas are interesting.

[kaycee]

One of the things that's always confused me the most is probably religion. <life story> I was raised in a Jewish home, but am currently an Athiest. </life story> It's probably a stupid question, but are there any religions not centered around a god/goddess/deity? Because as much as I would like to believe, I just can't find it within myself to believe something or someone greater is really up there, watching over us. But I'm looking for something to identify with. I did a lot of research on Wicca and some other religions that have a lot to do with nature, but all of them seem to involve a deity. Since this site seems to be dedicated to nature and the like, I thought maybe someone could help me out. Thanks,

I'm the same way. I can't, no matter how hard I try (and I do want to) to believe in God, it's just not logical in any way for me to even remotely believe, let alone worship him.

So...thinking for myself (as no religion allows you to) I believe in myself, my own spirit/soul. I KNOW I'm real, so that's what I believe in. No invisable anything, just myself. Spirituality makes much more sense to me than religion so that's what I go for. I don't believe we were placed here by anyone (unless we're alien offspring :D) I believe more in evolution. I also don't feel a need to worship anything, why should we ?