Bumping this thread, mainly because I just finished my "manifesto", if you will, on all of my beliefs (I needed to catalogue them in writing for an interested friend with whom I have many spiritual discussions). It's much too long to post (it's something like 12 pages in Word, single-spaced), but I was proud of myself for writing it all down and I wanted to let someone know.
🙂
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But, to cover the topic while I'm here...
I'm basically a non-practicing Agnostic Buddhist (i.e. I believe much of what they believe but don't practice meditation and such), with occasional deviations and exceptions, though I don't call myself a Buddhist because I feel labels are a hindrance to true understanding, and only create pre-conceived prejudices in many peoples' minds. Among my shared beliefs with that tradition include the belief in the conditioned nature of existence, reincarnation, and the idea that all things are truly "one".
Originally posted by Alliance
Perhaps you can use Buddhist philosophies without being Buddhist. Like how I can appreciate communism, socialism, facism, democracy, representation, and militarism without being Communist, Socialsit, Facist, Democratic, Representaitve or Militaristic.Any person should be a sum.
Sure, that works. 🙂
And yeah, I've become very tolerant of differing views. Having had my original beliefs completely changed in a short period of time (I was pretty hardcore Catholic), I'm much less apt to say "this alone is truth", since I'm aware I don't know everything.
Militaristic = bad, though. 😛 Sorry, but I gotta draw the line somewhere, and I'm very much of a non-violent persuasion.
Originally posted by Alliance
😆 no. Violence is a tool, like anything else. To ignore its uses is wrong. And dont confuse haveing the military at the center of society with being a violent state. They are two different things.
But what's the point of having, say, a gun (or an army) if not to use it?
I realize it can be for protection and all, but it can also inspire fear. And I'm talking about the ideal, where these things shouldn't be necessary at all. Wars, guns, fear, animosity, hatred, JesusIsAlive, etc. You know, all the bad stuff.
Conventionally, this is probably next-to-impossible. But I can start with myself and work from there, so at least I'm doing my own part.
🙂
Originally posted by DigiMark007
But what's the point of having, say, a gun (or an army) if not to use it?I realize it can be for protection and all, but it can also inspire fear. And I'm talking about the ideal, where these things shouldn't be necessary at all. Wars, guns, fear, animosity, hatred, JesusIsAlive, etc. You know, all the bad stuff.
Conventionally, this is probably next-to-impossible. But I can start with myself and work from there, so at least I'm doing my own part.
🙂
I like how you threw JIA in the list of bad things. 😆
Originally posted by DigiMark007
But what's the point of having, say, a gun (or an army) if not to use it?I realize it can be for protection and all, but it can also inspire fear. And I'm talking about the ideal, where these things shouldn't be necessary at all. Wars, guns, fear, animosity, hatred, JesusIsAlive, etc. You know, all the bad stuff.
Conventionally, this is probably next-to-impossible. But I can start with myself and work from there, so at least I'm doing my own part.
🙂
Some people say one of the greatest representations of power is restraining from using it. To have an army of surpassing power is something, but using it is something else - and not always for the best, both literally and symbolically.
So, what do you believe?
This being a Religion Forum I was suprised to find that there was no "What is your faith thread". Anyway here it is.
What is your particular code of beliefs and do you question them?
A religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith
Wikipedia's definition of religion.
How important is tradition, scripture and ofcourse, community to your beliefs? Or do you adhere to a certian religion with out actually following its traditions? For example a Christian who doesn't go to Chuch.
We have one. I indexted it -
http://www.killermovies.com/forums/340018_1-what-is-your-religion
Originally posted by debbiejo
I'm a Heretic that believes in God. A God that loves everyone no matter what your belief is, or even if you believe in God or not.
This is me. I believe the official name for it is Universalism. I am still a part of my Presbyterian denomination, so I do not think it is heretical for us, one of our pastors is a Universalist. 🙂 Shocking, I know.