Alternative religions. Anyone follow one?
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Can someone sort of explain to me what it means to be 'Spiritual'? I'm just generally confused and have always been. I just kind of always thought that was Hippies for some reason (sorry if that's wrong and offensive it's just always what I thought, the word just makes me think of freeness and openeness and things). Is being spiritual like being a wiccan? Or something along those lines?0
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& i also live by the Golden Rule0
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My silly question to the atheist community is if you don't believe in gods or godesses doe this mean you also don't believe in the concept of extraterrestrials(sp?) influenzing the development of early humans and taken as gods ? Does it also then follow do you believe human beings are the highest form of sentient beings in the universe - just asking to know
You will get a hundred different answers to this as the only thing atheists have in common is their lack of belief in deities.
My personal belief is that yes there has to be other life out there, but I also highly doubt our little rock has ever been visited by highly intelligent space faring entities. (No evidence to support that hypothesis that I have ever seen)0 -
My silly question to the atheist community is if you don't believe in gods or godesses doe this mean you also don't believe in the concept of extraterrestrials(sp?) influenzing the development of early humans and taken as gods ? Does it also then follow do you believe human beings are the highest form of sentient beings in the universe - just asking to know
Hi, from my perspective, I don't believe in things that are supernatural (unless there was evidence to support it that could withstand scientific scrutiny and then I would). I don't think that ancient aliens influenced early human development. That is just not something I believe. I don't see any evidence for that either.
I do believe that there very likely could be other alien beings off on some other planet. I don't think they have abducted people or any of that. But, how could I determine that there are none? We exist, so why not other beings on some other planet. The universe is huge. And there are a lot of unknowns. The point of my being an atheist is that there are things I don't know. Not that I think I know everything. It seems to me that religion seeks to answer and give answers to the unknown questions. I don't trust those answers, they just seem to have been made up by people for either wishful thinking or for control of people through fear of divine justice (even for things that are not crimes or wrong).
I don't think human's are superior to animals. We have a slightly higher ability to organize a society. But, we are really not all that much more intelligent than animals. Just a little bit. And other beings on other planets could surely be more intelligent and advanced than we are.0 -
My silly question to the atheist community is if you don't believe in gods or godesses doe this mean you also don't believe in the concept of extraterrestrials(sp?) influenzing the development of early humans and taken as gods ? Does it also then follow do you believe human beings are the highest form of sentient beings in the universe - just asking to know
Atheism means no god-belief. That's it. Period.
Raelianism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raelism) and Scientology are religions founded on a belief in aliens.
I think it highly likely that there may be life on other planets. If life started and evolved here, why not somewhere else? The universe is SO big, there must be other suitable planets out there. However, I also think it extremely unlikely that any such aliens have ever visited Earth, or that we (humans) will ever run into them, unless we develop faster than light drives or wormholes or other highly improbable (impossible?) technologies.
So are we the highest form of sentient being in the universe? I have no idea. I think we ARE the highest form of sentient being in the universe that we know of.0 -
If atheism is a way of life with organized points of view on life, then it may qualify as being a religion. The difference perhaps is faith in a being that is beyond being human such as a superman. However, is atheism organized, or is it like religious faiths that have varied points of view ?
I do not believe that atheism is an organized anti-belief system. But, just because I don't believe it is not organized, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist as one.
Did you see how I turned that around?
I don't think it HAS to be an organized system but it certainly is for many. You can not believe and not have any other aspects to your non-belief but many Atheists that I know do not believe in a God but they do have an organized, commonly accepted structure to what they DO believe.
Just like the three main, organized religions out there (Judaism, Islamic and Christian), I believe Atheism has it's own set of guidelines/principles and tenets. I'm not an atheist, but I sense the atheistic tenets are more scientifically based than faith based.
I could be entirely wrong here, and would love to hear from "organized atheists" on here if that holds true. But, just as I believe there is a speed of dark to counterbalance the existence of a speed of light, I feel there is an atheistic set of principles to counterbalance theistic principles.
The only thing you need do to be an atheist is not believe in any gods or goddesses.
To be clear: the opposite of atheist is not Christian. It is theist. Other than on the existence of god question, atheists are no more organized and in agreement about what we believe than are Christians, Muslims, Jews, and every other religious people all thrown in together.
There are some atheist organization, but one does not have to join one to be an atheist. These groups are mainly (on a National level) concerned with things like maintaining the separation of Church and State (at least in the US). Smaller groups on the local level are more of a club than a church.
And no, Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens, Harris, PZ Myers etc are not our high priests. Some of us may read their book or blogs, but that doesn't make them saints any more than CS Lewis is a saint.
I, personally, think that having dismissed gods as the source of morality and law means that humans are therefore free to write our own laws that better the whole of society. Much of what I think is mirrored in secular humanism, although I've never been a member of any specific group.
Thank you richardheath I was beginning to wonder if anyone got it. If a person is an atheist all that tells you about that person is that they do not believe in the assertion that there is a god. That is it. Atheism is not a religion. It isn't that an atheist is selling something different it is just that an atheist is not buying what the theists are selling.0 -
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I consider myself a christo-wiccan which basically means I am a monotheistic wiccan who recognizes the Holy Spirit (and in turn Christ) as my "higher power". My faith is strongly rooted in nature and the spirit that flows within us all. My whole life I felt pulled strongly in both directions until I got to an age where I realized they don't have to be separate. It's about right vs wrong for me, not who is correct.
Your last 2 sentences sum me up quite clearly. I am exploring where I am drawn to but that does not mean I do not have the same essential faith I was raised in.
My mother was horrified that I did not have my son baptized. I wanted him to be old enough to make that choice for himself. I don't think he would have endured eternal punishment for my choice, no matter what belief system was in place.0 -
I go between being earthly religious and thinking that we are all just an alien experiment...like a bunch of lab rats. Maybe they watch us from their base inside the moon. Or has anyone ever looked into the brain in a vat theory...scary ****.
Um, I have thought this many,many times and was so P*ISSED when that stupid Ancient Aliens show came out. That was MY theory damnit!:mad:
I know right!!!!??
If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low & settled for very little~~ George Carlin0 -
Atheist since birth
Not a "hipster atheist" either. I've honestly never even heard of that.
What does that mean, I am just curious?
hipster atheist? I don't really know. someone in the earlier replies said it. Apparently there are people who are atheists because they think it's cool.0 -
<<<Atheistic Modern Satanist
It is possible that you are being sarcastic but if you aren't then I can't understand what you are saying here at all. As I understand it a Satanist is someone who believes in both God and the Devil and simply chooses to worship the Devil. If that is true then it is logically impossible fore you to be an atheist in any sense of the word because if you are an atheist then you don't believe that there is a Devil to be worshiped. Could you explain what you mean?
Funny, I read that as "Atheistic Sadist". Not sure why.
At least that would be possible. You could simply not believe in god or gods and enjoy inflicting pain.
I'm not the person who posted this, but here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVeyan_Satanism0 -
If someone asks you "Do you believe in god?" and your answer is "I am agnostic." You are not actually answering the question. That may sound strange to you but hear me out.
Knowledge and belief are not the same thing. When you say you are agnostic you are talking about your knowledge. When you say you are an atheist you are talking about your belief. If the question is "Do you believe in god?" your knowledge is not the thing that is being asked about so to say "I am an agnostic." is answering the question "Do you know if there is a god?" The reason this matter is because both labels basically apply to everyone.
For example:
Gnostic Theist= I believe that god is real because I know he is real.
Agnostic Theist= I don't know if there is a god or not but I do believe there is a god.
Agnostic Atheist= I don't know if there is a god or not but I do not believe there is a god.
Gnostic Atheist= I know that there is no god.
I happen to be an agnostic atheist. If actual evidence for the existence of god were to manifest I would become a theist immediately. In fact I would have no choice but to. I know that I am in a building typing right now and because I know it I have no choice but to believe it. I couldn't believe that I was on a submarine right now no matter how much I wanted to because every piece of evidence around me would gainsay that assertion. I hope this makes sense to everyone. I did try to explain it as clearly as possible.0 -
Gnostic Theist= I believe that god is real because I know he is real.
Agnostic Theist= I don't know if there is a god or not but I do believe there is a god.
Agnostic Atheist= I don't know if there is a god or not but I do not believe there is a god.
Gnostic Atheist= I know that there is no god.
:drinker: :flowerforyou:
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Monkey Buttism.0
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I am a spiritual eclectic. I believe in the duality of man, that people can be good AND bad, not strictly one or the other.
I believe in the "Do unto others" concept, as well as the Law of Threes.
I believe in magic(k).
Spiritually speaking, I'm pretty simple, and hesitate to label myself. :flowerforyou:
Very Cool. I like you.0 -
Registered member (10 years) of the official Church of Satan, here.0
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Monkey Buttism.
Sounds legit0 -
It's nice to see so many people with different beliefs/disbelief together on a topic like this without it becoming an insult fest. :flowerforyou: 0
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Spiritual, but with a Wiccan twist (no-no flippin satan before anyone asks lol-we don't even recognize satan)
This. I do not practice magick but I do have beliefs that correspond greatly to Wiccan beliefs. 0 -
Registered member (10 years) of the official Church of Satan, here.
I read that as "Official Church of Stan", I was like, who's Stan?! :laugh:0 -
I am a Muslim. Following Sufism 0
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I have rather strange religious beliefs. I believe we are here on earth to learn lessons our soul needs to learn, whether it be patience, tolerance, etc. Call it re-incarnation or whatever, but I believe we can choose to live more than one life if we want to grow further. I'm Christian, but not. Meaning, I believe in god but I believe the bible is a book of stories written to teach lessons to THAT era's people, not a hard core guide for today's living. I don't believe sitting in church for 1 hour on Sunday means more than HOW YOU ACT the other 167 hours of the week.
Why do you believe all that? Anyone can say "I believe" but why do they believe? Did you have a vision? Do you believe your mum had a vision? Your pastor? Or did you just decide that you believe, because you don't like the idea of not believing?
What is your basis for belief?
I do like your 167 hours. The measure of a person is what they do, regardless of where they were on Sunday morning.
I was raised Catholic (to the extent I went to a Catholic College - which taught me for the reasons behind most "catholic laws" - turns out they are all money related). Since then, I read a lot and evaluate logically what makes sense to ME. I feel too many people blindly follow what their parents and church say without research and analysis.
You can believe what you want and I can believe what I want. That's why they call it PERSONAL belief. It doesn't have to come from anywhere.0 -
Someone's getting philosophical!I contend we are all atheists... The only difference is that I believe in one less god than many of you.
And while that may sound like I'm being flippant... I really believe if you want to understand how an atheist thinks about gods, then simply try to understand why you don't believe in many of the gods that you don't believe in? That's all it is. "We just believe in one less than you do" (That's all that separates us)
Cheers!
I like the way you've asked us to take a step back and review our beliefs. It's an interesting way to see it. 0 -
Tree-hugger :glasses:
WOOWOO
Anyway I was baptised Catholic but my mother abandoned that way and studies Wicca and my step father who helped raise me is Protestant. I've been to youth group, I've sat under the trees and spoken of the Gods and Goddesses. I don't want to just take one persons word for anything, I believe that there is some divine being out there I'm just not yet sure who that is, or how many there are. I honestly don't know what I would even call myself, however I'm reading through this and perhaps I will find my answer.
This is one of the reason's I really like this thread... for those of us that have bounced around in our spirituality or dabbled in a varying array of belief systems' without particularly being able to find a specific "fit" - other alternatives posted in here, may find a belief they could get on board with, and even if they don't necessarily "fit" either, are nonetheless interesting to learn about.0 -
I feel like this too. I'm not sure what exists or doesn't, but I like to think about it and learn how and why other people believe what they do (which is why I took "World Religions" as an elective at uni). I don't know that I personally believe in a god or afterlife, but if there is one, I hope that I can live my life in a good enough way to be treated kindly, and that by not claiming to believe in it, that isn't the deciding factor on my possible afterlife.Agnosticism "follower" here. If you can really call that a religion. I entertain all of the ideas. I love thinking about it and hope that when I die, I get to float through the universe and see all of the answers. That would be amazing.
ETA: I grew up going to a Methodist church until 4th grade, then Lutheran 4th-9th(ish). I kind of stopped going after 8th grade because I wasn't going to a Lutheran school anymore. My family is very into "Christianity" so I just keep my beliefs or lack thereof to myself. I've grown to really dislike the way a lot of the churches and "organized religions" treat their followers over the years of going to church school.0 -
Tree-hugger :glasses:
WOOWOO
Anyway I was baptised Catholic but my mother abandoned that way and studies Wicca and my step father who helped raise me is Protestant. I've been to youth group, I've sat under the trees and spoken of the Gods and Goddesses. I don't want to just take one persons word for anything, I believe that there is some divine being out there I'm just not yet sure who that is, or how many there are. I honestly don't know what I would even call myself, however I'm reading through this and perhaps I will find my answer.
This is one of the reason's I really like this thread... for those of us that have bounced around in our spirituality or dabbled in a varying array of belief systems' without particularly being able to find a specific "fit" - other alternatives posted in here, may find a belief they could get on board with, and even if they don't necessarily "fit" either, are nonetheless interesting to learn about.
Yes I still hold some of my Catholic beliefs at heart, other's I follow but I don't believe that other's have to follow, as it's their bodies and they should be permitted to do what they want with it, then of course there are some that I just can't even begin to understand why anyone would go on a rampage about them. I can't go to church in my home town anymore because it was so small a town that everyone knew my mother was practicing Wicca and the Catholic church is none to kind of that but I still wear the Saint Christopher pendant I was given when I was baptisted and I still feel safe with it around my neck and naked without it. I just keep dabbling in things, trying to find where I fit and I sort of don't know now if I do fit anywhere. I will keep coming back here though, makes me feel like I don't have to be wandering around without anyone who so much as realizes what I'm thinking at all. It's hard to find what I believe with my mother bearing down one side and my step dad believing strongly the other way that's for sure.0 -
more of a pagan follower here.0
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I believe in Alien Intervention
No God, just science. I tried to say that as non offensive as possible 0 -
Can someone sort of explain to me what it means to be 'Spiritual'? I'm just generally confused and have always been. I just kind of always thought that was Hippies for some reason (sorry if that's wrong and offensive it's just always what I thought, the word just makes me think of freeness and openeness and things). Is being spiritual like being a wiccan? Or something along those lines?
To me, being spiritual means acknowledging there is a higher power or powers, with many names given by many peoples, that help guide us along our life journeys. I was raised a particular denomination and while I acknowledge my upbringing, I don't necessarily use the same names for powers or rituals that I did as a child but my intent is that of being the best person I can be to myself and others.0 -
You said it perfectly! :flowerforyou:I believe in Alien Intervention
No God, just science. I tried to say that as non offensive as possible0
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