Well, the last one became ugly.. so moving away from it, I thought it would be interesting to find out what everyone here believes in... I personally find Buddhism interesting for a number reasons.. but have my own unique belief... (as well, realize that there might actually be nothing)... What do you guys believe in?

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=21198
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=14182
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=12027
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=17167

I'm a follower of Joe. He is always right.

Always go with the winner, I say.

:lol:

I voted other, because I am agnostic, but the agnostic choice didn't fit me.

I'm not waiting to decide later. I feel that as human beings we can never know for sure. Being agnostic, for me, says that I accept that I can't know for sure, and I will never know for sure. I am open to change and future ideas...but I'm not agnostic as a way of "putting off" a decision.

If christians wear crosses, I should probably wear a question mark. My spirituality centers more around what I don't know than what I do. I don't believe in faith as a means for understanding, so that leaves me with very little supernatural raw material from which to fashion a belief system. However, I do believe that there is more to reality than there appears to be, and that it IS knowable.

So, I read alot of books from the gray area where spirituality and science sometimes meet. For example, David Bohm's holographic model of the universe is my current project. His theory fits what we know, but also allows for some things that are not so well established, like paranormal phenomena, astral projection, and so on. These ideas fascinate me, but I don't want to fall into the trap of just accepting them because I like them or they fulfill and instinctual need (i.e. life after death, etc.). I want to KNOW that what I believe is, in fact, right.

Hopefully, reincarnation turns out to be true, because I'm going to need more than 70-80 years to really learn anything substantial.

:beatnik:

The Rev

[QUOTE=The Rev]My spirituality centers more around what I don't know than what I do. [/QUOTE=The Rev]

Yea, I know exactly what you mean... thats why its called "searching"... its a nice thing...


[QUOTE=The Rev]These ideas fascinate me, but I don't want to fall into the trap of just accepting them because I like them or they fulfill and instinctual need (i.e. life after death, etc.). I want to KNOW that what I believe is, in fact, right.[/QUOTE=The Rev]

I fell the same way when it comes to Buddhism.. I love the idea behind it.. at times, some of the concepts are so beautiful and mind-blowing... I've even to some degree experienced parts of what some of the Buddha’s have said.. (i.e. meditation)... however, don't think I would completely agree with it %100 - esp since many of my doubts are there because I don't want to accept the whole idea behind it simply because I find the theories interesting and cool...

Thanks a heap for relegating "Jewish" to "something other", Richard. :brood:

Ops... sorry, that was not intentional...

Thanks a heap for relegating "Jewish" to "something other", Richard. :brood:

Can we just say that whichever category gets the most votes wins and then end this conversation.

Thanks a heap for relegating "Jewish" to "something other", Richard. :brood:

Yeah, not that that's what I am, but my first thought was also, "Where's Judaism"? That's quite an oversight.

Oooh, these religious discussions are too tricky. While I'm sure you mean entirely well :), on top of leaving out Judaism, Paganism, etc., etc., I also am put off by almost all of your tags: "believe in one god" applies equally to Muslims as to Christians; agnostics (as pointed out) are not necessarily planning a future decision; atheists can consider themselves to have beliefs; "all being a part of god" seems a facile, and possibly inaccurate, way to describe Buddhist philosophy.

I'm interested in little bits of too many religions to pick just one. :)

Thanks a heap for relegating "Jewish" to "something other", Richard. :brood:

Ha ha! You're Miscellaneous!!

:lol:

The Rev

Oooh, these religious discussions are too tricky. While I'm sure you mean entirely well :), on top of leaving out Judaism, Paganism, etc., etc., I also am put off by almost all of your tags: "believe in one god" applies equally to Muslims as to Christians; agnostics (as pointed out) are not necessarily planning a future decision; atheists can consider themselves to have beliefs; "all being a part of god" seems a facile, and possibly inaccurate, way to describe Buddhist philosophy.

Ohh, beat me to it, I have lots of beliefs, I just don't have any faith that god exists. Agnostics are also not incompatible with any of the above.

Hey, come on, a guy can only think of so many religions... (esp a guy who isn't religious in the first place)...

But, I do know quite a bit about Buddhism... and, perhaps some don’t see the notion of "being a part of god" as Buddhist... its actually very strong in many schools of Buddhist thought... esp Zen...

In a nutshell... Buddhism and science agree on a lot of things... Ok, for those that are not very familiar with it.. Buddhists don't pray to "a specific" god.. they don't think of Buddha as a god... or someone to worship.. Buddha actually means "awakened one", and over the course of time, there have been many Buddha’s... (i.e. The Dolly Lama, Jesus, many others)...

Something important that Buddhists practice is the art of meditation... while meditating, one would try and block out all thoughts... (distracting things that take you away from truth, and reality)... during meditation, a Buddhist many times will block out those thoughts by focusing or concentrating on a single sound "OM". This sound not only helps in concentration, but, is also believed to the "the sound of the universe". it is the sound of all and everything... We are all (according to both science, and Buddhism) - made up of the same thing... energy.. the universe is made up of nothing else but the same energy (atoms/electrons).. there is really no "physical" matter other than these two basic substances... Now, all this energy does make a sound.. the sound of the all these molecules is "OM"... So, if we are all energy, and we are all "the same"... what’s next? Next, its important to understand how the univser works... we make our universe or our world up as we go... in our thoughts and minds.. - in a sense, we create everything... (hmmmm, we are the creators)... we are.... god... Buddhists believe the term "GOD" is a label.. for "all and everything"... we are as much of god, as anyone else.. (if you choose that label)...

Now, here is a quote some of you Christians might recall… Jesus once said… “Man will search high and low for the kingdom of god, but he will never find it… because what he doesn’t know… is that the kingdom of god, is within him”. IMO: he wasn’t speaking metaphorically… its just that people back in those days would not have understood something so abstract… even today, it is confusing to a lot of people.

What is the Buddha?

The Buddha was asked, "Are you God?"
"No, " he said.
"Well, then, what are you?"
"Awake," said the Buddha."


Oooh, these religious discussions are too tricky. While I'm sure you mean entirely well :), on top of leaving out Judaism, Paganism, etc., etc., I also am put off by almost all of your tags: "believe in one god" applies equally to Muslims as to Christians; agnostics (as pointed out) are not necessarily planning a future decision; atheists can consider themselves to have beliefs; "all being a part of god" seems a facile, and possibly inaccurate, way to describe Buddhist philosophy.

Yeah, not that that's what I am, but my first thought was also, "Where's Judaism"? That's quite an oversight.

not really, its just not something people talk about all the time... it was overlooked... but thats why I had the number 8 (other).

Too bad you can't have an opion in the poll to let everyone add thier own...

I chose other. I'm agnostic in that I think god(s) are unknowable and atheist in that I have no active belief an any gods. I have many other beliefs, though. Also, atheism is no belief in any gods but doesn't necessarily mean no religion.

I voted atheist. but I consider myself spiritual. I believe there is some inherent energy to all of us, something that we don't know how to quantify. But I definitely do not believe in some sentient being looking down on us and watching or judging what we do, no sir.

Buddhists believe the term "GOD" is a label.. for "all and everything"... we are as much of god, as anyone else.. (if you choose that label)...

and some other Buddhists would argue that much of the metaphysics you invoke here are irrelevant to Buddhism.

I consider myself spiritual, but not religious. ... Raised Catholic, but I now relate most closely to Asian and Indian (as in the country) beliefs. I take what I believe from all the different religions I've learned about. They all have good stuff, I just don't completely agree with a single one. Hinduism is probably my favorite, although I'm not going to convert.

I'm interested in little bits of too many religions to pick just one. :)

I whole-heartedly agree :D

There you go, it is a confusing poll. Some people are taking it as "what do you believe?" while others are taking it as "what's your favorite faith?"

Does liking bits of all of them mean the same thing as believing in bits of all of them?

and some other Buddhists would argue that much of the metaphysics you invoke here are irrelevant to Buddhism.

No, I don't think they would... See, "TRUE" Buddhists don't argue against anything... A real Buddhist is taught to accept every possibility... (not necessarily believe everything) - but to accept everything, and not discount others opinions, beliefs, religion, morals, or ideologies.

That is the Buddhist way... Arguing is the way of the heap....

Does liking bits of all of them mean the same thing as believing in bits of all of them?

Sounds buddhist to me...