what is your relegion?

[shinyhope]

every one choose his relegion
perhaps from his parents
or because he believe in it
so what you say about your religion

[Eudaimonist]

Originally Posted by shinyhope

so what you say about your religion

Hi, what I have is perhaps better termed a nontheistic philosophical path than a religion. It is called Eudaimonism. This philosophy advocates a rational and ethical life enthusiastically spent in pursuit of one's personal happiness and flourishing. Eudaimonism advocates self-examination, self-actualization, and self-esteem. (Buddhists take note that "self" here does not refer to a static, independent self or soul.)

There is no belief in gods, a supernatural realm, or life after death in Eudaimonism, yet it regards life as potentially purposeful, meaningful, and fulfilling.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[Vajradhara]

Namaste and Salaam Shinyhope,

welcome to CR

when such lables are used, i use the lable of Buddhist as my religious paradigm.

metta,

~v

[flowperson]

Namaste, Salaam, Welcome...Shinyhope:

So good to have you here. I would call myself Christian; and, even though I do not attend services now, I did for many years earlier in my life. I am waiting and hoping for less fundamental and literal versions of Christianity to emerge that might begin to address the moral dilemmas that the world is increasingly ill-equipped to deal with these days. But, I'll probably not live long enough to see that.

Keep in touch...

flow....

[RubySera_Martin]

Originally Posted by flowperson

I am waiting and hoping for less fundamental and literal versions of Christianity to emerge that might begin to address the moral dilemmas that the world is increasingly ill-equipped to deal with these days.

Flow, this topic is near and dear to my heart. I am not sure where to discuss it. I guess I'll carry on here and if a new thread is needed we'll deal with it then.

QUESTION: How do you envision this new form of Christianity to look?

I've seen you on The Center for Progressive Christianity and I've read their pdf handbook. Do you envision something along that line?

[flowperson]

Hi Ruby:

Hmmm...yes to an extent. But I guess I'm looking for a wider brush to paint with, and that brush is going to have to eliminate exclusivity paradigms from whatever new version(s) that is/are developed.

I believe that TCPC has taken a good running start at that, but has lost some of its momentum the past few months, or at least since last year at this time when I joined. The forum seems to be covering the same stuff over and over again and people just aren't participating openly. Discussions regarding scientific paradigms have been gradually shut down for what ever reason, and I believe that this should be emphasized since IMHO most of the crises we're facing/will face are due to implementation of the new science and technologies within human life.

The profound, long -term effects of these changes upon us and the world at large are just not appreciated by those participating in the discussions, and the establishment in charge of making our futures come into being is simply not willing, or able, to address the issues in the open. As far as they're concerned, if it sells, then it is acceptable for it to be in our futures.
Until this is done we will all just be feeling around in the dark for the doorknobs that open the doors to the future.

There is hope though, now that people are FINALLY waking up to global warming and outdated practices such as the use of fossil fuels. Now, if we could only stop people of G-d from killing each other with knives, guns, rockets, and bombs; and, for the flimsiest of reasons, then we might make some real progress

Nice to hear from you. If this is the wrong place for this discussion, someone will tell us.

flow....

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by flowperson

Hi Ruby:

Hmmm...yes to an extent. But I guess I'm looking for a wider brush to paint with, and that brush is going to have to eliminate exclusivity paradigms from whatever new version(s) that is/are developed.

I believe that TCPC has taken a good running start at that, but has lost some of its momentum the past few months, or at least since last year at this time when I joined. The forum seems to be covering the same stuff over and over again and people just aren't participating openly. Discussions regarding scientific paradigms have been gradually shut down for what ever reason, and I believe that this should be emphasized since IMHO most of the crises we're facing/will face are due to implementation of the new science and technologies within human life.

The profound, long -term effects of these changes upon us and the world at large are just not appreciated by those participating in the discussions, and the establishment in charge of making our futures come into being is simply not willing, or able, to address the issues in the open. As far as they're concerned, if it sells, then it is acceptable for it to be in our futures.
Until this is done we will all just be feeling around in the dark for the doorknobs that open the doors to the future.

There is hope though, now that people are FINALLY waking up to global warming and outdated practices such as the use of fossil fuels. Now, if we could only stop people of G-d from killing each other with knives, guns, rockets, and bombs; and, for the flimsiest of reasons, then we might make some real progress

Nice to hear from you. If this is the wrong place for this discussion, someone will tell us.

flow....

Just curious flow, and I'll probably be sorry that i asked , but why do you think you can't find what you are looking for in a progressive church like Episcopalian, the Unity Church wil has discussed, or even UU?

luna

[flowperson]

Hi Luna:

It's not that I don't think I can find what I want in a new church, It's just that I was so hurt and discouraged when the denomination I was affiliated with since my birth summarily judged what I believed and my reasons for it, essentially ripped off my epaulettes and service ribbons, and told me not to let the door hit my backside on the way out. You know how such things are said and done in "civilized" ways. And these were UCC churches. I guess, y'know, it's the schism thing that's showing up these days. Even some UCC groups can be very conservative.

I've since relocated to look after my folks out here in the high desert, and now it's just me and Mom. Besides, my work schedule includes Sunday mornings, so I just haven't made the effort. If I did it would probably be Episcopalian since I'm really enamored with the new head Bishop.

Thanks for your concern, Luna. You have a very good heart.

flow...

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by flowperson

Hi Luna:

It's not that I don't think I can find what I want in a new church, It's just that I was so hurt and discouraged when the denomination I was affiliated with since my birth summarily judged what I believed and my reasons for it, essentially ripped off my epaulettes and service ribbons, and told me not to let the door hit my backside on the way out. You know how such things are said and done in "civilized" ways. And these were UCC churches. I guess, y'know, it's the schism thing that's showing up these days. Even some UCC groups can be very conservative.

I've since relocated to look after my folks out here in the high desert, and now it's just me and Mom. Besides, my work schedule includes Sunday mornings, so I just haven't made the effort. If I did it would probably be Episcopalian since I'm really enamored with the new head Bishop.

Thanks for your concern, Luna. You have a very good heart.

flow...

I hear you flow. That's why large segments of my otherwise quite spiritual family stopped attending church for the most part. My maternal grandmother, after observing the treatment of a young, unmarried pregnant woman in her congregation, left the church and never went back, not even for Christmas or Easter as far as I know. She did not even want a funeral because she did not want it in a church. I felt sad about this because after she passed the 'celebration' of her life gathering we had was so...bare. But, it was the way she wanted it.

In His Peace,
luna

[lunamoth]

Hi shineyhope, sorry for side-tracking your thread there. Welcome to CR.

As you may gather above, my religion is Christianity and I attend the Episcopal Church. I was baptized as a baby into the Episcopal Church, but I did not realize how fortunate I was in this until much later in life. I was more or less a secular agnostic for many many years, had a small awakening and became a (very enthusiastic) Baha'i for five years. Two years ago I returned to Christianity and the Episcopal Church.

cheers,
lunamoth

[flowperson]

Luna:

Very often it is impossible for spirituality and religion to co-exist under the same roof. While people assert their belief in religious principles, it has been my experience that they seldom practice them with an open heart. Too risky to be vulnerable...y'know.

Peace be with you and yours, my sister,

flow....

[RubySera_Martin]

Originally Posted by flowperson

Hi Ruby:

Hmmm...yes to an extent. But I guess I'm looking for a wider brush to paint with, and that brush is going to have to eliminate exclusivity paradigms from whatever new version(s) that is/are developed.

.............

IMHO most of the crises we're facing/will face are due to implementation of the new science and technologies within human life.

It's not that I don't think I can find what I want in a new church, It's just that I was so hurt and discouraged when the denomination I was affiliated with since my birth summarily judged what I believed and my reasons for it, essentially ripped off my epaulettes and service ribbons, and told me not to let the door hit my backside on the way out.

As I read these two posts I get the impression that you are not looking so much for a broader brush to paint with as you are looking for respect and acceptance of who you are as a person, and the right to believe what you feel is important.

The idea that all the problems of our planet stem from one narrowly-defined cause as you suggest does not seem realistic to me.

Human nature alone is too complex for that. The natural world in and of itself is too complex for that. The solar system in which the earth exists is to complex for that.

Human nature PLUS the natural world probably do not cover the deep complexities of the issues faced by our planet and inhabitants, and we know too little about our solar system and the larger universe to make definitive statements.

Whether the issues are as serious as we think is another major question. It seems to me that the entire scientific community and inquiry operates by the underlying superstructure of Christian thought. Science seems to be focused on two main items:

1. How, where, by what means, or when did it all begin?
2. How, where, by what means, or when will it all end?

So far as I can make out, these are uniquely Christian concerns. Or perhaps it is Judeo-Christian-Muslim--in other words, a concern unique to the Abrahamic religions.

You know how such things are said and done in "civilized" ways. And these were UCC churches. I guess, y'know, it's the schism thing that's showing up these days. Even some UCC groups can be very conservative.

I know very little about these specific churches but I do know something about human nature and how it opperates in various situations. I also know something about what it's like being obligated by whatever method to leave one's church. I went through the experience myself and I've read the stories of many others who've been through the same thing.

Serious anger and bitterness are normal. Analyzing the situation and laying blame are also normal. For a person who sees liberal as "good" and conservative as "bad," it is quite normal to associate rigid mindsets with "conservative."

You do not come across to me as a liberal-minded person. That is why I am looking for alternative explanations for what may have happened. And I do not claim to be right because I don't know the situation.

[RubySera_Martin]

Originally Posted by shinyhope

every one choose his relegion
perhaps from his parents
or because he believe in it
so what you say about your religion

Since I have contributed this much to this thread I should probably say a bit about my religion. The problem is that I don't know at this point what I am. I was raised Christian but have always had serious questions about the foundational tenets of the Christian faith. As an adolescent I "discovered" nature as a healing balm when my soul is troubled and this only increases with age. "Seeker" is the best term I have yet found to describe my spiritual or religious "slot."

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by shinyhope

every one choose his relegion
perhaps from his parents
or because he believe in it
so what you say about your religion

My religion works for me. It is a nice tradition that I feel at home with. It augments my faith. When I was younger, I rebelled against my parents, and discarded their faith and religious beliefs, and stepped out into the world. I was free and clear to do and believe as I saw fit.

Then I fell in love, and married a great woman, and lo and behold a child was on his way to our family...and I got scared. What was I going to teach him about faith, about hope, about Love? So I went back to the church (while it was empty of any soul but me), and I "talked to God". I said I wanted back into His family, so I could bring my new child into the same...and He said "OK".

He reminded me that my "child" to be was a "gift" from Him, so I thanked Him...been thanking God ever since.

I'm not much on the religious part, but I'm pretty good on the "faith" part.

my thoughts

v/r

Q

[inhumility]

I am an Ahmadi a faith in Islam, which is the centre of all Revealed Religions. I believe that all Revealed Religions were truthful in their origin but with the passage of time when humans forgot the pristine message from God, the message was revived by God. So in this way logically and morally there is no difference between a true Jew, a true Christian, and a true Muslim or with any other label. Truth has to be respected and believed whatever its name.
Thanks