Which religion do you follow?

[Mason]

Ok,.. So will someone please elaborate on what was meant when they speak of the 'ity',.. I just don't get it...?

[wil]

I call myself a christian, a follower of our elder brother and wayshower, Jesus the Christ. Striving to live as he lived, from truth, with forgiveness, love and passion. But Christianity in all its forms has tenents that are created by man, yet deemed divine and damnable should you not follow them. So the -ity is more than an itty-bitty issue as many claim to be the one and only true religion...and I believe it is for them.

I also enjoy the teachings of Buddha, Krishna, the Tao. Respect writings of Moses and Mohamed. Read Parahmansa Yogananda, Lao Tzu and Tich Nat Hanh. Enjoy concepts of Paganism, Wiccan, and can spend time with my children at any event reveling in the beauty of their beliefs.

In many circles that tosses me squarely in gehenna, the name of dumps outside the ciities during biblical times where they constantly burned trash, feces, and bodies that woudn't be buried...it stunk, it was awful...became known as what is called hades and hell...but that is another thread.

So that is why I didn't check christian-ity...because I feel it to be innaccurate, and many that chose christianity would be quick to agree....

[Mason]

Thanks Wil,

Though i still struggle to see any difference...
But don't worry, there's no need to go to the trouble of trying to say it plainly enough for me to understand, lol ^_^

I'll try reading your post through again...

[michaellangelo]

hi,

i'v put that i follow buddhism, as i find it most right for me. although i wouldnt say that i follow any particular school, mainly because i dont fully understand the divisions, so if i read sometihng i think that i can use, i will, and vice versa.

hope that makes sense,

peace

[Mason]

After reading your post a few times Wil, it would seem it wasn't very much to the point and i'm still unsure why you, Bandit and one or two others have voted the way you did... (I'm not angry btw, i just want to understand).

The word Christian to me is the same as the word Muslim or Jew rather than Christianity, Islam or Judaism. I choose Christianity because i thought it fits better to my poll question.

Thats why i find this hard to understand; How Christian and Christianity are different other than to describe the person or their religion...?

[wil]

Namaste Mason,

Could be I belong in the Christianity camp...but it is I that am not comfortable there. As there are all forms of christians, and I am one of them I deserve to be there. But I feel more kinship to my fellow man, than some of my fellow christians. I know that is wrong, but I cannot understand those that think our current conflicts are just, and call themselves christian. Those that espouse hate with christianity, it bothers me and in my thinking it shouldn't.

I believe we are one people, one under God. Not American or European or Asian or Arab or Jew or Catholic, or Muslim or Hindu...all one. And I am one with the slayer and the slain, the judger and the judged. So should I feel this separation, no, but I do.

Again I feel kinship with all who explore turn the other cheek, forgiveness, loving our fellow man....whatever religion, creed, nationality, color or...whatever. But as I don't feel kinship to the Republican or Democratic Party, the Left or Right, liberal or conservative camps...I also don't feel comfortable labeling myself as a member of christianity...despite the fact that I admire and aspire to the teachings of Jesus the Christ.

[DrFree]

Interfaith is my faith. All faiths that teach love and eschew hatred are manifestations of God's love.

I am a practicing Unitarian Universalist. It's hard to pry interesting theological positions out of a UU, but at least I don't start out being a heretic.

Personally, I am still refining my faith.

[InChristAlways]

Originally Posted by Bandit

my religion is Jesus and the bible.
i guess that makes me Christian but without the 'ity' .

Hi Bandit. Doesn't christian in essence mean "anointed ones" in the body of the ekklesia/called out ones?


Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

5546. Christianos khris-tee-an-os' from 5547; a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:--Christian. 5547. Christos khris-tos' from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ. 5548. chrio khree'-o probably akin to 5530 through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service:--anoint.

Acts 7:38 `This is he who was in the ekklesia/"church" in the wilderness, with the messenger who is speaking to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers who did receive the living oracles to give to us;

1577. ekklesia ek-klay-see'-ah from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church. 2564. kaleo kal-eh'-o akin to the base of 2753; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):--bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-)name (was (called)).

I am wondering when the word "church" started as I had heard it was a "pagan" word though I wouldn't know what other word to use as a christian
http://www.familybible.org/Teaching/...nic/Church.htm

By the time the Bible was finally translated into English, the entire pagan Roman cult had come to be known as “the circle” and this term was later rendered into Old and Middle English as “church.” When Tyndale produced the first English translation of the Bible, he correctly translated the word ekklesia as “assembly.” However, when King James commissioned the 1611 translation, he apparently arbitrarily decreed that the word be translated using the common term for the Roman cult, “church,” and so that tradition has also been followed by modern translators without regard to the actual grammatical meaning of the word ekklesia.

[wil]

Compare us to the chart over at religious tolerance

Christianity 32%
Islam 19%
Hinduism 13%
No religion 12%
Chinese folk rel. 6%
Buddhism n 6%
Tribal Religions, Shamanism, Animism Prehistory Oral tradition 4%
Atheists 2%
New religions 2%

All the rest less than 1% each…

In the begining Bahai had the early lead and they are still much higher in our pole than the world average...as are Pagans and Jews, the Christians and Muslims here are under-reported....as are a few others...the Buddhists however seem to be curently represented accurately!

[Mason]

I'm not sure if the poll would have had more votes if i had chosen not to reveal the name of the voter,.. i guess it could bother some people. Though i don't know why. ^_^

[Neoplatonist]

Neoplatonism. I would guess that the user name gave it away, huh?

I am actually part of a small group that is trying to organize The Neoplatonic Church. We think the ancient religious philosophy of folks like Ammonius Saccas, Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus, Hypatia, Marsilo Ficino, and Pico della Mirandola make a lot of sense for our current culture.

In search of religious ecstasy.

[eman]

First let me say Merry Meet to all, and may the god and goddess bless you all I am a Neo-Pagan.
I am not a Satanist, I do not believe in Satan this is a manafestation of Christianity, I believe that god is in everything i.e. the lowly rock,the earth,the sky,the sun, Man and Woman (god and goddesssss)

The reason I am of an Earth Religion is simply that the earth religions are natural.

They do not tell you, You must or must not do this or you will be suffer eternally in hell.

Be Good, Do Good as best you can and if you go to work on sunday thats o.k. too, no eternal hell, no one is going to stone you to death.

Merry Part.

there is no violence, evil, punishment, repression, supression, guilt,shame or any of the other things that are used in so many other religions.

Be good to all things.

[eman]

Merry Meet (Hello to all you non-pagans)

I have completed a quiz on "beliefnet.com" below are the result's:

Mahayana Buddhism : 100 %
Unitarian Universalism : 93 %
Liberal Quaker's : 91 %
Neo-Pagan : 88 % Theravada Buddhism : 88 %
Roman Catholic 9 %

Its interesting for me to see this considering I was raised roman catholic and went to catholic school, I was a altar boy, was a member of a catholic boyscout troop, and I considerd going to seminary school to become a priest.

I think it was the free will, reading, and reasoning that led me to being a proud Neo-Pagan.

Merry Part (Seeeeeeeeeya.)

[InChristAlways]

Again I feel kinship with all who explore turn the other cheek, forgiveness, loving our fellow man....whatever religion, creed, nationality, color or...whatever. But as I don't feel kinship to the Republican or Democratic Party, the Left or Right, liberal or conservative camps...I also don't feel comfortable labeling myself as a member of christianity...despite the fact that I admire and aspire to the teachings of Jesus the Christ.

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they gathered together in the ekklesia and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christ-ians in Antioch.

5546. Christ-ianos khris-tee-an-os' from 5547; a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:--Christian.

Every religion has a "label" for their beliefs and Faith but the label is just that if they love not their fellow man.

For those that are True followers of the "Christ/anointed" you will know us by our fruits/deeds and how we treat our fellow man.

Jesus warned his followers that Love/agape would wax "cold" and leave the teachings of the Christ and turn to "hatred".

Ironically, this is also prophecied as far back as Genesis and according Numbers 35:21, to kill with "hatred" is how God describes "murder".

Any religion that follows Love, charity and compassion are of God the Creator. This is why I call myself a "Christ"-ian/"anointed" one of God and a follower of "Jesus the Christ".

Zechariah 8:23 Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, In those days, [it shall be] that ten men out of all the tongues of the nations, shall take hold,--yea take hold of the skirt of a Jew, saying--We will go with you! For we have heard [that], God, is with you/Immanuel.

Just my humble view of what it means to be a follower of the "Christ/anointed" of God. Blessings.
Steve

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity/hatred [#0342] Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

Numbers 35:21 'or in enmity [#0342] he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck [him] shall surely be put to death. He [is] a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

Matthew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated [#3404] by all nations for My Name's sake..... 12 and because of the abounding of the lawlessness/iniquity, the Love/agape [#26] of the many shall become cold;

Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have [this] against you, that you have left your first Love/agape [#26].

[dayaa]

hi all
i still class myself as muslim (sunni) although i'm a bit borderline. i feel comfortable culturally with what i know, but i am also open minded to other beliefs. i have a very strong impression of jesus and greatly admire and am influenced by his teachings, but find too many concepts in christianity that bother me to be able to become christian. i also am greatly interested by judaism, but again, there are a few concepts that bother me. i intend to study judaism further as i am aware that i may have some misconceptions. i have an interest in and a respect for all religions, but find difficulty with non-theistic religions such as buddhism. although i respect some buddhist teachings, my view of religion is very God based and i cannot comprehend having no concept of God. i suppose really i am more of a theist by religion and a muslim by culture. the islam is most familiar to me and i have no problem with the vast majority of it, but i have a questioning mind, and although i am very willing to submit to the will of God, i am not always so willing to submit to everything people tell me is the will of God. i consider myself muslim, but maybe i have my own way of understanding it which doesn't quite fit in with the stereotype.