What's your religion?

[InfiniteDistance]

Grew up as a christian, but eventually broke free of the chains of religion. I am now an atheist and very fond of the idea of death after life and the beauty of a world without a god .

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Lenaisian

... can I go slightly off-topic here? Since there are Muslims here, I'll just have to ask one question: Do some of you (Muslims) find the depiction of your brothers-in-faith in some movies somewhat offensive? (I'll cite two examples: The Kingdom and Body of Lies) Just asking.

There’s a lot of offensive depictions of muslims in movies (especially Hollywood). It's actually been going on since a long time ago. Remember those Chuck Norris movies involving muslim countries and Arnold’s True Lies?

I’ve yet to see Body of Lies, but I’ve seen The Kingdom. The problem is, I hardly remember the story in it since it’s just a "meh" movie. From what I can remember, the movie kinda implied that the US’ way of live is the perfect one that the muslims should also adopt them. They also made it as if all muslims (in the setting) are evil or ignorant except for the one muslim who become the ally of the US/Jamie Foxx’ character. Can’t remember the details but that’s what I get from the movie.

So, is it somewhat offensive for muslims? I'd say yes. But smart muslims should now better than to take some movies seriously (unless the movie is specifically made to mock Islam & muslims in general. We can't tolerate that one.) At the end of the day, they're all fiction, even those "inspired" or "based on" true story movies. Movies rarely depicts the reality of things out there. There's always the "over-dramatization" element playing. Even documentary movies can be easily edited in favor of the maker's personal agenda.

[Kizoku Keenan]

I was raised Roman Catholic (not in a strict manner but it was practised) As I got older and gained my own independence I became atheist but if I were to choose a belief system or religion I would definitely become buddhist, they have the right idea.

[mican]

Grew up as a.Christian. Then I became a transcendentalist, though probably not the kind you have in mind. Modern teachings of what transcendentalism is in schools is heavily misunderstood and distorted.

[Domonkazu]

I used to be a christian like you but then I took an ...............

anyway I'm agnostic now.

[Radioactive Beta]

I grew up as a Christian , then I became curious of things and the quote that mother keeps saying that "Thank god everyday" "If you don't believe in god you're going to hell" "Don't eat before you say your pray" "Don't sleep until you said your prayer" became to annoy me so I slowly and slowly became a atheist because of that and stopped the praying all together because whenever I prayed something would change or for "god" to help me..nothing changed at all so I stopped altogether because I Found it silly. My mother still annoys me about Christianity to this day...it pisses me off always having shoved "god" down my throat but I keep my mouth shut because if I told her how I really felt she would have a baby.

[Celestia Ludenberg]

I don't know, I'm caught between believing in something that created the earth and believing in the big bang theory. My family are not religious so they're not had an impact on my beliefs, I guess I just think alot.

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by Marionette Cherry

I don't know, I'm caught between believing in something that created the earth and believing in the big bang theory. My family are not religious so they're not had an impact on my beliefs, I guess I just think alot.

Something did create Earth. That something is called gravity.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Something did create Earth. That something is called gravity.

Heh... yes, gravity and lots of time. The decorations on it (plants, life, us) are from rich minerals and organic compounds that arose in star life cycle processes.

[Mokoko]

I grew up as an Atheist but when I was 15, someone that I cherished died and I started slowly to believe in God. Now, I'm a protestant and i'm going to the church every sunday !

[Kyero Fox]

Im a good person. I know whats right and whats wrong. Thats my religion. Being a person with a good self conscience and moral compass. I wont hate someone for beliving in gods... but satan worshipers need help

[otakujohn]

I adhere to no particular religion, nor did my parents. I have given it a great deal of thought and study, for what it's worth.

[Hooves]

I don't remember if I updated myself here. Since it's been too long since I last posted. I previously said I was an Athiest, but now I'm Agnostic. My family is Christian though, but we don't really go to church or do anything religion-related in our household.

[Kudryavka]

I cant follow religion b/c there are too many that contradivct, yet all claim to be right. if i could know which is right id worship, but theres no way for me.

[hawkeyesvn]

I grew up in a Buddhist family and I'm pretty familiar with it. As I grow up, I dig deeper into Buddhist's philosophy and realized that people kinda worship Buddha the wrong way. He never want people to treat him like some kind of deity right now ( Especially in East Asia and SEA ). Soon after that, I become an atheist and always believe there's no such thing called "God".

[NoemiChan]

@ Lenaisian > Try watching Kingdom of Heaven. I like how they portrait Muslims there. They are considered as noble warriors unlike the extremist today who uses religion as a way to justify their crimes not only against non Christians but to their brother Muslims as well. They are with respect to other Christians and has a word of honor.

[Kudryavka]

Originally Posted by GenjiChan

@ Lenaisian > Try watching Kingdom of Heaven. I like how they Muslims there. They are considered as noble warriors unlike the extremist today who uses religion as a way to justify their crimes not only against non Christians but to their brother Muslims as well.

Yea, I hate when people blame their human evil desires for violence on religion. Crusades, muslim terrorism, all of it.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by hawkeyesvn

I grew up in a Buddhist family and I'm pretty familiar with it. As I grow up, I dig deeper into Buddhist's philosophy and realized that people kinda worship Buddha the wrong way. He never want people to treat him like some kind of deity right now ( Especially in East Asia and SEA ). Soon after that, I become an atheist and always believe there's no such thing called "God".

Zen Buddhism avoids most of that. What one finds with the variants of Buddhism in many countries is that the priests did something akin to what Christianity did as it swept the world. They merge local indigenous beliefs into the "new way". So if your Buddhism worships gods or treats the Buddha like some god, it is likely a transplant from whatever belief system existed in the area before hand.

That said, its been a while since I posted here. I tend to characterize myself as either mildly atheist or strongly agnostic. I can't rule out a supreme being but then I can't rule out faeries, pixies, dragons, and unicorns either.

I like using religion metaphorically. Both the Shinto and Keltic systems have many animist features (millions of spirits/forces/motivations) that one *respects* but doesn't worship. Sometimes when I'm explaining computer or engineering problems, invoking gremlins, pixies, and magic smoke gets the point across better.

The Norse system is probably the most fun collection of spirits to me and it is closely related to the Celtic system in some ways.

For daily life, a mild form of buddhism combined with modern physics works. All you can really know is "now" so just do the nicest things you can "now" at each and every "now".

[Liddo-kun]

Ok, I guess it's about time to post again here.
About 5 years ago, I'm 100% atheist and even had a debate with a nun IRL.

Though recently, let's just say I tried praying at a nearby church, and some of my prayers were partially answered. Back to being Catholic - the kind who believes that Jesus is up for helping people, and going to church on Sundays is a good thing. Also changed my religion on facebook profile from "Church of Madoka" to "Catholic".

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I can't rule out a supreme being but then I can't rule out faeries, pixies, dragons, and unicorns either.

Vexx-san, you believe in faeries, pixies, dragons, and unicorns?

Originally Posted by Vexx

For daily life, a mild form of buddhism combined with modern physics works. All you can really know is "now" so just do the nicest things you can "now" at each and every "now".

Ah...Islam also has it too. “When it’s time to work (to earn wealth), work like you’ll live for a thousand years. When it’s time to pray, pray like you’ll die tomorrow”. The point is to be a good person and enjoy your everyday life and to always give it your all when doing your duty (as a muslim, parent, student, employee, doctor, etc) and, furthermore, to be happy both in this life and afterlife.