What I wonder is why do people feel they have to fit into one particular religious category or feel the need to categorize in the first place? I was raised Catholic but over the years have developed my own belief system based on what I feel to be true. A lot of it comes from Catholicism, some from Buddism, some from Wicca. Religion to me represents more a source of comfort than a doctrine and if I find comfort in that my body is a vessel that houses my spirit and when my vessel has ended its course my spirit will return as me, in another life, to get right the things I didn't do well as a person, then that makes death not so scary. I do believe we keep returning as our mission is to keep on until we get it right, then we continually rise to higher levels of spiritual understanding to learn how to truly be kind, gentle, compassionate, and forgiving, because even though we think we are many of us are not. I also believe we should take lessons from trees and ants but that's another thing. Some select Atheism or say they don't believe and that is fine, but I feel that everyone believes in something, whether it's a person, animal, tree, coffee mug, insect, amulet, or Santa. There must be a higher element that allows you to "give it up to" when things become more than your mind can process, otherwise you would go mad.
Some people like to use labels because it facilitates conversation. If I am going to discuss religion with someone then it gives a bit of a starting point when they tell be what religion or denomination they are affiliated with. Granted, not everyone's beliefs fit into neat little boxes like that. I am an atheist, and you are right, there are plenty of things I believe in. Atheism only speaks to my lack of belief in one particular thing. But there is no higher element that I "give it up to" when things get hairy. And I have mostly managed to avoid going mad. Mostly.
i am an atheist, but that only means i do not believe in any of mankind's self-designed gods... it is not a statement of what i 'am' as a person... so of course i am also 'me'... you are confusing the two, cacian... if a person says he is a 'catholic' or a 'potter' or a 'fireman' they are not saying that is what they 'are' in toto... sorry, but that 'must' is not valid... i haven't gone 'mad' due to not believing in any 'higher element'... i believe in myself and in good and evil behavior... and i strive for the good simply because it is, in my view, what all sentient beings should do... it's not only doctors who should follow hippocrates' rule to 'do no harm,' but every one of us...
I think whatever beliefs you profess to is a statement of sorts, and obviously part of who you are. It's an interesting question raised by the OP. I'm Catholic, officially, but I don't agree with the Catholic church on various issues. As I recently said in one of the other religious threads, I prefer to have a more universal, and private relationship with God.
Has anyone here tried to make up their own religion and follow that? If so, how did you go about it, and does it work better than a traditional religion?
Okay...let's say there is a situation and you are either tired of dealing with it but you can't change/fix it or you just don't want to deal with it anymore. How do you take off that pressure? There must be something and maybe it isn't a higher element but not dealing with something that should be dealt with is also a choice. Well, Maia, you shouldn't say my "must" is not valid if you say you believe in good and in evil behavior unless what you mean is you don't partake in evil but you recognize it exists. However, if the evil is coming towards you or someone dear to you I doubt you would kill them with kindness. As far as "going mad" literally, probably not, possibly, but may raise the anxiety level somewhat. I thought so.
...you can't say i shouldn't say that... i must say it, because it is simply not true in my case... so, if it's not true for even one person [the collective 'you'], then the statement cannot be true, period... ...and yes, i do mean that i won't take part in evil doings, but recognize it exists... but none of what you say there has anything to do with your having said what i 'must' think or believe, or why i shouldn't say what i did... if evil comes toward me, i wouldn't 'kill it with kindness' because, as a non-violence activist, i'm against all killing [ ;-) ]... ...and no, not having 'a higher element' to believe in does NOT raise my anxiety level... on the contrary, it keeps my anxiety level down at zero...
There is no 'must' at all, that's your own personal view If someone can't cope, they go mad. Otherwise, they can cope. Simples
