Alternative Religions?

[honooryuu]

wiccan. i have been ever since i can remember.

 

[JoJoMatson]

I was Deistic, though now I'm kind of Christian and Deistic, it's not an organized religion, though I don't see why it would have to be.
And I also include all sorts of Science in my beliefs, including evolution, big bang, etc...

 

[saymyname]

I'm very atheist/agnostic, but open to things about: lucid dreaming, other planes of existence (new agey kind of stuff), astral projection, deja vu, etc. I have a friend that's into anthroposophy and theosophy, so I guess that's part of why I'm open to it. I also think the collision between psychedelic drugs, especially DMT, and alternative religions is pretty interesting too.

 

[degrandm]

i was raised as Catholic and as far as others belief that is your freedom to chouse
to belev in what you like

 

[Maelstrom]

My belief is religion is a dangerous manifestation of human imagination. I can think of not one thing that has caused more pain, misery, and suffering then religion.

There is almost for sure, no grand designer, no omnipotent deity.
The earth will be engulfed by the sun when it runs out of hydrogen. The universe is expanding and eventually we wont be able to see any other stars or galaxies. 99% of all species that have ever been on this planet are gone, extinct. So I don't believe in any higher power.

Be a good person, cause as little suffering as possible, and pass on your knowledge to the next generation. That is what I try to do.

Because when you are dead you are done, so let the good times roll

Later,

 

[BearBoi]

I don’t consider any religion ‘alternative’ if it is relevant to the individual. In such a case, what would it be an alternative to?

I was introduced to paganism at the age of 13 by a family member who lived abroad and actually studied traditional pre-Christian religions with indigenous societies. I had long felt disconnected from Christian theology, though fortunately I was raised to appreciate and value other cultures and beliefs. As such my interest in learning about other religions did not overtly offend my parents.

My interest was quickly drawn to the indigenous pan-European belief systems of my ancestors, in the way of philosophy as opposed to dogmatic practice.

As such, my view of spirituality is more in line with the simple understanding of the cycles of birth to death, the passing of the seasons and an observance of life. I mark these phases of the year symbolically with the standard pagan holidays, though there is more emphasis on internal contemplation rather than external homage to deities I view as archetypes of man’s own ideals rather than literal beings.

I do believe in the Divine (by any name you like), though I do not believe it is possible to humanize it into a truly understandable format. Many of the earliest theological works adamantly state this point, and I believe it valid.

I have formally studied World Religions in school. I also enjoy esoteric philosophies and have reviewed the works of Hermes, among others. Some of the most personally relevant opinions I’ve read on the existence of a higher power have come from “Stalking the Wild Pendulum”, a book about alternative physics.

I follow the core beliefs in right & wrong that virtually every religion on earth has professed at one point or another. Very few religions can lay claim to any moral code that is truly unique. I also exercise common sense. In this respect I do not consider myself a ‘buffet style’ spiritualist and I have never used faith as an excuse to violate secular laws or personal morality.

It is my belief that in the end, all roads lead to the same summit. I have no issue with other forms of belief. I do not believe any are more ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ than another, in and of themselves. Issues like subverting religion to serve the political mechanisms of man are a by-product of humanities inherent flaws and the need of some to control the many. Few religions actually mandate such behaviour. In fact, many directly oppose it -- including those whose members try the hardest to do otherwise. So many overlook this crucial difference.

Annnnnd... that's me.

 

[Dodger712]

I try to adhere to the Wiccan idea of the power of three: All the good I put out into the world will be rewarded three times a good, all the bad, three times as bad. I tend to be a rather easily hurt person and used to fantasize about really wrecking some revenge on the people I saw as having done me wrong. Now I try to stop myself and remind "ME" that these thoughts are counterproductive and that holding on to this hurt is like allowing a cancer to eat me up spiritually and emotionally. I am doing better. Due to lack of privacy, I am not able to go out and practice my Wicca in the full moon like I'd like to. Was able to once and it was a high I have not felt before in all the time I sat in church chosen by my parents. I had to finally tell them that I have chosen a different path from them but I'll see them in whatever eternity is. Part of what I love about Wicca is the ritual and that i can be actively involved, not a passive participant forced to sit still and watch. I still pray to the Christian God but I also say prayers to the god and goddess. When I "discovered" Wicca and read books by Scott Cunningham, my spiritual side fell into place and I saw the world much different from that time onward.

 

[bulge]

My religion is Male-to-Male, Cock-to-Cock. Period.

 

[JASON0980]

I am a solitary wiccan. I practice the wiccan faith, but i don't feel the need to join a coven or try to organize it into a set of rules. i was very christian for a long time but it just started to feel forced. it became more of "the thing to do" and less than a belief.

 

[Nomenclature]

I consider myself agnostic, but i've spoken to a few people who practice zen buddhism, and it seems kind of interesting.

 

[BigBoss]

Agnostic, and basic Moral and Ethical values derived from Islam. That includes "Human Rights and certain beliefs when it comes to acceptance of God."

However I deviate from Islam in terms of " Worshiping in traditional way, Homosexuality, terms with non-Muslims"

My Moral grounds are also based on logic and equality.

 

[StationToStation]

Who on here practises a non-traditional religion, i.e. Buddhism, Wicca, Paganism, Taoism, your own spiritual system, etc.?

I'm personally an eclectic Pagan. I have my own very specific and unique spiritual beliefs. I sort of springboarded off of Wicca onto my own beliefs, which involve everything from quantum physics to Taoism.

Some people may argue that including science in your religion invalidates your beliefs, but I've read some books with very intriguing theories that made so much sense to me that I couldn't help but include them in my spiritual system.

What about you?

Note to the mods: I put this here instead of in the Religion subforum because I believe it will get more responses here.

a klonopin popping pagan suffering from caffeine withdrawl, i love that one.

i believe in a higher power, it may be an power like time, math, warmth, aliens, etc i just chose not to worship it.

 

[StationToStation]

I'm very atheist/agnostic, but open to things about: lucid dreaming, other planes of existence (new agey kind of stuff), astral projection, deja vu, etc. I have a friend that's into anthroposophy and theosophy, so I guess that's part of why I'm open to it. I also think the collision between psychedelic drugs, especially DMT, and alternative religions is pretty interesting too.

yeah when i dropped acid, i could see portals and glowy things.

 

[StationToStation]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssC77hapv0g



The irony between your first and second posts in this thread makes me giggle very hard.

lol, does religion believe in humor??? is more like it

 

[StationToStation]

Who on here practises a non-traditional religion, i.e. Buddhism, Wicca, Paganism, Taoism, your own spiritual system, etc.?

I'm personally an eclectic Pagan. I have my own very specific and unique spiritual beliefs. I sort of springboarded off of Wicca onto my own beliefs, which involve everything from quantum physics to Taoism.

Some people may argue that including science in your religion invalidates your beliefs, but I've read some books with very intriguing theories that made so much sense to me that I couldn't help but include them in my spiritual system.

What about you?

Note to the mods: I put this here instead of in the Religion subforum because I believe it will get more responses here.

The real funny thing here is you post this in hot topics, there will be "flames" thrown in this thread, as you have just done to me with that youtube vid.

If you are so pagan and connected, and wanted a serious and no flamed discussion about this topic you could have posted in the religion forum.

I'm only interjecting some humor and my two cents.

 

[StationToStation]

I never claimed to be "connected". I'm the first to admit that I have a lot of developing and growing to do before I can even begin to say I'm on my path to enlightenment.

I just didn't expect catty fags like you to try and start shit where there was no reason to.

again why this wasn't posted in the religion forum, so nasty things like this can be said.

 

[StationToStation]

Would you have posted what you said in here if it had been in the religion forum?

'Nuff said.

Honestly probably not, but hot topics is my stomping ground.

 

[StationToStation]

There, fixed that for ya.

thank god (no religious pun intended) i have a sense of humor.

look man, i have been here and done this before, it's hot topics, not everyone is going to agree with you, kiss your ass, live up to your threads dream of holiness (again no religious pun intended) just shake it off.

 

[teadrinker]

Does rational skepticism, secular humanism count?

I thought not. As you were, lads.

-T.

 

[soulseeker]

I am a witch too. Want to connect with other witches. .