Leaving religion

[PlazaPeej]

It looks like you have rejected these religions because of political concerns.

I rejected religion more for it being based on nonsense.

But, whatever works for you.

One more of us, one less of them.

Me too, the more I studied, the more a crock it showed itself to be.

Not to mention of course that most of the hatred and killing in the world is largely due to differences in religion.

Conclusion.

Religion = BAD!

 

[seven_sins]

I purged religion out of my system a long time ago. Call it self cleansing or exorcism.

I really never had to purge it. For as long as I can remember, it never made much sense to me.

 

[Maelstrom]

Your post has made me change how I feel about religion.
Until now, I would be the first person to congratulate someone for leaving any religion. But now I think that if there were a religion that was totally about peace and cooperation and inclusiveness, that forbade any form of racial or ethnic discrimination, that forbade any form of aggression, that encouraged each person using her or his mind to its fullest potential, I'd be all for it. And even if it didn't encourage each person to use their mind to its fullest potential, at least kept the masses docile (meaning, not being aggressive toward peoples of other religions).

Of course, there is no such religion as that. In fact, religion and such a belief system seem to be mutually exclusive.

Umm, actually there is a religion very close to this ideal which you have described. It is the ancient religion, Jainism of India. Which fundamentally preaches absolute non violence. They believe weird stuff just like the rest of the 5000 other religions, but a fundamentalist Jain will become even more peaceful. Unlike other religious fundamentalists which kill, and blow things up. (this is not limited to Islam)

I am all for people leaving religion, I feel that religion makes this life unimportant to those that believe, because they have the "afterlife" (or some type of reward at death) to look forward to. However I feel that the OP has left his religion for an odd reason. It seems like you want to believe in something but nothing fits your style. I would suggest you think over why you really don't believe anymore. For me it is simple, There is no evidence for any of it. That and more people have died in the name of "god" then for any other reason. I just find it all very sickening.

The more people who don't believe, the better off the human race will be.

Good luck.

 

[Maelstrom]

I've had several friends who are Jains.
(And interestingly, they were some of the most deeply-closeted, in terms of their families, gay/lesbian people I have known.)

I don't think it would be accurate to say that Jainism encourages each person to use his mind to its full potential.

I can honestly say I don't know any jains personally, I felt that Jainism was the closest religion to the ideal which you wrote. My information comes only from what I have read.

"Jainism encourages spiritual development through reliance on and cultivation of one's own personal wisdom and self-control. The goal of Jainism is to realize the soul's true nature.To attain "nirvana" and to end the cycle of life and death."

Were your friends closeted because they were jains? Or was it just correlation? I am honestly just curious.

Nothing is perfect. I just, would like for other religions to take note that religion does not have to involve killing people. They should take some lessons from the jains IMHO.