Which Religion?

Splendour

Ok, I want you to let go of your logical thinking and empirical evidence for a bit and imagine you had to pick a 'religion'.
Which one would you choose and as far as your hypothetical choice goes-why this particular religion?

Galvasean

Atheism

- because if you ask many of the posters over in the Christianity forum they will tell you it is a religion.

Or better yet 'Scientism'! :pac::eek::eek::D:eek:

MrPudding

Evolutionism for me.

MrP

Splendour

Ok, let me be more specific. I'm talking about a belief in a 'god' of some sort.

Your choices are as follows from the most popular 'religions':

1. Christianity
2. Islam
3. Judaism
4. Shikism
5. Buddhism
6. Hinduism

robindch

Jainism would probably do it for me, but they haven't really created a god figure, so it's probably not what you want. From your list, I'd choose Buddhism, as it's from the same general atheistic direction as Jainism.

btw, are you aware that Buddhism doesn't posit a supreme being?

Galvasean

Splendour wrote: »

Ok, let me be more specific. I'm talking about a belief in a 'god' of some sort.

Your choices are as follows from the most popular 'religions':

1. Christianity
2. Islam
3. Judaism
4. Shikism
5. Buddhism
6. Hinduism

Bah! No love for Scientology? I wanna see aliens damnit!

Asiaprod

robindch wrote: »

Jainism would probably do it for me, but they haven't really created a god figure, so it's probably not what you want. From your list, I'd choose Buddhism, as it's from the same general atheistic direction as Jainism.

btw, are you aware that Buddhism doesn't posit a supreme being?

Guess I`d have to pick Buddhism:)

@Robin, just curious, why Jainism

Splendour

robindch wrote: »

Jainism would probably do it for me, but they haven't really created a god figure, so it's probably not what you want. From your list, I'd choose Buddhism, as it's from the same general atheistic direction as Jainism.

btw, are you aware that Buddhism doesn't posit a supreme being?

Yep-know that about Buddhism.
So, given Buddhism is on the list, we can add Jainism -am sure there are tons of others too.
Why this religion? As I don't know alot about it, I'm curious as to why you would choose it.

Splendour

Galvasean wrote: »

Bah! No love for Scientology? I wanna see aliens damnit!

Scientology eh? Ok then-apart from your love of aliens :rolleyes: - why Scientology??

Galvasean

Splendour wrote: »

Scientology eh? Ok then-apart from your love of aliens :rolleyes: - why Scientology??

Well TBH, it offers the chance to meet aliens. None of the other big religions do that.

edit: oh yeah, I wouldn't come in here rolling my eyes at someone for seeking out aliens. It is no more crazy than someone seeking out God. Perhaps less.

Splendour

Galvasean wrote: »

Well TBH, it offers the chance to meet aliens. None of the other big religions do that.

edit: oh yeah, I wouldn't come in here rolling my eyes at someone for seeking out aliens. It is no more crazy than someone seeking out God. Perhaps less.

The rolling eyes were more of a 'why would anyone want to meet aliens anyway' rather than the fact as to whether or not they actually exist...

Galvasean

Splendour wrote: »

The rolling eyes were more of a 'why would anyone want to meet aliens anyway' rather than the fact as to whether or not they actually exist...

Assuming they arent the anal probey type it would be a great experience. Imagine how privileged you'd feel to be one of the few who made contact with an intelligent race from another planet. Who knows, they might even divulge some of the secrets of the universe!

robindch

Asiaprod wrote: »

@Robin, just curious, why Jainism

Mostly because I've never see a war, or even mild civil strife, started by Jainists -- it seems a most peaceful religion, hardly even warranting the term in the strict sociological sense.

From the wikipage, the best of its (edited) main points are:

1. Regard every living being as yourself and harm no one.
2. Every soul is the architect of its own life and destiny.
3. Non-violence is the soul of good conduct.
4. Limit your possessions
5. Enjoy the company of the better qualified

All of which seem rather honorable to me.

Hivemind187

Splendour wrote: »

Ok, let me be more specific. I'm talking about a belief in a 'god' of some sort.

Your choices are as follows from the most popular 'religions':

1. Christianity
2. Islam
3. Judaism
4. Shikism
5. Buddhism
6. Hinduism

Well the first three are mainly about guilt and plastique.

The 4th is about not liking the 3rd.

The 5th is a bit too "Blossoms fall gently on spring water" to which the Buddah responded "Ah, but the lark sings in many voices" for my tastes.

The 6th has too many elephants.

I'm wondering why you are asking this? Consideirng that for the most part logic, evidence and rationality are at the core of most of the posters on this forums worldview it seems a little peculiar to ask them to "put it aside".

Put another way, its a bit like asking a Christian "Putting the existance of god and the holy trinity aside for the minute, which of this short list of alternative religions would you pick to believe in".

ChocolateSauce

I'd choose Judaism....because I'm tired of being poor. And they make better scientists and better comedians than the others.

Although I'm sure Jehova's Witnesses would know the best knock knock jokes.

Shinji Ikari

Buddhism, Zen Buddhism to be more specific.

marco_polo

Mormon - giggidy giggidy .


*Whistles bilssfully* "Joseph Smith was a prophet, dumb da-dumb-dumb-dumb"

Red Hand

I'd go for one of the main Aztec religions. Who among ye first wants to have their chest ripped open and have my hand in there, digging out their heart?

Form an orderly queue now!

Dades

What, no noodley appendages?

Zillah

I'd totally become a violently Islamic nut. That sounds awesome. Truly believing you're an avatar of God's wrath against the infidel, has to be empowering. Just think back to all those AK-47 rallies where we see thousands of furious Muslims screaming DEATH TO BUSH!

That sounds liberating.

pH

No love for the Rastafarians?

If I *had* to pick ... worshipping the man-God Haile Selassie, smoking dope and great music!

"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man."
Psalms 104:14

Amen to that.

Dades

Zillah wrote: »

I'd totally become a violently Islamic nut. That sounds awesome. Truly believing you're an avatar of God's wrath against the infidel, has to be empowering. Just think back to all those AK-47 rallies where we see thousands of furious Muslims screaming DEATH TO BUSH!

That sounds liberating.

I knew this quote would come in handy:

Zillah wrote: »

Intolerance is great!

getz

how about wicker its one of oldest - if you do not like someone put a spell on him or her

Pompey Magnus

The only religion I could go for would be some form of Deism. It is entirely plausable when compared to the revealed religions and makes no major demands on its followers.

Tim Robbins

Splendour wrote: »

Ok, let me be more specific. I'm talking about a belief in a 'god' of some sort.

Your choices are as follows from the most popular 'religions':

1. Christianity
2. Islam
3. Judaism
4. Shikism
5. Buddhism
6. Hinduism

1. Unitarianism. Because they are the only religion who are mature and intelligent enough to acknowledge the tentativeness of their beliefs.
2. Jainism. Because they promote peace.
3. Buddhism. Some interesting philosophy.
4. Quakers. Some interesting people and like Unitarians they don't claim to know the ins and outs of God and encourage you to have your own view.
5. Anglicanism / Roman Catholicism. The only intellectuals in Christianity have come from either of these Churches. Also I like the way they do a lot of humanitarian work. Trocaire and all that. I like the Catholic emphasis of forgiveness and they way both of them acknowledge Darwin, evolution and think the literalists / fundies / creationists are nutters.

Galvasean

Amish - I'm so fed up with electricity right now.

toiletduck

Origin for me, all hail the Ori!

Rev Hellfire

I'd go for that wicca stuff sure it'd be a great laugh with giving the ol evvvvvil eye and all that nakit sexual healing. Ohh baby.

It may as well be a fun religion if you have to have one.

Red Hand

Dades wrote: »

What, no noodley appendages?

"Oh ye of little faith, why have you forsaken your Lord for cheap TV dinners? Don't you know that His Noodlage, Our Lord Spaghetti, provideth when ye are in need?"-Book of Mamma's Ragu Recipe 20:2

mewso

Hicksism - I've just started writing the Good Book on this man. In about 2000 years they'll be arguing about his existence.

Splendour

Splendour wrote: »

Ok, let me be more specific. I'm talking about a belief in a 'god' of some sort.

Your choices are as follows from the most popular 'religions':

1. Christianity
2. Islam
3. Judaism
4. Shikism
5. Buddhism
6. Hinduism

Buddhsim as in the non-theistic one...?

DapperGent

Judaism for me. They seem to be the best at ignoring their own religion but I guess they've had the most practice.

OK-Cancel-Apply

Gun to my head to pick a religion? Hmmmm.. Satanism. Sounds cool.

Overheal

Banjo the Clown - God of Puppets!

rainbow kirby

Apart from Pastafarianism, I'd probably go with Buddhism.

aidan24326

Rev Hellfire wrote: »

It may as well be a fun religion if you have to have one.

I was thinking that too. Catholicism is just so boring. I think either something peaceful and zen-like, say buddhism, or just be a crazy islamic fundamentalist planning a mission to blow up the white house or something.

Or find a religion where god's instructions are to live a life of pure hedonism!

Sangre

Greek Mythology. I want my gods to have some balls. The whole thing is like a heavenly soap opera.

Galvasean

Sangre wrote: »

Greek Mythology. I want my gods to have some balls. The whole thing is like a heavenly soap opera.

You say that now. But when Zeus comes after your wife?

Sangre

I'd be flattered.

Galvasean

Sangre wrote: »

I'd be flattered.

And most likely sent on an all expenses paid trip to Hades

studiorat

Sufi-Mystic.

AtomicHorror

Galvasean wrote: »

Atheism

- because if you ask many of the posters over in the Christianity forum they will tell you it is a religion.

Or better yet 'Scientism'! :pac::eek::eek::D:eek:

I knew J C was someones's sock puppet!

WooPeeA

"There is one truth, the wise know it is called by different names."

I don't know who say that but I really like that quote. I try to treat all religions equally as there's no proof for anything.

But yeah, I believe in "something".. Or as the Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood (islamic writer) said:

Unless something is caused it does not exist. Everything in our universe is caused. Something therefore must be caused it. Whatever that cause was, that we may call God, even if we have no idea of that God is.

Unless something is moved by forces acting upon it, it does not move. Everything in the universe is in motion. Whatever it was that activated the whole lot, that may we call God.

Call it God, Allah, Supreme Being etc.. I think there must be something. And I believe in that our destination is not only "be born only to be death" as that would be a joke.. Of course I'm not sure that I'm right because I have no proofs (and no proofs against as well), but I hope for that.

I'm not a member of any religion and I'm not planing to become one. I don't even know is there name for people like me, but I found agnosticism as the closest description for myself.


+ I try to study all religions. I'm interested in that. Not to "find the only truth" as I'm not going to change my point of view on things but because there's many wise stories and morals in all religions. It can really help you become a better man. You'd be surprised how Christianity and Islam are similar to each other and that there would be no Christianity and Islam if there would be no Judaism etc...

CerebralCortex

toiletduck wrote: »

Origin for me, all hail the Ori!

Hallowed be the Ori.

Zillah

WooPeeA wrote: »

I don't know who say that but I really like that quote. I try to treat all religions equally as there's no proof for anything.

Me too!

I try to direct the same level of amused scorn at all religions. Sometimes I am weak though. For example, I have a habit of being more cruel to Christianity, Islam and Scientology, while letting others, such as the Jews and Jainists to get off easy.

I must learn to be better. Balance in all things.

Edit: I edited the wrong post. *slow clapping*

DanCorb

Galvasean wrote: »

Atheism

- because if you ask many of the posters over in the Christianity forum they will tell you it is a religion.

Then ask them will they fight for us to have tax exempt status, because that would be fair and non-discriminatory right? Their opinions on atheism as a religion might suddenly change.

WooPeeA

DanCorb wrote: »

Then ask them will they fight for us to have tax exempt status, because that would be fair and non-discriminatory right? Their opinions on atheism as a religion might suddenly change.

Good point!!

Galvasean

DanCorb wrote: »

Then ask them will they fight for us to have tax exempt status, because that would be fair and non-discriminatory right? Their opinions on atheism as a religion might suddenly change.

Wouldn't mind getting a tax break for doing sweet F all.

pH

Zillah wrote: »

I try to direct the same level of amused scorn at all religions. Sometimes I am weak though. For example, I have a habit of being more cruel to Christianity, Islam and Scientology, while letting others, such as the Jews and Jainists to get off easy.

I'll tell you who gets off real easy ... Buddhists that's who. I know, I know fellow atheists and all that but they really believe in a lot of nonsense.

I remember a couple of years ago watching a travel documentary, not sure who it was, but they visited a Buddhist monastery high in some mountains, that got snowed in and cut off for a large portion of every year. Care guess who lived there? 'Celibate' monks and young boys. The thing was, this was shown at the height of the catholic priest/institutional abuse scandals here in Ireland and the US, and yet the presenter gushed romantically about this lifestyle. To him (and I suspect 99% of viewers) these monks were obviously above any suspicion mainly because of this romantic view we have, but I can't see any reason why a Buddhist monk should behave any differently to a Catholic priest.

Dades

I'm sure our Buddhist mod Asiaprod will be along at some stage to comment!

pH wrote: »

I can't see any reason why a Buddhist monk should behave any differently to a Catholic priest.

The two cultures are like chalk and cheese. No need to tar them with the occasional horny old priest brush. :pac:

pH

Dades wrote: »

I'm sure our Buddhist mod Asiaprod will be along at some stage to comment!
The two cultures are like chalk and cheese. No need to tar them with the occasional horny old priest brush. :pac:

This is exactly what I mean, there's a knee-jerk reaction to defend Buddhists which I really find hard to understand. As a religion it suffers from exactly the same faults as all the others.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4551715.stm
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2387139,00.html

etc. etc.