I don't know what I am

[Idolfan]

All I know is that I have decided to worship science itself. Religious aspects of my life such as archetype worship will be designed by me for my own needs because I know they are not absolute. The thing is, I really have no interest to join any religious groups of this sort; especially since the proposed temples are going to be called 'atheons'. I felt as if my instinctive hatred for whatever created the universe was some kind of defining point for me. Basically, I believe that whatever created this universe was ignorant and blind. Since man, hardened by natural selection, is the only animal who has any intuition to alter and ponder the universe, I see man as the godhead. With computers and other technology we will be able to create sentiency ourselves, and construct worlds which truly are products of 'intelligent design'. Because of my beliefs I have studied Satanism, which shares a lot of the concepts I agree with. In life, I deify my own aesthetics and carnality and have found that to be the most stable way for me to live; I also employ a lot of psychodrama. I would have thought I could identify as one due to my supposed rebellion to God, however I have found that at least many of the individuals within Satanism also tend to champion the law of the jungle (as does Anton LaVey), which is the very thing I was rebelling against in the first place! Meaningless brutality is good enough for shaping a god himself, given about four billion long years, but surely trying to fit that into modern society is a step backwards. I realise now that I was chasing a label. If I love the Jesus archetype but do not call myself a Christian, then what place do I have to call myself a Satanist just because I love the Satan archetype? I wouldn't have been so bothered about trying to define myself when I am agnostic to the universe. But I really do want to get it straight that I deify knowledge for one particular reason: that, once you understand your environment, suffering is no longer required for survival. We have evolved an uncontrollable fear and 'victim' response to danger because we did not know any better. But now that we can understand things, it offers a gateway out of despair. So, if I believe these following things to be core: 1) We are gods 2) We create the grand purpose (it's not there for us) 3) Universal hedonism 4) Science is holy What am I?

[Oneironaut Zero]

You're, basically, just an agnostic, who is trying to fit non-religious concepts into religious contexts.

[Tyler]

You are You, and that's it. There isn't any need to figure out what you should be labled as, whether it be Christian, Satanist, or any other label. You are Idolfan.

[Invader]

Gods that are still figuring out how their universe works. That doesn't exactly work. Something for you to think on.

[Keldario]

You are right and you have the right to believe what is your truth. No matter what label you attempt to give yourself, you are an eternal being looking for answers in life. However, can you begin to see that this identity you have created for yourself is only temporary and that when this life ends, you will begin anew in the next existence and perhaps even remember that it was you who was part in creating the universe that we all live in?

[AirRick101]

as long as you keep asking, there will be no answers, for having an answer only leads to more questions.

[TraumKommissar]

You're, basically, just an agnostic, who is trying to fit non-religious concepts into religious contexts. but if say you don't understand how a computer works, and you worship a computer, or view it as some holy device, is that still non-religous. lolwut

[SteadyState]

Seems like your trying to search for something that defines your beliefs. Stop searching and just believe what you want to believe. If you truly stick to your principles and core values on this topic, then why would you ever need a label?

[elucid]

Here is my suggestion to you. Stop trying to create a religion for yourself. Just live natural, see how that shapes you and your "religion". Also, since your are working on your religious beliefs, I believe that the question you asked of "what am I?" should suffice and you do not need to go any further than this question, find the answer to this and you shall find many things your were looking for. I recommend spiritual practices that are very simple and not necessarily a religion, such as Humbleness, contentment, loving-kindness, equanimity, charity, determination, truthfulness, patience, strengthen these areas of your life through practice. I highly recommend meditation for the type of question you asked. Also check out Buddhism

[Zhaylin]

When I was a teen, I had studied and practiced so many different paths that I was one hugely confused mess. I adopted whatever I liked about each path and melded it into something uniquely mine. My real name is April. Whenever people asked me, back then, what my religion was, I'd tell them "April's Religion". *shrug* I understand the need for labels even though I rebel against it. For me, it helps me find my "place" among others and helps me identify more easily with both myself and those I meet. Just try not to get too concerned with it. For better or worse, we are who we are. All of us are unique and it's hard to box us in.

[Jorge]

Theirs no need to label yourself bro, realize this and you will be set free.

[Philosopher8659]

Well, one has to ask the question--then one has to be bright enough to answer it. Now, let us start with science. A living organism survives by what it does with things it acquires from the environment. A simple definition would be something like, An environmental acquisition system of a living organism is that system of an organism which must acquire something from the environment, process that which it has acquired for a product that maintains and promotes the life of that organism. Now, back to religion, this gives us the sacred seven. 1) The respiratory system. 2) The digestive system. 3) The ocular system. 4) The vestibular system. 5) The manipulative system. 6) The procreative system. 7) The judgmental system. After all, a truly rational person would remember that a definition determines class membership---which means it determines assertion and denial--which is independent of man or gods. Thus one can say that I am that environmental acquisition system which must acquire from my experiences the forms of behavior that maintain and promote my life. Not very hard, you know. Plato once called it the virtue of the soul. Or back to religion, we are a beast of seven eyes and seven horns. Seven ways to perceive and seven means to protect our lives. We exist so that the body can have life, and have it more abundantly. One cannot predicate of a first principle--life itself. One can simply embrace it or deny it. Directly knowing the self is impossible. Relation to self is inadmissible. However, when the mind becomes functional, learns reason, one acquires a new method of seeing what is not to be seen any other way. What we are, and what we are suppose to be doing, is therefore not up to us to determine, but to discover. Relation to self is inadmissible. Free to will is a complience with design, free from will is a dysfunction relative to design.

I don't know what to say to you. I suggest you don't ask me for advice. I would lead you in a different direction.

[Neo Neo]

I find that things usefully fall into place as they should, I would just try to chill out about this. We are who we are, and we don't need other labels or "religions" to define ourselves. I don't have a specific label or religion that fits what I exactly believe in, but its ok. Its part of myself, just as music is.

I find that things usefully fall into place as they should, I would just try to chill out about this. We are who we are, and we don't need other labels or "religions" to define ourselves. I don't have a specific label or religion that fits what I exactly believe in, but its ok. Its part of myself, just as music is. Music can defined you but Religion can't?