Benefits of your Religion

[indescribable]

Okay, I don't normally like to post in the 'side forums' especially the religion one, since I am here for the lucid dreaming, but this is something that I wanted to give a try. I have no idea if this has ever been done, but I would like to know why you believe what you do, and what you feel that you receive / benefit from your religion / non-religion. This is NOT a "who's religion is better" thread. It's just to learn what other people love about what they believe. If you want, you can also post any downsides of your religion as well. Please do NOT make fun of / post rude comments about another person's beliefs though. I am hoping that at least a few people will post here, if not then, oh well. I'm just so tired of all the arguments over religion. It would be a nice change just to see WHY some people believe what they do. Thank you.

[RooJ]

Im RooJ and... Im an agnostic, What do I get out of it... Well I love pondering the possibilities, the answers to all the greatest and most confusing questions we face. To me openmindedness is everything and because of that in order to avoid clouding judgement I avoid solid unwavering belief systems. I didn't pick to be agnostic, Ive just always been, I love being able to listen to everyones opinions and to take them all on board so to speak, to process them without having to mentally defend a belief at the same time, and to spit them out if needed . but I would like to know why you believe what you do I believe in being agnostic because i dont believe we as humans have enough information to know the truth, we may take comfort in beliefs but the truth is we simply don't know for sure, and so to remain openminded is the only way forward in my eyes.

[Moonbeam]

I'm an atheist because there's no proof that anything supernatural exists. I take comfort in not wasting time on fairy tales and fantasies as if they were reality, not being primitive, and fighting ignorance.

[BeautifulDreamer]

I'm atheist because it's the only logical choice. With no proof or anything else, yeah.

[Replicon]

I'm agnostic, because after much introspection way back when, I decided that faith just isn't for me. I'm an applied scientist, so it kinda fits my personality. I chose to find a more satisfying device to deal with the unknowable. Instead of having faith in what it is, I come to terms with and acknowledge that it exists, and have found a way to coexist with it, and welcome it into my life. It also makes me a better person, as I can pour more energy into doing things that focus on living people, instead of doing things to guarantee a good seat in the afterlife. Why line up at the gate your whole life when there's so much to see? Of course, I can't put that eloquently enough, so I'll just quote my favourite line from "Good Omens": If you stopped tellin' people it's all sorted out after they're dead, they might try sorting it all out while they're alive.

[Marvo]

I'm an atheist because there's no proof that anything supernatural exists. I take comfort in not wasting time on fairy tales and fantasies as if they were reality, not being primitive, and fighting ignorance. .

[Keeper]

I'm a Christian/Creationist/God-Lover. My reasons for believing are quite a few. I will put down some fo them here: a) you cant disprove (or as some people say, prove) that God exists, so why not? If He exists, you are doing the right thing. If not *shrug* b) Sub section of a), People couldn't prove that the world was round back in the day (no, not the recent past, not even the Greeks. I'm talking long ago) and even found ways of proving the world was flat. What stands up now may get knocked down latter. c) If God exists then (by my definition) He Created everything (I direct my prayers to the Creator, who I call my Father). If He Created me, then I should do what He says, after all, If you make a computer, you expect it do obey you, and if you have a Dog, it should do what you ask. As I see it, we are far less compaired to God then a Dog is compaired to us. Advantages: Doing what we where made to do, living with the Creator at all times (sort of like spending time with the family), having a clear-cut set of moral codes (not that Athiest dont, everyone does), etc. need more?

[indescribable]

Thank you for all the responses so far.

[Kromoh]

I'm atheist, mainly for reasons already stated above. I had catholic education, but I left that religion as soon as I got to my "questioning existance" stage. I ackownledge there is so far no way to prove or disprove God or the like, but since I'm really skeptical I do not believe things tha tdon't have solid proof. Actually, I'd never believe lucid dreaming is possible if i hadn't experienced it myself previously. I'm ok with every religion - I'm not ok with institutions. I believe many churches exist mostly to get money out of people and to make them stop questioning their situation and just obbey someone's words (= brainwashing).

[homer2020]

Hi I'm homer2020 and I'm a Christian everyone: Hi homer2020 Well the benefit of me being a Christian is that I know where I'm going when I die. By the way this topic has been done, but probably turned into a flame war, go figure. I could say more but you'll have to wait.

[indescribable]

By the way this topic has been done, but probably turned into a flame war, go figure. Okay I thought it might have been done, but I didn't find anything when I did a search. Too bad it turned into an argument...

[Half/Dreaming]

I'm an atheist because there's no proof that anything supernatural exists. I take comfort in not wasting time on fairy tales and fantasies as if they were reality, not being primitive, and fighting ignorance. Careful, thats dangerous thinking. Not having proof is what faith is all about. I have "faith" that a conscious creator doesnt exist, even though i have no proof. It's a double edge sword. Determining your beliefs of the origion of the universe based on "logic" is dangerous, probably because all human logic is flawed. I dont believe because of the fallacies, hipocracys, or contradictions involved with all religions. If the conscious creator exists, he hasnt said a damn thing to humanity, unless he likes lying (woman came from man's rib? come on). I wonder why i keep saying "he" when i refer to god. Does it have a penis?

[Moonbeam]

Careful, thats dangerous thinking. Not having proof is what faith is all about. I have "faith" that a conscious creator doesnt exist, even though i have no proof. It's a double edge sword. Determining your beliefs of the origion of the universe based on "logic" is dangerous, probably because all human logic is flawed. Faith means believing something despite evidence to the contrary. I'm basing my opinion on the evidence I have. I don't really have any "beliefs" about the origin of the universe. There are lots of things people will never know, and are probably no capable of knowing.

[indescribable]

Thank you for your interest. But I would appreciate it if this thread was not as much about discussion, as arguments can start that way. I would like to avoid that as much as possible, and I don't wish to end up being responsible for any arguments between members. As I said, I started this thread so that people can post about their beliefs without feeling pressured in any way. Thanks again.

[Nekratal]

Thanks for making this thread. When I normally tell people what religion they automatically think I am a bad person (which I can understand), but this gives me a chance to explain myself. here is the main philosophy of my religion. Satanists do not believe that Satan is a god; rather, the function of God is performed and satisfied by the Satanist him/herself. That is, the needs of worship, ritual, and religious/spiritual focus are directed, effectively, inwards towards the Satanist, as opposed to outwards, towards God. LaVey proposes instead that as all gods are creations of man, worship of an external deity is worship of its creator by proxy. He suggests, then, that the rational Satanist should instead internalize his god, and therefore worship himself; hence the Satanic maxim, "I am my own god." Fundamental individualism Satanism is often mistaken as being a religion that encourages cruelty and irresponsible behaviour, but LaVey's brand is very different. Central is the idea inherited from Nietzsche that an individual must enforce his own meaning on life and rise above the perceived conformity of the masses. The Satanist is seen as equivalent to Nietzsche's Übermensch; LaVey claimed "Satanists are born, not made" and that "[Satanists] have a disease called independence that needs to be recognized just like alcoholism." There is a libertarian element here; diversity is encouraged, everyone is expected to discover their own sexuality, chart their own personality, and decide their own ambitions in life. In this stress on individuality, Satanism is considered a "Left-Hand Path" religion. Here are some of the things this religion SUGGESTS 1.When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there. 2. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal. 3.Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved. 4.Do not harm little children. 5. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food. 6. When walking in open territory, bother no one. I personally think these are very smart. I have benefited from this in that I feel I can do whatever I want in my life, and not feel bad about anything I do. I feel that most satanists benefit the world ( there are always a few people in the world that are just plain idiots), such as I am basically a vegetarian. So I am not the cause of pointless animal slaughter. Comments on this are appreciated (please don't say anything about me being stupid for believing this or anything)

[Keeper]

that is interesting (I remember someone saying that to me once but I have never heard it from a Satanist himself/herself.) Just one question though: What do you call someone who worships Satan?

[Moonbeam]

Satanists do not believe that Satan is a god; rather, the function of God is performed and satisfied by the Satanist him/herself. That is, the needs of worship, ritual, and religious/spiritual focus are directed, effectively, inwards towards the Satanist, as opposed to outwards, towards God. Why bother calling yourself a Satanist then? If this is the Satanist philosophy, why do they use the name of one of the main bad guys in the monotheistic religions? Seems like bad advertising for such a benign sounding philosophy. Yea, what Keeper asked--do real devil worshippers not get to call themselves Satanists because you guys took the name already?

[Nefarious]

I dont have a religion thus I am free from any rituals or whatever. I am not an atheist I belive that there is a god or something but no one really knows about it so maybe there isnt. Since I dont know anything about god or weather it exists or not I might belive in certain things because belif makes people feel better. Its easy to belive in things you dont fully understand when you try to understand it trough spirituality. Its the beauty of the human mind that we can imagine and try to understand things we dont really know much about in a logical way. What I belive is that god if he exists then its a system like almost everything esle that is complicated in our world. And everything that is happening somehow tied to this system we call god. See what I mean this imagination of mine god as a system is the beauty of the human mind. I have no idea what god is yet I imagine it as something that we humans can understand and its logical and makes sense even if its not true. Basicly I belive religions are all about gaining control over people, and an open minded human should create his own belifs and not follow someone elses.

[BeautifulDreamer]

I find the idea of Satanism a good religion. All they want is to be free from ideals of others. Atheism is the only other religion I can think of that really provides this.

[Replicon]

Hey Nekratal, welcome to DV! I've created a separate thread just for satanism, since indescribable wants to minimize discussion in this one. It would be nice if you could infuse it with your wisdom .

[Nekratal]

To answer the keeper's question, people who worship satan are called theistic satanists. To answer moonbeam's question, satan in this religion represents many things that we stands for. For example he represents indulgence insted of abstinence. This brand of satanism is different from atheism in that people in this religion think of them selves as a god. This philosophy can be benign or not depending on the individual, that in my opinion is the beauty of it. Oh and thanks for welcoming me to the fourm. I wont say anything else about it on this thread. ps. Nefarious, your picture is awsome.

[Nekratal]

Hey nefarious, DIMMU BORGIR!!!!!!!

[joey11223]

Well I can't PROVE 100% that God doesn't exist, but since im 99% sure a God doesn't, i will still class myself as Atheist, i think being 100% can be a bad thing, just as being 100% Christian and not listening to other reason can be a bad thing. Being an Atheist just means i don't worry about all this torture when i die and all the other stuff, i just live my life the best i can, if i can help improve our race for future generations then that's a bonus, since that's what we need to survive. I think we are just very intelligent animals, no point fretting about all this supernatural business, it doesn't effect day to day life for me. Also i have my family to look after, no matter what anyone says, i couldn't honor a God more then my mother, she is my creator as far as i am concerned, i couldn't ignore her and do as another being who in my personal opinion hasn't helped me at all and wasn't caring for me every day of my life for 3 years when i was very sick baby. Although i suppose the benefit of religion is( although many people i know do spend time asking questions since they worry about going to hell sometimes, a very upsetting existence in my opinion), that you are happy that your going to paradise when you die, this means that even if this life is horrible for you, you take comfort in heaven. If your wrong, you'll never know because your dead, if your right, well good for you.

[Neruo]

Well I can't PROVE 100% that God doesn't exist, but since im 99% sure a God doesn't, i will still class myself as Atheist, i think being 100% can be a bad thing, just as being 100% Christian and not listening to other reason can be a bad thing. I completely agree. Any Atheist that claims to be 100%-certain of his own truth is a retard. Anyone who thinks he is right under every circumstance is a retard, in my book I am just 99% certain there is no creating god. And I am 99.99999% sure the god from the bible is nonsense. - I don't really know what atheism brings me, I can't compair it to an other. I however am completely certain that I rather at least be able to look at things reasonably objectively, then to be covered by a veil of cozy un-proven populistic group-based emotional fairytales, not being able ever to see the world from an other perspective ever again.