Thought help: I dont follow any religion but am interested in the principles of different ones. - Help.com

nope, i think death is final, but im interested to know if im right. uhm…i dont like the idea of coming back

I believe in an afterlife I can’t see the point of life afterwards

sorry otherwise not afterwards

In general, the principles of all religions are the same. If you shift through the BS and the dogma to the core of the beliefs, there is very little variation.

Religion is not for me. I don’t want someone telling me what to believe, how to act, what to do, etc. I don’t want a community to conform to. I don’t feel the need to believe in a God who will help me through the rough times. I choose to believe in myself. If there is a deity, I believe that they have already given me everything I could possibly ask for. I don’t need them to help - but there’s certainly no reason not to say thank you every now and again.

I don’t believe in Heaven and Hell - although I do believe that people have the ability to punish and/or reward themselves. If Hell exists, it is because people have judged themselves unworthy, not because some almighty being has declared them to be bad.

I don’t believe there is any one right idea about the world and the universe - I think you make it into whatever you want it to be. What you believe is real, even if only to you.

I don’t think anyone could ever be right, because everything is always changing, and nothing truly is right. “Right” and “good” are words, feelings that we have created, and attach to objects and ideas, in order to categorize and simplify the world. But things just are. They aren’t good or bad. Life is neutral - life is what you make it.

I believe in at least a form of reincarnation, because nothing can be created or destroyed. I don’t believe the universe ever began - it has always been. In my mind, that is more logical than something coming from nothing.

And you should not say that Allah encourages people to lead ‘bad’ lives, because that is not true. Islam is very similar to Christianity, especially when you break them both down to the core beliefs. There are differences - but those tend to be differences of culture. Many of the ‘bad’ things done in the name of Islam do not actually follow the true beliefs laid out in the Quoran. Do not fall victim to the media - “Muslim extremists” are not really Muslims. They are not acting out of faith - it is all political.

Oh sorry, I did not see ANY sarcasm in that sentence - but if you say it was there, I’ll believe you. :)

People do use religion as an excuse to get away with things and to avoid making an effort - but I do not think that is the fault of religion. That is the fault of the people who will not face responsibility for their actions. If there were no religion, they would simply find something else to blame - the government, other people in their lives, nature, etc.

Religion is truly about living up to a standard in life, trying your best to be good and do well, not hide and take the easy way out. But because there is so much padding around these beliefs, people pick and choose and they tend to end up ignoring the most important parts.

I’m your stalker misteeq fan, you were one of the first people I talked to when I came to this site. And what a coincidence, we were both on a post about religion debating our views:)

I live by one simple belief…one that makes me feel good about myself and good about those who have wronged me:

Good people will be rewarded and bad people will be dealt with in the long run…

I suppose I believe in karma huh?

This world is indeed a bit of a joke. But it’s the only one we have and I love it despite its many faults. It is important to consider that it is not the world itself which is to blame, but people. Humans suck, let’s get real. The best thing we can do is to get on with life and live it the best we can. There’s nothing better than life, I just count myself lucky that I was chosen to live by some force out there. Who doesn’t love the warm sun shining on one’s face, to listen to birdsong at dawn, to breathe in crisp, fresh air under a clear blue sky? An idealistic image perhaps, but life is there to be used. As someone said, ‘life loves to be taken by the lapels and told, ‘I’m with you kid. Let’s go.’

About heaven and hell. I truly hope there isn’t. You can ********** for the most minor misdemeanours.

I was censored for simply writing about arriving in a place called hell

I think we’re already in hell.

Mills, come on now mate, I think maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration. Or maybe you’re prety close to the truth. Anyway, all I know is that people like us know nothing about the hell that others such as in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Afghanistan and all those other afflicted-countries experience. The world can be a b**** sometimes but it’s not hell, at least not for us.

Yeah it was an exaggeration. I don’t know what lies out there after death for us all. Maybe something good, maybe something bad, maybe nothing at all. I hope I experience the good though.

Don’t we all.

I would hope so, cuz I don’t think anybody wants to be cooking in this.

hehe

I know if I ever came back as an animal I would want to be a “Killer Whale!” They have no known predators and rule the sea, but mate for life and have family units. They also have fun in the social circles ~smiles~.

The truth is no one knows ****. They can speculate all they want about where you go and for what reasons.

I have a hard time finding our existance to not have some kind of higher intelligence intermingled in the design of our realities, but I am incapable of giving it a name.

I guess you could say philosophically I am a Jew ~chuckles~ because I believe in an eye for an eye, and I love kosher foods, but I don’t buy into all the dogmatic crap that goes along with religion. Chronologically I am considered a Quantum Physicists because of my intellectual views, and I am happy with that because I do not say there is no design out there. I jsut tell the truth that I don’t know what it is.

I do know that Christians, Muslims and most religions have it all wrong and only use their books to control the masses with fear of hellfire. This isn’t neccesarily a bad thing to keep people in line ~chuckles~. Without fear soceity gets a little crazy! ~smiles~.

I just treat nice people nicely, and mean people with the retribution and vengeance they deserve ~smiles~.

Chronologically? Hmmm I meant Technically by definition. ~laughs~

I really believe we create our own heaven and our own hell. It is within us to believe these things. I tend to be spiritual, although not religious. Even though I was brought up Christian I don’t follow the teachings of one religion in particular. I like to try and follow the example set by some of the good things that have come out of many religions around the world …especially teachings in tolerance and compassion.

I read an interesting paragraph last night about the philosopher, Baruch Spinoza. It reads…

“Spinoza contended the real content of religion did not concern the nature of God, but rather with guiding people to do what is morally right through stories and precepts. Thus, religion is a system of moral and political control and all religions are equally valid, insofar as they perform this task effectively.”

I really tend to see religion more as an extension of the ancient laws and customs appropriate for time period in which they were written. Scientific fact and theory has offered me a better explanation about life and evidence as to the way things work within and around me. Its more appealing because it is about observation and detailed relationships of everything from a live cell to a pulsating star. Of course religion really has a lot to do with how one is raised and what they are brought up to believe in. My grandfather is a minister, yet my folks were scientists and teachers and so I was brought up with a bit of both. I read this article a couple of weeks ago which made sense to me…

“Adults may resist scientific facts because of childhood experiences. Yale University psychologists note that before children can even speak, they develop common-sense assumptions about the physical world that can persist into adulthood and clash with scientific discoveries. For instance, because objects fall down if not held up, kids may have trouble accepting the world is round, reasoning that things on the other side should naturally fall off. Intuitive notions concerning psychology also lead children to see everything as designed for some reason–for example, a cloud’s purpose might be to rain–which can lead to opposition to evolution. In reporting their work in the May 18 Science, the researchers also note that when both adults and kids obtain knowledge from others, they judge claims based on how much they trust the source of an assertion. It suggests that science will meet exaggerated resistance in societies where alternative views are championed by trustworthy authorities, such as political or religious figures.” August 2007; Scientific American Magazine; by Charles Q. Choi

Of course I do respect other’s rights to believe though. Some things have yet to be proven to the contrary - just as science has yet to prove some of its theories as facts. :)

And no …don’t want to return …at least not as a human. :))

I dont think it can hurt believing in Heaven what have you got to lose anyhow. If your wrong you’ll just end up in the ground with all the rest

Yeah kids are brainwashed ~chuckles~.

Do I come back to earth when I die?

The problem isn’t the “come back.” The problem is the “I.”

One hand clapping.