Are you religious? Why or why not?
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I was raised in a devout Christian family. It never felt right to me. It just never felt capital "T" True.
After expressing that feeling at an early age, I was scolded and made to feel afraid of expressing any dissenting opinions about it. I guess I kind of internalized that fear, more as a coping mechanism than an actual belief.
When I got older, I rejected it outright, and went searching for the TRUE religion. I didn't find it, lol, and I began identifying as an atheist. Albeit, an atheist with a lot of knowledge of various religious and spiritual traditions.
Then, I read the Principia Discordia. That book changed my perspective on everything. It led me to Leary/Wilson's concept of reality tunnels. A person who only views things from one perspective (be that perspective religious, philosophical, scientific, or whatever) has a very narrow reality tunnel; a person who views things from multiple perspectives has a wider one. Our perception of reality is based on the perspectives we bring to it.
I think that most religions are structurally unsound as a whole. They fall apart under their own weight. But some of the discrete pieces of those religions can stand on their own, and when I find those pieces, I add them to my reality tunnel.
I'm drawn to non-dual forms of spirituality, because that's what feels true to me. I feel that way because of experiences I've had, or things that just feel true to me.
I don't expect anyone to feel the same way I do about it though. We don't have the same perspective, because we haven't had the same experiences. Expecting others to see things the way I do would be unfair, and wildly irrational.
It's funny you say this. After I became an apostate and left my faith, as I learned and grew behind that... I came to the conclusion that I knew what true salvation was now. Or at least perhaps one kind of salvation.
Salvation lies within ones ability to embrace different perspectives.
So much pain, struggling, and strife can be resolved by a change in perspective.
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Wow, this is so interesting. I feel like the fact that the Communist Party “stamps out” all types of religion is simply a testament to how important it is for humans to share with eachother something higher than our mortal plane. Would you be willing to share more about your experience with your grandparents, and how the culture has now switched to a vast majority practicing no religion at all?
It's not as interesting... three of my grandparents passed away before I started memorizing things so I don't know that much stuff first-hand. But basically... At least where my parents grew up, old folk religions (again... just referred to Mi Xin now) used to be quite common. The last generation (starting 30-40 years ago) just don't really practice them anymore, so my generation are full of complete non-religious people; not even any folk religion. Not sure if it has anything to do with that region being the manufacturing hub of China for a while... so maybe CCP had a much stronger influence there
Beijing is kinda duh, the government is there so... I mean it is the city that destroyed nearly all of its Hu Tongs and historical housing and stuff to build highrises/business districts, how would people imagine Beijing treat its less tangible cultural norms
There was a new religion purge that started sometime 10-15 years ago... but I think it was separate. I just remember there was a Christian family friend whose church was in a bit of a trouble
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I know this is meant to be a casual conversation and this topic can get deep fast, but I’d love to hear everyone's elevator pitch for their religion or lack thereof. peace and love<3
Like siempastrophe, I was not blessed with belief. I remember finding out that the adults at the church really believed the stories they were telling were true, when I was 5 or so.
I wouldn't say I am Atheist, with a capital A, either. No way to disprove, and the simple fact of physical existence is so mind-blowing, the universe existing at all, consciousness, time. But no I can't believe enough to believe in any particular religion as true.
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What type of community were you a part of before you chose to walk away?
Oh eons ago I was raised nondenominationally christian. My missing those things is less a reflection of having had them in the past, and more a reflection of having much less access to community in the present. I dont think I really appreciated those things about church when I was a kid, and while it wasn't a bad experience (except when I joined for adult service, which bored me to tears), I don't really want back the same kind of church experience I has when I was little. It was lots of kids activities that snuck in ideals about how to be a good person and worship practices.
But I have a circadian rhythm disorder that limits my ability to get together with other people cause everyone's asleep for the bulk of time I'm awake, so connection to other people is precious to me. I'd love to find a way to participate in that kind of fellowship and discuss how we strive to be people we can take pride in and build good lives and communities for ourselves
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I know this is meant to be a casual conversation and this topic can get deep fast, but I’d love to hear everyone's elevator pitch for their religion or lack thereof. peace and love<3
No.
When I was a kid my mom send my sister and I to bible camp. I spent time with friends and I didn’t shun the one kid with a developmental disability like everyone else. Not for any particular reason I just got along with him as well as my other friends.
Those motherfuckers gave me a TROPHY.
Looking back it was the beginning of the end of my religious journey. Now I just make the best of it with my fellow normies.
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I know this is meant to be a casual conversation and this topic can get deep fast, but I’d love to hear everyone's elevator pitch for their religion or lack thereof. peace and love<3
I'm somewhat religious as I believe some feelings are holy/otherworldly/peaceful but it's not bible religion and there is only one of me, not a group.
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? God guided me so I have an opportunity not to damn myself and end up in Hell. Cancer is just another feature of this imperfect universe (if you want it differently, you have to go to Heaven), and these kids have pure souls and will meet the Creator and enjoy peace. Of course we mourn them because they left us, but just like in the case of adults, we have to make peace with the fact that every day is a gift and without God making this entire universe we wouldn't even have had a second of consciousness, so be grateful. And haven't you heard the story of Abraham? There's a way to process the death of your child better, but it'll take faith in God.
Also, everyone else? My man, all the information is freely available and you even have silly folks like me online trying to direct people to a better path... you're already being helped, you're already bombarded with calls to be mindful of God. When the Day comes and you stand in front of Him, don't say you were not warned.
It's funny that you think shit like this is convincing.
It's like telling an adult that one day Santa Claus is going to judge us.
Just stop. Grow up. Put away your childish beliefs and join the real world.
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I know this is meant to be a casual conversation and this topic can get deep fast, but I’d love to hear everyone's elevator pitch for their religion or lack thereof. peace and love<3
Nah, cuz retrovirus in chimps. Also, whales.
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I know this is meant to be a casual conversation and this topic can get deep fast, but I’d love to hear everyone's elevator pitch for their religion or lack thereof. peace and love<3
Nope, I have difficulty taking anyone seriously when they think they have unicorns in their shoes.
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I know this is meant to be a casual conversation and this topic can get deep fast, but I’d love to hear everyone's elevator pitch for their religion or lack thereof. peace and love<3
I'm not religious because I never believed. From the first time when I was very young and asked at church "where was god?" and they couldn't answer. I called bullshit on it and I didn't even know what bullshit was.
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I know this is meant to be a casual conversation and this topic can get deep fast, but I’d love to hear everyone's elevator pitch for their religion or lack thereof. peace and love<3
Whether they recognize it or not, all humans have religious needs. The need to feel like a good person (whether you are or not) is a religious need. The need to have hope for the future (whether hope is reasonable or not) is a religious need. The need for something bigger than yourself to look up to (regardless of how capable you are) is a religious need. People don't always meet these needs through what would be recognized as an organized religion, but they still usually meet these needs through religious means.
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I'm not religious because I never believed. From the first time when I was very young and asked at church "where was god?" and they couldn't answer. I called bullshit on it and I didn't even know what bullshit was.
also don't know what religion is. try and define it. i dare you.
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also don't know what religion is. try and define it. i dare you.
Why would I?
Edit: I don't have to though since it has already been explained.
"A religion is large popular cult. A cult is a small unpopular religion."
Its perfect explanation for a otherwise pointless topic.
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Nah, cuz retrovirus in chimps. Also, whales.
lots of people are theistic evolutionists though.
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My family is from Manchuria/Beijing where the communist party has a much stronger grip so... I'm not kidding, a lot of ppl literally practice no religion whatsoever; probably got stamped out by the CCP. I think there might be a rather strong North/South divide in China: the North unfortunately has always been under stricter supervision by the party so...
Like they separate it very clearly. My grandparents' generation have old folk religion but ppl would call them "Mi Xin" so... my dad did burn the fake money things, but only during my grandparents' tomb cleanings or anything to do with the older generation. One of my grandparents is Buddhist, but she does make it quite clear. Otherwise most ppl I know literally have nothing remotely resembling religious in their apartments
On a related note: How harshly was the One Child Policy enforced where you're from? Like... did you know anyone or heard of anyone that managed to somehow give birth to a 2nd child... especially in urban areas or when the first child is a male (since rural areas had like an exception if the first child was female).
I'm just curious because I somehow managed to survive... like... I have no idea what the odds are to be a second son born during One Child Policy. Like my maternal grandparents had 3 daughters and they also only have daughters. My mom is the youngest so she had children the latest, so when my mom had not one, but two male children, my maternal grandfather was sooo happy, that's what my mom said.
Like... I have existential crisis all the time...
I don't think I would've been born if the policy was enforced more strictly... like if I was in the north for example...
Do you have any siblings at all?
