Religion/Theology

AlphaFrog · #1 07-12-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

I'm a Unitarian Universalist and believe that everyone should work out for themselves their own personal theology. I'd take the "priesthood of every believer" one step further and advocate the "prophethood of every believer."
Yeah, that's a good idea.

I thought you were an atheist.

DeltAlum · #2 07-12-2006, 09:50 AM

Concerned that this will turn into an ugly debate of which religion is best or right or whatever, and hoping I'm wrong, I'll play anyway.

I am an Ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church, USA, but have been attending a non-denominational church recently that seems to embrace pretty much any religion that believes in God.

KSigkid · #3 07-12-2006, 09:55 AM

I'm Christian and regularly attend an Episcopal Church. I was born and raised Catholic, but for various reasons began attending Episcopal services, and have found it more to my liking.

That's no dig at Catholics, just my personal choice. I personally don't care what anyone else is; Christian, Atheist, whatever, it's their personal choice.

RU OX Alum · #4 07-12-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I thought you were an atheist.

No. And you know what, I didn't really explain what I believe. I'm a pantheist. I believe that the Universse [creator plus creation combined] is everything, is made of one substance [matter/energy] and that everything is connected. Which is why I believe it is wrong to harm others, etc. You're really hurting yourself.

I also, as an extention of this, believe in re-birth. As far as personal gods/the GOD/ dieitees/goddesses I believe they are real, at least to those who believe in them. For example, if I find comfort in praying to St. Louis then St. Louis' comfort is real to me. I don't pray to St. Louis for comfort, that's just a for instance. But I believe that every person has a right to decide for themselves and live accordingly.

sdbeta1 · #5 07-12-2006, 11:39 AM

Any scientologists out there?

valkyrie · #6 07-12-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I thought you were an atheist.

Some Unitarian Universalists are atheists.

I was raised Presbyterian but am now Buddhist.

GeekyPenguin · #7 07-12-2006, 11:50 AM

I'm Catholic and have been forever. I attend Lutheran services (WELS) fairly regularly with my boyfriend.

AlphaFrog · #8 07-12-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valkyrie

Some Unitarian Universalists are atheists.

I was raised Presbyterian but am now Buddhist.

Buddhism isn't a religion. It's more of a life-philosophy. Someone could technically be a Buddhist Muslim.

valkyrie · #9 07-12-2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Buddhism isn't a religion. It's more of a life-philosophy. Someone could technically be a Buddhist Muslim.

What's your point?

ETA: my question does not imply that I agree with your statement.

AlphaFrog · #10 07-12-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valkyrie

What's your point?

ETA: my question does not imply that I agree with your statement.

Saying that you were raised Presby but now you're a Buddhist is a non-sequitur. It's like going on the thread about Girl Scouts and saying "I used to be in Girl Scouts, but now I'm on the swim team".

GeekyPenguin · #11 07-12-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Saying that you were raised Presby but now you're a Buddhist is a non-sequitur. It's like going on the thread about Girl Scouts and saying "I used to be in Girl Scouts, but now I'm on the swim team".

It's nice that you get to tell her what her religion is. You're Pentacostal now, okay?

AlphaFrog · #12 07-12-2006, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

It's nice that you get to tell her what her religion is. You're Pentacostal now, okay?

I didn't say anything about her not being Buddhist. If she's a Buddhist, she's a Buddhist.

valkyrie · #13 07-12-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Saying that you were raised Presby but now you're a Buddhist is a non-sequitur. It's like going on the thread about Girl Scouts and saying "I used to be in Girl Scouts, but now I'm on the swim team".

No, it isn't a non sequitur.

First, your views of Buddhism have nothing to do with me -- you can think whatever you want about it being a "life-philosophy" (whatever the hell that means), but that doesn't mean that I agree or that your opinion is relevant to me.

Second, even if Buddhism is a "life-philosophy" rather than a religion (a statement with which I disagree), I see no logical reason why it wouldn't be relevant to state that a person used to be X religion and now practices Y "life philosophy" (again, whatever the hell that means).

The original poster here asked people to discuss their "faith of choice." Whatever anyone describes as his or her "faith of choice" is his or her faith of choice. Frankly, I find your statements offensive -- I don't give a rat's ass what you think, but the fact that you would even consider trying to impose your rather limited views of a belief system on me is appalling. I mean, let me get this straight -- you're pretty much saying that what I've identified as my "faith of choice" is not a real religion. Again, I don't give a rat's ass, but saying something like that to anybody is offensive, period.

GeekyPenguin · #14 07-12-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valkyrie

No, it isn't a non sequitur.

First, your views of Buddhism have nothing to do with me -- you can think whatever you want about it being a "life-philosophy" (whatever the hell that means), but that doesn't mean that I agree or that your opinion is relevant to me.

Second, even if Buddhism is a "life-philosophy" rather than a religion (a statement with which I disagree), I see no logical reason why it wouldn't be relevant to state that a person used to be X religion and now practices Y "life philosophy" (again, whatever the hell that means).

The original poster here asked people to discuss their "faith of choice." Whatever anyone describes as his or her "faith of choice" is his or her faith of choice. Frankly, I find your statements offensive -- I don't give a rat's ass what you think, but the fact that you would even consider trying to impose your rather limited views of a belief system on me is appalling. I mean, let me get this straight -- you're pretty much saying that what I've identified as my "faith of choice" is not a real religion. Again, I don't give a rat's ass, but saying something like that to anybody is offensive, period.

Today you are not a lawyer. You are a VP of Marketing. I'm sorry if you think you're a lawyer, but I don't think that's a real job.

AlphaFrog · #15 07-12-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valkyrie

No, it isn't a non sequitur.

First, your views of Buddhism have nothing to do with me -- you can think whatever you want about it being a "life-philosophy" (whatever the hell that means), but that doesn't mean that I agree or that your opinion is relevant to me.

Second, even if Buddhism is a "life-philosophy" rather than a religion (a statement with which I disagree), I see no logical reason why it wouldn't be relevant to state that a person used to be X religion and now practices Y "life philosophy" (again, whatever the hell that means).

The original poster here asked people to discuss their "faith of choice." Whatever anyone describes as his or her "faith of choice" is his or her faith of choice. Frankly, I find your statements offensive -- I don't give a rat's ass what you think, but the fact that you would even consider trying to impose your rather limited views of a belief system on me is appalling. I mean, let me get this straight -- you're pretty much saying that what I've identified as my "faith of choice" is not a real religion. Again, I don't give a rat's ass, but saying something like that to anybody is offensive, period.

I didn't say "it's not a real religion" in the same way people here say that Professional GLOs aren't "real Greeks". It's not classified as a religion because of a lack of dogma and belief in a creator or god. But just because it's not classified as a religion, doesn't mean I'm saying it's some made-up nonsense. Buddhism has some great ideals. And if you want to get really into it, you could argue that ALL religion is "made-up", it had to start somewhere.

As far as it being non-sequitur...like I said, you could be a Buddhist Muslim, or a Buddhist Presbyterian for that matter. I know you probably meant your statement that you left the Presby church and now you are a Buddhist (or to become a Buddhist), but to someone who didn't know that you aren't Christian, that doesn't mean that's what happened. You wouldn't have to leave a Christian church to follow Buddhism.

I know it's your thing to jump to extreme conclusions, but really, you have taken what I've said and ran with it...very, very far away from what I originally said.