Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Godless Dave · 06-09-2003, 06:28 AM

My philosophical inclination is towards Zen Buddhism but I like eating meat and clouding my brain too much so I picked Wicca/Pagan out of deference to my ancestors.

lugotorix · 06-09-2003, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wade-w

The main reason I am no longer a buddhist is that I can't accept reincarnation, and buddhism is ultimately pointless without that.

Not according to Stephen Bachelor, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, or Prof. Richard Hayes of McGill. All three are (or were, in the case of Buddhadasa) practicing Buddhists and authors who reject the belief in reincarnation. According to the Theravada scriptures, the Buddha himself said it wasn't necessary to believe in rebirth to be a Buddhist (in the Kalama Sutta ):

Quote:

"'Suppose there is no hereafter and there is no fruit, no result, of deeds done well or ill. Yet in this world, here and now, free from hatred, free from malice, safe and sound, and happy, I keep myself.' This is the second solace found by him.

Maybe you were only exposed to forms of Buddhism where rebirth figures heavily (like Vajrayana [Tibetan]). There are other traditions where it is not a core teaching.

I voted Buddhist, since I am one already (an atheist one at that).

lugotorix

BioBeing · 06-09-2003, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by trekbette
If you woke up tomorrow suddenly believing in some god or gods, what would you want them to be?

If I woke up tomorrow believing in a god(s), I would assume that it was because I had some new (and very good) evidence to suggest that such a god existed. Thus my belief would be in whatever god had chosen to reveal itself to me. Since I have no idea what that would actually entail, I voted "other".

midnight · 06-09-2003, 07:42 AM

I voted other. . . it'd be a mix of buddhism, taoism and general nature whorship I think .

MzNeko · 06-09-2003, 10:28 AM

I voted Wicca/Paganism. I love nature and animals. Also, the various Pagan deities don't claim to be omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent all at the same time. If we're to have deities at all, the less-than-perfect, fallible, capricious deities make a lot more sense. I mean seriously, does this world look like it's being run by an Omni-etc. god?

I can at least respect the Wiccan Rede, the relative lack of a huge bunch of rules/restrictions and the emphasis on self-accountability and finding your own path.

Plus, some of my favorite people are Witches and Pagans. My husband, my mother-in-law... people I love and respect.

Going by my ancestry, I might have to go for a Norse or Celtic pantheon. Going by my likes, I might have to be a Bast worshipper, I am soooooo lame for my cats... out and out worship would only be a small step.

And for a completely frivolous reason to go Pagan - they have the best parties and the coolest accessories!

vixstile · 06-09-2003, 01:22 PM

I Vote Satanism because it would require no lifestyle change.

Secular Pinoy · 06-09-2003, 04:15 PM

I'd go for Christian Panentheism, like what Marcus Borg and Vinnie advocate.

JerryM · 06-09-2003, 04:47 PM

Does anyone know what the Rastafarian's believe? Don't they consider themselves one of the lost tribes of Israel? And I think they have something to do with the old emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selasse. But I like reggae music, and I could get into lying around the beaches in Jamaica, smoking grass all day. Yeah, mon. No problem.

Mageth · 06-09-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by midnight
I voted other. . . it'd be a mix of buddhism, taoism and general nature whorship I think .

I like that answer. I think I'll go with it. I might add some sort of pantheistic belief in "god in all" to it - but then "general nature worship" might encompass that.

Opera Nut · 06-09-2003, 05:35 PM

The Rastas smoke pot as a religious duty.
They worship Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as God.
He is known as the "Conquering Lion of Judah". His country was invaded by hitler and I believe he was still alive in the 1970s.
And they listen to Bob marley and reggae music.

I don't know the details.

View Poll Results: What religion would you choose?
Catholic/Christian/all sub-sets thereof	8	6.96%
Jewish	2	1.74%
Buddist	60	52.17%
Muslim/Islamic	1	0.87%
Wiccan/Pagan	18	15.65%
Satanist	9	7.83%
Other--please explain	17	14.78%
Voters: 115. You may not vote on this poll

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06-09-2003, 06:28 AM	#21
Godless Dave Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: With 10,000 lakes who needs a coast? Posts: 10,762	My philosophical inclination is towards Zen Buddhism but I like eating meat and clouding my brain too much so I picked Wicca/Pagan out of deference to my ancestors.

06-09-2003, 07:42 AM	#24
midnight Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: texas Posts: 78	I voted other. . . it'd be a mix of buddhism, taoism and general nature whorship I think .

06-09-2003, 10:28 AM	#25
MzNeko Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 1,127	I voted Wicca/Paganism. I love nature and animals. Also, the various Pagan deities don't claim to be omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent all at the same time. If we're to have deities at all, the less-than-perfect, fallible, capricious deities make a lot more sense. I mean seriously, does this world look like it's being run by an Omni-etc. god? I can at least respect the Wiccan Rede, the relative lack of a huge bunch of rules/restrictions and the emphasis on self-accountability and finding your own path. Plus, some of my favorite people are Witches and Pagans. My husband, my mother-in-law... people I love and respect. Going by my ancestry, I might have to go for a Norse or Celtic pantheon. Going by my likes, I might have to be a Bast worshipper, I am soooooo lame for my cats... out and out worship would only be a small step. And for a completely frivolous reason to go Pagan - they have the best parties and the coolest accessories!

06-09-2003, 01:22 PM	#26
vixstile Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 2,029	I Vote Satanism because it would require no lifestyle change.

06-09-2003, 04:15 PM	#27
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	I'd go for Christian Panentheism, like what Marcus Borg and Vinnie advocate.

06-09-2003, 04:47 PM	#28
JerryM Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 1,100	Does anyone know what the Rastafarian's believe? Don't they consider themselves one of the lost tribes of Israel? And I think they have something to do with the old emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selasse. But I like reggae music, and I could get into lying around the beaches in Jamaica, smoking grass all day. Yeah, mon. No problem.

06-09-2003, 05:35 PM	#30
Opera Nut Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,671	The Rastas smoke pot as a religious duty. They worship Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as God. He is known as the "Conquering Lion of Judah". His country was invaded by hitler and I believe he was still alive in the 1970s. And they listen to Bob marley and reggae music. I don't know the details.

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