Help Me Decide! (religions, quiz, universalism)

[fullyveiled muslimah]

I guess you'll find most people reluctant to answer this question truthfully because it would involve some form of proselytizing. I think this is why you are getting it the way you are, by asking you what you already think. However I am not in agreeance with that method all the time. I do not agree that one should find the religion they feel good about, but rather find the one that is true. What seems good to one may or may not be real or true, so I think it's not a very reliable gauge for the truth, especially an ultimate truth like who is God and all that.

With that being said, I would obviously recommend Islam, but would never push the issue. It seems you are starting at the root which is a basic nature of God. I see that you believe in a creative God, and also find no reason to be polytheistic. This is the best start you can have in my opinion. I would recommend anyone start there. Think long and hard as to why God would be one instead of many, and weigh the logical reasons for it. It is helpful to understand that we as human beings have been given all the necessary tools to reason out these things. I think it is helpful to think much and observe the world around you (not just nature) and attempt to observe it as it is, not necessarily as you personally view it, if that makes sense to you.

Well that's all for now. I would tell you why I think you could benefit from Islam, but that would be p-tizing no doubt.

[HopefulNikki]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Some Buddhists are theists.

I like the basic philosophy of Buddhism, i.e. balance, harmony, inner contemplation, etc, but don't believe in reincarnation at this point and don't see a reason to.

[HB3]

Originally Posted by HopefulNikki

I'm sure that this type of thread has been circulated plenty of time before, but...Why should I become a member of your religion? Are there any religions should I definitely not become a meber of? Please, don't tell me, "do what feels right to you" or anything like that, nor tell me to fill out a Belief-O-Matic style quiz. Tell me what you personally think and what evidence leads you to that conclusion.

In order to recommend a religion to you, one would need to know just what you are searching for in a religion. Do you want Religion to help you in your search for answers to questions (such as what is the meaning of life, how do I fit into the whole picture)? Or do you want Religion to provide you with a concrete creed so you will not have to do your own searching? Are you looking for a Religion or a Church (I use the term loosely to designate any group of believers regardless of faith)? Besides spiritual needs, Churches also are able to meet social needs, emotional needs, and are great sources of support in times of crises.

I am not sure a person can find all the answers they need or meet all their spiritual needs in any given religion. I guess that is why there are so many different ones around.

I think you should study the religion of "Nikkism" more and then check out what other religion would be most compatible with that. Good luck in your search.

[BFD_Zayl]

Originally Posted by HopefulNikki

I'm sure that this type of thread has been circulated plenty of time before, but...Why should I become a member of your religion? Are there any religions should I definitely not become a meber of? Please, don't tell me, "do what feels right to you" or anything like that, nor tell me to fill out a Belief-O-Matic style quiz. Tell me what you personally think and what evidence leads you to that conclusion.

the path that I follow suits very few people, mostly because those people are uneducated about it, and people fear what they do not understand. I will not tell you if there is a religion that you should stay away from, because that would be unfair to that religion. anyways, the way I think is often obscured to most other people, and i generally keep my thoughts on such matters secret, but hey, you asked. My religion, my path, feels so right to me because I take such an active part in it, I am assured that when I die, I have little to fear (nor does anyone else, but you try telling them that) I get to commune with the spirits of the departed, I get to meditate In the very essence of death, during such times The Gods might lend me a vision many things can happen, if you put your will behind it. as for evidence, I have no physical evidence that I can show you, just the experiences I have. But once you summon a Shade, then you too, will know what i'm talking about. if you have anymore questions, just PM me.

[HopefulNikki]

Originally Posted by HB3

In order to recommend a religion to you, one would need to know just what you are searching for in a religion. Do you want Religion to help you in your search for answers to questions (such as what is the meaning of life, how do I fit into the whole picture)?

Sure.

Or do you want Religion to provide you with a concrete creed so you will not have to do your own searching?

By the very fact that I started this thread I would hope you could deduce the answer to that question on your own. I do not believe that religion is necessarily synonymous with blind faith.

Are you looking for a Religion or a Church (I use the term loosely to designate any group of believers regardless of faith)? Besides spiritual needs, Churches also are able to meet social needs, emotional needs, and are great sources of support in times of crises.

As far as I am aware, "Church" is a generally Christian term, and other religions and members of other religions can also provide social and emotional support.

I think you should study the religion of "Nikkism" more and then check out what other religion would be most compatible with that. Good luck in your search

While I am unsure of a lot of things at this point, I'd say I agree with Muslimah that religion is not just about what feels right. While there may be elements of truth in many religions, I don't think it's logically possible for them all to be completely true at the same time. So, the search continues...

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by HopefulNikki

I'm sure that this type of thread has been circulated plenty of time before, but...Why should I become a member of your religion? Are there any religions should I definitely not become a meber of? Please, don't tell me, "do what feels right to you" or anything like that, nor tell me to fill out a Belief-O-Matic style quiz. Tell me what you personally think and what evidence leads you to that conclusion.

I think that would be a mistake for you to just do "what feels right" to you. On the other hand, it doesn't make much sense to do "what feels wrong" to you. I could give you a sales pitch for my religion, but what good would it do? I would suggest that you maybe make a statement of what you do believe and post it on this thread. Then people who see a lot of similarities to what they believe and what you believe can suggest that you explore their religion in more depth.

[HopefulNikki]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I think that would be a mistake for you to just do "what feels right" to you. On the other hand, it doesn't make much sense to do "what feels wrong" to you.

Well, if the laws of gravity "feel wrong to me," then I'm just wrong, my feelings are basically irrelevant to the truth of the matter. I guess I'm optimistic that, if I am shown the error of my ways, so to speak, that the truths I am exposed to would "feel right" since I would know in my heart that they are right. Does that make any sense? lol

I could give you a sales pitch for my religion, but what good would it do?

I'll try to phrase this nicely, because I always love your posts here, Katz, but...isn't that basically what Mormons do when they go door to door, etc?

Well, all that I am basically sure of is a belief in God (monotheism, although maybe panentheism??) and perhaps a belief that there is a degree of truth in a lot of religions, although that statement probably doesn't mean much.

[cardero]

Originally Posted by HopefulNikki

What are the tenets of Nikkism?

I don't know, you having taught them to me yet.

[HopefulNikki]

Originally Posted by cardero

I don't know, you having taught them to me yet.

It's hard to teach what you don't know,