Pitch your religion! (ritual, Earth, reincarnation, beliefs, experience)

[Taegun]

For all that my title is slightly silly, I really would like representatives of each and every religion on the boards to please pitch me the general idea, the rules, the law and any helpful websites that'll give me info which is easy to understand of their chosen religion. I better explain.

I don't have a religion. I was baptised but that was as a baby and I was never confirmed. None of my family are religious. I was looking at religious sites today for a sociology project and I though that if I could ind a religion that suited me I'd be happy to join it, but I just don't know. I can't find a site that does a general description of every religion in existence, and so, I did the obvious. Ask the people who are involved.

So please, let me know why you're religion is the one.

[Rex]

If you into most of the religions forums you will see an overview of that religion at the top of that forum.

[godischange]

Thank you, first of all, for putting up a post for me to express my beliefs that so few are aware of.

Anyway, my religion is Earthseed. More fairly I could say, I am Earthseed. I know of no other member, practicing or non, that has accepted my ways as theirs. Earthseed is a religion that teaches God is Change. In other words, there is no supream being that controls us, but change is as close as it comes. It is an inescapable, unpredictable, powerful force that is the only certain thing in life. A bit of a suprise to find a relation with god that really isn't a "God".

Earthseed is built on the thought that, if we can harness the knowledge and experience of everyone willing, we can unlock the secrets to life. Earthseed is about the destiny- To take root among the stars. To believe in Earthseed is to believe in yourself and the power you have to fufill your dreams.

Earthseed is not a comforting religion. No one is watching over you, protecting you, guiding you. All you have to lean on is your power, and the power your friendships create.

To learn more visit my website (still under construction) click here

[Druidus]

I am a Druid. I follow the ways of nature. The basis of my religion is reincarnation. When you die, depending on how much you have learned (mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually) you will either reincarnate in a lower realm (more pain, less pleasure, but more opportunities to learn) a higher realm (more pleasure, less pain, but less opportunities to learn) or stay in this one. You can reincarnate as any plant or animal (that includes humans). As you get higher up in the realms, you gain the ability to affect realms below you. In effect, you become a "God", however, you are not immortal. You will die, and be reincarnated according to your learnings as well. Eventually you may reach the highest realm, The Source. All things come from the source, and I envision it as a fire. The ashes and embers, the realms, the sparks, lifeforms. When you reach The Source you get to live in ecstacy for a long time, however, the realms eventually change, and more things can be learned, so you are plunged back into the lowest realm. When you die, before you reincarnate, you get to live in a special realm called the Otherworld. In this world you get to remember and reflect on all your previous lives. When you die here, you are judged, and reincarnated. You may worship any Gods you feel are real, however I worship the old Druidic Gods, the ones I believe are still there. We learn to use herbs to great effect, and cure many ailments. All life has worth equal to your own, and must be respected. Live by the simple rules of Justice, Honesty, Hospility, Wisdom, Courage, Respect and Love. Those are the only "laws". This may sound silly or stupid, but we learn to meditate with trees. We learn to shift into a trees perspective, while meditating near them. This can be used on all life. I have done it with trees, and I am currently trying birds. If I shift into a birds perspective, I can see from the birds eyes, and make suggestions to it, however, so far, no luck. They always move away too fast. This is what Julius Caesar spoke of when he talked about Druids using birds to predict his armies advances. If you have any questions about Druidry, please don't hesitate to PM me, or post in my topic specifically for questions.

[Runt]

Read any Octavia E. Butler, Godischange?

I think what you describe is essentially philosophical taoism.

[godischange]

Runt, yes I do read Octavia E. Butler. I believe that is what sparked my intrest in such a way of thinking

[godischange]

Runt, No I don't believe it is quite the same as individual taoism. Taoism believes that the so-called "God is existential, and by becoming in tune with it, you can acheive immortality. Earthseed teaches that the only way we become immortal is through our children and our memories. There is no promised afterlife or reward for being fruitful. The closest you could come to describing Earthseed would be Atheism. There is no supream being above us according to me- but you descide how much my word is worth.

[Master Vigil]

There is no god in taoism. Only tao. And tao only means way, or path. And one of the basic ideas in taoism is the only thing that is eternal is change. In taoism you do not become in tune with "god", you become in tune with yourself and the way of life. The way is the Tao. The tao is not to be compared to god, for it has no gender, no emotion, etc... It is only the perfect union between all opposites. It harmonizes everything. It is not supreme, it just is.

[Master Vigil]

And there is no real idea of an afterlife. Only enlightenment. And what you talk about is much like ancestor worship (at its core). Which is also a part of religious taoism.

[godischange]

Well, that's not totally it for Earthseed. It's not about tuning in to yourself or becoming enlightened. Earthseed believes that we are born with the power to do whatever we set our mind to, and to treat education and knowledge as the absolute nessecities they are. It's not about worshiping ancestors. It's about remembering them and letting their wisdom, trials and tribulations guide us away from making the same mistakes. It's almost a humanism thing. Look at my website. (other post) So I'm not so good at summing up taoism, but I doen't think it's quite the same as Earthseed.