Home made religoun (mystic, tradition, beliefs, America, churches)

[Mavrikmind]

I came up with an interesting thought and for chuckles I thought I would share.
After exploring the forum for a while, I've found that from my perspective that alot of the religouns have a little bit that makes sense to me. No one faith interests me in a big way.
For one, I believe in God. No doupt about that. Secondly I'm no expert in theology.
So my thought is this. Why couldn't a person like me create his or her won religoun and practice this faith? If nothing else makes sense to them why not create something that does ?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Mavrikmind

I came up with an interesting thought and for chuckles I thought I would share.
After exploring the forum for a while, I've found that from my perspective that alot of the religouns have a little bit that makes sense to me. No one faith interests me in a big way.
For one, I believe in God. No doupt about that. Secondly I'm no expert in theology.
So my thought is this. Why couldn't a person like me create his or her won religoun and practice this faith? If nothing else makes sense to them why not create something that does ?

There is no reason you shouldn't. In fact, every religious person does this to some extent, no two practitioners of a faith will practice exactly the same way, or hold exactly the same theological/cosmological beliefs.

For some faiths eclecticism (which is the word that describes picking and choosing different bits form different faiths) is a normal part of the religion, in Wicca for example many people pick and choose different bits from different traditions.
And modern paganism as a whole, i'd say, is composed more of the eclectic kind of person than the dogmatic kind.

A lot of people on this forum pick and choose aspects from differnt faiths, myself included. Mainly i follow Buddhist and Mystic thinking, heavily influenced in particular by Gnosticism.
I encourage you to do two things if you're interested in laying out a path for yourself;

1. Write down everything you already believe, make a list of everything you can think of that appeals to you, then whittle out the chaff so you're left with a good solid selection that you absolutely believe in.

2. Research. Read up on all the major faiths, www.religioustolerance.org and wikipedia are great places to start. As are the DIR forums here.
See if any of those religions hold similar beliefs to yourself, then read around the subject - this expands your understanding of the philosophy of a belief within an already established religion, that probably has had many centuries of brilliant thinkers pondering those beliefs.
You can also look to other faiths for practical ideas, for example if you are into worship you can see how other people pray and sometimes modify their ways to suit you. Or if you like meditation then you can use age old forms that have been tried and tested. Its all very useful.

[Mavrikmind]

Thank you Halcyon, that sound like a good idea. I guess I was feeling a bit of trepidation about the idea because I was raised in a very southern babtist family. The mere thought of doing something even remotely like this was bad juju. Anyway I just needed some validation from someone else before I would begine to give this serious thought

[PureX]

Just as you could always be wrong in what you believe, you could also be right. While we remain human beings, there isn't any way for us to know for sure which we are. So I think the best we can do is sincerely try to be honest with ourselves and others, and keep a close watch on the results of what we choose to beleive about "the big truths". I get nerveous when I hear people telling me how they're seeking the "Truth" because I know that they aren't going to be able to know whether or not they've found it, and if they insist that they have, anyway, they're beginning to walk a road that does not lead to anywhere good. Faith without the humility that comes with skepticism quickly turns to hubris.

It's good and right to respect the mystery, just as it's human nature to ask the questions.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Mavrikmind

Thank you Halcyon, that sound like a good idea. I guess I was feeling a bit of trepidation about the idea because I was raised in a very southern babtist family. The mere thought of doing something even remotely like this was bad juju. Anyway I just needed some validation from someone else before I would begine to give this serious thought

Glad i could help.

And for something to think about, Southern Baptists didn't spring from the forehead of God.
As Christians they began as a Jewish sect, Gentile converts didn't like to have to take part in Jewish practice like circumcision, so they reorganised the Christian faith to suit themselves incorporating along the way certain of their own pagan practices - saint veneration, veneration of Mary etc. Forming the Catholic Church.
Much later some people in Europe decided that certain aspects of Catholic Christianity didn't appeal to them, so they changed the religion again to suit themselves, becoming the Protestants.
The Baptists were one of these protestant groups who selected certain beliefs and practices that appealed to them, some of which were quite different to other protestant denominations.
Then once the Baptist movement reached America we have the eventual formation of the Southern Baptist churches, who have yet again slightly modified the Baptist beliefs to suit themselves.

Eclecticism, and free religious thought have always been prevalent within religions, which is why there are so many different religions and denominations/sects within those religions.

[Mavrikmind]

Thats is food for thought. I have one more question. If this diversification is so prevelent in so many faiths then why is it so looked down upon.Even though change is a usually a force for the better ? one would think that religious groups would embrace change. At leat it would keep things from getting stagnant .

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Mavrikmind

Thats is food for thought. I have one more question. If this diversification is so prevelent in so many faiths then why is it so looked down upon.Even though change is a usually a force for the better ? one would think that religious groups would embrace change. At leat it would keep things from getting stagnant .

That's a good question.

I think its because once people are settled into a religion and have adopted that religions beliefs as their own, they assume the attitude of one who belongs to the One True Faith.
Therefore any change represents a moving away from Truth for them. It doesn't matter that their faith originated as a split from the norm, once they are indoctrinated they view any further change or splitting as heresy.

[Mavrikmind]

That makes sense, I've been known to get that way myself. Now that I'm a little bit older I love change, it keeps my mind active and it keep things fresh for me. especially where faith is concerned.

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by Mavrikmind

I came up with an interesting thought and for chuckles I thought I would share.
After exploring the forum for a while, I've found that from my perspective that alot of the religouns have a little bit that makes sense to me. No one faith interests me in a big way.
For one, I believe in God. No doupt about that. Secondly I'm no expert in theology.
So my thought is this. Why couldn't a person like me create his or her won religoun and practice this faith? If nothing else makes sense to them why not create something that does ?

Hey, you stold Martin Luther's idea! Thats what every protestant sect does! LOL!

[Mavrikmind]

LOL I didn't think that my idea was original but it's a fresh idea to me. * goes to look up Martin Luther ;P