UU Salad Bar (Earth, Buddhism, churches, pagan, worship)

[lilithu]

Christianity, Secular, Hinduism, Chinese Traditional Religion, Buddhism, Primal-Indigenous, Judaism, Neo-Paganism.

Christianity:
I grew up in a Christian society. I don't mean officially in terms of the govt, but in a society that's permeated with the Christian culture. I'm familiar with the stories, and often use those stories and that language with which to relate my own experience. Jesus is a role model and I feel an intimacy with other biblical figures, tho I interpret them differently than most mainstream Christians. I'm heavily influenced by liberation theology.

Secular:
By secular, I'm assuming "secular religion," ie - the national mythology that permeates the U.S. As opposed to secular just meaning anything that's not religious. For example, our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and Bill of Rights. For me, these things have religious/spiritual significance. I really do believe that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights. And that's not something that comes explicitly from other faiths, at least not as much. I also firmly believe in the separation of church and state - that it's good for both of them.

Hinduism:
My theology is pretty much Hindu. I believe in a God that pervades and sustains and is not separate from all existence, that is not an anthropomorphic being with superpowers. Basically, I believe in Brahman. And karma. I believe in the Hindu openness to different views, from monotheism to polytheism, everything has value and can be incorporated under its inclusive umbrella.

Chinese Traditional Religion:
What can I say? I am Chinese and grew up with Chinese parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles. How could I not be influenced? Westerners like to draw a contrast between Confucius and Lao Tse and favor the latter and disparage the former, putting them into nice, neat boxes. To me the Tao of Taoism and the Way of Confucianism are the same, just seen thru different eyes that emphasize their respective viewpoints. They are not truly seperable, at least not in Chinese culture. I believe in the Tao, the Way, the Dharma. That there is a natural order to things (which I believe bends towards justice).

Buddhism:
Pretty much already covered in Hinduism and Traditional Chinese Religion. Much of my family is Mahayana Buddhist, and much of Mahayana Buddhism is Buddhism influenced by traditional Chinese religion. The thing that Buddhism emphasizes more than Hinduism (tho it is there in the latter) is interdependency.

Primal-Indigenous:
All indigenous traditions that I've seen are more in tune with nature and the movings of the seasons than the more "evolved" religions. Certainly Taoism has such aspects. And I've recognized it in Native American, European, and African traditions. The four seasons and four directions are important in my spiritual practice, as well as the idea of "guardians."

Judaism:
I've argued and will continue to argue that Judaism was the first religion (on record) that introduced the concept of humanism to our culture, where there is a higher moral order than just what kings decree, a sense of justice that common people have a right to. The Jewish prophets spoke truth to power, even to God, and were advocates for justice for their people. Moreover, the concept of midrash, of continually interpreting scripture so that it is relevant for each age, I think is very UU tho we don't call it by that name.

Neo-Paganism:
Pretty much what I said for primal-indigenous, except that neo-paganism distilled these concepts into more easily accessible bits. For me, neo-paganism is what allowed me to reconnect with Chinese indigenous religion, both as a result of and in reaction to neo-paganism. So it's definitely an influence on me.

[Trey of Diamonds]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Secular:
By secular, I'm assuming "secular religion," ie - the national mythology that permeates the U.S. As opposed to secular just meaning anything that's not religious. For example, our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and Bill of Rights. For me, these things have religious/spiritual significance. I really do believe that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights. And that's not something that comes explicitly from other faiths, at least not as much. I also firmly believe in the separation of church and state - that it's good for both of them.

Yeah, I think you got it. Here is the definition from Adherents.com which is where I got the list from.

The use of the term "nonreligious" or "secular" here refers to belief or participation in systems which are not traditionally labeled "religions." Of course, in the absence of traditional religions, society exhibits the same behavioral, social and psychological phenomena associated with religious cultures, but in association with secular, political, ethnic, commercial or other systems. Marxism and Maoism, for instance, had their scriptures, authority, symbolism, liturgy, clergy, prophets, proselyting, etc. Sports, art, patriotism, music, drugs, mass media and social causes have all been observed to fulfill roles similar to religion in the lives of individuals -- capturing the imagination and serving as a source of values, beliefs and social interaction. In a broader sense, sociologists point out that there are no truly "secular societies," and that the word "nonreligious" is a misnomer. Sociologically speaking, "nonreligious" people are simply those who derive their worldview and value system primarily from alternative, secular, cultural or otherwise nonrevealed systems ("religions") rather than traditional religious systems. Like traditional religions, secular systems (such as Communism, Platonism, Freudian psychology, Nazism, pantheism, atheism, nationalism, etc.) typically have favored spokespeople and typically claim to present a universally valid and applicable Truth. Like traditional religions, secular systems are subject to both rapid and gradual changes in popularity, modification, and extinction.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Trey of Diamonds

Yeah, I think you got it. Here is the definition from Adherents.com which is where I got the list from.

The use of the term "nonreligious" or "secular" here refers to belief or participation in systems which are not traditionally labeled "religions." Of course, in the absence of traditional religions, society exhibits the same behavioral, social and psychological phenomena associated with religious cultures, but in association with secular, political, ethnic, commercial or other systems. Marxism and Maoism, for instance, had their scriptures, authority, symbolism, liturgy, clergy, prophets, proselyting, etc. Sports, art, patriotism, music, drugs, mass media and social causes have all been observed to fulfill roles similar to religion in the lives of individuals -- capturing the imagination and serving as a source of values, beliefs and social interaction. In a broader sense, sociologists point out that there are no truly "secular societies," and that the word "nonreligious" is a misnomer. Sociologically speaking, "nonreligious" people are simply those who derive their worldview and value system primarily from alternative, secular, cultural or otherwise nonrevealed systems ("religions") rather than traditional religious systems. Like traditional religions, secular systems (such as Communism, Platonism, Freudian psychology, Nazism, pantheism, atheism, nationalism, etc.) typically have favored spokespeople and typically claim to present a universally valid and applicable Truth. Like traditional religions, secular systems are subject to both rapid and gradual changes in popularity, modification, and extinction.

This quote would have been useful in the thread where I was making the argument that everyone has a religion. This is exactly what I was talking about. Then again, it probably would not have made a difference since people who pride themselves in being non-religious (which in and of itself is a religious trait imo) will not consider otherwise for nothin'.

[Trey of Diamonds]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Then again, it probably would not have made a difference since people who pride themselves in being non-religious (which in and of itself is a religious trait imo) will not consider otherwise for nothin'.

I wonder if stubbornness could be considerd a religous trait.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Trey of Diamonds

I wonder if stubbornness could be considerd a religous trait.

lol! I was thinking more in terms of identity. We all invest ourselves in certain identities - we create who we are (to a certain extent) by the identities in which we choose to invest. And we'll react hostilely when we feel our identities are under attack. For some people, it's "I am a Christian." For others, it's "I am too smart to be fooled by that religious crap." Unfortunately, many people in the latter group don't want to consider any explanation for how we are all "religious" by some definitions because what they hear is "You are not what you think you are."

[Trey of Diamonds]

Originally Posted by lilithu

"You are not what you think you are."

When someone says that to me I tend to say "God, I hope not!"

[keithnurse]

Christianity. I was originally a Lutheran. I still find meaning in some of the imagery of crossing the Jordan river leaving behind the old for the new life and other symbols of the faith.

Neo Paganism, Taoism, Buddhism, Indigenous religions are all earthy, oneness oriented, celebrating the interconnected web of all existence.

[jamaesi]

Islam. I'm a UU Muslim.

[keithnurse]

Originally Posted by jamaesi

Islam. I'm a UU Muslim.

That's very interesting. Does your local congregation ever use the Qur'an in sunday worship services?

[Trey of Diamonds]

Originally Posted by jamaesi

Islam. I'm a UU Muslim.

We have a Muslim in our congregation as well but I think he's a Sufi. We also had the local Turkish Mosque in to speak one Sunday and it was a great service.