Dualism is a controversial theory of mind, that the mind (or "soul") is greater than just the brain, or in other words there may be both a physical and spiritual realm -- the former which our bodies inhabit, the latter our minds -- which are separate but still connected. This was famously...
It's been several years now that I've identified with Christian Deism or, more recently, Liberal Protestantism. Recently I have been exploring some new church communities, as that community and structure was missing from my life. I have also been trying to approach the subject with an open mind...
I was raised in a Christian family, but my beliefs have changed form over the years. The reason I ask how Christian I am, is that I would like to start surrounding myself with other Christians. I am just too conservative to fit in with most non-religious people.
The problem is, I don't want to...
I've always struggled with my faith, as defined by the typical Christian. I'd classify myself as a sort of Christian Deist, not unlike Thomas Jefferson. I believe that God exists, that He created the universe, but that He plays a generally passive role. (Technically, since I believe in a...
In reading up on Dualism, I came across the familiar topic of Interactionism, and the problems surrounding it. For example, if the mind is indeed separate from the body, then how can they interact? When I think to myself, "Get up and go for a run," how does that thought get turned into that...
What does your synagogue/church/mosque do for the community?
It is my (limited) understanding, for example, that Catholics have brought education and healthcare to the far corners of the world, or that Seventh-Day Adventists have likewise established some very good hospitals. I understand that...
Hello there!
I was curious if you all would care to share some quotes from your respective religious texts which promote peace or tolerance, et cetera?
I just want a place to turn to, to see the love and tolerance that can exist among the Abrahamic religions. I'd also like for the quotes to...
Does anyone else think that the Jewish commandment to not destroy or deface anything with the name of God on it might be the reason we have the Dead Sea Scrolls and the other non-Canonical books today?
I was just thinking about this, and it's pretty simple and without consequence either way...
I read an article "Does Judaism Believe in Satan?" at http://www.beingjewish.com/basics/satan.html, and I'm curious what most Jews think of it.
It's basically saying that there is no Devil, but rather Satan--an angel of G-d commissioned to tempt us, so that we appreciate G-d's gift in the...
Hello everyone; this morning on the Today Show, I saw just the last portion of an interview with an author of a fictional "Gospel According to Judas". The first thing that came to my mind was, wait, isn't the Gospel of Judas one of the old non-Canonical texts?
Well, it seems like it is now...
The introduction posted by Maize seems, in my opinion, to reflect the beliefs of Unitarianism in general, and not specifically Unitarian Christianity. Here's an article which more specifically sums up Unitarian Christianity:
Unitarian Christianity (not to be confused with the Unity Church) is a...
What do you think of Quran 3:113-115? When I read it, I gather it says there is a group of Christians who will be saved (and I'm assuming this is still true today)-especially considering Quran 2:62.
But assuming I'm reading this correctly, this seems to sum up my personal beliefs to a large...
I noticed in Surah 5, Ayats 82-85 that Yusafali writes:
Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men...
I came across the following verse the other day, prophesizing about the End Times:
"But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (Daniel 12:4, NIV)
The second clause caught my attention, especially...
Could someone explain what these two ayats are saying, and how they coincide? I'm sure I'm just misunderstanding or misinterpreting one or both of them, but to me they seem somewhat contradictory.
[2:62] Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the...
Hello, my name's Brian, and I'm new here. I just wanted to say a few things about myself. I think I'm pretty open-minded. I was raised a non-denominational Christian. My best friend is a Sunni Muslim from Pakistan, and he and I discuss religion frequently. I am also studying with some local...