Why Are We Here?

No, this isn't one of those existential threads that discusses the meaning of life and what our purpose is here on earth. I'm afraid the purpose of this thread is much more mundane. I'm genuinely curious as to what makes people join a religious forum and stick around.

For me, I find that I joined RF as a result of my desire to further my spiritual education and work toward enlightenment. I find that reading insights of those of other paths gives me insight that I hadn't considered. I also enjoy having my statements questioned *glances at @Sunstone* because it prompts me to reflect on my beliefs and do further research into why I believe as I do. I will admit that another reason I stick around is for the pure entertainment value. There are those here that amuse me for various reasons.

So why do you hang out here?

I joined this forum because I am taking a break from another forum where I have been a regular member for many years. When I joined and began to post here, I discovered that a friend from that other forum was also on this forum.

I am an old dog who will not learn any new religious tricks, meaning that I am stuck in my atheistic ways. I can respect different religious viewpoints, even though I may find them unnecessary. Being more introverted than what could be considered the average, online interaction is the only social life I have; the internet is an amazing thing, allowing one who is rather antisocial to be capable of socializing.

SalixIncendium said:

No, this isn't one of those existential threads that discusses the meaning of life and what our purpose is here on earth. I'm afraid the purpose of this thread is much more mundane. I'm genuinely curious as to what makes people join a religious forum and stick around.

For me, I find that I joined RF as a result of my desire to further my spiritual education and work toward enlightenment. I find that reading insights of those of other paths gives me insight that I hadn't considered. I also enjoy having my statements questioned *glances at @Sunstone* because it prompts me to reflect on my beliefs and do further research into why I believe as I do. I will admit that another reason I stick around is for the pure entertainment value. There are those here that amuse me for various reasons.

So why do you hang out here?

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Only forum I know with a very diverse crowd, including lots of Hindus and Buddhists.

For the chicks...

BSM1 said:

For the chicks...

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I saw a question someone asked in a google search and came to answer it. I stay because it's fun. I also sometimes learn something.

SalixIncendium said:

No, this isn't one of those existential threads that discusses the meaning of life and what our purpose is here on earth. I'm afraid the purpose of this thread is much more mundane. I'm genuinely curious as to what makes people join a religious forum and stick around.

For me, I find that I joined RF as a result of my desire to further my spiritual education and work toward enlightenment. I find that reading insights of those of other paths gives me insight that I hadn't considered. I also enjoy having my statements questioned *glances at @Sunstone* because it prompts me to reflect on my beliefs and do further research into why I believe as I do. I will admit that another reason I stick around is for the pure entertainment value. There are those here that amuse me for various reasons.

So why do you hang out here?

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To be brutally honest, before I came on here I was a happy Roman Catholic. I got side tracked and stopped going to Church altogether.

I guess I feel indifferent about it, though. If I didn't join RF, I'd be following what I want to believe but not what I know is true regardless what religion I take up. If something is true, regardless of what or who you follow, that fact will always be. I grew a better appreciation of Catholicism being on this site in regards to how I share it with others who wish to listen and converse.

Outside of that, I honestly have no reason to be here. I've only had a few conversations that I remember. I've been insulted, I've been given the tis-tis finger, some people conversate about religion but don't care about the other person's beliefs in the conversation; so it makes the conversation less educational. I've talked with people that insult me the first or second post after I create a thread (which I don't create often because of it).

but outside of the regular everyday show of people's real nature on the internet, I learned a lot from the seekers on here. The seekers and Dharmic believers gave me the most knowledge. Probably because I like to help and, although not yet a Buddhist, I believe it all as fact not belief.

I'm on the computer anyway for other reasons; so, I take a break out. Also, I'm pretty good at multi-tasking on my good days when I get some good night sleep which I should be doing now.

I never asked "why am I here?" unless I was in the middle of the woods, while it's getting dark, and facing a deer, while calling 911 to get a ranger to get me out since I couldn't call their office. True story, by the way.

I can answer why I shouldn't be here but that will take more than 12000 words to explain.

BSM1 said:

For the chicks...

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Allow me to assist with some of my expertise!

SalixIncendium said:

No, this isn't one of those existential threads that discusses the meaning of life and what our purpose is here on earth. I'm afraid the purpose of this thread is much more mundane. I'm genuinely curious as to what makes people join a religious forum and stick around.

For me, I find that I joined RF as a result of my desire to further my spiritual education and work toward enlightenment. I find that reading insights of those of other paths gives me insight that I hadn't considered. I also enjoy having my statements questioned *glances at @Sunstone* because it prompts me to reflect on my beliefs and do further research into why I believe as I do. I will admit that another reason I stick around is for the pure entertainment value. There are those here that amuse me for various reasons.

So why do you hang out here?

Click to expand...

I was hoping to find like minded people to post with, but I haven't so I have mostly moved on. There is a little fun posting here so I visit from time to time.

SalixIncendium said:

So why do you hang out here?

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It's purely benevolent. I'm here to help.

.
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It's something to pass the time.

I see mostly atheists on here, but I wanted to see religious perspectives on all the big questions of existence. also, i was wondering about other religions besides Christian, of which I know too well of.

if you have ever seen closer to truth with Robert Lawrence Kuhn , that show pursues all big questions about reality and existence. I like Kuhn am fascinated about the big questions. this is just one perspective to consider among many. it's entertaining.

Initially i joined because i wanted to learn more about Vaisnavism, and finding a crowd who adheres to Dharma, i thought it was fantastic Secondly i thought interacting with differing opinions than myself could be great for my mental growth

Intelligent, interesting, funny, and crazy people.

I'm seeking enlightenment too. RF helps but the answers lie within

SalixIncendium said:

No, this isn't one of those existential threads that discusses the meaning of life and what our purpose is here on earth. I'm afraid the purpose of this thread is much more mundane.

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Dam.

SalixIncendium said:

I'm genuinely curious as to what makes people join a religious forum and stick around.

For me, I find that I joined RF as a result of my desire to further my spiritual education and work toward enlightenment. I find that reading insights of those of other paths gives me insight that I hadn't considered. I also enjoy having my statements questioned *glances at @Sunstone* because it prompts me to reflect on my beliefs and do further research into why I believe as I do. I will admit that another reason I stick around is for the pure entertainment value. There are those here that amuse me for various reasons.

So why do you hang out here?

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I feel more at ease online and much more open. I don't feel I could do that offline but its something I could work on. RF has been somewhere I could experiment with new ideas and made me more self-aware and helped me get to know myself better.

There are people of such different beliefs here that its a challenge to get along with them, so I feel I've learned a great deal about how people react to different situations as well. RF occasionally can be intellectually stimulating but if you're here long enough you can predict the subjects getting discussed and some of the responses which is ok if you just accept it is going to be a little predictable. you become familiar with the place and people. I'm mainly here because its such a strong community with people looking out for each other. I haven't found that on any other forum and its what keeps me coming back.

I was confused. So I seeked other points of view. I'm still growing spiritually. I see my path as a lifetime-long ongoing process. Sticking around is just something I thought would be fun. I was right.

SalixIncendium said:

...

So why do you hang out here?

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Intelligent conversation, and lively debate. It keeps my brain active.

*

Mrpasserby said:

I was hoping to find like minded people to post with, but I haven't so I have mostly moved on. There is a little fun posting here so I visit from time to time.

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What exactly are you considering "like minded?"

While I enjoy a good discussion of differing points of view, mainly what I'm here for is to hear other people's experiences...

Not something like, "I saw an angel!", but what did it look like, exactly? When, where, why, how? What was going on before? What happened next? and so on. Not your interpretation of what you experienced (that you took this experience to be an angel, or a ghost, or Sasquatch, or whatever), but a description--the story--of what you experienced.

SalixIncendium said:

No, this isn't one of those existential threads that discusses the meaning of life and what our purpose is here on earth. I'm afraid the purpose of this thread is much more mundane. I'm genuinely curious as to what makes people join a religious forum and stick around.

For me, I find that I joined RF as a result of my desire to further my spiritual education and work toward enlightenment. I find that reading insights of those of other paths gives me insight that I hadn't considered. I also enjoy having my statements questioned *glances at @Sunstone* because it prompts me to reflect on my beliefs and do further research into why I believe as I do. I will admit that another reason I stick around is for the pure entertainment value. There are those here that amuse me for various reasons.

So why do you hang out here?

Click to expand...

Who knows why I joined. It was almost 8 years ago, like I can remember THAT far back.

Why do I keep posting here? Probably just habit at this point.