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Poll: Religious, Spiritual, Both or Neither?
- Thread starter Exaltist Ethan
- Start date
Erm, I believe it is called being born, living, and dying. What one does with the middle is often up to us, but not necessarily. I would leave this middle bit up to people themselves. As you mention, some seem to find a purpose or purposes in life, but many don't. But that at least is freedom - to choose what we do with our lives - and perhaps better than being directed by someone or some thing that we might not know was true or even good for us. As I mentioned, too many onlookers whispering (or shouting) their comments at us along the path and all supposedly quite true in their own particular beliefs. Hence why I might come across as a wee bit irreligious.
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RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
Erm, I believe it is called being born, living, and dying. What one does with the middle is often up to us, but not necessarily. I would leave this middle bit up to people themselves. As you mention, some seem to find a purpose or purposes in life, but many don't. But that at least is freedom - to choose what we do with our lives - and perhaps better than being directed by someone or some thing that we might not know was true or even good for us. As I mentioned, too many onlookers whispering (or shouting) their comments at us along the path and all supposedly quite true in their particular beliefs. Hence why I might come across as a wee bit irreligious.
I’m not really interested in telling other people how to live or what to believe, but I am interested in how others might assign meaning and purpose to their lives. Is it your contention that life requires no higher purpose, no grand vision? Fair enough if it is, but that seems deeply unsatisfactory to me.
I would consider a life lived without asking the big questions - the unexamined life, it’s been called - to be a futile existence, but that is just my perspective and I’m always interested to hear others.
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That I must admit is a difficult question to answer.
So I suppose all I can see as to such is to have some purpose(s) in life that doesn't or might not harm others, hopefully contributes to the well-being of all (including all other life), and tends towards progressing the human species - the direction being rather open. So this purpose would be more as to minimising harms, especially when so many others (the religious ones) seemingly are at odds with each other. Perhaps in the future, humans might settle on some distinct and useful purpose - perhaps even their own survival as a species, given that this is not a huge priority at the moment.
Exaltist Ethan
Bridging the Gap Between Believers and Skeptics
We're creating Gods within ourselves and in our environment. Isn't that task the most distinct and useful purpose that anything could have?
I wouldn't know. I suspect that all the gods defined by religions aren't that helpful, given such seems to give rise to divisions and conflict. Perhaps humans will settle on a purpose or purposes eventually - us growing up as a species and all that - but I will not be around to witness it, and neither I suspect will any alive today do so. I've never seen myself as world planner - and hopefully neither would any others - but plenty seem to think themselves up to the task. Me, I'm all for democracy - as long as it is of the informed variety.
My opinion is a cross between Trailblazer’s and Quintessence’s answers. I am part of an institutional religion, though admittedly, I’ve been fine doing the private thing. I don’t really recognize a difference between being religious and being spiritual. Religions express spirituality in vastly different ways, and I’m personally wide open to this. As such, I identify as both.
HeatherAnn
Active Member
I voted other stance because I am spiritual and I appreciate truth from various religions, philosophies etc., but I kinda despise illogical, unethical dogma - whether religious or spiritual.
PearlSeeker
Well-Known Member
SNR
I participate in a religious community but personally I don't accept any religious belief system. I am a seeker (not a believer).
I participate in a religious community but personally I don't accept any religious belief system. I am a seeker (not a believer).
I put spiritual but not religious, but I doubt most would have the same concept of 'spirit' as I do, as I define it as mental emotional and physical wellness in a holistic sense, and do not believe in souls or non-physical forces.
HeatherAnn
Active Member
I like that: “seeker, not a believer.”