Religious Views... What's Yours?

[Michael]

I thought gnostic was different from agnostic?

K

You are being squirrely with me. How do you interpret your belief system? Do you side with one or the other more so?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Ok, I keep checking back on this thread to see if anyone else noticed our Jewish brothers and sisters have been omitted?!? I mean, it IS a major world religion. I guess I am sensitive because I have Jewish clients who have increased my awareness of Judaism. Shalom.

[SquirrellyMama]

It is. From what I understand, agnostic is open to the POSSIBILITY of God. Michael is saying that Gnostic KNOWS there is a God.

I think.

You are being squirrely with me. How do you interpret your belief system? Do you side with one or the other more so?

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be squirrelly I always thought that agnostics knew there was a God but didn't have a particular god. Sort of an "intelligent designer" but not a concrete notion.

I thought gnostics had the view of a Christian God but had more of a mystical spiritualism. It has been a while since I learned about the gnostics.

I am conservative Christian. One half of my friends thinks I'm horribly conservative while the other half thinks I'm fantastically liberal

I trust the Bible implicitly. It is God inspired and infallible. How I live that in my life is why my friends and family have conflicting views of my conservative/liberal status.

K

[Michael]

Ok, I keep checking back on this thread to see if anyone else noticed our Jewish brothers and sisters have been omitted?!? I mean, it IS a major world religion. I guess I am sensitive because I have Jewish clients who have increased my awareness of Judaism. Shalom.

We don't want to offend anyone here. I added Jewish to the poll but had to remove Rastafarian (it did not have any votes).

[Brooksie]

Agnostic. I'm VERY spiritual but not religious in any way.

[Blackcat31]

Ok, I keep checking back on this thread to see if anyone else noticed our Jewish brothers and sisters have been omitted?!? I mean, it IS a major world religion. I guess I am sensitive because I have Jewish clients who have increased my awareness of Judaism. Shalom.

I noticed it too but then you had already mentioned it so I didn't feel the need to bring it up.

The OP also gave an option of answering "Other", I assume because there are so many different religious beliefs that she couldn't possibly list them all.

That's my perspective anyways. I also think that maybe you noticed the absence of immediately since you live in an area where Judaism is more prominent.....

[Sugar Magnolia]

We don't want to offend anyone here. I added Jewish to the poll but had to remove Rastafarian (it did not have any votes).

Thanks Michael! I wasn't offended, just thought it was odd. I am not Jewish, but felt they should be included.

[Willow]

I was baptized and confirmed Catholic but at this point in my life don't identify as Christian.

I can't believe that the God I know in my heart would need to sacrifice His only son through an act of torture and murder to save His people. I always struggled greatly with that growing up, no joke seeing the movie The Passion pushed me over the edge. My God would ever need to make that part of His plan. He's all knowing. All powerful. There would have been another way. I don't believe in the Bible or in the hierarchy the Catholic church sets up. God is supposed to be the one and only, but they dress men in gold robes, give them crowns and scepters and put them on thrones in "castles" people journey to from all over the world to pray to. I disagree with tithing immensely and this notion that religion should be free from governing law.

I don't believe in hell. I believe here on earth we are in some version of "hell" because we are away from God and that's the definition of hell to me. If we learn what we need to we ascend into heaven and don't need to come back. If we don't then we review what we have yet to sort out and come back for another go until we become enlightened enough.


My faith in a higher being is unshakable. God is in our lives in every way every single day.

Sounds stupid but I am inclined to believe a lot about what Sylvia Browne says about the afterlife. Her description of us reincarnating until our souls learn what they need to, the planning of our journeys here on earth with other kindred souls....I think that's why some people we meet in life seem to "get it" while others flail around and struggle their entire lives.

I am intrigued with the term "gnostic." I want to say that's what she has declared herself and it's probably the closest I've heard to what I feel I am.

[SilverSabre25]

I was baptized and confirmed Catholic but at this point in my life don't identify as Christian.

I can't believe that the God I know in my heart would need to sacrifice His only son through an act of torture and murder to save His people. I always struggled greatly with that growing up, no joke seeing the movie The Passion pushed me over the edge. My God would ever need to make that part of His plan. He's all knowing. All powerful. There would have been another way. I don't believe in the Bible or in the hierarchy the Catholic church sets up. God is supposed to be the one and only, but they dress men in gold robes, give them crowns and scepters and put them on thrones in "castles" people journey to from all over the world to pray to. I disagree with tithing immensely and this notion that religion should be free from governing law.

I don't believe in hell. I believe here on earth we are in some version of "hell" because we are away from God and that's the definition of hell to me. If we learn what we need to we ascend into heaven and don't need to come back. If we don't then we review what we have yet to sort out and come back for another go until we become enlightened enough.


My faith in a higher being is unshakable. God is in our lives in every way every single day.

Sounds stupid but I am inclined to believe a lot about what Sylvia Browne says about the afterlife. Her description of us reincarnating until our souls learn what they need to, the planning of our journeys here on earth with other kindred souls,

I am intrigued with the term "gnostic." I want to say that's what she has declared herself and it's probably the closest I've heard to what I feel I am.

Thank you. You have just put into words something I have felt for a very long time re: Jesus/death/nasty method/etc.

But, I definitely believe that there's "something" out there. There have been too many moments just in my own life where I just knew that something bad had been averted through divine intervention. God, angels, whatever it was...my life has been saved and my children's lives/bodies have been saved by more than luck several times.

FWIW, as far as the afterlife, I do firmly believe in reincarnation. And while I've never heard of Sylvia Browne, my ideas on reincarnation are basically what you mentioned. I should look into this "gnostic" business.

And at the end of the day, the Shakespeare quote, "There is more in heaven and Earth, Horatio, than is dreamt of in your philosophy" comes to mind FREQUENTLY.

[Texasjeepgirl]

Athiest


When I was very young my parents took us to a non denominational church...When I was in junior high my stepdad was Jehovah's Witness.. so we did that tour for a few years while mom was married to him..
after I left home at 17.. she became a Mormon.. and now lives in UTAH

My first husband's family was Church of Christ so I did get babtized when I was 19.. shortly before we married...
Attended for several years... but gradually drifted out ...

AND.. I sent both of my daughters to St. Mary's Catholic School in our town.. from Kindergarten to 8th grade..
Both went on to public high school....

[tenderhearts]

I am a Christian. I love & believe in our Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul and do my best every day to show it.

I love every person I meet regardless of their beliefs or lifestyles because that is what I believe my God wants me to do. I forgive everyone, although it may be difficult and it may take me a while at times but I do pray for guidance whenever I feel others do me wrong. In fact I pray all the time.

I want to live my life to be as close as Jesus as I can. I feel that I fall so short so much of the time but I do know that I am human and I believe that I am forgiven because no one knows what is really in my/your heart like God does and I keep trying to be a better person every day.

I pray for knowledge, wisdom and understanding from God all of the time and I really want to live my life pleasing him in every way.

For me it all depends how the terms are used.

To say G D or to use the term Jesus Christ as when cussing or when upset, I am very offended by this.

To say God Bless You, I believe it is usually intended as a good thing.


Personally I feel that it is what is in your heart when you say it.

OMG I love you so much as to OMG I hate you!

All I can say is God knows what is truly in your heart and he is the ultimate judge.

I do not allow my dc children to be anything but loving, kind and gentle at all times. If one is truly excited and says OMG in a context not intended to be anything but for good I do not think it is a bad thing.

I am also a born again Christian. Raised in a Christian home going to a Baptist church my whole life. I do not advertise my daycare as a "Christian" daycare but I do follow my beliefs within.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I am a non-denominational Christian. I was raised in a Christian household and made the decision to be a Christ-follower 3 years ago. Everything changed! My business is advertised as a Christian daycare.

I'm very conservative but am friends with many who are not. I am what I feel I need to be as a Christ-follower.

[Willow]

Thank you. You have just put into words something I have felt for a very long time re: Jesus/death/nasty method/etc.

Have you ever asked a priest once about that? I've asked many and no one had an answer other than to sputter, or tell me it was none of my business to question and dismiss me on the spot unfortunately.

We had to write a letter to the Bishop John Kinney before confirmation. Mine was a mix of explaining my intense desire to live a life of service but also feeling confused by many of the church's teachings. I wrote it has me conflicted about being confirmed at all. He chose five of all the letters all the kids being confirmed with those in my church to hand write letters back to. Guess who was one of the five....

He wrote something along the lines of despite what some assume or choose to assert no clergy or laity have all the answers and they can be wrong. All we can go by is what rings true. He himself has doubted at times, but ultimately trusts in what he's committed his life to. Deep down he believes all people have a conscience that God speaks to them through. If we are open and willing to hear it we will be guided to do what's right. He spoke of consequences, but also of forgiveness should we at times make wrong choices.

I think what he may have been trying to do is persuade me that getting confirmed was the "right" thing to do.

My parents about lost their minds with delight, until I shared that I had a completely different perception of his words

Ultimately I caved under pressure and went through with my confirmation, even though my priest at the time shared my interpretation and took the words to mean it should be my choice and my choice alone based on what I felt was the right path for me to take. If it didn't feel right I shouldn't do it. He told my parents if I changed my mind even on the walk up it should be respected. He said the desire to seek the truth was a gift, and found it refreshing that I even cared since so many parishioners just showed up every Sunday and didn't give a second though to what they were worshiping or how they applied the lessons to their lives.

The pressure I speak of? My parents threatened to kick me out if I didn't go through with it, my father went so far as to speak of disownment, so what's a 16 year old supposed to do??

Of course they don't remember making any such threats, but then again many in the Catholic church have a conveniently horrible memory similarly


As a mother I don't want to put any such pressure on my kids. I still have that letter as it freed me from my religions oppression (even if that wasn't the original intent ). It gave me the permission I felt I needed to question, and ultimately listen to what I felt was right. I had them baptized shortly after birth out of straight fear that I may be wrong and they'd be condemned to an actual hell with fire and brimstone and all that but other than that I've merely chosen to teach them to listen to their hearts, that God will speak to them that way and guide them better than I ever could. When they are older if they are guided to partake in organized religion that'll be their business but I don't want them to feel the fear, shame or guilt I do today for betraying a set of beliefs I never really bought into anyway.

I don't believe that's what my God would ever intend for any of His children.



If you've never seen the movie The Passion you should SS. If they ever made a similarly realistic portrayal of Noah's Ark I think it would have had the same effect on me. Or God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac - for kicks? The killing of all men, women and innocent children in Sodom and Gomorrah? Onan - for merely ejaculating? God striking down every first born in Egypt? I just don't believe in a God that manipulative, spiteful or just plain evil. You can't say God is forgiving, all knowing, compassionate and otherwise perfect in every way....when He's supposedly doing all that.

I just doesn't work both ways in my mind or heart.......



ETA - despite all of my personal feelings on Christianity I still respect others who have been guided to believe otherwise. My parents and I have since come to a decent place of understanding in that regard.

I don't think it's something anyone should ever judge ANYONE else for. We only know what we feel in our own hearts, and no one should be faulted for doing what's best for them in their own lives as long as it doesn't harm others.

[Oneluckymom]

I am spiritual and follow Sufi teachings. I believe that all religions lead to the same source...they are merely a path with one goal in mind: to connect with the ONE.

[saved4always]

I was raised as a Catholic but I became a born again Christian 12 years ago. We go to a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is God's Word. I am more right leaning in my beliefs. I work in a daycare at my church so it is totally advertised as a Christian daycare.