What Belief Systems Have You Looked Into

[nailit]

And why?
Non believers like myself and other ABers sometimes get labelled as being ''closed minded'',
but I've often found that to be far from the truth amongst the atheist/agnostic/free thinking community who come to a rejection of religion after much inquiry.

Just a few of the belief systems that I, myself, have studied or at least looked into...

Evangelical Christianity of many flavours (I started of as a 'born again' teenage beliver)
Liberal Christianity
Occult belief systems (Read much of Aleister Crowley, Thelema, Golden Dawn, Theosophy etc in my 20's)
Satanism (Read Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible and have conversed online with both LaVeyan Satanist and theistic Satanists)
Spiritualism (Read many books by mediums and have attended scores of Spiritualist services and also seances, ouija board session etc)
Islam (read the Koran and conversed with many muslims)
Krishna (Attended a Krishna meeting and read the Bhagavad Gita)
Wicca and Paganism (Had many friends over the years and practiced Wicca and many different forms of Paganism)
Jehovah witnesses (attended many meetings, spoke to many followers, read much literature)
Mormons, as above
Christadelphians, as above
Seventh day adventists, as above
Buddhism (read much literature and attend a few talks)
Gnosticism (attended one talk, read much literature
Ive read a whole raft of literature on other belief systems without attending meetings/lectures etc.

WHY?
I was interested (still am).
Closed minded?
Dont think so

[Spungle]

Thanks, Nailit- It's fascinating (and odd) that someone should accuse you of being "close-minded"- it sounds as though you're still searching for answers. It's nothing new- 2,000 years ago, the Romans accused the Apostle Paul of the same thing, as he expounded on Judaism and Christianity, "And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." I think that research and learning about faith shows the very opposite of close-mindedness; it shows a soul searching after the truth.

[Theland]

Pixie, a need for God?
Yes, once convinced of His reality.

My own journey began with asking the same questions that has driven scientific discovery for millennia.

A need? Yes. But all part and parcel of refusing to simply ignore the existential questions.

[archibaldy]

I'm a firm atheist however attend the local Buddhist centre maybe a couple of times a year and regularly listen to taped recordings of sessions from teachers round the world because I really think that their teachings on meditation, lack of attachment to material things, the thinking mind (ego) and others are really valuable in living a calm and positive life.

I like the way there is no pressure to behave in a certain way outside the drop-in attendance and there isn't the element of control found in other religions - just turn up, chill out and see you whenever.

The ones I'm interested in don't mention much about life forces and reincarnation bits of the 'religion' which I don't believe in at all - but I find it's perfectly possible to ignore them or just see it as a twee poetic way of expressing some of the 'magic' of life and the universe.

[naomi24]

Chinajan 18:45 //By far the most interesting and knowledgeable author I've come across is Karen Armstrong.//

Her dedication to research is commendable but her tendency to cleave to religion renders her selective - and for the serious researcher that should always be borne in mind. A case of reading between the lines. Nevertheless for those interested in the history of religion, her books make easy and informative reading. I would recommend them.

To answer the question…. most.

[Chinajan]

// Nevertheless for those interested in the history of religion, her books make easy and informative reading. I would recommend them. //

Haha. Just about my level then? :-D

She does have her critics, certainly, but I like that she is thorough and meticulous in her research - because facts were what I was after, and just why people come to their beliefs given said facts.

[naomi24]

I’ve read many of her books. I find them very informative. Her depth of research is outstanding. She does tend to put a rosy glow on things that weren’t particularly rosy, for example she portrays Mohammed as rather more squeaky clean than he actually was - but as I said she tends to cleave to religion so that I can overlook.

[goodlife]

The Bible is right in saying most of you.
They are “always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.”—2 Tim. 3:7.

[TrevorThePug]

Oh you’ve read a million books. Well done. Yawn. I prefer to talk with people and listen to what they believe in and hear their societal views. I don’t judge them particularly, but I ether like them as a person or not. If I find them interesting I might try to find out more, if not, they are dust.

[Theland]

Trevor, yes there are many sources of learning.
I love listening to lectures, and don't read much anymore.

[naomi24]

Oh dear Trevor. All those poor people you strike from your Christmas card list must be utterly devastated - you being such a popular chap and all.

[Apc2604]

Budism. Comes closest to what I believe is a good way of life, but I don't believe in having a religion as such. I don't believe in God or gods.

[Apc2604]

Buddhism!

[TrevorThePug]

Awww Naomi, you think life is a popularity contest! Misguided, but cute. Keep working on it.

Apc, see that comes back to my point above. All very sound to align yourself with a belief, just don’t venture too close to Wirathu, or you’ll be off my Christmas card list. Smiles.

[naomi24]

Apc, do you like the idea of reincarnation - even if that means returning to the world in the next life as an animal?

[Apc2604]

Naomi. I didn't say I agreed with everything Buddhists believe in. No I don't believe in reincarnation - that would signify that I have a belief in a god of some sorts. But I like a lot of their beliefs. But if I were to be reincarnated, I would gladly come back as an animal. I prefer them to humans! ;o)

[naomi24]

Haha! Me too much of the time. :o)

[Khandro]

nailit. //Non believers like myself//

What is it you don't believe in?

[naomi24]

Khandro, you know the answer to that question so why ask the question?

[Atheist]

Khandro, that's the silliest question I have seen on AB. Do you see why?

[Khandro]

It's a simple question worthy of an answer.