I've taken an interest in religions after reading about the First Cause and personally coming to the conclusion that science will only tapdance around the issue since empiricism cannot tackle the First Cause. What's a good one to pick?
Current beliefs
>A God, but not necessarily a personal one because it wouldn't let so much crazy shit happen on Earth.
Could be nice to believe
>Afterlife
>Personal god
>Interacting with spirits
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i'd go with eastern religions personally because they seem to be more peaceful, i mean just look at the shit in the bible for fucks sake!
>personal one because wouldn't let so much crazy shit happen on Earth.
Not necessarily. How could you now, that modern, postchristian ethics could be default for God? Or maybe god is interested in civilizations on other planets and we are just animals.
go more in depth to what you want specifically, there are hundreds of religions in the world which have their own sub-religions
You should be less concerned with finding what you want than what is true.
I considered such, but even some pre-christian ethics are routinely violated that I imagine a God would oppose. If that god is interested in stuff other than humans, it is impersonal. If it is interested in us or we are the only things around, but it allows these things to happen and doesn't give us any suggestion that our suffering will be outmatched with an afterlife, it is either impersonal or a bit of a bad communicator.
I'm not entirely sure what I want. I would like to find things I believe to be true rather than shop for convenience. I think to the best of my logic that there is a supernatural creator because no amount of asking for a scientific response brings any truly scientific answers.
Fair enough. I think the existence of a godlike creator, anthropomorphic or not, is true.
That leads to extreme moral skepticism.
>science will only tapdance around the issue
see, that's where you're wrong. Science deals woth the issue directly. It tells you all about God, the first cause, the nature of existence, the means of acquiring knowledge of metaphysical matters, etc. The question is WHICH science. The answer to that is: Hinduism.
In this world your God is mute. How does this change your life?
In this world, there is no God. How does this change your life?
God(s) exists but is neither benevolent nor sane by our standards. Humanity is blessed by our utter insignificance in the cosmos and the best we can hope for is that we remain unnoticed. Lest some celestial entity from beyond our comprehension decides to torture us for it's pleasure. If there ever were true prophets of the divine born within humanity they all ended up locked in asylums.
Why do you need a religion? Science may not be capable of explaining some things but that's because science deals with things that can be tested and proved. Does that mean that there is no higher power? No - but there is no proof that there is, either. Neither can it answer whether there is life after death - but why would you believe religion that there is life after death, either?
You wrote about things that "Could be nice to believe". Now, belief in something that cannot be proven is the basis of any religion and I would question why you want to convince yourself to believe in some concepts which cannot be proven one way or another.
I keep the existence of some kind of higher power in my mind as there is no proof for or against that but I find it quite presumptuous to believe in something (if you can really call it believing - you don't seem very certain on what to believe so is that really believing or just hoping?) just because someone once said it is so.
>A God, but not necessarily a personal one because it wouldn't let so much crazy shit happen on Earth.
Mankind has free will on earth - God guards his kingdom. Most of mankind is currently in rebellion against God. Heaven is a gift, not an entitlement.
>In this world your God is mute. How does this change your life?
God is not mute - but the monotheists have dedicated their lives to silencing God.
Will the emperor of japan ever be restored to his rightful place as a God again?
>"picking" a religion
You're going to hell
>Will the emperor of japan ever be restored to his rightful place as a God again?
First the monotheists must be broken for their crimes. My title is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Technically I am the Emperor of Japan.
But God set the initial conditions, and he was able to predict, how things will look like.
Like saint Augustine?
Are you saying Augustine's conversion wasn't sincere?
No, but he was "picked" Christianity because he analyzed it.
>personally coming to the conclusion that science will only tapdance around the issue since empiricism cannot tackle the First Cause
How so?
Was it not science that came up with the big bang theory, the most direct attempt at explaining a first cause of the universe rather than merely philosophizing an uncaused God-figure?
>what caused the big bang
Nothing, as far as we know. According to general relativity, time didn't exist 'before' the big bang because the big bang wasn't an event in either space or time and since physical causality requires the dimension of time, the question of a cause before the big bang is meaningless. However general relativity is not sufficient under quantum conditions so the possibility of a cause before BB is still open in the scientific community.
Islam
By his own account he ended up converting because he got a command from god and he embraced the faith whole-heartedly.
He wasn't browsing religions and picking one that suited his fancy.
>But God set the initial conditions, and he was able to predict, how things will look like.
The laws of nature are immutable. God doesn't prevent murder, rape, terror, or any of that in the mortal realm. That doesn't mean that crimes are consequence free.
You only think they sound more peaceful because you aren't exposed to their fundamentalists on a faily basis.
>Afterlife
Depends on what afterlife you're after. An eternal afterlife? a temporary afterlife? or direct rebirth/reincarnation?
>Personal god
How personal do you want it to be? Just yourself, you and your peers/kind, or you and the rest of the world?
>Interacting with spirits
What kind of spirits? Human spirits, non-human spirits, or non-anthropological spirits?
I will query your answers and find the appropriate religion.
>Was it not science that came up with the big bang theory, the most direct attempt at explaining a first cause of the universe rather than merely philosophizing an uncaused God-figure?
It was a catholic priest quantifying creation.
Eternal afterlife, or at least in immortal soul. Reincarnation cycles are fine but the physical world is finite, so something that addressed that before we knew the physical world was finite.
A god for all of humanity in terms of being personal. Or one that doesn't give a fuck about humans at large. Getting between those seems odd.
No preference on the kind of spirit.
do you believe in Jesus or just want God specifically?
I believe he existed but don't know if he was divine.
Is expansionism or somewhat insular study to try and understand God more important to you?
I have queried the results and came up with: Zoroastrianism and Brahmanic Hinduism
Zoroastrianism has the belief in an eternal afterlife, anyone can enter regardless of religion as long as he does good work and deeds. God is personal but all encompassing.
If you choose the route of brahmanic hinduism, you get an immortal soul going through endless reincarnations based on deeds of this world (karma). God is impersonal but all encompassing.
>BBT is now theology
ok buddy...
>It was a catholic priest disproving his own religious beliefs
fixed
I prefer to be an empiricist, sorry scientists.
>I believe he existed but don't know if he was divine.
The Spirit of God attests to Jesus' existence and divinity.
For example, the song "Sheep" by Pink Floyd isn't supposed to proclaim Christianity - but if you swap the word "gods" for "dogs" - suddenly it proclaims the gospel message.
"You better watch out, there may be gods about!"
"Have you heard the news? The gods are dead!"
youtube.com
That, of course, isn't the only piece of literature that proclaims the gospel message unintentionally:
maybe he want's Muhammad (pbuh)
Doesn't seem like it if you are basing your beliefs on something you cannot possibly experience yourself.
>patchwork religion
Though the church usually opens it's doors to everybody I would highly welcome it if you would never come. We have enough retards and don't need another "spiritual" urban cuck.
Zoroastrianism is the only answer, my friend.
>Not a personal one because it wouldn't let so much crazy shit on Earth.
So God isn't personal because he allows consequences for the actions of humans? Famine, rapid spread of disease, starvation, war, terrorism, theft, murder, etc.. these are all the results of humans. God tells people what not to do and yet they do it and then this stuff happens.
A God that allowed himself to be in human form just so he can start preaching in person and then get brutally murdered is a pretty clear indication that He is personal.
>empiricism cannot tackle the First Cause
>religion can
"please give me examples of religious beliefs so I can choose to believe in the ones that coddle me"
fuck off
let's just rule out cuckstianity since it's definitely not your shtick
I'm guessing either Islam or Zoroastrianism
Just think up all of the features you would like your religion to have and then make up a new one, it would be as valid as all the existing ones.
>Implying I wanted your Protestant heresy when it's all the boredom of orthodoxy with none of the actual understanding or history.
Yeah nah that's what Gnosticism is for
Sounds like Islam is appropriate for you OP
Doesn't Islam have a personal god?
Quakerism
This. Your religion should be first and foremost what you sincerely believe, not what you agree with.
>Just think up all of the features you would like your religion to have and then make up a new one, it would be as valid as all the existing ones.
Careful, if there's actually a god - acting badly, topping it with poor faith, and impersonating a divine agent can be a very very dangerous occupation. The Jews forfeit the souls of pretty much their entire race for thousands of years this way.
Did you read up on the Buddhist "first cause" take?
>plato.stanford.edu
Maybe you'll stick with science.
A God that hides itself well enough to convince millions of its absence would probably be impersonal.
Anyway I'm more curious about finding if anything clicks starting with what I do believe.
Buddhism is trippy, man.
>A God that hides itself well enough to convince millions of its absence would probably be impersonal.
It's people that hide God from man, not God that hides from man.
"If they loved me, they would fight for me."
im curious op what religions you're interested in
what do you think about judaism? you can't convert to zorasterianism so I don't know why this board obsesses with it
What if he likes your religion and gives you a special place in the afterlife?
You can convert to Zoroastrianism, you just can't convert to the Parsi (indian) version of it, which are by number most Zoroastrians.
Gnosticism is interesting but I don't know what texts to actually pick up as canon.
Judaism might be neat, I don't really know much about it aside from what I learned about the Old Testament as a kid. Idk about Zoroastrianism or how/if you can convert. Some of the more abandoned mythologies are cool but not personally as things to believe.
>Anyway I'm more curious about finding if anything clicks starting with what I do believe.
Generally that's considered bad science, if you were touching any scientific subject with this mindset. You don't go look for science to reinforce your belief. You go into science to find out where there is to know. If this means breaking away from your belief, this must be done.
Ofcourse you're not looking at things scientifically, you're probably just looking for things that conform to your personal beliefs regarding the nature of the world and universe. Why would you need science for that? Best to stick to faith.
Christianity is the only true religion that's certified / A L P H A /.
>Don't give a fuck what others think as long as you know it's right and as long as God would want it
>Foster wholesome relationships with qt Christian gf's and bear plentiful fruit
>Gotta get Veeky Forums with reps for Jesus
>Eat whatever the fuck you want for maximum religious and bodily gains
>Guaranteed rest day on Sunday so you can chill with the family and go to a huge, immaculately designed steeple and listen to pure sermons and eat delicious church food afterward
>Jesus loves Ford's and hates rice-burner Hyundai's and shitty-ass Chevy's, like a true, red-blooded American
Christianity is that one Chad in Highschool that dated the head cheerleader and managed to fit in being Captain of the Football team along with practicing for the debate club so that he could get a full-ride scholarship to Harvard and Yale (he got into both on a technicality, and they literally just let him enter both courses and curriculums, which he did so anyway).
>christianity
>alpha
kek
Mysticism and the perennial philosophy.
They teach all mystical religions lead to the same experience of the Godhead, the underlying unity of Reality. It is mankind's purpose to travel this path to the fullest. Hinduism (Upanishads) are the most well-versed in the topic.
Gays are alpha because they do what they want and don't give a fuck about what others think.
Washing people's feet is alpha because you do it in the service of God, and not in the name of the person, and thus, since you do something in the name of God and no one else, the practice is immediately converted into a practice of the alpha.
Eastern religion cucks BTFO. Couldn't even handle the bants like some sort of shy beta.
>science, the zenith of human thought, the bedrock of contemporary civilization, the source of most of our knowledge, cannot tackle cosmogony, something well within its epistemic scope
>but bronze age mythology can
pls don't ever reply to him
>I'm going to say science can tackle cosmogony even though the prevailing theory of cosmogony not only doesn't actually posit an answer to it, but that missing critical statement of its hypothesis is one of the great unsolved problems in physics. The only way to even get closer to the origin point for scientific hypothesis requires a theory of quantum gravity that does not exist.
>Well within its epistemic scope.
Yeah nah.
Jonathan Shear discerns four theses associated with the notion of a Perennial philosophy:
(1) The phenomenal world is the manifestation of a transcendental ground;
(2) human beings are capable of attaining immediate knowledge of that ground;
(3) in addition to their phenomenal egos, human beings possess a transcendental Self which is of the same or like nature with that transcendental ground; and
(4) this identification is life's chief end or purpose
Zen
Not a religion but the only logical and sane choice for spirituality
Not necessarily, depends on how you look at it, some sects like sufism is more related to the non-anthropomorphic god
It's not that fedorabuddhism is it?
जैसे तिल में तेल है, ज्यों चकमक में आग |
तेरा साईं तुझ में है, तू जाग सके तो जाग ||
Westerners try and divorce "zen" from soto, rinzai, and Buddhism in general.
>Lest some celestial entity from beyond our comprehension decides to torture us for it's pleasure
Feels like that's what's happening right now
>Afterlife
>Personal god
Read the bhagavad gita
I'll look into it.
(((Westerners)))
Platonism is the correct theology, so you should probably pick that one. It also ticks all the boxes.
You get an impersonal god, or gods.
You get afterlife.
You interact with the forms.
Also, you aren't required to have absolute faith in the honesty and accuracy of Hebrews (one of the downfalls of Abrahamism).
Study Plato & Aristotle's thoughts on theology. Don't touch anything written by a "neoplatonist", and ignore everything Christians say on the matter (see: neoplatonist).
Fuck off, you post this every day.
First time posting this thread.
I'll give it a look.
Neoplatonism is orthodox platonism. It's based on his actual teachings. If you go just by Plato's dialogues then you don't know shit about what Plato actually taught in the Academy.
Don't read that version though. That's the Krishna-cult version with shit commentary. Read a normal one like the Winthrop one.
>Jesus loves Fords
Fag spotted
>hides itself
Closing your eyes to everything God has done including His creations doesn't mean that He is hiding. You're just being stubborn.
Take an ancient philosophy class and start your path to the Kingdom of Heaven, user. The Church will be waiting for you.
>Gays are alpha because they do what they want and don't give a fuck about what others think.
yes goy, follow your desires by trying to fulfill them
What madness is this? Choosing what to believe shouldn't be about what you prefer, it should be about what is true, or at least what best fits what you've learned!
If you serve any any God or none, do so because the facts lead you to do so, not because of this absurd build-a-faith workshop.
Eastern religions are a good start. Look up Transcendental Meditation. It is a spiritual religion based on Hinduism that focuses on positivity and helps you to cleanse yourself of negative and foreign influences. It is what everyone needs in these dark times.
>god of the gaps
Eastern Orthodoxy or bust.
this is it, OP, your issue with the First Cause isn't really warranted because there is not 'before' the big bang or any sort of cause and effect relation like we're familiar with, Steven Hawking himself has said that he personally thinks that the universe emerged spotaneously as "nothingness is inherently unstable"
>Choosing what to believe shouldn't be about what you prefer, it should be about what is true, or at least what best fits what you've learned!
That's my view exactly... But most humans simply react with rage whenever someone shows them the truth - but that won't stop God from trying to tell you the truth.
>God's responsibility for an event and the understanding of its mechanical aspects are mutually exclusive
>A gap that is literally impossible to close with science is the same as ascribing God to a testable but currently unproven hypothesis
>Muh we just don't knooow yet.
So you're saying in the beginning there was nothing before the Big Bang and that's when it all started.
>"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth".
It fits with that account.
then you can just cut God out of it because he is completely vestigial
But God set off the Big Bang.
whoa bro, never occured to me before
I have taken to paganism. That's me though wanted something ancestoral, and their beliefs as in values align with mine very well. Whether it's all true in the se se of after life and all is irrelevant to me. It's a faith I find myself in agreement with. Either it's all true, get to be with my ancestors and all that good, or it all goes black, I no longer exist, and I simply lead the life I wished to.
Alan Watts
I don't believe you. I see this thread every single day. It's worded differently every time, but it's always some variant on "I don't think religion's true but I want one anyway lol."
Fuck off.
>Whether it's all true in the se se of after life and all is irrelevant to me.
I find this attitude utterly moronic. Like, you're just an idiot.
>I don't believe you.
Sucks for you I guess? This thread doesn't even fit the first quality of what you say the threads are about. I think there's a grain of truth in religions in that there is a First Cause that is supernatural. I want to find a faith that I believe correctly expands upon this fact.
I practiced Buddhism for a while, meditating for periods between 30 mins and an hour. I will admit you stop suffering, but you stop enjoying as well. Also, people began to take notice of my changed behavior; my lack of interest in conversation, prolonged silence, and general apathy & withdrawal. I never told anyone I was meditating or attempting to follow the Buddha's path and I eventually came back to Christ. The only reason I began pursuing Buddhism was because I became convinced Christianity was not true and that there was ultimately no salvation.
Buddhism and other Easter religions are not recommended from me. Read the Bible, start following Christian blogs, websites, and reading theology. I recommend Lewis' "Mere Christianity" for beginners. May God bless you all.