Non-Christian Theology

[Yahweh]

So, I'm tired of Christianity. And Judaism and Islam for that matter, so I'm interested in what the rest of the world's religions have to offer.

I dont know much in the way of other religions, so I'd like to dedicate this thread to the strangeness that habitates some of the lesser known religious beliefs. Just for the sake of curiosity, of course :)

[1inChrist]

Originally posted by Yahweh
So, I'm tired of Christianity. And Judaism and Islam for that matter, so I'm interested in what the rest of the world's religions have to offer.

I dont know much in the way of other religions, so I'd like to dedicate this thread to the strangeness that habitates some of the lesser known religious beliefs. Just for the sake of curiosity, of course :)

Other religions are just cults who worship false idols and gods. The Word warns of the dangers of following cults and worshipping false gods and idols. When you follow other philosophies you are playing on Satan's stove and are sure to get burned.

[1inChrist]

Also your name offends me.

[Zamzara]

The colour of your socks offends me, 1.

By the way, Islam and Judaism warn of the danger of worshipping false gods too, so does that prove the Christian God* is a false God? If not, why is your proof superior to theirs?

*Assuming it isn't all the same God anyway

[geni]

Originally posted by Yahweh
So, I'm tired of Christianity. And Judaism and Islam for that matter, so I'm interested in what the rest of the world's religions have to offer.

I dont know much in the way of other religions, so I'd like to dedicate this thread to the strangeness that habitates some of the lesser known religious beliefs. Just for the sake of curiosity, of course :)

Well I find Zoroastrianism quite interesting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism

The traditional ceromines sourding death are pretty much unique (with the excetions of some native american tribes).

They also have a very interesting history and have manhed to get on quite well with other relgions (in one case by leaving)

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
Also your name offends me.
Go to hell.

[c4ts]

Deism!

[TruthSeeker]

Yahweh, you could dance on Satan's stove with the Buddha and me. 1inC, there's room for you too, my love

[Scot C. Trypal]

I too think Zoroastrians are an interesting bunch. I particularly like their more humain temporary Hell, but it’s just not as convincing an “argument� as eternal hell, I guess.

From Geni’s link:

One of the most famous Zoroastrians is the late Freddie Mercury, the frontman of the group Queen.

Wow, I always learn something new on the JREF.

[Lord Emsworth]

Originally posted by c4ts
Deism!


Deism is a boring topic. They're rational and there's nothing much to make fun of. :p

[Bikewer]

If you eliminate the superstitious nonsense, Bhuddism has a lot to offer. But then, the same could be said of Christianity...

Taoism has some nice notions, but go with the earlier texts, as they accumulated a lot of superstitious nonsense as well.

The most succinct religion I know of is Neumanism, with it's single injunction. "What, me worry?"

But there are those who do not see Alfred as a deific figure.

[Lisa Simpson]

Originally posted by TruthSeeker
Yahweh, you could dance on Satan's stove with the Buddha and me. 1inC, there's room for you too, my love

Nah, we'll be mud-wrestling in Nirvana.

[roger]

Rastafarianism is very interesting because it occured very recently, giving us an excellent chance to study the genesis of a religion. Just imagine the myths, holy writings, etc., that will exist in 2000 years.

[TruthSeeker]

Originally posted by Lisa Simpson
Nah, we'll be mud-wrestling in Nirvana.

Well, I thought we'd start with dancing but I'm open to getting straight to the mud-wrestling.

[evildave]

Well, to start off, here are a couple of resources that contain lots of information about LOTS of religions.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/

As for my 'beliefs', they're simple and not very interesting.

As far as creators, gods, afterlife, spirits, karma, kosmik krazy glue, whatever: I don't know and I don't care. It's a simple system of 'beliefs', because It doesn't require any special training, rote memorization, or even belief.

It takes too much energy to worry over what "might be", and I have just enough imagination to realise that there is an infinite quantity of "might be" to divide my very finite time as an animate entity on.

If there is an 'ultimate truth', I am fairly certain not to ever find it, and it's also fairly certain not to be found in any existing religion, being the weak, inbred things religions tend to be. If I think I've found an 'ultimate truth', I'll share it with you, but I will almost certainly be self deluded.

For instance, one workable story line is that every creature with so much as a spark of awareness shares the same 'soul', spanning space and time (either reincarnating serially and wrapping around the end of time, or split up into shards that run concurrently). If you 'do unto others', you literally are doing unto yourself. It's catchy, simple, elegant, even marketable, and in all probability false.

I tend to view ideas as discardable. I think them up, share them, but don't attach too much to them, because for every good idea I have, I tend to have a LOT of bad ideas.

[crimresearch]

Originally posted by Bikewer
If you eliminate the superstitious nonsense, Bhuddism has a lot to offer. But then, the same could be said of Christianity...

Taoism has some nice notions, but go with the earlier texts, as they accumulated a lot of superstitious nonsense as well.

The most succinct religion I know of is Neumanism, with it's single injunction. "What, me worry?"

But there are those who do not see Alfred as a deific figure.

Taoism is a handy label that can be slapped on a variety of belief systems, from early shamanism to a fairly sophisticated philosophy, to New Age claptrap.
And all of them shelter a variety of sects and schisms, and crackpots calling themselves Taoists.


Now the Church of American Secular Humanism*...THAT'S a church.


* Founded by Frank Zappa... 'make all checks payable to C.A.S.H.'

[Piscivore]

I've been reading up on the beliefs of the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni. They have a really interesting theology.

[Anathema]

I've been reading a book by the Dalai Lama on Tibetan Buddhism. The DL is an interesting figure. He is highly skeptical of a few things, but makes his own Olympic-grade broadjumps to articles of faith on some pretty big issues. Although the doctrine is thick with superstitious hooey about karma and reincarnation, the practical applications of "right thinking" are pure gold.

His description of the manner in which consciousness "mounts to energy", and the process by which it gradually detaches from that energy during the "death process" is far-out woo. His claims that tortured Buddhist monks can partially die, but hold off decaying through consciousness (stop the death process where they appear dead, but don't rot until they're "ready"), might qualify for the million-dollar prize --- if they didn't have to actually die to qualify.

In all, I believe his book needs exactly the same treatment Jefferson gave the bible --- a slice here, a paste there, and you could actually cobble together a decent guide to living.

[pgwenthold]

Originally posted by Yahweh
So, I'm tired of Christianity. And Judaism and Islam for that matter, so I'm interested in what the rest of the world's religions have to offer.

I dont know much in the way of other religions, so I'd like to dedicate this thread to the strangeness that habitates some of the lesser known religious beliefs. Just for the sake of curiosity, of course :)

Paganism.

You get all the parties on all the traditional holidays, without all the religious crap. You still get to sit around the yule log singing Deck the Halls, neck under the mistletoe, and you still get to blow up marshmallow chicks and rabbits in the microwave. You just don't have to go to church.

And as far as religions go, I kind of like the idea of celebrating what the earth gives us.

[RamblingOnwards]

Originally posted by pgwenthold
Paganism.

If you're a Heinlein fan, I suggest looking at the Church of All Worlds. There's something quite refreshing about a religious group that STARTS with the premise that their holy book is completely fictional.

[Yaotl]

Just go with Discordianism and be done with it :D

Hail Eris!!

[Piscivore]

Originally posted by RamblingOnwards
If you're a Heinlein fan, I suggest looking at the Church of All Worlds. There's something quite refreshing about a religious group that STARTS with the premise that their holy book is completely fictional.


Bokononism.

[sackett]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
. . . you are playing on Satan's stove and are sure to get burned.

See what I mean about 1inC's posts? You can't beat the South* for colorful language; it even alliterates, quite in the manner of Anglo-Saxon. If this guy isn't listening to old-fashioned stump preachers, then he ought to BE one!

* "Where there is illiteracy there is wit." Did Henry Sweet say that? There's no door prize, but maybe somebody could track down that 100% true quote.

[Yaotl]

Originally posted by sackett
See what I mean about 1inC's posts? You can't beat the South* for colorful language; it even alliterates, quite in the manner of Anglo-Saxon. If this guy isn't listening to old-fashioned stump preachers, then he ought to BE one!

* "Where there is illiteracy there is wit." Did Henry Sweet say that? There's no door prize, but maybe somebody could track down that 100% true quote.

I keep thinking of Moby Dick when I read his preaching.

[EdipisReks]

i think of Fraggle Rock when i read 1 inch christ's little talkie talks.

[DarkMagician]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
Christian sects are just cults who worship false idols and gods. Common knowledge warns of the dangers of following cults and worshipping false gods and idols. When you follow other philosophies you are playing on the short bus's stove and are sure to get burned.
Fixed-es!

[lylfyl]

Cargo Cultism of Melanesia

[CBL4]

I suggest the Church of Saint John Coltrane. At least you get to listen to good music while the preacher drones.

The Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church is a musical-religious shrine of another bent. Unlike the Elvis-worshippers, this church is not a joke. They are charter members of the African Orthodox Church, and the deceased jazz saxophonist is their patron saint. The San Francisco organization dedicates itself to the worship of God as inspired by the 1964 spiritual awakening of the talented Mr. Coltrane. On the site, you can buy postcard reproductions of ornate John Coltrane icons displayed in the church. Also unlike the Elvis folks, no one at the church claims that John Coltrane is actually Jesus. Hey, at least he's got the right initials.

IT IS A SCENE OUT OF ANY NUMBER OF JAZZ JOINTS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY BUT THIS PARTICULAR BOITE HAPPENS TO BE ST JOHN'S AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OR AS IT IS KNOWN TO A GROWING CIRCLE OF PARISHIONERS AND FANS THE CHURCH OF ST JOHN COLTRANE...
FOLKS HERE DON'T JUST REVERE THE PIONEERING SAXOPHONIST WHOM ONE CRITIC

DUBBED THE JAZZ MESSIAH THEY HAVE DECLARED MR COLTRANE A SAINT WE CALL HIM THE DIVINE SOUND BAPTIST' SAYS BISHOP FRANZO KING A FORMER HAIRDRESSER WHO FOUNDED THE CHURCH...
http://our.homewithgod.com/fdrennen/John%20Coltrane%20The%20Case%20for%20Sainthood.htm

CBL