All that's going around lately

[Anonymous]

Does it make you lose faith in religions.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely.

Personal faith and spirituality? I understand.

But religion - organized religion and its associated tribalism? A cancer, and archaic relic from the past that serves zero value in modernity.

[Anonymous]

no the people do

[Anonymous]

I have been irreligious most of my life and everything that is happening is pushing me towards exploring spirituality because I need something to hang on to. I was raised Catholic but that's not it for me. It's a cliche (UMC white lady) but I've been exploring/practicing Buddhism the last several years and it has helped.

In some ways we need religion more than ever.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about the movie (and book) Contact. It's about a scientist who makes receives a message from an alien species, and how the world reacts to this and then what happens when humanity attempts to make contact with them. It is about science and religion and philosophy, the search for meaning, and trying to figure out what the purpose of all this is.

There is a line from the movie I always think of, describing humanity as "tiny, and insignificant and... rare, and precious" when viewed from the perspective of the entire universe. I like this perspective. All of these problems we have now are, truthfully, very small an unimportant when viewed from a great distance and in the context of all of existence. Yet all that is good in humanity, all our connection and love and creativity and warmth, is extraordinary and precious when viewed from the same perspective. We are so much less important than we like to think we are, but we are also capable of something truly wonderful and special.

I don't know, I'm babbling. TL;DR: everything that is happening in the world has caused me to seek spiritual outlets and some kind of connection with a force bigger than myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been irreligious most of my life and everything that is happening is pushing me towards exploring spirituality because I need something to hang on to. I was raised Catholic but that's not it for me. It's a cliche (UMC white lady) but I've been exploring/practicing Buddhism the last several years and it has helped.

In some ways we need religion more than ever.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about the movie (and book) Contact. It's about a scientist who makes receives a message from an alien species, and how the world reacts to this and then what happens when humanity attempts to make contact with them. It is about science and religion and philosophy, the search for meaning, and trying to figure out what the purpose of all this is.

There is a line from the movie I always think of, describing humanity as "tiny, and insignificant and... rare, and precious" when viewed from the perspective of the entire universe. I like this perspective. All of these problems we have now are, truthfully, very small an unimportant when viewed from a great distance and in the context of all of existence. Yet all that is good in humanity, all our connection and love and creativity and warmth, is extraordinary and precious when viewed from the same perspective. We are so much less important than we like to think we are, but we are also capable of something truly wonderful and special.

I don't know, I'm babbling. TL;DR: everything that is happening in the world has caused me to seek spiritual outlets and some kind of connection with a force bigger than myself.

You can’t have it both ways.

If you are an atheist then nothing you wrote is true — there is no greater spiritual connection or warmth, or anything else out there. Millions of years ago fishes ended up on the land, we have been evolving ever since, there is no greater spiritual force in the world, because all that happens when we die is we rot in the ground, and eventually the whole world is going to burn up. Nothing we do matters here at all — it can’t be both unimportant and precious — if it’s unimportant, then it’s not precious at all. It’s just unimportant.

And yet …

I am a Christian and I don’t believe any of that. I don’t believe you do either, in your heart of hearts.

I strongly encourage you to look at the different world religions and decide what is true — what has factually happened. You should also compare them by thinking how you actually live your life and what is most consistent with that. Chances are highly likely that you live by Christian values in terms of how you treat other people.

Buddhism is a very interesting alternative to Christianity. It believes that how we live in this life carries over to the next life through some sort of cosmic karma and that eventually once we do get it right we get out of the cycle and enter some nirvana state. So at its core the focus is on performance and achievement — being “good” enough in this life according to some vague standard we don’t even understand. That sounds like a lot of pressure to me.

Christianity is not based on our own moral achievement or performance — it is based on what Jesus has already done for us and the perfect record we get through him. It’s a gift freely received, not achieved. The cosmic karma was already decided on Cavarly. It is finished.

If you grew up Catholic, you likely didn’t hear the true story of Christianity, sadly. I was in the same boat but when I actually began to understand Christianity, it changed everything for me. As part of your exploration, check out Tim Keller sometime.

[Anonymous]

Basic essence of every religion is to be fair and merciful, if that's not even on the plate anymore then what's left?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been irreligious most of my life and everything that is happening is pushing me towards exploring spirituality because I need something to hang on to. I was raised Catholic but that's not it for me. It's a cliche (UMC white lady) but I've been exploring/practicing Buddhism the last several years and it has helped.

In some ways we need religion more than ever.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about the movie (and book) Contact. It's about a scientist who makes receives a message from an alien species, and how the world reacts to this and then what happens when humanity attempts to make contact with them. It is about science and religion and philosophy, the search for meaning, and trying to figure out what the purpose of all this is.

There is a line from the movie I always think of, describing humanity as "tiny, and insignificant and... rare, and precious" when viewed from the perspective of the entire universe. I like this perspective. All of these problems we have now are, truthfully, very small an unimportant when viewed from a great distance and in the context of all of existence. Yet all that is good in humanity, all our connection and love and creativity and warmth, is extraordinary and precious when viewed from the same perspective. We are so much less important than we like to think we are, but we are also capable of something truly wonderful and special.

I don't know, I'm babbling. TL;DR: everything that is happening in the world has caused me to seek spiritual outlets and some kind of connection with a force bigger than myself.

I'd say that we do NOT need religion more than ever. We need less religion. No religion, actually.

What we have now is an atheist president trying to please fundamentalist Christians who actively want the end of the world to happen because they think they will all rise up and go to heaven. The president knows that won't happen, but in the meantime, he gets to make war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been irreligious most of my life and everything that is happening is pushing me towards exploring spirituality because I need something to hang on to. I was raised Catholic but that's not it for me. It's a cliche (UMC white lady) but I've been exploring/practicing Buddhism the last several years and it has helped.

In some ways we need religion more than ever.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about the movie (and book) Contact. It's about a scientist who makes receives a message from an alien species, and how the world reacts to this and then what happens when humanity attempts to make contact with them. It is about science and religion and philosophy, the search for meaning, and trying to figure out what the purpose of all this is.

There is a line from the movie I always think of, describing humanity as "tiny, and insignificant and... rare, and precious" when viewed from the perspective of the entire universe. I like this perspective. All of these problems we have now are, truthfully, very small an unimportant when viewed from a great distance and in the context of all of existence. Yet all that is good in humanity, all our connection and love and creativity and warmth, is extraordinary and precious when viewed from the same perspective. We are so much less important than we like to think we are, but we are also capable of something truly wonderful and special.

I don't know, I'm babbling. TL;DR: everything that is happening in the world has caused me to seek spiritual outlets and some kind of connection with a force bigger than myself.

You can’t have it both ways.

If you are an atheist then nothing you wrote is true — there is no greater spiritual connection or warmth, or anything else out there. Millions of years ago fishes ended up on the land, we have been evolving ever since, there is no greater spiritual force in the world, because all that happens when we die is we rot in the ground, and eventually the whole world is going to burn up. Nothing we do matters here at all — it can’t be both unimportant and precious — if it’s unimportant, then it’s not precious at all. It’s just unimportant.

And yet …

I am a Christian and I don’t believe any of that. I don’t believe you do either, in your heart of hearts.

I strongly encourage you to look at the different world religions and decide what is true — what has factually happened. You should also compare them by thinking how you actually live your life and what is most consistent with that. Chances are highly likely that you live by Christian values in terms of how you treat other people.

Buddhism is a very interesting alternative to Christianity. It believes that how we live in this life carries over to the next life through some sort of cosmic karma and that eventually once we do get it right we get out of the cycle and enter some nirvana state. So at its core the focus is on performance and achievement — being “good” enough in this life according to some vague standard we don’t even understand. That sounds like a lot of pressure to me.

Christianity is not based on our own moral achievement or performance — it is based on what Jesus has already done for us and the perfect record we get through him. It’s a gift freely received, not achieved. The cosmic karma was already decided on Cavarly. It is finished.

If you grew up Catholic, you likely didn’t hear the true story of Christianity, sadly. I was in the same boat but when I actually began to understand Christianity, it changed everything for me. As part of your exploration, check out Tim Keller sometime.

PP has an eye towards conversion! good luck ---- I guess. I'm disposed to leave the previous poster alone and let them just think about becoming Christian, because I'm pretty sure they will change their mind and see all religion as the dupe that it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it make you lose faith in religions.

OP I wish you would be a little more specific. “All that’s going around?”

It sounds like you’re talking about a flu bug. What exactly is “going around” now that has not been a part of humanity since the beginning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely.

Personal faith and spirituality? I understand.

But religion - organized religion and its associated tribalism? A cancer, and archaic relic from the past that serves zero value in modernity.

Agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it make you lose faith in religions.

OP I wish you would be a little more specific. “All that’s going around?”

It sounds like you’re talking about a flu bug. What exactly is “going around” now that has not been a part of humanity since the beginning?

DP here. I think they're talking about the current political regime. And it has been "going around" off and on since the beginning of time. There are always bad people around somewhere in the world. Good people too. Right now, we got a bad one, IMO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it make you lose faith in religions.

No, my faith and my parish is my oasis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it make you lose faith in religions.

No, my faith and my parish is my oasis.

I'd guess that it's more the people - old friends - in your parish that is your source of strength - not some supposed guy in the sky.

[Anonymous]

I'm someone who was the unicorn and maintained being religious through college and into my 30s, but the hypocrisy just wore me down over time.

[Anonymous]

Religion is a cancer on society and without it we would not be in this mess.

If you are a believer, this is your fault, whether you agree or not. Without the religious right there would be no power for the extreme right.

Time to put your stupid bronze-age myths aside and live like an evolved human.

You can do it.