Deep thoughts, Please comment
So, I was thinking about religion. If I were to start a religion, what would the basic beliefs be, etc. ...
I think that it would be a very personal religion, I think that it would be similar to Unitarian/Universalist in that it would value respect for all paths, and not endorse or invalidate anyone's beliefs. I think the idea would be that it is the journey along your path that is important, not some wonderous conclusion. In that it might be a bit eastern in philosophy. It would definitely hold respect for all life as a primary idea. It would very much promote the idea of finding your own path and traveling it, not just taking someone elses ideas as gospel. It would have no proclaimed doctrine about diety(ies) or worship, as those are beliefs people should find on their own. It would also promote evaluation and constant questioning of your ideas and motivations, as well as objective study of other ideas. Personal accountability and responsibility would be very important. It would hold that each person is as divine as any other, and as important. The only clergy we might have would be more like a councelor if anything, not teaching, but helping people find their own answers. There would not be regular services as such, but perhaps a temple where people might go to study ideas, speek with others about their ideas, meditate, etc... sort of a haven of tolerance, learning, and soul searching.
It may sound sort of apathetic as to actual beliefs, but I think it would be quite the opposite in that if a person develops their own ideals, instead of having them handed to them, they will be more likely to actually believe in them and stick to them. Basically, the only purpose of the actual organization part would be support and resources. It would be the means by which to find your own way.
I just felt like rambling about it, but I would very much like comments, and don't be afraid to offend!

4 Comments:
Jimmie,
Here is a comment, I like your windows quotes on an earlier post. check out my blog at http://hinotes.blogspot.com/
Matt
I would join your religion. It would be awesome. I think my path involves several little minipaths because I don't have the attention span for a life journey. Oh look, a bunny!
Your basis for a religion is the basis for I believe just about all of them out there. The only problem is all religions are run by man, which are inheritly flawed. So as noble and ideal as your beliefs are, they would be corrupted as all the others.
That is not to say I abhor religion, you know that, but I don't believe in it's infallibility. That's left to God. If we're talking about Man, including ones here to represent him, then you have to take a pinch of evil with it.
-- you know this is a lot to think about before I've had coffee.
I guess so. I've considered myself pagan for years now. ( the umbrella term for any nature based religion ) Mostly because of it's versatility and flexibility in choosing one's own path. It also has the value of respect I mentioned. I guess the educational function of the temple is fulfilled by the internet, plus some. And for the spiritual side, we all find our own private temples, whether we call them that or not. Perhaps, the internet is ushering in a new age for religion. People no longer have to go to church to find what they need, and the internet community is much more open. You can believe whatever you want, and worst case you get flamed in a forum. It's also much harder to corrupt in some ways because everyone has input and you can chose the parts you like. But then it's easier to corrupt in that scams are all over the place, for stupid people anyway.
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