Religion

vlyons

(10,252 posts)

27. I grew up in the Episcopal church

Wed Dec 11, 2019, 12:46 PM

Dec 2019

and left it long ago. Now I am a Buddhist, which is not a religion, but a non-theistic practice. The practice of meditation and training the mind not to be seduced by desire nor afflicted and disturbed by negative emotions, such as anger, envy, ill-will.

I could never go back to Christianity. It has such silly beliefs, such as virgin birth. Or Jesus escaping earth's gravity to ascend into heaven, wherever that is. Christianity seems to be more about spiritual materialism to enhance the ego and accumulate wealth.

Buddhism teaches to use your mind, logic, and reasoning to figure out an ethical morality to be happy and content. The question gthat I keep asking is why isn't it enough to just be a good person with a kind and loving heart, and generous nature?

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How others chose my faith [View all] Cartoonist Dec 2019 OP

Religion is kinda like smoking Major Nikon Dec 2019 #1

Yes. I started young but was able to quit. dchill Dec 2019 #2

Me too OriginalGeek Dec 2019 #21

I vape, but I don't do religion. dchill Dec 2019 #22

I have 3 or 4 good cigars a year OriginalGeek Dec 2019 #23

Me too... recovering mormon and nicotine addict... Raster Dec 2019 #26

I started smoking about the same time I stopped going to church. progressoid Dec 2019 #49

Sounds like you traded one vice for another Major Nikon Dec 2019 #50

I've since given up both. progressoid Dec 2019 #52

True, but there's always the exceptions. If one has a well-developed soul, one can "feel"that Karadeniz Dec 2019 #3

Hi Cartoonist - I imagine that I would fall into the classification of one who was/is brainwashed. Pendrench Dec 2019 #4

Here's a good lesson Major Nikon Dec 2019 #5

But, but, free will! Cartoonist Dec 2019 #7

A creator deity who allegedly knew what they were going to do before they were born Major Nikon Dec 2019 #13

Hi Major Nikon - Excellent point! (and thank you for replying to my post) Pendrench Dec 2019 #10

I just thought it interesting you mentioned accountability Major Nikon Dec 2019 #12

Hi Major Nikon - That's a very good point. Pendrench Dec 2019 #15

I look at it exactly the opposite way Major Nikon Dec 2019 #17

That is very possible - I imagine that I will not be able to understand what it is like. Pendrench Dec 2019 #18

Carry on Cartoonist Dec 2019 #11

Thank you - and best to you, too! Pendrench Dec 2019 #16

Links between childhood religious upbringing and current religious identity trotsky Dec 2019 #6

Interesting differential Cartoonist Dec 2019 #8

Catholics have been hemorrhaging members for some time now, at least in the West. trotsky Dec 2019 #9

Ever been to Catholic mass? Major Nikon Dec 2019 #14

High Mass Cartoonist Dec 2019 #19

Went as part of an assignment in a religion class in college. trotsky Dec 2019 #20

How about when they were still delivered in Latin... NeoGreen Dec 2019 #36

Latin Cartoonist Dec 2019 #43

Wow... NeoGreen Dec 2019 #46

I wonder what effect religious education has on future religiosity. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2019 #24

Serious questions - if you are an atheist, are you then also an anarchist? Backseat Driver Dec 2019 #28

Well, if I ignore the rule of law, I'll probably get arrested... FiveGoodMen Dec 2019 #29

Thanks, may I then ask how the "treat others the way you want to be treated" would impact Backseat Driver Dec 2019 #31

I do not understand your question. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2019 #30

Well, most countries rules of law are based on some beliefs that shape them. Backseat Driver Dec 2019 #32

"If you don't have religion where do you get your morality from"? Act_of_Reparation Dec 2019 #34

It is very simple... NeoGreen Dec 2019 #35

Those are unrelated hurl Dec 2019 #33

If the only thing keeping you from committing murder and rape... NeoGreen Dec 2019 #37

Arguably worse Major Nikon Dec 2019 #42

Yikes. Very true. nancy1942 Dec 2019 #51

I don't think either of those things mean what you think they mean Major Nikon Dec 2019 #38

School days Cartoonist Dec 2019 #25

I grew up in the Episcopal church vlyons Dec 2019 #27

Buddhism has it's own set of silly beliefs Major Nikon Dec 2019 #39

No actually, Buddhism is not a religion vlyons Dec 2019 #40

It most certainly fits pretty much all widely accepted definitions of the word religion Major Nikon Dec 2019 #41

Have you studied Buddhism, or read extensively in Buddhist literature? vlyons Dec 2019 #44

I'm cool with Buddhism Cartoonist Dec 2019 #45

My complaint with all religion vlyons Dec 2019 #48

But it is a religion Lordquinton Dec 2019 #47