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I've been asked many times, especially in conversations concerning such topics, "what's your religion?" Granted this have not been the case as much on Gaia, but none the less the question is there. The problem with this question, for me, is the perspective I take on religion. I cannot say simply "Christian", "Catholic", or even "Buddhist" or "Atheist". I have to stop and try and explain, on a very simple and dumbed down scale, my entire religious philosophy. Needless to say this can be rather confusing for the person I am explaining it to, and rather difficult for me. So in general I call myself agnostic, when such a short answer is required. Now why is this, one might ask? Well this part, strangely enough is almost a very simple matter of probability. When one looks at all the religious beliefs that exist, have existed, and have not between explored yet, I find it both nigh impossible and almost ridiculous that a person would advocate that their particular religion is absolutely, 100% correct, with even 90% correct stretching imagination. I personally need some other indication besides negative arguments and a holy book to make me reconsider the validity of a religious philosophy. When looked at through this lens, all but a few religious philosophies ultimately fall. There are only two widely known exceptions that I know of, to this. These two I give more credit to because, unlike many other religious philosophies, they hold the real capacity for change. These other religions do not. The first is Buddhism, which I give more credit because of it's vague nature towards the divine and it advocates further delving into its mysteries, to ultimately seek enlightenment. In this is holds the capacity to change and indeed, advocates that its subjects mold their view point in their quest for enlightenment, or the truth, which they are to find for themselves, rather than rely on someone else to do it for them. The second, if it can be called a religion at all, which I more than hesitate to, is atheism. This is more or less because atheism's belief system, if you will, is based on the ever changing findings of science, which continually reevaluates itself and continually seeks the truth through logic and the scientific method. In this I can almost give it full credit and, indeed, am willing to arguing the atheist point of view. However, the one fundamental flaw in atheism is it's cold lack of a spiritual component, which is essential in any attempt to find the truth. There is too much within the supernatural and spiritual realm of thought for me to ignore it in favor of atheism. So as such, agnosticism is the only category under which I can reasonably say I fall. That is to say, I challenge the notion of the divine being, but I do not reject it. As for my own personal belief, well that becomes even more complex. Suffice it to say, I have been exploring the idea of a animist philosophy. But that is for another journal entry. For now, I hope this has given the reader some insight into my "religion".
twilightwyrm · Fri Jan 18, 2008 @ 04:10am · 0 Comments |
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