Positive thread: what you LIKE about opposing religious thought.

[Lerkfish]

thought I'd balance out some of the acrimony and start a thread about what we like or admire about (non)religious or religious thought or philosophy that we appreciate.

I'll start:

1. ATHEISTS: I appreciate how they actively question the nature of existence. They have the integrity to demand empirical evidence, and to stick to their guns in the absence of it. I applaud their efforts to continue to keep church and state separate, a goal I share with them.

2. MUSLIMS: (or more appropriately followers of Islam) I have been impressed by those I have known, both in their devotion to their beliefs, and in their support of peace. There is also a general acceptance of their tenets that is somehow more resolute than faith.


that can get the ball rolling. Please contribute only positive things, if you can. thanks.

[murray hill farm]

1. Well...i always say that i am Christian, but

not exclusively...since i do believe so much of what other faiths believe..and have taken a little from here and a little from there to form my own personal faith...so, i must thank them all for helping me to form my own beliefs and my own faith. I also very much admire the athiest belief that since this is it..this life..then one must do what is right and good..and to make this one life all that it can be..since this is the only life there is..the only time one will live.

[Warpy]

2. Christians who quitely got the point

of all the tolerance, acceptance, peacefulness, and generosity that the golden rule and beatitudes exemplify, for their presence in peace activities, in soup kitchens, sorting and bagging clothing for the needy here and abroad, contributions to public health efforts here and abroad, and all their volunteer work at my local food co op, taking weekly groceries to elderly and shut in people.

I'm sorry, I can't think of anything positive to say about street corner ranters.

[tubbacheez]

3. Some Baptists are wonderful.

BAPTISTS: I know a couple of really exemplary Baptists. These folks have read their Bible completely through, from beginning to end, multiple times. They don't just soak up some tele-preacher's interpretation. They give every spare cent to the poor. And though they disagree with me on several hot-button issues, they've always gone out of their way to treat me and others kindly.

They have not actively tried to convert me, though I suspect that would overjoy them. I this regard, I consider their patience over the years of our friendship to be quite profound... perhaps on par with some Buddhist friends of mine.

[jandrok]

4. The word "opposing" has a negative connotation......

Almost as if it's exclusionary. If my religious beliefs are different, then I am somehow in "opposition" to yours. Not the case, but I also get where you're going with this thread.

I have been a student of many religions over the years, and I would have to say that I am a pantheist if cornered into defining myself philosophically.

It's a big universe. If it WAS created, and if there is a higher being who created it, then that being was wise enough to speak in many different languages. Religion is kind of like a beautiful garden, with many different paths to get through it. Take your time, explore some of the different roads. You're sure to find new beauties and new wonders. Sticking to one, narrow path may get you through, but you'd sure miss out on a whole lot.

[Lerkfish]

7. good point. unfortunately, its too late for me to change it.

It should be "differing" rather than opposing.

I tried to edit it but it wouldn't let me.

[eallen]

5. There are some Christians for whom it truly is about love and charity.

But they rarely argue their beliefs. They just go about living their life, in a way that earns their neighbor's respect.

And Shinto has some fun festivals.

[Tux]

6. I like the

Unitarian Universalists who created a method of spiritual discovery and education, promote social justice for others, and provide a home for people that couldn't find a great community on their own.

and

Buddhists whose beliefs form the best form of therapy known. I only hope clinical psychologists can learn from Buddhists' solution to suffering, tolerance, and their example of peaceful contentment.

[Lerkfish]

8. more...

I like Buddhism and other eastern religions that focus on healing the self, on searching within for strength and enlightenment. I think that's a good step for any religion.

I also like how nearly all religions have some form of the golden rule: do unto others as you would have done to you.
That concept exists in most religions, and those without religion as well. Its a great concept. Even better when put into practice.

[Desertrose]

9. I honor & appreciate ALL who "walk their talk"....regardless

of what they call themselves...

I think the best way of teaching and showing who you are is by example...by living it. ( as we see with *bush- he does the opposite of what he says...a perfect example of how someone is not practicing what they preach.)

To paraphrase the Hopi ..."if it doesn't grow corn, what good is it?"

If your "religion" doesn't help you get through life, in a good way and to interact in a positive way with the other beings walking the red road, then what is its point? Just what is it really about...is it about helping souls to grow and learn or simply manipulating?

[GOPBasher]

10. I don't know about "opposing" religious thought.

As far as "different beliefs," here I go:
(I'm a Christian, for the record.)

1) Buddhism is awesome in terms of its belief in total eradication of selfish desire. As a Christian I believe selfish desire is the reason for sin in the world. If we were able to totally eradicate our sense of "self," there would no longer be any sin in the world. I actually consider myself a philosophical Buddhist, which I think I can be at the same time as being a Christian.

2) Agnostics are awesome, because they admit something that the rest of us can't: that they don't know everything. How can any of us -- believers and non-believers alike -- truly be sure of anything? We can't, and agnostics are honest about that. They say, "Hell I don't know, and neither do you, but at least I admit it." I admire that. Of course, I believe in God, but I still can admire people with enough honesty to be able to say that.

3) Atheists are awesome for the same reason the original poster said. They require evidence for their beliefs; they won't just buy into something you tell them for the hell of it. As a person of science, I can appreciate that.

4) Jews are awesome because their ethical/moral code is awesome. Those are the ethics upon which our western society is based.

5) I love the Hindu religion because they believe in the interconnectedness of all things in the universe, which I know to be true from modern physics, and furthermore I believe that's a good way to promote compassion and kindness among all people. After all, if you hurt someone else, you're hurting yourself, because you're both part of the same ultimate reality.

6) All the Muslims I've ever known have been great people, though I don't know much about the religion in general. If those people are the face of Islam, it must be a great religion.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Namaste

The Upanishads talk about the interconnectedness of all things, which they call Brahmin. Sufis, too, believe in this; "La illaha il Allah" we take to mean "There is nothing but God". Most mystics I know, on whatever path, believe something similar. And it is true that it is what physics is saying.

I'd recommend you watch the film "What the @&&# Do We Know?" as it combines physics and spirituality.

[GOPBasher]

13. Thanks for the suggestion. I have one for you.

That sounds like a good read. I recommend a book as well, if you haven't already read it. The book is The Tao of Phyics by Frijof (sp?) Capra. He's a physics PH.D. and a scholar of eastern religions.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. read it

and I think "Mind Walk" was based on it.

[GOPBasher]

15. Cool.

Yeah, Tao of Phyics is a great book, isn't it? What is Mind Walk ?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. movie made ca 1990

also based on "The Turning Point"....about physics and social responsibility. Stars Liv Ullman, John Heard, and Sam Waterston, I believe.

[GOPBasher]

18. Cool. Thanks. :-) nt

[Desertrose]

17. "What the Bleep" is coming out on DVD March 15th

You can preorder it for about $24 I think.

www.bleepstore.com



"La illaha il Allah"

Beautiful , ayeshahaqqiqa, I agree. :)

Namaste
DR

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Atheists, I have found,

tend to be idealists and most appear to be quite well read.

Christians who practice the teachings of Jesus have about them a light that one can perceive. They are tolerant and loving. One that I truly admire is a Southern Baptist minister. He never tried to 'save' me, and never judged people, even when they were doing things his church frowned upon.

I have many friends of the Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu faiths who, like me, enjoy the Dances of Universal Peace. I have always found that we have more things in common than differences.

[kwassa]

19. I am interested in all forms of spirituality

and think that they all meet at the point of mystical experience of God.

and I think atheists are on the same path.