Do you believe in God?

[Ian Moone]

I'm a huge fan of mythology, philosophy and what I suppose you'd call metaphysics. My views on this subject may seem somewhat nuanced and I'm unsure I have a good label to really round out my beliefs. Theosophy has intrigued me a lot recently, as it combines Christian Mysticism with Buddhism (mostly Tantric ideas or practices from what I can tell), but I don't think that's a good overview of my beliefs. While I enjoy syncretism, I don't really enjoy the Christian view on the deity. Buddhism and Hinduism are far better for me as I see a plurality being echoes or reverberations of the overarching deity myself. I think we give these emanations characteristics that bring out the deity in different ways, like when we personify planets or come up with "signs" of divinity like the Sefirot, Zodiac, Tarot or Jung's Archetypes. Resultingly, I enjoy Buddhism and Hinduism's take on all of the deities being a reflection of the total deity which manifests in Peaceful Deities (* and Wrathful Deities).

So overall I'd say I see God as the same as you, but I freely make room for deities that manifest as separate versions of God. I'm also not a fan of Duality, so gendering God is weird to me. God is a He and a She at the same time - the Divine Androgen. Bifurcating Divinity is simple. Likewise, God is not "Good" nor "Bad". I can settle for Peaceful and Wrathful like Order and Chaos, but "Good" and "Bad" are lazy and childish designations I find.

Ultimately, I'm most into Greek, Egyptian and Norse deities or mythologies. Some have at times considered me a reliable resource when it comes to explaining these subjects through a comparative mythology lens. Though I'm autodidactic, I do take this sort of seriously for several reasons. For example, I don't exactly respect the contemporary ideas on piety. Instead of what most people think it means, I think it means having reverence for deities in general, not any particular one. As a result, I tend to enjoy learning about mythologies.

It doesn't seem many here are initiated. That's a bit of a shame.

 

[..- ... . .-. -. .- -- .]

yes

 

[Lamp Fool]

I'm a huge fan of mythology, philosophy and what I suppose you'd call metaphysics. My views on this subject may seem somewhat nuanced and I'm unsure I have a good label to really round out my beliefs. Theosophy has intrigued me a lot recently, as it combines Christian Mysticism with Buddhism (mostly Tantric ideas or practices from what I can tell), but I don't think that's a good overview of my beliefs. While I enjoy syncretism, I don't really enjoy the Christian view on the deity. Buddhism and Hinduism are far better for me as I see a plurality being echoes or reverberations of the overarching deity myself. I think we give these emanations characteristics that bring out the deity in different ways, like when we personify planets or come up with "signs" of divinity like the Sefirot, Zodiac, Tarot or Jung's Archetypes. Resultingly, I enjoy Buddhism and Hinduism's take on all of the deities being a reflection of the total deity which manifests in Peaceful Deities (* and Wrathful Deities).

So overall I'd say I see God as the same as you, but I freely make room for deities that manifest as separate versions of God. I'm also not a fan of Duality, so gendering God is weird to me. God is a He and a She at the same time - the Divine Androgen. Bifurcating Divinity is simple. Likewise, God is not "Good" nor "Bad". I can settle for Peaceful and Wrathful like Order and Chaos, but "Good" and "Bad" are lazy and childish designations I find.

It's great and all comparing and being a fan of and being into different traditions, being yourself a greater judge over them than anyone who actually follows them, but until you actually seriously follow one of them, how will you not be blown around by what you happen to enjoy or choose to settle for?

 

[Ian Moone]

Actually, this kind of attitude is the exact reason why I try not to become overinvested in any traditions and prefer to just do my own thing instead. Too many people want too badly for their system to be correct - for their book to hold objective truth - but I see little value in that perspective.

I think a lot of people get upset with someone who won't adhere to a certain framework because they're hard to systematize or categorize. "If this person doesn't fit those standards, who stops them if they don't play by the rules I'm hindered by?" This kind of commentary is a bit narrow and easily exploitable for me. I'd rather not partake. I'll find other lemons to make my lemonade with instead.

 

[CognacDefender]

I wish i could, but there's so many plotholes in the bible that i can't just make myself believe all that actually happened, as well as being badly emotionally wounded by the church
also i'm surprised at the amount of christians on agora (not a bad thing, just surprising)

>the bible is the only holy book in existence.
Go soul searching nigga. Go to vietnam and explore the mountains, take a dump in a bush or something. Look for cool shit that you like.

 

[CognacDefender]

I'm a huge fan of mythology, philosophy and what I suppose you'd call metaphysics. My views on this subject may seem somewhat nuanced and I'm unsure I have a good label to really round out my beliefs. Theosophy has intrigued me a lot recently, as it combines Christian Mysticism with Buddhism (mostly Tantric ideas or practices from what I can tell), but I don't think that's a good overview of my beliefs. While I enjoy syncretism, I don't really enjoy the Christian view on the deity. Buddhism and Hinduism are far better for me as I see a plurality being echoes or reverberations of the overarching deity myself. I think we give these emanations characteristics that bring out the deity in different ways, like when we personify planets or come up with "signs" of divinity like the Sefirot, Zodiac, Tarot or Jung's Archetypes. Resultingly, I enjoy Buddhism and Hinduism's take on all of the deities being a reflection of the total deity which manifests in Peaceful Deities (* and Wrathful Deities).

So overall I'd say I see God as the same as you, but I freely make room for deities that manifest as separate versions of God. I'm also not a fan of Duality, so gendering God is weird to me. God is a He and a She at the same time - the Divine Androgen. Bifurcating Divinity is simple. Likewise, God is not "Good" nor "Bad". I can settle for Peaceful and Wrathful like Order and Chaos, but "Good" and "Bad" are lazy and childish designations I find.

Ultimately, I'm most into Greek, Egyptian and Norse deities or mythologies. Some have at times considered me a reliable resource when it comes to explaining these subjects through a comparative mythology lens. Though I'm autodidactic, I do take this sort of seriously for several reasons. For example, I don't exactly respect the contemporary ideas on piety. Instead of what most people think it means, I think it means having reverence for deities in general, not any particular one. As a result, I tend to enjoy learning about mythologies.

It doesn't seem many here are initiated. That's a bit of a shame.

This eminates 'I'm desperate to look smart'.

 

[Retrofire]

No.

but our reality is anomalous, and strange. I don't really scoff at ppl that tell me the world is flat. I simply don't know. I don't want to be so open minded that my brain falls out, but i've also seen many things that simply have no rational explanation

 

[Captain]

@CognacDefender has arrived and we've got a junior flat earther in training. Here we go...now this thread is going somewhere! Buckle up kids!

 

[how to drain your dragon]

The ghost of housepoopr still haunts the road

 

[BarnSwallow]

It doesn't seem many here are initiated. That's a bit of a shame.

I'm okay with that. My spiritual views are not conducive to most peoples interfaith dialogue.


View: https://youtu.be/-xX3kfLM12g

 

[Ian Moone]

This eminates 'I'm desperate to look smart'.

Challenging yourself can often enable growth. I typically find avoiding challenges to be boring. If you don't have similar feelings, we might get along more in the chat feature with the rest of the people who don't enjoy long-form posts quite as much.

I'm okay with that. My spiritual views are not conducive to most peoples interfaith dialogue.

The trouble is most of the people in those alternative circles are frankly miserable to be around. They never shut up about all the things I go to other places in order to avoid always hearing about. I'm bored of them.

 

[Some_porcupine]

Challenging yourself can often enable growth. I typically find avoiding challenges to be boring. If you don't have similar feelings, we might get along more in the chat feature with the rest of the people who don't enjoy long-form posts quite as much.

The trouble is most of the people in those alternative circles are frankly miserable to be around. They never shut up about all the things I go to other places in order to avoid always hearing about. I'm bored of them.

maybe it is not WHAT, but, more of, HOW you say things?

 

[Ian Moone]

maybe it is not WHAT, but, more of, HOW you say things?

Why should I care enough about your feelings about how I phrase things? I find that essentially every single time this happens to me, it's a result of some kind of projection, some sort of insecurity the person has. I can't control that. I'm not going to change how I phrase anything just so someone is more comfortable around me. That shit is exhausting. No thanks.

 

[macrobyte]

[Clip]

It doesn't seem many here are initiated. That's a bit of a shame.

This the type of shit to happen when someone reads one book on alternative philosophies and religions. Anyway, if you really wanna yap about this stuff, then I encourage you read The Secret History of The World by Mark Booth, and also Journeys Out of the Body by Robert Monroe.

Anyway, I believe in God, if only for the reason that when I pray, what I prayed for tends to be easier to do. Of course, this could just be done subconciously or something, but I just don't think it is, by my own choice.

Why should I care enough about your feelings about how I phrase things?

Ok Ian take a deep breath. Just remember, when you write, someone else reads. They're not in the wrong because of how you phrase things. The way you wrote, it read less as a conversation among equals, and more as you trying to give away some of the gospel of esoterica of which you are in the presence of. Also, read this thread, specifically step 3, 6, 7, & 8.

 

[Some_porcupine]

I didn't respond to anyone, encourage anyone to ask me questions or offer anyone anything. I instead offered my own commentary as requested by the OP.

This is a bit over the top at this point. I maintain that this is a long series of insecurities influencing these behaviors. I said you guys were boring. You got butthurt over it. Now you're trying to make me feel bad after merely poking fun out of you. I'm not interested in this behavior.

maybe we are too low-IQ for you, which means then, curbing down the enthusianism and trying to explain it on our level then (that is, making assumptions about people based on way they respond to your posts... - my assumption you try to (shortcut) skip over by some ideas, giving in the impression of being edgy kid, than someone who is above our level then, Maybe...)
or, going further, maybe making or finding another, own, forum? i might be wrong, but for other time, other users with same problem were: nsquirra, willhelpme, sophia (in chat, writes in way similar to yours, but less reactionary (depends on theme)), and others (youd notice the patterns, wouldnt you, - skipping ideas like that...)

if i am wrong, then, i am sorry. there is snobbery i cant quite stand. if that is not good for explanation, or i myself did something wrong, and being snobbish... "there is nothing i can do", in world of inverifiable conclusion, id be concussion...

---

to go back into tracks: idk i am more of Deist myself - e.g. God made world, and then let it sit. just one 1/900% of mana, and here we are, universe... - and then no longer poking in it (=preprogrammed)

btw if we have to go with Ian, and make new /thread, what would be the name?

 

[remember_summer_days]

Keep the discussion on topic, not on personal attacks or drama. Keep that on PMs or at least outside threads. I will delete the derrailing posts

 

[punisheddead]

I'm okay with that. My spiritual views are not conducive to most peoples interfaith dialogue.

Lot of people waste time trying to save others while they can't even save themselves.

To keep on topic, yes I do believe that there is a God. I'm a firm believer of Pascal's wager, if you're stable enough as a person and/or not a contrarian r/atheism user you really only have to gain by subscribing to a religion. Whichever one you pick, including none at all will piss someone off so I wouldn't waste my energy on people like that.

 

[StarBrite16]

>the bible is the only holy book in existence.
Go soul searching nigga. Go to vietnam and explore the mountains, take a dump in a bush or something. Look for cool shit that you like.

it's more like i feel like the odd one out among my IRL friends, who are all hardcore Christian which i know sounds dumb but i feel bad about turning them down to take me to church and the like
my actual beliefs are more "new age spiritualism", that's the only thing that makes any sense in my head personally

 

[Captain]

Lot of people waste time trying to save others while they can't even save themselves.

To keep on topic, yes I do believe that there is a God. I'm a firm believer of Pascal's wager, if you're stable enough as a person and/or not a contrarian r/atheism user you really only have to gain by subscribing to a religion. Whichever one you pick, including none at all will piss someone off so I wouldn't waste my energy on people like that.

But Parscal is retarded. If you actually believe ....you know you can't just pretend for the sake of appeasing an all knowing god....because the all knowing god knows you are full of shit. It's completely retarded and is the methodology that pisses me off with all the new age jesus freaks. YOU CANT PRETEND TO BE RELIGIOUS AS A GAMBLE BECAUSE THE GOD YOU PRETEND TO WORSHIP SUPPOSEDLY IS ALL KNOWING.

I also disagree that you have only gain to by signing up for religion. I'd argue it exposes you to more potential problems. These people sitting in the congregation aren't all mentally stable. You'd be better off trying to just expose yourself to more social activities.

 

[Lamp Fool]

But Parscal is retarded. If you actually believe ....you know you can't just pretend for the sake of appeasing an all knowing god....because the all knowing god knows you are full of shit. It's completely retarded and is the methodology that pisses me off with all the new age jesus freaks. YOU CANT PRETEND TO BE RELIGIOUS AS A GAMBLE BECAUSE THE GOD YOU PRETEND TO WORSHIP SUPPOSEDLY IS ALL KNOWING.

Not that I like Pascal's argument, but he actually anticipated the objection of an inability to believe by suggesting such people fake it until they made it (or emulate people who faked it until they made it) and gain belief through experience instead of more logical arguments.