What resources have you found to make sense of the variety of religious/spiritual/sacred traditions in the world?

By far, the coolest church service I've ever been to was at Al Green's church down in Memphis with a full Gospel Tabernacle choir. Al Green didn't preach that day, but the guy who did was good, and they had a great gospel blues band. People were dancing in the aisles and having a good-ol' time! I'd go to church every week if they had that around here! (even though I'm Jewish)
 

The World Wide Web has endless websites dedicated to religions and philosophy. Some universities have free online courses on these subjects. Personally, do not have a further need or interest to explore the World's religions and philosophies. Listened to some of that long podcast interview and thought his two brain hemisphere ideas are misguided, tangled up with philosophy.

As a neuroscience enthusiast, I've expressed my ideas about complex oscillating electromagnetic "brain wave" minds several times on this board so won't repeat with detail here. Significantly as a Christian, science oriented person that has modestly read the books and various scholarly work over decades, I do not subscribe to dominant Christian denomination self serving dogmas of inerrancy for the Bible. Nor to the dogma, favorites of theological philosophers, omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence ( the three OOO's) that allows unlimited actions without forces, which is just impossible magic. Yes there are many seeming supernatural stories in the Bible, especially if one interprets scripture as inerrant and denies the nature of how ancient oral stories were passed down before becoming books.

I can reinterpret Bible scripture in ways that are not supernatural but rather what may be possible for an ancient race of intelligent entities, I refer to as UIE's. Entities that are more likely not pure organic beings, especially not little green aliens with big heads haha, but rather at least mostly non-organic AI evolved. Belief in the OOO's have allowed denominations to create a vast body of self serving dogmas with little actual scriptural support. Am one that chooses to believe for the sake of my possible eternal existence that Jesus was the final UIE attempt to help we Earth monkeys and that his promise of eternal life was genuine because electromagnetic fields of Earth animal life minds could possibly be re-created by an advanced race with water molecule based containers duplicating impedance characteristics for organic mind electromagnetic fields. Of all things an ancient UIE science race might do in a universe with billions of galaxies each with billions of stars and planets, finding a way to give otherwise finite mortal organic intelligent life, an eternal existence, would arguably be their most valuable and most appreciated accomplishment possible.
 

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What resources have you found to make sense of the variety of religious/spiritual/sacred traditions in the world?​


This has been my main source

my bible.jpg

Along with

concordance.jpg

and a kindly, soft spoken, old man
directing me thru the prophesies
and to The Holy Spirit

And this book
Daniel and the Revelation
By Uriah Smith

d and r.jpg

Of late

Scenes like this every day for six years

view.jpg


morning rise.jpg
 
For me religion is about manipulation and cohesion to create a dependency to whatever purpose is being marketed. Strangely Christianity offers eternal life as a selling incentive, however, I don‘t want to live forever, I’d much rather stop everything than to serve in an army pitting sinners against saints.
More than a few things Christian’s believe are illogical and beyond the realm of possibility.
The virgin birth for one, Jesus, the son of god? I see how penitence and forgiveness can give salvation but not because of Jesus.

I believe in god that cannot be described or explained, but one that manages the universal existence of one in which all plays a role specifically designed for the oneness of all.

People are the source for religious corruption, that in turn cycles into the people as the source for religious corruption. The eternal circle between god and humans continue to be a toxic recipe for destruction. How much damage have humans inflicted on each other for the sake of religious beliefs?
Paradoxically, god is good, religion is good, Jesus is good, if these three statements are true why is religion the one cause for conflict?

i didn’t have a choice in attending every church function orchestrated by my dad the preacher. Him and every other clergyman, priest, pastor or bishop are not any special than you or I. The problem with these men and women so called representIves of god expect to be treated special so you give them power over you and pretty soon they have believe they are members of the god club, because you just put them there.
 
It matters not which religion one follows...the point is, religions are a mainstay in the lives of millions and if it brings them joy, who are we to question it.
What I have noticed is that most of the people who follow a relgion appear to be very happy.
I am not a religious person per se, but I have studied many religions and have found them quite useful in my life.
The joy of being human is to embrace the beliefs of others. There is more than one path to God.... or whatever you may believe in.
 
Jamala said:
It matters not which religion one follows...the point is, religions are a mainstay in the lives of millions and if it brings them joy, who are we to question it.
What I have noticed is that most of the people who follow a relgion appear to be very happy.
I am not a religious person per se, but I have studied many religions and have found them quite useful in my life.
The joy of being human is to embrace the beliefs of others. There is more than one path to God.... or whatever you may believe in.
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That would be fine if believers would keep their beliefs to themselves instead of seeking to force them upon the rest of us by means of laws.
 
Gary O' said:
morning rise.jpg
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That looks a lot like my temple too. But I don't think the Bible as a resource for making sense of all the world's traditions is any more helpful than looking to explain the Bible and Christian theology through the Upanishads or Talmud. For those like me trying to get the big picture of what has led to the variety of traditions we find that play the central role in our regard for the sacred as a species through our prehistory and early history, arbitrarily choosing one of them to take the measure of all is untenable. Nothing wrong with sticking to any one source book such as the Bible, but then that would be a different project than the one that interests me.
 
Mr. Ed said:
my dad the preacher. Him and every other clergyman, priest, pastor or bishop are not any special than you or I.
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No argument here but for those of us who feel there is something sacred, even if not supernatural, perhaps what they are engaged with even imperfectly is special. That doesn't mean anyone so engaged is in a position to tell anyone else what they need to believe or do. It doesn't grant authority except to others in the same tradition who share the same background assumptions.
 
George1959 said:
Regarding Buddhism you are right, but it is not a religion since there is no God.
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I'm not sure how you decide God or gods is essential to what it is to be a religion. It is hard to determine something that broad based on the one example in our own experience. That is why looking at many appeals to me.
 
MarkD said:
I'm not sure how you decide God or gods is essential to what it is to be a religion. It is hard to determine something that broad based on the one example in our own experience. That is why looking at many appeals to me.
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It doesn't have to feature belief in the supernatural. Here are a couple definitions:
  • a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
  • a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects:
    • the Christian religion;
    • the Buddhist religion.
  • the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices:
  • a world council of religions.
Many people consider Buddhism to be a philosophy more than a religion, which is probably the case for Theravada Buddhism, but not so much for Mahayana or some of the other sects that incorporate supernatural elements into their practices.
 
SeniorBen said:
It doesn't have to feature belief in the supernatural. Here are a couple definitions:
  • a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
  • a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects:
    • the Christian religion;
    • the Buddhist religion.
  • the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices:
  • a world council of religions.
Many people consider Buddhism to be a philosophy more than a religion, which is probably the case for Theravada Buddhism, but not so much for Mahayana or some of the other sects that incorporate supernatural elements into their practices.
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Very good list and should clear up any misinterpretations out there. At one time, I believed religions had to have a god, and most do, but not required (Buddhism). I also required gods and religions to include supernatural powers, and most do or did, but not required (Pantheism). I also believed Buddhism to be more like a philosophy than a religion, but in fact it is both. In Philosophy of Religion, Buddhism was one of the major religions we studied. It is a religion, and without its need for magic and with its emphasis on personal growth, it has practical applications. But I'm self sufficient, and don't need it to feel fulfilled.
 
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Sadly I am too independent for religion to make any sense to me. Not that I haven't sought my place there. Like anything else, it was nice until the high wore off. I do believe in a Creator, I talk to him all the time, but acting out my belief by going to church or doing other repititious religious activities has become unappealing. If someone else finds meaning there, I am happy for you.
 
SeniorBen said:
It doesn't have to feature belief in the supernatural. Here are a couple definitions:
  • a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
  • a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects:
    • the Christian religion;
    • the Buddhist religion.
  • the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices:
  • a world council of religions.
Many people consider Buddhism to be a philosophy more than a religion, which is probably the case for Theravada Buddhism, but not so much for Mahayana or some of the other sects that incorporate supernatural elements into their practices.
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One of my college professors made an interesting point along these lines. He spoke specifically to Buddhism, put the point applies broadly. His view was that all religions--using the term loosely so as to include Buddhism--are bound up with the culture in which they arise. To adopt one of them for youself without being a member of the culture in which it arose is futile. You will have only adopted a facade of belief. I'm not sure he is correct since I am not a religious person. But as an ancient Buddhist sage once said: If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.
 
JustDave said:
Very good list and should clear up any misinterpretations out there. At one time, I believed religions had to have a god, and most do, but not required (Buddhism). I also required gods and religions to include supernatural powers, and most do or did, but not required (Pantheism). I also believed Buddhism to be more like a philosophy than a religion, but in fact it is both. In Philosophy of Religion, Buddhism was one of the major religions we studied. It is a religion, and without it's need for magic and with its emphasis on personal growth, it has practical applications. But I'm self sufficient, and don't need it to feel fulfilled.
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Thank you both for these clarifications!
 
MarkD said:
I’m coming at this from reading McGilchrist who writes on neuroscience, philosophy and the nature of consciousness. In this video he converses with a Buddhist guy I know nothing about apart from what he says here. Do you know him at all?
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You and another member on a different thread mentioned McGilchrist several times in one week. I have looked him up and want to know more. Thanks for the introduction.
 
oldlongwalker said:
One of my college professors made an interesting point along these lines. He spoke specifically to Buddhism, put the point applies broadly. His view was that all religions--using the term loosely so as to include Buddhism--are bound up with the culture in which they arise. To adopt one of them for youself without being a member of the culture in which it arose is futile. You will have only adopted a facade of belief. I'm not sure he is correct since I am not a religious person. But as an ancient Buddhist sage once said: If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.
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I had to Google that quote to find out exactly what it meant. Apparently, he meant that those who think they've found all the answers in any religion need to start questioning their beliefs, or that's one interpretation, anyway. Food for thought, and I'll need to think about it for a while before commenting any further. I'm not fully awake yet. :ROFLMAO:
 
SeniorBen said:
I had to Google that quote to find out exactly what it meant. Apparently, he meant that those who think they've found all the answers in any religion need to start questioning their beliefs, or that's one interpretation, anyway. Food for thought, and I'll need to think about it for a while before commenting any further. I'm not fully awake yet. :ROFLMAO:
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If you take "Killing the Buddha" in a metaphorical sense, your theory may begin to explain what that means. I've heard it before, and it's one of those enigmas that never made enough sense to me to bother with. This is the first time, I've ever given it more than a passing thought.
 

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