Religion and Spirituality

I fear being in pain and the indignity of dying, but I'm not afraid of being dead, lots of people are which I find really strange.

The next life will be different to this one, better that's a matter of interpretation.

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So many Christian festivals were either moved, taken over by Christians or had Pagan ideas attached to them, it's a bit hard to seperate them. Then of course there's the official Roman calendar which everything had to fit into, many people don't realsie that when Constantine officially turned Rome Chrisiian that it was a change of God/s slotted into an already existing beaurocratic calendar. 

The word Easter come from the Pagan Goddess Eostre, who was Goddess of spring and fertitlity to Anglo-Saxons.

Candlemass or St Brides/Bridget's day is also a fusion, 2nd of february also known as Imbolc was a festival of returning light, the Goddess Bridget, was sort of melded with and became a saint, I'm not sure anyones really knows how or why?

Just about every culture has a midwinter festival, xmas has been called so many things, Saturnalia by the Romans, Yule, by the north western Europeans.

TheCatWoman said:

I find early religions interesting and where they cross over into the Christian bible, but then the Old Testament is a history of the Jews and their God, that seems to have been taken on by Christians. Something else I don't really understand and never really get a satisfactory answer too.

The Biblical scholar John Barton quotes the Jewish scholar Moshe Goshen-Gottstein, “where Christians see the Bible as a story about God, humanity and salvation, Jews read it as being about God, people and land. The story of Adam and Eve is a minor”. https://time.com/5606942/jewish-christian-bible/

I can’t speak for Judaism, but my understanding of Christian Biblical theology is that Barton is correct. The Old Testament is an account of the history of Salvation. 

I completely understand that and thank you for filling in the details I never knew. I had studied in the past but must admit had forgotten about. If I were to get reincarnated I hope the next life would be better than this one haha. I mean for some reason I also believe I could have been alive before I was born if that makes sense. I mean it’s impossible to prove it but for some reason I feel like I have a strong connection with Singapore despite the fact I’ve never been there. But there again it could just be because I like the look of it from pictures haha. Like has someone been reincarnated into my life? Or is it just the mind playing tricks? All so mysterious but interesting. I do like to believe that there is an afterlife though as the thought of death does scare me I’ll be honest, hence the reason why I have taken religion more seriously lately. But everyone is different 

I think you're fairly right in your interpretations, although Protestantism was fairly well established although there were different sects, they really just believed in worship according the Scriptures rather than the Vulgate bible that was used by Cathilics. Nor did they like monastries, saints, monks, nuns and all the "bells and smells" of the catholics. Henry VIII's creation was very similar to traditional Catholicism, just with him at the head instead of the pope and of course the wealth, never forget the wealth that was held in religious institutions, Henry was skint when he disolved the monastries. Along with the destruction of the monasteries he destroyed the already terribble existance of many poor and disabled who were supported by church alms distribution.

I believe in reincarnation too, although I wouldn't be bothered by death being the end of everything, I've always had this fear that the day I die someone will come up with a foolproof was of doing necromancy and I'll still end up no peace from people asking me stupid questions, lol.

I was christened CofE when I was six months old. My dad is a practicing Catholic. My mum isn’t religious nor atheist. Though she has had moments of atheism. I personally class myself as a Christian but over the last couple of years I have taken life and religion more seriously. I don’t go to church as there aren’t any local for me and I can’t drive or take public transport due to mental health issues so I do my prayers at home but admittedly I have lost a bit of a schedule due to too many things happening in my life. I do personally believe in afterlife and heaven but I also believe in reincarnation too and I enjoy studying different religions. I actually did quite well in RS at the second school I went to. 

As for holidays, I feel Christmas and Easter get celebrated more for the fact that it involves exchanging presents or chocolate and forget the true meaning of these holidays. That’s just what I think I am not to say if it’s true or not. I’m only saying because a friend of mine was atheist and she said her family celebrate those holidays but renamed them. Don’t get me wrong she was an amazing person but unfortunately I was asked to leave school and I never got her number. I don’t know as much about other religions holidays but I think maybe they can go under the radar because it doesn’t involve exchanging goods? I’m not too sure. I have never really thought too much about this until recently. 

Also as for politics, I get so confused. Isn’t Kier Stramer an atheist? I know he’s not House of Lords but I must admit I didn’t think religion had anything to do with politics. I know the royal family are Protestants, except for queen camilla who I believe is Catholic, but again didn’t Protestantism come from King Henry 8th because he wanted a religion that allowed divorce? And he made it up? Sorry I’m not the most knowledgeable of people on this planet. My gift was gaming haha

The black line's interesting as it show the people who have faith, but don't believe in a God, this could include Bhuddists as they don't have a god, but are intensly spiriual. This always something interesting to debate with Bhuddists, as to outsiders Bhudda looks and sounds like a god, Puja's are prayers with no god to listen to you?

I find early religions interesting and where they cross over into the Christian bible, but then the Old Testament is a history of the Jews and their God, that seems to have been taken on by Christians. Something else I don't really understand and never really get a satisfactory answer too.

I wasn't brought up inany religion, I was baptised and Christened, more because that was what you did rather than from any genuine religious feelings. So when I went to school I found it all rather confusing, our religious teaching was sketchy at best, more an interpretation by our head master that he thought we'd understand.

Later in life I was called towards Paganism and my beliefs although changed somewhat are still deep and at the centre of my life. I've done a few things that Pagans aren't particularly noted for, like meditation, silent retreats etc, these deepened my connections. I often work with a particular aspect/Goddess and lately I've been trying to see my life as part of the wyrd, which is really interesting, coming to see the points of connection, nodes where threads come together, part and run alongside eachother, it's helping me to have a much deeper understanding of the universe and my place in it, just a tiny whisp of thread.

The fact, that bishops are present in the house of Lords suggests to me that church is involved in politics. Right? 

I'm officially Christian,  it wasn't my choice, I was just born into a Christian family.  I don't celebrate any Xmas or Easter. My husband is Muslim, if he wants to celebrate Eid, he can do it, but I also didn't see him preparing it. Sometimes he goes to see his friends and there he celebrates Eid with them. I believe in God, but somehow differently than other people. I believe in God, as the consciousness of the universe. Not a living being walking with his feet on the ground, going to have lunch in Abrahams house or destroying Sodom and Gomorrah or giving Moses 10 Comandements or using Ark of Covenance or giving instructions to Noah, how to built a ship etc... I don't even think, that God should be referred with 'he' as masculine. Not feminine either.

Once I asked my teacher, during the religion class, what people was Kain afraid of, out of the Eden, if there was supposed to be no-one, if Adam and Eve were tge first humans created by God. I also asked her, if it's all true, or just written in the bible. She was furious that I dare to question the hy book. Instead of giving me an answer, she was furious that I date to use my brain and ask a logic question.  This way she made me question more and think more. Sorry, if I trigger anyone. I didn't read the bible in whole, but what I red there was enough for me to dislike religions in general. The holy books of all religions have many similarities between each other and other ancient texts that predate them. 

TheCatWoman said:

We have so many faiths in this country and many people who don't identify with any particular faith, but are broadly believers in something.

There is an interesting graph showing that more than half don't believe in a god (adding black and red lines):

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1415267/uk-belief-in-god/

It depends if you consider spirutiality as believing in something.

I agree that organised religion does not deserve its current over-representation in power.

This is a phrase which I to try and keep in mind;

"...to be true to myself and develop my beliefs".

I imagine it as engraved inside the top lid encasing my moral compass.

Somehow, to me, calling it a moral compass (rather than a religion), helps me to feel that I am a citizen of the World.

I aim to travel among diverse humanity with respect and where common denominator values and beliefs may be shared; jointly in support of: the individual, the family, the community, the state and the World.

It is a phrase intended to be inclusive and to emphasise respect for the personal nature of people and their faith and beliefs.

Also, promoting the value of lifelong learning and personal growth, including the exploration of one's faith, beliefs and values, plus those of other people. 

I believe a negative side effect of prolonged masking to safeguard oneself as an Autistic person; makes it quite difficult to remember and retain personal beliefs and values.  This demands my priority attention as an older adult (very late in receipt of a formal Autism diagnosis). 

Who am I?, what do I think and feel?, which beliefs and values do I stand for?, when can I be counted upon?, why is my contribution important?, how can other people better know me?

One point on my moral compass, for me, involves being committed to fostering a culture of peace, understanding, and mutual respect.

For me, another point on my moral compass challenges me that; it is not enough to only be a non-racist person; but also how important it is to also be an anti-racist person.

Racism is not limited to ethnicity, cultural heritage, skin tone, language, religion, faith or belief. 

Any minority / marginalised group may experience racism at different / multiple levels including:

- the structural,

- the systemic,

- the institutional, and

- the individual.

Moral compass:

"used in reference to a person's ability to judge what is right and wrong and act accordingly."

I view the traditional definition of racism as being too narrow:

"prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized."

For me, I consider detrimental treatment by one group towards any minority / marginalised group as racism.

Some of the most "role model" people I have encountered in life were those people whose moral compass I felt I witnessed and understood.

It wasn't always the case that those individuals were members of a faith group - some were, others were not.

I consider myself "post-theist" - which means that one doesn't really think about it any more. I have complete tolerance for the beliefs of others though, and in the past I have worked or studied with Jewish, Pagan and Hindu colleagues and found their beliefs and traditions really interesting. My Jewish and Pagan colleagues would both book time off work on the days of their religious festivals.

I would also like to see Bishops removed from the House of Lords, as I feel that religion should be separated from politics. Obviously religion needs to be considered by politicians in certain circumstances and in the making of certain laws, but they need to be impartial. I personally would prefer the UK to be more like France, but that is just my opinion and I'm pretty sure it's not the opinion of the majority of people, and as I value democracy I'll accept what the majority want.