This is in response to Tina's Blog "Tagged to do a Meme".
The question was :
What religions do you find most interesting apart from your own? Would you pick one of the major world religions? Say Islam, or Buddhism, or Hinduism or Judaism? Or would you pick something more obscure, like Wicca or Taosim or Rastafarianism or Gnosticism? Would you pick irreligion, say Atheism or Agnosticism? Or if you're not Christian, would you say Christianity?
To participate, state your own religion (or irreligion) as your first preference, state the other religions that interest you most as your second and third preferences, then pass onto five others. If you're feeling brave, say why they interest you.
Here's my answer :
My own : I follow a watered down version of Hinduism. I like the variety of Philosophies, Sciences, Math, Yoga and Ayurveda it incorporates, so that within the realm of being Hindu I can learn about Nature and it is in Line with what the scientists are now discovering. Most of all I like the fact that it does allow the person to pick and choose what fits their life, without removing them from the Identity of Hindu.
I dont believe in Conversions. I have my reasons for it. But if I had to chose I would go with Agnosticism cause I think that is most truthful to say "I dont Know".
Second Preference : Taoism
Third Preference : All religions that are actually off-shoots of Hinduism, namely, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism. Now they are know as separate religions, but the ideas stem and are extrapolated from the six Hindu Philosophical schools.
No I wouldnt pick Christianity.
I find many belief systems interesting. To make a list, I would start with ancient Celtic Beliefs, Shamanism amongst the Native American Nations, beliefs of the ancient Vikings, Rome, Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Mayan, Inca, Toltec and Aztec, the beliefs of the Tribal today,especially the ones that are still not introduced to MODERNITY, Shintoism and beliefs of the People of China, Korea, Japan before the import of Buddhism and other newer religions around the world interesting. They are raw, relevant to the survival as a tribe/people with their given landscape and environment. In a round about way it gives me the why's of what I have learned within my own system of beliefs and helps make the decision as to what I will take and what I will throw out due to irrelevance.
Taoism, is interesting cause it focuses on us giving our all in the moment we are in. Its a precept I have felt the need to incorporate in my everyday life. To be wholly in the moment completely aware but without being distracted by umpteen other things that need to be done. There is a finesse' to that kind of living. There is a feeling of Doing it Right and Doing it Well, which provides a satisfaction that is worth more than all the tangibles in our world.
I find Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism interesting for it gives a view as to how another religion evolves from a Base belief system(in this case, all these religions started off from a schism within Hinduism). And Buddhism becomes more interesting cause the moment it was taken out of its Home area and transplanted elsewhere it no more has the same connotations as it did within India and they have their denominations too. I like how they do focus on disciplining the mind.
Mostly I enjoy studying that point in the period of change when a new religion which usually starts off as a cult and then displaces the existing ones.. Its fascinating to read why that happens, what the factors in terms of climate, environment and political changes were at the time the change becomes apparent. It makes me wonder at the folly of Human Beings when we make such strong invisible demarcations from each peoples.
P.S... I had to add this.. One of the fantastic things that I see is that each of the religions that I have so far looked into or read in any minuscule manner have some in some format or other emphasize the qualities of Compassion, Honesty, Respect, Discipline of mind/body, Moderation, Humility, Forgiveness and Mercy.
16 comments:
Very nice. : )
I like these thoughts...it would be very hard for me to convert to something else however I respect everyone's view, after all no one has died and come back to confirm anything with me, so I will go on believing what is in my heart...
wow!! very interesting...i do not know much about religions, i did meditate in a Hindu temple for a while and found their beliefs quite interesting...I am a catholic because I was born into a catholic family...I think religion is very cultural, it mostly depends where you were born and when...I think I could follow many paths, but I do believe in a God and would not be really happy as an atheist
That is the core of beliefs. We will believe what we feel is true or relevant within our hearts.
Religion being a really vast subject, if we break it down into its various structures within a land mass, cultural mass or demographic mass and its numerous denominations under single umbrellas, it makes it difficult to say precisely where exactly we fall, especially when we look at all the influences that has gone into the forming of a Religion.
I believe in a God too, along with the concepts of Karma, non-voilence, re-incarnation and life after life as a human.. I have seen my definition of God evolve from what it was first, as I experience living more.
Thank you Robin :).
I was raised Catholic but I am a moderate in that I have several friends that are from other religions and of other belief and values. I myself find that spiritualism is very difficult to put a finger on as it would be too long to write. I could never choose another religion as I really believe in all of them I have been to church maybe three times in the last two years and if I had another from which to choose I think it would be Buddhism.
This is not an easy one to answer for me to be entirely honest.
I did think of calling myself Spiritual in that I didnt want to put a Label that is already there in our world. But that is not following Spritualism, cause I havent been able to reconcile with the idea of Medium or of calling on the spirit of the dead.
Well, once we know the Virtues - why do we need religions?
I am shooting in the dark here. Maybe most of us arent satisfied with "we need the virtues to live a good life" instead we would prefer something from the point of fear cause it makes more of an impact in terms of motivation to cultivate these virtues if we hear "if you dont practise these virtues, god will smite you". Sometimes the Why's dont have an absolute answer.
very interesting post Rashmi! I have never been any particular religion, and don't expect to start. But I think it's been an interesting exercise for us to spend a few thousand years exploring the 'god outside of ourselves' experience, although I do think religion as we know it is on the way out
Rashmi, good morning from here and literally I did not understand this. However I would like if you could expand on this. As well a very good morning to you.
I Feel so too.. Its lost its relevance within the practicality of how our lives our presently. Looking forward to newer packaged versions in the future :).
I will never follow a religion that practices fear tactics....my beliefs are mine and mine alone
Yes, thats the crux with any one who follows a particular set of beliefs.
Compassion, Honesty, Respect, Discipline of mind/body, Moderation, Humility, Forgiveness and Mercy............Oh! You have given so many options for a ""still not introduced to MODERNITY"".............I need followers now, can you be the PRO??
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