Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
I don't know if they're all the same thing. What feels right isn't necessarily what we find plausible- they are related, but in practice can be two different things. However, these different approaches easily intermingle. Even for those of us who chose a path because it "feels right", in the process of narrowing down what path we wanted to take, each of us probably at some point dismissed one path by saying "That seems unlikely- that's not true". For instance, many of us would dismiss Scientology in that manner- just because it seems such an unlikely candidate for the true or truest religion. Or vice-versa- some of us who say our religion is "true" have probably dismissed other religious options because they just didn't seem right for us.
I guess what I'm saying is that our final decision is ultimately a combination of what feels right, what makes sense or seems believable, what path seems to embody what we believe society needs, and of course, the degree to which we are attracted to or repulsed from the majority world-view.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
Originally posted by B. de Corbin View PostAlthough we say it in different ways, I think we're on the same page about this, Chain. Those four things can be listed as if the are seperate or independent concepts, but, in reality, they are all parts of one continuum. Beginning with any one of them, a careful thinker would inevitably be led to the other three, I think...
"G. All of the above"? Not exactly, though.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
Originally posted by ChainLightning View PostFor the record, I went with B. It's "true".
For all the rest: how it feels right, makes the most sense, benefits society, the depths of it's metaphysics; I just see them as symptomatic of the truth.
---------- Post added at 03:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:39 PM ----------
Originally posted by perzephone View PostIt's not even a good reason to pick a pair of jeans. I mean, right now the most popular brands would leave my ass hanging out in public. Which is also what happens to a lot of people who pick a religion because everyone else is doing it.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
Originally posted by perzephone View PostIt's not even a good reason to pick a pair of jeans. I mean, right now the most popular brands would leave my ass hanging out in public. Which is also what happens to a lot of people who pick a religion because everyone else is doing it.
-------------------------------
For the record, I went with B. It's "true".
For all the rest: how it feels right, makes the most sense, benefits society, the depths of it's metaphysics; I just see them as symptomatic of the truth.
Also, I already possess the understanding that truth is perspective, and solely based on one's perception of it. Making it highly subjective, controversial and particularly personal.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
Originally posted by B. de Corbin View PostIt's popular - I think most people, even those who tend to jump on the band wagon, sense that this is a poor reason to pick something like a religion. A pair of jeans, maybe, but not a religion.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
I said "it feels right" because it's difficult to follow a religion that doesn't feel right to you. People can do it, but I wouldn't consider following a religion just because you're too lazy to delve into any sort of spiritual development, the "best reason" for choosing that religious view. I also agree that it lends itself to being able to follow parts of different religions to create your own view on how the world/cosmos work. Maybe you feel that no one religion has it all right but that no one has it completely wrong either - that there are parts of every religion that feel right to you, but not all of it - that doesn't mean you should just ditch the idea altogether simply because it's the belief of a religion you don't agree with wholeheartedly. I'm very much a "this feels right to me" sort of person religiously. I don't dismiss the entirety of religions - I feel I can learn something from them all even if I'm not a follower of that specific path.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
Originally posted by Dumuzi View PostI can understand finding some truth in different religions, but my problem is with finding non truth in religions. Why would you follow that religion (or all of them) if there are clear non truths in them?
I also agree with you in that the pursuite of truth and of real knowledge (knowledge based on observable and testable data) is a worthwhile goal.
---------- Post added at 05:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:11 PM ----------
Originally posted by Dez View PostI voted "feels right", but I don't care for that wording.
Most people who follow something that appeals to them spend years, if not a whole lifetime, studying it, researching, praying, meditating, etc, etc. "Feels right" seems slightly flippant at that point, if unintentionally so.
---------- Post added at 05:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 PM ----------
Originally posted by thalassa View PostI'm somewhere between B and C...like "feels right"= (personal) "truth"
...so...other?
Here's my reasoning:
It's popular - I think most people, even those who tend to jump on the band wagon, sense that this is a poor reason to pick something like a religion. A pair of jeans, maybe, but not a religion. I doubt if many people, even those who do this, would publicly pick this choice. The only advantage I can see in choosing something popular is that one is more likely to find out about a popular religion than one is to find out about an obscure one.
It is true - For obvious reasons, a person who is looking for a religion seriously would not pick one which is obviously false. So I look for one which, by my lights, is "true."
It feels right - I find lots of truth in many different religions. the one I choose will be the one which seems to work best for me, under my particular and unique circumstances. I can feel that.
It is good for society - I would never choose to follow a religion which is bad for society, because what is bad for the group is also bad for the individuals which make up the group. I don't care if the deity shows up in my bedroom, speaking in a Morgan Freeman type voice, demanding that I obey - if the dictates of that religion involve hurting family, friends, neighbors, or even people I don't know, I will not follow it, even under penalty of some kind of eternal damnation.
That would be a good reason for rebelling against the gods - at least to me.
The depth of it's metaphysics - This goes hand-in-hand with "it is true." The only way to find out if a religion is "true" or not is to understand it's metaphysics. While there are always choices as to what set of metaphysical assumptions are ultimately correct, if a particular religion's metaphysics do not (at least) match up to observable reality and/or provide a reasonable degree of explanatory power, it's a foolish religion.
For instance, the question "why do people suffer" is a metaphysical question. If the only response a religion makes is "because the deity wants it that way," that is shallow metaphysics - it really explains nothing at all. Or, if the answer is "doo wop she walla wop," it's stupid metaphysics and not worth considering... unless you are a Zen master, in which case the reason for saying that is related to that belief system's actual (deep) metaphysics.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
C, I think. I can find truth and untruth in a number of beliefs so until I find one that convinces me it's demonstrably more true than all the rest, I'm stuck with going for what I like. Other things come into play but at end it's what feels most appropriate or least innapropriate (depending on my mood).
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
I said other. My first thought was "it feels right", but it's not really that simple. When I first learned about Wicca, I was instantly attracted to it because it was a fairly close match to what I already believed. However, I also try to maintain a logical approach too, which is why I cannot label myself "Wiccan". So, I kinda feel like a "religious world view" is something that evolves from experience and perspective over time. What you label your view may be based on what "feels right" or seems to fit best, though.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
I said "if it feels right".
Reason? Well "if it feels right" covers all religions, all spiritualities and lack thereof. It "feels right" for me to be an atheist and not believe in anything as equally as it "feels right" for a theist to believe. It makes religion/spirituality a personal thing which is as it should be and it allows for me to have my own option and own thoughts about the universe and not be judged on it.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
Originally posted by Dez View PostI voted "feels right", but I don't care for that wording.
Most people who follow something that appeals to them spend years, if not a whole lifetime, studying it, researching, praying, meditating, etc, etc. "Feels right" seems slightly flippant at that point, if unintentionally so.
I've known a lot of people who are uncomfortable or unhappy with their religion and spirituality (mostly Christians & Catholics, but I've known a few 'lifer' Wiccans), and stay that way, simply because at some point someone told them, "this is religion, this is who you are, this is who God is, this is the One True Path". Because that's how they were raised or indoctrinated, they never think to look for other paths or faiths - and when exposed to other beliefs, they dismiss them out of hand because the religion they're practicing is 'the One True Path'. But because they're not really comfortable with their own beliefs, they also never look deeper into their own faiths and end up paying lip service to it, becoming Christmas/Easter Christians/Catholics or Samhain/Yule Wiccans.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
I'm somewhere between B and C...like "feels right"= (personal) "truth"
...so...other?
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
In my search, I feel I've used both of the more popular reasons to help narrow things down. I think most people do, to some degree.
For instance, I chose to accept ancient polytheistic and animistic world views because I felt they were true, and sincerely do believe in multiple Gods and spirits. All of the alternatives to this view rang a little false to me. However, I chose to be a Slavic polytheist because it feels right for me, even though I see validity in most if not all ancient traditions.Last edited by Yazichestvo; 18 Nov 2011, 12:30.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
I voted "feels right", but I don't care for that wording.
Most people who follow something that appeals to them spend years, if not a whole lifetime, studying it, researching, praying, meditating, etc, etc. "Feels right" seems slightly flippant at that point, if unintentionally so.
Leave a comment:
-
Re: Best reason for choosing a particular religious world view?
If it feels right, then I'm probably being true to my needs, if it doesn't feel right, then I'm not being true to myself really am I?
Leave a comment:
Leave a comment: