(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

Religion Survey, from gramina

1. Do you believe in God?

I find I can't answer this question with a yes or no. Belief plays a remarkably small role in my religious life. As far as doctrine is concerned, I'm critical of just about any and all of it.

There's a lot I could say here, but I'll start by saying I don't know how to believe in something or someone when I don't know who or what they are. I have some thoughts on this, but I consider them essentially fiction.

I am, though, a person of faith. Faith, in my opinion, is intransitive, and transcends religion. I can recognize another person of faith no matter what beliefs or doctrine they profess.


2. Define God.

I'm fond of "that which never acts yet leaves nothing undone." I gathered many of my thoughts on this quite some time ago, and I'm surprised to find today that my thoughts on this question have not much changed in 8 years.

That said, I have had a few encounters or hints during meditation or dreaming that I experienced as a divine presence. Was it God? I don't know.


3. What religion were you raised with?

I was christened and confirmed Catholic, but my parents sent me to a "nondenominational" (fundamentalist Protestant) private school during my early childhood, so the religion I was exposed to as a child is a bit... mingled.


4. Do you practice that religion?

No. Nooooo no no no no.


5. Your most spiritual moment?

I've had a few wonderful moments while meditating.


6. The last time you were in a house of worship...

By which is meant I suppose a building erected as a temple or church? Mmm... *blinks* if I have to concentrate that means it's been a long time. Several years. The last congregation I was officially a part of was the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, 8 years ago.


7. Death is...

When certain biological processes stop and certain other biological processes begin. What does it mean to an individual person? I have no idea and profess no belief on the matter.


8. How do you picture the end of the world?

With... the sun turning into a red giant and obliterating it?


9. God has spoken to you...

Not as such. I have felt a divine presence during moments of mindfulness.


10. If so, what did God tell you?

There is a certain "I am"ness about things which exist.


11. Do you feel that most wars started because of religious conflict?

No. Religion can be misused by warmongers to silence critics of the war. Plus I think too many religious leaders are not critical enough of war when it happens, but I do not think religion is responsible for starting it.


12. Does life exist on other planets?

*Shakes the Magic 8-Ball* Signs point to yes.


13. Have they made contact with us?

*Shakes the Magic 8-Ball again* Reply hazy, try again.


14. Do you believe that we are descendants of Adam and Eve?

Not even metaphorically.


15. Do you believe in evolution?

See comments above on "belief is irrelevant." I do think as a scientific theory that it is likely to be true.


16. Do you believe in astrology?

It can be a useful fiction.


17. Do you read your horoscope?

Not even joke ones.


18. If yes, why?

N/A


19. Have you ever been in psychotherapy?

No one's business but my own.


20. If yes, why?

N/A


21. Do you believe in reincarnation?

I've always thought the idea of reincarnation was too arbitrary. I consider panprotopsychism or panexperientialism (aspects of neutral monism) to be likely explanations for consciousness, so I could potentially accept an idea like rebirth.


22. If reincarnation exists, what would you like to come back as?

I honestly don't know how to answer this. It is too far removed from the way I normally think about consciousness.


23. Anything else you'd like to add?

I wish when people talked about religion that they would spend more time on community, praxis, and especially individual action. Doctrine and belief are given way too much emphasis. IMO, what is important are the blessings one manifests in the world and for people around them.

Comments

my rant

[alobar.livejournal.com]

> I find I can't answer this question with a yes or no.

I find that to be true of most every on-line test or survey I have ever taken.

Although I am most definitely male, I fid the "AAre you male or female" question to be irritating, especially when the same same survey asks me "Are you self-employed?" then offers me a whole range of possible choices:
Yes
No
Don't know
Other

If I answer some personality test, I take it 3 or 4 times and have different answers every time because almost none of the answers really apply to me.

Re: my rant

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I've learned that if you don't include that whole wide range of choices that people complain.

I find especially with surveys about religion or politics that a lot of the questions are just entirely outside the range of what I think about religiously. I don't follow the usual scripts.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

This is an awesome post (and I find I feel the exact same way as you do regarding most of it) but this point, especially, YES:

I wish when people talked about religion that they would spend more time on community, praxis, and especially individual action. Doctrine and belief are given way too much emphasis. IMO, what is important are the blessings one manifests in the world and for people around them.
99% of conflict I have had with other people regarding religion. Even my deep, deep lack of interest in talking about doctrine/"belief" with people has caused conflict.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

But how are they supposed to "save" you if you won't keep to the script? Arguments about specific beliefs bore me. People can believe what they want, it's when they start affecting me or my family in tangible ways that I start to take issue.

[sharminator.livejournal.com]

This is a great post.

The idea of not being able to believe in something you don't or can't know is interesting to me. Are you comfortable with the idea of mystery in a deity, providing one exists of course? Personally, I take great comfort in this, and it's part of why I have been able to remove doctrine and tradition from my faith (Christianity).

[sharminator.livejournal.com]

PS: I see you got into Harvard! Damn! Congrats!

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

*smiles* Thanks. It's a little less impressive when I mention that I'm attending the Harvard Extension School, which has a bit of an unusual admittance policy: basically anyone can sign up for any class that they offer. Most of their students are non-degree students with an interest in one or two subjects. To get a degree from them, though, does require acceptance. I'm not officially a degree student, though I'm applying next month when the application window opens.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am entirely comfortable with spiritual mystery (as opposed to certainty). I do not require an explanation or description in order to appreciate the mysteries of divine presence.

But I don't believe in it. I know what I have experienced. I don't know what those experiences mean. I have a lot of thoughts about that, but ultimately my thoughts are just half-baked ideas based in large part on half-baked interpretations of things other mystics have said or written before me.

How do I know those mystics had their head & heart in the right place? I look at the fruits they bore (or bear, in the case of those who are alive).