justme27 is offline justme27 Post #1  January 14,2010, 12:37pm
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Ok, this thread is an offshoot of a thread I started where I discussed encountering someone with stronger religious beliefs than I. I figure I'd start this thread to begin a respectful discussion regarding religion. The key is respectful.

We all have different degree of religious belief from no belief to some belief to complete belief. I'm uncertain of the goal of this thread other than to discuss in a respectful way a very sensitive subject; feel free to discuss anything that is related to religion that you would like clarified.

I will begin by discussing why I am Catholic and why I believe in the Catholic church. So here is an article which I think displays the Church's position on evolution in a very measured way:

Pope John Paul II, Darwin, and Evolution: Catholic Opinions on Evolutionary Origins

For those of you who are not Catholic, we as Catholics have a figurative interpretation of the Bible. We believe the Bible answers the question of "why"--the moral--and not the "how"--the scientific--of life.

A perfect example is that Eve comes from the rib of Adam. In Catholic scholarly work, there is a moral interpretation to this that is mean to guide us through our marriages. If Eve came from the foot of Adam, it is written by the original scholar, then she would be inferior to Adam as the closer you are to the ground and the further you are from heaven the inferior you are. On the other hand, if Eve came from the head of Adam than she would be superior, for the same reasons outlined before. However, the fact that she comes from Adam's rib is to show that she is right by his side. In other words, they are equals. That is the kind of relationship marriage should be one of equality.

Another reason I am Catholic is because I appreciate the scholarly work done outside the Bible. St. Augustine, St Aquinas, St. John the Divine, the works of the Jesuits order. I appreciate all these things.

I also like the structure. It is comforting for me to know that to move up the ranks of the Catholic church you need at least a doctorates in any discipline.

Anyway, these are some of the reasons why I'm Catholic and love the church the way I do.
 
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HappyandLight is offline HappyandLight Post #2  February 18,2010, 7:25pm
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I think your beliefs are nice and have value I respect that.

I grew up with no religion...in a mostly middle class, secular scientific family.

I discovered yoga philosophy/spirituality as an adult and I developed an appreciation for the beauty of all (well, almost all) religions. Yoga taught me that at the core...they are all similar. Where we get into differences is the interpretation and man made stuff.

I can enjoy and find beauty in many traditions...as long as they are positive, loving, moral, etc. Churches,especially beautiful ones, really lift me up and I can feel the oneness of everything.
 
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bretagne89 is offline bretagne89 Post #3  February 18,2010, 9:56pm
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I consider myself spiritual, but I do believe in a monotheistic God.

I'm a nature lover, so I connect to a divine idea in nature on a personal level. I didn't grow up going to church. I've always prayed and connected to God on my own, so church or church officials have never seemed necessary. I've never put much store in the Bible either. I see it more as a historical document with parables on how to live a good life, as opposed to the more traditional view. Additionally, I connect a lot to the theories of Buddhism and Taoism--Buddhism in its focus on improving the self and Taoism in its emphasis on the connectedness of all things.
 
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justme27 is offline justme27 Post #4  February 20,2010, 10:36am
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HappyandLight wrote :
I think your beliefs are nice and have value I respect that.

I grew up with no religion...in a mostly middle class, secular scientific family.

I discovered yoga philosophy/spirituality as an adult and I developed an appreciation for the beauty of all (well, almost all) religions. Yoga taught me that at the core...they are all similar. Where we get into differences is the interpretation and man made stuff.

I can enjoy and find beauty in many traditions...as long as they are positive, loving, moral, etc. Churches,especially beautiful ones, really lift me up and I can feel the oneness of everything.
Thanks for sharing your experience with Yoga. I have an appreciation for meditation, but I've never been able to get into Yoga because I am the most impatient and least flexible man on the planet. Maybe when I'm older and more mature, I will begin to take up Yoga.
 
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justme27 is offline justme27 Post #5  February 20,2010, 10:38am
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bretagne89 wrote :
I consider myself spiritual, but I do believe in a monotheistic God.

I'm a nature lover, so I connect to a divine idea in nature on a personal level. I didn't grow up going to church. I've always prayed and connected to God on my own, so church or church officials have never seemed necessary. I've never put much store in the Bible either. I see it more as a historical document with parables on how to live a good life, as opposed to the more traditional view. Additionally, I connect a lot to the theories of Buddhism and Taoism--Buddhism in its focus on improving the self and Taoism in its emphasis on the connectedness of all things.
I highly value Buddhism and have read many of the sutras, if you would like I can recommend one particular sutra that is just awe inspiring in terms of wisdom and writing.

However, I have issues with Taoism. I read the Tao Te Ching and found it rather manipulative. There is a line in the work that says, "Keep the peasants belly's full and their mind empty." To me that goes completely against Confucian philosophy, in particular Mencius, which strives for education for all.
 
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