Food for thought

Religions there are many but God is one for all and is not separate from Self.

What do you think and why interested in this?

Kind of a bad poll. "Somewhere in between"? Maybe you mean the average person who was born in a religious family and calls himself religious but they don't bother to try to live according to the teachings of the religion. Anyway, you should have included non-theism and pantheism; both of these positions can be religious but don't believe in a God, like Buddhism and Vedanta (non-duality). That last quote doesn't apply to a religion like Buddhism (theravada) since the Buddha was clear that we should not believe anything on faith but rather investigate and find the truth for ourselves.

Praise jesus mothafucka!

I started praying occasionally a few months ago. Not sure what God I pray to. When I pray I pray to 'God'. I don't get down on my knees or clasp my hands together. I don't belong to any religion. But I find that it comforts me sometimes when I feel lost. For me, praying starts off by listing a few things I'm grateful for (this alone has its benefits). Then I ask for help or strength in certain areas of my life (nothing materialistic) and this helps me realize my values and what I strive to become. This is 'value affirmation and also has its benefits. So far all my prayers have been answered and that's not because there's a tooth fairy looking after me, but because it's cathartic and helps me become more conscious of the things that are important to me. It has similar benefits to journaling.

On October 31 2018 23:13 LemOn[5thF] wrote: Praise jesus mothafucka!

On November 01 2018 02:11 k4ir0s wrote: I started praying occasionally a few months ago. Not sure what God I pray to. When I pray I pray to 'God'. I don't get down on my knees or clasp my hands together. I don't belong to any religion. But I find that it comforts me sometimes when I feel lost. For me, praying starts off by listing a few things I'm grateful for (this alone has its benefits). Then I ask for help or strength in certain areas of my life (nothing materialistic) and this helps me realize my values and what I strive to become. So far all my prayers have been answered and that's not because there's a tooth fairy looking after me, but because it's cathartic and helps me become more conscious of the things that are important to me. It has similar benefits to journaling.

man i have a great medicine for you called homeopathy!

On November 01 2018 06:37 Baalim wrote: Show nested quote + On November 01 2018 02:11 k4ir0s wrote: I started praying occasionally a few months ago. Not sure what God I pray to. When I pray I pray to 'God'. I don't get down on my knees or clasp my hands together. I don't belong to any religion. But I find that it comforts me sometimes when I feel lost. For me, praying starts off by listing a few things I'm grateful for (this alone has its benefits). Then I ask for help or strength in certain areas of my life (nothing materialistic) and this helps me realize my values and what I strive to become. So far all my prayers have been answered and that's not because there's a tooth fairy looking after me, but because it's cathartic and helps me become more conscious of the things that are important to me. It has similar benefits to journaling. man i have a great medicine for you called homeopathy!

Placebo works
Religion is a placebo and works too
Just like homeopathy
Who gives a fuck if you're deluding yourself
Reality's too complex to understand anyways
Still better than be a weeping sourpuss and letting your life slip by for most people

EDIT: As long as you don't start blowing up shit and pushing it onto others too hard I suppose

On November 01 2018 09:24 LemOn[5thF] wrote: Show nested quote + On November 01 2018 06:37 Baalim wrote:   On November 01 2018 02:11 k4ir0s wrote: I started praying occasionally a few months ago. Not sure what God I pray to. When I pray I pray to 'God'. I don't get down on my knees or clasp my hands together. I don't belong to any religion. But I find that it comforts me sometimes when I feel lost. For me, praying starts off by listing a few things I'm grateful for (this alone has its benefits). Then I ask for help or strength in certain areas of my life (nothing materialistic) and this helps me realize my values and what I strive to become. So far all my prayers have been answered and that's not because there's a tooth fairy looking after me, but because it's cathartic and helps me become more conscious of the things that are important to me. It has similar benefits to journaling. man i have a great medicine for you called homeopathy! Placebo works Religion is a placebo and works too Just like homeopathy Who gives a fuck if you're deluding yourself Reality's too complex to understand anyways Still better than be a weeping sourpuss and letting your life slip by for most people EDIT: As long as you don't start blowing up shit and pushing it onto others too hard I suppose

agree

On October 31 2018 09:04 napalm wrote: Religions there are many but God is one for all and is not separate from Self. What do you think and why interested in this?

personally i vote for "i dont know"
I believe everyone is interested in this to some extend. It's in our very nature to question our existence

what most scientists did is keeping a journal, its basically same shit as prayers except its actually useful and you even get to track your progress

I honestly dont get how people that think they are atheists experience the placebo effect of prayers. It just means that there is a part of you that believes god exists and those prayers actually mean anything to some uncertain power out there. If a person certainly believes god does not exist, the placebo cannot affect him, there would be no reasonable doubt even.

I also don't understand why don't people just understand that at this point of our existence religion is too outdated and useless. I'd say it was quite helpful for the progress of our kind centuries ago, but at this point it has outlived its usefulness. Also it is fine to believe that god doesn't exist but that we are not in control of our lives. There are so many factors out of our hands, its impossible to be in control, so the shit that happens to each of us is fine, but why spend energy praying to a god rather than using it to change your cast of mind. Be aware of the shit, be also be positive, despite of it. Seems like a good ideology to me

On November 01 2018 09:24 LemOn[5thF] wrote: Show nested quote + On November 01 2018 06:37 Baalim wrote:   On November 01 2018 02:11 k4ir0s wrote: I started praying occasionally a few months ago. Not sure what God I pray to. When I pray I pray to 'God'. I don't get down on my knees or clasp my hands together. I don't belong to any religion. But I find that it comforts me sometimes when I feel lost. For me, praying starts off by listing a few things I'm grateful for (this alone has its benefits). Then I ask for help or strength in certain areas of my life (nothing materialistic) and this helps me realize my values and what I strive to become. So far all my prayers have been answered and that's not because there's a tooth fairy looking after me, but because it's cathartic and helps me become more conscious of the things that are important to me. It has similar benefits to journaling. man i have a great medicine for you called homeopathy! Placebo works Religion is a placebo and works too Just like homeopathy Who gives a fuck if you're deluding yourself Reality's too complex to understand anyways Still better than be a weeping sourpuss and letting your life slip by for most people EDIT: As long as you don't start blowing up shit and pushing it onto others too hard I suppose

isn't this just a form of self reflection? its putting in actual work to better yourself. i have no opinion on the method itself but seems like doing work to achieve a goal is the exact opposite of a placebo.

I used to love lots of lines like these, and all the logical & philosophical arguments disproving god. But then I realized they're all limited to attacking a version of god where it's just some more powerful human, like it's a man in the sky. Anytime there's an attempt to make god like a human, it's coming up short. The problem is, the concept of god is actually beyond concept, so trying to explain it by personifying it will always fail. To understand god you need to start thinking weird stuff like quantum physics, not man in the sky. And even quantum physics comes up short, but at least it leads you in the right direction, thinking about ideas like unmanifest infinite potential.

I believe in the supernatural and some form of greater power. Are they in the form of religion? Not for me.

On November 01 2018 10:20 dnagardi wrote: Show nested quote + On October 31 2018 09:04 napalm wrote: Religions there are many but God is one for all and is not separate from Self. What do you think and why interested in this? personally i vote for "i dont know" I believe everyone is interested in this to some extend. It's in our very nature to question our existence

All beliefs are wrong, you say "I believe this" and so it appears, similarly when you say "I don't know" true nature of existence appears not known. Does everyone come to you and tell you "we are all interested in this" or do you?

"To understand god you need to start thinking weird stuff like quantum physics"

If God is beyond mind then thinking at some point becomes an obstacle, not an aid.

"thinking about ideas like unmanifest infinite potential"

If someone has a deep interest in this he will follow thoughts to their source and experience this "infinite potential" directly.