Difficulty Finding a Religion to Belong To

[Lark]

I was thinking about this last night, it might be more possible in the US than anyplace else but there arent a lot of new Churches or religions coming into existence these days.

 

[CuriousFeeling]

Seems like there are quite a bit of Unitarian Universalism suggestions here... I went and took the Beliefnet Belief-O-Matic quiz to see what I came out as, just out of sheer curiosity... the top 10 results are:

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (93%)
3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (91%)
4. Secular Humanism (78%)
5. Neo-Pagan (74%)
6. New Age (69%)
7. Reform Judaism (63%)
8. Orthodox Quaker (62%)
9. Theravada Buddhism (60%)
10. New Thought (59%)

On that site, from looking at the descriptions of Unitarian Universalism, and Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants, they seem the closest to my beliefs. Two routes to explore. Forgive my lack of knowledge, but what varieties of Protestants are considered liberal or mainline?

 

[JocktheMotie]

I always read Quaker as Quacker.

Sorry not sorry Ivy.

As for CF, I'm still a bit confused as to why you need a religion per se, and not just continue to have, seek, and deepen a personal relationship with God. But of those choices, UU seems to be what you're looking for.

 

[figsfiggyfigs]

As for CF, I'm still a bit confused as to why you need a religion per se, and not just continue to have, seek, and deepen a personal relationship with God. But of those choices, UU seems to be what you're looking for.

^ This.

 

[Qlip]

have you tried looking into unitarian universalism? they welcome people of all religions and emphasize personal choice and individual spiritual growth. i attend uu services when the mood strikes me.

http://www.uua.org/beliefs/6798.shtml

I was going to suggest this.. though I decided to read through the thread first. Good thing I did.

EDIT: I also felt very welcome in a Reformed Jewish Temple, they seem to be very progressive. I'm not sure how this sort of thing would play out in the long run, though.

 

[miss fortune]

I can totally understand the need for SOMETHING, even if it doesn't make any logical sense to you whatsoever. I almost think that by this point that the need for some sort of beleif in something bigger is inborn in humanity thanks to centuries upon centuries of beleiving in something

I have a thread from a year ago on the same topic here... more bluntly phrased as "what sort of bastard god would make someone who WANTS to beleive in something and feels a need to, but just can't?!?"

 

[Ginkgo]

As for CF, I'm still a bit confused as to why you need a religion per se, and not just continue to have, seek, and deepen a personal relationship with God. But of those choices, UU seems to be what you're looking for.

I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that she's looking for an affiliation with like-minded people, though not necessarily of a religious nature. That way, she can have some form of support in an appropriate atmosphere. Humans, while they may be greasy disease laden animals, are also gregarious, which allows them to amplify their disturbing wails in chorus.

 

[Ginkgo]

Seems like there are quite a bit of Unitarian Universalism suggestions here... I went and took the Beliefnet Belief-O-Matic quiz to see what I came out as, just out of sheer curiosity... the top 10 results are:

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (93%)
3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (91%)
4. Secular Humanism (78%)
5. Neo-Pagan (74%)
6. New Age (69%)
7. Reform Judaism (63%)
8. Orthodox Quaker (62%)
9. Theravada Buddhism (60%)
10. New Thought (59%)

On that site, from looking at the descriptions of Unitarian Universalism, and Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants, they seem the closest to my beliefs. Two routes to explore. Forgive my lack of knowledge, but what varieties of Protestants are considered liberal or mainline?

Here.

 

[CuriousFeeling]

I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that she's looking for an affiliation with like-minded people, though not necessarily of a religious nature. That way, she can have some form of support in an appropriate atmosphere. Humans, while they may be greasy disease laden animals, are also gregarious, which allows them to amplify their disturbing wails in chorus.

LOL!!!!

Yes, you are correct though, I am looking for affiliation with like-minded people, definitely.

 

[Ginkgo]

LOL!!!!

Yes, you are correct though, I am looking for affiliation with like-minded people, definitely.

Now we are kin. Or as the young ones say, "yo dawg oh shite mofo can't believe youdid damn snap wanna hook up?"

 

[Lark]

The dichotomy between religion and loving God or a personal relationship with God isnt one which I entertain really.

Its a little like saying why would you have an interest in politics or ideology if you can have a personal relationship with your local politician or neighbourhood politicos.

 

[Lark]

You could have a relationship with Your Local Jesus though

 

[The Ü™]

If you're looking for like-minded people, I'd seriously consider self-worship or cloning.

 

[Ginkgo]

If you're looking for like-minded people, I'd seriously consider self-worship or cloning.

Something tells me you already considered it.

 

[EffEmDoubleyou]

After reading your OP, I was going to suggest that you investigate the Quakers, and then I saw it came up #2 on your BeliefNet test. They're not as dogmatic as many religions, and it's as close as I can think of to a religion that lets you have both your personal relationship with God as well as a community.

I've had many of the same feelings as you have on this subject. I definitely believe in God, and I think that even empirically the existence of God is as likely as not. But I'm less convinced by the particular dogma of any individual religion. I was raised Catholic, and out of familiarity and tradition I'll still go to a Catholic church if I want to go to a church, but I think if I'm anything, I'm a Deist. You might be one too.

 

[CuriousFeeling]

After reading your OP, I was going to suggest that you investigate the Quakers, and then I saw it came up #2 on your BeliefNet test. They're not as dogmatic as many religions, and it's as close as I can think of to a religion that lets you have both your personal relationship with God as well as a community.

I've had many of the same feelings as you have on this subject. I definitely believe in God, and I think that even empirically the existence of God is as likely as not. But I'm less convinced by the particular dogma of any individual religion. I was raised Catholic, and out of familiarity and tradition I'll still go to a Catholic church if I want to go to a church, but I think if I'm anything, I'm a Deist. You might be one too.

The best thing to do, I think, is to research the top results I got, and see which one best suits me. I haven't considered deism... but it's something I'll research as well. If anything, the knowledge gained will be worth it.

 

[EffEmDoubleyou]

The dichotomy between religion and loving God or a personal relationship with God isnt one which I entertain really.

Its a little like saying why would you have an interest in politics or ideology if you can have a personal relationship with your local politician or neighbourhood politicos.

I think if you want to compare religion to politics to illuminate this concept, a more apt comparison would be, say, approving of Obama as president while thinking the Democratic party is BS. When people embrace God and not religion, it's about the perceived disconnect between God and religion. It's like a singer with a crazy fan club. You can be a fan of the singer's work while wanting to keep your distance from the nutsos in the fan club. I don't think I should have to be bound by the rules of a compromised, human construct like a religion in order to have access to God. God and religion are related but not inextricably linked concepts.

 

[Blackmail!]

But my thing is to treat others how you want to be treated.

Then it means your moral values result from Kant rather than from Christianity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categorical_imperative

 

[Blackmail!]

I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that she's looking for an affiliation with like-minded people, though not necessarily of a religious nature. That way, she can have some form of support in an appropriate atmosphere. Humans, while they may be greasy disease laden animals, are also gregarious, which allows them to amplify their disturbing wails in chorus.

That's exactly what I thought when I first discovered this thread.

 

[Ginkgo]

That's exactly what I thought when I first discovered this thread.

Lol.