What do you believe? Options

[Badman]

I haven't seen one of these yet... and it always seems to generate a firestorm of conflict so...

What religion are you or what are your beliefs?

I looked up Live fans from facebook and found that most were christians. Although, most people are I just want to know what the real fans think.

[Existentialist]

Having dissected many brains and just about every portion of the human body, it's almost impossible to believe in any sort of afterlife. Our current level of knowledge indicates that we are done for good when we die. However, it's not totally impossible, and I would not consider it out of the realm of possibility that there are properties of the universe that we haven't discovered and could not comprehend which could have something to do with an afterlife.

The problem is deciding how to live your life accordingly. I find it highly presumptuous and pathetic that some people believe that their life on Earth will in some way impact their afterlife. That's not to say leading an admirable lifestyle is bad, but I think it's bad when it's done under the assumption that there will be a reward at the end of the tunnel. More precisely, I think a truly healthy existence is one which is inherently admirable and not admirable as a result of a desire for potential reward or fear of potential punishment.

There are tons of religions, most of which I have very little knowledge of, but I could not imagine living my life exactly the way I do, which is to live my life as if it's all I've got, because it probably is. Any time spent on religion is a complete waste of time in my opinion. I think Live's music puts this all pretty nicely. In my opinion, their most influential song regarding religion is Century, because instead of just criticizing religion, it criticizes religion in the midst of commenting on the nature of our existence, which was a huge step philosophically for the band. Nice topic, by the way....

This post has been edited by Existentialist: Oct 16 2007, 9:18 pm

[torcatofan]

Well I was an atheist until I saw this...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lHHQu4CIos

[Badman]

Wow, that video has altered my perception of the world.

I always held the song Susquehanna highly for it's religious message. "It's hard to join the dance, When you know the song is poisoning everyone." That's a powerhouse of a lyric.

I know at least Ed has a belief in the supernatural. He may not believe in bibles and rituals but I think he believes in a god that watches him.

I'ma have to go back over Century now, Thanks alot...

[Hoodstock]

Well I was an atheist until I saw this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lHHQu4CIos

Oh my God ! Youtube is awesome!

[SJN1279]

Do I believe that there is an afterlife- I think there very well could be based on people's accounts of there own near death experiences. I do think there is more to life than meets the eye.

Do I believe in ghosts/spirits- Yes, too many accounts to believe otherwise

Do I believe in one specific religion- NO!

Hope that clears everything up

[Wambangalang]

i believe in nothing because beliefs are a projection of what is already known. It is stupid to say you believe in religion just as it is stupid to say you are an athiest. Both are versions of the same close mindedness. You cant have faith in anything and nothing is sacred. morals and ideals are only words and are not real. Idealism, morality, nationalism breeds violence. there is no such thing as america, australia, christian, muslim, or whatever else. we are just human beings and when these "ideas" come into play we are seperated from each other and this creates all the trouble in the world.

yes i am just paraphrasing krishnamurti

This post has been edited by Wambangalang: Oct 19 2007, 2:47 am

[Wambangalang]

this is just a short excerpt of one of krishnamurtis talks but i think it discusses this topic nicely

http://www.krishnamurtiaustralia.org/articles/belief.htm

[crazy1]

I was raised Catholic. I believe in God. I DON'T believe in organized religion.

[Badman]

when these "ideas" come into play we are seperated from each other and this creates all the trouble in the world.

yes i am just paraphrasing krishnamurti

Wow, good article and post. The article does have the problem of saying "Are you following this?" like 12 times but I got it. It does seem as if all these labels bring us together but In fact they do divide us. Why is it our nature to create these groups then? It brings us together with a small amount of people while separating us off from most of the world.

[Existentialist]

this is just a short excerpt of one of krishnamurtis talks but i think it discusses this topic nicely

http://www.krishnamurtiaustralia.org/articles/belief.htm

I think these are great ideas, but this Krishnamurti fellow should not get the credit for them. These are recycled ideas of considerably older philosophers...

[Hoodstock]

Whatever created our existence is our god. No, it does not have to be a supernatural being.

[Badman]

Whatever created our existence is our god. No, it does not have to be a supernatural being.

I guess it depends on how you define a god. Most see god as an omnipotent all powerful being that knows all and is timeless and immortal. Nature doesn't really fit these qualities in the eyes of the common theist.

[Wambangalang]

I think these are great ideas, but this Krishnamurti fellow should not get the credit for them. These are recycled ideas of considerably older philosophers...

I see your point but krishnamurti does, or did, constantly remind his listeners that he is not a philosopher and that there is no authority, not even himself. That everything is a discussion and everything should be questioned.

its like saying ed should not get credit for mental jewelry or throwing copper, because those ideas came from krishnamurti. the fact is, truth cannot be taught or handed down, it can only come to light through your own negation.

to go back to the topic of belief, i think the lyric "I dont need no one to tell me about god and truth, i can see the sunset and i percieve" is relevant. Again it ties back to his connection with the works of krishnamurti, but he says it now like he actually believes it. faith is a dead end, because you are hoping and waiting for something beyond the known world that may never come, which somebody or some book has told you exists, when all you have to do is actually see it right now and you can experience it in all its glory. Thats truth, or love or god or whatever you call it.

[Wambangalang]

Why is it our nature to create these groups then? It brings us together with a small amount of people while separating us off from most of the world.

i dont know. i guess its the problem of the ego, the fact that the ego needs to be part of something, takes pleasure in seeing itself better than another, needs to be seperate from another in order to maintain its individuality (which it certainly is not individual), takes pride in something superficial like a flag or a country drawn by borders, and all of this inevitably breeds violence. We raise our children to be violent because all education is based on competition. Go to school so you can get a good job so you can make lots of money so you can buy a big house and a nice car. And then you still get jeleous when you naighbour has a better car and a bigger house.

we are so far advanced technologically but as krishnamurti says, inwardly or psychologically man has not changed for thousands of years. We still kill each other, we are still miserable and unhappy and in pain. And, according to him, this can change with a revolution in the mind. You should read up on his shit, its pretty remarkable, even if some of it does sound quite impossible. like if your mind is in complete order, you will never dream because there will be no need to. hmm