What is your Belief System?

[wiccy]

grond said:

I think Satan is an awful lot older than the Roman Catholic Church. I understand that the name is derived from a n eastern language, perhaps Arabic, Shaitan meaning "the enemy" although my spelling may be horrific and my background information incomplete. I think the happiest people I've ever known with regards to religion have spent years searching through all manners of worship until they found the one that gave them what they knew they always wanted.

I think the best way to end that was with needed not wanted. Wants are way to overrated in todays society.

[grond]

I find need to be a little too hard to define, although you are probably right, need probably is the very best concept to describe it. For me, the only actual needs are sleep and sustenance, but then that might be why I'm not well centered.

[Tomas]

I believe that for many people it isn't necessarily the actual religion, but the community that comes with it. Groups of like minded people tend to support each other. That I miss, but it is very hard to find groups like that outside of religion. Oh well, I have to keep looking.

Tom

[Dmitri]

Yea, if you want to take Satan in the western tradition, look at Job - off the top of my head that is the earliest place for the name Satan - it means "accuser of the brethern" or something like that...

anyway, a whole lot older than the Roman Catholic church. kinda like darkness being associated with evil - that predates christianity too...

[Lady Winter Wolf]

wiccy said:

All I can say is I use what works for me and know that is what is meant to be.

That is how is should be; each individual embacing the spiritual path that calls to them. But, as is the nature of most humans, there is a need to be part of a group, hence, organized religions, cults, clans, houses, etc. It is most probably instinctual, as the loner was more apt to become the prey; while a group assured safety in numbers.

So, to be part of a group, many "adjust or adapt" their beliefs to be part of the norm. Better to be recognized as part of a group, then to be the loner on the outside; even if it means hiding some of your beliefs, or embracing beliefs you are not 100% comfortable and/or agreeable with.

The "religious fanatic" could be someone who is like the above paragraph, but goes out of his/her way to convert folks to their way of thinking. He/she now has a justification for their beliefs, and to make it 100% true, they have this strong need to bring others into the group to solidify the strength.

Basically, "see, others decided to follow my way of believing, so it must be right and everything else is wrong" mentality.

[wiccy]

ladywinterwolf said:

So, to be part of a group, many "adjust or adapt" their beliefs to be part of the norm. Better to be recognized as part of a group, then to be the loner on the outside; even if it means hiding some of your beliefs, or embracing beliefs you are not 100% comfortable and/or agreeable with.

I have people all around me who accept and acknowledge my beliefs. I don't consider myself as a loner, more like a person who looks for the same enlightenment as others do just in a different way. In the end we all use religion as a sense of purpose for the human race. I feel the way we go about it is all individualized to one another. To hide your beliefs to fit into a group would only hold you back from your true potential. As long as you live life to its fullest and respect all of those around you and further. You will find that place you wish to see when your mortal body is finally put aside.

[grond]

That's strange, I'm surrounded by people who question my ways almost to an extreme at times and for me this "antagonism" is almost defining. Swimming against the current, I suppose, is what keeps me alive and unique and all too often exhausted.