In your opinion which is the gentlest religion

[delilabell]

I mean as in kindest / gentlest?
I was looking at janism and the Quakers and thought they both seem so "nice".
So which would you say is the gentlest religion and why?

I have always had a soft spot for the Quakers. When I was young, they would provide cups of tea for families visiting relatives in prison. I remember it being a safe, peaceful place in comparison to the fear and violence surrounding it. The spirit of the volunteers seem to fill the room.

I used to, but now I’ve heard how very unpleasant some Quakers can be to people who don’t toe their ‘be kind’ line on gender ideology and it’s made me rethink.

It hasn't made me rethink. The trans issue is part of life at the minute. It is new, divisive, and yet to be resolved. It is not a prism through which I view or judge all of life.

Jains- If they don’t do oral care, their mouths and teeth must be disgusting!
What happens if they are admitted to hospital with sepsis? Do they refuse treatment because they don’t want to kill the bacteria?

I used to think Buddhism, then I read a conversation between (male) Buddhists who were talking about how abortion can't be acceptable in this religion and that changed my mind. I think forced pregnancy/ motherhood might be the most brutal thing there is. So now I think none of them.

This has given me so much to think about. I really appreciate all your points and thoughts.
Humanism is something I'd never thought about before but does seem to meet a lot of my views. You have to pay to join them which I'm a bit dissapiunred with.
I've also been looking at the salvation army and the Quakers.
A previous poster asked what I wanted from a group? I really don't know! I think it's cos in my head you have to sit in a church. But I can be a member of a community in other ways so thank you for also putting that thought forward for me.

@delilabell "You have to pay to join them which I'm a bit dissapiunred with.
I've also been looking at the salvation army and the Quakers."

You don't have to pay to follow the philosophy and read the books and online material!! The Salvation Army are a prostletizing organisation- would you be happy with that? I would try a Quaker meeting if I were you- just to see what you think.They are very welcoming, but not at all pushy in my experience.

I am a member of several communities of different sorts- my favorite and closest is the local foodbank volunteers. Generally, we have the same political and philosophical views, which is a big step to friendship. And even if I don't gel with the people at a particular meeting, we always do something useful, so no wasted time!

That doesn't sound kind, it sounds obsessive. Maybe we should define "kind" first. Is kindness subjective or is there an objective definition everyone agrees on? In areas where mosquitos carry the Zika virus is it unkind to use infection control that is deadly to mosquitos? Or single handedly kill a mosquito buzzing round a pregnant woman's bedroom? What if you chose kindness to the mosquitos and women and babies have adverse health outcomes? In regards to kindness, more often than not, there is a choice to be made. Who will be the recipient of kindness? And that's usually all about power. That's why "be kind" is a bit misleading.

I spent time in my 20s with the Quakers, they were nice but if you are on the centrist-conservative side it's difficult. Otherwise I admire them a lot.

The Humanists expelled Richard Dawkins over knowing what a woman is. So I don't think they are that nice.

Are the Jains obsessive, yes, they can be. And yes the religion prioritizes males, it definitely has that problem just like every 'recognized religion' ....The Jains I met visiting the temple though were normal middle class people, living their lives .

I'm a pagan, a priestess. I like that. I'm a believer in Pythagoreanism: transmigration and so I'm pretty much vegan.

No, but my friend was practically bullied out of her meeting for not agreeing with them on that issue.

Buddhism seems steeped in peace and harmony

Not always

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32929855

Interesting thread. I thought Buddhism was a way of life rather than a religion. I thought this because Buddists don’t worship a God.

Oh it really is. What do you think precludes this?

Yes it appears that The Humanist society is as susceptible to ideologies based on fantasy and patriarchy/misogyny just like they accuse other religions.

im struggling to see anything about women in any of this summary of this particular dogma https://humanists.uk/2023/03/31/marking-transgender-day-of-visibility/

I always find it incredible the way a society priding itself on rational thinking and freedom of speech can reject one of the most notable scientists in the field of biology because he doesn’t agree with their dogma. Seems they are as capable of shouting “heretic” as the next bunch.

Honestly, sexism seems to be an issue in all mainstream religions. It's just another power structure to control women.

Which means you're left with specific animist and pagan traditions. When you worship the natural world, women seem to have a slightly better time.

Atheism though. No additional power to use to control.

Atheism isn’t a religion though, which was the question. Atheism really isn’t anything but a lack of belief in any god. There’s no other collective philosophy common to atheists. It’s not even that.

Interestingly since the. Late 1800s many occult movements hace specifically stated they are based on men and women being equal. Many early feminists were involved in the late 19th early 20th c occult movements and rose to the highest ranks. Women do better outside the mainstream although it wasn’t til Crowley we saw a separation of occultism and underlying Christian beliefs in the West

Er, the BIBLE.

Which part?

I'm not playing this game, it's obvious.

OP what do you mean by "gentle"?

My family attend churches that don't allow women to wear trousers, nor allowed to preach- and women are taught to be calm, accepting, and docile. I have attended some meetings and the women are all "gentle".

Is that something to strive towards? Being "gentle" isn't always the best or most moral route.
Being "gentle" didn't win women the vote.

If you are looking for soul nurturing then you may find that in an earth based spiritual practice. Shamanic, animistic, or pagan practice can offer deep connection without all the batshit abrahamic women hating stuff.

What about Ba’hai? They have beautiful tenets

Any could fit the bill depending on how you practice and the type of community/congregation you find.

Ideally, you'd visit several places of worship, talk to the people, listen to some services, attend some community functions and see what clicks, especially since it's the community you seek rather than the faith.

Regardless of religion, congregations are made by people , and people can be dicks . They can also be violent,in their words or deeds, if think they're fighting for a cause .

Actually, it is not. It’s just a wishy washy statement made by people who don’t understand the bible or the occult.