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Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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Original poster

Is there such a thing as a religion that doesn't require me to believe things that I don't think are true?

45 replies

MaMight · 17/03/2010 08:49

I wish I believed in something, but I don't.

I feel envious of people who believe in a God or Gods. It must be very comforting to think there is someone looking out for you. It must be a relief to think that someone else is in charge.

I also envy people who belong to a religion. I would like to have that sense of belonging, that community. I also like the pretty bits of religion - the churches and temples and the insense and the ritual and the songs and the history.

The trouble is, I was not brought up being told that there is a God, and at my age I can't just suddenly decide to believe that it's true.

It would be like suddenly believing that my garden is populated with enormous invisible dancing purple hippos. Try as I might, I just can't really believe it's the case.

I look at my children and know that some day they may also feel envious of their Hindu friends and their Jain friends and their Christian friends and their Muslim friends, because all those people are in a club and they can't be.

I'm not completely adverse to believing in things. I am prepared to entertain spirits and ghosts, and maybe even a sort of spiritual energy in nature.

I was accosted by a Christian many years ago in Hereford town centre. She wanted to know if Jesus was in my heart. I said that no, he wasn't. She said he was waiting for an invitation. I said there was nothing stopping him from wandering in, door's open. She said that he couldn't come in unless I invited him in. (A bit like a vampire?).

I find myself coming back to this again and again.

I want the practical side of religion without the hocus pocus I suppose.

OP posts:

GrimmaTheNome · 19/03/2010 12:15

Do read some Richard Dawkins, he should at least knock that watchmaker guff on the head. (You can't really blame Voltaire, at that period of time when the age of the earth wasn't known and evolution not discovered, theism was a reasonable enough position. Not now though)

DH and I are ex-christian atheists; I don't feel an especial need for a club or suchlike but DH seems to. He 'does' Buddhism without actually believing anything supernatural at all - its non-theistic and you are explicitly NOT supposed to have faith in anything written down without testing if it actually makes sense and works for you. Meditation seems to be a useful practice which has demonstrable effects - its purely an individual affecting themselves, no external agencies.

He also has recently started going to humanist meetings - these tend, inevitably I suppose, to be more discussion groups/talks, not the same sort of flavour as religious meetings.

Nettee · 19/03/2010 12:21

Try the Unitarians - no requirement for believing anything in particular or even at all - the service in form though is like the christian church service so hymns, readings and sermons and a "club".

veryconfusedandupset · 19/03/2010 15:41

Perhaps Buddhism would suit you. Buddhists do not believe in God, but believe that you intrinsically have all that you need to develop your "Budha nature" - kindness and compassion that leads to enlightenment - inside you already, waiting to be accessed. I'm a Soto Zen Buddhist and we have quite a lot of ceremony, incense and chanting etc which emphasises the importants tenets and concentrates the attention. It all hinges on taking and accepting just as much as you feel comfortable with, all very gentle. I meditate twice a day and read widely, occasionaly go on a day retreat, it really does make me a much nicer, more balanced person.

CheerfulYank · 20/03/2010 17:47

I think Unitarian would work for you too. They have meetings and songs and such-like but I don't think you have to believe in God to go. I'm not sure, I haven't been to one yet! (I believe in God in general and Jesus in particular, but I sort of shop around. Usually I just refer to myself as a Deist; I go to Catholic masses, Lutheran services, Jewish synagogues, and the occasional Mormon temple.)

CheerfulYank · 20/03/2010 17:49

Oh, the Friends miight be a good idea too, as some have mentioned. I've been meaning to check them out as well but the nearest meeting house isn't close enough.

I think that yes, they're Christian in general but they focus on the "light within" and knowing your own truth/path. Not to get all woo on you! Good luck on your search.

Bumperlicious · 21/03/2010 09:17

Secular Humanism (100%)
Unitarian Universalism (96%)
Nontheist (83%)
Liberal Quakers (81%)
Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (80%)
Neo-Pagan (70%)
Reform Judaism (69%)
Theravada Buddhism (68%)
Taoism (64%)

10. New Age (62%)

I know what you mean OP about not being able to make yourself believe. I do sometimes feel there is something missing in my life but I just can't make myself believe in God, and not sure what it would take to do so.

I did when I was a teenager, but I think that was more because of the environment I was in (born again Christian church ). I do have a fascination with religion though. I can't imagine being so committed to something that I would regularly give up my Sunday mornings to go to Church. People must really get something out of it!

I prefer to worship at the alter of Mumsnet on a Sunday morning

mrsursus · 21/03/2010 10:21

Have a look at www.pantheism.net/

CheerfulYank · 22/03/2010 14:59

Shall we form our own church then? We could come and talk about ways to help people. Then we could have quiet time and believers could pray and non-believers could meditate or go over their to-do lists. Then we could sing "Imagine", eat cookies, and go home. I'm thinking half an hour, tops.

10greenbottles · 22/03/2010 15:58

AMumInScotland, Beliefomatic is an interesting site. My beliefs match Sikhism! And I thought I was CofE.[smile}

barrym · 22/03/2010 20:45

I used to feel the same way as OP. I felt like everyone else had a 'faith gland' where god lived and i didn't have it. Recently had like a reverse epiphany where I realised that it wasn't me that was deficient in any way, there just isn't a god. Anyone that thinks there is is deluded and wrong, IMO. We don't NEED god any more. I am a good person and behave in a moral way and I don't need a fictional system of threats and damnation to make me behave this way.

KidsTunes · 30/03/2010 13:37

I do sometimes feel there is something missing in my life

But what? Is it the feeling of community a church gives you? The sense that someone is watching out for you? The idea that what you do matters in some way? A solid sense of right and wrong?

If you could put your finger on it, then you might have your answer

All of the above, by the way, are available without any god or gods. Being jealous of religious people is just a case of the grass being greener on the other side

JonnyL · 30/03/2010 17:32

Try FSM.

I am liking the list of 9 'really rather you didn'ts'

PricklyThistle · 10/04/2010 01:54

barrym I like what you say.

AmandaCooper · 11/04/2010 07:59

Lol @ go over their to-do lists!

jugglingjo · 11/04/2010 22:35

I'm a Quaker, and feel it's a good choice for anyone looking for plenty of freedom and tolerance, whilst coming from the Christian tradition. I've also enjoyed exploring Liberal Judaism, mainly through the writings of the excellent Lionel Blue, and Buddhism, particularly enjoying Pema Chodron, who says we can use all our experiences to help us develop compassion for others.
Hope those reading this thread find a path which helps them. I agree that it can be good to travel with others as we journey though life !
Quakers have a lot of good stuff going on for children, young people, and families too, especially summer camps etc.
Look forward to joining you all on this new ( for me ) forum !

paulaplumpbottom · 17/04/2010 22:29

Another vote for you to try the Quakers here.
I have been going for a few months now and I love it. They are very tolerant of other people's beliefs.

mumyto3boys · 27/04/2010 23:47

Why do you need to follow religion to belong? Like 'muminscotland' said you could join a.n other group and feel like you belong there. I was brought up a catholic but once I hit my 30's and stopped being quite so ignorant I started opening my mind a bit more I am now an atheist and totally comfortable with that. Due to all the science, I am no longer a believer of any religion and I dont feel like I am losing out!

tapas · 29/04/2010 16:50

Study Islam. It's the worlds fastest growing religion. Seek out english speaking muslims in your area. Young, educated people can explain better than the older generation{no offence}.

I'm sure they would be more than willing to explain everything. Beware that there are a lot of negative stereotypes of Muslims/Islam.

A religion that would give you a massive global family.

PinkFluffyslippers · 29/04/2010 21:10

ANother vote for the totally wholesome Quakers. You can be anything you like at the Quakers and they'll love you!
You can be aetheist, buddhist, christian, jew, muslim -- oh just anything and you'll be most welcome at a Quaker meeting to come and enjoy the peace and silence of a meeting. See www.quaker.org.uk/

Enjoy your journey

PinkFluffyslippers · 29/04/2010 21:16

Hey PaulaPlumpB
I remember you coming on this thread a few months ago and enquiring about the Quakers. I'm so pleased to read that you've tried them out.

Hi Juggling Jo - welcome to this forum. Your reading list of Lionel Blue, Pema and Quaker sounds so like mine! It's nice to know I'm not the only one out there in RL with such an eclectic taste in reading material

PFS

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