Are you religious?

Ross_Scope

World Religion Day

World Religion Day is celebrated every January on the third Sunday of the month. The aim of World Religion Day is to promote understanding and peace between all religions, encouraging people to learn about other faiths and their followers.
It was initially started by followers of the Bahá’í faith. This is a faith that was founded in 1863 in Iraq. Bahá’ís believe that all religions have common features and that all religions should be respected. They believe that there is one God who is known by different names in all religions. In their faith, this God is the reason for the development of all religions over the years. Followers of the Bahá’í faith believe that all humans are born equal, and that we all have the same rights regardless of the religion or creed we follow. With that philosophy in mind World Religion Day was first held in 1949. 

Educational resource

As part of World Religion Day, we thought we would share this open learn education resource with you, which will tell you a little more about the event, from it's history to how it is celebrated.

Your relationship with religion

• Do any of you follow a particular faith? 
• What do you think of the values promoted by World Religion Day?
• Is there an aspect of religion that you particularly admire?

66Mustang

I don’t follow any religion but I don’t subscribe to the idea that religion is bad and don’t agree with people, such as Ricky Gervais, who say this. People accuse religion of starting wars but I don’t think it did, I think bloodthirsty people started the wars and if it was not for religion they would have found some other reason to go to war.

I find religion really interesting myself and think it promotes some great values, just I cannot personally believe in a god or in some things like miracles. I like the idea of the Baha’i (sorry can’t do the accents on the letters) religion though that promotes people from every religion as being equal!

[Deleted User]

Nope, officially I'm Christian but including Weddings, Christenings and Funerals I can count the number of times I've been to Church on 1 hand.

In actual fact, I've been applying for various jobs of late and I half wish that when they come to the drop box asking what religion I am, there was an option for "Jedi" (welll I do have a Darth Vader onesie, mask, cape and lightsabre)

woodbine

I'm an atheist, but I would fight to the death to defend peoples right to have a religion and sometimes I envy them their religion, I recently decided that my funeral will be a "pure cremation" nobody their no service of any kind, i'll just be taken to the crematorium
 in a coffin, cremated and my ashes returned to my family, it cost about £3,000 less than a proper cremation with all the fuss.
She who must be obeyed does believe but never goes to church and our daughter is an agnostic our son an atheist.
You would have thought that the pandemic would have sent masses heading to religion but I don't see any evidence of that.

Sandy_123

Yes I'm religious, I believe in the heavens. I'm not going to try convert anyone. People ask how do you believe in something you can't see. Well look at the world around you,  the rain to help grow our crops, keep seas and rivers flowing. The sun too. The air we breath to stay alive. The trees to purify. There's too many things to write it would be a very long page. All these things didn't just start happening by them selves. Take a closer look.
Also religion gives people direction and comfort in life. 

WestHam06

Thank you for sharing this @Ross_Scope. I have been Christened and I absolutely believe in many of the values and morals that Christianity promotes, however not all and I do struggle with the idea of God but it is something that I have tried to educate myself about.  I believe people should be free to live they life they want too and to believe and follow whatever religion, if any, they want too. It is a human right and people should not judge this. I hope this makes sense, thank you. 

Holly35

These organised religions chiefly the Abrahamic religions stem from Abraham a Semite who tried to kill his son Isaac because God told him to! He would be locked up in today's world! Anyway that's the foundation of Judaism which Christianity sprang from then Islam followed. They're all attempts at reimagining what God told Abraham, it's silly.

You don't have to be religious, you can still have strong moral beliefs or develop your own moral systems like many philosophers such as Immanuel Kant tried to do. I've found exploring philosophy a great mental exerciser and inadvertent healer. The concept of Amor fati as proposed by Nietzsche helps me a lot and it's basically that in order to find inner peace you have to accept your fate and life for what it is and all the terrible and good things that have happened to you are you and there's very little you can do to change the hand you've been dealt, just enjoy being you and try to make the most of what you've got. 

BrettW

I'm Wiccan

isteele983

i'm catholic

JenCo

BrettW said:

I'm Wiccan

This is as close to mine as I can find here. Merry Meet Brett!
I'm eclectic Pagan. 

I love the idea of World Religion Day, I'm sorry I didn't do anything for it now. Did anyone do anything special for it? 

Being raised Pacifist I admire any religious path that promotes non-violence. That said, if I'm going to wear a white poppy I'll just as happily wear a red poppy beside it. Just because I'm from a non-military background doesn't mean I don't hugely admire and respect people who have to face danger to keep the peace. Like any religious learning it's all about tolerance and balance I suppose. 

BrettW

Merry Meet @JenCo it's nice to meet a fellow Pagan on here.

(edited for my usual bad typing)

lisathomas50

@BrettW its nice to hear about different religions i am a non practicing Christian  at the moment 

BrettW

Wicca is a very varied belief system Lisa because it is more of a 'personal' type of practice rather than typical organised religions where they are governed from a 'centralised' body.

This is why its possible to be part of a coven or just as easily practice as a solitary.

Pagan beliefs are far older than Chrsitianity and have seen a big resurgence since the 30's and 40's. 

There is still a lot of misconceptions surrounding anything pagan related and witchcraft in general. We don't for example go around hexxing people or causing them harm. In fact the Wiccan rede states 'An it harm none do what thou wilt'. Meaning you have freedom as long as you do not cause harm to anyone or anything.

lisathomas50

@BrettW thank you for explaining its nice to know how religions work some religions I find hard to understand but I will listen and engage in conversations about different religions as I find it interesting 😊 

[Deleted User]

I'm not Pagan or Wiccan but I do celebrate Halloween, when I was a lot younger I used to go out trick or treating with my Brother.

Now I just enjoy dressing up in scary garb and doing stuff.

BrettW

Halloween is my New Year Mr Allen

lisathomas50

Halloween scares  me 😆 

Cress

I have a broom for the back garden, I called it my Nimbus 2000!
I'm sure the delivery man thought I was a witch!
They're just really good at getting up the leaves....
I have no time for religion personally, but whatever gets you through....

salk64

I am a Christian and if it wasn’t for my faith I don’t think I would have got through I have been shielding for 12 months. My church family have kept me going. 

encaser

Some peoples' belief that they can influence or control what a supposedly greater power does or doesn't do bemuses me

lisathomas50

@encaser if talk to my nan and my dad and my son when I am looking for guidance 

I belive that it helps me when I do that even though thry have been dead for many years but it makes me feel better whether its real or not 

I am not religious but I often ask God why 

[Deleted User]

I'm not religious but if stuff is going wrong in my life (as it frequently does) I shout out "Jesus H Christ!"

foxuk

I think the best label for my religious belief is 'confused' - I have Quaker tendencies but have real problems with pacifism - turning the other cheek made one become a target where I grew up.

Organised Religions seem to have very little to do with their original beliefs and those involved in them are in many cases even further away.

encaser

@lisathomas50 I'm not surprised you do ask why, with good reason, and miss them terribly. It also makes sense that you talk to them in mind or, even aloud as a way of still feeling connected and reassured in your daily life. Loss such as yours, can be such a heavy burden to carry alone and can last a lifetime - no matter how a person tries to deal with it. If what you do works, why not!
I don't judge others for believing in a god, spirit or, simply the theory that there is something bigger and better out there for us and everything to exist in the first place.
If more people believed in the principle of treating others as you want to be treated, that'd be a good start to offering greater comfort for all - as long as you're not a masochist!

leeCal

I’m intrigued @BrettW, do you get results?

i have read many stories about the intervention of saints for example.

lisathomas50

@encaser that is very true treat people how you would like to be treated  i di this i my every day life and on here but it doesn't always work for lots of reasons 

leeCal

Each drop of water wears away the stone.
🙂

wilko

Being a Christian, Catholic by denomination I feel that those that process to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ lost their way the moment religion was given the recognition by the Roman Emperor Constantine, making the Christian faith the national religion hence the name the Holy Catholic Church, Catholic meaning universal. When things go wrong we turn to God and ask why, my answer is we have free choose just as Adam and Eve did in the garden, don’t eat of the tree of knowledge. Jesus told them you will have the poor with you always you can help when you like, the widow put all she had in the Temple coffers while the rich put in their surplus. If we helped the lowly and down trodden we would all live in  a nice safe environment free running water cloths to wear food to eat. But just look at the over eating and cloths buying is done just because we can afford to indulge ourselves. The overseas aid sent year in year out and still millions are not able to access clean drinking water because of greed of the foreign government officials taking a cut of the donations. They had the free will not to take or interfere with the donated funds but denied the needy of their aid. The church members feel safe while in their churches doing what they think or believe is right but that is not what Jesus message was all about, love your neighbours as your self.

BrettW

@leeCal Pagan beliefs aren't really the same as mainstream religions. Some people who follow these beliefs don't acknowledge a god(s) at all though a lot do.

The belief system itself is more about balance and the employment of will and personal choice rather than calling on the power of a higher entity per se and the majority that do see this interaction as a partnership rather than expecting an all powerful diety to intercede for them. It is more a case that a persons own will and choices can influence their surroundings. A lot of these new age people who claim to make 'love potions' and the like are basically talking out of their rectums in my opinion and these people seem to thrive on the attention it gets them in claiming to be a 'witch' and also the financial rewards it can bring them.

You have to remember that Paganism itself is the encompassing term for a set of common or similar beliefs. Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism, etc are religions that all come under the umbrella of paganism, and magic, witchcraft, etc are practices that may or may not be practiced within the bounds of these beliefs. Satanism is the interesting one that everyone lumps in with paganism, when in fact its an 'anti-christian' religion. Pagans don't believe in Satan

leeCal

That’s interesting @BrettW, thank you.

BrettW

you're welcome

Daffodil

I am not overtly religious, but my mother was and she was a wonderful person.  She passed on to me the wonder of being in a beautiful world of fantastic events and happenings. She was very wise and kind and her compassion for people all over the world was exemplary.  Many religious people I have met have exhibited this selfless and caring attitude and I admire and respect them for it.  I do believe that those who follow their religion for the good of mankind do make for a better world. And I would fight for every human being to believe what they wish and lead a free and happy life.  No-one is perfect.

leeCal

Often people say that they are not religious but they are spiritual, I wonder what’s the difference exactly?

AndyGT

I wan't to be but am not sure that I am or it is a wish or desire? I was baptised Catholic, Went to a Catholic school, Confirmed and got married in a Catholic Church. So if asked I would say that I am Catholic, but, there are a couple of things  that I disagree with and really can't just shake it off.  I really want to believe and I do, but I'm not 100% sure what I believe in.... I just know I believe in something.   I try to do the right thing. I try to be a good person znd I try to do what is best.  I make mistakes and gets things wrong  but I am human.  So, am I religious I would say yes..... of sorts.  What religion however is a different question.  

[Deleted User]

My sister in law's Roman Catholic, and I think she tries to attend Church at least once a week.

BrettW

My dad got excommunicated because he married my mum in a CofE church. My grandad was devote Catholic 

Cress

leeCal said:

I’m intrigued @BrettW, do you get results?

[Removed by moderator - inappropriate comment]

AndyGT

My mother was Catholic and Father was C of E.  They weren't allowed to get married on either and got married in a Baptist Church.  All my brothers (there are 3 of them) and myself went to a Catholic school and my Dad(C of E) paid a small fortune over the years to the School funds.  

BrettW

My dad says he doesn't believe any of it @AndyGT but he still has strong Catholic values regardless of that fact. Like I said my grandfather was very devout Catholic and my father and all his siblings were sent to Catholic schools and made to attend church and sunday school every week. I think you never fully lose things that are instilled into you as a child regardless of what your opinions become in adult life.

leeCal

. I think you never fully lose things that are instilled into you as a child regardless of what your opinions become in adult life.

Definitely true @BrettW

AndyGT

I would agree to a large extent but I would say that there are exceptions.   When for whatever reason you move away from what you were shown as a child.   Sometimes that movement is dependent on what you think you were taught.   By that I mean you were brought up to believe that you should help those less fortunate than yourself, but the question is how?  How do you help.  Now before I go any further I am NOT saying which one of these (if any) I believe in. I am just using them to illustrate a point.... As I was saying..... If you were brought up to help others do you a) help them by giving them money?  b) Help them by giving money to a 3rd party (charity) or c) giving them the 'tools to do the job or d) Nothing, as they are the best People to know what they want and need and we shouldn't interfere....  As I was saying you are taught one thing as a child and it would be quite easy to drift away to believe something else  whether that is just the way your thought pattern works or it might simply be through peer pressure.