Philosophical....

[Robbobrob]

As part of my continuing search to define myself, to myself, I come back to an old concept from college: Philosophical <blank>.

 

I was, in college, a Philosophical Taoist. I read the manuscripts of the heavy thinkers of the Taoists, the Tao Te Ching, The Art of War, among others. Loved the philosophy, the lofty thoughts of great thinkers. When I learned about the superstition driven religion of Taosim, I was very disappointed.

 

Since then, I have drifted through Buddhism, Levey's Satanism, Crowley's Thelema, Gnosticism, Wicca, and any number of other systems.

 

I can safely say, I am not a practicianer of any of it. I do not practice any rituals associated with any of them. Anytime I try to lock onto a ritual, beyond showering, brushing my teeth, and putting in my contacts....all practical matters, I float away from the concept, and find myself delving into some other philosophical theory.

 

So, I am starting to realize that I love the theories, but the actual religious practices, blech.

 

I am a Philosophical Blank. Been this way now for at least 17 years. I think I need to stop looking for something else, and accept me as who I am, and what has always made me the happiest religiously.

[The Sage Nabooru]

I was pretty much the same way. The biggest draw for me was having some kind of group label or identification that I could give myself so that others can know right off the bat what I believe and who I am. How much easier to introduce yourself as a "Marxist" or a "Taoist" or "Christian", for that matter, or whatever.

 

But I found that really no one thus far has put into words or concepts precisely what I believe in and feel. I was left with the idea that I might very well have to write my own book when it comes to these things, which is actually a lot harder than reading them. I have no quick answer to "what are you?" besides "myself".

[Kuroikaze]

I can very much identify with this, Perhaps it because I'm lazy and would rather think about things than do them.

 

I've also dabbled in Philosophical Taoism, Confucianism and lots of others

 

Anyway, I've been reading a lot about Objectivism lately, I was surprised at how much of it I agreed with, I'd never read anything beyond very superficial stuff on the subject, and found that my outlook was already very similar to Objectivism...weird huh?

[Lycorth]

I can sympathize, also. My journey away from Xianity has led me to explore and practice many different religions, and what has attracted me most of all were their philosophies. I was not interested in more rituals or more gods to follow, usually, but in the meat-and-potatoes that makes up any religion - its ethical structure and the lifestyle it connotes.

 

I tend to identify simply as a Pagan in the rare times I'm questioned about what my religion is. I define "Pagan" as a follower of one or more non-Abrahamic religions, going by the reclaimed version of the term as set forth by Xians to describe all those who do not accept Xianity. I identify so because I embrace four religions that, according to that definition of "Pagan" are Pagan religions: Asatru, Buddhism, Satanism, and Wicca. Hence, it is the most convenient label to describe myself religiously, even though I know it, like most labels, generally requires more clarification.

 

Though I am mostly a philosophical Pagan, since my primary interest is in the philosophies of the aforementioned religions, believing that the most important thing a religion can have is a good philosophy of life. The rituals of each are elective, according to my own needs and desires, and are ultimately disposable because they are unnecessary for anyone to understand and practice their philosophies. And literal acceptance of Pagan gods isn't necessary by any means, either - a Pagan is free to decide between Theism and Atheism.

 

One of the reasons most of us are not Xian is because Xianity promotes a horrible life philosophy. Even if its god were real, many of us would still oppose Xianity because of its objectively wicked philosophy. Hence, philosophy is the most important thing of any religion, since what a religion teaches its followers to do and not do really is the measure of its worth - or worthlessness.

[Jun]

I do not practice any rituals associated with any of them.

 

If a tradition claims to be "Buddhism" yet requires rituals, it is NOT Buddhism but a superstitious religion under the guise of Buddhism.

 

In the words of my first Zen teacher, "Don't dance Buddhism, live Buddhism." Too many mistake the dance for the practice.

[Lycorth]

In the words of my first Zen teacher, "Don't dance Buddhism, live Buddhism." Too many mistake the dance for the practice.

 

I love that

[Robbobrob]

If a tradition claims to be "Buddhism" yet requires rituals, it is NOT Buddhism but a superstitious religion under the guise of Buddhism.

 

In the words of my first Zen teacher, "Don't dance Buddhism, live Buddhism." Too many mistake the dance for the practice.

 

That is a good point. Of all the religions I have read, the Buddha's teachings hold a lot of interest to me. As do the teachings of Lao Tzu. As with all religions, sometimes the followers, especially the ones who never really "got" the message, ruin what should be a great way to be.

[Legion]

I am a Philosophical Blank.

I don’t know. If someone were to ask me what philosophical stance I take, I would venture to say naturalism. I’d do this largely for two reasons. First because an adherence to naturalism, to my knowledge, requires the smallest amount of “faith”. Second because this stance subtly puts any that may disagree with me in the unenviable position of being associated with all things that are not natural. Things like... unnatural, supernatural, artificial, fake, faux, fabricated...

[Deva]

Man-made rituals, repeated day in and day out, are not of any interest to me. I have never been able to do it.

 

Even though for a while I really appreciated the beauty of the Anglican mass, whenever I would think of the philosophy behind the ritual (the atonement) it became distrubing. As for prayer, or formal meditation, I could never see the use of it.

[Grandpa Harley]

I tend to find the questions raised in Babylon 5 are pretty well enough for me...

 

Vorlon: Who are you?

 

Shadow: What do you want?

[Lycorth]

B5 would make a fine substitute religion

[perianwalsh]

Man-made rituals, repeated day in and day out, are not of any interest to me. I have never been able to do it.

hmm-i think at first you'll be fascinated-but as times passed you will feel bored

 

i go for lao-tzu,zen.Any recommended philosopher?

[Deva]

i go for lao-tzu,zen.Any recommended philosopher?

 

 

I like J. Krishnamurti.

[L.B.]

I think Jun made an excellent point, and I think we have all come to a level of great understanding when we say that the PHILO(love) SOPHY(wisdom) of these faiths or ideologies is precious to us while RE(again) LIGION(from ligare, bound or tied to) is useless.

 

Wayne Dyer once said (as I am sure others have), "Don't be Buddhist; be like the Buddha."

 

THAT is what got me interested in the Noble Eightfold Path in the first place. That, and a healthy regular dose of Shaw Brothers movies directed by Lau Kar Leung and starring Liu Chia Hui ("Gordon Liu", my favorite martial arts movie personalitiy).

 

Anyway, I think there have always been teachers in almost every 'religion' who have taught noble and universal truths that we can all benefit from. The problem arose when those teachers met with the disapproval of their religion's established hierarchy. Then, the most useful and beautiful teachings of the wisdom of the ages suddenly becomes 'heresy'. What a sad, small, narrow and ultimately powerless thing religion is. It sucks the life out of life.

[Jun]

"Don't be Buddhist; be like the Buddha."

 

Don't be like the Buddha, be yourself - I say.

 

Or as Basho said, "Don't seek to follow in the footsteps of teachers of old, seek what they sought."

[L.B.]

Jun, I think that's what Dyer meant. Be truly yourself... fully aware. That would make us like the Buddha because he was fully what he was supposed to be, no?

 

I agree with you and Basho.

 

Blessings.

[Monk]

"So, I am starting to realize that I love the theories, but the actual religious practices, blech.

 

I am a Philosophical Blank. Been this way now for at least 17 years. I think I need to stop looking for something else, and accept me as who I am, and what has always made me the happiest religiously. "

 

 

If you're like me, you just like to learn...period...whether it's philosophy or religion or whatever. I also have a short attention span, so what is interesting to me one week sounds like crap the next.

 

Either way, I understand where you are coming from completely. I largely feel the same way.

[woodsmoke]

I just say I'm sometimes philosophical.

 

'Course, I also say I'm a stubborn, cantankerous sunuvabitch, so I imagine it all comes out in the wash.

[Robbobrob]

In the end, I like the journey of seeking myself through philosophy and spirituality. A spiritual explorer.

 

Buddha has Buddha Nature, a Dog has Dog nature, and I have My Nature. I can not have Buddha Nature or Dog Nature any more than Buddha can have my Nature. To be like Buddha has more to do with following the process he followed, but not in imitation. It is not his path you follow, it is your own.

 

It is all about self-mastery, not being the imitator of other people's ways. A great muscian may start out learning the techniques and styles of the previous masters, but at some point, to truely be a master, the musician must trust in their own self, their own abilities, and their own mastery. Same goes for anything we train ourselves to do, or believe.

[R. S. Martin]

I'm a Philosophical Blank. Hmmm. I like that. Means I can put anything in there that fits the moment. Gotta go.

[Epicurienne]

"Philosophical blank"? I hear ya....

 

I'm one of those ex-Christians who still hasn't made the leap to full atheism. For the past 12 years or so (since I left Christianity behind) I've fluctuated between agnosticism, Taoism and pagan/Wicca.

 

Recently, I realized that Wicca is becoming as pointless to me as Christianity had become earlier. Humanlike gods and goddesses, rituals, feeling obligated to do certain things at certain times, asking for divine intervention and being disappointed...these are the same experiences I had with Christianity.

 

So, I don't know what to call myself, or exactly what I believe anymore. My online name, "Epicurienne" is from my favorite philosopher, Epicurus.

 

Epicurus and Epicurean Philosophy

 

Also, I've been reading "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine and I'm finding I LOVE most of the ideas of Deism.

 

Maybe I'm not a philosophical blank, so much as a person who won't settle for staying in a belief system that no longer makes sense.