NationStates Jolt Archive

if you were to choose a religion other than your current choice, what would it be? what is your second favorite?

a few "rules"

1) it cant be another form of your own religion. no "im a baptist but my second choice is pentacostal" not even "im a quaker but id go greek orthodox"

2) id like you to post what you are now and why you would choose the new one.

3) post some reason, it doesnt have to be a good one, just honest, "id look great in saffron" is a good enough reason to become a moonie.

poll to follow

im an atheist now but if i had to choose, id go with islam. i like its simplicity and purity. i like its emphasis on brotherhood and inclusion. it would have to be an americanized version of course.

1) Now: Athiest.

2) Other choice: Taoism or Bhuddism

3) Have studied both and flirted with believe in both. Each has aspects that fit with my current beliefs. Both are relatively rational. Neither requires me to miss sports on Sunday.

Currently: Christian (non-denominational)

Other choices: Islam or Buddhism.

Why?

Islam - many of the teachings are the same. I believe that Islam holds quite a bit of truth and I actually plan on studying it soon (maybe once the semester is over). Downside: I love pork chops and bacon. =(

Buddhism - From what I know, it is very simple and the end-goal is self-improvement. I can certainly agree with a goal like that.

1) Now: Athiest.

2) Other choice: Taoism or Bhuddism

3) Have studied both and flirted with believe in both. Each has aspects that fit with my current beliefs. Both are relatively rational. Neither requires me to miss sports on Sunday.
hmmm now that you mention it, there are all those buddhist and taoist temples, when are you supposed to go? there must be some set times (different for different areas i would assume)

I'm atheist, but If I had to pick a religion I would probably go with Ba'hai or Judaism. I'm not sure which. Ba'hai is good because of their doctrine of equality for all, Judaism has a cool culture connected with it.


Aw screw it. I'll just join the Cthulhu cult.

Currently: Christian (non-denominational)

Other choices: Islam or Buddhism.

Why?

Islam - many of the teachings are the same. I believe that Islam holds quite a bit of truth and I actually plan on studying it soon (maybe once the semester is over). Downside: I love pork chops and bacon. =(

Buddhism - From what I know, it is very simple and the end-goal is self-improvement. I can certainly agree with a goal like that.
oh damn i forgot that "no pork no booze" thing with islam. that could be a deal breaker.

I would pick no organized religion; it would feel so conform-y. I have my own spiritual/philosophical beliefs, and that is enough for me.

I am atheist, but if I had to choose a religion, I would probably go for Islam.

Reason: I visited Egypt and was totally shocked by how kind strangers are to one another on the street. They treat everyone else (Muslim or non-muslim) with such a huge level of respect as if all humanity were part of one big happy family.

Obviously there are some extremists that use the religion as an excuse to mistreat women and commit terrorist attrocities, but after visiting Egypt I learnt that this must be a tiny minority.

On the other hand ...

with the right salary package and endorsement deals, I'd consider being Pope. ;)

The Popemobile is a chick magnet. Particularly at drive-through liquor stores. :eek:

1) christian
2) make one up
3) because I am almost there on another message board, all I have to do is get a cool hat, because nobody will take you seriously as a religous leader unless you are wearing a cool hat.

On the other hand ...

with the right salary package and endorsement deals, I'd consider being Pope. ;)

The Popemobile is a chick magnet. Particularly at drive-through liquor stores. :eek:
hahhahahahahaha

there is only ONE downside to that whole chick-magnet thing....

if you were to choose a religion other than your current choice, what would it be? what is your second favorite?

a few "rules"

1) it cant be another form of your own religion. no "im a baptist but my second choice is pentacostal" not even "im a quaker but id go greek orthodox"

2) id like you to post what you are now and why you would choose the new one.

3) post some reason, it doesnt have to be a good one, just honest, "id look great in saffron" is a good enough reason to become a moonie.

poll to follow

im an atheist now but if i had to choose, id go with islam. i like its simplicity and purity. i like its emphasis on brotherhood and inclusion. it would have to be an americanized version of course.
i'm a christian right now, if wasn't i think i'd be an atheist, because i just don't see any support for any other religion.

i'm a christian right now, if wasn't i think i'd be an atheist, because i just don't see any support for any other religion.

I certainly hope you can see support for Judaism and Islam, since they are based in the same roots as your religion.

I'm atheist right now but Buddhism and Bahai have seem more appealing than the others. Followers of these religions tend to be less confrontational and intrusive about other people's business.

I certainly hope you can see support for Judaism and Islam, since they are based in the same roots as your religion.
good point

surely if you couldnt "have jesus" you would want to go for judaism. if it was good enough for jesus shouldnt it be good enough for you?

1) christian
2) make one up
3) because I am almost there on another message board, all I have to do is get a cool hat, because nobody will take you seriously as a religous leader unless you are wearing a cool hat.
So that's where I went wrong! No hat! Thanks, dude!

1) Agnostic/Atheist (Athiest w/ benefit of doubt)
2) Make one up
3) Do you know how rich cult leaders can get? Plus faith based benefits :D All I have to do is not technically violate any laws, and I'm safe!

3) post some reason, it doesnt have to be a good one, just honest, "id look great in saffron" is a good enough reason to become a moonie.



i wouldn't make up my own, i'd write down everything most logical i could think of. oh, and WORSHIP THE PURPLE ELEPHANT!

Buddism or Islam (or maybe even Judaism).

Buddism pros: I really like the whole cyclic thing (I think, looking at nature it's the most likely course), has a lot of good techniques (meditation helps mental health etc.) and is cool.
Buddism cons: Denial of meat, alcohol etc. Too much penance

Islam pros: Religion of peace and fraternity, very enlightened, great history, teachings I can agree with, Green is my favourite colour
Islam cons: No bacon, no alchohol, too much intolerance by others, nearest Mosque is miles away

Judaism pros: Cool culture, can really get into their belief system
Judaism cons: Having to lose a bit of skin I quite like, again no bacon and no beer (what is it with the anti-alcohol?), losing my Saturdays

That said I quite like some parts of most faiths, when they work well they are really ace. I'd even be Catholic if the church was genuine and not so intolerant.

Currently Seventh Day Adventist, Christian (with a healthy dose of openmindedness)

Would likely switch to Hinduism/Buddism.

Those two are closely related, and I would have to do a significant amount of research in order to choose between the two. However, the ideas of cycles, balance, compassion, goodwill, and immaterialism mesh well with my inner workings.

I consider the Judaism/Islam belief systems to be too close to my own to consider for this poll. They spawned from the same area and ideology, but have simply grown different directions (much the same as he various denominations within Christianity).

Athiesm/Agnosticism hold swaying power, but go against the fiber of my being. Even if psychology has identified the "need" for belief, this doesn't make it true or untrue. Philosophically, I am already an agnostic, but I just happen to find belief far more compelling than non-belief.

There's nothing anti-alcohol in Judaism, just anti-drunkenness. :)

Anyway ...

I'm Muslim.

If I had to pick something else, Hindu would be the thing for me.

Why? Because I'm fascinated by the culture and hot Indian women.

now: atheist

I suppose I'd become Buddhist because Buddha's not really considered a god is he?

-Georgia

I'm an atheist.

I was going to choose "Buddhist" but then I saw the "make one up" option.

I would have chosen buddhist because it has some interesting philosophy.

I chose "make one up" because I'm very imaginative and I think it would be cool.

I'm an atheist.

I was going to choose "Buddhist" but then I saw the "make one up" option.

I would have chosen buddhist because it has some interesting philosophy.

I chose "make one up" because I'm very imaginative and I think it would be cool.
make one up is very attractive but wouldnt it be kind of boring to be the only one who show up at the church of shadowstorm week after week?

I am a Jeffersonian Deist. The next best thing would be Buddhisim. Beyond that, Maybe Secular Jew - or Zen Judiasim (BuJew) even.
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From the works of Sidney-Arthur Buddha: (You knew He was Jewish, didn't you?)

Be a kvetch. Become one with your whining.

If you wish to know The Way, don't ask for directions. Argue.

Take only what is given. Own nothing but your robes and an alms bowl. Unless, of course, you have the closet space.

Let your mind be as a floating cloud. Let your stillness be as the wooded glen. And sit up straight. You'll never meet the Buddha with posture like that.

There is no escaping karma. In a previous life, you never called, you never wrote, you never visited. And whose fault was that?

To know the Buddha is the highest attainment. Second highest is to go to the same doctor as the Buddha.

Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?

Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story.

To practice Zen and the art of Jewish motorcycle maintenance, do the following: get rid of the motorcycle. What were you thinking?

Be aware of your body. Be aware of your perceptions. Keep in mind that not every physical sensation is a symptom of a terminal illness.

If there is no self, whose arthritis is this?

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this and attaining Enlightenment will be the least of your problems.

The Tao has no expectations. The Tao demands nothing of others. The Tao does not speak. The Tao does not blame. The Tao does not take sides. The Tao is not Jewish.

Drink tea and nourish life. With the first sip, joy. With the second, satisfaction. With the third, Danish.

The Buddha taught that one should practice loving kindness to all sentient beings. Still, would it kill you to find a nice sentient being who happens to be Jewish?

Be patient and achieve all things. Be impatient and achieve all things faster.

In nature, there is no good or bad, better or worse. The wind may blow or not. The flowering branch grows long or short. Do not judge or prefer. Ask only, "Is it good for the Jews?"

To Find the Buddha, look within. Deep inside you are ten thousand flowers. Each flower blossoms ten thousand times. Each blossom has ten thousand petals. You might want to see a specialist.

Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?

Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkes.

(Cite: David M. Bader)

Currently: Somewhere between philosophical Wicca and atheism.

Would choose: Buddhism.

Because I like how Buddhism comes up with moral distinctions in the absence of a divine will. And studying the martial arts would be cool, too ^_^