General Discussion

Cosmic Kitten

(3,498 posts)

173. Thats fine grist for the mill, but....

Fri Nov 28, 2014, 02:13 PM

Nov 2014

it doesn't address my primary question
how it's acceptable to have à la carte
religious beliefs AND STILL claim to be
a follower of a specific religion?

How can someone claim to be catholic
but reject such fundamental issues of birth control?
That type of personal picking-n-choosing over
the Vatican would seem to disqualify one as a follower?

Or a Buddhist disregarding fundamental issues of suffering
while they spread insecticides on their lawn or buy clothes
made with virtually slave labor?

It's about the inherent contradictions between personal wants
over the basic tenets of their chosen spiritual path.
If we can legitimately pick-n-choose what to follow or believe
there is no authority in any "religion" regarding it's ability to foster
the experiences necessary to achieve gnosis?

Cannot edit, recommend, or reply in locked discussions

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

289 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

DU religion survey [View all] Prophet 451 Nov 2014 OP

Jewish-ish. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #1

Alas, the polling didn't allow for multiple entries :) Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #2

LOL! Yeah, that's the obligatory "other." Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #4

Not bad, thanks Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #16

As my friend Rachel said when I caught her eating bacon Recursion Nov 2014 #9

I have said something like that too...a lied a few times. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #13

India has opened my eyes to dietary laws Recursion Nov 2014 #17

How so? mahina Nov 2014 #128

Or Woody Allen's answer to the "What religion" question: "Jewish, with an explanation" (n/t) Jim Lane Nov 2014 #41

I am a Jew and proud of it. But, it's more of a cultural thing mucifer Nov 2014 #51

You, and half of all Jews MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #87

Between the humor and the food, we can't stop being Jews. mucifer Nov 2014 #92

There's also the genetics MannyGoldstein Nov 2014 #97

Someone once said: Brigid Nov 2014 #131

that's like saying "I'm White and proud of it". 2banon Nov 2014 #240

No. okasha Nov 2014 #286

Native American? No. If he was a Palestinian on the other hand, that would compare accurately. 2banon Nov 2014 #287

Second that (or thirds or fourths, lost count) Half-Century Man Nov 2014 #284

K & R !!! WillyT Nov 2014 #3

Under Construction AndyTiedye Nov 2014 #5

Ha! Love it. nt ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #7

I'm an atheist, agnostic, Buddhist, Neo-Pagan, nihilist, ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #6

LMAO! WhiteAndNerdy Nov 2014 #12

Your loved ones are nicer than mine. Behind the Aegis Nov 2014 #14

I knew I liked you for a reason. cordelia Nov 2014 #125

Man after my own heart. lindysalsagal Nov 2014 #288

No room for Hindu? (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #8

Only room for ten entries Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #11

It's the third largest religion in the world Recursion Nov 2014 #15

Altered it Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #85

Thanks! Sorry if I was an ass about that (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #95

No problem Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #96

No room for Muslims, either, apparently~!! nt MADem Nov 2014 #108

Damn, how did I miss that? (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #114

Yeah Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #160

You should have worked for the British Foreign Office in 1947. rug Nov 2014 #185

Ha! Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #187

This message was self-deleted by its author WhiteAndNerdy Nov 2014 #10

The "One And Only True One"™, but I'm not telling you which. You have to find your own path ;P Electric Monk Nov 2014 #18

Hrumph! Where's the profit in that? Enthusiast Nov 2014 #20

Reformed Omnian? nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #63

SPLITTERS! Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #71

We are the People's Front of Judea! (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #104

If TRUTH were told..... DeSwiss Nov 2014 #19

Sadly, true Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #28

Very true of this country's culture.... YoungDemCA Nov 2014 #227

Bow down before me.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #21

I know Satan, Satan is a friend of mine Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #22

Atheist.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #23

"Don't feel like Satan / but I am to them" Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #24

Fairy tales vs. science/reason. You decide. blkmusclmachine Nov 2014 #25

No need to insult other's beliefs Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #27

Teach yourself the difference bvf Nov 2014 #30

Likening to a fairy tale is an insult Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #31

Why is that? bvf Nov 2014 #32

Don't go thinking that a petty insult is some masterful challenge Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #33

I have yet to see bvf Nov 2014 #35

Why are you straight or gay? Why do you like some foods and not others? cbayer Nov 2014 #132

Why are you male or female? skepticscott Nov 2014 #248

Because if people choose to be something, then clearly it's wrong Leopolds Ghost Nov 2014 #282

That's not an insult. rug Nov 2014 #191

There's another one! rug Nov 2014 #189

Would you prefer phil89 Nov 2014 #49

Better but still not quite right Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #56

Fairy tale sounds right to me. HERVEPA Nov 2014 #69

Let me try! rug Nov 2014 #188

Why would anyone think they're "compatible" skepticscott Nov 2014 #241

No, the only people forcing others to choose between science and faith Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #243

In other words, my question puts an uncomfortable truth skepticscott Nov 2014 #250

This edgy crap is why I don't call myself an Atheist, anymore. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #84

There's quite a few like that on DU Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #91

Stay classy. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #199

people are crappy towards each other here whether it is about religion or any other topic. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #202

The religious dogfight is supposed to be constrained to the religion forum. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #204

I disagree. There are many including myself enjoying this thread and are being respectful. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #209

You don't call yourself an atheist... MellowDem Nov 2014 #141

Particularly on an anonymous chat board skepticscott Nov 2014 #251

The value of loving your neighbor as yourself versus atomic bombs. You decide. cbayer Nov 2014 #134

Oh snap! Odin2005 Nov 2014 #151

The value of beheading apostates vs using the internet. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #208

UU - Deist JustAnotherGen Nov 2014 #26

non-practicing pantheist here... alterfurz Nov 2014 #29

Atheism is "far too problematic"? FLPanhandle Nov 2014 #45

Well, that's an interesting thing Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #59

Burden of proof falls on you for active statements? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #100

... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #105

I think it simply goes back to the 'nature' of a God. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #107

Hence, there is no burden of proof. rug Nov 2014 #193

The burden of proof falls on the one who... stone space Nov 2014 #113

I think "presumably, not describe herself as an atheist" is wrong muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #122

The late physicist and philosopher Victor Stenger hifiguy Nov 2014 #234

Without readin it, I would disagree Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #237

"Without readin it, I would disagree" nt. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #269

This is mainly a problem in the definition of the words Atheist and Agnostic DireStrike Nov 2014 #267

You're not even getting the basics right. phil89 Nov 2014 #50

in fairness many of these arguments assume the "gnostic atheist" position, Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #273

Atheist atheist here. stone space Nov 2014 #34

Me too. FLPanhandle Nov 2014 #46

That's about the mildest declaration of militant atheism I've seen. rug Nov 2014 #194

where's the born-again hedonist catagory belzabubba333 Nov 2014 #36

Only room for ten categories. bvf Nov 2014 #37

my only 2 religions.d'oh belzabubba333 Nov 2014 #38

LOL! n/t. bvf Nov 2014 #39

UU deutsey Nov 2014 #40

UU as well CanonRay Nov 2014 #72

Another UU here. 3catwoman3 Nov 2014 #112

Pagan & UU Chemisse Nov 2014 #178

UU & Pagan LiberalEsto Nov 2014 #285

I'm proud to see the high percentage of atheists here. FLPanhandle Nov 2014 #42

Many believers are smart too Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #61

That attitude is why I don't call myself an Atheist, anymore. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #90

I wonder what a "new atheist" is? MellowDem Nov 2014 #142

The militant anti-theist followers of Hitchens, Harris, and Dawkins. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #148

Sounds incredibly subjective.. MellowDem Nov 2014 #157

. rug Nov 2014 #196

I'm curious what your take on morality is then DireStrike Nov 2014 #271

This message was self-deleted by its author Codeine Nov 2014 #168

Maybe the "New Atheists" are sick of being called skepticscott Nov 2014 #255

There is zero correlation between intelligence and religiosity. cbayer Nov 2014 #167

Except of course that there is. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #203

Like hell there isn't. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #257

Clicking that button is extraordinarily difficult. rug Nov 2014 #195

There are smart believers here! I may not be one but I assure you there are. hrmjustin Nov 2014 #238

I believe in a great Universal Energy, but reject the dogma of religion RiverLover Nov 2014 #43

"And I don't need a guide book to know the difference btn right & wrong." 3catwoman3 Nov 2014 #115

The Creative Energy of the Universe Thirties Child Nov 2014 #169

None of the above. rogerashton Nov 2014 #44

Atheist (nt) bigwillq Nov 2014 #47

Weird. A faith that worships money isn't even listed HereSince1628 Nov 2014 #48

Well, there's only ten slots Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #62

They should add the worship of Mammon. bluedigger Nov 2014 #139

We are all capitalists now... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #144

Buddhist. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #52

I do strongly admire the noble eightfold path Recursion Nov 2014 #70

I'm technically an Atheist, too, but... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #73

It's funny, I was in a play last year about Swami Vivekenanda Recursion Nov 2014 #74

A lot of the spiritual movements that emerged in the Axial Age were "Humanist" or "Atheistic". Odin2005 Nov 2014 #83

Huh. Jeremiah was in that period too. Recursion Nov 2014 #93

All of the Old Testament Prophets were from that period, too. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #98

Ah, yes, I do know that. But Jeremiah was... well, I'm sure you know Recursion Nov 2014 #99

You should check out Amos. Brigid Nov 2014 #117

Amos and Malachi are my two favorite prophets Recursion Nov 2014 #118

My pastor preached on this the Sunday after the election: Brigid Nov 2014 #138

Plato and Aristotle, also Recursion Nov 2014 #101

And Pythagoras. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #102

That was an amazing generation; it also possibly produced Lao Tzu (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #103

People have demonized the word atheist... MellowDem Nov 2014 #143

The New Atheist crowd has successfully made themselves into a joke Odin2005 Nov 2014 #146

What is new atheism? MellowDem Nov 2014 #152

By "New Atheism" I mean the simplistic anti-theism popularized by... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #155

So three people? MellowDem Nov 2014 #159

What's "simplistic" is the attempt skepticscott Nov 2014 #258

Here is the top entry if you google it... goldent Nov 2014 #171

If that's new atheism.... MellowDem Nov 2014 #175

Or maybe because most of the loud atheists are dicks... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #183

As noted above, the people you refer to skepticscott Nov 2014 #259

I guess... MellowDem Nov 2014 #261

Link's dead, btw Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #246

You switched from atheist to Buddhist? Can I ask when and why? liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #179

The teachings of the Buddha have made me a better, happier person. dawg Nov 2014 #222

That's fair enough Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #231

I have often thought that the teachings of Buddha and Jesus are very similar. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #239

really? How so? Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #274

Other. Hindu. It's the third largest religion in the world. Just saying. Recursion Nov 2014 #53

Ran out of slots Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #64

That was me, not a co-religionist :) Recursion Nov 2014 #66

Jewish is a culture. Hari Seldon Nov 2014 #54

Sure, I understand that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #65

Other H2O Man Nov 2014 #55

Skeptical agnostic or atheist? wyldwolf Nov 2014 #57

Seems very intellectually dishonest? Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #75

Nah, it doesn't wyldwolf Nov 2014 #89

YES, it is intellectually dishonest: Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #109

NO, it is not. wyldwolf Nov 2014 #110

I think most atheists would reverse their beliefs if God came down from heaven goldent Nov 2014 #174

Most of the first group would be fundies Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #182

I have this image in my mind goldent Nov 2014 #276

Sounds about right :) Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #279

I'm not an atheist. I am a Buddhist. I guess you could say I'm an agnostic Buddhist. liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #233

Well there is Biblical precedence for this position... goldent Nov 2014 #278

The position challenged was to state they were for something when they were not. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #262

LOL, because of the way most of us were raised I understand that. nt Logical Nov 2014 #77

I Picked Other ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #58

Why does this list exclude Hindu people while including 'Reconstructionists' which last time I Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #60

+1 Recursion Nov 2014 #67

Different kind of recon Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #68

So Dominionists and other fundies would call themselves recons. Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #80

Edited it to clarify that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #86

What's with the à la carte "religious" beliefs? Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #76

OK, I'll have a tilt at it Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #82

I concure regarding the experiential nature of spiritual gnosis. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #116

But which version of Christ and whose interpretation? CJCRANE Nov 2014 #120

That suggests, the "church" has no authority, it's all chimera Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #123

Which church? CJCRANE Nov 2014 #133

All "churches" Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #170

For the reassurance of a shared community, tradition and culture. CJCRANE Nov 2014 #172

So churches are just social clubs? Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #264

Sure but... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #149

Thats fine grist for the mill, but.... Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #173

Former atheist, now a Christian Shrek Nov 2014 #78

That's interesting Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #127

I don't mind Shrek Nov 2014 #161

Thank you for responding Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #163

Christian meow2u3 Nov 2014 #79

Clicked 'atheist', but technically more 'militant agnostic'. *L* Rhythm Nov 2014 #81

How can one be a militant agnostic? Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #88

Yeah... "I don't know... AND NEITHER DO YOU!" Rhythm Nov 2014 #135

Cultural Christian. Otherwise... freshwest Nov 2014 #94

Christian.n/t. hrmjustin Nov 2014 #106

Then there are the atheists who pretend they are agnostic Android3.14 Nov 2014 #111

I hadn't noticed many doing that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #129

Oh yes Android3.14 Nov 2014 #153

I can kinda see someone coming in both camps Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #156

I am an agnostic atheist OriginalGeek Nov 2014 #229

and then there are religious people who commit evil in the name samsingh Nov 2014 #213

recovering catholic spanone Nov 2014 #119

Christian. dawg Nov 2014 #121

Yet those "good things" are self-evident. Cosmic Kitten Nov 2014 #124

Self-evident? YoungDemCA Nov 2014 #225

My husband is agnostic. He gets asked all the time by evangelical Christians liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #235

I would agree with that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #130

Christian. Brigid Nov 2014 #126

Islam is the second largest religion in the world ....? etherealtruth Nov 2014 #136

Oy Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #150

Chrisbuddish. CJCRANE Nov 2014 #137

That sounds like my son. He finds the stories from all religions interesting, but I do liberal_at_heart Nov 2014 #180

Most of it's believers died out Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #184

That's a nice coincidence, I was brought up on Greek mythology. CJCRANE Nov 2014 #186

Follow one sarisataka Nov 2014 #140

Raised Presbyterian. I keep the label in honor of those who died for the faith. riqster Nov 2014 #145

That's fair enough Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #158

Atheist and agnostic are not mutually exclusive.... MellowDem Nov 2014 #147

No, they aren't Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #162

It seems you agree with me? MellowDem Nov 2014 #177

Sort-of Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #181

Gnostic atheists then... MellowDem Nov 2014 #254

Hmm, not sure that's true Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #256

It's for the gods that have specific claims... MellowDem Nov 2014 #268

Scientific atheist/secular humanist now. hifiguy Nov 2014 #154

I find voodoo fascinating Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #165

I'm a non-believer, but I find too many atheists too obnoxious to identify as one. Comrade Grumpy Nov 2014 #164

Fair enough Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #166

Former christian, now an atheist Bryce Butler Nov 2014 #176

Religions of the world! yortsed snacilbuper Nov 2014 #190

Seen that before Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #201

Wiccan Hatchling Nov 2014 #252

Hard to believe you included Sikh but not Muslim. Blue_In_AK Nov 2014 #192

The story with that is... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #198

Surprising to me that we have no Muslims here Blue_In_AK Nov 2014 #260

If you ever do another poll like this LostOne4Ever Nov 2014 #197

Atheist and agnostic are distinct Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #200

They are distinct and do overlap LostOne4Ever Nov 2014 #207

Aren't you the person who recently did a long screed on how you should be cbayer Nov 2014 #219

I agree and it doesn't matter how often some say they are not distinct, they still are. cbayer Nov 2014 #218

I love it that Unitarians are always "other" even on a site like this one full of progressives. redstatebluegirl Nov 2014 #205

Well, as I understand it... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #210

There are a few of us rogerashton Nov 2014 #266

I worship Henny Youngman olddots Nov 2014 #206

you missed 'muslim' samsingh Nov 2014 #211

The story with that is... Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #212

missing 'spiritualist' samsingh Nov 2014 #214

missing 'scientologist' samsingh Nov 2014 #215

Knock it off Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #216

ok samsingh Nov 2014 #230

i could have said festivus samsingh Nov 2014 #232

Atheism and agnosticism are not mutually exclusive MillennialDem Nov 2014 #217

No, but they are distinct Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #226

I am a Christian. trueblue2007 Nov 2014 #220

Shinto~Buddhist. (Jodo Shinshu) yuiyoshida Nov 2014 #221

"Intellectually, I'm a Deist. Emotionally, I'm a Christian!" Thom Hartmann LongTomH Nov 2014 #223

That's interesting Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #228

Christian. n/t YoungDemCA Nov 2014 #224

I was born an atheist, then I was raised with being taught the Catholic religion. logosoco Nov 2014 #236

Other. okasha Nov 2014 #242

"Process"? n/t Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #244

Process theology rogerashton Nov 2014 #265

I'm an agnostic, dyslexic insomniac. panader0 Nov 2014 #245

rimshot please! Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #247

As a lifelong bricklayer, I have laid over two million units. panader0 Nov 2014 #249

I thought that was a type of chipboard! LongTomH Nov 2014 #277

I am Christian.. mvd Nov 2014 #253

Ethnically Jewish but atheist. Would describe myself as a secular humanist LeftishBrit Nov 2014 #263

I know but the poll software doesn't allow that Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #280

I said atheist madokie Nov 2014 #270

Taoist Agnostic Atheist Pagan intheflow Nov 2014 #272

Sounds familiar Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #281

Other: All of the above options and all the others not included. Contrary1 Nov 2014 #275

Wise words, IMO Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #283

Locking. This is against the Statement of Purpose. William769 Nov 2014 #289