I was raised Catholic, but I’ve been an atheist for—oh fuck I’m old—more than half my life. But… Monastic life seems pretty dope. Why can’t there be a secular order that’s just devoted to knowledge/contemplation for its own sake (or the betterment of humanity). I know it kind of sounds like I’m describing a university, but I mean with the personal discipline, strong communal bond, and simple lifestyle.
You and me both. Also means giving up certain comforts, but that’s kind of the point. Maybe that’s why the secular monastery doesn’t exist- it’d be a huge sacrifice for those who would participate in it and still require some cooperation/consent/aid from others in the community/society (as much as self-sufficiency would be ideal). I’m thinking about how much people (and governments) already don’t want to fund universities which give tangible benefits, and how much worse it’ll be for secular monasteries.
But hey, I also want this, and it’d be interesting to see what insights would come from a place of thinking unconstrained by the trappings of modern society.
(Or it could basically just be libraries and being a librarian but more extreme lol)
Religion of science. Where sheeps just believe whatever these so called “experts” spout without doing your own research.
When people talk about “doing your own research,” I think they underestimate how difficult and slow actual research is. For physical and biological sciences it also requires heavy investment in equipment, but you can save money by sharing resources and collaborating with others doing similar research. For social/politics/history/economic research, I would imagine you need access to primary sources, maybe some modeling software, and years of learning to understand the context of anything you’re researching. I think people who say “do your own research” don’t understand the significance of understanding context, which leads to some…interesting ideas.
Buddhism im the sense of the actual forsaken nirvana and reincarnation aspects, but the dedication to enlightenment and what I perceive (as someone not in anyway well versed in the totality of it) as a willingness to guide and teach but not seeking to compelle others to abide by it are refreshing in the modern ‘my way or fuck you’ world.
I was going to put Buddhism, and because of reincarnation, but I was going to add that it bothers me to think of it (reincarnation) because I honestly don’t want to come back, not as anything or anyone, I’ve had enough, and it’s not that I hate the world, I’m just tired of all the bad things that can go wrong, and that are still going wrong now especially. But I do agree with what you’re stating, I just don’t have a lot of faith that enough of humanity is going to be able to live long enough to ever reach the kind of enlightenment that we need as a whole, to keep from destroying this world to the point where the human race can still survive.
In a way, Buddists don’t want to come back either. Reaching the goal of enlightenment means that reincarnation ends for you.
Oh yeah I understand and yet, I just keep thinking how many times do those Dalai Lamas reincarnate before they hit that magic spot, so to say.
I think the Dalai Lama would be considered a bodhisattva, which is someone who puts off Nirvana for themself in order to help people still stuck in the cycle of rebirth. That would be why his followers don’t find his statement weird when he says he’s not going to reincarnate again because of China’s political interference.
Ah, I didn’t know that, thanks for the added info.!
All I know, is I’m going to be having an argument when I die (first time ever where I’ll be pulling a ‘Karen’ & ‘I want to talk to the manger’ attitude), with whatever powers that be, if there is reincarnation. I feel, at least for me, that it’s pointless. I know right from wrong, I know humans will always fuck up regardless. I know I don’t want to be a POS but it still doesn’t mean I won’t. I know nothing here matters except love and laughter. I know we all are just supposed to continue to strive, no matter what, no matter how many times we fail. I know if nothing less we all should live by the Golden Rule. And I know I don’t want anything, I just want to rest. And I also want a fucking break from even having to think about any of this stuff anymore . I’m like, take back the essence that makes me - me, if you must, but don’t use it to bring me back again, instead reclaim it to whatever godhead it came from, but let me fucking-go.
Jainism, their core tenet of Ahimsa (non-violence) applies to literally every lifeform, even plants and bacteria. Jain monks that take this to the letter make your standard vegan look like a hypocrite - they cannot even eat roots, as that would kill the plant it comes from. They also must take extreme care not to accidentally harm any lifeform, so they have to take measures such as turning off all fire during the night so that insects don’t accidentally burn themselves in them, or brush the soil they’ll walk on to avoid stepping on an animal by accident.
Sikhism.
> Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on Absolute truth. Sikhism emphasizes simran (ਸਿਮਰਨ, meditation and remembrance of the teachings of Gurus), which can be expressed musically through kirtan, or internally through naam japna (‘meditation on His name’) as a means to feel God’s presence. It teaches followers to transform the “Five Thieves” (i.e. lust, rage, greed, attachment, and ego).
All sounds pretty cool, but I have always liked that it’s one if the few that outright rejects any religion’s monopoly on Absolute Truth.
Great quote. It makes me want to learn more about Sikhism.
The “you will be judged by how you treat the least among you” and “when you do good works, do it in secret” parts of Christianity are cool.
I find Sikhism interesting. My reading thereupon suggests that it has generally positive pro social values. There’s some gender stuff that I don’t like, but no major religion is free of that. Moreover, I can really get behind the dictate to carry a knife to defend the innocent.
Zoroastrianism.
Lately it’s been Islam, because of the clean living aspect. Like they consider alcohol, cigarettes, pork, and anything bad for you a sin. And I do respect that about their religion, it’s a good value to have in your life.
Music and art are also considered a sin in Islam. So it’s not just anything that is bad for you but rather anything that might distract you from the path to Allah.
The claim that music and art are forbidden is trivially disprovable. Why even state it, or believe it?
I’m a Muslim but the one where you’ve someone in a small place sitting (I think, the pastor?) and someone can just confess their entire sin history.
For example, you have committed fraud or murdered someone and you can confess and if I remember well, the pastor is not allowed to do anything (IE: going to the police).
I think it is Catholic or Christianity.
I’ve always liked the personal empowerment and coupled responsibility of Wiccanism.
Also the driven personal improvement aspect of Buddhism.
Zoroastrianism. I don’t know anything about it, but I should really pick up a book sometime. It’s one of the world’s oldest organized faiths, and was the state religion of ancient empires. Also, the Mazda car company is named for its god, Ahura Mazda, so that’s cool I guess.
As mentioned sikhism but also i find occult and exoteric stuffs pretty cool. Even though they are not real, some teachings are systematic and that makes it fun to learn
I read most religious texts when I was a young teen, cause I was a little nerd who loved to read and had nothing better to do.
The Vedas (Hinduism) were really intriguing. Some of their stories very much sound like a futuristic post-human society, with stuff like nuclear warfare.
I think Judaism is pretty interesting. No hell to speak of. Strong community focus. Traditions seem not-evil. Seems to foster a sense of curiosity and knowledge seeking. At least among those I know.
I’m Jewish by heritage now only. Growing up on the Old Testament, I can say it was very fire and brimstone fear-driven.
Not sure if this qualifies, but the Church of Scientology. Not cause I think it’s got some good points or that I vibe with any of their ideas, I just think everything about the structure to the Bridge to the mind of LRH is super fascinating
