Unless I radically change my mind, I don’t believe I’ll ever consider any religion to be the true, one and only. For me, religions are like languages; none is necessarily truer than the others. A chair is no more a chair than a chaise, or a silla, or a 椅子. Languages ​​don’t capture reality, but each allows us to interact with it. However, it’s important to master at least one, and for that, you have to practice it diligently, work on it, and study it.

For me, spirituality is one of the essential needs of human beings. It’s therefore important that everyone seeks the spirituality that resonates most deeply with them. There are non-religious spiritualities, and there are even spiritualities that deny being spiritualities or religions when they are in fact (as I move also in Leftist circles, I don’t see much difference between Marxism and a religion…). If we deny ourselves our need for spirituality, then we risk giving a religious character to something that shouldn’t be. It’s often not a big deal, but it can become one, and I see in this one of the roots of political extremism (my nation is a god, my race is a god, my favorite politician is a messiah, this book of political theory is sacred, this other nation is a devil, this other politician is a demon…).

The ideal, then, is to find a spirituality that suits us without ever essentializing it. We don’t all have the same level of spiritual need, and some fulfill their need by following a sports team. Good for them! But if we have a stronger need, then I think we should turn to a religion. Religions offer unparalleled depth, an opening to the unseen that makes the spiritual aspect of other human realities seem bland: someone very active in a religion can then go into politics, for example, keeping politics separate from religion.

Of course, the opposite is unfortunately also possible. Some movements are explicitly or implicitly both religious and political, but that’s a very bad idea. I ground my political action in theology, and I apply my political ideals to the way I participate in my church’s governing bodies, but I keep my affiliations separate. What must be avoided is thinking that one’s spiritual current holds the truth. But by practicing one’s religion as a truth, by practicing its full depth, then one can improve one’s life and the lives of others.

It’s mind rot

Oh eons ago I was raised nondenominationally christian. My missing those things is less a reflection of having had them in the past, and more a reflection of having much less access to community in the present. I dont think I really appreciated those things about church when I was a kid, and while it wasn’t a bad experience (except when I joined for adult service, which bored me to tears), I don’t really want back the same kind of church experience I has when I was little. It was lots of kids activities that snuck in ideals about how to be a good person and worship practices.

But I have a circadian rhythm disorder that limits my ability to get together with other people cause everyone’s asleep for the bulk of time I’m awake, so connection to other people is precious to me. I’d love to find a way to participate in that kind of fellowship and discuss how we strive to be people we can take pride in and build good lives and communities for ourselves

There’s nothing to say you can’t enjoy life. Buddhism teaches mindfulness, which encourages you to appreciate where you are. There is joy to find in simply appreciating your circumstances, rather than striving for things like material wealth endlessly. It teaches escaping the treadmill of accumulation which ends up controlling us. By grasping interconnectedness, possession is left behind, and we liberate ourselves from suffering.

Thats my understanding, anyhow. Ive got a long way to go still.

I read Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner at a fairly young age and liked his characterization of it. Like I said, it has a straightforward, practical quality to it that I appreciate. Most of what ive read on it since (im currently reading The Three Pillars of Zen, which is also from a Soto perspective) emphasizes discipline more than “religious” practices, which appeals to me. Im not much for religious ceremony or ritual, but i can understand discipline and practice. Even if I often fall short.

? God guided me so I have an opportunity not to damn myself and end up in Hell. Cancer is just another feature of this imperfect universe (if you want it differently, you have to go to Heaven), and these kids have pure souls and will meet the Creator and enjoy peace. Of course we mourn them because they left us, but just like in the case of adults, we have to make peace with the fact that every day is a gift and without God making this entire universe we wouldn’t even have had a second of consciousness, so be grateful. And haven’t you heard the story of Abraham? There’s a way to process the death of your child better, but it’ll take faith in God.

Also, everyone else? My man, all the information is freely available and you even have silly folks like me online trying to direct people to a better path… you’re already being helped, you’re already bombarded with calls to be mindful of God. When the Day comes and you stand in front of Him, don’t say you were not warned. 🤷

Eh, I would say about 4 or so years in earnest but by then I was already a big fan of the words of Jesus and Solomon, I just disregarded the parts that talked about God, lol. And through my now wife, although it was more circumstantial: she’s Muslim but not like a preacher who “convinced me”, we had even reached the middle ground of me doing the rites but not believing… and then one day it clicked. 👍