Welcome to Gaia! ::

1)People who aren't sure wether or not there is a god.
A. They aren't sure. That's there whole thing.
B. They don't. Agnostics aren't ready to say that there is nothing there, but they have no proof, or not enough proof, that there is. So, they just sort of sit on the fence about it.

3)Taoism is kinda complicated. It believes that governments are unnaturall and everyone should try to be as natural as possible. They also have some odd sayings in this big book that they have to memorize compleatly.

4)I'd read more into it to see if it's really right for me.

5)Well, if you want the structure of a large religion, then you join one. But if non of them work for you, you can just believe what you want to believe. That might be more helpful if you don't know what's right for you. Then, later on, you can still change your beliefs.

I've got an example of a Tao saying.

The way that can be spoken of
Is not the constant way;
The name that can be named
Is not the constant name.


That's just the first part of the first saying out of a whole bunch. See what I mean when I say complicated? Taoists acctually understand this. I only think I do. But I'm not sure.

Vague..

..Thank you for telling me that I am a walking social science and geography book. stare

As for the rest of you, thanks for answering.

Personally, its not so much as being afriad of religion or the idea of a greater good..its the fear of being swept away and losing all reasoning that has kept me from religion. The nagging thought in the back of my head that becomes a persistant screaming when Im around devout religious people is, "They're nuts! They've lost their minds!"

And thats about the time I sigh, roll my eyes, and go find a book to read in a quiet corner somewhere.

You'd be hard pressed, JoVo, to keep me away from a good sunset because I notice them whenever Im out at the right time.

I did mention discussion didnt I in the first post?

I kinda have a made-up religion, I don't call it a religion though, I just think of it as my beliefs.

So why do people feel the need for an organized religion?

It seems reassuring to me to have a structure that makes thing simple and clearly defined as to what you're supposed to believe but then I think about it for a moment and re-realize (because it happens so many times) that life isnt simple at all and no one can tell you what to believe.

I just seem to want to have a name to call myself. There are Christians, Agnostics, Aethiest, Satanists, Wiccans, Buddhists...but what am I? I dont feel the need for a superior force in my life, just a belief in morals and whats right and whats wrong.

So what do I say when people ask my religion? I tell them Im 'nothing' and they assume Im an aethiest. Its really hard to explain to people that I dont believe theres a god or do believe theres a god; I just dont care if there is or isnt.

Free will..its my life isnt it? My decision on how Im going to save or damn my soul.

Then you're not afraid of religion. You're afraid of fanaticism. You've just decided, albeit inaccurately, that they are synonymous.



Which you've demonstrated above. You're not afraid of religion. Therefore, sunsets still inspire you.







I would not be surprised at all to learn that the religions you've each "made up" are already shared by many others who you are not aware exist.



A sense of community; a sense of belonging; that everpresent human need for the social form. We are creatures biologically designed to require other humans in order to live well. The organized religion is a consequence of this imperative.



Which, you must realize, is what the higher end of every organized religion seeks. In Catholicism, a paragon of religious organization, innovative minds are not encouraged, but they are sanctified where they come to be: Francis of Assisi, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Pio, the list goes on.



Which explains your question about humanism. I don't feel the need for a superior force in my life, but I'm still a Gnostic Christian. Not because I feel the need for such a force but because I am aware that such a force exists. Nevertheless, the name is something that you adopt. Your beliefs dictate this. The religion does not develop your beliefs. Your beliefs develop the religion. Your religion can only build upon what is already there.



If you don't care, that may or may not make you an agnostic. Mostly, it makes you a weak atheist, though that's as descriptive as saying, "I'm a monotheist." You could just be areligious, but if you have adopted a certain philosophy, I recommend you halt your religious research and turn to the secular philosophers. Nietzsche is a personal favorite of mine.



Or neither. But yes, it is your choice. Unless you're a determinist, in which case it's not.

You started this. wink