Philosophy
Choosing the Right Religion for You! (Got Faith?)
Introductions
Cartoon © Chris Madden 2008, chrismadden.co.uk.
Welcome to my second column of ‘Got Faith?‘! First off I want to say thanks a million for all the support so far, especially to Lana, Julia, Kaitlin, all my friends for giving me feedback, and all the wonderful people who took part in the discussion I started in the Lounge. You‘re all awesome, and I really appreciate it!
The topic for this week is choosing the right religion for you! Below you‘ll find some religious quotes on the topic, my "One Rule, Three Steps" guide to choosing religions, a nifty quiz, and as always the opportunity to voice any and all religion-based thoughts you may have, inspired by this column or otherwise!
Love & peace - Suzie! =)
Quotes
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."
Gautama Siddharta, founder of Buddhism, 563-483 BC
"Several studies have suggested that there are nearly 10,000 separate and distinct religions in the world today. Within Christianity alone, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, there are nearly 40,000 denominations. Some denominations are openly accepting of gays and lesbians, as they should be allowed to do. Thus, it should be possible to find a denomination or a religion that will cater to just about anyone’s lifestyle.
People all over the world are in the process of changing religious affiliation or rejecting any affiliation. These actions are usually the consequence of economic, social, or political inducement, but they occur for spiritual or ideological reasons as well. Religions are human-created entities, and as such, none are perfect. There are so many from which to choose. Any individual who seeks to be affiliated with a religious tradition should find one that resonates with his or her core values. If not, what is the use?"
Ramdas Lamb, Newsweek/ Washington Times ‘On Faith’ panelist, Hindu monk in India from 1969-1978, University of Hawai’i Professor of World Religions and Contemporary American Religion
One Rule, Three Steps
Suzie‘s Guide to Choosing the Right Religion for You!
The most golden of rules when choosing a religion (or deciding whether or not to switch faiths) is: Don’t make a quick decision!
‘Tis a far, far better thing to REALLY deliberate over this than to simply hop from one religion to the next when you realise that your current one doesn‘t exactly suit you. There′s also something to be said for simply sticking with what you were raised as without ever giving it any carefully considered, educated thought. It‘s hardly respectful to your parents, your religion, and even your God (or Gods) if you‘re just insincerely "going through the motions", or identifying yourself as of a particular religion but remaining non-practising out of apathy.
Well whether you‘ve already decided that you want to join a new religion, or you‘re just curious about religions in general, here are my three main steps to get you on your way:
Step One: Research!
Learn as much as you can about all religions, and be sure to keep your mind wide open. Your first task is to learn about religions, not to pick one for yourself just yet. Don‘t accept or reject anything at this point, just keep on learning. Take the time to learn as much as you can about how religions shape how people live their lives, how religions influenced world history, how different religions compare, how they‘ve formed entire cultures, what their basic philosophies are, every aspect that you can think of, pretty much! How in depth you go is up to you.
Step Two: Soulsearch!
Question yourself. Why do you feel that you need or want to follow a religion? Remember that religion can be an escape too, or simply conforming to a societal standard. What is the real reason that you want to follow a religion? Reflect on your values. What are your own personal beliefs? What do you think religion should be? Think about how much commitment a religion involves, as well as accepting traditions and a potentially important set of beliefs. Remember, your values must always be deep-seated and your own. Don‘t force yourself to accept something just to be involved. Always stay true to yourself, don‘t adjust your values to a religion. And never compromise critical thinking and reason for social acceptance. You don‘t have to believe anything in particular in the end.
Step Three: "Sightsee"!
Visit places of worship, and meet the religious leaders in your neighbourhood. Ask them about their views on life, God (or Gods, or not, depending on the religion), the afterlife, relationships, ethics, other religions, the daily practice of their religion, why they feel their particular religion is best suited to them, the conversion process, and any questions you came up with whilst studying their religion. Ask if you can attend one of their masses/sermons/insert-appropriate-term-here without actually worshipping, or even other religious events or ceremonies that would take place more privately, such as the observation of Shabbat. The more you can observe first-hand the better the idea you‘ll have as to what life as a member of that religion would be like for you.
Once you‘ve taken all these steps you‘re probably ready to reflect on everything and come to a decision. You might find yourself drawn to one religion in particular, or maybe to a few, or you might discover that your current religion seems the one most right for you after all, or, you just might find yourself more confused than before. Hopefully that last possibility would just spur you on to keep learning and questioning until you find your answer.
You might find it helpful to discuss things with your family, friends, or others (like with the wonderful people in the PurplePJ‘s Lounge!), but be careful of anyone that seems to be pushing their own faith on you. Also, keep in mind that religion is a sensitive subject, and something that a lot of people take very seriously. Always do your best to remain tolerant, peaceful, and non-judgemental when talking about religion. As Aretha Franklin put it, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T"!
(Though she wasn‘t talking about religious tolerance, it‘s still a good rule to go by, and one hella’ catchy tune).
Quiz Me!
This quiz should definitely get you thinking about different religions and which one is the right one for you! "Warning: Belief-O-Matic™ assumes no legal liability for the ultimate fate of your soul."
Got Opinions?
Next on ‘Got Faith?‘: The religious calendar for September!
Until then, what were your opinions of this week‘s column? Did it make you think about your faith? Are you considering other religions, or interested in learning about them? If you‘ve changed religion or joined a new religion in the past, what provoked you into doing so? Why did you pick the religion that you did? How did you find the conversion process? Please send in any comments, suggestions, or questions, I‘d love to hear from you!
Tags: how to, religion, quotes, got faith, quiz, beliefs, philosophy