Are any of you atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, or others open to various religious experiences? If you're a Christian, are you opposed to a religious experience outside of your own dogma? When I say experience, I mean engaging in a religious activity such as attending a worship service, visiting a holy place, going to a retreat, or an event or occasion of that nature.

Personally, I am open to experiencing different religions, but that is as far as my interest goes. I'm done with the protestant strain of Christianity because I have had as much experience with Baptists, Southern Baptists, Methodists, and others as I will ever, ever need or want. For instance, I wouldn't mind going to Mass and watching the rituals. I find the historical aspect, architectural achievements, and garb of Catholicism quite interesting.

Next year I'll be engaging in a religious pursuit, which may be of interest to some of you. I'll be walking the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan. It is roughly 1,200 km and makes a circuitous route around the mountainous island. The route was supposedly established by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi, but as always the truth is a bit different than the legend. Anyway, walking the route is supposed to build one's karma and lead toward enlightenment. I'm in it to see the temples, the architecture, experience rural Japan, and meet people along the trail. I am interested in having a spiritual experience, but I believe one could have feelings of spirituality by walking that distance anywhere in the world.

What are your views on atheists and religious or spiritual experiences? Can they be in any way useful to us as atheists? Counterproductive? Insightful in some way? A complete waste of time?

I'm of the mind that they can be both useful and insightful, but one must be somewhat wary because part of the religious package practitioners sell you on includes tailored experiences designed to evoke an emotional reaction (Christian concerts for example).

I grew up mainstream protestant, so, been there, done that.
Concerning spiritual experiences, I think I'm capable of something like that, but all religion only cheapens that for me.

The only thing I've ever been mildly interested was neo paganism and wiccan.

I was drawn to it because of nature being the only divine element and because it's not in any way judgmental or ignorant of scientific knowledge. When it comes to respect, I respect everyone, whose belief doesn't discriminate.

The agnostic in my profile plays to the above. I'm certainly over all the scripted gods, but I'm still open to spirituality without building my life on it.

(December 17, 2014 at 6:22 pm)Strider Wrote: Are any of you atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, or others open to various religious experiences? If you're a Christian, are you opposed to a religious experience outside of your own dogma? When I say experience, I mean engaging in a religious activity such as attending a worship service, visiting a holy place, going to a retreat, or an event or occasion of that nature.

Personally, I am open to experiencing different religions, but that is as far as my interest goes. I'm done with the protestant strain of Christianity because I have had as much experience with Baptists, Southern Baptists, Methodists, and others as I will ever, ever need or want. For instance, I wouldn't mind going to Mass and watching the rituals. I find the historical aspect, architectural achievements, and garb of Catholicism quite interesting.

Next year I'll be engaging in a religious pursuit, which may be of interest to some of you. I'll be walking the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan. It is roughly 1,200 km and makes a circuitous route around the mountainous island. The route was supposedly established by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi, but as always the truth is a bit different than the legend. Anyway, walking the route is supposed to build one's karma and lead toward enlightenment. I'm in it to see the temples, the architecture, experience rural Japan, and meet people along the trail. I am interested in having a spiritual experience, but I believe one could have feelings of spirituality by walking that distance anywhere in the world.

What are your views on atheists and religious or spiritual experiences? Can they be in any way useful to us as atheists? Counterproductive? Insightful in some way? A complete waste of time?

I'm of the mind that they can be both useful and insightful, but one must be somewhat wary because part of the religious package practitioners sell you on includes tailored experiences designed to evoke an emotional reaction (Christian concerts for example).

To be completely honest I haven't been to church for 17 years and I don't think I would go back to one, whatever the denomination. I might visit a mosque, church, synagogue, whatever, on an open day but I wouldn't attend a service.

Spiritual experiences might have been a better phrase. I'm not interested in having a religious experience myself other than passively watching something to see what it is that they do exactly (i.e., my Mass example).

(December 17, 2014 at 6:27 pm)abaris Wrote: The only thing I've ever been mildly interested was neo paganism and wiccan.

I was drawn to it because of nature being the only divine element and because it's not in any way judgmental or ignorant of scientific knowledge. When it comes to respect, I respect everyone, whose belief doesn't discriminate.

The agnostic in my profile plays to the above. I'm certainly over all the scripted gods, but I'm still open to spirituality without building my life on it.

You summed up my feelings on spirituality quite well. I think it's possible for atheists, agnostics, and others to have spiritual experiences with no need for sky people involvement.

anything really except judaism, muslim, islamic, christianity, anything that has reference or has the abrahamic god in it i do not like.
Buddhism on the other hand i'm looking into it.

(December 17, 2014 at 6:44 pm)dyresand Wrote: Buddhism on the other hand i'm looking into it.

I'm interested in it, but I'm a European to the bones. It doesn't fit my nature. I'm certainly not an ascetic being.

I grew up as a Catholic and the rituals are just repugnant to me. Ugh. Also, here in Italy, they tend to be REALLY over the top and pompous. I can't stand them.

I've never had much to do with protestants, but they look like ignorant moneygrabbers most of the time.

Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs... It would be nice to listen to them, as long as they have something new to say.

---

(December 17, 2014 at 6:49 pm)abaris Wrote:

(December 17, 2014 at 6:44 pm)dyresand Wrote: Buddhism on the other hand i'm looking into it.

I'm interested in it, but I'm a European to the bones. It doesn't fit my nature. I'm certainly not an ascetic being.

^this

(December 17, 2014 at 6:22 pm)Strider Wrote: Are any of you atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, or others open to various religious experiences? If you're a Christian, are you opposed to a religious experience outside of your own dogma? When I say experience, I mean engaging in a religious activity such as attending a worship service, visiting a holy place, going to a retreat, or an event or occasion of that nature.

Personally, I am open to experiencing different religions, but that is as far as my interest goes. I'm done with the protestant strain of Christianity because I have had as much experience with Baptists, Southern Baptists, Methodists, and others as I will ever, ever need or want. For instance, I wouldn't mind going to Mass and watching the rituals. I find the historical aspect, architectural achievements, and garb of Catholicism quite interesting.

Next year I'll be engaging in a religious pursuit, which may be of interest to some of you. I'll be walking the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan. It is roughly 1,200 km and makes a circuitous route around the mountainous island. The route was supposedly established by the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi, but as always the truth is a bit different than the legend. Anyway, walking the route is supposed to build one's karma and lead toward enlightenment. I'm in it to see the temples, the architecture, experience rural Japan, and meet people along the trail. I am interested in having a spiritual experience, but I believe one could have feelings of spirituality by walking that distance anywhere in the world.

What are your views on atheists and religious or spiritual experiences? Can they be in any way useful to us as atheists? Counterproductive? Insightful in some way? A complete waste of time?

I'm of the mind that they can be both useful and insightful, but one must be somewhat wary because part of the religious package practitioners sell you on includes tailored experiences designed to evoke an emotional reaction (Christian concerts for example).

I'm open to anything as long as I'm left to make my own decisions and that decision is respected by the people leaving me to it who then desist from badgering the crap out of me when I burn down their mission.

MM

(December 17, 2014 at 6:50 pm)oukoida Wrote: I've never had much to do with protestants, but they look like ignorant moneygrabbers most of the time.

Luther wasn't exactly a role model either. Raving antisemitic and idly standing by whilst the barons slaughtered the peasants. Even worse, he condemned the peasant insurrections of the 16th century and took the side of the high and mighty.