A Religion for the Non Religious

[Metis]

The actual religion itself isn't really diverse. Whatever Catholic church you go to the teachings are the same, whether it's a Catholic Church in Valletta, Dublin, Sao Paulo or Manila (four cities and cultures which are otherwise strikingly diverse apart from dominant religion).

Sure there's "diversity" among Catholic people in terms of devoutness and wider ethnic culture, but it's very homogenous in terms of what the values and beliefs are.

On a doctrinal level officially perhaps but on a lay level culture plays a huge overriding factor.

Take gay marriage for instance, priests have been literally booed off the pulpit for stating they are against same sex marriage and received standing ovations when they've told their congregations they've got a boyfreind. In America Catholic values appear to be Republican Party values (Laudato Si is a fantastic example of this, A Papal Bull about climate change? Clearly a communist heresy). In Africa Cathoic values tend to be patriarchal tribal values.

Doctrine actually means little or nothing in practice, most Catholics I've met in France don't believe in Hell and almost 90% of UK Catholics are for divorce. I've met many Catholics since coming here and I could count the ones who are against contraception on a single hand, and that's even including almost all of my boyfriends ultra conservative hellfire-spewing family.

[The Grand Nudger]

I don't understand how a religion, itself, can be diverse. 

Then brush up on Hinduism.

[Metis]

I don't understand how a religion, itself, can be diverse.

The Abrahamic religions are rather unique Catholic Lady, Catholicism and Islam perhaps more than any other in that they instruct people in what they must think. This isn't something you encounter very often outside of it. Even Confucianism, another rigidly doctrinal tradition has some room for debate and making decisions for oneself.

Most religions have no interest in this, Shintoists don't care what you think about the Kami so long as you follow the ritual formula right. Hindus revel in the wide variety of different philosophies amongst them, Taoists and Buddhists often ponder what is most likely to be true.

[Longhorn]

^Even though these are 2 different approaches, we are still in agreement that there is more out there, regardless of whether that's God, or simply anything else we don't fully comprehend and having nothing to do with any god.

There's those words again! What the fuck does 'there's more out there' mean?
You mean the universe? Well um, duh.
Where is 'out there', and what is it that there is 'more' of?

[Bob Kelso]

Hey guys. :

Just thought I'd share something with you that I think you'll appreciate.

First, if you have never heard of the blog called Wait but Why, you need to check it out beyond just the article I'm posting here. Some GREAT stuff on there.

So, this particular article is one that I think you all will enjoy if you have the time and patience to get through the whole thing. It's pretty dang long, but worth the read.

Pretty much everything he says here is stuff I had already thought of, and you probably have too... (and ironically very relevant to my faith, so perhaps we're not so different after all!) ...but the way he illustrates it and lays it all out is pretty awesome! 

Take a look when you have some time, you won't be disappointed, I promise!

http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/10/religion-f...gious.html

Any thoughts?

I'm at work so I only got to skim but I'll read its entirety later. 

Initial thoughts; 

Seems like a self help blog post for people who want to ascend from the mire of shitty/basic human behavior. Personally I found the language just vague enough to make me think of Chopra but I might change my mind when I examine it more closely.

[Catholic_Lady]

Hey guys. :

Just thought I'd share something with you that I think you'll appreciate.

First, if you have never heard of the blog called Wait but Why, you need to check it out beyond just the article I'm posting here. Some GREAT stuff on there.

So, this particular article is one that I think you all will enjoy if you have the time and patience to get through the whole thing. It's pretty dang long, but worth the read.

Pretty much everything he says here is stuff I had already thought of, and you probably have too... (and ironically very relevant to my faith, so perhaps we're not so different after all!) ...but the way he illustrates it and lays it all out is pretty awesome! 

Take a look when you have some time, you won't be disappointed, I promise!

http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/10/religion-f...gious.html

Any thoughts?

I'm at work so I only got to skim but I'll read its entirety later. 

Initial thoughts; 

Seems like a self help blog post for people who want to ascend from the mire of shitty/basic human behavior. Personally I found the language just vague enough to make me think of Chopra but I might change my mind when I examine it more closely.

Cool, I hope you find it interesting!