How to find a religion?

[Hardcore Newbie]

The best way is to make a really big chart with all the religions of the world, blindfold yourself and chuck something that will make a mark on your chart. Whatever part it lands on is your new religion. If it lands on a border, you get two or more religions to follow!

[imitator]

I think the only way to find a religion for ones self, if one feels the need to embrace a religion, is through self exploration. No one can tell you what religion you are, and being in a religion doesnt mean its your religion.

If the heedless person recites the sacred text, but does not apply what they say, they are like a cowheard counting someone else's cows, they will not enjoy the benefits of holy life.

Dhammapada 19

Explore all religions, see what is in them that you like, and what you dislike. Find the things that ring true to you, as a person, and embrace them. Dont feel a need to have a specific religious title, such things are just words, its the actions and beliefs that you can learn from studying religions that are important.

Personally, I found my "religion" through lots of looking. I wanted to know more about other religions, how they saw things, what they taught, and through that I found what I was looking for, in a sense.

There is no one on this planet that can ever tell you what is best or most right for you. Only you can do that, and for something that can be as important as religion is to some, I would think its something that you would want to take your time at, and carefully make your decisions.

I mean, if you havent seen everything that is out there as far as an option goes, how can you ever know that the choice you made/make is the best one for you?

[deadfan420]

Hey thanks everyone, I appreciate all your responses!

I should probably clarify, however, that in the title I'm using the term "religion" very loosly. I don't mean any organized religion, or any existing religion, I guess I'm just after some sort of spiritual fullfillment.

I'm also not looking to fit anyone else's mold. If I wanted to do that, I'd just follow in my parent's footsteps and be a good, non-questioning Christian. Been there, done that. It didn't work.

In the brief period I've been smoking weed for, I've found it to be highly spiritual. And as my mind opens up, I'm starting to think more about spiritual matters and ask questions. Maybe marijuana will be my religion! Lol! :-)

Thanks again for the responses! Keep em coming!

[deadfan420]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I do believe in some higher being. But whether it's the god of most organized religions, I don't know yet. I have a hard time believing in the concept of hell. Heck, the idea of any afterlife in general is hard to grasp.

This is just one of the issues I'm dealing with right now.

[Mountaindewzilla]

I'm a big proponent of personal religion.
The idea is that you do not have to call yourself anything, and if you do, you still practice your own way.

The way that I got to where I am was by reading around on Wikipedia. I checked out some stuff, and found a belief system that was in agreement with who I am, and the kind of person that i want to be.

As far as finding satisfaction, the one thing that seems to be an integral part of every religion is self improvement (Should that be hyphenated?).
Live life in a way that makes you feel good about who you are.

Just my two cents.

[thcbongman]

Hey thanks everyone, I appreciate all your responses!

I should probably clarify, however, that in the title I'm using the term "religion" very loosly. I don't mean any organized religion, or any existing religion, I guess I'm just after some sort of spiritual fullfillment.

I'm also not looking to fit anyone else's mold. If I wanted to do that, I'd just follow in my parent's footsteps and be a good, non-questioning Christian. Been there, done that. It didn't work.

In the brief period I've been smoking weed for, I've found it to be highly spiritual. And as my mind opens up, I'm starting to think more about spiritual matters and ask questions. Maybe marijuana will be my religion! Lol! :-)

Thanks again for the responses! Keep em coming!

Before I go on, I want to state I shouldn't be alive. I spun out at 85 MPH on a slick highway this morning. I was left unscathed, my car missed the barriers and other cars got out of the way in time. You are wondering what this has to do with spirituality.

Earlier that day, I was blessed by someone special. She's a deeply religious christian women, to the point where it makes others mad because they think she's questioning their beliefs. But, the messages she always tell me are positive and about self-healing. Although I do not believe in Jesus, I do believe every religion ideology are essentially the same. They are interpreted differently.

Yesterday, she stated I came up on her prayers all the sudden. She said I was special, and because of this I'll beat my cancer. She blessed me with holy water by drawing crosses on my hands. She also told to remember about showers: how it cleanses all the impurities. I accepted this gesture, and embraced it.

Not long after, I get a call and they finished my pathology report. They said any remaining tumors were dead scar tissue. This is news I wanted to hear.

I spent the night with a beautiful girl and human being. Life isn't fair, I had a crush on this girl for the longest of time, and so did she. Better late than never But she's leaving the country in a couple of days I spent the night with her and decided to head home despite much trouble leaving, I didn't want to leave.

Raining, foggy, and slick roads, I spun out. My life flashed before my eyes. That moment I realized: someone up there is watching me. A mysterious power at work that cannot be explained by words, only faith.

You should be open to all customs and ideas. Embrace and accept them all, always question, but you should accept the energy each one evokes. You just have to have the faith and spirituality. That's all

[nightlight]

Aside from being the religion (or not) based on how your parents raised you. How do you find your religion? Where do you look? First i thought I as christian and I even thought I was Muslim. But now i don't know. It's like weed has totally cracked up my crusty mind and i'm now seeing things clearly.

I think spirituality is important. in fact, I kinda feel a spirtual connection when I toke.

Any ideas?

if you cant find one start one. sounds to me like you have been looking in all the wrong places. a good place to start would be barnes and nobles eastern thought section.

[Storm Crow]

"There are many paths up the mountain. The view from the top is the same." A church is just a collection of people who see their relationship with The Divine in much the same way. As long as a religion says "pray" and makes you a better person, I have no hassle with it. Find you own way. Shine! - Granny:hippy:

[Buddha Man]

this:

Unitarian Universalism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

is what i am. i like it because i can pretty much choose what i want to believe, and the church that i sometimes attend here in my little town is a total hippie church.

that sounds like a cult to me

[Hardcore Newbie]

religions are simply cults with time on their side.