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What religions have you found useful? Wicca? Buddhism? Etc?
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Up until recently I was very much into Buddhism. I think there is alot of usefulness in the meditation practices. That was until I got below the surface of the 8 fold path. Not only did I get sick of "translating" all of the male centered language into my own but then it gets into severing your love for your children and "spouse" because as long as you are tethered by your love for them you will never be able to attain Nirvana. I choked on this one. It seems as if the "middle way" is suddenly taking a turn for the left. It's premise is that if you would be hurt if something were to happen to your spouse or child that you are not on the middle path. After contemplating this I have been disenchanted with Buddhism and find myself searching again for some more possibly contemporary or more fitting religion in which to read about.
I've always been drawn to Wicca, for not only it's ease of use, lack of needing to engage with others regularly (although many do) and female language base. However, as a "psychologist" I can only buy into the practice as far as self-fulfilling prophecy and the way in which certain herbs impact our neurobiology.
I was wondering what you ladies find helpful or significant in your spiritual/atheist journey?
I've always been drawn to Wicca, for not only it's ease of use, lack of needing to engage with others regularly (although many do) and female language base. However, as a "psychologist" I can only buy into the practice as far as self-fulfilling prophecy and the way in which certain herbs impact our neurobiology.
I was wondering what you ladies find helpful or significant in your spiritual/atheist journey?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kat on -
I think there's a little bit of good in almost every religion, but I don't follow any one completely by itself. I actually don't follow any of them, but more so respect certain elements of each.
If I were to have to choose which one I most closely relate to, it would be Wicca, (Pagan).
I agree in the do what you will do, as long as it doesn't harm you or anyone else.
I don't believe in the Threefold law, the karmic law, that says whatever you put out will come back to you threefold.
I just do not believe in karma at all.
Just a little info about Wicca for those who may not know much.
Wicca (or Witchcraft) is a positive shamanistic nature religion that is considered a part of the modern Pagan resurgence. People have looked upon Pagans in a very negative manner because of how the Catholic Church viewed non-Christians. Pagans use only what has been provided to us on Earth in nature to conduct their rites of white magick. Pagans do not oppose or deny any other religion, it is simply a pre-Christian faith.
Wiccans believe in 2 deities: the Goddess and, her consort, the Horned God. There is always a female and a male counterpart because there always needs to be a balance, if you will, within nature. Divinity itself is both internal and external, because everything that exists in the universe is divided into opposites.
On a side note: It was the Horned God in which the Catholic Church in an attempt to eradicate the worship of the old Pagan god, perverted him into their symbol of evil, calling him Satan/The Devil. During the Inquisition which started around 1233, Pagans were considered heretics and forced to convert or suffer severe consequences (rape, tortured, beaten, but most likely they would be executed).
To clarify again: Wiccans do not believe in Satan as he is a strictly Christian figure. As such, they do not accept the concept of innate sin or absolute evil, and they do not believe in Heaven or Hell. Wiccans do not practice black magick, they don’t worship devils, demons or any other evil entities and they do not make attempts to convert members of other faiths to the Pagan way.
Along with the 2 main deities, many Wiccans believe in a multitude of gods and goddesses (i.e. Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian, etc.) as each god or goddess signifies a certain trait for the goal the practitioner wants to accomplish. For example, if someone were to call on an ancient god or goddess to help them with healing a friend or a loved one, they would call on Apollo. If a pregnant woman wants to ensure a healthy childbirth, she would call upon Isis, Athena for wisdom, Aphrodite for love, Nemesis for vengeance.
Wiccans lives by one rule, the Wiccan Rede, which states: AN IT HARM NONE, DO WHAT YOU WILL. In other words, be free to do your own thing, provided that you do not bring harm upon anyone, including yourself.
Wiccans also revere the Threefold Law, the karmic law of triple retribution which applies whenever you do something good or bad, and either way, it will come back to you threefold.
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Permalink Reply by Just KimU on -
Wow...what Buddhist texts were you reading? I've been studying Buddhism for about 7 years, and I find it to be full of rewarding, and validating, information about being a mom and wife. In fact, women are considered to be more enlightened, and not in need of as much "teaching." The thought behind this is that children teach us more than any Guru every could.
The Tara, especially Green Tara, is a very strong female force, and is often written as the mother of Buddha. I'd be interested to know what texts, or teacher, you got this information.
I also identify with Paganism, in the fact that I feel a strong desire to be a larger part of nature. :)
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Permalink Reply by JennK on -
I meditate just to have some quiet and get a fresh perspective on a lousy day, but that's a relaxation practice and not a religious belief. Meditation only has religious meaning if you give it one.
I've read about many religions, including Wicca, but I don't believe in them. To me, being an atheist means not believing in any gods and not seeking religion. Rather than being on a spiritual journey, I see myself on a logical/practical/humanist one.
Just my $0.02.
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Permalink Reply by HIRH on -
Hey Ladies,
Thank you all for your insights! I will have to look into some more Buddhists texts as apparently the ones I found were not encompassing enough. I agree that I'm not on a religious/dogmatic journey either. Although I feel as though I'm nurturing my psyche as opposed to my body. Spiritually I feel connected to the earth... which leads me into my thoughts on fractals... that they somehow are the key to the interconnectedness of us all.
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Permalink Reply by Lorry Fach-Pedersen on
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JennK said:
ITATo me, being an atheist means not believing in any gods and not seeking religion. Rather than being on a spiritual journey, I see myself on a logical/practical/humanist one.
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Permalink Reply by The Mother on
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I have to admit that I went "through" both of these. My sister is a practicing Wiccan and gets a lot out of it. I was a bit put off by the emphasis on supernatural (magic) as opposed to simply finding inspiration in nature.
Buddhism has lots of good qualities (especially the lack of a "GOD", but I find the whole disabled child=bad person in previous life thing hard to swallow.
As a scientist, I love the idea of complexity theory and finding my spirituality in the wonders of the universe.
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