(no subject)

[urbpan]

I just took a "religion" quiz, that I got from aemiis_zoo. All was proceeding nicely until I finished, and it (sensing a conflict in its own quiz-logic?) asked me to choose between the following statements:

1. The strongest spiritual connection I feel is in nature.
2. All life organisms alive today were created through random processes.

I believe both statements equally, which in itself, perfectly describes my religion/spirituality. Some people call this "Scientific Pantheism" http://www.pantheism.net/paul/index.htm


Anyway, when I chose the first option, this was the result:

You scored as Paganism. Your beliefs are most closely aligned with those of paganism, Wicca, or a similar earth-based religion. You may also follow a Native American religion. </td> Paganism 67% atheism 67% agnosticism 63% Satanism 58% Buddhism 58% Hinduism 42% Islam 33% Christianity 33% Judaism 29% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

When I chose the second option, this was the result:

You scored as atheism. You are... an atheist, though you probably already knew this. Also, you probably have several people praying daily for your soul. Instead of simply being "nonreligious," atheists strongly believe in the lack of existence of a higher being, or God. </td> Paganism 67% atheism 67% agnosticism 63% Satanism 58% Buddhism 58% Hinduism 42% Islam 33% Christianity 33% Judaism 29% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

In a way, this is pretty accurate. A lot of the time I feel like an atheist: I don't believe in the "supernatural," or magic or anything that can't be proven. On the other hand, a pagan or animist concept of spirituality is very appealing to me. I think we should honor the spirit(s) of animals, plants, natural forms, and ancestors. I think rituals are a good way of gathering strength. Plus I like fires and being naked, but that's probably beside the point.

I've called myself a pantheist for several years now; it's how I defined myself spiritually even when I had a pagan wedding ("handfasting") and regularly participated in an informal coven. My biggest problem with it was naming the gods and goddesses--partly because my primary association with those names was Dungeons and Dragons, not spirituality. I still have an altar, but it's gathering dust, I'm afraid.

My biggest conflict is that, while I yearn for the feelings of belonging to something larger than myself, and for having a reason to live beyond the obligations of life, I distrust religions.

This is still an incomplete thought, and I suppose it always will be.



Crossposted to urbpan, pantheists, adult_pagans

Comments

[wakarusa.livejournal.com]

really interesting new book out by Jeremy Narby on intelligence in nature - in hardback, so I have only perused it in the bookstore. I like cosmic serpent, an earlier work of his.

scholars hate him. i think part of that is they are jealous.